Episode 430: Return to the Demonic Sect
In a dimly lit room, Yujeong stood alone, her presence a mere shadow of her former self.
Jaunryong approached her slowly, his voice trembling with concern. “Jeong-ah… are you alright?”
Despite hearing his voice, Yujeong remained motionless, her eyes vacant and distant.
“Jeong-ah…? It’s me. Do you recognize me?”
Yujeong tilted her head slightly, as if trying to comprehend. “Ah…?”
“Jeong-ah?”
“Aah…! Ah-he…!”
She mumbled incoherently, her mouth agape like a lost child, drool trickling down her chin.
‘What on earth have they done to you…?’ Jaunryong bit his lip in frustration, just as a voice echoed from behind him.
“She’s not fully complete yet, so there are some imperfections. I hope you understand,” said the masked figure.
‘Understand…? After what you’ve done to her, you expect me to understand?’ Jaunryong’s teeth ground together in anger. He wanted nothing more than to turn around and throttle the masked man.
Yujeong’s body was a tapestry of bruises and cuts, with not a single unscathed patch of skin. The sight of her battered form ignited a fury within him. The vibrant, cheerful Yujeong who once admired him was nowhere to be found.
Jaunryong gently touched her shoulder, feeling something unsettling beneath her skin, as if hundreds of insects were crawling just beneath the surface. It was grotesque, yet he didn’t flinch. Instead, he caressed her shoulder and arm with even more tenderness.
“Did it hurt a lot?”
“Ah…?”
“I’m sorry. I never wanted you to end up like this…”
As his hand brushed her cheek, a sudden tearing sound filled the air. Yujeong’s back split open, and centipede-like creatures began to pour out, filling the space around them. The sight was both bizarre and terrifying.
Jaunryong’s eyes widened in shock. “What… what is this?”
Yujeong suddenly burst into laughter, a chilling sound that echoed through the darkness. Her laughter abruptly ceased, and she glared at Jaunryong with a cold, deadpan expression.
“Die.”
In an instant, the swarm of creatures stiffened and lunged at Jaunryong, piercing his body like a pincushion.
**
Gasping, Yujeong awoke with a start. She felt as though she’d had a terrible dream, but the details eluded her. She exhaled deeply and slowly rose to her feet.
“Are you feeling more awake now?”
Startled, Yujeong turned to see a stranger standing in the corner of the pavilion. It was Sabigang.
She frowned slightly, still in a daze, but there was a hint of wariness in her eyes.
“Don’t move too hastily…”
As Sabigang approached, Yujeong instinctively recoiled, unleashing a swarm of insects from her body.
The creatures tore through her skin, but before they could reach Sabigang, Yujeong doubled over, vomiting blood and collapsing to the ground. The insects writhed and melted away, leaving behind a thick, greenish liquid.
“Ah…?”
Sabigang sighed lightly. “I had to use poison to subdue you. If you move too much, it’ll spread faster. It’s best if you stay still.”
“Ah…!”
“If you don’t listen, you might die.”
Yujeong averted her gaze, cowed by his words. Sabigang walked to the edge of the pavilion, surveying the burning landscape below. The scent of blood and smoke filled the air.
“Ah… ah…!”
Yujeong played with the blood she had vomited, her fingers painting patterns on the ground. Sabigang ignored her, watching the distant battle between the demonic creatures and the martial artists.
After a moment, he spoke again. “It seems to be ending soon. Let’s go back. The more scars you have, the more reasons you have to live.”
He extended a hand to Yujeong.
**
The battle was taking its toll. Nung Soso could feel the tide turning against them. She scanned the battlefield quickly.
Dan Lijeong had a dagger embedded in his shoulder, and Yeon Wookyung was incapacitated with a deep wound to his abdomen. Many had already fallen, including some of her fellow trainees and instructors.
“Murim!”
A desperate shout pierced the chaos. Nung Soso’s eyes darted to the source, just in time to see Jeok Murim struck down by a coordinated attack.
“Ugh!”
Jeok Murim staggered back, blood pouring from his mouth, a sword lodged in his chest.
Thud! Thud!
Seoraehyang rushed in, pushing aside the attackers and supporting Jeok Murim. “Are you okay?”
“Cough…! Until the end… I’m sorry…!”
“Murim! Murim!”
Tears welled in Seoraehyang’s eyes as Jeok Murim’s body went limp, his life slipping away.
“No! Murim!”
Her scream was filled with anguish, but Jeok Murim was beyond hearing. Enraged, Seoraehyang turned, her sword swinging wildly in a frenzy of grief.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
“Ugh!”
“You crazy woman!”
The demonic soldiers hesitated, momentarily taken aback by her ferocity. But her reckless attacks left her vulnerable, and they quickly seized the opportunity.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three swords pierced her chest, abdomen, and thigh.
“Sergeant!”
Nung Soso sprinted towards her, shouting.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
The leader of the demonic soldiers, Yeogon, appeared like a flash, striking Nung Soso in the back.
Thud!
“Aah!”
Nung Soso was sent flying, her scream echoing as she fell. The soldiers descended upon her, their blades slicing through her clothes and skin.
She had let her emotions get the better of her, losing focus and leaving herself open to attack. As she lay there, the pain seemed to fade, replaced by a sense of resignation.
‘Is this the end…? Instructor…’
Just then, someone caught her mid-fall, landing softly. It was Jaunryong.
He looked down at her with trembling eyes. “Cough!”
“Instructor Nung!”
”…”
Nung Soso gazed at him with half-closed eyes, wanting to speak but unable to form words through the blood in her throat. She raised a hand weakly before her eyes fluttered shut, her body going limp.
She had breathed her last.
Jaunryong’s body shook with grief. Yeogon, watching, spoke dismissively. “You’re finally here? A bit late, but let’s finish this.”
Ignoring him, Jaunryong gently laid Nung Soso on the ground, covering her with his cloak.
“What are you doing?” Yeogon asked, frowning.
Jaunryong drew his sword, a palpable aura of menace surrounding him. Yeogon’s expression hardened as he realized the threat.
“What are you…”
“I’ve had enough.”
“What?”
“The fruits of patience aren’t always sweet.”
“What are you talking about…”
In a flash, Jaunryong lunged at Yeogon, who barely managed to raise his sword in defense.
“This is insane…!”
Clang!
Yeogon staggered back, struggling to regain his balance.
“You… what kind of madness is this…!”
“Shut up!”
Jaunryong attacked with relentless fury, his sword a blur of motion.
“Damn it!”
Yeogon cursed, trying to fend him off, but Jaunryong’s determination was overwhelming.
“Someone deal with this lunatic!”
At Yeogon’s command, the demonic soldiers charged at Jaunryong, their battle cries filling the air.
Swish! Swish!
Some managed to wound him, but Jaunryong fought on, a demon possessed.
**
Thud! Thud!
The blade of Neung Un-pa sliced through Balruk’s neck.
Almost simultaneously, a hand burst through Balruk’s chest.
In its bony grip, a crimson heart throbbed and pulsed.
Squelch!
As Akcheon-gwe pulled his hand back, the body with the hollow chest collapsed with a thud.
That was the last of Balruk.
Neung Un-pa and Akcheon-gwe exchanged glances, then spoke at the same time.
“I killed him.”
“I killed him.”
Neung Un-pa furrowed his brow and continued.
“My sword was faster.”
“Hmph! It just took me a moment to pull my hand out. I had already seized his heart with my Ghostly Claw.”
“Grabbing it doesn’t count as killing.”
“Once the heart’s in your hand, there’s no surviving.”
The two glared at each other with fiery eyes.
Neung Un-pa shrugged.
“Fine, I’ll let you have this one. But remember, I took down three more than you.”
“Hmph! Who was it that saved you when you were about to die?”
“About to die? I was merely assessing the situation. These creatures were unfamiliar!”
“Of course, of course. You can never win an argument with a righteous warrior.”
Akcheon-gwe shook his head, muttering, while Neung Un-pa ground his teeth and glared.
The tension between them was palpable once more.
Just as Akcheon-gwe was about to retort, Sabigang appeared as if dropping from the sky.
“Looks like things are settled here. Let’s head back.”
“Sabigang, who is that with you?”
Neung Un-pa’s gaze shifted to the woman Sabigang was supporting.
“She tried to kill me, but since we’ve met before, I thought I’d give her a chance.”
“Met before…?”
“Something like that.”
Sabigang grinned, glancing around.
The remains of the demonic cultists and Balruk’s scattered body parts lay strewn about.
“It must have been a tough fight.”
“Nothing we couldn’t handle. But what’s the story with him?”
Neung Un-pa’s skeptical eyes turned to Akcheon-gwe.
Despite fighting alongside them against the monsters, Akcheon-gwe was once a notorious rogue warrior. The world believed him dead.
Sabigang replied with a gentle smile.
“I’ll explain everything in due time. Let’s return for now.”
At that moment, a dark shadow dropped beside Neung Un-pa.
“Leader, I have a report!”
The urgency in the man’s voice made Neung Un-pa’s brow crease.
“What is it?”
“Cheongang Valley has been attacked!”
“Cheongang Valley?”
Neung Un-pa’s eyebrows twitched.
Sabigang stepped forward, asking, “Tell us more.”
Cheongang Valley was the largest medical facility in the martial world, established after a proposal by General Gu Yoon was approved. It treated any warrior injured while subduing demonic threats, regardless of their affiliation.
It frequently interacted with the Myeolma-gwan’s medical division.
“It seems to be the work of the demonic cult. All patients in the ward were either kidnapped or killed.”
“Hmm.”
Sabigang sighed deeply and looked at Neung Un-pa.
“Please handle the situation. I’ll make sure to investigate this matter further.”
“Understood.”