Episode 433: Return to the Demonic Sect

The sound of footsteps echoed ominously as the warriors of the Extermination Hall encircled the Jade Demon Squad, their eyes glinting with lethal intent. They were ready to draw their swords at the slightest provocation.

Suddenly, shadows appeared on the rooftops of the surrounding buildings, bows drawn taut, ready to rain arrows down upon them.

“This… this can’t be!” Yeogon bit his lip, glaring at the warriors of the Extermination Hall. It was a perfect trap. A whirlwind of thoughts raced through his mind. Had their plan been leaked? Was there a traitor among them? Despite the obvious, he hesitated to accept the most likely scenario—that Eunmyeon had betrayed them.

But as Jaunryong emerged from the crowd, Yeogon was forced to confront the reality he least wanted to accept.

“So, you did betray us after all!” Yeogon shouted, grinding his teeth. Jaunryong responded with a wry smile.

“It seems that way.”

“And you won’t regret this…?”

“We’ve been over this. I’ve sworn not to do anything I’ll regret.”

“You madman…!”

At that moment, Maesellan stepped forward, her voice sharp and resolute. “Surrender now, and I’ll spare your life.”

“Hah! I don’t stoop to cowardice like some. I’m no coward! What are you waiting for? Nothing changes. Our goal was always to wipe them out! Attack!”

“Yes, sir!”

The Jade Demon Squad scattered, charging in all directions.

Simultaneously, a hail of arrows descended from the rooftops.

“Argh!”

Screams erupted as members of the Jade Demon Squad fell, but the more agile among them deflected the arrows and charged toward the enemy.

“Die!”

The clash of weapons rang out, mingling with shouts and cries. Yeogon deflected the arrows and lunged at the warriors of the Extermination Hall.

In an instant, the area around the Jade Demon Pavilion became a chaotic battlefield.

Yeogon’s swordsmanship was ferocious, cutting down the warriors of the Extermination Hall with ruthless efficiency. He fought like a beast starved for blood, determined to take down as many enemies as possible before his own life was spent.

Amidst the frenzy, his sword clashed with another, and he found himself face-to-face with Jaunryong.

“Eunmyeon!”

Jaunryong met his gaze with a faint smile. “You always coveted my position, didn’t you?”

“It was never yours to begin with!”

“Perhaps. But it’s not yours either. Maybe if it were someone else…”

“You…!”

Yeogon spun, slashing horizontally, but Jaunryong had already retreated several paces, his sword slicing through empty air.

“I’ll kill you and follow you to the afterlife!”

Yeogon charged, but Jaunryong blocked his attack, forcing Yeogon to twist his body and strike again.

The two continued their fierce exchange, Yeogon’s attacks relentless, but Jaunryong remained calm, evading with ease.

“How long will you keep running like a rat?”

“If I fight you seriously, you’ll die.”

Jaunryong’s cold words only fueled Yeogon’s rage. “You wretched…!”

“Calm down, or you’ll never see my sword path clearly.”

“Hah! As if your sword path matters!”

Yeogon launched a flurry of attacks, his sword a blur of motion like a storm of arrows.

Jaunryong parried, retreating step by step, his clothes torn by Yeogon’s strikes, yet he refrained from using lethal force.

“Was the death of the Sabigang leader a lie too?”

“It was.”

“You bastard!”

Yeogon, incensed, pressed his attack, but Jaunryong remained composed, dodging with precision.

As the battle raged on, Yeogon began to realize that Jaunryong was indeed a step above him.

Then, his eyes caught sight of a woman.

‘That woman!’

Maesellan, the commander of the Extermination Hall, was cutting down his comrades with her twin swords.

Seeing her, Yeogon’s rage reignited. “I’ll kill her if it’s the last thing I do!”

If he couldn’t defeat Jaunryong, he would at least take Maesellan’s head.

He dashed toward her, but Jaunryong merely chuckled, not bothering to give chase.

“Seems you’ve chosen the wrong opponent again.”

As Yeogon closed in on Maesellan, ready to strike, a silver serpent-like blade suddenly whipped toward him from the left.

“Gah!”

He turned, deflecting the attack, but it was a mere illusion.

The real blade slithered through the air, aiming for his side.

“Ugh!”

Yeogon barely dodged, but the blade grazed his abdomen, leaving a burning sensation.

He staggered back, seeing Maesellan standing with her sword poised.

‘Damn…! I thought I had her!’

Realizing Maesellan’s strength, Yeogon was taken aback.

Maesellan narrowed her eyes at him. “Is it worth throwing your life away? The Sabigang leader is dead, and the Demonic Sect is finished. Why not surrender?”

“Hah! You talk too much. I’ll shut that mouth of yours!”

Yeogon charged again, but Maesellan met him head-on.

Yeogon smirked inwardly. ‘A direct confrontation? Foolish!’

He unleashed a rapid series of strikes, but Maesellan’s sword danced like a serpent, weaving through his attacks.

In a split second, one of the serpentine blades lunged for his throat.

Yeogon shifted his stance, narrowly avoiding the strike, but another blade bit into his side.

“Argh!”

His vision blurred as pain seared through him.

‘Poison?’

He quickly circulated his internal energy, but found no trace of poison.

The blade had merely burned him, a testament to its craftsmanship.

Relieved, Yeogon steeled himself for the next round.

If it was indeed an addiction, it would have posed significant challenges in future battles.

However, he hadn’t realized that the brief moment of distraction had left him fatally exposed.

Hiss! Hiss!

This time, three snakes lunged simultaneously at his neck, chest, and thigh.

Swish!

Yeogon instinctively stepped back, swinging his sword.

“Damn it! I can’t tell which one’s the real threat!”

In his urgency, he struck at the snakes aiming for his neck and chest. He figured that even if the one targeting his thigh was real, it wouldn’t be fatal.

But his sword sliced through nothing but air.

Instead, the snake aiming for his thigh sank its fangs into his flesh.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

As pain shot through his right thigh, Yeogon staggered, giving Maesellan the perfect opportunity to slip behind him.

“To think a mere woman could render you so powerless…”

Her chilling voice sent shivers down Yeogon’s spine.

Whoever said Maesellan wasn’t strong?

She was far beyond the rumors, clearly having surpassed the pinnacle of martial arts.

Yeogon spun around quickly, but—

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

Dozens of snakes erupted from her sleeves, writhing in a chaotic dance.

“Eek!”

Yeogon swung his sword wildly, almost in a frenzy.

But his blade only cut through empty air.

Meanwhile, Jaunryong, who had been watching the fight, couldn’t help but be impressed.

“Amazing. I never imagined Chief Maesellan was this skilled.”

At first glance, her swordplay seemed unnecessarily flashy.

But a closer look revealed that the flamboyance was the essence of her unique style.

In fact, Maesellan had once been deeply troubled by this very issue.

She had heard that the best swordsmanship was supposed to be plain and unadorned.

Seeking advice, she had turned to Sabigang, who had told her:

“Your style thrives on its brilliance. It should be as beautiful and dynamic as you are. Embrace it, and your sword will come alive with every flourish.”

From that moment, Maesellan set aside her doubts and focused solely on her training.

She found joy in it.

It was exhilarating, almost too much fun to wield a sword.

And she could feel her skills improving rapidly.

After receiving a special sword from Josinryang, her abilities soared even higher.

“Yes, the brilliance must be what they meant!”

In the final moment, Maesellan leaned in close to Yeogon and whispered,

“A naughty child needs discipline, don’t you think?”

In an instant, Yeogon felt his strength drain away, leaving him in a strange, languid state.

This was due to Maesellan’s use of a special technique, but in his disoriented state, Yeogon couldn’t grasp what was happening.

Hiss!

Unlike before, two snakes leisurely coiled around his limbs, slithering up his body.

Hiss… Hiss…

The snakes wrapped around his arms and legs flicked their tongues, ready to bite at any moment.

Under the influence of Maesellan’s technique, Yeogon found it increasingly difficult to channel his inner energy.

As Maesellan’s martial prowess grew, so did the potency of her technique.

“Damn it, my body…!”

Yeogon felt cold sweat trickle down his back.

Maesellan murmured softly,

“Once the lesson is over, I’ll finish you.”

As soon as she finished speaking,

Hiss! Hiss!

The two snakes slashed across Yeogon’s skin, gliding swiftly.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

It was as if two streaks of light were wrapping around Yeogon’s entire body, moving with a serpentine grace.

Finally, when the two swords returned to Maesellan’s hands, regaining their poised form,

Rip… Rip… Rip…!

Yeogon’s clothes were shredded, falling away in tatters.

It was reminiscent of the time when Ichung’s clothes had been torn at the Jeongdomeng.

Except now, Yeogon lay on the ground, bleeding from his entire body, desperately trying to cover himself.

Watching in a daze, Jaunryong cleared his throat and remarked,

“That’s quite the peculiar taste.”

“It wasn’t intentional this time!”

Maesellan quickly retorted.

She had only meant to teach him a lesson, not strip him of his clothes.

But Jaunryong seemed unconvinced.

“Well, they do say couples grow alike. Perhaps spending time with Lord Sabigang has influenced your tastes…”

“It’s not like that!”

Maesellan shouted, glancing around.

Eager to change the subject, she raised her voice.

“The leader of the Okma group has fallen!”

Her shout was met with cheers from the Myeolma warriors, while the Okma members stood in shock, their morale shattered.