Episode 437: Return to the Demon Sect
In the infirmary of the Chohwan Hall.
“I see,” Sabigang murmured, his expression heavy with thought.
He stood by the window, gazing out for a long while before turning back.
“So, there’s no chance of her returning?”
“Hmm. I wouldn’t say there’s no chance at all,” Jinbaek replied, resting his chin on his hand, his brow furrowed.
His gaze fell on Yujeong, who lay peacefully asleep on the bed.
“The problem is, we don’t know when that might be. For her, it must be a memory she’d rather erase.”
“A memory she’d rather erase…”
The two men watched Yujeong’s sleeping form in silence for a long time.
Sabigang spoke absentmindedly, “At least for this moment, I envy her.”
Jinbaek looked up at Sabigang thoughtfully. “You should try to set down your burdens from time to time. It won’t change much, and you’ll gather strength to pick them up again.”
“I can’t do that. There are too many waiting for me to let my guard down. This fight won’t end until either I or they are gone.”
“Then don’t waste your energy on envy. It’s an unnecessary emotion.”
Sabigang frowned slightly at Jinbaek’s unexpectedly cold response. “You’re rather harsh today.”
“If you can’t put down your burdens, there’s no point in looking at those who can.”
“True,” Sabigang nodded with a faint smile.
He turned his gaze back to Yujeong. “You did well to save her.”
“I’m sorry. I wish I could have preserved her memories too…”
“It’s not your fault, Jin. You did everything you could. Apologies are for those who did only what they could.”
Jinbaek, understanding who Sabigang was referring to, gave a wry smile. “Don’t be too hard on the instructor.”
“I’ll try. But as a teacher, there are things I can’t forgive.”
Jinbaek gave another wry smile and left the room.
Sabigang looked down at Yujeong and spoke softly, “You chose to run away in the end. But sometimes, you need the courage to face things head-on.”
**
Sabigang was just leaving the Chohwan Hall when a man came running up, breathless.
It was none other than Jaunryong, who grabbed Sabigang’s arms and shouted, “How is Jeong-ah?”
“She regained consciousness but is asleep again.”
“And her injuries…?”
“The child is safe.”
“Oh…!” Jaunryong trembled with relief, tears in his eyes. “Thank you. Thank you! Can I see her now?”
“Go ahead.”
Jaunryong took a deep breath and hurried inside.
Just then, Sabigang remembered something and called out, “Oh, but be careful.”
“What do you mean?” Jaunryong paused and turned back.
Sabigang shrugged. “She’s lost her memory.”
“Lost her memory? What do you mean? Don’t tell me…!”
Jaunryong’s face went pale as he pressed for answers. “Don’t tell me she doesn’t remember me?”
Sabigang gave a cold smile. “Even now, you’re worried she might not remember you.”
“That’s…”
“Fortunately, she remembers you.”
“Then what…?”
“She’s chosen to forget all the mistakes you made. If it were me, I’d have erased you from my memory entirely.”
“My mistakes…”
“Everything related to you handing her over as a test subject is gone from her memory. She’s spared you.”
“Is that true?”
“Why would I lie about something like this?”
Sabigang turned to leave, but Jaunryong’s voice stopped him.
“Wait. Just one question.”
“What is it?”
“What should I do?”
Sabigang narrowed his eyes. “About what?”
“Exactly what I said. What should I do? She might have chosen to forget those terrible memories. Or maybe she didn’t want to believe what I did. But…”
“But?”
“Should I try to bring back those memories? Or should I let her forget and treat her well from now on…”
Smack!
Jaunryong’s head snapped to the side from the force of the slap.
Sabigang had approached without him noticing and struck him.
Grabbing Jaunryong by the collar, Sabigang growled, “You’re a coward to the end.”
“What are you saying? I genuinely don’t know what’s best for her! What’s the right decision?”
He had already hurt her once. He didn’t want to hurt her again.
Jaunryong’s face flushed with emotion as he shouted, “If my choice causes her more pain…”
“Shut up. That’s why you need to decide. If you can’t find an answer after ten times, think a hundred times, and if that doesn’t work, think a million, ten million times. Asking me for the answer without even trying is cowardly.”
”…!”
“You’re truly pathetic!”
As Jaunryong stood there, stunned, Sabigang continued in a colder tone, “You caused this mess and now want to pass the responsibility to someone else. Can you still call yourself her teacher?”
“That’s…”
“At this rate, she’s the one teaching you.”
Sabigang released his grip, and Jaunryong stumbled back, collapsing to the ground.
He looked as if he’d been struck on the back of the head, his expression dazed.
Sabigang glared at him with icy disdain.
“I don’t understand why she follows someone like you.”
Sabigang turned to leave but paused again.
“And don’t get any ideas. Just because you helped the Myeolma Hall doesn’t mean I owe you anything. We could have handled those scum without you.”
Having said his piece, Sabigang walked away without looking back.
Jaunryong watched him go, a bitter laugh escaping his lips once Sabigang was out of sight.
“What is it with him? That confidence… But damn it, I can’t argue with him.”
Jaunryong hung his head, feeling utterly wretched.
How much time passed like that?
He could have stayed there forever when a clear, bell-like voice broke the silence.
“What are you doing here?”
Startled, he turned to see Yujeong—or so he thought—standing there, watching him.
“Jeong-ah…!”
The woman smiled faintly. “It’s me, Soso.”
Only then did Jaunryong realize it was not Yujeong but Neung Soso, and he apologized.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I mistook you for someone else…”
Seeing Neung Soso, he understood why he had asked Sabigang such a foolish question.
It was because of this woman.
At least she had always respected her teacher, Sabigang, immensely.
Neung Soso, unfazed by Jaunryong’s mistake, tucked her hair behind her ear and looked toward the Chohwan Hall.
“She’s in there, right? The one you always talked about, the one you said I resemble.”
Jaunryong gave a wry smile and stood up. “You remembered.”
“Yes. Just from your expression, I can tell how important she is to you.”
Jaunryong looked at Neung Soso thoughtfully. “I’m sorry for deceiving you.”
“Honestly… I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. But it doesn’t matter now. I still believe in people’s goodwill.”
Jaunryong was taken aback by her words.
The more he looked, the more he saw the resemblance.
“I love her.”
“What?”
Neung Soso turned in surprise, and Jaunryong continued, looking toward the Chohwan Hall.
“I love that child. Of course, as a teacher cherishes and loves a student.”
“Oh, I see.”
“But seeing you, Instructor Neung, I realized how lacking I am. And seeing the person you admire so much, I realized again that I’m not yet someone who can take responsibility for another.”
Jaunryong looked up at the infirmary.
“Now I see a little more clearly the burden I carry. Honestly… I was envious. Of the person you respect so much. But I’ve decided not to be envious anymore. I realized that’s a cowardly emotion too. From now on, instead of wasting time on envy… I’ll think more deeply.”
Neung Soso watched him quietly, and Jaunryong asked, slightly flustered, “Oh, was I too talkative?”
“No. Just now, I saw a glimpse of the person I admire in you.”
Neung Soso smiled warmly.
“Someone must be singing my praises a bit too much. My ears are tingling.”
Just as Sabigang was about to step into the courtyard, a sudden whoosh cut through the air.
Whoosh!
A flaming whip lashed out of nowhere, slicing through the space where Sabigang had just been standing.
Crash!
The ground where he had been moments before caved in, sending debris flying in all directions.
Clatter!
Sabigang quickly swung his sword, Veritas, deflecting the shards that threatened to rain down on him.
“Tch! You dodged that well!”
A sharp voice rang out, and the fiery whip cracked through the air once more.
Whoosh!
Sabigang deftly parried the whip with Veritas, a frown creasing his brow.
Thwack!
“What are you doing? I thought the assassination attempts were over.”
“It’s not about the mission! Like I said, if I can’t have you, I’ll just break you! Not completely, of course. Just enough to keep you by my side.”
The tattoo on Seol Seorin’s cheek darkened as she pressed her attack, relentless and fierce.
Whoosh! Crack!
The scorching heat filled the courtyard, making the air shimmer.
“Tch! So just die quietly, will you?”
“You’re not making any sense.”
“Why not? Oh, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of your body. I’ll hug it, kiss it, and stroke it every day!”
“That’s not the point!”
Thwack! Crack! Thwack!
The two of them danced in a fiery exchange, sparks flying between them.
Suddenly, Sabigang closed the distance between them, catching Seorin off guard.
“Oh my, when you get this close, my heart just races…”
Sabigang tapped her left shoulder lightly.
“Open your shoulder.”
Tap!
Then he nudged her right foot with his left, shifting her stance.
“Step back with your right foot.”
Tap, tap.
“Focus your energy on these two points. Can you feel it?”
“I always feel you with my whole body.”
“Stop with the nonsense. Balance yourself here.”
Tap, tap, tap.
Sabigang pressed three pressure points, causing Seorin to stagger and lose her balance.
He clicked his tongue.
“If you can’t master this, you’ll never handle Makan’s tail properly.”
“Ugh! What is this? Are you mocking my sincerity?”
“Mocking? This is what real mockery looks like!”
With that, Sabigang launched himself off the ground, darting towards her like an arrow.
Whoosh!
“Gah!”
Seorin instinctively stepped back, startled.