Episode 450: Return to the Demonic Sect
The scene at the foot of the hill was nothing short of chaos. The Demonic Sect’s stronghold was engulfed in flames, with fire licking the air and the clashing of metal, the sound of flesh being torn, and screams echoing all around.
The four disciples of the Demonic Sect’s leader, known as the Four Demonic Spirits, watched the carnage with detached eyes.
“They’re holding out longer than I expected,” muttered Ilshinma, the eldest of the four, in a flat tone. Beside him, Ishinma, wearing a black eyepatch over one eye, chuckled.
“That’s what makes it interesting. They did name themselves the ‘Demon Extermination Sect,’ after all.”
“But if we drag this out too long, the master won’t be pleased. Let’s wrap this up,” said Samshinma, whose massive frame and stone-like skin made him look formidable. The others nodded in agreement.
“I think it’s time we step in,” Ilshinma agreed, rising to his feet.
“Let’s finish this,” he said, his eyes turning cold as ice.
**
Swoosh, thud! Swish, thud!
Jin Jo-young darted around, his sword flashing in the air, while Do Bi-cheon’s daggers flew through the air, striking the enemy’s vital points.
“Aaargh!”
Screams erupted from all directions. Some were from the enemy, others from the warriors of the Demon Extermination Sect.
“Damn it! These bastards just keep coming!” Jin Jo-young cursed, panting heavily after decapitating a demon charging at him.
Back-to-back with him, Do Bi-cheon gasped for breath. “Are there any more stragglers?”
“Damn it, we’re the stragglers now, you idiot.”
“Your mouth never stops, does it?” Do Bi-cheon retorted, but Jin Jo-young just laughed it off.
In truth, they were the only two left standing at the southern gate. They had rushed to the outer gate to save others, managing to help many escape inside, but ended up isolated themselves.
The two stood back-to-back, scanning the demons surrounding them with cold eyes.
“Think we can make it out alive?”
“We have to. We need to brag to the old man.”
“Right. We’ve survived worse.”
“Let’s go!”
“Hyah!”
With a battle cry, they charged forward. The clash of metal and cries of battle filled the air once more.
The demons, led by the Blood Eagle Seven Demons, shouted as they attacked.
“Get those persistent bastards! Finish them off!”
“It’s just two of them! Hurry up!”
But Do Bi-cheon and Jin Jo-young fought valiantly. Whenever the demons tried to close in, Do Bi-cheon would spread his arms, sending daggers flying in all directions.
Jin Jo-young glanced at him, eyes narrowing. “Is that… the Tang Clan’s Thousand Blossoms Rain?”
“No, I modified it to suit my style.”
“Does Tang Yi-hyeop know?”
“Of course. We’re sworn brothers.”
“Crazy. A sworn brotherhood between a righteous and a demonic sect member. The world would laugh.”
Jin Jo-young laughed coldly as he cut down another enemy. But he knew. He had noticed Do Bi-cheon and Tang Yi-hyeop always together in recent days. Perhaps their shared use of hidden weapons had brought them together.
In the Demon Extermination Sect, such alliances were not unusual. Under the guidance of Sa Bi-gang and Mae Seol-ran, students mingled regardless of their backgrounds. It was likely Sa Bi-gang had envisioned this outcome when founding the sect.
Do Bi-cheon’s dagger skills shone even when surrounded by enemies, allowing Jin Jo-young to move more freely and cut down foes with ease.
Then, at a crucial moment,
“Now!”
“Leave it to me!”
At Do Bi-cheon’s shout, Jin Jo-young leaped into action.
Swish!
His target was none other than the sixth of the Blood Eagle Seven Demons.
Seeing Jin Jo-young charging at him, the sixth demon quickly extended his hands, shouting, “Fireball!”
Whoosh, boom!
A fiery orb formed in his palms, only to be shattered instantly.
Slash!
A flash of light grazed the sixth demon’s chest.
“Aaargh!”
Blood spurted like a fountain as the sixth demon screamed and fell.
“Brother!”
The fifth demon charged, eyes wide with rage.
“You slippery bastard! I’ll grind you to… Ugh!”
He couldn’t finish his sentence. In his frenzy, Do Bi-cheon’s dagger flew through the air, piercing his throat.
There was no time to defend or dodge. The fifth demon fell, lifeless.
“Brothers!”
The seventh demon roared, charging at Do Bi-cheon.
“Wait!”
The third demon tried to stop him, but the seventh was already upon Do Bi-cheon.
As he swung his iron rod without mercy,
Swish, clink!
A deep blue flash sliced the back of his neck, and Jin Jo-young’s sword returned to its sheath.
The One-Strike Counter.
A technique that delivered a single, fatal blow before the sword returned to its sheath. Based on the Lightning Sword of the Peony Blossom, it was a technique Jin Jo-young had developed, influenced by the righteous sects.
Though seemingly inefficient, the One-Strike Counter was a deadly move that guaranteed a critical hit.
With the seventh demon’s head severed, Do Bi-cheon quickly threw more daggers, shouting, “This way!”
Jin Jo-young followed closely behind.
Just three more.
If they could eliminate three more of the Blood Eagle Seven Demons, they could break through the encirclement and reach the inner sanctum.
Their judgment was spot on.
The demons, arranged in a formation like a tactical array, were thrown into disarray, creating an opening. The two seized the opportunity and dashed through.
But then…
Swish, thud!
“Ugh!”
Do Bi-cheon, who was leading, cried out and fell.
“Cheon!”
Jin Jo-young’s voice tore through the air.
“Ugh…!”
Do Bi-cheon lay crumpled on the ground, groaning. Jin Jo-young rushed to his side, only to find a gaping hole in Do Bi-cheon’s chest.
“Damn it… What are you doing here? Go on without me!”
“Shut up, you bastard! Don’t talk!”
Jin Jo-young shouted as he tried to staunch the bleeding, knowing it was futile.
Clap, clap, clap!
Suddenly, the sound of applause drew his attention. A middle-aged man approached with a leisurely expression.
It was Ilshinma, the eldest of the Four Demonic Spirits.
Jin Jo-young felt it immediately.
‘He’s strong…!’
Meeting the man’s snake-like eyes, he felt as if he were ensnared in a web, unable to move.
This was the man who had dealt a fatal blow to Do Bi-cheon in a single strike. If he had wanted, he could have easily killed Jin Jo-young, who had been running behind.
It had been a long time since he had faced such a formidable opponent.
His fingertips trembled slightly.
“A touching friendship. Have you said your goodbyes?”
“Shut up, you bastard!”
Jin Jo-young roared, launching a desperate attack.
In that moment, he knew he was going to die.
Yet, rather than flee, he attacked, clinging to his last shred of pride.
He would die fighting, not running.
Swish, thud!
As he passed the man, Jin Jo-young felt a warmth spreading through his chest.
Drip, drip!
He felt something flowing.
And then,
Slash!
Jin Jo-young was airborne.
Or rather, his head was.
He saw his own headless body, and a short distance away, Do Bi-cheon, waiting for death with a look of despair.
‘Damn… I won’t be able to face the old man in the afterlife.’
That was his final thought.
Thud, roll…
Ilshinma watched Jin Jo-young’s head roll across the ground, then turned to the demons hesitating behind him.
“What are you waiting for? Clean up and move out.”
“Yes, sir!”
The demons surged toward the fallen Do Bi-cheon.
**
Swish, thud!
“Ugh! Damn it…!”
The last of the Demonic Sect’s followers at the western gate cursed as he fell.
“Huff, huff, huff…!”
Pulling her sword from the man’s heart, Deung Ja-gyeong panted heavily, surveying her surroundings.
A sea of corpses.
The ground was littered with bodies, but at least there were more of the Demonic Sect’s than their own.
The western gate had been fortunate, facing fewer enemies.
Deung Ja-gyeong was not unscathed. Her body bore numerous wounds, and she was drenched in blood, a specter of death.
Having dealt with the last of the Demonic Sect’s followers, she moved slowly on trembling legs.
“Is anyone… still alive?”
Silence.
The eerie feeling of being the only one alive in a sea of the dead was unsettling.
It was a miracle she had survived when everyone else had perished.
But there was one thing that bothered her…
“Damn it, everyone ran to the inner sanctum without me. How could they?”
He was a nobody.
Yet, none of the martial artists at the Myeolma Hall seemed to notice his presence.
As he tried to drag his heavy feet away, a gruff voice called out from behind him.
“Hey, did you take down all these guys?”
Startled, Deung Jakyung turned stiffly to see a gaunt man with pale skin staring directly at him.
It was none other than the cult leader’s youngest disciple, Sashinma.
“Damn it, even my faint presence is useless now,” Deung Jakyung muttered under his breath.
Sashinma frowned, clearly puzzled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Doesn’t matter. Bring it on,” Deung Jakyung replied, summoning the last of his strength.
He sensed death approaching. The man before him was powerful. He was going to die here.
A sudden wave of sorrow washed over him, the thought that no one might even notice his death.
‘None of that matters. I just need to hold him back as long as I can!’
If there were any students who hadn’t escaped to the inner quarters yet, he had to buy them time.
As he revealed his fighting spirit, Sashinma chuckled. “How cute. I’ll make it quick for you.”
Sashinma opened his palm, and a searing ball of fire began to form.
In the next moment, he unleashed it. “Flame Spear.”
The fiery projectile shot through the air toward Deung Jakyung.
“Uwaaah!” Deung Jakyung cried out, tears in his eyes, as he braced himself.
With a tremendous explosion, the firestorm erupted and then vanished.
Deung Jakyung, having swung his sword, sensed something was off and slowly opened his eyes.
There was nothing in his way.
”…!”
He saw a man standing with his back to him, covered in soot, who turned and grinned.
“What are you standing around for, idiot? Get to the inner quarters, now.”
“Baek Gongbo!”
“You go on ahead. I’ll handle things here. I’m tougher than I look.”
“You… you did this on purpose to save me…”
“What are you waiting for? Go!”
Baek Gongbo shouted, charging at Sashinma.
Sashinma scowled, unimpressed. “Not so cute.”
He swung his palm at the rapidly approaching Baek Gongbo.
Crash!
Deung Jakyung flinched as he watched.
‘He took Baek Gongbo down with one hand?’
Wasn’t he too strong?
Then Baek Gongbo yelled again. “Go! Get others to help!”
“R-right!”
Deung Jakyung quickly turned away.
He realized staying would be useless. It was better to move and call for reinforcements.
Sashinma watched Deung Jakyung run off but didn’t pursue him. Instead, he turned to Baek Gongbo.
“You really think you’ll survive until he brings someone back?”
“Heh. I know I won’t. But that guy will live, won’t he?”
With a final, desperate attack, Baek Gongbo struck.
And that attack truly was his last.