Episode 467: The Return of the Demon Sect
Thud!
“Ugh!”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Aaaargh!”
With a crazed battle cry, Ilshinma unleashed his devastating martial arts technique.
Thud, thud, thud…!
“Aaah!”
“Ugh!”
The warriors of the Myolma Sect screamed as they were thrown back.
“You bastards…! I’ll kill every last one of you…!”
Ilshinma, his face twisted like a demon’s, ground his teeth, causing the surrounding warriors to recoil in fear.
“What a relentless monster,” So Cheon-ak muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
“He’s a beast,” Yu Eung-hyang agreed, nodding.
“To think he’s the first disciple of the cult leader… truly terrifying,” added Jang Hu-gyeom, the leader of Bukcheon Pavilion, clicking his tongue.
The Demon Sect was nearly annihilated.
Even the fearsome Sashinma had long since become a cold corpse.
Yet, the last one standing was Ilshinma.
He fought like a man possessed, as if he were no longer human.
Despite being covered in blood, the dark energy emanating from him showed no signs of waning.
A sword was lodged in his side, two daggers pierced his thigh, and a spear had run through his left shoulder, dragging on the ground as he moved.
Like a wounded beast, his eyes were filled with a dying light, yet he never lost his madness.
Even at the brink of despair, the beast glared at his enemies, growling menacingly.
Maeseolan stepped forward.
“Though we meet as enemies, I must commend your bravery.”
“Silence!”
With a sudden burst of speed, Ilshinma charged forward.
Swoosh!
His movement was so swift that the warriors surrounding him cried out in surprise.
“Commander!”
But Maeseolan remained calm.
She felt no fear.
Had Ilshinma been uninjured, she might not have been able to fend off such an attack.
But now, he was deeply wounded and highly agitated.
His sheer determination kept him moving, but it also left him vulnerable.
With a deft twist, Maeseolan dodged Ilshinma’s blade.
In the same motion, she unleashed her twin swords, slicing through the air.
Swish, swish!
Like a silver-scaled serpent, her blades struck at Ilshinma’s vital points.
Thud! Thud!
“Ugh…!”
Ilshinma coughed up blood and collapsed to his knees.
So Cheon-ak rushed forward, shouting.
“Now’s our chance!”
Swoosh, swoosh!
Weapons flew from all directions.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Ugh…!”
Spears and swords pierced Ilshinma’s body.
“Aaaaargh!”
With another fierce cry, Ilshinma unleashed a storm of dark energy, forcing the warriors to retreat and shield themselves.
“You… bastards…!”
Ilshinma gritted his teeth and staggered to his feet.
Despite being pierced like a pincushion, he refused to fall.
Step by step, he advanced, causing the warriors to flinch and back away.
“Truly… relentless…!”
“Is he even human…?”
“How can he still stand…?”
Yet Maeseolan stood her ground, unmoved.
If he could reach her, she was prepared to end it herself.
But even the seemingly immortal Ilshinma was still human.
Blood flowed from the blade embedded in his chest, and he finally sank to one knee.
Then, with a heavy sigh, he knelt fully, his breath ragged and echoing off the cliff.
The one who had driven the Myolma Sect to the brink of destruction now faced his final moments.
The rising sun cast its light on his back.
Step by step, Maeseolan approached, her shadow falling over his kneeling form.
“Unfortunate for you. But next time, I’ll be even stronger, so luck won’t matter.”
Ilshinma chuckled weakly.
He lifted his head, his eyes half-open, and gazed at Maeseolan.
“Even in my final moments… to see your beautiful face… I am indeed fortunate. But for you… from now on… cough! cough! true despair…”
Ilshinma couldn’t finish his sentence.
He bowed his head and moved no more.
The man who seemed unkillable had finally fallen before Maeseolan.
The warriors of the Myolma Sect and the Blood Sect stood in silence.
Though he was their enemy, his bravery and skill were worthy of respect.
His death left them with a solemn feeling.
Maeseolan was the first to speak.
“Thank you for saving our sect. We owe you a great debt.”
“Think nothing of it. Sabigang’s leader personally requested our help. Though he is a talent of the Righteous Alliance, he has long been with us and is a hero of our sect,” So Cheon-ak replied with a gentle smile.
Most of the warriors who had come with him nodded in agreement.
They had been recruited by Sabigang during his time with the Blood Sect, and their respect for him was deep.
Especially for So Cheon-ak, the father of the infamous “Black Ghost” So Yu-gang, Sabigang held a special place.
“Do you know where my son is?”
“Your son…?”
“So Yu-gang. Or should I say ‘Black Ghost’ here?”
Maeseolan understood and replied.
“Ah! You mean the Black Ghost. He has left with Sabigang’s leader for the Descending Lands.”
“I see. No news from there yet?”
“None.”
Maeseolan was also curious about the situation in the Descending Lands.
So Cheon-ak nodded.
“Indeed. We can only hope for their safety…”
“They will be safe. Trust in your son…”
At that moment.
Boom!
From the southwest, a loud explosion erupted, and a pillar of energy shot into the sky.
The warriors on the cliff turned to look.
“What’s that…?”
“It’s the Myolma Sect!”
Someone shouted in response.
Dan Lijeong, as if realizing something, quickly used his lightness skill to rush to the edge of the cliff.
Maeseolan hurried to his side.
“What happened? What about Ong Gi-seung?”
Dan Lijeong’s expression darkened.
“He’s losing control.”
“Losing control?”
“It seems he can’t control the Demon Soul. The leader and the Demon Soul are currently battling.”
“What about the other Demon Sect members?”
So Cheon-ak approached and asked.
Dan Lijeong squinted and replied.
“About thirty percent of their forces are still gathered there, watching the battle between the leader and the Demon Soul.”
“Who do you think will win?”
“I don’t know. Both are formidable. But right now… it’s dangerous no matter who wins.”
The Demon Soul is no longer Ong Gi-seung.
The Demon Soul has essentially taken over Ong Gi-seung’s spirit.
It might be even more challenging than facing the leader.
So Cheon-ak shouted.
“Then let’s all return to the Myolma Sect! We’ll wipe out the Demon Sect members!”
“It’s dangerous. Even if we eliminate the Demon Sect, we can’t contend with the Demon Soul.”
“Then what do you propose?”
“There is one way…”
Dan Lijeong murmured with a somber expression, causing Maeseolan to flinch and look at him.
“You don’t mean…?”
“Commander. With the Demon Soul out of control, there’s no way to stop it.”
“But still…!”
“Ong Gi-seung asked me for this favor.”
At that, Gu Gang-ryong pushed through the crowd and approached.
“Wait! What did he ask you to do? What are you planning?”
Dan Lijeong looked at him and pulled something from his pocket.
A stone, glowing with a brilliant red hue.
Gu Gang-ryong’s eyebrows shot up at the sight of the unusual object.
“What is that?”
“The Devil’s Fire. It’s called an ‘Explosive Orb.’ Just one of these can obliterate an entire manor.”
In an instant, Gu Gang-ryong grabbed Dan Lijeong by the collar.
“You madman…! You’re not planning to use that there, are you?”
“We have no choice! It’s the only way to eliminate both the Demon Soul and the Demon Sect!”
“You bastard! What about my brother?”
“It’s Ong Gi-seung’s wish! Besides, your brother isn’t there anymore! He’s already been subdued by the Demon Soul…”
Thud!
“Ugh!”
Dan Lijeong staggered back, clutching his face where Gu Gang-ryong had punched him.
Wiping the blood from his mouth, Dan Lijeong glared at Gu Gang-ryong.
“Your brother anticipated this and stayed behind. He asked me to do this. Even if you’re his brother, I must honor his wish.”
“You… you…!”
Gu Gang-ryong clenched his fists, his anger boiling over, grinding his teeth in frustration.
Finally, he roared at the sky.
“Aaaaargh! Damn it all!”
With that, Gu Gang-ryong took off, using his lightness skill to disappear into the distance.
Dan Lijeong glanced back at Maeseollan.
“Commander… shall I fire?”
Maeseollan hesitated. If she gave the order, the Myeolmagwan would be obliterated without a trace. Could she really do that? Everything Sabigang had built was there. Could she just blow it all away without a second thought? And what about Ong Giseung? Even though he had asked for it, was it right to send him off like this?
Just then, a deafening explosion erupted from the Myeolmagwan, accompanied by a surge of red energy.
So Cheonak approached Maeseollan. “Commander, now’s the time to think with your head, not your heart.”
‘Logic over emotion…’
Yes, dragging this out wouldn’t bring a better solution. The one bearing the heaviest burden was likely Dan Lijeong. Yet, he was keeping his composure.
Maeseollan steeled her expression and nodded at Dan Lijeong. “Fire.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
With that, Dan Lijeong pulled the bowstring taut. All the warriors on the cliff swallowed hard, watching intently. There were three arrows, each tied with explosive charges. Once released, they would fly towards the Myeolmagwan and unleash a massive explosion.
Tears welled up in Dan Lijeong’s eyes. ‘I’m sorry and thank you!’ It was his final farewell to Ong Giseung.
With a whoosh, the three arrows streaked through the air towards the Myeolmagwan.
Finally,
BOOM!
The entire Myeolmagwan was engulfed in flames with a tremendous explosion. The heat was palpable even from the cliff.
Maeseollan didn’t turn away. She watched the consequences of her decision until the very end. The warriors on the cliff remained silent.
**
Amidst the smoldering ruins, a man with a deeply pulled-down bamboo hat walked through the debris. The scene was unrecognizable from the once grand and splendid Myeolmagwan. The cultists of the Marryeong Sect had vanished without a trace. The explosion had been truly devastating.
Yet, the man in the bamboo hat seemed to be searching for something. He stopped abruptly at the site where the main hall once stood. With a light wave of his hand, he sent a gust of energy through the piled ashes.
To his surprise, beneath the scattered ashes lay a man, naked and covered in soot, but alive.
“Remarkable. It’s the Marryeong Soul. To survive the inferno that even the Marryeong Sect’s leader couldn’t withstand.”
A sly grin spread across the face of the man in the bamboo hat.