Episode 468: Return to the Demonic Sect

The grounds of the Demonic Sect had become a wasteland of death.

Step by step, the warriors trudged across the charred earth, their faces heavy with sorrow. Though their time here had been brief, it had been the pinnacle of their lives, filled with extraordinary events. It was a place where the righteous and the wicked had set aside their differences, laughed, and forged bonds. Such unity was unheard of in the history of the martial world, where factions were always at each other’s throats.

Now, those memories were nothing but ashes scattered by the wind. The sound of a few female disciples quietly weeping could be heard, their hearts a tumult of relief at having survived, anger that it wasn’t truly over, and mourning for the fallen.

Gojoksan approached Maesulan to report. “There are no survivors.”

“I see. Thank you for your efforts.”

As Gojoksan turned to leave, he hesitated. “It’s thanks to you, Commander.”

”…?”

“That so many of us survived. Your leadership and decisions saved us. You should be proud.”

Maesulan gave him a faint smile. “Thank you.”

With that, Gojoksan stepped back, and Maesulan made her way alone to the main hall. From the hill, she could see the ruins of the Demonic Sect, now just a landscape of blackened death. The intense heat had left no trace of the bodies, reducing them to ashes.

She felt a pang of guilt for Sabigang. How much effort had he put into building this place? ‘I won’t make excuses for the choices I had to make… but I won’t regret them either,’ she thought, biting her lip. She reminded herself not to dwell on the past. Sabigang would have planned for the future rather than wallow in regret. He always seemed to live in the moment, yet he was meticulous in his preparations.

When the Blood Alliance warriors attacked, Sabigang’s foresight had saved them. It was a close call. If they had tried to break through the encirclement after exiting the cave, they would have been annihilated. But they hadn’t given up, and that had brought them a chance. Her determination not to lose a single person had aligned with Sabigang’s, leading to their survival.

Just then, Danrijung approached. “There are signs that someone has been here.”

“Signs?”

“Yes, footprints, and…,” Danrijung’s gaze shifted to the scattered ashes in front of the main hall. It looked as if the wind had blown them, or perhaps someone had deliberately disturbed them.

“Do you think something was taken?”

Danrijung nodded. “It’s possible, though I’m not certain.”

“Hmm.” Maesulan pondered. If only Churyang were here, he would have figured it out. But who would come to this desolate place, and what could they have taken?

“Could it have been Gugoryong?”

“Hard to say.” Danrijung shrugged. Gugoryong had vanished after running off somewhere, likely overwhelmed by the loss of his brother. Perhaps he had come here first to find his brother’s remains. But if that were the case…

“Wouldn’t he have left some trace?”

“True.” Maesulan nodded slightly, her gaze fixed on the site of the main hall. Just then, a loud noise came from the hill below as ashes were scattered.

Crash!

It was Banggak. He had driven his twin swords into the ground and knelt, his shoulders shaking with sobs. Danrijung spoke softly, her eyes heavy with sorrow. “That’s where Dobicheon and Jinjo-young fell.”

“So many scars left behind,” Maesulan murmured bitterly.

Suddenly, a young woman’s voice reached her. “Having many scars means there are many reasons to live…”

Turning, Maesulan saw Yujeong standing beside Jaunryong, a wistful smile on her face. She seemed surprised by her own words. “Why did I suddenly think of that?”

In truth, it was something Sabigang had said to her once, though Yujeong, with her memory partially erased, couldn’t recall why it had come to mind. Maesulan approached her with a wry smile. “That’s a good thought. It gives me strength.”

Yujeong blushed as Maesulan clasped her hands. “Th-thank you.”

**

Thud, thud…!

A large stone monument was erected on the hill of the Demonic Sect, a tribute to the fallen. Gokbo-ok had brought the largest rock from the nearby forest, and Josinryang inscribed it with words. The warriors gathered before the monument, their jaws clenched tight. Just yesterday, their comrades had been laughing and talking, now vanished without a trace.

Banggak knelt, weeping uncontrollably. He missed Dobicheon, Jinjo-young, and Baekgongbo terribly. He could vividly recall Dobicheon playing with a dagger between his fingers, Jinjo-young’s confident laughter, and Baekgongbo’s booming voice. He hadn’t realized how much space they occupied in his life until they were gone.

Gokbo-ok clenched his fists, his teeth grinding, while Seolseorin sat as if in a daze, staring at the sky. Danrijung, her eyes swollen, glared at the inscription on the monument.

Here lie the heroes of the martial world, who gave their lives for a righteous cause.

Gokbo-ok approached Danrijung. “It’s alright.”

She turned to him, and he continued, looking up at the monument. “No one blames you for your decision.”

Danrijung’s heart ached. She felt guilty for the explosive device she had used, which had left no remains of the fallen. It was as if their very existence had been erased. She feared she wouldn’t meet them again, even in death. But Gokbo-ok was there to comfort her.

“This is the land of the living. It may be sad, but the traces of the dead don’t matter. Your decision saved us all. It’s not their bodies that are important, but that we remember them.”

Danrijung nodded, looking back at the monument, vowing never to forget.

Meanwhile, Mokdanhwa approached Seolseorin, who sat in a stupor. She hesitated, unsure of what to say. Seolsumin had sacrificed himself to save her, and his last words still echoed in her mind, asking her to remain a good friend to Seolseorin.

But…

‘What should I do? I don’t have the confidence.’

Mokdanhwa bit her lip. Surely Seolseorin blamed her. Because of her, Seolsumin had died. How could she not be the target of Seolseorin’s anger? As she hesitated, Seolseorin spoke coldly without turning around.

“Don’t bother with clumsy comfort. It’ll just make me angrier.”

Mokdanhwa flinched, bowing her head. Normally, she would have argued back, but not today. After a long pause, she finally spoke.

“I’m sorry… because of me, your…”

“Shut up! Just shut up!”

Seolseorin suddenly screamed, turning to grab Mokdanhwa by the collar. Mokdanhwa froze, staring into Seolseorin’s bloodshot eyes. It was unfamiliar. Seolseorin, who always wore a crazed smile, now had eyes filled with profound sorrow.

Seolseorin, her eyes brimming with tears and anger, cried out, “Please, just shut up…! If you talk like that…! Our brother… our brother becomes… so pitiful…! The meaning of his sacrifice for you… becomes meaningless…!”

Finally, Seolseorin collapsed, sobbing. Mokdanhwa stood there, stunned, not having expected such words. After a long while, Seolseorin looked up, her gaze fierce.

“So cherish that life! Your existence is… our brother’s will! Be glad you survived, more than anyone!”

Watching Seolseorin cry, tears streaming down her face, Mokdanhwa found herself unable to respond. After a moment, she crouched down in front of Seolseorin and spoke.

“Alright. I’ll be glad, more than anyone. And I won’t feel sorry. Instead, I’ll be grateful.”

Seolseorin continued to weep, unable to reply. Seeing her like this, Mokdanhwa felt an overwhelming sadness welling up from deep within her heart.

“What on earth… What is this? I thought she was just a madwoman consumed by insanity… But why is she saying things that make me cry?”

Tears welled up in Mok Dan-hwa’s eyes as she gently placed a hand on Seol Seo-rin’s shoulder.

Seol Seo-rin didn’t brush her hand away.

Mok Dan-hwa made a silent vow to herself.

“I’ll try to be a good friend to you. And…”

With a determined look, she spoke to Seol Seo-rin.

“I’ll… step aside.”

Seol Seo-rin, after sobbing for a while, lifted her head and asked, “What do you mean?”

“You’ll be his first wife… You’re the one he truly loves.”

“What…?”

“You’re the first wife. Like you said, I’m just the concubine.”

It was only then that Seol Seo-rin realized Mok Dan-hwa was talking about Sa Bi-gang.

Seol Seo-rin stared at Mok Dan-hwa in a daze.

After a long pause, she finally spoke.

“You… really are crazy, aren’t you?”

“What?”

“Giving up the position of the first wife? Did you really think you could be his woman?”

Seol Seo-rin’s eyes widened as she questioned, and Mok Dan-hwa felt a vein throb on her forehead.

‘This girl… acting all innocent now! When was it that she was shouting she was the first wife and I was the concubine?’

As she was tempted to retract her earlier vow,

“Maybe you should see the head of the medical hall. You might have hit your head in the last battle…”

Seol Seo-rin suggested, looking at her with genuine concern, which finally made Mok Dan-hwa snap.

“Enough! You wretch! Get lost! I’ll be the first wife!”

“You crazy woman! Who are you to talk about being the first wife or concubine? I’d kill him just to keep him by my side!”

“I knew it! You lunatic!”

“Who’s calling who a lunatic? I’ll kill you!”

“Weren’t you the one who said life was precious?”

“That’s your problem! My situation is different!”

Their voices suddenly rose in front of the gravestone.

Mok Dan-hwa sighed inwardly.

“Are you watching? I’m sorry. It seems I really can’t be a good friend to this woman.”