Episode 483: Return to the Demon Sect
Maeseollan glanced around nervously.
In front of her lay seven roots of the legendary Everlasting Snow Ginseng!
Even though they were in the heart of the Justice Alliance, with Sabigang by her side, her heart couldn’t help but race.
It felt as if a shadowy hand might suddenly reach out, snatch the ginseng, and vanish.
With a trembling voice, Maeseollan asked, “What are you going to do now?”
“What else? A feast is laid out, so we should enjoy it.”
“All of it? By yourself?”
“Why not?”
“You’re such a glutton.”
Maeseollan’s voice carried a hint of disappointment, to which Sabigang responded with a chuckle.
“If a pig can eat and digest seven roots of Everlasting Snow Ginseng, that’s not so bad.”
“Are you serious? You really plan to eat all of this alone?”
Sabigang shook his head, finally relenting. “Do I really look like a pig that would gobble up seven roots of ginseng?”
“Not exactly, but if you said you would, I’d almost believe it.”
Sabigang gave her an incredulous look, and Maeseollan burst into laughter.
The two of them laughed together for a while.
Consuming too many elixirs or pills at once doesn’t guarantee an increase in inner strength. In fact, it often leads to adverse effects.
The best approach is to take them gradually over time, but with the demon clan’s imminent threat, there was no time to waste.
Yet, they couldn’t just hand them out to anyone.
If a third-rate martial artist consumed the Everlasting Snow Ginseng, they might not even gain half the expected inner strength.
In other words, it would be like casting pearls before swine.
Of course, just because someone is skilled in martial arts doesn’t mean the ginseng will be effective for them. Timing is crucial.
The best course of action is to distribute the ginseng to those who can harness its energy most efficiently.
But first…
“I need to take care of myself.”
Sabigang pulled out one root of the ginseng.
“This one’s for me.”
He continued to distribute the roots with ease, as if he had planned it all along.
“This one’s for Churyang, this one’s for Jeokmurin, and this one’s for Danrijung.”
He handed them out as if they were mere candy sticks.
“Churyang should train in seclusion with Banmyo… Oh, and this one should go to the leader.”
“What about the other two?”
“One is for Heukgwi. If he’s still alive, he’ll make the most of it.”
“And the last one?”
It was a genuine question, but the response was unexpected.
Sabigang picked up a root and handed it to Maeseollan.
“Uh…?”
“This one’s for you.”
“For me?”
Maeseollan asked, bewildered.
Sabigang nodded. “Haven’t you ever wanted to become stronger?”
“I always do. But…”
Maeseollan recalled the last battle at Myeolmagwan.
She had given it her all, but facing Ilsinma, she had painfully realized her limits.
As much as it stung, she had to admit his strength.
The monstrous Ilsinma had eventually fallen, pierced by dozens of spears and swords, but in a one-on-one fight, she wouldn’t have stood a chance.
Maeseollan confessed, “Lately, I’ve been feeling that way even more.”
Sabigang smiled. “Of course. You’ve probably encountered another wall. Take it. It’ll help.”
“Thank you. I won’t refuse.”
“Don’t mention it. You worked hard too.”
On the day they sought out the Everlasting Snow Ginseng, Maeseollan had focused on minimizing casualties rather than fighting on the front lines.
If she hadn’t actively managed the situation, the village’s losses would have been far greater.
Sabigang continued with a playful grin, “If you’re really grateful, maybe tonight…”
“That’s enough. Any more, and my feelings for you might change.”
“Ah, well.”
Sabigang clicked his tongue in mock disappointment.
Maeseollan joked, but deep down, she was genuinely grateful to him.
And she was truly happy that Sabigang was someone she could share such banter with.
“Maybe I’m the luckiest woman in the world.”
“Because of the Everlasting Snow Ginseng?”
“No, because of you.”
Maeseollan smiled warmly.
If there was such a thing as a fairy’s smile, it would be like this.
Sabigang paused, pulling out a pouch from his pocket, and asked, “Alright, if not tonight, how about now?”
“Shut up.”
In the end, Sabigang resigned himself and took out the pouch.
It was time to distribute the Millennium Snow Ginseng.
There were also other potent elixirs to consider.
**
Neungunpa stared at the Everlasting Snow Ginseng on the table with burning eyes.
“Everlasting Snow Ginseng.”
He had repeated the phrase three times already.
Next to him, Ukcheongpung smiled gently and said, “It really is Everlasting Snow Ginseng. I couldn’t believe it at first either. Finding the Everlasting Snow Ginseng so quickly was astonishing, but sharing it without any conditions is truly remarkable.”
“Sabigang gave this to you?”
“Yes. He also distributed rare elixirs and pills to other martial artists.”
“I see.”
“This will greatly enhance our strength against the demon clan.”
Neungunpa looked at the ginseng silently, then spoke with a hint of indifference.
“I suppose he distributed it mainly among the Myeolmagwan warriors.”
“Of course, but they are the pillars who will protect this world.”
Ukcheongpung’s generous tone made Neungunpa glance at him with a hint of irritation.
“When did you become so fond of him?”
“Haha, I once held a grudge against him, but after this war, my perspective has changed. It was all just the petty jealousy of an old man lacking in cultivation.”
Neungunpa’s smile was cold.
‘Petty jealousy…’
He spoke again.
“What did you receive?”
“Haha, what use would an old man like me have for such energy? I received nothing.”
“I see. I wonder if it’s right for me to enjoy something so precious alone.”
“Of course, you should. You are also a pillar of this world.”
Neungunpa chuckled.
“A pillar, huh. There are so many pillars, there’s hardly any room to stand. Unless…”
‘…it’s sympathy.’
He swallowed the last words in his heart.
Neungunpa turned to Ukcheongpung with a smile.
“Thank you for letting me know. Please convey my thanks to Sabigang as well.”
“I’ll take my leave then.”
After Ukcheongpung left the room, Neungunpa glared at the Everlasting Snow Ginseng with a fierce gaze.
He could almost hear the voices praising Sabigang echoing in his ears.
‘How high do you intend to climb, Sabigang…?’
He ground his teeth.
**
Ijajun looked around in bewilderment.
The cold night air brushed against his cheeks.
Somewhere, the sound of dry leaves rustling could be heard.
Just an ordinary forest.
A scene you could find anywhere.
But Ijajun couldn’t comprehend it.
More than that…
‘Where am I?’
He slowly walked, surveying his surroundings.
Why was he here?
He distinctly remembered finishing his training early last night and going to bed.
And when he opened his eyes…
“Why am I here…?”
Ijajun looked down at his hands and feet with a grave expression.
He was fully dressed.
At least one thing was clear.
He hadn’t been kidnapped.
He had come here of his own accord.
When he regained consciousness, he was standing in the middle of this unknown forest.
His heart was racing, indicating he had used his lightness skill to get here.
His inner energy was circulating rapidly through his meridians.
Evidence that he had been using his lightness skill just moments ago.
‘Damn it! I can’t remember anything!’
At first, he thought it was a dream.
But such vivid reality couldn’t possibly be a dream.
How long had he wandered, lost in thought?
In the distance, he spotted an old shrine.
A deserted temple.
‘That…’
Finally, he had a rough idea of where he was.
The old shrine was located on the mountainside, northwest of the Justice Alliance’s main base.
Somehow, he had dressed himself and run here in his sleep.
And here, he had miraculously regained consciousness.
All sorts of thoughts crossed his mind.
At first, he wondered if he was sleepwalking, then considered the possibility of being under a spell.
Later, he even thought he might have been possessed by something from the demon realm.
It was then.
Creak…!
The shrine door opened, and a shadow emerged.
Ijajun tensed, furrowing his brow as he stared at the figure.
He didn’t know who it was, but he was certain they were connected to his presence here.
As the moonlight revealed the figure’s face, Ijajun involuntarily grimaced.
A face too grotesque to be human.
White protrusions covered the face, writhing as if alive.
Anyone with a weak stomach would likely retch at the sight.
‘A demon…?’
Ijajun instinctively assumed a defensive stance, picking up a long branch from the ground.
As a master of spear techniques, he could wield even a simple stick with deadly efficiency.
As he sharpened his senses with a keen edge, a mysterious figure beckoned softly, “No need to be startled. Come here, my child.”
Startled, Lee Jajun blurted out, “What kind of nonsense is this…! Ugh!”
Before he could finish his sentence, his expression turned blank, as if he were in a trance. He began to walk, almost mechanically, toward the stranger.
The stranger was none other than Count Adler.
“You called for me?” Lee Jajun asked, his voice sounding as if he were a completely different person.
Count Adler reached into his coat and pulled out something, extending it toward him. It was a necklace with a star-shaped pendant.
“Take this and give it to your master.”
“Understood.”
“Where did you find this?”
“I picked it up during the last Kanglimji War.”
“Good. Remember it well.”
“I will.”
“Now, be on your way.”
Lee Jajun, still under the spell, bowed deeply as if he were someone else entirely, then turned to leave. Moments later, he was speeding through the air, using his martial arts to head toward the main headquarters of the Justice Alliance.
Watching his retreating figure, Count Adler murmured to himself, “Humans… they never fail to amuse me.”
With that, his body crumbled like a sandcastle, vanishing into thin air.