Episode 490: The Return to the Demonic Sect

Jinbaek hurriedly followed Nangha, a rare sight for someone who never showed urgency, no matter the situation. His motto was always to take the long way around when in a rush. Yet, here he was, clearly in a hurry, his face etched with anxiety—a rarity for him. He had always taught his students that a physician’s expression should remain calm, for a worried doctor only unsettles the patient. But today, he couldn’t uphold that belief.

He burst through the door, entering the room with urgency. “Master Sa!”

Sa Bigang, who had been in conversation with Murang, looked up, puzzled. “What brings you here at this late hour?”

Sa Bigang instinctively sensed something was wrong.

“Yongcheon Hall… it’s under attack!”

“Yongcheon Hall? By whom?”

“A swift message arrived at the sect—it’s being attacked by demonic creatures!”

Sa Bigang frowned, trying to comprehend. Why would demons target Yongcheon Hall? Jinbaek continued, as if reading his thoughts.

“It seems there was a summoning site nearby that went unnoticed because no portal had formed. Now that it’s opened, all sorts of demons are pouring out, led by a demon commander.”

“That’s serious.”

“Indeed! What should we do now? Damn it!” Jinbaek cursed, uncharacteristically. He had spent many years at the sect’s medical division, but just as many at Yongcheon Hall. For both him and Sa Bigang, Yongcheon Hall was more than just an academy.

Sa Bigang stood up. “I’ll go.”

Jinbaek’s eyes widened. “Where?”

“Where else? To Yongcheon Hall.”

“Now? Even if you leave immediately, it will take at least a day, maybe two, to get there. By then, it might be too late…”

“I’ll find a way to get there faster.”

Jinbaek shook his head. He had come here out of anxiety and frustration, but he knew that by the time Sa Bigang arrived, the situation would likely be over—either the demons would be defeated, or Yongcheon Hall would be gone.

Sa Bigang turned to Murang. “I think it’s time to use what you mentioned. Can you manage it?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Then I’ll trust you and give it a try.”

Just then, Maesellan and Jo Montak burst through the door. “Big news! Yongcheon Hall is under attack…!”

Maesellan, who had barged in shouting, froze upon sensing the tense atmosphere. Seeing Sa Bigang preparing to leave, Maesellan asked, “What are you doing?”

“I’m going.”

“To Yongcheon Hall?”

“Yes.”

“Now…?”

Sa Bigang nodded. Maesellan and Jo Montak were left speechless. Although the distance between the sect and Yongcheon Hall wasn’t vast, it would still take two days on horseback. And yet, he was planning to go now?

“If you have a better idea, speak up.”

Faced with Sa Bigang’s calm response, Maesellan and Jo Montak couldn’t find words. A better idea? There wasn’t one. They had come to inform Sa Bigang, perhaps hoping he might find a solution. But now, seeing him ready to leave, they felt a twinge of doubt.

‘It’s impossible. It’ll be too late.’

Despite these thoughts, there was something about Sa Bigang’s determined gaze that made them want to trust him completely.

In the end, Maesellan asked a question even he found foolish. “Won’t you be too late?”

Of course, he would be. But Sa Bigang’s answer was different. “I’ll get there as fast as I can to make sure I’m not. So let’s not waste time talking.”

Jo Montak suddenly stepped forward. “Master! I’ll go with you!”

“I won’t slow down for you.”

“Of course! But with the Wind Boots, I can be faster than anyone. Plus, the elixir I took recently has greatly increased my inner strength. Please give me the chance to save my fellow disciples!”

“Then as you wish.”

“Thank you.”

“Then, I’ll be off.”

Sa Bigang started walking.

“Wait!”

As Sa Bigang turned at the door, Maesellan took a deep breath and said, “Be careful.”

“Don’t worry.”

Sa Bigang flashed a confident smile. In the next moment,

Whoosh!

He vanished as if he had never been there.

Shortly after,

Swoosh!

A gust of wind swept through the room, and Jo Montak was already racing far ahead.

‘Please, let them not be too late…!’ Jinbaek prayed silently, feeling a bit foolish for holding onto such an improbable hope.

**

Cheon Saemyung’s eyes widened in disbelief. The Black Ghost, his body torn and bleeding, stood firm, his shoulders heaving with each breath. Each time he exhaled, a dark aura swirled around him like a storm before settling.

Cheon Saemyung’s gaze shifted to the scene around him. Astonishingly, one-eyed giants lay scattered, their necks twisted. Cyclopes.

“Incredible.”

Even witnessing the Black Ghost’s battle with his own eyes, Cheon Saemyung found it hard to believe. When the Cyclopes had suddenly appeared to attack him, the Black Ghost had fought them with uncanny skill. Darkness would suddenly envelop the area, and then he would reappear elsewhere, strangling a Cyclops from behind. After taking one down, the darkness would swallow Cheon Saemyung, and when it lifted, two more Cyclopes lay defeated.

The Black Ghost vanished into the shadows, only to reappear unexpectedly. Despite his bound hands and feet, he moved with little hindrance. The dark aura emanating from his body seemed to consume and release him at will.

‘Is it some kind of sorcery? Or perhaps a demonic art?’

Yet, the Black Ghost didn’t seem like a demon.

‘Maybe it’s the power that was suppressing his true strength…’

The Black Ghost, who had been subdued by the Twin-Headed Beasts, was now a force to be reckoned with. Whether it was the demonic energy affecting him or a kind of awakening due to the danger, Cheon Saemyung couldn’t tell. What was clear was the strange, powerful aura now emanating from the Black Ghost.

Cheon Saemyung cautiously approached him. The Black Ghost continued to breathe heavily, his shoulders rising and falling.

“You seem to be losing a lot of blood. Let me stop the bleeding and apply some medicine.”

“Grrr!”

“As I’ve always said, I mean you no harm.”

Cheon Saemyung quickly applied pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. The Black Ghost flinched momentarily but soon calmed down, watching Cheon Saemyung’s actions with indifference.

As he applied the medicine, Cheon Saemyung muttered, “This is a problem. We need to save them.”

The Cyclopes they had just faced were terrifying creatures. Only a top-tier martial artist could hope to stand against them, and even then, victory was uncertain. But Yongcheon Hall was filled with students, not seasoned warriors. While there were talented young fighters among them, expecting them to remain calm against such monsters seemed unrealistic.

‘They’ve probably retreated to the main hall by now.’

The instructors gathered there would likely be preparing for a final stand against the demons.

“If you can, try to approach there as quietly as possible… hmm?”

Cheon Saemyung looked around, confused.

“Hey! Where did you go?”

But the Black Ghost was nowhere to be seen. Cheon Saemyung could only stare down at Yongcheon Hall with a bewildered expression.

**

A deep roar echoed as Eun Giryung summoned all his inner strength, his robe billowing with heat. He scanned the demonic creatures arrayed before him with fierce eyes.

Lizardmen, goblins, cyclopes, werewolves, ogres—an array of monsters exuding a suffocating aura. Their raw, unrefined power was unlike the demonic energy of the Demon Sect, carrying a wild, primal stench.

Just then, Joo Yucheon rushed out from the main hall to report. “As you instructed, we’ve activated the mechanisms to seal all the windows with iron bars. Now, we just need to defend the main entrance.”

“Good work.”

Joo Yucheon nodded and drew his sword with a sharp clang. A murderous intent radiated from his entire being. Most of the students had been evacuated to the main hall, but some lay crushed beneath the demons’ feet, lifeless. Several instructors had also fallen. Without their sacrifice, they wouldn’t have been able to save so many students.

Sang Pilji approached, standing beside him. “Why are these creatures attacking the main hall? It feels like they were targeting us from the start.”

Joo Yucheon nodded in agreement. “I feel the same. Why would they attack the main hall…?”

“Does it really matter why? These demons are a scourge that must be eradicated from this world. They’ve trespassed uninvited, and we have no choice but to punish them.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

“But those ones over there…”

Eun Gi-ryung’s gaze shifted to a few figures standing among the monsters.

It was none other than Duke Aranius, his loyal aide Javelin, and Baron Cassis.

Even amidst the throng of creatures, their presence was strikingly intense.

Eun Gi-ryung instinctively sensed that these three were far more formidable than the others.

Joo Yu-cheon’s expression hardened.

“They must be the demons leading these beastly creatures.”

Meanwhile, Javelin, standing opposite them, bowed his head toward Aranius.

“My apologies. I should have dealt with all of them before it came to this.”

Aranius slowly shook his head.

“No, if we eliminate them all, we won’t achieve our ultimate goal.”

“Ah…”

“Instead, take your time and enjoy it. Keeping them gathered here and under pressure until we seize Vertas isn’t a bad strategy.”

“Understood.”

Their aim was to use these captives to draw in Sabigang, who possessed Vertas.

Thus, Aranius was quite satisfied with the current situation.

He glanced around and spoke.

“Now, who will be the first to show them the might of the demons?”

Javelin was about to step forward, but Baron Cassis moved ahead of him.

“If you grant me the opportunity, I’ll instill true terror in those ignorant humans.”

Aranius nodded approvingly.

“Very well. I entrust this to you.”

“Thank you.”

Baron Cassis bowed and strode forward confidently.

Watching him, Joo Yu-cheon murmured telepathically.

[They almost seem human.]

[Their human appearance is irrelevant. What matters is the evil within them.]

At that moment, Sang Pil-ji stepped forward.

“I’ll try to stop him.”

Eun Gi-ryung and Joo Yu-cheon turned to look at him.

Their eyes silently asked if he was sure.

Sang Pil-ji gripped his sword tightly and replied, “Leave it to me.”

Eun Gi-ryung, setting aside his worries, nodded in trust.