Episode 501: Return to the Demon Sect

“Tell me everything about the current state of the subjugation squad,” Sabikang demanded, his expression grave.

Hongyeom bowed his head slightly before responding, “Two hours after the squad entered the summoning site, the entrance suddenly vanished.”

“The entrance disappeared?” Sabikang’s brow furrowed.

“Yes. We searched the area where the entrance had been, but it was as if it had never existed—just solid rock. We even tried cutting through it and using our energy, but nothing worked.”

Sabikang’s frown deepened. An entrance vanishing like that was not typical of a summoning site. It usually meant there was a real boss lurking somewhere, a trap designed to lure in strong prey with a fake boss.

Hongyeom continued, “Just before the entrance disappeared, one of the squad members managed to escape and warn us of the danger. Unfortunately, he didn’t survive for long.”

“The real boss must have appeared,” Sabikang concluded.

“The boss?” Hongyeom asked, puzzled.

“The leader, the true mastermind,” Sabikang clarified.

“So, the summoning site is a trap?”

“Exactly. The entrance vanished because a barrier was erected once the real boss emerged. There are ways in and out, but for ordinary people, it’s nearly impossible.”

“And you, my lord?”

“I can manage it,” Sabikang replied confidently.

He had encountered barriers in every place he had visited to acquire demonic tools. His knowledge of barrier principles and his ability to manipulate mana made them manageable. His high circle level also played a crucial role.

‘It seems I’m the only one who can rescue those trapped in the summoning site,’ Sabikang thought, making up his mind.

He turned to Hongyeom. “What’s the situation at Mount Dujeong?”

“The Sichuan Tang Clan, Emei Sect, and Qingcheng Sect have united with other nearby factions to form a resistance.”

It was a necessary move. If the demons overran Sichuan, the local factions would face annihilation. With those three leading the resistance, there was hope. Despite the declining prestige of the Nine Great Schools, they still held enough authority to rally the surrounding factions.

“Who else knows about this?” Sabikang asked.

“The Grand Military Advisor is aware,” Hongyeom replied.

The righteous alliance would soon devise a plan. The Grand Military Advisor would likely issue direct orders. But time was of the essence.

Sabikang turned to Churyang. “Liang, take the Iron Blood Corps and head to Sichuan immediately. Use your skills to the fullest.”

“Understood, my lord!” Churyang responded.

“Hongyeom, inform all factions around Sichuan of the situation and encourage them to unite, regardless of their affiliations. Use the name of the Ghost Shadow Corps to ensure compliance.”

“Understood. However, there are some strange movements in the martial world.”

“Strange movements?”

“Some factions are starting to support the demons.”

“Those lunatics!” Churyang exploded in anger.

Sabikang, however, remained unfazed. It was an expected development. In his past life, many humans had willingly served the demons, including the infamous former leader of the Blood Demon Sect, Heomuguk.

“Let’s focus on the immediate threat first,” Sabikang said calmly. “Carry out your tasks.”

“Yes, my lord!”

“What about the subjugation squad?” Hongyeom asked.

“I’ll handle it personally,” Sabikang replied.

Hongyeom and Churyang exchanged glances, momentarily surprised but not entirely unexpected. They nodded, their faces filled with trust.

“We’ll depart immediately!”

**

With a swift, silent movement, a shadow descended in front of the rock wall. The speed of its arrival stirred up a cloud of dust that spread like mist.

As the dust settled, Sabikang’s face emerged. The Ghost Shadow Corps’ Five Shadows quickly approached him.

“My lord, you’ve arrived?” one of them greeted, bowing respectfully, though inwardly astonished by Sabikang’s swift arrival. They had expected him to take at least two days, yet here he was on the same day they sent the report.

“Where’s the body?” Sabikang asked.

The Five Shadows led him to the corpse. “He escaped just before the entrance vanished but soon succumbed.”

Sabikang examined the body, his expression darkening. “Poison,” he muttered, recognizing the signs.

Several boss-level monsters came to mind. The Five Shadows added, “It’s been about seven hours since the entrance disappeared.”

“We need to hurry,” Sabikang said. Seven hours was more than half a day. Who knew how long the warriors trapped inside could hold out? One thing was certain: the entrance’s continued absence meant some were still alive.

“I’m sorry, but we haven’t found another entrance,” the Five Shadows said, their faces tense.

“No need,” Sabikang replied.

“What do you mean?”

“The entrance is still here.”

“Where?” The Five Shadows looked around, confused, as Sabikang walked forward. To their shock, he disappeared into the rock wall.

“What the…?” The Five Shadows were left gaping, frozen in disbelief. They rushed to the wall, touching it, but it was solid rock. No matter how they tested it, it remained unyielding.

‘How did he do that? Is it some kind of illusion?’ they wondered. Some illusions became reality if you believed in them. The best way to test it was to walk through with your eyes closed.

‘Here goes nothing…’ The Five Shadows closed their eyes and stepped forward.

Thud!

They hit the wall. This was no ordinary illusion. It required matching the mana frequency, something only a high-circle mage like Sabikang could do.

**

Splat!

A goblin let out a shriek as it fell, its head crushed under Neung Unpa’s foot. His eyes burned with fury.

‘Damn it!’ he cursed, gripping his sword tightly as he moved through the labyrinthine cave. The subjugation squad had been lost in these twisting paths when they first entered. Now, ironically, the maze was their lifeline.

After dramatically defeating the three-headed demon, Neung Unpa had been hailed as a hero. But then, an unexpected monster appeared—a massive creature resembling a sea octopus. Its eight tentacles, lined with powerful suckers, could draw in air with terrifying force. Its ink-like secretion was corrosive, rotting flesh on contact. Some warriors had gone mad from its toxic fumes.

In panic, the squad scattered, fleeing through the maze-like tunnels. Neung Unpa had ordered them to disperse to avoid being wiped out in one fell swoop. Now, he found himself alone, navigating the passages.

Occasionally, goblins or slimes appeared, but they were no match for him. ‘Damn it! The three-headed demon wasn’t the real boss?’ His moment of glory had been short-lived. The warriors who had cheered for him were now scattered, struggling to survive. Some might have been devoured or succumbed to the poison.

As he reached a fork in the path, a massive tentacle slithered out, blocking his way. Neung Unpa held his breath and retreated. The tentacle, resistant to his energy attacks, was coated in a unique aura that deflected his strikes.

The tentacle slid past, a warrior’s upper body caught in its sucker, legs flailing helplessly. ‘Damn it!’ Neung Unpa’s body tensed. He wanted to save the trapped warrior, but any rash move could cost him his life.

Not only that, but there’s no guarantee we can even save that warrior.

Even if, by some stroke of luck, we manage to sever those tentacle-like legs, there’s no assurance that the warrior will survive, is there?

Feeling a wave of frustration at his own helplessness, Neung Un-pa ground his teeth.

“Is this all I amount to? Is this… truly my limit?”

As he clenched his fist tightly, he suddenly felt something unfamiliar in his palm and slowly opened his hand.

“What is this…?”

It was the necklace that Lee Ja-jun had given him some time ago.

He had tucked it away in his robes, but he couldn’t remember when he had taken it out and grasped it.

As he gazed at the necklace, an irresistible temptation washed over him.

Somehow, he felt that the moment he put it around his neck, he would have nothing to fear.

But he knew from long experience that such strong temptations often hid dangerous traps.

Fortunately, he still had a shred of reason left.

“What is this thing that it shakes me so?”

The necklace offered no answer, yet it seemed to speak to him, as if urging him to cast aside his complicated thoughts and embrace a new leap forward.

A soft, golden aura began to emanate from the necklace.

The energy seeped into Neung Un-pa, filling his lungs and spreading through his body.

The whispers from the necklace felt impossibly sweet.

“Put me on. Wear me, and you can have what you desire. You can become stronger and save the world. What could be better than that? You will become the true master of this realm. Feel the majesty of being above all. Transcend humanity and become something greater.”

The whispers were so sweet they could melt his heart.

They weren’t words heard by the ear, but rather a sensation that resonated directly in his mind.

As time passed, his inexplicable resistance began to fade.

Finally, Neung Un-pa lifted the necklace and slowly brought it to his neck.

But just then,

“Leader?”

Startled, he turned to see Uk Cheong-pung standing there.

“Oh… Chief Uk.”

“I’m relieved to see you’re safe.”

As Uk Cheong-pung approached, Neung Un-pa’s scattered thoughts began to clear.

He looked at the necklace in his hand, his brow furrowed deeply.

“I almost lost myself again…!”

Uk Cheong-pung glanced at the necklace and asked, “What is that?”

“It’s an artifact that Chang Shin-dan acquired during the battle at Ganglimji. It’s likely something from the demon realm.”

“It certainly exudes a sinister aura.”

“You sense it too, Chief Uk?”

“Absolutely. It seems to disturb the mind in some way.”

Neung Un-pa nodded gravely.

“It does seem that way. I have a favor to ask of you, Chief Uk.”