Episode 510: Return to the Demonic Sect
The door to the leader’s office swung open with a bang.
Nung Un-pa frowned as he stared at Gu Yoon, who had barged in unannounced.
“Strategist, have you decided to abandon all decorum now?”
“My apologies, Leader. But I felt it was imperative to address this matter immediately, even at the risk of being rude!”
“What is it?”
Unlike the anxious Gu Yoon, Nung Un-pa remained calm, casually skimming through a report.
It was a report submitted by Lee Ja-jun.
Gu Yoon strode up to the desk, his voice demanding answers.
“Is it true that you refused the request for support from the Seomseo Association?”
“Yes, it is.”
Surprisingly, the leader responded without a hint of hesitation, as if he were merely stating he hadn’t had breakfast that morning.
Bang!
Gu Yoon slammed his hand on the desk, shouting.
“Leader! If the Seomseo Association falls, our main base is in danger!”
“Perhaps.”
“But why…!”
“They were established to keep our main sect’s power in check from the start.”
“Surely not for such a reason…”
“It’s not a trivial reason.”
“Leader!”
Nung Un-pa set the report down and fixed Gu Yoon with a steady gaze.
Gu Yoon flinched and straightened up, not because he saw anger in the leader’s eyes, but because of the chilling indifference in his expression.
‘Why have you become so cold? Why…!’
Nung Un-pa’s voice was as icy as his demeanor.
“If we provide support, can you guarantee the demons will be driven out?”
“Even if it’s difficult now, we could buy some time…”
“Are you suggesting we sacrifice our allies’ lives just to buy time?”
“That’s not what I meant…!”
“My decision is firm. Even if they fall, the demons won’t easily attack our main base. They know we won’t crumble so easily.”
“But…!”
“Besides, dealing with demons isn’t our main sect’s responsibility, is it? Our focus is on the traitors of the martial world. They should have sought help from the Demon-Slaying Palace.”
“The Lord of Sabigang hasn’t even reached the Demon-Slaying Palace yet. That’s why we need to support them first…”
“Then it’s just their bad luck, isn’t it? There’s nothing we can do.”
”…”
Gu Yoon was left speechless, his mouth agape.
How had the leader changed so drastically? Was this really the person he once pledged his life to serve?
“If you have nothing more to say, you may leave.”
Nung Un-pa picked up the report again.
**
The clashing of weapons, screams, and shouts of battle filled the air.
Hwayang Jin-in, the head of the Seomseo Association and leader of the Huashan Sect, sat at his desk with his hands clasped under his chin, eyes closed.
The flickering lantern cast an uneasy, precarious atmosphere in the room.
Across from him, Vice Leader Ji Gang-myeong ground his teeth and stood up.
“I never expected anything from the main sect! Our Seomseo Association was created to counter the main sect’s influence in Seomseo, wasn’t it? They might even welcome our downfall!”
He was visibly furious.
Count Jakart, who had seized control of Sichuan, had led his demon knights and monsters straight into Seomseo.
The Kunlun Sect, which they had hoped would stall the demons, had closed its gates, and the Gongdong Sect of Gansu had retreated to the main sect’s base.
With no obstacles, the demons had marched directly into Seomseo.
Seokcheon, where the Seomseo Association was based, was a strategic point connecting Gansu, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Hubei.
Whether the demons targeted the main sect or not was unclear, but the Seomseo Association was undoubtedly on the brink of destruction.
Zhongnam Sect’s leader and Seomseo Association elder, Joo Jang-heon, murmured with his eyes closed.
“I can’t understand it. How could the main sect refuse to send reinforcements?”
“Isn’t it obvious? They want to eliminate the Seomseo Association and solidify their own position!”
“But without lips, the teeth feel the cold. If the Seomseo Association falls, the main sect will be in danger too…”
“There’s a rumor going around.”
“A rumor?”
“That Leader Nung has become power-hungry.”
“Why would someone so calm suddenly change…?”
“It’s because of the Lord of Sabigang. He split off to form the Demon-Slaying Palace. With the Lord of Sabigang gaining recognition, the martial world is dividing, and the leader is wary.”
Hwayang Jin-in, who had been listening quietly, shook his head.
“Even so, the main sect’s decision is incomprehensible. But now is not the time to argue. The fact is, we must fight with our own strength. The enemy has breached our manor. Let’s rise and defend this place with our lives!”
As Hwayang Jin-in stood, Ji Gang-myeong and Joo Jang-heon rose as well.
Their expressions were more resolute than ever.
“Fine! Let’s show them that the Seomseo Association can stand strong without the main sect’s help!”
**
“Argh!”
“These monsters… Ahhh!”
Screams erupted from all directions.
Count Jakart stood atop the Seomseo Association’s main gate, watching the chaos unfold with a twisted sense of enjoyment.
Warriors fell, cursing and screaming, while some monsters were slain by human hands, though not enough to matter.
Suddenly, a booming voice rang out as someone leaped onto a cyclops’ head.
“You fiends! Begone!”
The cyclops flinched at the thunderous shout, and the man drove his sword into its eye.
Thud!
The blade pierced through the back of the cyclops’ head, thick blood dripping from the sword.
Squelch!
The man withdrew his sword and quickly moved to support a fallen comrade.
“Are you alright?”
“Master…!”
“Hold on a little longer… Ugh!”
The man, called “Master,” couldn’t finish his sentence as his leg was severed.
An ogre had appeared behind him, bringing its axe down with brutal force.
The master clutched his chest, blood gushing from a deep wound.
“Dammit…!”
“Master! You wretched beasts! I’ll kill you all…!”
Thwack!
The injured warrior, turning in rage, was instantly killed as the ogre’s fist crushed his skull.
“You scum!”
The master, eyes wild with fury, rose for a final strike.
But his sword never reached the ogre.
The ogre’s axe split his head cleanly in two.
Thud!
With a sickening crunch, the master’s head burst like a watermelon, and he collapsed, lifeless.
The ogre, indifferent, turned away to seek its next prey.
Watching this, Count Jakart chuckled.
“Hahaha!”
How weak and foolish humans were!
Seeing a healthy human die trying to save an injured one was so laughably inefficient.
If they truly intended to fight…
Whoosh!
In an instant, Count Jakart vanished.
He reappeared beside an ogre, which was struggling to stand on one leg.
The ogre, recognizing him, tried desperately to rise.
But…
Slash!
A flash of light sliced through the air, and the ogre’s head fell to the ground.
Count Jakart’s eyes were cold and unfeeling.
“If you’re a hindrance, you must be removed.”
He muttered softly, moving forward.
Frost formed wherever he stepped.
As he passed through the manor’s inner gate, a more intense battle scene unfolded.
Yet the humans were no match for the demon knights.
“Watch out for those armored ones! They’re not ordinary… Ugh!”
Jin Ryong, a member of the Huashan Sect and leader of the Sword God Squad in the Seomseo Association, gasped as a spear pierced his lung.
The demon knight, clad in dark armor, scanned the area with fierce eyes.
“You wretched scum!”
At that moment, the vice leader charged in, screaming.
Swish!
Another flash of light arced through the air.
The vice leader, mid-charge, was decapitated, his body crashing to the ground.
Then it happened.
“You fiends!”
Boom!
“Argh!”
Demon knights screamed as they were blasted away.
Three masters stood there: Hwayang Jin-in, Ji Gang-myeong, and Joo Jang-heon.
The trio advanced on the demon knights.
“This is no place for you!”
“Begone!”
The renowned “First Sword of Mount Hua,” Hwayang Jin-in, was holding his own against two demonic knights simultaneously, matching them blow for blow. Meanwhile, Ji Gangmyeong, the vice leader and head of the Paedo Sect, lived up to his moniker, “Blade King of the Wind,” with his audacious swordplay that left his enemies bewildered.
Joo Jangheon, an elder of the Shaanxi Assembly and leader of the Zhongnan Sect, also demonstrated his formidable martial prowess, cutting through the demonic creatures with ease.
Yet, aside from these three, most of the warriors in the manor had either been captured or lay cold and lifeless.
Count Jakart, who had been observing their skills with a detached interest, snapped his fingers.
In response, the demonic creatures retreated like a receding tide, leaving only the black-armored demonic knights to flood into the courtyard.
Clang, clang, clang…!
The knights wielding spears stepped forward, surrounding the three masters and taking their stances.
Hwayang Jin-in surveyed the scene and spoke softly.
“My friends, thank you for everything.”
Ji Gangmyeong and Joo Jangheon, their eyes damp with emotion, replied as they faced their foes.
“It was a pleasure fighting alongside you.”
“Every moment was an honor.”
It was, after all, a futile hope.
There had been a sliver of expectation that they might hold their ground without the alliance’s aid.
But this was their limit.
Especially the one standing among the demonic knights, observing with an impassive gaze.
His presence was more intimidating than anyone else’s.
It was Count Jakart.
The three of them instinctively understood.
“He’s different…! His presence is incomparable to the others!”
Hwayang Jin-in nodded faintly.
“Then let’s give it our all one last time.”
“Agreed!”
“Let’s go!”
With a burst of energy, the three launched themselves forward.
“Hyah!”
“Disappear from this land!”
“Haaah!”
Their battle cries echoed through the manor, resonating with determination.