Episode 514: Return of the Demon Sect Leader
Sensing danger instinctively, the martial artist hurled his spear with all his might.
Clang!
As Bertus soared through the air like a flash of light, the spear was sliced clean in half, clattering to the ground.
“What the hell are you?”
Clang!
The martial artist drew his sword from his waist.
Sabi Kang surveyed the room with a calm gaze and spoke in a steady voice.
“A man true to his desires.”
“What?”
“You told me, didn’t you? To be true to my desires. Right now, my desire is to tear you all to pieces.”
“You crazy…!”
Just as the martial artist spat out curses and lunged forward,
Whoosh!
Bertus sliced through the air, heading straight for his forehead.
“Gah!”
He swallowed hard, squeezing his eyes shut.
For a martial artist, failing to watch an opponent’s attack to the end is a great disgrace.
But at that moment, his mind went blank.
The murderous intent emanating from Bertus had him frozen, unable to move a muscle.
“Ugh…”
He groaned, slowly opening his eyes.
Bertus hovered in the air, its blade pressed against his forehead, still radiating lethal intent.
Sabi Kang walked over, grabbing the martial artist’s hair roughly.
Yank!
“Ugh!”
In the next instant,
Crash, smash!
Sabi Kang lifted him and hurled him through the window.
The martial artist crashed through the glass, tumbling across the village square.
“Damn it…!”
He staggered to his feet, only to be startled by Sabi Kang’s sudden appearance.
“Ah!”
He fell back in shock, landing on his rear.
Sabi Kang grabbed his hair again and drove a fist into his face.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
The martial artist, teeth broken, slumped to the ground, blood streaming from his nose.
Then, Sabi Kang scanned the surroundings and let out a thunderous roar.
“Come out, all of you!”
The sound was so powerful it seemed to shake the earth, as if an earthquake had struck.
The martial artist, hair still in Sabi Kang’s grip, rolled his eyes back, coughing up blood.
The roar had inflicted internal injuries.
“What was that? An earthquake?”
“What’s going on?”
“Who is that…?”
The martial artists who had been raiding and pillaging the village looked around, spotting Sabi Kang.
One of them recognized him.
“Wait! That’s Sabi Kang, the Demon Sect Leader!”
“He’s taken a Shinchon Cultist hostage!”
“He’s alone! Kill him!”
“Face the judgment of the demons!”
“Die, Sabi Kang!”
The Shinchon Cultists charged at Sabi Kang.
In an instant, Sabi Kang leaped into the air.
“Don’t mess with me!”
His voice reverberated through the heavens once more.
“Ugh…!”
“Argh…!”
Some lost their balance and fell, coughing up blood.
People craned their necks to see Sabi Kang floating in the air.
At that moment,
Whoosh, roar!
Flames erupted from his entire body, engulfing him in fire.
The martial artist in his grasp turned to ash in an instant, unable to even scream.
It was the eighth-circle spell, Blaze Guardian.
A spell he had used before against a formidable opponent.
Sabi Kang, engulfed in flames, was the embodiment of a fire demon.
Crackle, crackle…!
The embers falling from his body sizzled as they hit the ground.
Soon, the flames that had enveloped him were absorbed back into his body, glowing red.
Even the martial artists of the Demon Sect were left speechless, unable to move in the face of his overwhelming presence.
Sabi Kang surveyed the Shinchon Cultists.
“You dare challenge me? Aren’t you afraid of the demons you so fear?”
With every word, flames flickered around him.
“I once had those demons you fear so much under my heel.”
“What are you waiting for? Stop listening to his nonsense…!”
In a flash, a tendril of flame shot from Sabi Kang’s body, incinerating the shouting cultist.
“Aaah!”
He, too, turned to ash in an instant.
Resistance was futile.
At that moment, Sabi Kang was the most terrifying being of all.
Engulfed in flames, he looked down at the Shinchon Cultists with icy eyes.
“Kneel.”
”…”
“I won’t say it twice.”
As Sabi Kang slowly raised his hand, the cultists dropped their weapons, falling to their knees in submission.
“Beg.”
At his command,
“Please, spare us! We were wrong!”
“We were wrong! Oh great one, forgive us!”
The cultists cried out, pleading for mercy.
Their earlier bravado was nowhere to be seen.
Sabi Kang’s presence was that intimidating.
He sneered.
“I find it hard to forgive those who pretended to be so righteous, only to turn their backs first. Such hypocrisy is unforgivable. And right now, my desire is to punish you severely.”
With those words, he spread his arms wide, and hundreds of flames shot out in all directions.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
“Aaah!”
“Nooo!”
The cultists turned to ash in an instant, their screams echoing in the air.
**
“You must be tired from your long journey.”
Chu Hui-ryong lifted his teacup, speaking with a smile.
Across the table sat Sabi Kang and Chu Ryang.
Sabi Kang had left Maesolran at the guest house and brought only Chu Ryang, who had past ties with the Blood Alliance.
Sabi Kang replied with a gentle smile.
“I just did some cleaning on the way here.”
“Haha, there’s always trash to clean up wherever you go.”
“The situation in Honam is worse. It seems the Blood Alliance isn’t paying much attention.”
Chu Hui-ryong, catching the underlying message, subtly changed the subject.
“Haha, as you know, I’m just an old man with no power now.”
“Who would dare underestimate the leader of the Blood Alliance? Or perhaps… you’ve been busy with other matters?”
“What else could I be busy with?”
“Who knows? There might be things unknown to someone like me.”
“That’s an interesting thought. But these days, I’m just keeping a low profile. It’s a world where demons more terrifying than the Demon Sect are running rampant.”
“You should be leading the charge to exterminate those demons, not keeping a low profile.”
“Of course, the Blood Alliance will fully cooperate with the righteous alliance and the Demon Sect. What brings you on this long journey today? If you had sent a letter, I wouldn’t have refused your request.”
“I wanted to see you in person after so long. To thank you for last time.”
“Last time…? Ah, you mean the incident at the Demon Sect.”
Sabi Kang nodded, sipping his tea.
If Chu Hui-ryong hadn’t sent the Blood Alliance martial artists when the Demon Sect was in danger, it would have been truly perilous.
Chu Hui-ryong’s expression brightened slightly as he waved his hand dismissively.
“There’s no need for thanks between us.”
“Is that so?”
Sabi Kang’s gentle smile made Chu Hui-ryong uneasy.
Whenever Sabi Kang smiled like that without reason, unexpected words often followed.
And this time was no different.
“Why didn’t you come in person, Leader?”
The sudden question caught Chu Hui-ryong off guard.
‘As expected, his way of speaking is unpredictable.’
He pretends to be polite, yet throws difficult questions without hesitation.
“Haha, I had guests at the main hall at that time…”
It wasn’t a lie.
The Blood Blade Four Monsters had visited the Blood Alliance around that time.
They had stayed at the main hall, supporting Chu Hui-ryong ever since.
The Blood Blade Four Monsters were among the top five martial artists in the region, known for their ruthless and eccentric nature.
Sabi Kang nodded nonchalantly, then fixed Chu Hui-ryong with a sharp gaze.
“So, you definitely weren’t at the Demon Sect that day.”
“That’s correct.”
“Then you wouldn’t know what happened there.”
“I heard the buildings were all burned down. Many lives were lost. It’s truly unfortunate.”
“Indeed. Ong Gi-seung died that day.”
Sabi Kang’s sudden mention made Chu Hui-ryong flinch.
But it was so subtle that Sabi Kang didn’t notice.
Chu Hui-ryong responded calmly.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. But recently, something strange happened.”
“What…?”
Sabi Kang’s eyes narrowed as he took a sip of tea.
“Gu Gang-ryong.”
This time, Sabi Kang noticed Chu Hui-ryong’s reaction.
A brief hesitation as his fingers reached for the teacup.
Chu Hui-ryong picked up the cup, feigning nonchalance.
“Gu Gang-ryong… Yes, I remember him. He once led the Salpungdan in the main sect. An extraordinary warrior, truly. I heard he was Ong Gi-seung’s older brother.”
“Yes, and he claims to have seen Ong Gi-seung in Honam.”
“What did you say?”
Chu Hui-ryong’s eyes widened as he set the teacup back down.
His reaction was so natural that even Sabi-gang couldn’t tell if he was genuinely surprised or not.
“Where exactly did he see him? If it’s in Honam, the main sect can search every corner.”
“I’ve already ordered my men to conduct a thorough search. But the place where he was supposedly seen has already been destroyed.”
“How unfortunate…!”
“It’s truly baffling. We all thought Ong Gi-seung died that day… How could this be…?”
“Could it be that Gu Daehyeop was mistaken?”
Sabi-gang shook his head slowly.
“There are too many oddities for that. Why was that old shrine completely demolished?”
“Hmm. So the place where Ong Gi-seung was seen was a shrine.”
“That’s what they say. Apparently, there was a secret chamber inside.”
Sabi-gang emptied his teacup.
Chu Hui-ryong tilted his head in puzzlement.
“But why would Ong Gi-seung be in such a place? I heard he was caught in a massive explosion…”
“Perhaps the energy of the Demon Spirit saved him. And someone might have moved the unconscious Ong Gi-seung.”
“But if that were the case, wouldn’t there be traces left behind?”
“There should be. Yet, the fact that there are no traces is… peculiar.”
Sabi-gang fixed his gaze on Chu Hui-ryong.
“Perhaps there was a way to take him without leaving any trace.”
“Without a trace… you say? How could that even be possible…?”
“Perhaps by using artifacts from the Demon Realm.”
Their eyes locked fiercely in the air, a silent clash of intense speculation.