Episode 515: Return to the Demonic Sect
“Truly, the demon realm is full of curious artifacts,” Chu Hui-ryong remarked with feigned surprise, prompting a chuckle from Sa Bi-gang.
“Weren’t you the one who used to collect the most of those artifacts?”
“Ha! I did gather a few out of curiosity back in the day, but it wasn’t that many. You know that better than anyone, don’t you, Lady Sa?”
“Well, if you say so, it must be true,” Sa Bi-gang replied with a faint smile.
‘He’s as slippery as a snake.’
‘Hmph! No matter how much you try to pry, you won’t get anything from me!’
Both men smiled, each lost in their own thoughts.
It was Sa Bi-gang who broke the awkward silence first.
“U Yeom-deuk.”
”…!”
The sudden mention of the name made Chu Hui-ryong tense up and glance up cautiously. It was understandable, as U Yeom-deuk was a warrior found dead by the river while pursuing Gu Gang-ryong.
Of all people, that fool not only failed to kill Gu Gang-ryong but also got himself exposed.
Sa Bi-gang, gazing out the window, repeated the name.
“U Yeom-deuk. U Yeom-deuk.”
Finally, Chu Hui-ryong feigned ignorance and asked, “Why bring up his name all of a sudden…?”
Sa Bi-gang turned to him with a sly grin. “So you do know him?”
“Hmm. The name sounds familiar…”
“U Yeom-deuk. Does it not ring a bell?”
“From the way you’re asking, it seems I should know him… Ah! I remember now. He used to lead the Mukgwi Brigade, didn’t he?”
Sa Bi-gang nodded. U Yeom-deuk was indeed the one who had clashed with Meng Ga-suk long ago, causing quite a stir.
“That’s right.”
“But why bring him up now?”
“He’s the one who tried to kill Gu Gang-ryong.”
“What! So he’s the one who kidnapped Ong Gi-seung?”
“That, we don’t know. Whether he kidnapped him or was merely guarding him as instructed is unclear.”
“If there’s someone behind this, who could it be… Ah, just to clarify, U Yeom-deuk left the Mukgwi Brigade and our sect a long time ago.”
“I’m aware,” Sa Bi-gang replied with a smile. He had already gathered that much information from the Guiyeongdan.
As Chu Hui-ryong said, U Yeom-deuk was no longer the leader of the Mukgwi Brigade. According to the information from the Guiyeongdan, he had been expelled from the Blood Demon Sect after his ongoing feud with Meng Ga-suk.
Yet, Sa Bi-gang didn’t fully trust that information. Something felt off.
The reason was…
“Coincidentally, U Yeom-deuk was expelled right after the Myeolma-gwan incident.”
“Is that so? It’s been so long, I hadn’t thought of that. But if that’s the case, it must be because of the demons.”
“Demons?”
“Wasn’t there the Battle of Ganglim back then? As you know, the martial world was in turmoil after the demons descended. U Yeom-deuk might have been shaken by that. Perhaps he thought staying in the sect would only hasten his death. He might have even joined forces with those who follow the demons. And that’s why he took Ong Gi-seung…”
As Chu Hui-ryong rambled on, Sa Bi-gang twisted his lips into a smirk.
“You seem to be talking a lot today.”
“Ha! I’m just concerned, you see. After all, he was once part of our sect…”
‘He’s really good at dodging.’
Sa Bi-gang swallowed his thoughts and slowly rose from his seat.
“Thank you for the tea. Perhaps you should temper your temper, Lord Chu.”
‘What is he implying now…!’
Chu Hui-ryong felt a surge of irritation but maintained a smile.
“Ha! I don’t know why you would say such a thing.”
“No matter how angry you get, if you keep breaking tables, there won’t be anything left in the room.”
Sa Bi-gang spoke as if he had witnessed it himself, causing Chu Hui-ryong to flinch and ask, “How did you…?”
“Haha! Why are you so surprised? I just noticed the table was new.”
In truth, it was Chu Liang who had informed him through a secret message. Chu Liang had deduced the situation from the new table and the marks on the walls and floor from shattered debris.
Chu Hui-ryong nodded. “You have quite the eye. I lost my temper for a moment due to my lack of self-discipline. Ha.”
“Something must have happened. Perhaps… one of your subordinates failed to kill someone they should have…”
Seeing Sa Bi-gang’s eyes darken, Chu Hui-ryong maintained a cold smile.
“Such things are common in the martial world, aren’t they?”
“Indeed, they are. And that’s why the mastermind often gets exposed. So, if that’s the case, be careful, Lord Chu.”
“I’ll take your advice to heart.”
“Then, I’ll take my leave.”
As Sa Bi-gang turned with a bright smile, Chu Hui-ryong’s expression turned icy.
‘He definitely suspects me!’
It was inevitable. From the moment Gu Gang-ryong entered the Myeolma Palace alive, he had anticipated a day like this would come.
But he hadn’t expected Sa Bi-gang to suspect the use of a teleportation scroll.
The only saving grace was that Sa Bi-gang had no concrete evidence yet.
Just suspicions.
‘For now, I’ve managed to get through this.’
Chu Hui-ryong masked his inner thoughts with a smile.
“So, how long will you be staying, Lady Sa?”
“Why? Would my extended stay be inconvenient for you?”
“Ha! What a jest. I merely ask to ensure your comfort during your stay.”
“I won’t be here long. With the demons causing trouble, I’ll stay for just two days.”
“I see. I’ll ensure you’re well taken care of.”
Chu Hui-ryong beamed.
**
That evening.
“I’ll assign someone to keep an eye on them.”
A man appeared silently from the shadows of the dimly lit room. He was Ja-gwi, Chu Hui-ryong’s personal guard.
Chu Hui-ryong sat with his eyes closed, slowly shaking his head.
“Don’t.”
“But they won’t just sit idly by. They’ll surely snoop around, causing disturbances…”
“That’s why I said to leave them be.”
Chu Hui-ryong opened his eyes slowly, exuding confidence.
He knew. As Ja-gwi said, Sa Bi-gang wouldn’t easily let go of his suspicions. In fact, their conversation earlier might have intensified them.
But it was all just suspicion.
There was no solid link connecting Ong Gi-seung to him.
Without any evidence, even someone like Sa Bi-gang would have to leave eventually.
With the demons running rampant, he couldn’t afford to waste time here indefinitely.
And…
“It’s not something that can be easily monitored. It would only raise more suspicion. Besides… they won’t find it.”
”…Understood.”
With that, Ja-gwi vanished as silently as he had appeared.
Chu Hui-ryong closed his eyes again.
‘I just need to placate them and send them on their way.’
**
Sa Bi-gang entered the room, where Mae Seol-ran was waiting.
“How did it go?” she asked, approaching him quickly.
“It’s strange,” Sa Bi-gang muttered to himself as he walked to the window and sat down.
The cold night breeze drifted in through the open window. Yet, being further south, the winter chill was starting to wane, and it wasn’t as biting as before.
Mae Seol-ran asked with concern, “Couldn’t find anything?”
“It’s really strange.”
“What do you mean, strange?”
“Chu Lord is definitely suspicious… but I can’t figure out where he’s hiding it.”
“Doesn’t the Blood Demon Sect have secret vaults?”
“I’ve checked all the likely places.”
Sa Bi-gang replied, resting his chin on his hand. He had expected to find something by now.
After his conversation with Chu Hui-ryong, he had wandered around the Blood Demon Sect under the guise of sightseeing, poking around everywhere.
He had been brazen, entering any place he pleased.
A confrontation seemed inevitable.
Yet…
“They were surprisingly cooperative.”
Indeed, all the warriors of the Blood Demon Sect welcomed Sa Bi-gang warmly.
Moreover, they openly showed him any place he expressed interest in, including the underground chamber of the White Tiger Hall where Chu Hui-ryong used to stay, and even the underground storage of the Mingli Pavilion.
He had expected surveillance, but there was none.
‘Could it be that Chu Lord really has nothing to do with this?’
If he had the teleportation scroll, it would make sense that he could have kidnapped Ong Gi-seung without anyone knowing.
But if not…
‘Who on earth took Ong Gi-seung?’
Just then, Chu Liang returned.
Both Sa Bi-gang and Mae Seol-ran turned to him simultaneously.
Their eyes asked the same question, but Chu Liang shook his head.
“There’s nothing. It’s all clean.”
“Then it means very few people in the sect know about Ong Gi-seung.”
Chu Liang scratched his head. “Could it be that he’s not in the sect?”
“If Chu Lord kidnapped him, it’s likely he’s here. Having been discovered outside once, he would have kept him where his influence is strongest.”
The more precious the treasure, the harder it is to keep it far from oneself.
Yet, even Chu Liang, a master of tracking, couldn’t find any trace, making Sa Bi-gang wonder if Chu Hui-ryong might not be the culprit after all.
At that moment!
“What’s wrong?”
Mae Seol-ran asked as she noticed Sa Bi-gang pause.
But by then, Sa Bi-gang had already slipped out the open window.
He raced forward with incredible speed, seamlessly blending his celestial footwork with his blink technique.
He was like an arrow in flight.
In no time, Sabigang reached a forest about ten li away from the Blood Sect. Narrowing his eyes, he scanned his surroundings.
The sound of a waterfall filled the air, a refreshing roar that drowned out everything else.
With a swift leap, Sabigang perched on a rock ledge by the waterfall, meticulously surveying the area once more.
The damp, cold air enveloped him.
“Is it just my imagination…? I could’ve sworn I sensed something…”
He hadn’t been sleeping well lately, after all.
With a slight furrow of his brow, Sabigang turned back the way he came, moving as swiftly as a beam of light.
And the moment he left—
A girl appeared on the rock, as if by magic.
It was Jonya.
She gazed in the direction Sabigang had disappeared, murmuring softly to herself.
“Why did Sabigang come here? I suppose I should wait a bit longer. There’s no need to rush just yet.”
Her voice was completely swallowed by the relentless cascade of the waterfall.
Suddenly, the face and voice of Baritan came to her mind.
“My lord… I will succeed and return. And then, please…”
Her cheeks flushed a deep red, like a bashful young girl.