Chapter 543: Return of the Demon Sect Leader
The atmosphere inside was nothing short of enigmatic.
Sabi Kang maintained an impassive expression throughout.
Standing a step behind him was Helmut, silent and vigilant, his magical energy honed to a razor’s edge, ready to strike if necessary.
It had been ten years since Sabi Kang, under the name “Schwitz,” had been granted the title of count. During that time, Helmut had become his most loyal confidant.
Of course, it hadn’t always been this way. Helmut, once human but now a demon, couldn’t have pledged his loyalty to a human overnight. Yet, over the years, he found himself increasingly captivated by Sabi Kang. Or perhaps, through Sabi Kang, he had become fascinated with the human race itself.
Every time he witnessed Sabi Kang’s relentless efforts, Helmut couldn’t help but be impressed. Initially, he had scoffed. Humans had such clear limitations, after all. And to demons, weren’t their lifespans as fleeting as a mayfly’s? How much could one possibly achieve in such a brief moment?
But Sabi Kang had shown that humans had no limits. It was truly astonishing. Watching Sabi Kang grow stronger each day forced Helmut to reconsider his views on humanity. Perhaps the entire demon race underestimated humans.
Once, Helmut had asked Sabi Kang, “What drives you to become so strong?”
Sabi Kang had replied with a nonchalant expression, “There are only two ways for a human to break their limits and grow stronger.”
“And what are those?”
“One is not realizing how strong you are.”
“And the other?”
“Knowing you’re strong but never being satisfied with it.”
“Then you must be the latter.”
Sabi Kang had shaken his head with a cold smile. “No, the former.”
“You are already strong.”
“Strength is always relative. To you, I might be strong, but to the Demon King, I’m just a weak human.”
Instinctively, Helmut spread his senses to ensure no one else was listening. Such conversations were not meant for others’ ears.
Sabi Kang spoke with a calm intensity, “True strength means being stronger than anyone else. Only when no one is stronger than me can I truly say I’m strong. What I seek is that absolute strength, not relative strength. Until then, I’m weak. It’s not humility; it’s simply the truth.”
Hearing those words, Helmut felt a solemn respect for Sabi Kang. Humans were inherently susceptible to temptation. Even a little strength would make them eager to boast and show off, especially to those who once looked down on them. How many humans had reached their peak only to fall?
But what if the opposite were true? How strong could a human become then?
Sabi Kang added, “None of the martial arts I’ve mastered were created overnight. They carry the legacy of humanity’s history. That’s the terrifying thing about humans—their inherited knowledge. As long as demons ignore that, they’ll eventually fall to humans.”
Helmut etched those words into his heart, hoping for the day when the demons who toyed with his fate would meet their downfall.
Helmut snapped back to the present, glaring at the three visitors who had come to see Sabi Kang. One was Aranius, who clearly didn’t welcome Sabi Kang. Though not a formidable fighter, his political prowess was undeniable. Behind him stood his loyal aide, Javelin, who usually stayed hidden but was present today for some reason. And next to Aranius, surprisingly, was Marquis Nazar. It was well-known that Aranius and Nazar didn’t get along, yet here they were, side by side, without warning.
Unexpected events without notice always warranted caution, so Helmut sharpened his magical senses more than ever.
Meanwhile, disguised as Duke Aranius, Maesulan felt a surge of emotion upon seeing Sabi Kang. “So this is how you’ve lived.”
She hadn’t seen all of Sabi Kang’s life in the demon realm, only glimpses. Yet, since arriving, she had been overwhelmed by the unique energy of the demon realm, likely influenced by Sabi Kang’s own feelings about it. This wasn’t the real demon realm but a world within Sabi Kang’s consciousness.
Seeing him survive in such a harsh environment, even earning the title of count, filled her with a mix of pride and pity. Sabi Kang, now older, still had a striking presence, but the years had left their mark. His face, devoid of emotion, was familiar to her.
“Yes, that’s the face,” Maesulan thought with a heavy heart. Sabi Kang often wore a cold expression, not for any particular reason, but as if it were a habit. Even when they were together, he sometimes wore that expression, which had once made her feel slighted. But now she understood. Surviving in such conditions must have drained him emotionally.
His face bore scars she hadn’t seen before. A diagonal slash across his face was chillingly vivid, and his neck and collarbone were marred with numerous scars. When Sabi Kang had mentioned the assassination attempts in the demon realm, she hadn’t fully grasped it. But seeing the scars now, the weight of his struggles hit her hard.
She wanted to rush to him, to hold him tight and thank him for enduring, for not giving up. But she couldn’t. She recalled what Murang had told her before she came here.
“Remember, you can’t just tell him, ‘This is a dream world, wake up!’”
“Why not?”
“Because to him, this world is real. Imagine someone telling you your reality is fake. What would you think?”
“Oh…”
“You’d probably think they’re crazy.”
“Then how do we awaken him?”
“There’s no set answer. You have to find a way to awaken him. If you fail, you might end up imprisoned or worse, killed by him.”
Reflecting on Murang’s words, Maesulan sighed quietly. It wouldn’t be easy. And with Marquis Nazar right there, if he sensed something was off and the world collapsed…?
If Sabi Kang regained his senses at that moment, it would be fortunate. But if he didn’t believe her and only heightened Nazar’s suspicions, it would be disastrous.
Just then, Sabi Kang spoke. “What brings you both here?”
His tone was utterly devoid of warmth, and it tugged at Maesulan’s heart once more. But she steadied herself and replied, “We have something important to discuss.”
“What is it?”
Sabi Kang’s gaze remained cold. Meanwhile, Nazar looked on with curiosity. This was the tricky part. She needed to pique Nazar’s interest while steering the conversation to awaken Sabi Kang.
Nazar had been a helpful guide on their way here, but now he was the most troublesome obstacle.
“Remember,” Maesulan implored silently, “Schwitz, what do you think of the demon realm?”
“I’m not sure what you’re asking.”
“It’s an old story, but what do you think would have happened if we hadn’t conquered the central plains?”
Sabi Kang frowned deeply at Aranius, unable to grasp the sudden line of questioning. Helmut, standing behind, was equally puzzled. Nazar, too, couldn’t fathom what Aranius was getting at, though he sensed danger. And danger always sparked curiosity.
Finally, Nazar interjected, “What’s your point? Why bring up the conquest of the central plains now?”
“Just listen for now. This is a conversation between Schwitz and me.”
“Very well,” Nazar replied, stepping back with a hint of reluctance.
Sabi Kang fixed Aranius with a steely gaze. “Are you testing me?”
“That’s not my intention. Just consider it a hypothetical.”
“Why should I entertain such a notion?”
“Think about it. If back then, Sir Helmut had led the charge against the central plains and you had stopped him at Guiyang, what then?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Sabi Kang muttered, visibly irritated.
Maesulan and Churyang were anxious. Despite everything, Sabi Kang showed no sign of understanding. Nazar, too, was frowning, unable to make sense of the situation.
Maesulan swallowed hard and tried again. “It might sound strange, but think carefully. If you had established the Demonic Palace to oppose us and fought to the end, what do you think the outcome would have been?”
She sent a piercing gaze, willing him to remember. But Sabi Kang’s icy eyes remained unmoved. Instead, he spoke with clear disdain, “Is this some kind of test? You came all this way for such trivial talk? Unbelievable.”
It was then that…
Jingle, jingle! Jingle, jingle!
Suddenly, an enormous bell rang out, its sound so loud it seemed to shake the very heavens.
Startled, Maesellan and Churyang instinctively glanced around, trying to make sense of the sudden noise.
But they quickly realized what it was.
“The Awakening Bell!”
It must be Murang in the real world ringing the bell. Something must have happened, or was about to happen.
To Maesellan and Churyang, who were acutely aware that they were in a realm of consciousness, the bell’s sound was as thunderous as a storm.
Jingle, jingle! Jingle, jingle…!
“Ugh… it feels like my eardrums are going to burst.”
Churyang almost raised his hands to cover his ears.
Meanwhile, Sabigang, Helmut, and Nazar seemed completely oblivious to the sound of the Awakening Bell. Instead, they cast puzzled glances at Aranius and Javelin, who had suddenly jumped in surprise.
Narrowing his eyes, Sabigang asked, “Is there a problem?”
“Uh, no, not exactly…”
Maesellan felt a growing sense of urgency. Something was definitely happening in the real world!
“We need to hurry!”
Resolute, Maesellan continued, “I’m not testing you; I value your abilities. I believe you could even stand against the Demon King.”
Sabigang’s expression noticeably twitched at this, and Nazar’s face twisted in response.
Unable to hold back any longer, Nazar interjected, “What on earth are you saying, Duke? Are you plotting treason?”
Jingle, jingle! Jingle, jingle…!
“If it’s come to this, I have no choice but to push harder!”
Maesellan declared with determination, “Sabigang, I trust you understand me. You would have established the Demonic Palace and led many warriors against us. You would have united the factions and become a beacon of hope for the martial world. And you would have managed Vertas as well…”
Bang!
Nazar, unable to contain himself any longer, leapt to his feet, drawing his sword.
Clang!
“What nonsense is this? To even mention His Majesty’s sword! Are you conspiring to commit treason, Duke?”
Helmut reflexively drew his sword, his intent clear.
Clang!
“Treason? That’s absurd! It was Duke Aranius who was speaking unilaterally, wasn’t it?”
As hostility erupted between them, Sabigang slowly rose from his seat, casting a calm gaze over Aranius and Nazar.
“Gentlemen, whatever your plans are, provoking me today would be a mistake.”
The situation was on the brink of explosion.
Watching the scene unfold, Churyang was left in stunned disbelief.
“Damn it, this is a disaster.”