Chapter 551: Return to the Demonic Sect
“Gasp, gasp, gasp!”
Gu Yoon sprinted down the steep path.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
A chilling sound of flesh being torn echoed from behind.
He glanced back to see Biryung swinging her sword with precision. Each stroke felled grotesque monsters, their screams piercing the air.
It was hell on earth.
Gu Yoon stared in disbelief at the horror unfolding before him. On a distant platform, the leader stood frozen, arms raised like a statue, while the sky, filled with ominous black crows, poured down a torrent of dark rain.
The black rain drenched the land, soaking everyone caught beneath it. As time passed, the basin transformed into a black swamp, the sticky liquid clinging to people’s bodies.
“Nooo…!”
“Help me… please…!”
The swamp rose rapidly, swallowing the warriors in an instant. Some martial artists desperately used their skills to avoid being engulfed.
At the edge of the swamp,
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Monsters, once human, emerged, pursuing Gu Yoon and the assassins of Salmak.
“Roar!”
“Screech!”
“Ha!”
“Hah!”
Swoosh! Swoosh!
The assassins’ swords sliced through the monsters, cutting them down. Even the martial artists had to fight against the mutated humans.
Gu Yoon had once seen a vision of hell reflected in the Water Mirror during the descent ritual. The shock then was nothing compared to the terror he felt now. Watching from afar and being trapped in it were worlds apart.
“What on earth is happening…?”
Gu Yoon looked at the black liquid dripping onto him. It was as dark as ink, but far stickier.
Sizzle…! Sizzle…!
The black rain clinging to his body sizzled and evaporated, likely due to the talisman Biryung had given him. In contrast, the demonic creatures fighting the monsters were melting as if burned, despite their protective energy shielding them from the rain. It wasn’t as effective as the talisman.
‘Did he give me the talisman at his own expense…?’
Just as Gu Yoon hesitated, about to approach the demonic creature,
“Commander! Run!”
Biryung grabbed his arm, pulling him along. Gu Yoon, caught off guard, started running with her.
Meanwhile, the demonic creature continued to fend off the monsters, laughing maniacally.
“Hahaha! Come on! This is a chance to take down those righteous fools! It’s a chance for me to unleash my fury!”
If there had ever been a sense of camaraderie, he might have hesitated before striking them down. But the inherently evil demonic creature relished the opportunity to wield his sword freely.
After all, weren’t these the very martial artists he had once despised, even to the point of murderous intent?
“Kahaha! Those who pretended to be so righteous, look at you now! Die! Die at my hands!”
The demonic creature’s martial prowess was terrifying. Even the assassins were taken aback by the extent of his skills.
In truth, the demonic technique he had mastered was inherently evil.
Thud!
With fingers sharper than blades, the demonic creature plunged his hand into a monster’s chest.
Rip!
“Screeech!”
The monster writhed, screaming in agony. The demonic creature looked at the heart he had pulled out, still pulsating.
Crunch…!
In a moment of madness, he bit into the heart, tearing it apart. The assassins around him turned pale with horror.
“Spit!”
After taking a bite, he spat it out and tossed the heart aside carelessly.
“Pathetic fools…! You preached about justice and purity, yet you couldn’t die with dignity!”
His eyes were filled with rage. Memories from long ago flooded his mind. He didn’t know why they resurfaced now, but the moment he decided to learn the demonic technique kept replaying in his head.
**
The demonic creature, known as Akcheon Goe, lost his parents early and grew up with his brother, Akcheon Hu. His brother worked odd jobs at a martial arts school to earn money. His dream was to become a skilled martial artist and work as a bodyguard.
In truth, his brother had a talent for martial arts. Even while doing menial tasks, he learned martial arts by observing others, becoming quite formidable in the neighborhood.
Eventually, his talent caught the attention of the school master, who began teaching him martial arts directly. His brother was overjoyed.
“Goe, I might become a bodyguard soon. The master is teaching me martial arts himself. Even if it’s just the basics, learning from him will make me strong. Trust me and focus on your studies.”
Akcheon Goe felt reassured by his brother, who had always filled the role of their parents, making their absence barely noticeable.
But life, as it often does, followed good fortune with misfortune. Within a few years, the master’s disciples began to envy and resent his brother. They were displeased that the master favored him over them, despite their formal training.
The problem was that the master constantly compared them to his brother, reprimanding them. Naturally, they disliked Akcheon Hu.
One day, when Akcheon Goe expressed his concern, his brother brushed it off with a smile.
“Don’t worry. How can I address each of their jealousies? They’ll soon realize how foolish they are.”
But the disciples acted contrary to his brother’s expectations. One day, three of the master’s disciples came to their home.
“Hu! We heard you’ve learned forbidden techniques! Come out now!”
“We challenge you to a duel! We can’t forgive anyone who learns forbidden techniques in our school!”
“Are you coming out or not?”
At their threats, Akcheon Hu calmed his brother and stepped out into the yard with dignity.
“Why do you accuse me? I’ve never learned forbidden techniques. The only martial arts I know are what the master taught me.”
“Hmph! Nonsense! How else could you have improved so quickly?”
“Isn’t it just a difference in talent?”
Akcheon Hu, with his natural temperament, couldn’t resist provoking them. That was his mistake. Or perhaps they had planned this all along.
“What? You really think you’re above us after learning forbidden techniques?”
“Even if you grow strong with evil techniques, you’re still just trash!”
As the disciples shouted, Akcheon Hu could no longer hold back and retorted coldly.
“Are you saying the master’s techniques are forbidden?”
“You scoundrel! Now you’re insulting the master!”
“You said it first, accusing me of learning forbidden techniques. But the only martial arts I’ve learned are…”
“Silence! Enough talk!”
One disciple shouted and launched a surprise attack on Akcheon Hu.
Akcheon Hu quickly retreated, countering with a punch.
Thud!
With a dull sound, the first disciple staggered back, coughing up blood.
“Senior brother!”
“Are you alright?”
The second and third disciples shouted, drawing their swords.
Clang!
“You scoundrel! Using evil techniques!”
“Shut up! I only used the master’s…”
“Silence!”
The two disciples attacked Akcheon Hu simultaneously.
Despite his talent, Akcheon Hu struggled against both of them. He had only learned unarmed techniques, while they wielded swords.
Even so, he held his ground for quite some time.
After about thirty exchanges, Akcheon Goe, watching from a crack in the door, saw the first disciple aiming for his brother’s back and shouted instinctively.
“Brother! Behind you…!”
But the disciple’s move was faster than his brother’s reaction.
Thud, stab!
“Gah…! What…?”
Akcheon Hu looked down at the sword protruding from his stomach. As the fear of death and searing pain hit him, his face contorted.
Stab! Stab!
“Gah…! Ugh…!”
The second disciple’s sword pierced his neck, and the third’s pierced his chest.
In that moment, Akcheon Goe’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He couldn’t accept it.
His brother was dying right before his eyes.
It felt like a terrible nightmare.
But there was no way to wake from the nightmare.
Swish…! Slash! Slash!
As three blades were drawn, blood erupted like a fountain, and Akcheonhu fell to his knees.
“Brother…”
Young Akcheongoe looked at Akcheonhu, tears welling in his eyes.
Akcheonhu’s gaze met his.
Even in his final moments, he seemed more concerned about Akcheongoe’s future than his own death.
At least, that’s how Akcheongoe felt.
His brother wasn’t worried about dying; he was worried about the life his younger brother would lead.
Thud!
Finally, Akcheonhu collapsed to the ground.
“Brother!”
Akcheongoe burst through the door, throwing himself over his brother’s lifeless body, sobbing uncontrollably.
The three disciples exchanged glances.
In truth, they hadn’t intended for things to go this far.
Their plan was to inflict injuries severe enough to keep him from ever returning to martial arts.
But witnessing Akcheonhu’s formidable skills, they couldn’t help but feel a surge of competitiveness and bloodlust.
The third disciple scoffed, “Hmph! Did he really think he could take us on with just his bare hands?”
“Exactly. In the end, the sword is the ultimate weapon. He overestimated himself, relying solely on his fists, and look where it got him.”
“Tsk, tsk…”
The first and second disciples clicked their tongues in disdain.
Just then, a voice boomed.
“You fools! What have you done?”
An elderly man burst through the gate, his voice filled with fury.
It was Gwanju, the very man who had taught Akcheonhu his martial arts.
Having heard that his disciples had gone to confront Akcheonhu, he had come himself, uneasy about the situation.
His sharp eyes fell on Akcheonhu’s fallen form.
“Such foolishness…!”
“Ma-Master…!”
“Silence!”
Gwanju strode over to his disciples and slapped them without warning.
The disciples staggered, quickly bowing their heads in an attempt to explain.
“We heard he had mastered forbidden techniques, but he was more aggressive than we expected…”
“Enough!”
Gwanju closed his eyes, letting out a deep sigh.
By now, villagers had gathered beyond the fence, peering in curiously.
Someone cautiously approached and asked, “Gwanju, what on earth happened here? Why is this young man…?”
All eyes turned to Gwanju.
He hesitated for a moment, then sighed and replied, “He was once a cherished student of mine… but he strayed onto a dangerous path, mastering forbidden techniques. My disciples came to confront him, and this is how it ended.”
“Forbidden techniques…!”
“Even if he had learned them, they should have talked first before drawing swords. This is all due to my foolish disciples.”
That day, Gwanju lied without batting an eye.