Episode 555: Return of the Demon Sect Leader
“Master Salmak…”
Goo Yoon muttered absentmindedly, staring at Akcheon Goe, who lay alone in the center of the valley.
Severely injured, Akcheon Goe seemed beyond recovery.
Around him, black eggs were hatching, transforming into demonic soldiers who began to appear one by one.
With his inner strength nearly depleted, Akcheon Goe was left with nothing but the prospect of death at their hands.
Goo Yoon gritted his teeth as he watched Neung Unpa approach leisurely from the sky.
“Why… why would you do such a thing? Sacrificing them like this…!”
Tears welled up in his eyes.
A storm of complex emotions churned within his chest.
He wanted to rush over, grab Neung Unpa by the collar, and demand answers.
Is this your idea of justice?
Is this your vision of an ideal world?
Where did your resolve to protect the martial world go?
“Commander! We must go!”
Biryung shouted, pulling at Goo Yoon’s arm.
But Goo Yoon shook off her hand and said, “No. I’m staying. You should leave.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Where would a commander go without his master? But you must leave this place.”
“Then I can’t leave either. How can a guard abandon her master?”
“When the master gives an order, you must follow it. But I haven’t heard such an order. So I stay.”
“That’s absurd!”
Biryung shouted, tears brimming in her eyes.
She knew.
It was all futile.
Though Neung Unpa was still far off, Biryung could feel his power prickling her skin.
She understood how strong he had become.
And how malevolent.
Goo Yoon must have realized it too.
He must have judged that, with his limited martial skills, escaping this place was impossible.
And that made it all the more frustrating.
Because he was weak.
That’s why she existed.
To protect a brilliant commander like Hyeji, despite her own lack of martial prowess.
But now…
‘What should I do in times like this?’
Biryung lowered her head without realizing it.
Finally, Neung Unpa flew close.
Hovering in the air, he smiled at Goo Yoon.
“Commander. Where do you think you’re going?”
Goo Yoon smiled back.
“Where would I go, leaving my lord behind?”
“Exactly. You are my commander. Wherever I am, that’s where you belong.”
“Indeed. But if my lord strays onto the wrong path, it’s my duty to correct it.”
“Don’t worry. I always walk the right path…”
“No. My lord, you have strayed onto the wrong path.”
“The wrong path, you say. What makes it wrong?”
“You, who should protect the martial world, have become a pawn of the demonic forces…”
“Those who were once weak have become stronger. They’ve transcended human limits. Commander, you too can become stronger…”
“Get a grip!”
Goo Yoon shouted, his voice so loud that even Biryung was startled.
She had never seen him this angry before.
With eyes brimming with tears, Goo Yoon shouted, spitting as he spoke.
“Can’t you see those twisted humans? You should have fought against the demonic forces with them! Instead, why do you blame the martial artists for being weak and become a pawn of the demons?”
Neung Unpa narrowed his eyes and slowly descended to the ground.
Finally landing, he crossed his arms and asked, “Is it wrong for the strong to rule over the weak? That’s the law of nature. And is it right for a weak ruler to send his subordinates to their deaths, driven only by emotion and pride? That’s incompetence and another form of sin.”
“Hah! So when the demons oppress the martial artists, should we just bow down and beg? Should we give them everything and just wag our tails?”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
Neung Unpa shrugged and continued as he approached.
“Human emotions are the problem. If you think rationally, the answer is simple. I trust that, as a smart commander, you understand my point.”
“Shut up! You’re just a coward! Justifying your betrayal of your own kind and selling out the martial world for your own gain! You’re nothing but a demonic pawn now!”
“Not pleasant to hear.”
“At least you understand insults. A monster is a monster, after all. Unable to empathize, unaware of shame—that’s what makes you a monster.”
“Disappointing.”
“I’m disappointed too.”
Neung Unpa looked at Goo Yoon intently.
Goo Yoon didn’t avert his gaze.
Neung Unpa had become a completely different being.
His transformation was so complete that it seemed he had always been this way.
Neung Unpa shrugged.
“Then, you must die.”
As he took a step forward,
Shhhhhh!
Shadows descended around Goo Yoon.
They were the assassins of the Salmak.
Even Goo Yoon and Biryung were taken by surprise, their eyes widening as they looked at them.
One of the assassins, standing with his back to Goo Yoon, turned his head slightly and said, “Commander, you must flee.”
“Why are you…?”
“The master ordered us to protect you.”
“But there’s no need for that anymore…”
“The loyalty of assassins is heavier than heaven’s decree.”
That single statement struck Goo Yoon’s heart.
He glared at Neung Unpa with a face full of indignation.
“Do you see? Even these assassins have more honor than you.”
Neung Unpa chuckled.
“How amusing. In the end, the value of existence is determined by strength. Weak insects are meant to be crushed.”
With that, he flicked his ten fingers simultaneously.
Pew pew pew pew pew pew pew pew!
Ten streams of energy shot from his fingertips.
Thud thud thud!
Thunk!
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
Some assassins barely deflected the energy, sliding back, but many were struck in vital points and collapsed on the spot.
The lead assassin furrowed his brow and shouted, “Attack!”
Swish swish swish!
The assassins charged at Neung Unpa.
Shhhhhh!
But their blades only sliced through empty air.
It wasn’t that their swordsmanship was lacking.
In fact, under Akcheon Goe’s leadership, the Salmak had made significant progress in a short time.
Though they were used to ambushes, they had developed the skills to face opponents head-on.
Yet, Neung Unpa was overwhelmingly strong.
He moved with a fluid grace, as if dancing.
In contrast, the assassins were sharp and swift.
To an observer, it might seem strange.
Despite the assassins’ rapid attacks, Neung Unpa, moving leisurely, evaded them all.
At some point,
Pew pew pew pew pew pew pew pew!
Neung Unpa flicked his fingers again.
Another ten streams of energy flew toward the assassins.
Thud thud thud! Thunk! Thud!
“Argh!”
“Ugh!”
Those hit by the energy staggered and fell.
“Enough playing around.”
Neung Unpa murmured coldly as he flew straight toward Goo Yoon.
Just as his hand was about to grasp Goo Yoon’s throat,
“Stop!”
Biryung shouted, blocking his path.
But she was sent flying like a fallen leaf by Neung Unpa’s casual swipe.
Whoosh, crash!
Biryung tumbled down the slope, trying to rise but collapsing again.
She had suffered a severe internal injury from a single blow.
“Commander…!”
“Ryeong-ah…!”
Neung Unpa chuckled.
“How touching. Were you two that close?”
“Leader! You’ve truly abandoned your humanity…! Ugh!”
Suddenly, Neung Unpa gripped Goo Yoon’s neck roughly.
Twisting his lips, he spoke.
“Didn’t you say it yourself? A monster is a monster. Instead of bowing to a race that could dominate us, I gained greater power. A wise person should follow the times, shouldn’t they?”
“That’s not wisdom; it’s just cunning and vile…”
“Silence. Insects banding together can’t defeat a true power.”
As Neung Unpa was about to tighten his grip,
Riiip…!
A strange sound, as if the sky itself was tearing, echoed throughout the Daewoon Mountain basin.
Neung Unpa furrowed his brows and looked up.
“What is that…?”
In the next moment,
Riiip…! Riiip!
With a loud noise, the center of the massive hand-shaped rock on the hill split open.
From there, a figure shot out, hurtling toward Neung Unpa at terrifying speed.
Swish swish swish swish!
”…!”
Instinctively, Neung Unpa tossed Goo Yoon aside and quickly drew his sword.
Clang!
A deafening noise erupted as the sword and blade clashed.
In that fleeting moment, Neung Unpa recognized his opponent.
‘Sabikang…?’
His eyes widened in surprise.
The person who had suddenly appeared and struck with the sword was none other than Sabikang.
Whoosh, crash!
As Sabikang spun and kicked, Neung Unpa quickly extended his palm to block it.
Whoosh!
The cloud-splitting wave shot high into the sky.
Whoosh!
Sabi Kang launched himself into the air.
But he wasn’t heading in the direction the wave had flown. Instead, he aimed for the heart of the basin, teeming with enemy soldiers.
There, the last of the demon warriors was desperately clinging to life, squeezing out every ounce of strength he had left.
But his life hung by a thread.
“Roar!”
“There’s a human! Kill him!”
The soldiers, eyes blazing red, charged at Sabi Kang.
Slash!
With a swift swing of his sword, Sabi Kang cut through the soldiers, their bodies falling in halves around him.
The battered demon warrior looked at Sabi Kang and managed a swollen-faced grin.
“You’re late, damn it.”
“Seems I am.”
“Don’t you dare carry me. I’ve got my pride.”
“No need to worry.”
With that, Sabi Kang reached out and grabbed the demon warrior by the scruff of his neck, lifting him up.
The demon warrior’s face turned crimson as he shouted.
“You crazy fool! Is this how you treat a patient—cough, cough! Ugh!”
Despite his protests, the demon warrior coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Ignoring this, Sabi Kang flew over to Gu Yun, carrying the demon warrior with him.
He laid the warrior down beside Gu Yun and infused him with a stream of energy.
“Just hang in there a little longer.”
“Damn it, I’m on the brink of death, and you’re—”
“Even if it’s a love-hate relationship, we should at least say goodbye.”
With those words, Sabi Kang turned away, his expression stoic.
In a flash, he reappeared in front of the cloud-splitting wave, now some distance away.