Chapter 564: Return to the Demon Sect
Baritan was genuinely impressed.
The level of sorcery he had just witnessed was on par with the best barrier masters among the demons.
To think a human could possess such power.
Of course, having been caught off guard by this human sorcery for the first time, there were aspects he had missed. If he were to face such sorcery again, no matter how formidable, Baritan would surely catch on.
“Sabi Kang, the more I learn about you, the more you surprise me,” Baritan mused, a slight twist to his lips.
Sabi Kang stood silently, watching Baritan as if waiting for his next move.
Baritan shook his head slowly. “You told me to come alone.”
“Well, if you had, none of this would have happened.”
“Then it’s a good thing I didn’t. I would have missed such a spectacular sight.”
Baritan continued, his gaze fixed on Sabi Kang. “What do you want me to do?”
“I’ve already given you the answer.”
“You want me to kill my own subordinate?”
“It’s the only way I can trust you. A step towards building mutual trust.”
“Hmm.” Baritan crossed his arms, deep in thought.
After a moment, he looked up at Sabi Kang. “Alright. I’ll do as you wish.”
“My lord!” Hount exclaimed in shock, his face turning pale.
“What choice do I have?” Baritan replied, extending his hand.
In an instant, a sharp beam of magical energy shot from his fingertips.
With a swift motion, the energy blade sliced through the neck of the leader among the guardians.
A spurt of blood followed.
“Ugh…!” The guardian, caught off guard, let out a final cry before collapsing.
It was an instant death.
Hount felt a cold sweat trickle down his spine, knowing that just moments ago, he could have been the one to face that deadly blade.
Baritan turned to Sabi Kang, a smirk playing on his lips. “How about it? Can we call it even now? I believe I’ve shown enough sincerity.”
“Killing a mere underling?”
“He was the most skilled among my guardians. If I were to kill Count Hount, you’d have to take out that soldier over there to balance the scales.”
Baritan’s gaze shifted to Gu Yoon.
Sabi Kang chuckled softly and retrieved his weapon, Vertas. “Alright, let’s discuss the details.”
**
Ong Gi-seung sat atop a large rock, watching the archers train below.
Leading the training were none other than Maeng Ga-sook and Yoo Song-ryeong.
The new recruits had made significant progress in their martial arts, reaching a level where they could establish their own style.
Having faced demons in various battles, they served as excellent examples at the Demon Extermination Palace.
After observing the training for a while, Ong Gi-seung looked up at the sky.
The weather was clear and bright.
So much so that thoughts of demons seemed distant.
Yet, even now, somewhere, warriors were likely falling to the hands of demons.
Elsewhere, others were risking their lives to breach summoning sites.
As Ong Gi-seung closed his eyes, a voice pierced his thoughts.
“Move. That’s my spot.”
Without opening his eyes, Ong Gi-seung turned his head.
He didn’t need to see to know who it was.
Seok Tan-gang.
He always saw Ong Gi-seung as a rival.
But ever since mastering the Demon Spirit, Seok Tan-gang had stopped challenging him.
Instead, he occasionally picked petty fights like this.
Ong Gi-seung understood his feelings.
They had been close competitors for years since joining the Blood Demon Sect.
The sudden surge in strength from an unexpected opportunity could leave one feeling empty or lost.
Ong Gi-seung smiled faintly and stood aside.
“The weather’s nice.”
Seok Tan-gang frowned slightly as Ong Gi-seung stepped aside without protest.
He was used to Ong Gi-seung putting up a fight, but today felt different.
Usually, there would be some banter, but today he seemed unusually compliant.
“Are you dying or something?” Seok Tan-gang asked bluntly.
Ong Gi-seung turned, feigning confusion. “What do you mean?”
“When someone changes suddenly, it means they’re close to death.”
“Haha. Maybe.”
“Is something really going on?”
“Not really. Just sorting out my thoughts.”
“What thoughts…?” Seok Tan-gang began but trailed off.
For some reason, he felt it was best not to push today.
Instead, he spoke gruffly. “I’ll let it slide today. But once you sort out your thoughts, let me know.”
“Why should I?”
“What? Is it a secret you can’t share with me?”
Seok Tan-gang’s genuine disappointment made Ong Gi-seung feel playful.
With a mock-serious expression, he said, “Actually… I do have a dilemma.”
“What is it?”
Seok Tan-gang’s expression hardened as he asked, and Ong Gi-seung sighed dramatically.
“Ah, never mind. I shouldn’t tell you.”
“What is it? Tell me.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Do you want to die?”
“Are you killing people over that now?”
“If necessary.”
“If you kill me, you won’t hear it.”
“Better to kill and not hear than not hear at all.”
Ong Gi-seung chuckled at Seok Tan-gang’s serious demeanor.
“Typical of the unorthodox sects…”
“So, what’s your dilemma?”
“Well, you see…”
Ong Gi-seung’s expression darkened.
Seok Tan-gang swallowed nervously.
”…?”
“I think I’ve fallen for someone.”
“What?”
Seok Tan-gang looked at Ong Gi-seung, bewildered.
He never expected to hear such words from him.
“Who…?”
Seok Tan-gang followed Ong Gi-seung’s gaze to the training ground below.
There, Yoo Song-ryeong was instructing the archers.
A shadow crossed Seok Tan-gang’s face.
“Don’t tell me…?”
“Yeah, I think I like Song-ryeong…”
“No way!”
Seok Tan-gang shouted, suddenly brandishing his chain sickles, exuding a menacing aura.
Startled by his intense reaction, Ong Gi-seung took a step back.
“Whoa, whoa. No need to overreact. You can’t control feelings, you know…”
“Shut up! No one can touch Ryeong-ah! If you want to be my rival, you’ll have to risk your life. I’m serious.”
“Wow. So our friendship is just ashes in the wind?”
“Of course. Lighter than air.”
Seok Tan-gang’s expression was deadly serious.
Ong Gi-seung stifled a laugh and raised his hands in surrender.
“Alright, I give up. I’ll try to control my feelings. Friendship matters to me too.”
“Good decision. Take some time alone and sort it out.”
“Yeah, got it.”
Ong Gi-seung smiled faintly and lowered his hands.
Seok Tan-gang snorted and turned away.
As Ong Gi-seung walked off, he called back, “I’ll leave the rock to you. It’s a prime spot, by the way.”
With that, Ong Gi-seung walked away.
Once he was out of sight, Seok Tan-gang chuckled, glancing in the direction Ong Gi-seung had gone.
“Such a poor actor…”
Ong Gi-seung was clearly preoccupied with something else.
But seeing him troubled, Seok Tan-gang had played along with his joke.
To give him a brief distraction.
Seok Tan-gang settled on the rock, looking down at the training ground.
Yoo Song-ryeong was diligently instructing the archers.
Indeed, there was no better spot to watch her.
As he watched, Seok Tan-gang’s brow furrowed slightly, and he glanced back in the direction Ong Gi-seung had gone.
“Could he really… like Song-ryeong? Nah, no way.”
He shook his head, trying to dismiss the uneasy feeling.
“No, it can’t be. Yeah, it can’t be!”
Meanwhile, as Ong Gi-seung walked away, he chuckled to himself.
“He’s probably racking his brain right about now.”
He had known Seok Tan-gang for a long time.
Though outwardly stoic and unemotional, he knew how sensitive Seok Tan-gang truly was.
That’s why he was such fun to tease.
As he continued walking, someone called out to him.
“Seems like you’re having fun.”
Turning, he saw Jin Baek, the head of the Alchemy Hall.
He was carrying a large wooden box.
Ong Gi-seung hurried over to help.
“What’s all this?”
“Herbs and items from the demon realm.”
“Are you making elixirs with demon realm materials?”
“Experimenting with various things. We had a breakthrough five days ago, so all the alchemists are focused on it.”
“That’s impressive. Everyone’s doing their part.”
“Fighting isn’t the only way to wage war. We’re fighting our own battles.”
After helping carry the box to the Alchemy Hall, Ong Gi-seung left, feeling a sense of solemnity.
Everyone was giving their all in their respective fields.
From Maeng Ga-sook and Yoo Song-ryeong to Jin Baek’s new elixir developments.
Lost in thought, he wandered until he saw Jo Shin-ryang hard at work at the forge.
Despite the relatively cool weather, he was sweating profusely, his face flushed red.
As I quietly watched him, a voice suddenly broke the silence beside him.
“What are you so deep in thought about?”
“Who…?”
In the next moment, a shadow quietly appeared next to Ong Gi-seung.
It was none other than Heuk-gwi.
Ong Gi-seung, looking slightly startled, asked him, “Shouldn’t you be with the Lord?”
“I took a day off.”
“A day off…?”
Ong Gi-seung asked, bewildered, and Heuk-gwi replied with a wry smile.
“I needed some time to think, so I asked for the Lord’s understanding. Besides, the Lord has been so busy lately that there’s hardly been any time to be with him.”
“Ah, I see.”
Ong Gi-seung didn’t press further. Somehow, he felt that Heuk-gwi’s mind might be as tangled as his own.
In truth, both of them were from the same organization, Hyeolsaryeon, but they had rarely crossed paths.
This lent an awkwardness to the strange atmosphere between them.
Silently, they watched Jo Shin-ryang working in the forge.
Almost all the devices and weapons used in Myeolmagung were crafted by Jo Shin-ryang’s hands.
Seeing people throughout Myeolmagung dedicated to their respective tasks stirred something within them.
In that moment, they shared a similar feeling.
With a newfound resolve, they looked at each other and spoke simultaneously.
“Care to join me for a drink?”
It was as if they were speaking to their own reflections, and they couldn’t help but chuckle.
Heuk-gwi spoke first. “I don’t mind a daytime drink.”
“Neither do I.”
And so, Ong Gi-seung and Heuk-gwi headed to the palace tavern together, with a sense that this shared drink might just change the course of their lives.