Chapter 574: Return of the Demon Sect Leader
A voice she thought she’d never hear again.
There stood Sabigang on the roof behind Mukyangje.
“Oh… it’s you!”
Tears streamed down Maesellan’s face.
She didn’t want to show such vulnerability.
She wanted to be strong, no matter where she was in the world.
Yet, why did she always feel so weak in front of Sabigang?
But then,
“Raaaargh!”
Mukyangje, who they thought was dead, suddenly let out a monstrous scream, blood bursting from his eyes.
In an instant, he raised his sword high, even though he was blind.
In a flash,
Slash!
The sword pierced through his chest, shooting upwards and splitting his head clean in half.
Splat!
Blood gushed out like a fountain, drenching Maesellan.
Thud!
Mukyangje fell to his knees and collapsed like a lifeless stone, never to move again.
Yet, the tension of the moment lingered, leaving Maesellan and Jinbaek feeling as if Mukyangje might spring back to life at any second.
Whoosh, thud!
A flying Berthas landed in Sabigang’s hand.
Descending gracefully as if from the heavens, Sabigang landed beside Maesellan.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
As he approached, Maesellan took a step back.
Sabigang tilted his head in confusion, and she averted her gaze, murmuring.
“You’re covered in blood.”
“It’s fine.”
Sabigang pulled her into a tight embrace.
He whispered softly.
“Thank you for holding on.”
“You held on even better.”
“Still, thank you.”
Sabigang hugged her tightly.
At the same time, a surge of anger towards Neungwoonpa rose within him.
When Neungwoonpa had mentioned a gift, he hadn’t expected this.
A sense of foreboding had driven him to rush back to the palace.
But Maesellan had been pushed to the brink of death.
He wanted to find Neungwoonpa and tear him apart.
But now wasn’t the time.
He needed to use him as much as possible.
And one day, Neungwoonpa would pay dearly for crossing him.
Maesellan, still in Sabigang’s arms, asked.
“What about the mission you went on?”
“It’s going as planned. Old General Gu has followed Leader Neung.”
“So it came to that.”
“From the start, he wanted to be by the leader’s side. It’s the best way to control everything.”
“Is this man related to Leader Neung?”
Maesellan glanced at the lifeless Mukyangje.
His body, drained of all energy, looked like that of a hundred-year-old man.
Sabigang nodded.
“They must have exploited his desires.”
“I see. That’s why you returned so soon.”
Maesellan buried her face in Sabigang’s chest.
She felt at ease.
Though she had just survived a terrifying moment, being with him made her forget everything.
Sabigang held her gently.
“Thanks to you, we prevented greater harm. Most importantly, I’m grateful you’re safe.”
“I’m honored, my lord.”
They exchanged smiles.
**
In a basin nestled in the mountains, a hundred thousand demon soldiers swarmed.
From a hill overlooking them, Gu Yun spoke quietly.
“These are the martial artists who gathered that day.”
“Indeed. Their desires have reborn them.”
“You don’t need to justify yourself. I don’t blame you, Leader.”
Neungwoonpa frowned slightly at Gu Yun’s words.
“Why do you think I’m making excuses?”
“I don’t know. It just felt that way. If I’m mistaken, I apologize.”
Neungwoonpa narrowed his eyes, studying Gu Yun.
He couldn’t quite explain it, but he felt uneasy.
Was he really making excuses to Gu Yun?
Why?
He had long abandoned his humanity, becoming a demon.
The petty emotions that clouded human judgment were no longer his concern.
He had no need to justify himself.
Yes, it must be Gu Yun’s misunderstanding.
Neungwoonpa looked back at the demon soldiers.
“They are the embodiment of desire. They have no regrets. They’ve achieved their desires. Do you think they abandoned their identity to fulfill their desires?”
“If not, then what?”
“The opposite. They abandoned their identity because they fulfilled their desires. Once they achieved their desires, their identity was no longer needed.”
“It sounds like a Zen riddle.”
Neungwoonpa smiled faintly.
“Transcending human consciousness is difficult for mere humans to understand.”
With that, Neungwoonpa snapped his fingers.
The magical sword around Gu Yun’s neck vanished with a sizzling sound.
Gu Yun rubbed his neck, muttering.
“Now I can finally eat something in peace.”
“Spending time with Sabigang has made you more boastful.”
“Why did you release me?”
“I’ll trust you once more. But you must use any means necessary to place me on the throne. Don’t fail this time. You owe me, don’t you?”
“I understand. But promise me, Leader, that you’ll return to the demon realm and never appear in the central plains again.”
“Of course.”
The leader’s lips curled into a smile.
Gu Yun looked down at the demon soldiers again and asked.
“What about the other forces?”
“Marquis Baritan leads a thousand knights from the north of the Demon Palace, and Duke Lucidal commands three thousand knights from the south.”
“Then… dealing with Duke Lucidal should be our top priority.”
“Indeed.”
With that, their conversation ended, leaving an awkward silence.
Yet, Gu Yun didn’t mind the awkwardness.
It seemed Neungwoonpa still had a trace of humanity left.
Of course, it might have been a feeling only Gu Yun experienced.
Finally, Neungwoonpa spoke first.
“How about it? Since we’ve reunited, shall we have a drink?”
“Do demons drink?”
“We do. It’s much stronger. No matter how much you can drink, you’ll get drunk quickly.”
Gu Yun smiled and shook his head.
“I don’t drink anymore.”
“Is that so…? Then there’s no helping it.”
Neungwoonpa fell silent again.
And they didn’t speak further.
Sometimes, silence conveys more emotions and meaning than words.
That was the case between them now.
Gu Yun looked at the demon soldiers with a heavy heart, silently vowing.
“Leader, I’ll serve you without regret one last time. I’ll do my best.”
**
Standing on a hill, Deungbuyung looked back.
In the distance, the Demon Palace sprawled.
Even from afar, its grandeur was evident.
“I was in a place like that.”
A little distance brings new perspectives.
How narrow his life had been.
Deungbuyung smiled wryly and turned away.
A sudden pain in his abdomen made him wince, and he pulled out a small wooden box from his pocket.
Inside were several small pills.
They were given to him by Jinbaek, the head of the medical hall.
They were said to heal internal injuries, alleviate pain, and strengthen the meridians.
He was to take them twice a day.
Deungbuyung popped a pill into his mouth and turned to leave.
When he tried to go, Jinbaek had tried to stop him.
But Deungbuyung’s stubbornness was unyielding.
Jinbaek suggested he meet with Lord Sabigang before leaving, but Deungbuyung refused even that.
Even the promise of a great reward for rescuing the chief couldn’t sway him.
Having made up his mind, he wanted to leave for a fresh start.
When Mukyangje attacked, he thought he was done for.
In that brief moment, regret washed over him.
Why had he gotten involved in such a fight, only to die a meaningless death?
Was there any point to it?
Wouldn’t it be better to live like a dog than die like a human?
But after regaining consciousness, he realized many things.
About life and death.
Crossing that boundary once made everything seem new.
He wanted to find meaning in this precious life, more than in a borrowed existence.
As he climbed the hill and descended the other side, he kept glancing back at the Demon Palace, as if reluctant to leave it behind.
But now, it was hidden by the hill.
“Yes, the farther you go, the easier it is to let go.”
Deungbuyung chuckled and walked on.
But he hadn’t gone far when he saw a familiar figure sitting on a rock by the roadside.
He recognized him immediately.
It was Sabigang.
“Why are you leaving in such a hurry?”
Sabigang approached Deungbuyung and asked.
Deungbuyung smiled wryly.
“I just thought it was better not to say too much when leaving. Thank you for everything.”
“You’ve changed a lot, Deung.”
Sabigang spoke sincerely.
He hadn’t noticed much change in him before.
So he hadn’t felt any special affection for him.
But if it weren’t for him, Maesellan might have truly died.
Thanks to the brief time he bought, Sabigang had arrived just in time.
Even with his limited strength, he had shown that miracles could happen for humans.
“Looks like you’ve finally matured,” said Deung Bu-hyeong with a gentle smile, as Sabi-gang gazed at him with a deep, thoughtful look.
Deung Bu-hyeong clasped his hands in a respectful gesture. “Thank you, Lady Sa. You are a true mentor. You’ve made even someone like me reconsider the meaning of life. You’re not just a hero who vanquishes demons; you’re a teacher who imparts great wisdom to people.”
“You’re too kind. It’s a bit sad to see you go, but I have a small gift for you, Brother Deung.”
“A gift…?”
Deung Bu-hyeong tilted his head in surprise.
Sabi-gang presented him with a sword. It was a sleek blade, adorned with silver decorations on a dark scabbard.
“This is a sword called ‘Ghost.’ In the language of the Central Plains, it could be translated as ‘Guihun-do,’ the Ghost Soul Blade. It’s not as rare as the Vertas, but it’s still quite a precious sword.”
“Why give this to me?”
“Since you’re leaving, I wanted to give you something. I consulted with several people and learned that I’ve broken quite a few of your swords over time. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Ha… only now do you realize,” Deung Bu-hyeong thought, a bit amused but not displeased.
It wasn’t the gift itself that moved him, but the fact that Sabi-gang had thought so much about him.
“The Guihun-do has a nature that loyally follows its master like a ghost. Of course, being an Ego Blade, it only follows a master it acknowledges. Train it well. It will surely surpass most ordinary swords in the Central Plains.”
Deung Bu-hyeong looked at the Guihun-do with eyes damp with emotion. His voice was thick with feeling as he spoke.
“Lady Sabi-gang… you make me feel so small. I’m truly humbled.”
“What are you saying? You are a benefactor to me and the woman I love. I am genuinely grateful to you, Brother Deung. I wish you a safe journey.”
Sabi-gang stepped back and offered a firm salute.
Deung Bu-hyeong’s heart was full. Why had he never felt such warmth before? Why had he been so consumed by immediate desires?
What use is a sword if the wielder lacks the right qualities?
Deung Bu-hyeong returned the salute to Sabi-gang. “Lady Sa! I, Deung, have learned much from you! I will return one day as a better man!”
“You are already more than enough,” Sabi-gang replied with a gentle smile.
It was the warmest and most serene smile she had ever given him.