Chapter 593: Return to the Demonic Sect

Bang! Bang! Bang…!

Clang! Clang! Clang…!

The forge was a furnace of blistering heat.

Even standing still, the air felt suffocatingly hot.

It was the height of summer, when even resting in the shade left you drenched in sweat. But here, in the blazing confines of the Divine Forge, it felt like stepping into the heart of a volcano.

The blacksmiths working in the forge had all mastered basic internal energy techniques, using the yin energy to keep their bodies cool.

Huff! Huff! Huff!

As the blacksmiths pumped the bellows with vigor, white steam rose from their bodies.

Despite channeling the extreme yin energy, the intense heat of the forge left them drenched in sweat.

Just then, the door swung open, and Sabikang entered with his lieutenant, Dam Wugi.

Only the master of the forge, Jo Shinryang, greeted them.

The others merely glanced at Sabikang before returning to their work.

“You’re here?”

Jo Shinryang addressed Sabikang.

Sabikang surveyed the bustling forge with a faint smile.

“Everyone’s hard at work.”

“They know the final battle is near. They’re busy crafting special weapons for it. Since we can’t use mechanical devices against the Black Star, we’re developing some unique weapons.”

“Unique weapons, you say?”

At Jo Shinryang’s signal, some workers brought over a large wooden box.

Jo Shinryang led the way.

“We can’t demonstrate it here. Follow me.”

Outside in the courtyard, Jo Shinryang opened the box to reveal its contents.

The first item he pulled out was a long metal device with a trigger.

“What is this?”

“Think of it as a crossbow.”

“But there’s no string.”

“Correct. It’s a device developed using magic stones. Pull the trigger, and it fires an arrow. Give it a try.”

Sabikang aimed at a wooden dummy in the distance and pulled the trigger.

Thunk!

Whoosh, thud!

An arrow shot out from the metal device, piercing the wooden dummy with such force that it continued through to the other side.

Sabikang was genuinely impressed.

“Remarkable power.”

“We plan to produce about a thousand of these. We’ve named it the Lightning Bow. You can fire up to seven arrows in rapid succession by holding the trigger.”

Sabikang immediately tested it.

Thududududududung!

As Jo Shinryang had said, seven arrows flew through the air, each one piercing the wooden dummy in succession.

The dummy, now riddled with holes, creaked and toppled over.

Sabikang nodded in approval.

“This will be a great asset in battle.”

“Heh, isn’t that why you hired me?”

“But producing these must require a significant amount of funds.”

At this, Dam Wugi stepped forward confidently.

“Don’t worry about the funds. The resources I’ve accumulated are still plentiful. I’m currently managing all expenditures from the Demonic Palace with precision, so there’s no need for concern.”

“I see.”

“And Jo Shinryang’s acquaintance has also been a great help.”

“An acquaintance…?”

As Sabikang’s gaze shifted, Jo Shinryang chuckled.

“You’ve met him before, haven’t you? No Daeyoung…”

“Ah…!”

Sabikang immediately recalled him.

When Jo Shinryang left Mount Jeongang with him, he entrusted his cherished Aehwan-sang to No Daeyoung.

No Daeyoung.

In his past life, he was someone who had supported the martial world in countless ways.

Come to think of it, Sabikang had already expressed his gratitude to him.

Once again, No Daeyoung had generously contributed his wealth for the sake of the martial world.

Jo Shinryang then revealed another weapon.

This time, it was a metal object resembling a pine cone, emitting a mysterious glow.

“What is this?”

“It’s called an Explosive Bomb.”

“Explosive Bomb?”

“This is a scaled-down version for demonstration. The real ones are larger.”

“How do you use it?”

“Very simple. Pull out this ring and throw it. When it hits something, it explodes, sending shrapnel flying everywhere. Perfect for taking out groups of enemies in one go.”

Jo Shinryang pulled the ring from the bomb and hurled it toward a cluster of wooden dummies in the distance.

“Get down!”

As soon as he shouted, the workers and Dam Wugi hit the ground.

Only Sabikang remained standing.

Boom!

A tremendous explosion echoed, leaving a crater where the bomb had landed.

Simultaneously.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Shrapnel from the bomb shattered and flew in all directions.

The wooden dummies hit by the shrapnel were utterly destroyed, and some of the remaining fragments flew toward Sabikang.

Ratatatatat!

With a casual flick of his sword, Sabikang deflected the shrapnel, sending it clattering to the ground.

“Whew. That’s quite a fearsome weapon!”

Dam Wugi stood up, shaking his head in disbelief.

Jo Shinryang shrugged.

“We’re preparing three thousand of these. They’re excellent for dealing with large numbers of enemies. Of course, they must be handled with extreme care.”

“Impressive.”

Sabikang acknowledged.

He had never imagined such weapons.

“All of these are made from materials harvested from the demon realm. The Explosive Bombs are crafted from processed demon fire. Processing the demon fire was the most challenging part. One wrong move, and it could have been disastrous. Most of our time was spent on that.”

Demon fire referred to the volatile substance known as devil’s fire.

“You’ve done an incredible job. These will be invaluable in battle.”

“And there’s more.”

Jo Shinryang continued to showcase several other weapons.

Among them were truly ingenious designs.

There were devices that, once launched into the sky, rained arrows down in all directions, and explosives that detonated when stepped on.

It took half a day just to witness the demonstrations of all these weapons.

Sabikang expressed his gratitude to Jo Shinryang for his hard work and left the forge.

Of course, he didn’t forget to offer words of encouragement to the craftsmen toiling away in the forge.

The fact that the master himself had come to offer encouragement left them visibly moved.

Afterward, Sabikang headed to the Alchemy Hall.

There, too, the air was thick with the scent of herbs, and the alchemists were busily at work.

They merely glanced at Sabikang, while Jinbaek was the one to greet him.

“Welcome.”

“You seem quite busy.”

“Busy doesn’t even begin to describe it. We’re rushing to produce as many elixirs as possible. If it weren’t for the vast array of herbs we had on hand, we’d be facing severe shortages. By the way, when do you think the final operation will commence?”

Dam Wugi stepped in to answer.

“I’m sorry, but it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact date. The master has some preparations to complete before the final operation.”

“I see. Still not ready, are you?”

Jinbaek looked at Sabikang with a knowing gaze.

Sabikang gave a wry smile and nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Are you afraid?”

Sabikang met Jinbaek’s eyes and answered honestly.

“Yes.”

For some reason, he found it easy to be honest with Jinbaek.

Had anyone else asked, he might have put on a brave face.

But to Sabikang, Jinbaek was like a father.

When he had returned to this life, it was Jinbaek’s warmth that had been a comforting presence.

Having grown up without parents, Jinbaek’s nurturing presence was like a pillar of strength for Sabikang.

Jinbaek, in turn, still saw Sabikang as the child who had once wept for his lost parents.

Though it was remarkable to see how that child had grown into a formidable warrior, in Jinbaek’s heart, Sabikang remained someone he wanted to protect and care for.

With slightly misty eyes, Jinbaek looked at Sabikang.

“Don’t burden yourself too much. Just do your best, and leave the rest to fate. You know as well as I do that worrying won’t solve anything.”

“Of course.”

“Ah, they say old age brings more nagging. I must be getting senile. Anyway, let me show you the elixirs we’re working on. Follow me.”

Jinbaek guided Sabikang through the various elixirs and pills they were producing.

There were concoctions that seemed to promise boundless energy just from their descriptions.

Some were made by extracting the magic from magic stones, while others were crafted solely from the herbs of the martial world.

Of course, not everything was beneficial.

There were poisons and toxins capable of taking a life in an instant, as well as substances that could induce hallucinations or blindness.

In such cases, they collaborated with the forge to incorporate them into weaponry.

They also sought advice from the Taoist master, Murang, to find ways to use them in spells.

As Sabikang listened to the explanations, he was inwardly impressed.

As Murang had suggested, it was indeed wise to take a comprehensive tour of the Demonic Palace today.

On the front lines, battling the demon king’s army, what I felt most unexpectedly was loneliness.

The sense that I was leading this fight alone.

The thought that only I was making an effort.

Yet, in places I hadn’t noticed, others were striving in their own ways.

Maesulan’s words weren’t wrong.

If everyone fought together, even the slightest chance of success would increase.

And these people, driven by even the slimmest possibility, were giving it their all, sleepless nights and all.

For the first time, I didn’t feel alone in this fight.

Or rather, I realized just how lonely I had been all along.

At the same time, I felt a pang of guilt for having overlooked their hard work.

“I’ve already passed on what you need to Murangjeonju. It should be ready there.”

“Understood.”

Just as Sabigang bowed and turned to leave, a gentle voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Sabigang.”

The soft voice made him pause, a lump forming in his throat for reasons he couldn’t quite grasp.

Long ago, in his childhood, Jinbaek had always called him that.

For the first time, he realized he had a place that felt like home to his heart.

And perhaps, he thought, that was why he had returned.

Jinbaek’s gentle voice reached Sabigang’s back.

“You’ve changed many people. No, perhaps you’ve changed this entire world. You’ve accomplished the hardest and most challenging task. And this world believes in you. Now, it’s time for you to believe in it. The people you’ve changed, this world you’ve transformed, might just change you in return.”

The words were cryptic, yet Sabigang didn’t press for more.

One day, he would understand. Jinbaek’s words had always been like that since he was young.

So, without a word, Sabigang moved forward, carrying the profound advice in his heart.

Now, all that remained was to reach the pinnacle of Manhaegyeong.

A chance so slim it was barely worth mentioning.

But it had to be done.

If he failed… there would truly be no other way.

“I must…!”

Sabigang’s eyes shone with an intensity they had never held before.