Chapter 633: Return of the Demon Sect Leader
“I’m off, Father, Mother. Please stay well! I promise to do my utmost in my duties. Leave the martial world to me. I will dedicate my body and soul to protect it from the wicked and to build peace and prosperity…”
“Enough with the noise. Just come back as a decent human being.”
Dan Li-jeong cut off Dan Li-hyuk’s grand speech with a single remark, then turned to Sa Bi-ran with a gentle gaze.
“You must have a lot on your plate.”
“It’s nothing. Dan Li will be a great help.”
“As long as he doesn’t become a burden, that’s all we can hope for.”
Seol Seo-rin, standing nearby, frowned at the exchange.
“How can you say that? He’s still our child. He’ll definitely be a great help, won’t you?”
“Of course, Mother. I will save the martial world from crisis and bring about peace and prosperity…”
“Ran, please take care of yourself.”
Seol Seo-rin, unable to listen to Dan Li-hyuk’s flowery words any longer, turned to Sa Bi-ran.
Sa Bi-ran responded with a soft smile.
“Don’t worry, both of you. Everything will work out.”
“Of course. You’ve learned martial arts from the palace lord and all of us. Who would dare threaten you? I’m not worried.”
Though Dan Li-jeong spoke confidently, his expression betrayed his concern.
Knowing his nature well, Sa Bi-ran accepted his warm heart with gratitude.
Dan Li-jeong gave Dan Li-hyuk a firm warning.
“Don’t cause any trouble.”
Dan Li-hyuk glanced back at his friend, Bu Dan-ju, standing behind him.
“You heard that, right? Try to keep your temper in check. Don’t go causing trouble wherever you go.”
Bu Dan-ju, seemingly uninterested in further conversation, didn’t even bother to look.
Dan Li-jeong and Seol Seo-rin walked with them to the edge of the village to see them off.
“So, where do you plan to go now?”
At Dan Li-jeong’s question, Sa Bi-ran glanced at Dan Li-hyuk, who was chatting with the Baekhwa members, and replied.
“Well… I’m thinking of heading somewhere quiet.”
Dan Li-jeong and Seol Seo-rin nodded, understanding her intent.
“That’s a good idea. It’s not too far from here.”
“Not far, but quite secluded. I couldn’t live in such a place.”
Seol Seo-rin shook her head and added.
“Send my regards to Ong Gi-seung and his wife.”
“Of course. I’ll be off then. By the way, you two still look great together.”
At Sa Bi-ran’s words, Dan Li-jeong and Seol Seo-rin exchanged glances and blushed slightly.
“Haha, you little rascal. You’ve learned to flatter us.”
“Oh, it’s not like that.”
“Even if you think so now, you’ll change your mind when you see that couple. They’re truly a perfect match.”
“Hmm… I can’t deny that.”
Sa Bi-ran’s response made Dan Li-jeong and Seol Seo-rin laugh heartily for the first time in a while.
**
In the bustling streets of Gaeyang, two men walked with purpose.
Their sharp eyes were hidden beneath deeply pulled-down bamboo hats.
They made their way into a brothel, an unusual sight in broad daylight, but not entirely unheard of, so no one paid them much mind.
“Welcome, brothers. You’re here early. Take your time and relax…”
“We’re here for the shining flower.”
One of the men spoke in a gruff voice, causing the hostess’s eyes to change instantly.
“Please, follow me.”
She turned swiftly and led the way.
In a room, she placed her hand on a specific spot on the wall and channeled her energy.
It was surprising to see a mere hostess wielding energy, but the two men waited patiently.
Soon, the wall rotated, revealing a passageway leading underground.
“Please, go ahead.”
At her invitation, the men exchanged a glance and proceeded down the passage.
In the underground room, an old man was arranging various items on a table.
From the most luxurious treasures like the Multicolored Dragon Statue to the Shura Flying Blade, the Jade Emperor’s Pearl, and the Celestial Painting, the room was filled with precious artifacts.
Even luminous pearls seemed insignificant here.
The old man glanced at the two men and spoke curtly.
“What do you want?”
He acted as if he knew them, though they were strangers.
The men, unfazed by his brusque demeanor, tossed a pouch onto the table.
The old man paused, picked up the pouch, and examined its contents.
It was a promissory note for thirty thousand nyang.
The old man smirked and tossed the pouch back to the men.
One of them caught it, raising an eyebrow.
Ignoring the look, the old man spoke again.
“What do you want? If you’re just giving away money, I’ll gladly take it. But if you expect something in return, speak up. Our store doesn’t accept advance payments without knowing the request.”
This was the Gaeyang branch of the former Man-yak-sang, now known as Man-mul-sang, dealing in all sorts of goods beyond just medicinal herbs.
The old man was the head of this branch.
Despite his confident demeanor, the two men quickly regained their composure and spoke.
“We need the Demon Stones.”
The “shining flower” they mentioned earlier referred to these stones.
Left behind by the invading demons, they had become one of the world’s most valuable treasures.
“Demon Stones? That’s quite a lot for just one.”
“We intend to buy all you have.”
“Ah…”
The old man nodded in understanding but soon shook his head.
“It seems you’ve miscalculated the price for one.”
The man frowned.
“I heard they were ten thousand nyang each.”
“They were, until just now.”
“Until just now?”
“Headquarters just sent a directive. Some people are buying up all the Demon Stones, causing a shortage. The price has risen to a hundred thousand nyang each.”
The men exchanged surprised glances.
The price hadn’t just doubled or tripled; it had increased tenfold.
But the old man’s expression suggested he wasn’t lying.
After a brief, silent exchange, one of the men tossed another pouch onto the table.
It was even heavier than before.
“Here’s a hundred thousand nyang. Give us one.”
“Ho?”
The old man’s expression showed interest.
No questions, no haggling.
These men were not amateurs.
In the martial world, those who conduct business cleanly and without fuss are the ones to be wary of.
It’s easier to deal with those who haggle or cause a scene.
But the old man shook his head again.
“Sorry, but I can’t.”
“What’s the problem now?”
One of the men spoke as if ready to solve any issue.
But they soon realized it was beyond their control.
“There are no Demon Stones left.”
“What? We know there were three here…”
“There were, until just now. Someone bought them just before you arrived. If you’re desperate, you could try buying from him. He bought them for ten thousand nyang each, so offering a hundred thousand might persuade him.”
“You should have said so earlier!”
“Didn’t you throw money at me before stating your business? Do you think this is a beggar’s den?”
One of the men stepped forward angrily, but the other pulled him back, signaling not to cause a scene.
Finally, the man asked irritably.
“Where did he go?”
“Hmm… He headed towards Mount Sotae. He lives in a village by the river beyond the hill.”
The two men exchanged a look, tossed a pouch filled with silver, and quickly left.
After they were gone, the old man counted the silver and chuckled.
“Well, I’ve made some easy money. Time for a drink. I hope I didn’t cause any trouble by mentioning it. But that’s not my concern.”
The old man resumed organizing his items.
**
Having left the bustling streets of Gaeyang, Gu Gang-ryong had just entered a narrow path.
After walking for a while, he sat on a large rock to catch his breath.
He carefully unwrapped a cloth bundle from his pocket.
Inside were three radiant stones.
The Demon Stones.
He was the one who had just purchased them from Man-mul-sang for ten thousand nyang each.
“With these, Ryeong-ah can live comfortably for a while.”
He thought of his niece’s bright smile and couldn’t help but smile himself.
Though he wasn’t fond of children, his niece was different.
She was adorable from the moment she was born.
When she took her first steps, he was moved to tears.
People often teased him, suggesting he was more like her father than her uncle.
He didn’t mind.
She was too precious.
He even began to wonder if he should marry and have children of his own.
But he wasn’t particularly interested in marriage.
It wasn’t out of a sense of duty that he stayed to protect Ong Gi-seung, who had lost his martial arts abilities.
If Ong Gi-seung had chosen a life as a farmer instead of getting married, it might have been different.
Now, he had a wife who could look after him.
Ong Gi-seung often said, almost to the point of wearing out his tongue, “Brother, you should find a partner too. I’d love to have a sister-in-law.”
But Gu Gang-ryong never responded to such remarks.
He simply enjoyed his current way of life.
However…
‘Is it because she takes after her father?’
His niece, Ong Su-ryeong, who was also Ong Gi-seung’s daughter, was born with a peculiar constitution.
To help improve her condition, a large amount of magic stones was necessary.
‘Still, I was lucky to get my hands on three of them.’
Gu Gang-ryong felt grateful to the head of the trading company, who had sold them to him at the old price, even though the central office had raised the price tenfold.
‘But who on earth is hoarding all these magic stones?’
Just then.
”…!”
Gu Gang-ryong’s eyes sharpened.
He wrapped the magic stones in a cloth, tucked them into his robe, and stood up.
“Show yourselves.”
His voice, heavy and commanding, cut through the air.
Rustle…!
Two figures emerged from the forest.
They were warriors, their faces hidden beneath deep-brimmed bamboo hats.
They were the same ones who had visited the trading company earlier.