Chapter 637: Return of the Demon Sect Instructor
A lively celebration was underway in the riverside village.
The Jang couple repeatedly expressed their gratitude to Ong Su-ryeong and Sa Bi-ran.
They were especially hospitable to Sa Bi-ran upon learning she was from the Demonic Palace.
However, no one knew she was the daughter of Sa Bi-gang.
She disliked how people changed their behavior once they knew her true identity.
As a result, she naturally avoided unnecessary conversations.
Thanks to this, the White Flower Group enjoyed a rare feast, and Dan Ri-hyuk indulged in the festive atmosphere, drinking heartily.
Even the usually serious Deung Ga-hwi quietly sipped his drink, savoring the rare moment of relaxation.
Yet, a part of him couldn’t shake the thought that today’s events in the forest might be connected to his current mission.
“Are you the son of Instructor Deung Bu-hyeong?”
Ong Gi-seung had approached without notice and casually struck up a conversation.
Startled, Deung Ga-hwi turned and greeted him politely.
“Yes, sir. I’m Deung Ga-hwi.”
“No need for formalities. I just wanted to share a drink with you.”
Ong Gi-seung gently reassured him as he took a seat.
In truth, Deung Ga-hwi felt uncomfortable in this situation.
One of his least favorite topics was anything related to his father.
Most martial artists grew up hearing praises about their fathers—how they were legendary in their prime or heroes to be emulated.
Indeed, Deung Bu-hyeong was a hero respected by many in the martial world.
But those who knew him well had a different perspective.
He was a fallen instructor who redeemed himself by saving the martial world.
Deung Ga-hwi despised the label “fallen instructor.”
It made him ashamed of his father, and his feelings toward him were far from positive.
Moreover, his father never tried to hide his past.
For these reasons, conversations with those who knew his father well were always uncomfortable.
And now, he found himself in such a conversation again.
“Is Instructor Deung Bu-hyeong doing well?”
“Yes.”
Deung Ga-hwi replied curtly, hoping to end the conversation quickly.
But Ong Gi-seung continued.
“I never got close to Instructor Deung. I was in the Newborn Division, not the Heavenly Destruction Squad. But I know your father is a remarkable man.”
Deung Ga-hwi forced a bitter smile.
“At least he changed his ways in the end.”
“That’s why I respect him even more.”
“Excuse me…?”
Deung Ga-hwi frowned, looking at Ong Gi-seung.
He expected the usual pattern: praise his father as a hero, then mock his flaws.
But Ong Gi-seung’s words took a different turn.
“I was once part of the demonic sect. I was so unruly that even the Blood Alliance couldn’t control me.”
“That’s hard to imagine.”
Considering the current Ong Gi-seung, it seemed like a fabricated story.
But Ong Gi-seung shook his head.
“It’s true. My unique constitution led me astray, but that’s just an excuse. I know how hard it is to change. To break old habits and wrong beliefs is like discarding oneself entirely. In other words, it’s like killing oneself.”
“Killing oneself…”
“Exactly. It’s a mentally excruciating process, not easy at all. But your father achieved it. I had the advantage of a unique constitution and a great mentor. But your father changed on his own. Perhaps the Palace Lord influenced him, but without his strong will and determination to be reborn, it wouldn’t have been possible. That’s why I respect him.”
Amidst the boisterous celebration, Ong Gi-seung’s voice cut through like a serene whisper, embedding itself in Deung Ga-hwi’s mind.
Despite the noise, the clarity of his words was astonishing.
Deung Ga-hwi was speechless for a long time.
He had never heard such a perspective before.
He had always been ashamed of his father.
He disliked seeing people praise him as a hero and hated when they exposed his flaws.
But…
To hear such words from someone who truly saved the martial world…
Ong Gi-seung was sincere.
His voice, tone, and expression made it clear.
Deung Ga-hwi had never thought of it that way.
Ong Gi-seung chuckled awkwardly.
“Honestly, I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. I just wanted to say your father is extraordinary. I respect him not because he saved the martial world, but because he changed himself. That’s the hardest thing in the world. When you see him, please give him my regards.”
”…I will. I’ll definitely tell him.”
Deung Ga-hwi’s eyes grew warm.
Suddenly, he missed his father.
The voice that used to candidly share embarrassing stories after a drink.
The voice he once despised now felt strangely comforting.
Ong Gi-seung smiled and raised his glass.
He hadn’t intended to share so much.
But everything he said was genuine.
He had only planned to exchange greetings.
Yet, seeing Deung Ga-hwi’s discomfort when his father was mentioned, he spoke impulsively.
He knew well how difficult it was to abandon one’s way of life and resist temptation.
“Come, it’s a good day. Let’s drink.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Take good care of my daughter.”
Deung Ga-hwi nodded solemnly.
Just as they were about to drink, a commotion erupted.
“Seung-ah! Seung-ah!”
Gu Gang-ryong rushed over, his voice urgent.
Ong Gi-seung, unfazed, turned to him with a calm expression.
“What is it, brother?”
“It’s a disaster! Ryeong-ah is missing! I’ve searched everywhere, but she’s nowhere to be found!”
“On a day like this, relax. She’s probably taking a walk nearby.”
“Why would she suddenly go for a walk during a celebration?”
“She’s about to leave soon. She might want to take one last look around the village. It’s where she grew up, after all.”
“I have a bad feeling! Something must have happened!”
“Brother, let her go. People might think she’s your daughter.”
“Ryeong-ah is like a daughter to me!”
“I know. I know how much you care for her. But she’s grown up now. How long will you keep her sheltered? She’ll grow from this experience. Come, sit and have a drink with me. It’s been ages since we shared a drink. Oh, by the way, this young man is the son of Instructor Deung Bu-hyeong.”
Ong Gi-seung quickly introduced Deung Ga-hwi.
Gu Gang-ryong, still worried about Ong Su-ryeong, reluctantly sat down, led by Ong Gi-seung.
He raised his glass and spoke.
“If I… if I could just go with her on this mission…”
“Brother, overprotection will only make her weak.”
“Ugh…”
Faced with Ong Gi-seung’s firm response, Gu Gang-ryong closed his eyes tightly and downed his drink.
“Ahh! I’m going to drink until I can’t stand tonight!”
“Good decision.”
Ong Gi-seung laughed heartily as he refilled their glasses.
But beneath his laughter lay a hint of melancholy.
As a father, he too was uneasy about sending his ailing daughter far away.
The two men continued to drink, their laughter exaggerated, masking their true feelings.
**
Deep within a dimly lit cave.
A man sat cross-legged, exuding a mysterious aura that was neither entirely righteous nor entirely evil.
Suddenly, a shadow dropped behind him.
A man wearing a deep-brimmed hat, also emanating an enigmatic energy, reported in a raspy voice.
“The Demonic Palace has begun to move.”
The seated man slowly opened his eyes, revealing unsettling gray pupils that gave him a chilling presence.
He smirked and murmured.
“As expected. It’s no surprise.”
“The White Flower Group is likely to get involved. Children from the Heavenly Destruction Squad and the Newborn Division are also expected to join.”
“We’ll need to accelerate our plans. What about the goods?”
“We’ve secured over eighty percent. We should be ready to proceed with the grand plan soon.”
“Soon…”
The man in the hat sensed a hint of dissatisfaction in the seated man’s murmurs.
He quickly corrected himself.
“We’ll complete all preparations within two months.”
“One month.”
“Understood.”
The man in the hat offered no argument.
If the seated man said one month, then it was one month.
That was the truth, the law.
The seated man spoke again.
“What about them?”
“They’re in good condition, maintaining peak readiness for the grand plan.”
The seated man nodded.
That was enough.
Once everything was ready, all that remained was to execute the plan.
“Good work.”
He offered no further words.
Even with the Demonic Palace’s involvement, it was no longer a concern.
Now was the time to ensure everything was concluded decisively.
The man in the hat bowed deeply.
The seated man turned his head slightly and asked.
“Is there anything else?”
The man in the hat hesitated briefly before speaking with difficulty.
”…No, I’m just following the master’s will.”
The man replied with a twisted smile.
“Yes, just follow. And don’t doubt. They’ve advanced the history of the martial world by a hundred years. Never forget that.”
“Understood.”
In the next moment, the figure in black vanished as if he had never been there.
The man sitting cross-legged allowed a faint smile to play on his lips.
His gray eyes sparkled with an unusual intensity.
“I will achieve even more.”
**
On a rock overlooking the village, Ong Su-ryeong sat quietly.
He closed his eyes, feeling the wind brush against him.
He was leaving.
The place he had called home all his life.
A mix of fear and excitement swirled within him.
What kind of place is the martial world?
A daunting and perilous place.
That’s how his uncle had always described it.
Yet, strangely, the thought of venturing into it made his blood race and his spirits lift.
It wasn’t that he was tired of his parents’ love.
He simply wanted to learn more about himself.
To distance himself from everything familiar and throw himself into the unknown.
Yes, this mission would be a time for her to reflect on herself.
Just then, she sensed a presence behind her and turned around.
There stood Sabiran, having approached without a sound.