Chapter 642: Return of the Demon Sect
Seok Geom-yeong paced the room, his face a mask of anxiety.
Dan Ri-hyeok trailed behind him, scrutinizing him as if he were an intriguing artifact.
Suddenly, Seok Geom-yeong snapped, his voice sharp with irritation.
“Why do you keep following me around like that?”
“Oh, sorry. I just can’t wrap my head around it.”
“What exactly can’t you understand? And why are you speaking so informally when we’ve just met?”
“Did I? My bad. Sorry.”
Seok Geom-yeong stared at Dan Ri-hyeok, bewildered, before resuming his pacing.
Watching him, Dan Ri-hyeok shrugged and muttered to himself.
“Still doesn’t make sense.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
Finally, Seok Geom-yeong spun around, unable to ignore him any longer, and demanded an answer.
Dan Ri-hyeok, feigning disinterest, replied, “I just can’t figure out what she saw in you.”
“What?”
“Seriously, isn’t it odd? You’re not exactly handsome, your skin’s a bit dark, and now that I think about it, your personality isn’t great either. As for your martial arts skills, I haven’t seen them, but I’m sure there are better fighters out there. So why fall for the enemy’s child?”
“You…!”
Seok Geom-yeong ground his teeth, glaring at Dan Ri-hyeok with a look that could kill.
“See? Your personality really isn’t great.”
“Hey! Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? ‘You’? Am I your friend?”
“Well, I look older, so I thought it was okay. How old are you? I’m twenty-five.”
“I’m twenty-seven.”
“Oh… Haha! Just two years apart. We’re practically friends, right?”
“Who said we’re friends…?”
“Ah! Maybe Miss Yeon is really unattractive? That would explain things a bit…”
“You lunatic! Do you judge everyone by their looks? And who are you to talk?”
“Well, I think I’m quite good-looking.”
“Yeah, right!”
Seok Geom-yeong grumbled under his breath.
Just then, the door opened, and Deung Gahwi entered, prompting Seok Geom-yeong to demand, “Is he part of the Baekhwadan too?”
Deung Gahwi glanced at Dan Ri-hyeok. Judging by the atmosphere, the two had already clashed.
Already disliking Dan Ri-hyeok, Deung Gahwi leaned in and whispered, “Actually, he’s not with Baekhwadan. He’s here on the Lord’s orders, but he’s a bit… lacking. You know, like someone who had a serious head injury as a child…”
“Oh… I see…”
Seok Geom-yeong looked at Dan Ri-hyeok with a newfound understanding, even a hint of pity.
Deung Gahwi nodded vigorously. “You must have noticed during your conversation. He’s quite different from normal people. Very slow, really.”
“No wonder. I thought it was strange. I shouldn’t have gotten angry.”
As the two whispered, Dan Ri-hyeok, standing by the window, picked his ear and grumbled, “Hey, why don’t you just use telepathy? I can hear everything.”
But the two continued their gossip, ignoring him.
Just then, Seok Geom-yeong’s anxiety was interrupted.
“Mr. Seok?”
The door opened, and a voice as clear as a bell filled the room.
It was none other than Yeon Seol-yeon.
“Miss Yeon!”
“Oh, Mr. Seok!”
The two rushed to each other, embracing tightly.
Dan Ri-hyeok watched, his mouth agape. “Wow. They really are in love.”
Unfazed, Seok Geom-yeong and Yeon Seol-yeon checked each other for injuries and exchanged pleasantries.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. My parents don’t hit me, after all.”
Yeon Seol-yeon joked, and Seok Geom-yeong chuckled awkwardly.
“It must have been frustrating. I wanted to send a message, but the surveillance was too tight…”
“No, I was watching over you. I realized your situation early on.”
“I’m sorry. I promised to convince my parents, but… it ended up like this.”
“Same here. My parents were furious with me too.”
“It’s so frustrating. What should we do now?”
At that moment, Sa Bi-ran, who had followed Yeon Seol-yeon in, spoke up.
“Simple. Join us on a mission with Baekhwadan and return.”
Seok Geom-yeong and Yeon Seol-yeon turned to look at her simultaneously.
Seok Geom-yeong, seeing Sa Bi-ran for the first time, frowned slightly.
“And you are…?”
“Sa Bi-ran, leader of Baekhwadan. I’m here to recruit you for a mission.”
“Oh, greetings, Leader.”
“Greetings, Leader.”
The two finally offered a formal salute.
Sa Bi-ran waved her hand dismissively.
“Let’s skip the formalities. You’re both younger than me, so I’ll speak casually. Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
Since they would be working under her command, it would be more awkward to maintain formal speech.
“But why did Baekhwadan come looking for us like this?”
“Well… to kill two birds with one stone.”
“Pardon?”
“Consider yourselves kidnapped. That’s all you need to know. So act like it. Don’t wander around or try to leave.”
Sa Bi-ran’s words left Yeon Seol-yeon and Seok Geom-yeong staring at each other, bewildered.
**
“By now, it’s probably chaos.”
At Dam Jin-woo’s words, Sa Bi-ran nodded.
“Indeed. It’s been a while since we ‘kidnapped’ Yeon Seol-yeon, so both masters must know by now.”
The masters referred to were Yeon Woo-gyeong and Mok Dan-hwa.
Dam Jin-woo smiled faintly. “With you as the bait, it must have been convincing.”
“Yes, I made sure to leave a trail. But I didn’t use martial arts too blatantly. That would be suspicious.”
“Well done. Now we should prepare the next bait.”
“Yes. But where should we go to find it?”
“Most likely… we’ll need to head to Heukcheondo. The Seomgeom family will realize the gravity of the situation faster.”
“True. We should start preparing. Dan Ri-hyeok.”
At Sa Bi-ran’s call, Dan Ri-hyeok, who had been quietly observing, perked up and approached.
“Oh, calling my name makes it feel more personal. What’s up? Sa So…?”
“You like playing pranks, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then, I need you to pull one off.”
“Leave it to me. So, what’s the prank?”
Sa Bi-ran explained the plan, but Dan Ri-hyeok’s expression turned serious.
“That’s a bit… tricky.”
“What do you mean?”
Sa Bi-ran tilted her head, puzzled, as Dan Ri-hyeok shrugged.
“I don’t shoot arrows.”
“What?”
It was an unexpected response.
As the heir of the Ilseong Archery School, it was assumed he was skilled with a bow.
Though it was odd he didn’t carry one while traveling, it was thought that a master didn’t rely on equipment.
“Why don’t you use a bow? What do you mean?”
“Bows aren’t cool. They don’t have that impressive look. A real man uses a sword!”
“What nonsense is that?”
“Anyway, I don’t use a bow. That’s why my father and I don’t get along. But really, my father is too much. Our family has always been a sword family, but he changed it to an archery family. So I’m planning to change it back.”
“Fine. Do as you like. Fight with your father all you want. But right now, you need to use a bow.”
“No. I won’t. It’s a promise I made to myself.”
Dan Ri-hyeok spoke as if he were making a grand declaration.
“Like a man’s vow… or something.”
Who would have thought the son of Dan Ri-jeong would be such a free spirit?
‘His father must have a hard time.’
Sa Bi-ran sighed lightly and said, “If that’s your decision, then so be it.”
“Yeah, it’s a man’s firm resolve…”
“Go back.”
“Yeah, go… What?”
“If you won’t use a bow, you’re useless to us. Go back.”
“Even so, telling me to leave is too harsh…”
“Do you think this is a social gathering for making friends?”
“Uh… Sa So, you’re making me nervous with that serious talk…”
“There are plenty of swordsmen. We brought you because we thought you’d use a bow. If you won’t, there’s no reason for you to stay. Go back.”
Sa Bi-ran’s expression was serious.
Dan Ri-hyeok, realizing the gravity of the situation, hardened his expression.
“Then, what about the plan?”
“I’ll handle it myself.”
“Shooting a bow isn’t easy.”
“I learned from Dan Ri-jeong too.”
“No, it’s still not easy. But if you really need me to, I could reconsider…”
“No. It’s not necessary. If you can’t follow orders, you’re just a hindrance. Go back.”
“Hmph! Fine, then I’ll really leave!”
“Go.”
“I’m serious! I’m leaving!”
Sa Bi-ran didn’t even glance at him.
Dan Ri-hyeok, grumbling to himself, finally turned and stomped out.
He slammed the door behind him.
Deung Gahwi cautiously asked Sa Bi-ran, “Are you sure about this? That rascal might really leave.”
“Alright, we can handle this ourselves. It’s not a difficult problem.”
“Our opponents are the Seomgeom family and the Heukcheon clan. They’re likely on high alert, and if we slip up, all our plans could go up in smoke…”
“Deputy Leader.”
“Yes, Leader.”
“Trust me. It seems like distrust and defiance are spreading.”
“That can’t be true. I’ve always trusted you, Leader.”
“Then keep trusting.”
“Understood.”
A moment later, the door swung open, and Dan Ri-hyuk burst in.
“I’m leaving now!”
“You’re still here?”
“I’ve packed my things! Hmph! Let’s see how well you do. Shooting an arrow from that distance isn’t as easy as it sounds.”
“Bring it on.”
“Tch!”
“Oh, and if you survive Master Dan Ri’s training, send my regards.”
Dan Ri-hyuk flinched. He knew that if word got out he was expelled from the Baekhwa group, Dan Ri-jeong wouldn’t take it lightly.
Bang!
Dan Ri-hyuk slammed the door shut and disappeared.
Silence settled in the room.
Then, Dam Jin-woo spoke up cautiously.
“To deceive all four of them and avoid detection, you’ll need to shoot from at least two hundred paces away. Can you manage that?”
The four he referred to were Yeon Woo-gyeong, Mok Dan-hwa, Seok Tan-gang, and Yoo Song-ryeong.
Sabi-ran replied with determination.
“I can do it. I learned directly from Master Dan Ri, after all.”
“In that case.”
Dam Jin-woo shrugged, as if there was nothing to worry about.
A moment later, the door swung open again, and Dan Ri-hyuk reappeared.
Sabi-ran looked at him with a bored expression.
“What now?”
“I’ve been thinking, and it seems too difficult for you to handle alone. Maybe I should help… you know, since we’ve met and all…”
“I said I don’t need it.”
“No, really, let me help. Just this once…”
Sabi-ran stared at Dan Ri-hyuk and enunciated each word clearly.
“I. Don’t. Need. Your. Help.”
Dan Ri-hyuk looked like he was about to cry.
Finally, he hung his head and said, “I’m sorry… Miss Sa. Please, accept me.”
“Miss…?”
“Leader…”
“What?”
“I’ll take on the mission.”
At that, Sabi-ran allowed a faint smile and glanced at Deung Ga-hwi.
Deung Ga-hwi returned a subtle smile.
[Impressive. You’ve certainly asserted your authority.]
[Didn’t I tell you to trust me?]
Sabi-ran feigned a serious expression and spoke.
“If you’re begging that much, I’ll consider it.”