Chapter 643: Return to the Demonic Sect
The manor was in chaos.
Yeon Seol-yeon had been kidnapped.
And it happened right under the nose of the Sword Sect’s leader, as if to mock him.
She hadn’t slipped away unnoticed, nor had she been alone.
Even with her bodyguard, Jang Ryeo-shim, by her side, she was taken without a fight, her pressure points struck before anyone could react.
Whoever the kidnapper was, they were no ordinary foe.
Mok Dan-hwa and Yeon Woo-gyeong stood in the middle of the training ground, their faces etched with shock.
At first, they couldn’t believe Jang Ryeo-shim’s report.
They suspected it might be a prank orchestrated by their daughter to trouble Jang Ryeo-shim.
After all, who would dare touch the Sword Sect’s young mistress in Songbaek-hyeon?
But the grave expression on Jang Ryeo-shim’s face made it clear this was no trivial matter.
“So… you have no idea who the kidnapper is?”
“I’m sorry!”
Jang Ryeo-shim hung his head in despair.
“Hmph!”
Mok Dan-hwa’s voice was sharp.
“How could you let this happen, Jang? Right under your nose!”
Jang Ryeo-shim trembled all over.
He was already tormented by guilt upon regaining consciousness.
Then, suddenly—
Swish!
“Ah!”
A collective gasp escaped from those gathered.
Before anyone could stop him, Jang Ryeo-shim had reversed his sword, pressing it to his own neck.
“I failed my duty. I will take responsibility with my life!”
In a flash, he moved to cut his throat.
Whoosh, clang!
The sword was knocked from his hand, spinning wildly before embedding itself in the ground.
Jang Ryeo-shim looked up in shock to see Yeon Woo-gyeong glaring at him.
“Jang! What do you think you’re doing?”
“But it was my mistake, I must—”
“Who told you that death is the way to take responsibility?”
”…!”
“Do you not understand what responsibility truly means?”
”…I’m sorry!”
Jang Ryeo-shim slammed his forehead to the ground.
Blood trickled down, but he didn’t care.
He was too ashamed and humiliated to feel anything else.
Yeon Woo-gyeong clicked his tongue.
“Death is the easiest escape from responsibility. From now on, you must dedicate your life to finding and protecting my daughter!”
“I will!”
Jang Ryeo-shim slammed his forehead to the ground once more.
Yeon Woo-gyeong extended his hand, and the dagger that had deflected Jang’s sword flew back to him with a flick of his wrist.
“For now, the kidnapping stays a secret. No one is to speak of it!”
“Understood!”
The martial artists gathered in the training ground responded in unison.
Mok Dan-hwa turned to Yeon Woo-gyeong.
“Who could it be? Who would dare target our Yeon-ah here in Songbaek-hyeon?”
“Hmm. Let’s stay calm for now. Jang, do you remember anything about the enemy’s martial arts?”
“I’m not certain, but I felt a sinister energy.”
“Of course…!”
“Could it be…?”
Mok Dan-hwa’s face was filled with doubt as Yeon Woo-gyeong stroked his chin.
“If the enemy is from the dark sects, it’s obvious, isn’t it?”
“I thought the same. If not the Black Heaven Sect, who else would do this? That Seok Geom-yeong has been eyeing our Yeon-ah for a while now. Given his dark intentions, it’s not surprising.”
“You think so too? I agree. Men from that family can’t be trusted.”
“Exactly. This must be the work of the Black Heaven Sect. Didn’t Yeon-ah often say—”
The two spoke in unison.
“One day, I’ll run away with Seok Geom-yeong.”
Their simultaneous words made them flinch.
‘As expected…!’
Yeon Woo-gyeong reached out again, and a sword flew in through the open window.
It was the Blue Ice Sword.
“Let’s go!”
Mok Dan-hwa nodded, extending her hand.
Whoosh, thud!
The sword that flew into her hand was the Heart Piercer.
Mok Dan-hwa turned to Jang Ryeo-shim.
“Jang! We’re heading to the Black Heaven Sect.”
“Understood!”
“Prepare the Lightning Squad and the Gale Squad as backup.”
“Understood!”
The martial artists in the hall responded with a resounding shout.
**
“Wake up.”
Yoo Song-ryeong shook Seok Tan-gang, who was sleeping on the bed.
“What is it?”
Seok Tan-gang rubbed his eyes and sat up, Yoo Song-ryeong’s expression grave.
“Yeong-ah is missing.”
“What?”
Seok Tan-gang’s face hardened instantly.
He furrowed his brow and spoke.
“That brat…!”
He jumped out of bed, hastily dressing.
As he reached out, a chain sickle flew into his hand from the corner of the room.
“If I catch him, he won’t get away with it.”
“You always say that, but you always let him off. That’s the problem.”
“Not this time. How long has it been? This time, I’ll set him straight!”
“He’s probably gone to the Sword Sect again. That girl seems to be luring him in. She even used the peace talks as an excuse to get close to him.”
“Let’s go! We need to bring him back!”
“Yes.”
As Yoo Song-ryeong finished speaking, a large blade flew into her hand.
Just as the two were about to step outside, a martial artist came running across the courtyard.
“Master! The Sword Sect is coming this way! The Lightning Squad and the Gale Squad are with them, fully armed!”
“What?”
Seok Tan-gang and Yoo Song-ryeong exchanged glances.
Something was definitely amiss.
There was no reason for them to come fully armed at dawn unless it was related to Seok Geom-yeong’s disappearance.
They needed to meet and find out what was going on.
The martial artist, sensing their hesitation, asked cautiously.
“What should we do?”
“Prepare to meet them.”
Seok Tan-gang replied curtly.
“Understood!”
The martial artist quickly turned and ran back.
As they stepped outside, Yeon Woo-gyeong and Mok Dan-hwa had already reached the main gate, their voices booming.
“You there, Seok family! Come out and face my sword!”
It was Yeon Woo-gyeong’s voice.
Seok Tan-gang furrowed his brow and strode forward.
Having been instructed to welcome them, Yeon Woo-gyeong and Mok Dan-hwa were already entering through the main gate.
“What is this about?”
Seok Tan-gang asked sharply, his expression fierce.
“Do you really not know?”
“Hmph! Do you think I can read minds? Just tell me why you’re here at this hour.”
“You scoundrel! Enough talk! Where is my daughter?”
“What? Why are you asking me about your daughter?”
“If you didn’t kidnap her, then where is your son?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“Yes. I was going to ask you the same thing.”
“Ask? The guilty party is always the loudest! It must be your son’s doing!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Our daughter was kidnapped! Jang here is a witness! And now your son is missing, so it must be him!”
“Shut up! If it was my son, then your Sword Sect’s skills must be lacking.”
“What, what did you say?”
Yeon Woo-gyeong’s eyebrows twitched, and Yoo Song-ryeong stepped forward.
“Hmph! Even if Yeong-ah did it, he wouldn’t have done it on his own! Your daughter must have seduced him!”
“What did you say? Are you done talking?”
This time, Mok Dan-hwa raised her voice, pointing accusingly.
Yoo Song-ryeong slung her sword over her shoulder and sneered.
“Always pretending to be so refined and elegant. But when you raise your voice, you’re just the same.”
“What, what? Enough! Hand over my daughter now!”
“Why don’t you hand over our son? Why are you looking for your lost daughter here?”
“What, what did you say? Who taught you to speak like that, you lowly dark sect scum?”
“Hmph! What kind of fancy talk do you expect? I’ve heard enough. We’ll find our son, you find your daughter! Now get out of here!”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Do you remember who allowed you to live in luxury?”
“When are you going to stop bringing up the past? Get out! If you don’t leave, we’ll have to use force.”
As Yoo Song-ryeong finished speaking—
Clang, clang, clang!
The Black Heaven Sect’s martial artists drew their blades, pointing them at the Sword Sect.
Simultaneously—
Shing, shing, shing!
The Sword Sect’s martial artists drew their swords in response.
Seok Tan-gang glared at Yeon Woo-gyeong.
“Are you not leaving?”
“I won’t leave. Not until I find my daughter.”
“I told you, she’s not here.”
“Hmph, like I’d trust the word of ingrates like you.”
“That debt of gratitude must be haunting you even in death.”
“If you forget, then yes, it will.”
“We’ve repaid it ten times over!”
Swish!
With a swift motion, Yeon Woo-kyung deflected the flying chain sickle with his Frostblade Sword.
Crack!
The icy aura of the Frostblade Sword caused frost to form and spread along the chain sickle.
Then, suddenly—
Whoosh!
Seok Tan-gang channeled his energy, sending a wave of heat radiating outward.
The frost that had begun to cover the chain sickle melted away in the warmth.
Clang!
Seok Tan-gang’s eyes turned cold as he gripped the chain sickle tighter.
“Care to try your luck?”
“Why not?”
“Fine, then. Burying your bones in my courtyard would be quite the honor. Come on!”
“Even if you drown, your mouth will still be above water!”
Bang!
Both men shot forward like lightning.
Just as the chain sickle and Frostblade Sword were about to clash—
Whoosh!
A projectile sliced through the air between them!
Thwack!
Whirl!
The two spun like tops, each catching an arrow that had flown between them.
Snap!
The arrow split in half, each man holding a piece.
Thud!
They landed on the ground, turning their heads toward the direction the arrow had come from.
“I’ll go check it out!”
Before anyone could stop her, Mok Dan-hwa kicked off the ground and dashed away.
As her family’s name suggested, no one here could match her speed in martial arts.
Meanwhile, Seok Tan-gang and Yeon Woo-kyung, each holding half of the broken arrow, noticed a piece of paper torn in two.
By chance, they each held a half of the message that had been tied to the arrow.
“Ahem. Let’s see what it says.”
“Yes, let’s.”
With reluctant expressions, they pieced the paper together and read the message.
“This is…?”
Seok Tan-gang and Yeon Woo-kyung crumpled the paper in unison, exclaiming the same thought.
“Who the hell are these people…?”