Episode 662: The Return of the Demon Sect Leader
In a dimly lit cavern, an elderly man sat cross-legged, eyes gently closed. A figure in black approached him with a respectful demeanor.
“Master, everything is ready,” the figure announced, his voice tinged with excitement.
The wait had been long. How many times had they doubted this moment would ever come? Yet, here it was at last.
The man, referred to as the ‘Master,’ slowly opened his eyes, revealing a chilling gray gaze. A faint smile curled on his lips.
“Finally… the time has come? You’ve done well, Shadow.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Master.”
The Master cast a subtle glance at Shadow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Why do you do this?”
Without hesitation, Shadow replied, “The Great Demon War advanced the history of the martial world by over a century. Isn’t that reason enough? Humanity always dreams of a better future.”
“A dream, you say… I like that answer. Let’s make that dream a reality. Let’s go.”
The Master rose, his robes fluttering in the breeze as he turned. They walked down a long, dark passageway until a sliver of light appeared ahead.
Stepping into the light, they emerged onto a cliff overlooking a vast peach tree in full bloom. Below, warriors in robes and sorcerers in black stood in formation.
As the Master appeared on the cliff, they all knelt and saluted in unison. “We greet the Master!”
Their powerful voices echoed, startling a flock of birds into flight. The Master watched them with a faint smile.
He addressed his followers, “You’ve all worked hard. You will be the pioneers of a new era. With newfound strength, you’ll experience new dreams. Everything will be reborn.”
“Dark Heaven! Dark Heaven! Dark Heaven!” they chanted, stomping their feet, causing the ground to tremble.
The Master turned his gaze to the towering peach tree among his followers. Shadow signaled to someone below the cliff.
Soon, several warriors appeared, pulling carts laden with metal boxes—twenty in total. They placed them in front of the peach tree, where intricate patterns had been drawn for the ritual.
Opening the boxes revealed glowing magic stones, ten per box, totaling two hundred.
The Master nodded slowly. “Begin.”
The sorcerers, dressed in black, repositioned themselves around the tree, extending their hands and chanting an eerie incantation.
“Seek the fall of ten thousand disasters, earth and darkness, the floating island, Salamander…”
A strange energy flowed from the sorcerers to the tree. As the chanting continued, a peculiar transformation began.
The tree’s roots exuded a dark aura, and the peach blossoms started to fall, turning to black ash and vanishing into the air.
The tree shuddered as if in pain, causing some warriors to flinch. The Master spoke in a calm, steady voice, “Do not waver. Everything is proceeding as it should.”
Encouraged, the sorcerers continued their incantation. The tree’s bark began to decay and peel away.
The ground around the tree darkened, and finally, the branches grew, reaching toward the magic stones like living creatures.
The branches split open, revealing sticky, saliva-like fluid, and swallowed the stones whole.
The Master trembled with anticipation as the stones moved through the branches.
When the stones reached the tree’s core, the tree began to grow rapidly.
“Ah… it’s starting!” the warriors murmured excitedly, watching the tree transform.
But then, the tree stopped growing, trembling as if struggling to release its energy.
Shadow, watching from the cliff, frowned. “Is it not enough?”
The tree began to shrink, and Shadow knelt, shouting, “I’m sorry, Master!”
The Master shook his head slowly, discarding his outer robe to reveal a surprisingly muscular frame.
“No. It’s enough.”
With that, he leaped from the cliff, landing before the tree. He moved his hands skillfully, thrusting them into the tree trunk.
“Haah!”
With a shout, he channeled energy into the tree, sweat pouring down his face.
The tree absorbed the energy and began to grow again.
Finally, with a thunderous roar, a crimson aura shot from the tree’s peak into the sky, surrounded by dark clouds.
The warriors and sorcerers gasped in awe.
The Master withdrew his hands, staggering back as Shadow rushed to support him.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” the Master replied, raising a weary hand.
Shadow looked up, his voice trembling. “You’ve done it!”
“You all did it.”
“How long until the dimensional gate opens?”
“A day. A day is all it takes.”
The Master’s gray eyes gleamed with a cold light.
**
A large ship sailed across a vast lake, heading toward a distant island. Sabiran stood at the railing, watching the island grow closer.
Danrihyuk joined her, frowning. “Are we really on the right path?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are we sure we’re going the right way?”
“We are. Banmyo wanted to come this way.”
Sabiran glanced at Banmyo, who was playing with Chusohye at the bow. The cat-like creature nestled in her arms, then darted away playfully.
Chusohye, just sixteen, laughed joyfully as she played with Banmyo. “Don’t burrow in like that. It tickles.”
Danrihyuk watched with disapproval, shaking his head. “That mischievous cat really helped save the martial world?”
“So they say.”
“Hard to believe. It doesn’t seem like a great spirit.”
“It grows huge when it transforms.”
“Well, I… Oh, not like that? Anyway! I can’t believe it.”
“If you’re curious, go poke it with a sword. I’m curious too.”
“Haha… I’ll pass.”
Danrihyuk walked over to Banmyo, who paused in front of him.
“Hmm…”
Danrihyuk crouched, resting his chin on his hand. “Are you really a spirit?”
Banmyo blinked its large eyes and yawned widely. Danrihyuk scratched his head, puzzled.
“You’re not just trying to get a free boat ride, are you? I can’t help but be suspicious. Not that I can actually stab you to find out.”
Just then, Banmyo’s eyes narrowed, and his fur bristled as if sensing danger.
Dan Ri-hyuk flinched, then let out a chuckle. “What’s this? Got some pride, do you?”
In the next moment—
A thunderous roar erupted as Banmyo’s form suddenly expanded.
“Whoa!” Dan Ri-hyuk yelped, falling backward and landing hard on his backside. “Hey, it was just a joke! No need to get all serious on me!”
But Banmyo wasn’t looking at him anymore. Instead, he turned sharply, eyes fixed on the island.
Just then, Sabi-ran came running over, alarmed. “What’s going on?”
“I have no idea. This guy just got all riled up out of nowhere… I mean, it sounds weird, but that’s the truth.”
At that moment, Choo So-hye suddenly spoke up. “Look over there! Something’s happening!”
Everyone’s gaze followed Banmyo’s to the island.
Moments later—
A massive pillar of red light shot up from the center of the island, as if it intended to pierce the sky. Dark clouds gathered around it, rumbling ominously.
Rumble…!
“Oh my god, what is that?” someone gasped.
“Something’s definitely happening,” Dan Ri-hyuk said, his voice steady despite the chaos.
Then—
The boat lurched violently, tossing everyone about.
The once-calm lake had erupted into a frenzy of waves.
Moments later—
A hideous screech filled the air as a massive, serpentine creature burst from the water, crashing down onto the deck with a deafening thud.
Crash!
Screams erupted from all around. Several of the Baekhwadan warriors near the railing lost their balance and tumbled into the lake.
“Everyone, be careful!”