Episode 68: Return to the Demonic Sect
Whoosh!
A gust of wind swept through, causing the branches to sway violently.
A masked man dashed forward, moving as swiftly as the wind itself.
Thud!
With a powerful leap off a branch, leaves scattered like snowflakes in his wake.
The scenery around him blurred past at an incredible speed.
Despite his impressive agility, the masked man’s eyes flickered with unease.
“Damn it! How did this happen…?”
He clenched his teeth in frustration.
Everything had gone according to plan. There was no chance of a leak.
Yet somehow, they were on his trail.
It couldn’t be a coincidence.
The forest east of Yongcheon Hall, known as Hojarim, was usually poorly guarded. Especially during the Spring Festival, when security was lax, and the focus was on monitoring the grounds for suspicious activity.
But now, eyes were everywhere in Hojarim.
And not just any eyes—highly skilled ones.
These weren’t the instructors from Yongcheon Hall.
Someone had deliberately placed them there.
Which could only mean…
“Someone knows about our plan!”
How much did they know? How did they find out?
Questions raced through his mind, but he didn’t have time to ponder them.
That was for those above him to figure out.
His job was to escape and report the breach.
But…
Swish! Swish! Swish!
“Click!”
The masked man clicked his tongue and spun around.
Clang!
Three throwing knives, hurtling toward him at terrifying speed, were deflected.
“If this keeps up, I won’t make it out!”
He realized as he fled that they were herding him into a trap.
They intended to capture him alive.
That was a small relief.
It meant their information wasn’t complete.
If they knew everything, they wouldn’t bother capturing him.
“I have to find a way out…!”
The more open the path, the more likely it was a trap.
But he had no choice but to take it.
The other routes were too tightly guarded.
“Damn, is this the end…?”
Grinding his teeth, the masked man leaped onto another branch.
**
“His agility is quite remarkable.”
Sabikang narrowed his eyes.
The masked man was pouring all his energy into his escape.
But he wouldn’t get out of Hojarim.
Sabikang followed him leisurely.
The Heavenly Spider Web Formation.
A formation involving Guiyache warriors, Tang Clan subordinates, and Guiyeongbu fighters.
They had practiced day and night for days to perfect it.
Once caught, not even an ant could escape.
Sabikang hadn’t invented it.
It was a familiar tactic in the demonic world, just given a fancy name.
Easy to learn, yet highly effective.
“Running is futile.”
Sabikang murmured softly.
But with his magic, the words would have reached the masked man’s ears clearly.
Sure enough, he sensed the man’s energy waver.
He was shaken.
It was different from a telepathic message, so it must have been more startling.
Taking advantage of the moment, Sabikang used a blink spell to instantly close the distance.
Meanwhile, the masked man found himself cornered against a sheer cliff.
“Huff, huff, huff.”
He panted heavily, scanning his surroundings.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Warriors descended like rain from all sides.
“As expected…!”
They were prepared.
Where had the information leaked from?
Had even the identity of the Red Death been exposed?
His thoughts were cut short.
A man appeared before him as if by magic.
Pop!
He seemed to materialize out of thin air.
It was Sabikang.
He looked at the masked man with an impassive expression.
“Who did you meet?”
”…”
“Was it the Blood Death Alliance?”
”…!”
Sabikang’s eyes narrowed.
“So it was them.”
The masked man was taken aback.
The Blood Death Alliance was a name not yet revealed to the world.
They planned to announce its existence after their grand scheme succeeded.
Yet this man knew the name!
Who was he…?
“Who are you?”
The masked man shouted, but Sabikang simply shook his head.
“I’m the one asking questions.”
“Ugh…!”
“Who were you meeting on your way back?”
“How did you know?”
“You plan to execute your scheme in Yongjarim on the day of the organizational competition, don’t you?”
”…!”
“So it’s true. You didn’t adjust your plans even though the Spring Festival was moved up by a month.”
“Who… who are you?”
“You were going to meet your contact and then scout Yongjarim before heading back, right?”
“Ugh…! How do you know all this…?”
“Now, I’ll ask again. Who were you meeting on your way back?”
“What else do you know?”
“So you won’t talk, huh?”
“Just kill me.”
“You plan to use explosives in Yongjarim, then slaughter the students and instructors in the ensuing chaos, right?”
The masked man’s eyes widened in shock.
The level of detail meant this wasn’t just a guess.
There was no point in hiding his reaction.
Sabikang smiled faintly.
“Let’s make a deal.”
“What…?”
“Just tell me who your contact is. Then I’ll let you go.”
“Hah! Do you think I’d believe that?”
“Were you meeting Cheon Saemyeong?”
The masked man chuckled.
“Heh. You’re trying to deduce from my reaction. But it’s useless!”
He squeezed his eyes shut.
In the next instant.
Thud!
His head exploded.
The surrounding warriors flinched and rushed forward, but the masked man’s body was already dissolving.
“How ruthless…!”
Gojoksan muttered in a pained voice.
Sabikang approached the corpse but stopped and turned away.
“Someone’s coming.”
“What?”
One of the warriors asked, but Sabikang simply gazed into the forest.
A shadow emerged.
Unexpectedly, it was Instructor Sang Pilji.
“His breathing is steady, but he used his agility to come straight here. Could Sang Pilji be the contact?”
Sabikang hid his thoughts and smiled slyly.
“Instructor Sang Pilji, what brings you here?”
“I was inspecting Yongjarim in preparation for the upcoming organizational competition. As you know, the competition will be held here. But what brings you here, Instructor Sa? And what’s with the corpse? And these warriors?”
Sang Pilji’s expression hardened.
Was it because he was the contact, or simply because he was shocked by the corpse?
Sabikang spoke truthfully.
“A rat snuck in, and when I chased it, it self-destructed.”
“And these warriors?”
“They’re my followers.”
“Where did the rat come from?”
“Does he really not know? But I can’t let my guard down.”
Sabikang studied his expression carefully as he replied.
“I haven’t figured that out yet.”
Of course, it was a lie.
If he revealed the truth and Sang Pilji was the contact, the future could change unpredictably.
And without knowing who the contact was, revealing everything they knew could backfire.
Judging by his expression, there was no sign of relief.
Well.
A contact planted here for years wouldn’t show their hand over something like this.
Sang Pilji chuckled and asked.
“But how do you know it was a rat?”
His gaze was sharp.
Sabikang narrowed his eyes again.
In a way, it was the same question the masked man had asked.
“If it wasn’t a rat, there’d be no reason to wear a mask.”
“Hmm, mind if I take a look at the body?”
“Of course.”
Sabikang stepped aside, and Sang Pilji approached the body.
With the head completely destroyed, identifying it was impossible.
Sang Pilji glanced back at Sabikang.
“Will you report this to the overseer?”
“Of course.”
“I see. You’ve done well.”
Sang Pilji patted Sabikang’s shoulder and walked away.
“Hmm, this is confusing.”
Sabikang watched his retreating figure, lost in thought.
**
“Did it really happen?”
That night, Maeseollan burst into Sabikang’s office, shouting.
“What are you talking about?”
“The masked man from the demonic sect! Did he really show up?”
“He did.”
“Then… is it all true?”
“It is.”
Maeseollan must have heard everything from Dang Ihyeop.
By now, she likely knew he had returned from the future.
It was something she would have to know eventually.
“This is unbelievable…”
Maeseollan trembled slightly as she sank into a chair.
She looked up at Sabikang, still in disbelief.
“Did you really come from the future? Is that even possible?”
“In the demonic world, it is. Not easy, but possible.”
“Do you really know everything that’s going to happen?”
“Not everything, but quite a lot.”
“Then… are many people really going to die soon? What about the students? The demonic sect? Are they really starting to move again? Ten years from now, how many will die in the demonic invasion?”
“Hmm, that’s a lot of questions.”
Sabikang murmured, and Maeseollan bit her lip slightly.
She took a deep breath and spoke.
“Alright. Just one question. What happens to me in the future?”
“Hmm?”
Sabikang chuckled.
“You have quite the self-interest. Do you want to know?”
“If I can…”
“You marry me, have three children, and worship me like the sky…”
“Liar.”
“Do you really want to know?”
“Yes, tell me.”
“The demon realm will invade, and you’ll be brutally violated and killed.”
“That’s… a lie.”
“It’s the truth.”
Maesullan’s expression hardened noticeably.
Even though she had a heart of steel, she was still a woman. The thought of such a fate was unbearable.
Sabigang quickly continued, “But that won’t happen.”
“Why not…?”
“Because I’m here to stop it.”
“Can you… really stop it?”
“Absolutely. Without fail.”
Sabigang slowly approached and gently caressed Maesullan’s cheek. She didn’t pull away.
She had just been hit with too many shocking truths at once. Stories that seemed like lies, yet explained so much if accepted.
‘Ah, this man… always so teasing…’
Sabigang gazed at her with deep, intent eyes. But she didn’t mind. Right now, she wanted to lean on his touch again, just like that day in the cave.
His hand moved towards her chest. But then…
“Why… did you stop?”
“We have company.”
Sabigang turned his head towards the window. Maesullan sensed it too and quickly adjusted her clothes, standing up.
“We’ll talk more later.”
“Of course.”
“And about the informal speech…”
“Hmm?”
”… It’s okay to use it.”
“Heh. I’ve already been doing that, haven’t I?”
“Don’t get the wrong idea! It’s just because you’re an old man who’s lived much longer than me!”
“Did I say anything?”
“Hmph!”
Maesullan spun around and vanished without a trace.
Just then, there was a knock at the office door.
“Come in,” Sabigang said curtly. He was in no mood, having been interrupted during a pleasant moment with Maesullan.
To his surprise, it was Yeon Woo-gyeong who entered.
“What is it?”
Yeon Woo-gyeong’s eyes darted around, unable to settle. It was unlike him.
Sabigang frowned. “Did you lose your way?”
“Uh…”
After a moment’s hesitation, Yeon Woo-gyeong spoke with a serious expression. “Instructor, what do you think?”
“What? Sorry, but I’m not into you. Did you have a fight with Bo-ok and get desperate?”
“W-what are you talking about? Bo-ok and I aren’t like that. And that’s not my question!”
“Then what is it? Be clear about what you’re asking.”
“Tomorrow’s duel. Do you think… I can win?”
Sabigang finally looked at him seriously. After a pause, he answered, “No. You’ll lose.”
”…!”
“That is, if you stay as you are now.”
Sabigang smirked.