Episode 94: Return to the Demon Sect
“The mission’s been called off?”
Gu Yoon, the chief strategist of the Justice Alliance, widened his eyes in surprise. His already youthful appearance seemed even more boyish in that moment.
Lee Sa-heum, the head of the Celestial Eye Pavilion, nodded. “On the day of the departure ceremony, Instructor Sa Bi-gang returned to Yongcheon Pavilion.”
“What about the others?”
“They were all rescued. Fortunately, there were no casualties.”
“Is that so…”
Gu Yoon felt relieved but couldn’t quite grasp the situation. They hadn’t even sent a rescue team, yet everyone returned without a single casualty.
“Who exactly is this Sa Bi-gang…?”
He had received reports about him from the Celestial Eye Pavilion before, but neither the pavilion nor Gu Yoon had paid much attention. They had merely thought of him as an eccentric instructor at Yongcheon Pavilion. But now, it seemed he was not someone to be taken lightly.
Of course, Lee Sa-heum had a different perspective. “It must be that Tang Yi-hyeop’s martial arts are exceptional.”
Moreover, according to their investigation, the rescue had been a joint effort with the Guiya Sect warriors and students. Luck must have been on their side. At least, Lee Sa-heum didn’t place much importance on Sa Bi-gang.
Meanwhile, as Gu Yoon reviewed the report, he asked Lee Sa-heum, “What’s the current status of Instructor Sa Bi-gang?”
“He’s physically fine. However, he’s been placed on probation and is resting.”
“Probation? For what reason?”
“For distributing lethal weapons to students during the Spring Festival, acting independently without protecting the students under his charge, and getting kidnapped. The students who broke the rules, along with Tang Yi-hyeop and Instructor Mae Seol-ran, have also been placed on probation.”
“Hmm.”
Gu Yoon fell silent, pondering. They had attached various charges, but the real reason was likely that they had fallen out of favor with the Cheonrangdan.
“He did throw cold water on such a grand departure ceremony…”
A wry smile escaped him. He quickly composed himself, aware of Lee Sa-heum’s gaze, but couldn’t shake off a sense of satisfaction.
In truth, the Cheonrangdan was an organization completely independent of the Justice Alliance, but it was no exaggeration to say it was under the control of Deung Wang-pae, the current favorite to become the next leader of the alliance.
And that wasn’t all. Even the Celestial Eye Pavilion, which was reporting to him now, was effectively under Deung Wang-pae’s influence. In reality, the true power of the Justice Alliance lay with Deung Wang-pae, the master of the Thunder Hall.
For the past three years, since Gu Yoon had inherited the position of strategist from his mentor, it had been this way. Initially, he had vowed to change this corruption and cleanse the rot within. But Deung Wang-pae’s power was beyond imagination.
The long peace had left the Justice Alliance festering from within. Even Gu Yoon, praised as a prodigy from a young age, was at a loss as to where to begin. Moreover, the duplicity of people who smiled in front of him while sharpening knives behind his back was beyond his knowledge to overcome.
In the end, Gu Yoon had also succumbed to complacency, letting things drift as they were.
“What about the Blood Demon Sect’s response?”
“Having lost a branch, they are likely to retaliate soon.”
“But it was such an unexpected event that they might find it difficult to act immediately.”
Gu Yoon hit the nail on the head, but Lee Sa-heum continued with his argument undeterred. “Those demonic folks are known for acting recklessly. They’re probably in a frenzy right now. At times like this…”
“It’s best to watch and wait.”
Gu Yoon interjected quickly. Lee Sa-heum frowned slightly.
“You may not understand this yet, being young, but those demonic hybrids don’t think deeply…”
Thud!
Gu Yoon slammed his hand on the table, his eyes flaring with anger for the first time in a while.
“What did you just say? Are you going to teach me what I don’t know because I’m young?”
“My apologies. I misspoke.”
Lee Sa-heum bowed his head.
Gu Yoon maintained his stern expression as he spoke. “Recall the Cheonrangdan.”
“But currently, there’s a plan to strike another branch of the Blood Demon Sect directly from Yongcheon Pavilion.”
“Who is making these plans?”
By principle, any operation of significant scale should be planned by the Hyesung Pavilion, a direct agency under the strategist. However, the criteria for what constituted a ‘significant scale’ were vague, so the Justice Alliance handled it on a case-by-case basis. Of course, during the era of the Great War between the righteous and the demonic, such a thing would have been unthinkable, but wasn’t this a time of overflowing peace?
Just then, the door opened, and a man entered. An elderly man with striking white hair, a strong expression, thin lips, and a long beard—Deung Wang-pae, the master of the Thunder Hall and a strong candidate for the next leader of the Justice Alliance.
“I made the plan.”
“Master Deung…”
“I was just about to seek your approval, Strategist. What do you think? If you don’t approve, I’ll reluctantly call off the Cheonrangdan.”
Gu Yoon looked at Deung Wang-pae, then asked resignedly, “Where do you plan to strike?”
“The Gacheon branch. It’s not very large, so I believe the Cheonrangdan alone can inflict significant damage.”
Lee Sa-heum nodded in agreement under Gu Yoon’s gaze. “It’s possible. The Blood Demon Sect warriors stationed at the Gacheon branch number less than two hundred.”
“What do you say? Will you grant permission?”
Deung Wang-pae asked with a faint smile, as if to say, ‘What will you do if you don’t grant permission? Are you going to challenge me for power?’
In the end, Gu Yoon nodded. “Go ahead.”
“Hahaha! I knew the strategist would understand!”
After a brief conversation, Lee Sa-heum and Deung Wang-pae left, leaving Gu Yoon alone in the dim room, sighing.
“The influence of Master Deung is already too deep to do anything about. How should I deal with this solid block of corruption?”
Enough. No more futile fantasies.
In two years, when Deung Wang-pae is elected as the next leader, he’ll either be ousted or become a puppet of Lee Sa-heum. Lee Sa-heum already resented the fact that someone much younger than him held the strategist position.
“Yes, let’s just relax and give up. Give up.”
Muttering to himself, he stood up, when suddenly a name flashed through his mind.
Sa Bi-gang.
“Could he…?”
Could he be the one to crack this solid wall?
“Bi-ryeong.”
His mouth opened suddenly, and a melodious female voice echoed from the air.
“Yes, Strategist.”
“Look into Instructor Sa Bi-gang for me.”
As soon as he finished speaking, her presence vanished without a sound.
**
Bang!
Mae Seol-ran slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly.
“Do you really think this makes any sense?”
Her sharp voice drew the attention of everyone in the tavern.
Sa Bi-gang chuckled, trying to calm her down. “Come on, relax. Everyone’s staring.”
“How can I relax? Probation? Ha! It’s ridiculous! We should be getting awards! We took down a branch of the Blood Demon Sect!”
“Well, we did break some rules, and the students could have been in danger…”
“Even so, this is too much! It’s all because of that slippery Cheonrangdan leader! That Seok Ji-pyeong or whatever his name is, he’s the one who set us up!”
“Well, at least we get a nice three-month break, right?”
“Sure, if you call that a silver lining.”
Mae Seol-ran grumbled as she plopped back into her seat. She couldn’t accept the punishment they had received.
“That slippery guy didn’t even think about rescuing you. Do you know that? All he cares about is…”
“Finding the right connections to secure a high position in the Justice Alliance.”
“Exactly! And you’re just going to sit back and take it?”
“And if I don’t?”
“Well…”
“Should I march into the Justice Alliance and flip everything over? Haha.”
“That’s a bit…”
Mae Seol-ran quickly glanced around, lowering her voice. Somehow, when Sa Bi-gang said it, it didn’t sound like a joke.
“It’s really frustrating.”
Mae Seol-ran pouted again, looking so adorable that the people nearby couldn’t help but stare with their mouths agape.
Sa Bi-gang chuckled. “It’s actually a good thing. We’ve got some free time now.”
“Do you have any plans?”
“Of course. I needed some free time like this. And…”
Sa Bi-gang trailed off, his gaze fixed on a spot in the tavern.
There, a woman wearing a bamboo hat stood up from her seat.
Mae Seol-ran followed his gaze, watching the woman leave the tavern, then whispered, “Do you know her?”
“No. Just… she has a nice figure. Haha.”
“What did you say?”
Mae Seol-ran raised her voice in disbelief.
Meanwhile, the woman in the bamboo hat left the tavern with a meaningful smile, heading somewhere.
“Go on, finish what you were saying.”
Mae Seol-ran urged, and Sa Bi-gang looked at her as if he didn’t know what she meant.
“You said you needed free time. And then… what?”
“Oh, now it’s time to draw the big picture.”
Sa Bi-gang smiled faintly, his gaze once again drifting to where the woman had been sitting.
Mae Seol-ran furrowed her brows.
“Was she really that beautiful? Enough to make you miss her even after she’s gone?”
“Well, I mean…”
Maeseollan was about to say something more when he interrupted.
“She’s someone who can help me paint that picture well.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Maeseollan frowned slightly.
“Let’s just say it’s something you’ll understand later.”
“Hmm. Anyway, where are we headed now?”
“We’re off on a treasure hunt.”
“A treasure hunt…?”
“I told you, I have a gift for you. Maybe even a proposal.”
“W-what are you talking about? This isn’t funny at all!”
“Either way, you’ll be getting a gift soon, so just accept it.”
“Hey, are you even listening to me…?”
Sabigang stood up from his seat.
With a deep sigh, Maeseollan reluctantly followed suit.
The day faded into night.
The cries of nocturnal birds echoed through the forest.
Occasionally, the distant howls of unknown creatures pierced the air.
Maeseollan moved closer to Sabigang.
“It’s not just my imagination, right? It’s getting more deserted?”
“We’re heading deeper into the forest, so it’s bound to be less populated.”
“How much longer do we have to go?”
“Not much further. There’s a place to stay up ahead. Let’s keep walking.”
Sabigang steadily climbed the mountain path.
Maeseollan sighed softly and trailed behind him.
The day after the disciplinary action, Sabigang had suddenly appeared and suggested they take a trip together.
It was a journey that would take about a week.
Feeling that solitude would only deepen her melancholy, she didn’t refuse.
And besides…
‘It’s been a while since then.’
Maeseollan blushed slightly, watching Sabigang’s back as he walked ahead.
Why did her emotions always become so tangled when it came to him?
Despite the confusion, she didn’t entirely dislike this feeling.
How long had they been climbing the mountain?
‘Is there even a destination in mind…?’
Just as Maeseollan was silently grumbling, she noticed a flicker of light in the distance.
‘A house in a place like this? How unusual.’
Sabigang pointed towards it.
“See? There’s a place to stay. Let’s rest there for the night.”
A couple lived in the secluded house in the forest.
They welcomed Sabigang and Maeseollan warmly, offering them a room.
Fortunately, there were two beds.
Sabigang handed over a generous amount of silver, but the couple refused to accept it.
“It’s humble, but please make yourselves comfortable.”
“Thank you.”
Once the man left, Maeseollan glanced around the room and murmured.
“A well-kept house in such a remote mountain… how peculiar.”
“Every unusual thing has its reasons.”
“By the way, that couple was really something, weren’t they?”
Maeseollan was right.
The man was handsome with a strong build, and the woman was so beautiful that even Maeseollan couldn’t help but take a second look.
“Let’s get some rest.”
After days of travel, Maeseollan didn’t argue and lay down to sleep.
How much time had passed?
Sabigang slowly opened his eyes.
Maeseollan seemed to be in a deep sleep.
It was only natural.
She must have been affected by the scentless, tasteless sleeping incense.
Sabigang quietly grasped his sword, Berthas, and slipped out the door.