Episode 273: Return to the Demon Sect

“Please, I’m begging you!”

Dobicheon once again pressed his forehead to the ground in desperation.

Watching this, Churyang glanced at Sabigang, gauging his reaction before speaking up.

“It seems like trouble is brewing. Shouldn’t you intervene? If something happens to the new recruits, the Blood Alliance will surely hold you accountable.”

But Sabigang maintained his indifferent expression. He seemed to ponder for a moment, resting his chin on his hand, before shaking his head.

“That would be a waste of my time.”

“What?”

“I’m not getting involved. You all handle it.”

With that, Sabigang strode past the kneeling Dobicheon without a second glance.

Dobicheon called out urgently, “Instructor! If we leave things as they are, Brother Maeng could die!”

“Not my problem.”

“Aren’t you the instructor of the new recruits?”

“To you, I’m just a pawn of the Righteous Alliance, am I not?”

Sabigang’s mocking tone made Dobicheon grit his teeth and fall silent.

Sabigang continued, “If it’s so urgent, why don’t you go help him yourselves? Instead of coming to me, you could have been on your way there by now.”

“It’s not that we didn’t think of that. But the Mukgwi Unit is essentially the Cheongwi Unit reborn. I know them better than anyone. We can’t handle them alone.”

“Hmm. So you only help your comrades when you think you can win?”

Sabigang’s cold words made Dobicheon flinch and look up.

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Let me ask you one thing. Why should I save those who want me dead?”

“Isn’t that what you wanted in the first place?”

Sabigang clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Wrong. That’s not the right answer.”

In the end, Dobicheon ground his teeth and shouted, “At the very least, you should protect the members of the organization you’re responsible for!”

Sabigang paused for a moment but then continued walking.

‘Well, that’s closer to the right answer.’

**

“Huff, huff, huff!”

Maeng Gasuk panted heavily, his shoulders heaving.

Drip. Drip. Drip…

Blood dripped from the blade of his nine-section spear, which was bent in nine places.

Covered in small wounds, Maeng Gasuk looked like a blood-soaked demon.

Jin Jo-young was in a similar state. His condition was slightly worse, with a long gash on his left arm that bled profusely.

He had tried to stop the bleeding with acupressure, but the wound was too large for it to be effective.

But there were others who were even more severely injured, lying scattered around them.

Some had even lost their lives, their bodies strewn about.

“Ugh…”

“Ahh…!”

Groans of pain echoed from all around.

Meanwhile, Mukgwi Unit Leader Woo Yeom-deuk glared at Maeng Gasuk with icy eyes.

“Impressive. I didn’t expect you to hold out this long.”

“Heh. There’s a lot you don’t know. You probably don’t realize that your head will soon be rolling on the ground.”

“Even in this state, you still boast. I can’t help but be impressed. Your body isn’t what it used to be.”

“Hmph! Have you forgotten? I survived that hellish day, cutting out the heart of the Cheongwi Unit Leader. I’m immortal.”

“Crazy old man. For the sake of avenging the Cheongwi Unit Leader, you must die.”

“Ha! What a joke! I know better than anyone that you have no such loyalty. You’re just afraid I’ll threaten your position.”

Maeng Gasuk’s cold sneer made Woo Yeom-deuk’s face flush with anger.

He had hit a nerve.

Even though Maeng Gasuk could only use half his power, it was still a concern.

But Woo Yeom-deuk quickly regained his composure.

After all, Maeng Gasuk would soon be dead.

He could report to his superiors that Maeng Gasuk had attacked him out of spite, and he had no choice but to kill him.

After all, wasn’t Maeng Gasuk someone the Blood Alliance found too troublesome to handle, so they relegated him to the new recruits?

Maeng Gasuk’s face was pale, and his eyes glowed green, indicating the poison was taking hold.

He wouldn’t last much longer.

Woo Yeom-deuk spat on the ground and said, “You should have died that day. That was your mission.”

“That’s nonsense.”

“It’s a shame. By now, your old comrades should have realized you’re in a trap. Yet no one is coming to save you.”

“I stopped trusting organizations or comrades long ago.”

“Tsk, tsk. How pitiful. Abandoned by your organization twice.”

Woo Yeom-deuk’s taunt was somewhat successful.

The mention of “betrayal by the organization” was a painful memory for Maeng Gasuk.

His eyes glowed a deeper green as he grew agitated.

Woo Yeom-deuk’s energy surged, causing his robe to billow.

The time for talk was over.

He had said enough.

He shouted one last time, “When you meet the Cheongwi Unit Leader in the afterlife, kneel and apologize.”

“Screw you.”

With a swift motion, Woo Yeom-deuk charged like a storm.

Maeng Gasuk quickly focused his inner energy to enhance his vision.

By concentrating his energy on his eyesight, he could better anticipate and block his opponent’s attacks.

But…

Cough!

Thick blood spewed from his mouth.

‘Damn it!’

In his weakened state, the sudden surge of inner energy had triggered the poison.

Swish!

Woo Yeom-deuk’s sword sliced through the air, aiming for Maeng Gasuk’s neck.

‘Even if I get cut a little…!’

Maeng Gasuk shifted his stance, sliding backward.

Slash!

Woo Yeom-deuk’s blade grazed Maeng Gasuk’s collarbone, cutting about an inch deep.

In that instant, Woo Yeom-deuk’s eyes widened.

‘He dodged?’

He hadn’t expected Maeng Gasuk to evade so cleanly with such minimal movement.

Especially since Maeng Gasuk was exhausted and showing signs of poisoning.

Indeed, Maeng Gasuk was a veteran of real combat.

He had survived that hellish canyon, returning against all odds.

Adapted to real battle, he was skilled in unconventional fighting.

Even now, he had taken a gamble that most martial artists wouldn’t dare.

Had Maeng Gasuk been more cautious, he might have been overwhelmed by the follow-up attack.

But Maeng Gasuk trusted himself and took the risk.

By focusing all his energy on his vision, he narrowly avoided the blade and positioned himself behind the off-balance Woo Yeom-deuk.

“Die!”

In an instant, Maeng Gasuk’s nine-section spear extended with a metallic clatter, shooting straight toward Woo Yeom-deuk’s heart.

In the final moment, Woo Yeom-deuk’s expression turned ashen.

‘It’s over, you bastard!’

Maeng Gasuk grinned triumphantly.

Thud!

His spear pierced with a sickening sound, striking something.

But then…

“What the… Damn it!”

Maeng Gasuk cursed loudly.

Blocking his spear was not Woo Yeom-deuk, but one of the Mukgwi Unit members.

“Cough! Ugh…!”

The Mukgwi Unit member, impaled in Woo Yeom-deuk’s stead, coughed up blood and collapsed.

Maeng Gasuk’s face twisted with rage.

“You idiot… Why would you take his place? Do you think anyone will remember your sacrifice?”

Having been betrayed by his organization and faced with death, Maeng Gasuk was infuriated to see his nemesis protected by a comrade.

Woo Yeom-deuk smirked coldly.

“Heh. That’s the power of leadership. A problem child like you wouldn’t understand or appreciate it.”

Woo Yeom-deuk readied himself again.

“I was caught off guard earlier, but you won’t have such luck again. Prepare yourself.”

He gathered his energy once more.

But just then,

“This is a real mess. Aren’t you all warriors of the Blood Alliance?”

“…!”

The unexpected voice made everyone in the canyon flinch and look around.

Standing above them was none other than Sabigang, casually munching on peanuts.

“Then again, the Righteous Alliance isn’t much different. I guess when organizations get big, they all fall apart.”

The most tense person at this unexpected arrival was Woo Yeom-deuk.

He hadn’t expected Sabigang to show up and save Maeng Gasuk.

‘To go out of his way to save someone trying to kill him… He must be insane.’

Swallowing his thoughts, Woo Yeom-deuk shouted, “I told you, this is a family matter. Are you planning to interfere?”

“Of course not. Why should I save that old man?”

“Well, that’s because…”

Caught off guard by the question, Woo Yeom-deuk found himself at a loss for words.

‘What’s going on? Isn’t he here to save him?’

Sabigang shrugged and drove the point home.

“I’m not going to lift a finger. So handle it yourselves. I mean it.”

At this, Woo Yeom-deuk burst into laughter.

“Ha ha ha! Just as the rumors say, you’re quite the oddball. What now, Old Man Maeng? Even your instructor has no intention of saving you. Looks like the organization has abandoned you again! Ha ha!”

At that moment, Sabikang suddenly spoke up.

“But you know…”

“What is it?”

When Woo Yeom-deuk snapped irritably, Sabikang shrugged and replied, “These guys aren’t planning to sit still.”

“What? What do you mean…?”

In the next instant, dark figures began to emerge from all around the canyon.

It was the Newborn Squad.

They swiftly descended into the canyon.

A group of them appeared behind Maeng Gasook like a protective screen.

Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, both Maeng Gasook and Jin Jo-young looked bewildered.

“You… you lot…”

“Quiet, old man. You’re causing a nuisance. Tsk.”

Baek Gong-bo clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Meanwhile, Woo Yeom-deuk was visibly flustered by the sudden appearance of the Newborn Squad.

“Why are you helping Old Man Maeng?”

Baek Gong-bo cracked his neck and stepped forward confidently.

“Well, I’m part of the Newborn Squad, and it’s embarrassing if one of our own gets taken down by some nobodies.”

“Exactly. If I get lumped in with these losers, it would really piss me off.”

It was Bang Gak.

Next to step forward was Yoo Song-ryeong.

“Besides, if we’re planning to take down the instructor, it’s better to have more numbers on our side, right?”

By now, Woo Yeom-deuk’s face had turned pale.

These were the unruly ones, even the Blood Sect found hard to control. And their martial skills were so advanced that it would be a waste to dispose of them carelessly.

Now that they were banding together…

“Damn it… This wasn’t part of the plan.”

With the situation taking an unexpected turn, no suitable alternative came to mind. The original plan was completely derailed.

“Tch, we have no choice. We’ll retreat for now. But next time, be prepared, Old Man Maeng.”

Baek Gong-bo frowned slightly.

“Hey. Who said you could leave?”

“What?”

“You dragged us all the way here, so you better make it worth our while.”

“What? Are you trying to escalate this?”

“Didn’t you know? We don’t care about that kind of thing. You should’ve known better than to mess with troublemakers!”

“What the…!”

But the Newborn Squad had no intention of continuing the conversation.

No more words were needed.

The Newborn Squad members launched a coordinated attack on the enemy.