Chapter 429
“What the hell is this about?”
Wi Geom-jong muttered quietly as he looked around.
The instructors and assistant instructors of the Demon Annihilation Academy surrounding him were radiating fierce killing intent.
Deung Bu-hyeong stepped forward and shouted.
“What have you been doing at the Demon Annihilation Academy all this time?”
“Don’t you know? I was teaching the students, wasn’t I?”
When Wi Geom-jong replied coldly, Deung Bu-hyeong snorted.
“Ha! Of course you’d say that. And while doing so, you also reported every single one of the Academy Master’s movements to the Demon Spirit Cult!”
“What?”
When Wi Geom-jong furrowed his brow and asked back, Deung Bu-hyeong threw down a bundle of letters and shouted.
“Are you still going to make excuses after this! This is the evidence I found in your room!”
Wi Geom-jong frowned and snatched one of the scattered letters.
After roughly scanning the contents of the letter, he muttered with a hardened expression.
“I’ve been framed.”
“Hah! Of course you’d say that! I knew you’d make such excuses.”
At this point, Tang Iháp also stepped forward and said.
“Instructor Wi. You need to come back to the academy with us. We’ll explain the details gradually.”
“I refuse.”
“What?”
“Isn’t this also prejudice against the unorthodox faction? If someone framed me, it wouldn’t be a snare I could easily shake off. I can’t go along obediently.”
“So we can’t resolve this with words?”
Tang Iháp narrowed his eyes and drew his sword from his waist.
Seureurik.
Then the other instructors and assistant instructors behind him also drew their swords.
As if he wouldn’t be intimidated, Wi Geom-jong also drew his sword.
Tang Iháp furrowed his brow.
“Must we see blood?”
“If necessary. Isn’t that the way of a martial artist?”
“It can’t be helped. Since you won’t cooperate obediently, we have no choice but to drag you by force!”
Tang Iháp and the instructors and assistant instructors all raised their fighting spirit at once.
Wi Geom-jong also emanated thick killing intent as he gripped his sword properly.
The next moment,
Taat!
Wi Geom-jong moved first.
“Huh!”
Startled, Deung Bu-hyeong quickly raised his sword.
Kkaang!
Following a clear metallic sound, Deung Bu-hyeong staggered, and Wi Geom-jong immediately leaped into the air.
“Keuut!“
Deung Bu-hyeong quickly crossed his arms to block, but unexpectedly, Wi Geom-jong stepped firmly on his head and leaped into the air!
Pat!
“Keuk! This bastard…!”
Feeling the humiliation of having his head stepped on by an enemy, Deung Bu-hyeong gritted his teeth and turned around.
But Wi Geom-jong was already running so far away that it would be difficult to catch up.
“Catch him!”
When Tang Iháp shouted, the instructors and assistant instructors all chased after Wi Geom-jong.
It was the moment Wi Geom-jong glanced back.
Ssyaek! Ssyaek! Ssyaeeeek!
From somewhere, three arrows flew fiercely with the sound of wind cutting through the air.
Hwirririk!
Wi Geom-jong quickly twisted his body to avoid the flying arrows.
Chyupat! Pat!
Two of the three arrows grazed his shoulder and chest as they flew past and embedded in a tree trunk.
Taking advantage of the moment he hesitated, Tang Iháp threw hidden weapons.
“You cannot escape!”
Syuk! Syusyusyuk!
Dozens of hidden weapons flew simultaneously.
Wi Geom-jong clicked his tongue and spun like a black whirlwind as he leaped up.
Ttadadadadang!
Chyupat! Papapapak!
“Keuut!”
“Uuk!”
The hidden weapons Wi Geom-jong deflected flew threateningly toward other instructors and assistant instructors instead.
Chwaaaaaat!
Wi Geom-jong, who stopped spinning, slid across the ground in a circular pattern.
Thick dust billowed up around him.
At that moment, the assistant instructors led by Dan Li-jeong descended behind Wi Geom-jong, completely surrounding him.
Wi Geom-jong narrowed his eyes and surveyed his surroundings.
Perfect encirclement.
It had become difficult to escape.
Just then, Deung Bu-hyeong, who had been watching, pointed and shouted frantically.
“You’re now a rat in a trap! Give up and confess obediently! You spy!”
Wi Geom-jong spat out his reply.
“I am not a spy.”
“Then let’s go together and talk about it.”
Tang Iháp relaxed his expression again and spoke persuasively.
Wi Geom-jong seemed lost in thought for a moment as he surveyed his surroundings.
He couldn’t escape like this.
But if he went along obediently, wouldn’t he obviously struggle in whatever snare someone had set?
Still, since there was no other way…
‘Should I go along for now?’
That’s when it happened.
Syusyusyusyusyusyusyuk!
Martial artists in jade-colored uniforms fell from the sky like rain, completely surrounding the instructors and assistant instructors!
Not only the martial artists of the Demon Annihilation Academy, but even Wi Geom-jong looked somewhat bewildered, not understanding what was happening.
Just then, among the jade-uniformed martial artists, a man with his entire face painted jade-colored walked out and spoke familiarly to Wi Geom-jong.
“You’ve worked hard. Sorry for being late.”
Wi Geom-jong furrowed his brow deeply and looked at the Jade-faced person.
‘This is really a trap.’
As he was thinking this,
“I knew it! You were a demon all along! You kept making excuses till the end, and finally set up this trap…!”
“Shut up! Sweep them all away!”
Cutting across Deung Bu-hyeong’s words, the Jade-faced person shouted furiously.
“Attack!”
Instantly, the four hundred members of the Jade Demon Corps all began charging toward the martial artists of the Demon Annihilation Academy, emanating demonic energy.
Tang Iháp quickly scattered hidden weapons and poison as he glared at Wi Geom-jong.
“Instructor Wi! Were you really a spy?”
“I said I wasn’t.”
“Then how do you explain this situation!”
Just as Wi Geom-jong was about to say something, one of the Jade Demon Corps members extended a killing hand toward Tang Iháp.
“Hup!”
Chyuaat!
Tang Iháp quickly twisted his body to avoid it, but a long wound was carved into his side.
Now there was no time to dawdle.
When he quickly turned his head, Wi Geom-jong was already lost in the crowd and couldn’t be found properly.
Instead, the forest had become a complete pandemonium with the Jade Demon Corps and the martial artists of the Demon Annihilation Academy mixed together.
Screams and battle cries were rampant everywhere, and casualties were mounting.
There was someone watching this pandemonium from a tree branch in the distance…
“This should settle the Demon Annihilation Academy.”
The person who muttered in a subdued voice was none other than Ja Un-ryong.
He quietly gazed at Yeo Gon, who was sweeping through the martial artists of the Demon Annihilation Academy in the distance.
He was certainly strong.
The martial artists of the Demon Annihilation Academy were concentrating their attacks on Yeo Gon, but those bleeding and falling were actually themselves.
Looking at his two eyes filled with murderous intent, his ambition could be felt even from here.
Ja Un-ryong recalled the conversation he had with Yeo Gon earlier.
“Let me ask one thing before we carry out the plan.”
“What is it?”
“What happened to that child?”
At Ja Un-ryong’s question, Yeo Gon sneered and replied.
“Even in this situation, that’s all you think about?”
“Still, she was a child who once followed me.”
“Tch… By now, that monster is being used well by the Gold-faced person. As a tool to catch Sa Bigang.”
Ja Un-ryong’s expression trembled.
His eyes grew colder than ever before.
At least for that moment, he was showing the appearance of the Silver-faced person rather than Ja Un-ryong.
“You speak carelessly.”
“Silver-faced. Come to your senses. If you’re a martial artist of our cult, you should remember that anyone can be used as a tool for our cult. Much less such a monster…”
Syuuut, kwaak!
Instantly, Ja Un-ryong reached out and grabbed Yeo Gon’s throat.
“Don’t wag your loose tongue carelessly. That child was my disciple.”
Yeo Gon stared quietly at Ja Un-ryong and then spoke.
“Kook kook. How can you be so sentimental? Can you properly carry out the plan like that?”
Yeo Gon’s last words echoed in his ears for a long time.
Ja Un-ryong sighed lightly and emerged from his thoughts.
The sound of clashing weapons could be heard faintly.
“This is enough.”
Ja Un-ryong muttered quietly and turned around.
But just as he was about to take a step,
“Kyaaaaaaak!“
A sharp scream particularly pierced his eardrums.
Perhaps it was because the last person he saw before turning around was Neung So-so.
Ja Un-ryong flinched and turned his gaze back.
Neung So-so was surrounded by Jade Demon Corps members and being tormented.
Her clothes were torn here and there, and she was bleeding from her mouth, seemingly having suffered internal injuries.
‘She certainly resembles someone in some indescribable way.’
The Silver-faced person quietly bit his lips.
Again, memories from long ago kept surfacing.
***
“Master!”
At the sudden shout, Ja Un-ryong flinched and turned around.
Yu Jeong, with a bright expression, looked up at Ja Un-ryong intently and continued speaking.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Ah… nothing. More importantly, what did you say?”
“I asked where you’re going now.”
Yu Jeong replied with a bright smile.
She was a child who suited smiles very well.
In contrast, Ja Un-ryong replied with a stiff expression.
“There’s somewhere I need to go. Our cult needs you.”
“The cult does?”
“Yes.”
Yu Jeong seemed more curious but didn’t ask.
“Jeong-ah.”
“Yes?”
“Are you anxious?”
“Why?”
“Didn’t you just ask where I was taking you?”
“I just asked because I was curious. Why would I be anxious when Master is with me? When I’m with Master, I’m never anxious about anything!”
Yu Jeong smiled brightly again.
Ja Un-ryong couldn’t look at her eyes to the end and averted his gaze.
Thus, Ja Un-ryong took Yu Jeong into a cave.
After walking for a long time through the dark passage, a fairly wide cavity appeared, where the White-faced person stood upright with his hands behind his back.
“You’ve come? This is the child. She certainly seems to have a good natural affinity. The Great Method should succeed.”
The White-faced person gave Yu Jeong a strange smile.
Because that smile was somehow eerie, Yu Jeong quietly moved behind Ja Un-ryong.
Ja Un-ryong pretended not to notice Yu Jeong’s behavior and spoke to the White-faced person.
“I’ll entrust her to you.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make her the best.”
“How long will it take…?”
“Think about two years.”
“That’s quite long.”
“Be patient. The fruit obtained at the end of patience is sweet.”
At the White-faced person’s faint smile, Ja Un-ryong nodded with complicated feelings.
“Kyaaaaak!”
A desperate scream came from inside the iron door.
Ja Un-ryong shouted at the white-clothed demons blocking his way.
“Didn’t I tell you to move aside!”
“We’re sorry. The Sect Leader ordered us not to let anyone in.”
Ja Un-ryong’s eyes became bloodshot.
“If you don’t move aside right now, I’ll kill you all and go in anyway!”
“This is troublesome! Please restrain yourself!”
When the white-clothed demons answered without budging, Ja Un-ryong was on the verge of losing his mind.
Then again, a scream rising from inside the iron door.
“Kkyaaaaaaaak!”
“Damn it! Jeong-ah! Are you okay? You bastards! Move aside immediately!”
Chaaaang!
When Ja Un-ryong drew his sword, the white-clothed demons hardened their expressions and each drew their swords.
Chachachaaaang!
“You’re making a mistake!”
“Hah! The mistake is what you’ve made!”
Ja Un-ryong shouted furiously and was about to charge,
Kkyiiiiik…
The iron door opened and someone walked out.
“What’s happening?”
Everyone’s gaze turned.
The Sect Leader and the White-faced person were coming out together.
Ja Un-ryong ran to the Sect Leader, knelt down, and cupped his hands.
“Sect Leader! I’ve come to see Jeong-ah! Please let me meet her!”
Then the White-faced person standing beside the Sect Leader sighed and stepped forward.
“Why are you doing this? It’s not just been a day or two. How can the Great Method proceed properly like this? Didn’t I tell you? Visits are impossible during the Great Method.”
“You didn’t say the child would be in pain!”
“It seems there’s more pain than expected, but there will be proportionally greater results.”
“To say that now…!”
“Enough.”
The Sect Leader’s heavy voice cut across Ja Un-ryong’s words.
Ja Un-ryong looked back at the Sect Leader with trembling eyes.
“Sect Leader!”
The Sect Leader’s eyes grew coldly distant.
“Do you intend to defy Zonya’s will?”
Ja Un-ryong bit his lips,
“Kyaaaaaaaak!”
Again, Yu Jeong’s scream came from inside the open iron door.
When the Silver-faced person flinched, the White-faced person shouted to his subordinates in an irritated voice.
“What are you doing! Close the door quickly!”
Kkyiiiiik, cheolkeong!
When the iron door closed, Ja Un-ryong trembled slightly with his fists clenched tightly.
The Sect Leader’s hand touched the shoulder of the kneeling Silver-faced person.
“Endure it. All of this will become a great step toward achieving our grand enterprise.”
