"Welcome back, sir."
"Bring me some tea."
"Ah, yes."
A moment later, a cup of Gul-Song tea was placed in front of Hong Wei-wen. When he was mentally fatigued, he drank Gul-Song tea instead of alcohol.
Shen Hui, who was observing Hong Wei-wen, was quite shocked.
'Is it really that serious?'
Hong Wei-wen, who always maintained a relaxed smile no matter the situation, now had a very stiff expression.
How much time had passed?
It wasn’t until the tea had almost cooled that Hong Wei-wen finally picked up the teacup.
"Shen Hui."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Didn’t I tell you about what kind of place Gojuk Forest is?"
"Yes. It’s a demonic forest that existed even before our sect settled on the Great Mountain. It’s said to be inhabited by strange spiritual creatures. You also mentioned that the spiritual bamboo grown there is harvested to make our sect’s spiritual medicines."
"Right. Gojuk Forest is exactly that kind of place."
Hong Wei-wen leaned back in his chair.
A smile had appeared on his lips, but his eyes remained as cold as ever.
"Do you know where the hardest place to infiltrate within the sect is?"
It was too broad a question. Moreover, it wasn’t a question that should have come up in the middle of discussing Gojuk Forest.
"Are you referring to Gojuk Forest?"
"Gojuk Forest is excluded. Even the higher-ups can’t enter without the Sect Master’s permission. My question isn’t about physically entering but about whether we can plant our eyes there."
"Then, wouldn’t it be the Military Strategy Division? I’ve heard that the Chief Strategist’s control over the organization is so strong that even the Demon Elders dare not interfere."
"Wrong. The Military Strategy Division is actually quite easy to infiltrate."
"Excuse me?"
"The Chief Strategist is a once-in-a-generation genius. He’s the type to use spies to grasp the flow of power struggles within the sect. So, it’s not hard to infiltrate. It’s just that no one does it because it’s obvious their movements would be detected."
"Then…?"
"The Law Enforcement Hall."
Bubbles rose from the teacup Hong Wei-wen was holding. The once-cooled Gul-Song tea was boiling again.
"The Law Enforcement Hall is a completely isolated organization. It exists solely to protect the Sect Master and the sect. It’s entirely different from other groups that decide their direction based on power."
"…!"
"Of course, it’s composed only of the most loyal demons within the sect. That’s why no one pays attention to them. There’s no need to, and no one can. Shaking them would be like shaking the Sect Master’s authority."
"That’s… true."
"That’s why I didn’t pay attention. No, I couldn’t pay attention. That was my mistake."
"What do you mean?"
Hong Wei-wen took a sip of tea.
The smile disappeared from his face again.
"That guy is still alive."
"…Excuse me?"
"Seo Ryang, that guy is still alive."
Shen Hui’s face stiffened.
"Even after eight months?"
"I heard they sent someone experienced and skilled. A captain from the Law Enforcement Hall, wasn’t it?"
"No, even so…"
Before entering Gojuk Forest, the Third Young Master’s physical condition had improved significantly.
But even so, he was still at the level of a commoner who hadn’t learned martial arts. How could someone at that level survive for eight months in a place so dangerous that even Demon Elders would be nervous? Does that make any sense?
"I could understand if it was a month. Even three months, I could let it slide. But surviving for eight months with that body? It doesn’t make sense."
Even Hong Wei-wen, who said this, had never entered Gojuk Forest. In this generation, only a few high-ranking officials, excluding the Law Enforcers, had set foot in Gojuk Forest.
But there’s a level of danger that can be guessed. The Sect Master himself had once said:
- Unless one has reached the pinnacle of demonic power (Extreme Demon), no one can last more than three months.
If the Sect Master said so, then it must be true. His words carried that much weight and trust.
Of course, Seo Ryang hadn’t reached the level of an Extreme Demon. So how could he still be alive?
Hong Wei-wen recalled his earlier conversation with the Sect Master.
- It seems the third is holding up well.
- …!
- I’m thinking of calling him back soon.
- ….
- Didn’t you say you’re currently targeting the youngest?
- …Yes.
- I see.
That was the end of the conversation with the Sect Master. Truly, that was all there was to it.
Hong Wei-wen couldn’t understand why the Sect Master had told him that. He couldn’t guess whether the Sect Master had called him just to see his face or if he had picked up on something during that brief conversation.
'He’s always been like that.'
The Demon God of the Heavens Beyond (Tian Wai Tian). A being beyond human comprehension.
'He merely reigns, he does not rule.'
Even when his disciples are pointing swords at each other, he doesn’t interfere. Whether it means that to seize the next great power, one must overcome this level, or if there’s another intention, I don’t know.
What kind of world does the Sect Master see? Is this world truly so worthless to a god?
If I could see what the Sect Master sees…
'If I could soar to that realm…!'
Hong Wei-wen, who had been looking down at his teacup, opened his mouth.
"Shen Hui."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Plant some kids in that guy’s residence."
Shen Hui’s eyes lit up.
Hong Wei-wen sipped his tea. The heavy aroma made his mouth feel dry, but his mind felt clearer.
"Neither the Demonic Qi Deviation, poison, nor the demonic forest could kill him. I thought that would be enough, didn’t I?"
"…Are you planning to take action yourself?"
"Myself? I can’t do that. I don’t think this fight should turn into a dogfight. But still…"
"…."
"I don’t particularly want to stop a murder driven by resentment."
Shen Hui’s eyes widened.
"Then the kids you told me to gather…?"
"We’ll just hand them the knives. Whether they swing them or not is entirely up to them."
Hong Wei-wen smiled brightly. It was the brightest smile Shen Hui had ever seen, and it sent a chill down his spine.
"Isn’t that how the Sect Master handles us? Throw us into hell and let us figure it out ourselves. I think that’s quite good."
"Young Master!"
"What now, you fool?"
"Please calm down. You need to be more cautious."
"Cautious? I’m sick and tired of overthinking and missing opportunities."
"But you’re being too hasty! You still don’t know what kind of treasures are near the deep parts of the forest!"
"Would knowing change anything?"
Ma Dong-pil was momentarily speechless.
Seo Ryang, holding the Je-Tak grass and tea leaves, spoke.
"No matter what threats are there, the fact that time is running out doesn’t change. And I have no intention of giving up on the spiritual bamboo there. So, I think there’s no time to waste."
"I’ll go to the Law Enforcement Hall Master. I’ll ask him what kind of treasures are inside and how to prepare. We need at least some information…"
"I’ll say it again, knowing won’t change anything."
Swoosh.
Seo Ryang drew his sword.
It was the Hwan-do (Returning Blade) that Ma Dong-pil had brought along with the Je-Tak grass and tea leaves. The sleek, curved blade was three feet long.
He flicked the blade with his finger.
Ting.
A clear resonance. Unlike the weapons he had used before, this was a blade worthy of being called a treasure.
"Why do you think the Sect Master only sent the higher-ups to retrieve the spiritual bamboo? If preparation was possible, he could have sent his subordinates."
"…."
"For security reasons? That can’t be."
"…Are you saying that unless one is strong enough, sending anyone else would be meaningless?"
"Exactly."
"Then it’s even more impossible!"
In the eight months they had grown closer, this was the first time Ma Dong-pil had reacted so vehemently.
"Young Master, you’ve grown incredibly strong. But you still can’t compare to the Demon Elders of the Elder Council…!"
As he spoke, Ma Dong-pil realized he might have been disrespectful.
Seo Ryang didn’t mind at all.
"Right. I can’t compare to the Nine Great Demon Elders, the strongest in the sect."
"…Young Master."
"But I have something they don’t."
"What?"
Thud.
As he adjusted his belt, Seo Ryang thought.
'Shadow Art, Dark God’s Ethereal Body.'
Until now, he had never used stealth techniques in Gojuk Forest.
There was no need, no opportunity, and he thought it was wrong to do so.
To Seo Ryang, this place was a training ground, not a battlefield. Even if he could, there was no reason to use stealth to avoid threats.
But now, it’s different.
The deep parts of Gojuk Forest are an unknown territory. And the time given to him is roughly three months.
Gojuk Forest is no longer a training ground.
It has become a battlefield of life and death, where he must achieve his goal by any means necessary.
'If I inhale the Je-Tak grass, the duration will be half an hour. Given the size of Gojuk Forest, half an hour is more than enough to reach the deep parts.'
He was once called the Shadow King. His stealth techniques were also at the pinnacle of his time.
However, since he had transformed his shadow energy into demonic energy, he couldn’t use the Dark God’s Ethereal Body with the previous method.
That’s why he needed the Je-Tak grass. He had to suppress the demonic energy to some extent to manifest the Dark God’s Ethereal Body.
The internal energy consumption would be severe, but for a simple retrieval and escape, it would be enough.
'With the Dark God’s Ethereal Body, I can deceive even top-tier experts. Even if I’m discovered, escaping won’t be a problem.'
But what if escape is impossible?
Seo Ryang’s eyes gleamed.
'Then I’ll just have to create chaos.'
Ma Dong-pil hurriedly spoke.
"I don’t know what method you have, Young Master. But it must be a convincing one."
"Of course. I don’t want to die either."
Thud.
Ma Dong-pil knelt on one knee.
"Young Master, I dare to risk my life to say this."
"Why so serious?"
"Would you consider giving up on the spiritual bamboo?"
"…."
"Thanks to the nature of Gojuk Forest, you’ve grown at an unbelievable rate. Even without the spiritual bamboo from the deep parts, you’ll surely stand out soon…"
"Dong-pil."
"Yes, Young Master."
Seo Ryang smiled.
"I’m not the type to enjoy danger. If it wasn’t necessary, I wouldn’t have risked my life to enter that place."
"…."
"Don’t worry. Even though there were many dangerous moments in the past eight months, I’m still alive, aren’t I?"
Ma Dong-pil sighed inwardly. He realized that no matter what he said, the Young Master wouldn’t change his mind.
As Seo Ryang looked down at Ma Dong-pil, a chill briefly crossed his face.
He had intended to obtain it anyway, but there was now another reason he had to get the spiritual bamboo. That’s why he had urgently studied the effects of the Je-Tak grass and tea leaves for the past two days.
'Once I leave Gojuk Forest, they’ll come after me again.'
He had heard from Ma Dong-pil that Hong Yeo-rin was the Fourth Young Master’s sister. If he left Gojuk Forest, those damn Hong siblings wouldn’t just sit still.
The question is, does it end there?
'Is it just a matter of resentment? Or perhaps…'
Perhaps the disciples are secretly engaged in a bloody struggle.
The reason is unknown. The most plausible theory is that they’re eliminating competitors for the next great power, but even that can’t be confirmed.
Of course, it might not be a struggle among the disciples. But Seo Ryang believed his prediction was correct.
If it were a murder attempt driven by resentment, his heightened senses wouldn’t have missed such clear killing intent. Not over a span of three months.
'I need to become so strong that they wouldn’t dare touch me. And I need to do it soon.'
To find freedom, he was prepared to rot in the sect for at least a year, or even several years. If he didn’t show the Sect Master enough strength, he wouldn’t be let go.
But he had no intention of rotting uncomfortably day by day.
If they still dare to touch me despite the difference in strength…
'Then I’ll just have to raise hell, regardless of seniority.'
Seo Ryang patted his stomach.
"Wait for me. I’ll be back soon."
"I can’t allow that, Young Master."
"It’s an order."
"I’m sorry, but I can’t follow that order. If you insist on going alone, you’ll have to cut off my head first."
Seo Ryang shook his head.
"Just to the entrance of the deep parts. Don’t go inside. I absolutely won’t allow it."
"…."
"Answer?"
"…I’ll obey."
With all preparations complete, the two of them rushed toward the deep parts of Gojuk Forest.
How long had they been running?
"…?!"
Seo Ryang’s mouth fell open. Even Ma Dong-pil, who usually had a stoic expression, showed rare surprise.
As they entered the area guarded by the last sentinel, the Green Horn, the scene before them unfolded.
Whoosh.
Countless treasures lay dead on either side. The stench of rotting corpses filled the air along with white mist.
And at the entrance to the deep parts, where the bamboo created a path, a damp wind blew.
Whoosh.
"…What the hell?"