Thud! A member of the sect burst through the door in a panic. "Fourth Deputy Sect Leader!"
The middle-aged man, Jin Seong-ju, frowned. "What is this rudeness? I told you to handle minor matters among yourselves. This is a place where esteemed guests are present."
"A disaster has occurred!"
"What kind of disaster has you so flustered?"
"Chaos has broken out in the Demon Subjugation Corps' camp! The Third Young Master suddenly barged in and turned the entire camp upside down!"
Hong Wi-mun's eyes gleamed.
Jin Seong-ju unconsciously rose from his seat. "The Demon Subjugation Corps' camp? Are you saying the Third Young Master caused a ruckus in the barracks?"
"Yes!"
"Where did this information come from?"
"From the members of the Demon Subjugation Corps themselves!"
Jin Seong-ju's gaze turned to Hong Wi-mun. Hong Wi-mun nodded.
"He's finally caused trouble, hasn't he?"
"Should we take action now?" It was a question about whether the 'target' they had discussed earlier was correct.
Hong Wi-mun smiled. "Deputy Sect Leader, you are one of the ten deputy leaders of the Punishment Hall. If the Punishment Hall's stance is clear, we cannot stand idly by when chaos erupts within the sect. I believe it is right to act according to your judgment."
Jin Seong-ju turned to the sect member. "Dispatch the Black Eagle Guards! Find out the Third Young Master's current location!"
"The Black Eagle Guards, sir?"
"Yes. Capture every demon involved in this chaos! No exceptions, regardless of their status!" The order implied that even the Third Young Master should be brought to the Punishment Hall. The sect member's face tensed.
"I will carry out your orders!"
As the sect member left, Jin Seong-ju smiled. "I thought we might have to prepare for unforeseen circumstances, but it seems things will be easier than expected."
"Indeed."
However, contrary to his words, Hong Wi-mun's expression was extremely serious. The Seo Ryang they had observed so far was not someone to be taken lightly.
"It should be easy."
Thwack!
"Ugh... huh?"
Wi Hong-ryeon slowly opened her eyes. Seo Ryang was clicking his fingers with a bored expression. He had looked like he was about to beat her to death, but in the end, all he did was flick her forehead.
"I was going to beat you senseless, but you're already half-dead. I can't even do that."
"Huh?"
"What do you mean, 'huh'? Look at this!"
Thump, thump.
The energy leaking from Wi Hong-ryeon's body was clearly dangerous. The dense demonic energy, which should not have been possible given her severe injuries, seemed ready to explode at any moment.
Seo Ryang clicked his tongue. "Well done, well done. No wonder people say you're crazy."
"Huh?"
He placed his hand on Wi Hong-ryeon's forehead. She flinched.
"Relax."
Whoosh!
In an instant, Seo Ryang's energy surged into Wi Hong-ryeon's upper dantian.
Wi Hong-ryeon's mouth fell open.
Forcing demonic energy into someone's upper dantian was a forbidden technique, one that no one dared to attempt lightly.
'No! Wait! Hey, you lunatic!'
She wanted to turn her head, but strangely, she couldn't move a single finger. It was as if her meridians had been sealed.
But surprisingly...
"...Huh?"
Seo Ryang shook his hand and grumbled. "You're really a handful."
"Huh?"
"How long are you going to stay dazed? Go to the corner and get yourself together! Ugh, trusting this troublemaker was a mistake."
Wi Hong-ryeon's eyes wavered.
'What?!'
Sizzle, sizzle.
The raging demonic energy of the Blue Demon Art calmed down, and the chaotic energy in her meridians returned to normal. The surging madness and intense anger all dissipated.
What? What just happened?
As she stood there dumbfounded, Seo Ryang turned to Ma Dong-pil.
"Are you okay?"
"Huh?"
"I said, are you okay?"
"Y-yes, I'm fine."
Seo Ryang's brow furrowed deeply.
Ma Dong-pil's condition was far from fine. While there were no life-threatening injuries, he had dozens of wounds, none of which were minor.
'If he hadn't sealed his acupoints in time, he would have bled to death.'
Seo Ryang turned his gaze to the members of the Demon Subjugation Corps.
Startled!
All fifty members of the Demon Subjugation Corps stiffened in tension.
"Dong-pil."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Did you hold back?"
"...Yes."
"Why? From the looks of your wounds, it seems like those bastards attacked you without restraint."
"They are members of the Demon Subjugation Corps. As the Third Captain of the Law Enforcement Hall, I cannot draw my sword against them."
Seo Ryang stared at Ma Dong-pil with an indifferent expression.
Ma Dong-pil bowed his head deeply.
The situation was different from when Wi Hong-ryeon had screamed in rage.
The relationship was different, and the weight of the words was different, so the attitude had to be different as well. Even someone as rigid as Ma Dong-pil couldn't ignore the implications.
At that moment, Seo Ryang's voice pierced his ears.
"That guy, every time I see him, he surprises me in some way."
"...Huh?"
"Smart people don't need to be rigid, and rigid people usually aren't smart. But you're rigid and yet not stupid."
"..."
"Conviction and stubbornness are different. Conviction can end with personal harm, but stubbornness harms others. If I had arrived any later, you wouldn't have made it. Admit it."
"...Yes."
"Because of you, that lunatic almost died too. Right?"
In truth, if Wi Hong-ryeon hadn't stepped in and caused chaos, this wouldn't have happened.
But Ma Dong-pil wasn't the type to shift blame onto others. No, his mind didn't even work that way.
The fact that this situation had become complicated because of him was reason enough for self-reflection.
"It was my mistake."
"Good. As long as you understand..."
"I admit it was my mistake, but if a similar situation arises in the future, I will act according to my principles."
Seo Ryang's eyes widened.
"You admit it's stubbornness, yet you still say that?"
"I would rather die as a stubborn person than draw my sword against a fellow sect member. Of course..."
Ma Dong-pil smiled.
"That's assuming the other person isn't a criminal deserving of death."
"...Oh."
"My reflection is sincere. But I need time to reconsider what is right. Pretending to agree without truly accepting it in my heart would be lying to you, Young Master."
Ma Dong-pil bowed his head.
"Please understand the sincerity of my principles."
If the sect leader's disciple said so, then so be it. Yet, Ma Dong-pil revealed his true feelings because of the deep bond he shared with Seo Ryang.
Seo Ryang chuckled.
"Well, that's that."
Seo Ryang glanced at the Demon Subjugation Corps members again and muttered softly.
"What should I do with that guy?"
He wasn't referring to the Demon Subjugation Corps members. He was thinking of Song Gyeong alone.
Seo Ryang walked toward the Demon Subjugation Corps members.
The faces of the Demon Subjugation Corps members showed confusion. Ma Dong-pil had called this young man "Young Master." That meant he was undoubtedly one of the sect leader's disciples, but they weren't entirely sure.
Regardless, their leader was Song Gyeong. The Demon Subjugation Corps members spread out, preparing for Seo Ryang's approach.
At that moment, a fierce demonic energy surged from Ma Dong-pil's body.
Sizzle!
The burning energy of anger. It was a powerful force, bubbling with killing intent.
"How dare you draw your swords in the presence of the Third Young Master! Show your respect immediately!!"
The booming voice echoed.
The faces of the Demon Subjugation Corps members turned pale. It seemed their opponent really was one of the sect leader's disciples.
At that moment, a suppressed voice came from Song Gyeong's mouth.
"Prove... it."
"What?"
"You say he's the Third Young Master, but who can confirm that?"
Ma Dong-pil's eyes twitched. He could tolerate a hundred sword strikes against himself, but he couldn't stand such disrespect in front of the Young Master.
"How dare you...!"
Song Gyeong roared.
"How dare you speak so carelessly! I am the leader of the Demon Subjugation Corps! The captain of the Law Enforcement Hall has no right to belittle me!"
It was like the roar of a beast.
In truth, Song Gyeong was just as anxious.
He also knew what was happening and couldn't possibly be unaware that his opponent was the Third Young Master. Even if he had doubts, who would dare impersonate the Third Young Master within the sect?
'Damn it!'
But he had no choice but to act tough. He knew what the Fourth Young Master, Hong Wi-mun, wanted.
Moreover, the Third Young Master seemed to have some kind of relationship with Wi Hong-ryeon. The fact that he had calmed the raging Wi Hong-ryeon proved it.
The anger toward Wi Hong-ryeon had transferred to the Third Young Master, Seo Ryang.
No matter the reason, the Fourth Young Master would back him up, and more importantly, his pride was too wounded to simply bow his head.
Yes. In the end, it was all about pride.
His damn pride had made him more agitated than necessary and caused him to cross the line.
"What are you all doing?! Capture those arrogant bastards and make them kneel...!"
"Prove it, you say?"
"...?"
Seo Ryang smiled.
It was a cold smile, starkly different from the one he had shown Ma Dong-pil.
"You want me to prove that I'm the Third Young Master?"
"...!"
"Right. That's a fair point. Why would you think I'm the Third Young Master just because you saw me? If this is a bluff, then you'd be bowing to some random guy, and if you found out later, it would be a great shame for a demon who lives by pride."
"That..."
"But I have no way to prove that I'm the Third Young Master."
At that moment, Seo Ryang's aura began to change.
Whoosh!
A crimson demonic energy spread from beneath his feet, engulfing the ground.
Rumble, rumble.
The already dark sky seemed to be filled with thunder and lightning.
Boom!
It was as if a massive, rusted iron gate was slowly opening.
Clang! Clang!
The gate, bound by thick chains, barely opened a few inches.
The Hellgate, still bound by chains and covered in rust due to Seo Ryang's incomplete mastery of the demonic arts, stopped at that.
But that was enough.
For the demons present, even that partial opening was enough to show them what a true demon was.
Flash!
Song Gyeong's mouth fell open.
The eyes of the Demon Subjugation Corps members glazed over, and Ma Dong-pil unconsciously bowed his head. Wi Hong-ryeon, sensing the unusual demonic energy, froze in shock.
Whoosh!
The crimson demonic energy burned brilliantly. The blood-red energy surged ominously.
The true power of the Shadow Demon Art, the Hellgate Opening Technique, was revealed to the world for the first time.
Thud!
With just one step, it felt as if a giant had moved.
Seo Ryang opened his mouth.
"Say it again."
Whoosh.
A faint red mist seemed to spread with his breath.
"Who am I?"
Crack! Ooooh!
From a distant hill, a fox with a dazzling aura let out a fierce cry.
The golden light in Seo Ryang's eyes flickered ominously.
"Tell me! Who am I?!"
Flash!
"Ugh!"
All fifty members of the Demon Subjugation Corps vomited blood and collapsed.
Without any direct attack, they coughed up blood and fainted. The overwhelming demonic energy emanating from Seo Ryang crushed them all.
Drip, drip.
Blood tears streamed from Song Gyeong's eyes.
His mouth agape, he stared blankly at Seo Ryang.
Thud! Thud!
It was unclear how he realigned his bones. Adjusting his dislocated leg bones with demonic energy, he staggered toward Seo Ryang.
Then he knelt.
"...Please, forgive me."
"That's not the answer I want. Answer my question."
Seo Ryang growled softly.
"Who am I?"
"Ugh."
"I asked, who am I?!"
Song Gyeong clenched his eyes shut.
"You are the Third Young Master!"
Splat! Blood gushed from his seven orifices. The storm of demonic energy pouring down like sunlight created a terrifying pressure.
"You are undoubtedly the Third Young Master! The esteemed figure of our sect!"
"..."
"I was arrogant and made a mistake! Please, show mercy!"
A satisfied smile spread across Seo Ryang's lips.
"So you acknowledge me as the Third Young Master."
"Yes! Of course!"
"Then how should I deal with your mistake of demanding proof in front of me?"
"...Kill me."
"..."
"Kill me!"
It seemed he didn't even know what he was saying. Song Gyeong, vomiting blood, shouted desperately, his face already pale as a corpse.
Whoosh.
At that moment, Seo Ryang knelt on one knee.
Their eyes met.
In an instant, Song Gyeong was overwhelmed by a shock that felt like it would shatter his mind.
He wanted to turn his head away, but he couldn't tear his eyes from the golden demonic eyes.
"I won't kill you."
"Ah!"
"In exchange for not killing you..."
Seo Ryang grinned. His fangs seemed particularly prominent.
"You and I will put on a little show."
"Huh?!"
"..."
"Give me your orders!"
Seo Ryang whispered softly into his ear. No one heard what he said to Song Gyeong.
A moment later.
"Stop!"
A group of black-clad figures rushed in from the distance.
"Oh? Perfect timing."
I was about to go looking for you.
Seo Ryang stood up lightly and raised his hands with a wide grin.
"I surrender."
"...?"
"Do as you please."