Even if he tried to take his time, a month was more than enough for the journey to Sichuan, yet Baek Woo Jin had stretched it to three. Using the information from the Hao Sect, he personally narrowed down specific areas and searched each one thoroughly.
Two months passed in this way. During that time, the Divine Dragon Team succeeded in slaying no less than four demonic beasts after countless forced marches.
Considering that a typical unit from the Moorim Alliance’s Demon Slaying Brigade, which was created specifically to eliminate demonic beasts, might slay one or two a month, this was a remarkable feat for mere academy students. However, they couldn’t simply celebrate.
“We can’t deny it any longer.”
“Yes… it does seem like the Demonic Cult is plotting something.”
The four demonic beasts they had discovered all shared certain common traits.
Each was found in a cave, subtly hidden in desolate areas, with noise-canceling formations placed at the entrances to block sound and presence.
This led to only one possible conclusion.
The Demonic Cult fanatics operating in the martial arts world would corrupt people or animals with demonic energy. But they didn’t let them attack people freely as usual; they just kept them hidden.
“Aren’t demonic beats or demons supposed to be created to bring chaos to the Central Plains?”
“That’s right…”
Shin Ye Hwa posed a question, and Jegal Yeon Ji responded.
The reason they hid in the Central Plains, which was no different from enemy territory to them and created demons and demonic beasts was to create chaos in the peaceful Central Plains.
The more frequently these demonic beasts appeared, the more unstable the public order became, and the more fear was instilled in the hearts of the people. This fear even spread to the martial artists, ultimately affecting the number of martial artists willing to go to Qinghai Province, where fights were breaking out almost daily.
For now, thanks to the spirited martial artists, the frontline had remained at a stalemate. But if this continued, it was uncertain when Qinghai Province might fall, plunging the entire Central Plains into the flames of war.
“There can only be one reason for keeping them hidden.”
Tang Seon Yeong who had stayed close to Baek Woo Jin spoke. Her sharp gaze mirrored the intensity of Shin Ye Hwa and Jegal Yeon Ji.
“They’re gathering them to release them all at once, aren’t they?”
A single demonic beast could cause minor disruptions, but not enough to unleash widespread chaos. Not while the various branches of the Moorim Alliance and the Demon Slaying Brigade kept a vigilant watch across the land.
But what if it wasn’t just one? What if dozens, even hundreds, appeared all at once?
Just imagining it seemed enough to send a chill through their bodies. Each of the members shivered in unison.
“But doesn’t something about this seem strange?”
Jang Sam who had been lying down slowly stood up. He was too exhausted from subduing the Boar Demon, but that was no surprise; after all, he was the weakest of the team.
“Even though they knew it would be a more effective method, they avoided doing it before. So why start now?”
Everyone fell silent. They were lost in thought at Jang Sam’s words.
Just like he pointed out, demonic beasts could indeed cause greater chaos if dozens, even hundreds, appeared at once rather than sporadically one by one.
Yet, until now, they hadn’t hidden these creatures away like this. What had changed between then and now to make them change their methods?
A chilling thought flashed through Baek Woo Jin’s mind.
“…If they found a way to control the creatures.”
“Oh…!”
“Ah!”
Demonic beasts, by nature, were beings that had lost their reason. All that remained was an instinct to slaughter. They had no intelligence high enough to obey someone’s commands.
This lack of control was why, until now, the Demonic Cult hadn’t been able to conceal these creatures. Just the sight of a passing animal would send them charging like they encountered a mortal enemy. That’s why it was impossible to keep them hidden.
However, the demonic beasts Baek Woo Jin had discovered were somewhat unusual.
Although formations were placed at the cave entrances, their only purpose was to contain any noise or presence from escaping outside.
In other words, the demonic beasts inside the cave had clearly sensed the presence of Baek Woo Jin and the rest of the Divine Dragon Team the moment they approached the cave’s entrance.
But the creatures hadn’t attacked first. Only after Jegal Yeon Ji broke the formation did they rise. Only then did their huge bodies lumber out of the cave to launch their attack.
“They must have been given advance orders. Something like, ‘Don’t come out until the formation is broken”.”
The team members’ faces paled as they listened to Baek Woo Jin’s words.
“If that’s the case, then we’re… we’re in serious trouble.”
“Hmm… if all the demonic beasts were to gather and follow the orders of the Demonic Cult…”
“…a massacre would break out.”
They imagined the scene. Dozens of demonic beasts moving at the command of the Demonic Cult and ruthlessly slaughtering everything in their path.
It would be nothing short of a living hell.
“W-We have to inform the Moorim Alliance right away.”
“Yes, if we don’t notify them soon and prepare a response, countless lives will be lost.”
Jegal Yeon Ji and Tang Seon Yeong urged Baek Woo Jin to make a decision.
“The nearest branch of the Moorim Alliance?”
“…The one in Chengdu would be closest.”
Tang Seon Yeong’s expression darkened noticeably as she answered.
Chengdu. Not only was it home to a Moorim Alliance branch, but it was also the headquarters of the Sichuan Tang Clan which she hated so much.
Baek Woo Jin who had been sitting on a wide rock rose to his feet.
“The hunt for demonic beasts is over. Given the gravity of the situation, we’ll be marching without rest until we reach Chengdu, so prepare yourselves.”
“Yes!”
Normally, at least one of them would have shown a hint of dissatisfaction, but all of them understood the gravity of the situation and steeled themselves.
…
A forced march that tested the limits of the team members continued.
In fifteen locations that seemed suspicious, they found demonic beasts lurking in four locations. What was even more alarming was that all these beasts were positioned along the path from the academy to Sichuan. If this pattern held across the entire country, there was no telling how many other demonic beasts might be lying in wait.
As a result, none of the team members dared to complain of exhaustion. Even though they knew that nothing serious would happen with just a few hours of rest, their minds struggled to fully accept it.
“We’ll make camp here for the night!”
This put even more weight on Baek Woo Jin’s shoulders. He had to carefully watch over every member of the team, make sure that no one got into trouble by pushing themselves to the limit and manage their rest periods with great care.
By now, they had become so accustomed to the routine that camp was swiftly set up, and after a simple meal of rations, they all soon collapsed into sleep.
“Haah…”
Only Jegal Yeon Ji who was on night watch sat awake. Her expression was dark and heavy.
Young Master Baek and that fox have gotten far too close…
Before they had left the academy, she had heard a rough summary from Baek Woo Jin about Tang Seon Yeong and her situation with the Tang Clan.
That she was being treated extremely poorly and that the situation was causing her great distress.
Jegal Yeon Ji too had faced poor treatment within her own clan, so she understood Tang Seon Yeong’s pain. Yet she didn’t like seeing Baek Woo Jin go out of his way to help her.
She sympathized with Tang Seon Yeong’s isolation and understood the suffering she had endured alone so far, but she still didn’t like who she didn’t like.
“Ugh…”
Jealousy clung to her like something sticky and suffocating.
As they drew closer to the Tang Clan, Tang Seon Yeong began to show signs of anxiety. Baek Woo Jin couldn’t just sit by and watch so he kept her close. The two of them were now inseparable; they were always within arm’s reach of each other.
She felt increasingly pitiful as if she’d gone back to those days when all she could do was secretly watch Baek Woo Jin and Yoo Hwa Yeon together.
Under the moonlight, she had once worked up the courage to confess her feelings, and they had held each other tightly, but that moment now felt like a distant dream.
“Ah…”
Tears threatened to spill.
She hugged her knees and buried her head in her arms. She stifled her cries as tears streamed down her face.
Sniffle… sniffle…
As she was wiping away her tears and runny nose helplessly, she suddenly sensed someone approaching from behind.
She hastily wiped her face with her sleeve to erase any trace of tears.
Soon, the footsteps stopped in front of her.
“Your pretty face is a mess.”
The sound of her quiet sobbing had stirred Baek Woo Jin from his light sleep.
He got down on one knee, gently pulled her hands away from her face, and softly brushed a hand over her swollen eyes.
“Seems like you’re feeling really hurt.”
Every time his warm voice reached her ears, she felt herself melting helplessly.
She shook her head and tried to deny it.
“N-No, it’s not that… it’s just… this is…”
She didn’t want him to worry about her. After all, she had agreed to this, and now there were more important matters at hand; she had to push her feelings aside for later.
Even so, she couldn’t stop the tears from coming.
The more time he spent comforting Tang Seon Yeong, who trembled with anxiety, the less time he had to spare for Jegal Yeon Ji.
“I’m sorry.”
He held her hands tightly and continued.
“I… like Miss Tang.”
With just those few words, the light that had been in Jegal Yeon Ji’s eyes vanished all at once.
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