Chapter 40: Everyone, Follow Me
In a certain bamboo forest path.
The kid who'd bumped into Sado Hwan was running for his life at full speed.
"Huff, huff!"
After catching his breath for a moment, the kid kept glancing back, as if checking if anyone was chasing him. Confirming no one was, he began whistling in a strange rhythm.
Whoo~ whii~ whoo~!
How long had they waited?
Sususuk.
A few people started emerging from between the bamboo. They looked like kids in their mid-to-late teens at most.
"Hyung!"
"Soyah. You came?"
"Jackpot, total jackpot!"
The kid called Soyah lifted the money pouch toward the one who seemed like the leader.
"Look at this! It's super heavy! Must be a ton in here."
The leader kid checked the pouch Soyah handed over. It was stuffed full of silver taels.
"Whoa, huff!"
"H-how much is all this?"
"With this, we can eat meat three meals a day!"
The other kids beamed with delight at the sight of the pouch.
"Soyah. Who'd you steal this from?"
"Huh? Dunno. Just some handsome guy. He was super nice. Didn't even notice the pouch was gone, total idiot. Hehe."
"Damn it!"
But the leader kid scowled fiercely.
"You idiot! You think a normal person walks around with this much money like it's nothing? Could be from the main sect! I told you to pick your marks carefully!"
"H-hyung... But nothing happened?"
"Damn it, that's what makes it more dangerous. Means they let you go on purpose—could've caught you easy!"
The leader kid bit his lip. Then he let out another long whistle. And then...
"Grrr..."
The shadow of a black beast fell over the forest. But none of the kids showed any fear. Instead, they approached the beast.
"Everyone, hurry back to the cradle. We're pulling out."
Pa Cheon spoke up.
[How'd you do it? I told the subordinates not to step up, expecting something like this.]
'How? It's obvious.'
[Obvious?]
'Flaunting a fat money pouch in the market? You're asking to get mugged. It's practically a law.'
The world of Murim Return was once again proving itself ruled by clichés. Even so, for things to play out this conveniently... If this were real life instead of a novel, it'd get roasted as contrived plotting.
"This way."
Sa Wol led us. She was wearing a mask.
Whenever she worked as part of the Black Shadow Corps, she turned ghostly with that mask on.
She showed her ditzy side so often it was easy to forget, but the Black Shadow Corps specialized in tracking and assassination. Chasing a fleeing kid was as easy as breathing for her.
He'd tried zigzagging paths to shake pursuit, but she'd still picked up the trail. It led to this remote bamboo forest path.
Sa Wol and Tak Horak had naturally wanted to use lightfoot techniques. Chases were all about speed, after all.
The problem? I couldn't use lightfoot.
So we'd gone full concept from the start.
"This bamboo grove has a nice charm."
"Shall we not pursue immediately?"
"Rats in a trap. No need to rush. Just make sure the trail's solid."
Unlike Sa Wol's puzzled look...
"As expected of the captain! You're giving them false confidence on purpose, lulling them into overconfidence—classic enemy-baiting wisdom!"
Tak Horak hyped it up himself. Thanks, Horak.
"...Hold on."
Sa Wol, tracking the signs, crouched to inspect the ground. She stood, tilting her head slightly.
"Wolf tracks. Size and depth suggest it's nearly the size of an ox."
"Maybe it ate that brat whole?"
I shook my head.
"Good find. Follow the wolf prints."
Sa Wol and Tak Horak's eyes filled with question marks, but they didn't argue.
A short while later...
"...!?"
"Riding wolves...?"
We spotted a cave.
In front of it were dozens of wolves, ridden by kids. They looked geared up like they were off on some adventure.
The wolves spotted us and bared their fangs with growls.
Tak Horak looked baffled.
"Kids living with beasts...?"
Sa Wol was just as thrown. Maybe this cradle wasn't what she remembered.
The reason for the change? Probably that guy at the front. A late-teen riding an ox-sized massive wolf. Eyes screaming 'rebel,' mouth etched with 'stubborn as hell.'
'One-Eyed Beast Master Cho Ryang.'
Eye patched on one side, he'd tamed beasts to wreak havoc across the jianghu. You might scoff at beasts, but wolves that size could shred third-rate martial artists without a fight.
And if they weren't ordinary beasts, but spirit beasts?
The four drivers of power inflation in Murim Return: spirit herbs, martial arts, weapons, spirit beasts. Spirit beasts were that potent.
Beasts exposed long-term to nature's qi or treasures gained spiritual intelligence and power beyond mere animals. Even Peak experts struggled against them.
One-Eyed Beast Master commanding not one, but dozens at once? A walking disaster.
...Come to think of it, this guy's what kicked off the Tang Clan's full meltdown, right?
Cho Ryang had turned Sichuan into a wasteland. He'd single-handedly sealed Mount Emei Sect and wiped out a third of the Tang forces. Tons of direct lineage died or ended up crippled.
Dang Si Hyeok, you owe me big.'
Of course, the 'One-Eyed Beast Master' I knew was future tense. Right now, Cho Ryang just looked like a hormone-fueled teen rebel.
His talent was already there, though. Taming that many wolves proved it. And the lead wolf looked mixed with spirit beast blood—majestic size.
"Who are you!"
Cho Ryang shouted sharply.
"You punk! Do you know who this is?!"
Tak Horak jumped in explosively.
"So who is he?"
"If I may explain—"
"Enough."
I pushed past Tak Horak.
No way name-dropping would work on these guys.
"One of you took my pouch. Ah, there you are."
The kid who'd started slinking behind the others jolted like he'd been shocked at being singled out.
Cho Ryang blocked him.
"No idea what you're talking about. Step aside? We got places to be."
"Can't do that. I got business too."
"Then we'll go through you."
Cho Ryang stroked his wolf's head; it bared fangs like it understood.
I sighed. I'd hoped to talk it out, but this guy's vibe screamed 'won't listen.'
"Sa Wol. Tak Horak."
"Yes."
"Subdue them."
"Yes! I'll chop off limbs so they can't run!"
"No. Don't hurt the kids. Wolves too, if possible."
"..."
Sa Wol and Tak Horak shot me baffled looks. In the cult, 'subdue' usually meant crippling somewhere to crush resistance.
"What's the point of acupoint seals then?"
Whatever. Boss says seal, you seal.
A short while later...
"Y-you bastards!"
All the kids were acupoint-sealed, immobile. Their wolves? No threat left—after a few chestnuts, they shook like beaten mutts, not wolves.
Makes sense. Sa Wol was borderline Super Peak, Tak Horak solid First-rate.
"S-stay back!"
"Grrrng!"
Cho Ryang's wolf growl was just feeble defiance now. It knelt protectively in front of its sealed master.
I stepped up. If it lunged, I'd blink-dodge.
"Cho Ryang. I let him take the pouch on purpose. To find you."
"What's your game! How'd you know my name?!"
"I'm Sado Hwan. You've heard of me."
"Sado Hwan... Asura Apostle!"
Shock hit Cho Ryang's face. One of the main sect's noblest demonic six families, right in front of him.
"I'm taking you to the Sado Ga."
"...What?"
"I'll teach you martial arts. Food, comfy bed too."
"Liar."
Cho Ryang gritted his teeth.
"Think we've never heard that crap? People lure us off like that, then poof—gone forever. Probably died wiping some lord's ass."
"..."
What was it? A flash of shared trauma.
Me in reality, orphaned young, covered in scars like that?
Or maybe guilt—my plan wasn't much different.
I wanted him for his skills, ultimately to fight in my place.
For my survival.
Left a bad taste.
Then Sa Wol approached. She pulled down her mask, revealing her face. Cho Ryang's eyes widened.
"Y-you..."
He recognized her. Made sense—ten years since she left. She'd been notable in the 6th Demon Realm back then.
Sa Wol wordlessly remasked and stepped behind me.
It felt like a silent 'trust him' to Cho Ryang.
...Kinda touching, in a weird way.
But her masked eyes stayed impassive—who knows her intent. Maybe just pity for the kids. The cradle was a flimsy gang anyway.
"One more time. I offer you a chance. Follow me: learn martial arts, warm bed, use your talents."
Cho Ryang chewed his lip, conflicted. Then...
"Hyung! Just go!"
The pouch thief yelled.
"We don't need you anymore!"
"Yeah, we can eat and live fine without you."
"All you do is get stubborn and hit us. Get lost!"
Suddenly the kids unleashed harsh words at Cho Ryang. Eyes brimming with tears.
Stirred old orphanage memories.
We'd say that stuff to kids getting adopted. Cut ties. Be happy, never look back.
"You little shits..."
"Who said go alone?"
I said loud enough for all.
"Sado Ga richer than you think. Housing for all of you? Easy."
"...!?"
"So. Everyone, follow me."
"We can?"
"Yeah. And."
I flicked Cho Ryang's head.
"Be polite from now on."
"...Yes, sir."
"Sa Wol vice-captain. Tak squad leader. Release their acupoints."
"Understood."
Sa Wol and Tak Horak unsealed them. Kids instantly mobbed Cho Ryang in hugs.
"Hyung!"
"Hyuuung!"
"Who was it calling you stubborn, said beat it—who?!"
"N-not me! Probably Soyah?"
"Wasn't me!?"
A chuckle escaped as I turned away.
[Impressive.]
'What now?'
[A true cultist builds followers. Even a demon sword like me's impressed. Already building a faction?]
'...'
Guess the misunderstanding wasn't just theirs.
I Pretend to Be the Heavenly Demon