“Allow me to check your pulse. Please forgive the intrusion.”
“Ah…”
“Is there something you wish to say?”
“Er…”
“You are Seo-gongja. Please, speak.”
“It’s just…”
“…”
“…Go on.”
“As you wish.”
The man took Kang Min-hyuk’s wrist, and he lay still, as calm and obedient as a child.
A sudden flinch.
Cold.
The man’s fingers were as cold as ice, as if he had no body temperature at all. The chill seeped through the calluses on Kang Min-hyuk’s own hands, raising goosebumps on his skin. Even a corpse in the throes of plague would be warmer than this.
The man closed his eyes.
A low hum resonated through the air as a faint energy began to rise from him.
Kang Min-hyuk’s pupils quaked.
A vile energy, a torrent of corruption, surged through his veins.
This is true demonic energy!
Magi. Not the corrupted ki of some lesser martial art, but the pure, potent demonic power that could only be drawn from an orthodox, established demonic art.
Clarity struck him like a physical blow.
Damn it all! Then this place really is…!
A wave of nausea washed over him. He hadn't eaten a thing, but he felt an urge to vomit. He had always wondered. How could they stand it? How could they contain such a disgusting energy within them without being constantly sick?
The man spoke, his eyes still closed. “The blood vessels were damaged, but the twisted nerves in your arm have mostly settled. Fortunately, the worst is over.”
I know.
“Your muscles have atrophied, but your vitality and energy are returning. That is why you can move without discomfort.”
I know, damn it.
“It is curious that your inner power has vanished… but that may be for the best. A Danjeon that only produces such corrupted energy is worse than having none at all.”
Fine, just get this disgusting magi away from me!
The man released his wrist. Kang Min-hyuk let out a long, shuddering breath, feeling as though he could finally breathe again.
Afterward, the man and the physician spoke in low voices, discussing the course of his future treatment.
Kang Min-hyuk’s eyes darted around the room.
Dammit! Dammit all!
It was a given that this body would recover. He knew enough about medicine, and the man’s demonic arts were clearly effective. The real problem was that this was the Demonic Cult.
Aaaah! I’m going to lose my mind!
The Hyeol-ma Gyo. The so-called Millennium Demon Cult. For thousands of years, it had been the oldest and most wicked of the demonic powers in the Murim.
In terms of the strength of a single organization, it was unrivaled. Its very existence was a symbol of chaos that kept the entire martial world on edge. While the combined forces of the Cheong-ui Maeng and the Heuk-cheol Mun were numerically superior, the martial world still referred to the Cheong-ui, Sanghyeol, and the Cheonma as the Ganghosamse—the three great powers.
That a single sect could stand on equal footing with two massive alliances spoke volumes of its danger. Even the prestigious Madochilga were merely a branch of the Hyeol-ma Gyo.
The Demonic Cult and the Chilga. The worst congregation of devils in history, treated like a plague by all who walked the martial path.
In short…
I have to get out of here!
A fish must live in water. The moment it touches land, it's doomed, regardless of its species. Just being from one of the Seven Families would have caused an uproar, but to be a Seo-gongja of the Demonic Cult itself? He thought he was in trouble before, but this was a disaster of a different magnitude.
Whatever happened, running was the only answer. This was no time to worry about his status or indulge in laziness.
If I don’t get out, I’m dead!
“The speed of your recovery is remarkable. However, you still require rest. I will have herbal medicine and acupuncture administered in the morning and evening. For now, you should remain in bed.”
The man’s voice was blunt, with a gravelly, cracking quality, like stones grinding together. It was an intensely irritating sound. For the sake of the patient’s peace of mind, he really should have kept his mouth shut.
“Representative Jang.”
“Yes, Heo Jin.”
“From now on, prepare only Jeongangtang (全康湯). Use gold needles for the acupuncture. And change his meals to a standard diet.”
“Is that wise?”
“…”
“Understood.”
The man called Heo Jin bowed his head toward Kang Min-hyuk. “I will visit again in two days. Please take care of yourself until then.”
With those words, he left the room.
The maid stood trembling by the wall as Representative Jang cleared his throat and took Kang Min-hyuk’s pulse once more.
Kang Min-hyuk turned his head away, ignoring them both. He had no time to worry about them.
Dangerous. This is incredibly dangerous.
Now that he knew this was the Demonic Cult, he had to get a grip and commit to his escape. He had to leave right now, if possible. No—even if it was impossible, he had to make it possible.
The eyes of the man once known as the World’s Best Killer burned with a renewed, fierce purpose… though they looked profoundly uneasy.
First, I need to get outside and see the layout!
Honestly, it was a pipe dream.
He knew this was the Demonic Cult, and he knew this body held a high station. So what? To get out, whether by stealth or by force, he needed both the skill and the justification. His skills, undoubtedly top-tier in his past life, were long gone now. And justification? He had none. Who in their right mind would let a physically exhausted patient wander outside the grounds?
In other words, there was absolutely no way for Kang Min-hyuk to escape.
How could he do it? Was there any way to slip out unnoticed?
After turning it over in his mind again and again, Kang Min-hyuk decided to first scout his surroundings.
And he despaired.
“You have much more energy than you did two days ago. This is truly encouraging. Vitality is much like internal energy; the more momentum it gains, the faster it accumulates.”
“…”
“It will take time for your internal injuries to heal completely, but I believe that within five days, your body will enter a stable phase. So…”
“…”
“I sincerely hope that you will focus on your recovery here! Please.”
“…Thank you for the advice.”
“My apologies.”
Apologies, my ass, Kang Min-hyuk seethed. Are those the words of a man who grabbed me by the back of the neck and threw me back onto the bed?
He gritted his teeth. He’d thought he could manage it. All he had wanted to do was gather some information on the nearby terrain. It was only prudent to know where the paths led before taking a single step. He had always been confident in his ability to read his surroundings; Salwang was a man who could draw a map in his head after seeing a single street corner.
But he hadn't even managed that.
The maid had been gone for a moment. He had quietly opened the door, about to step into the front yard, when that man appeared with such perfect, almost supernatural, timing.
The result… was this.
“May I check your pulse once more?”
If I say no, it’s not like you’d listen… Ah, so cold! Kang Min-hyuk grumbled inwardly. Asks for permission but does it anyway. What a cold, rude bastard.
After a moment, the man opened his eyes. His expression was as stiff as ever, but a flicker of unconcealable surprise showed in his eyes.
“In such a short time, your damaged blood vessels have recovered even further.”
“…”
“It’s not just your circulation. Your internal injuries are all improving at a rapid rate. The herbs and acupuncture have helped, of course, but this is an astonishing recovery.”
The man fell silent, studying Kang Min-hyuk with a strange expression.
What’s with that look?
As Kang Min-hyuk frowned openly, the man bowed his head as if catching himself. “Forgive my rudeness. Soin was simply taken aback by your outstanding recovery. Please pay it no mind.”
“…”
“I believe acupuncture is no longer necessary. From now on, we will focus on recovery through a nutritious diet and the Jeongantang soup.”
“I understand. Ah, but I have a question.”
“Please, ask.”
“What is Jeongantang? I’ve never heard of it.”
He had been forced to learn medicine to survive. Though he was no renowned physician and was far more versed in poisons, he was skilled enough to be a decent doctor. In his memory, there was no herbal medicine called Jeongantang. Of course, many medicines had their own unique names…
The man immediately lowered his head.
Huh?
Kang Min-hyuk’s eyes glinted. Seeing the man’s usually impassive face, it looked almost as if he were… embarrassed.
“Jeongantang is a restorative decoction that excels at reviving one’s vitality. It is a medicine created by our sect, given only to the highest-ranking leaders.”
“Specifically?”
“Yes.”
Kang Min-hyuk tilted his head.
Excels at reviving vitality?
Whether for health or otherwise, medicine was medicine. If he had been taking something so potent, surely he would have felt its effects and used that power to speed up his recovery even more?
…Well, it could be a problem with my senses.
His five senses, along with his sense of energy, were severely dulled. It was entirely possible he could have missed it if he wasn’t paying attention. Yes, that must be it.
“I will return in two days. I wish you a swift recovery.”
The man turned and left with brisk strides.
After a long silence, the maid spoke in a timid voice. “Seo-gongja, the wind is cold. Shall I close the window…?”
“You.”
“Y-yes?!”
“What is my name?”
“What are you talking about…?”
“My name and my status. Recite them for me. In detail.”
The maid tilted her head in confusion. Why was he suddenly asking such a thing?
Just then, Kang Min-hyuk turned his head to face her.
‘…!’
The maid’s face went pale.
His expression was one she had not seen in the past ten days. His unwavering eyes and mask-like features emanated a cold, colorless emptiness. It was an atmosphere that permitted no argument.
“Seo-gongja…”
“Now. Tell me.”
Scraps of information about this body spilled from the maid’s lips as she lowered her head.
Name: Seo Jin-hwan (徐亮). Age twenty-three, third of the seven disciples of the Demonic Cult. A disciple personally chosen by the Sect Leader, his martial arts were outstanding and his senses sharp. Before his body was broken, he had been strong enough to contend for supremacy among his peers. He was considered one of the disciples closest to succeeding the Sect Leader… until he lost all his martial arts and fell into a half-year coma due to a poison curse.
The Third Disciple of the Demonic Cult?
Among the Ganghosamse, information about the Hyeol-ma Gyo was not readily shared with the outside world. Information about the Sect Leader’s potential successors was particularly secretive. Unlike the Cheong-ui League and the Cheol-hyeol-dan, the Hyeol-ma Gyo chose to thoroughly conceal its candidates, ruling through the fear of the unknown.
“What about my personality?”
“Pardon?”
“What was I like?”
He could guess at his station; how many in the Demonic Cult would be called ‘Seo-gongja’? But what he really needed to know was the reputation of this Seo Jin-hwan. He had to understand what kind of person he was, what he had done, to react naturally to any situation that might arise.
“Well…” the maid hesitated.
Kang Min-hyuk coaxed her with a gentle tone. “It’s alright. I know it’s a difficult thing to say to someone’s face.”
“…Yes.”
“But I need to hear it. The honest truth, with nothing added or left out. I’ve been… confused, since my body became like this. It seems many of my memories are gone.”
“Oh! Is that so?”
“Yes. So tell me. Clearly and in detail.”
“But, still…”
“If you truly do not wish to speak, I can’t force you. It’s not as if I am in a position to give orders…”
At that word, the maid snapped to attention as if struck.
“I follow your orders! You were infamous throughout the sect for your ruthless and cruel nature! You were especially strict about your work and would not overlook even the smallest mistake! Many have been maimed or even killed because of it!”
“What?”
“You would not hesitate to commit any evil if necessary, nor would you shy from any means to achieve your goal! Slaughterer! Scab! Bastard! Those are the names used for Seo-gongja behind his back in the sect!”
The maid gasped for air, her tirade finished.
Kang Min-hyuk blinked.
Slaughterer? Scab? Bastard?
“…Really?”
“Pardon?”
“Is that true?”
“Huh!” The maid’s face turned deathly white. The word ‘orders’ had triggered an automatic response, but she now realized what she had just said to his face.
Kang Min-hyuk’s expression fell. “So I was basically human trash, is that it?”
“Oh, no! That’s not what I meant…”
“No.”
“Please, kill me!” The maid fell prostrate on the floor.
Kang Min-hyuk sighed. He hadn’t expected a saint, not from one of the top disciples of the Demonic Cult, but this was a bit much. Maimed or killed for a mistake? Was he some kind of butcher?
No. It doesn’t matter. I’m not staying here anyway.
Still, he couldn’t hide his unease. He looked down at the trembling maid for a moment, then spoke. “Why are you doing that?”
“Please, kill me!”
“Why do you ask to be killed at every opportunity? Get up.”
“…Yes?”
“Ah! This is frustrating!”
When Kang Min-hyuk gestured impatiently for her to rise, the maid scrambled to her feet in terror.
“You.”
“Yes!”
“Prepare for me to go out.”
“What?”
Kang Min-hyuk’s eyes glinted. As the light in them grew deeper than before, the maid’s body began to tremble.
So, I wasn’t the shy type, then?
In that case…
Since everyone already thinks I’m a vicious bastard, no one will be suspicious if I act a little forcefully.
Would they really question one of the great disciples just for wanting to take a walk?