Chapter The Demonic Cult Instructor Returns Chapter 166
Chapter 166
A person who appeared to be twice Sa Bigang’s age continued speaking with humble deference throughout.
“You must be quite tired from the long journey.”
Sa Bigang replied with a hearty laugh.
“Well, it would have been perfectly comfortable if you had thoughtfully sent a six-horse carriage, but since I have a wandering nature, I wasn’t particularly dissatisfied.”
“Haha. You’re as interesting as the rumors say.”
Ha Tae-sang’s welcoming ceremony was jaw-dropping in its grandeur.
All the martial artists of the family lined up in double rows and cupped their fists toward Sa Bigang and the Heaven Annihilation Squad.
The students experiencing their first inspection were simply amazed by this unfamiliar spectacle, though they couldn’t help but tense their shoulders.
Ha Tae-sang gave Sa Bigang’s group the finest rooms in the guest quarters.
Hot water had been prepared to fill the bathtubs so that Sa Bigang and the students could bathe immediately upon arrival.
Afterward, he held a banquet in the inner courtyard of the family head’s hall, laying out abundant food.
“If we received this kind of treatment every time, being in the inspection corps wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Yeom Ja-ryang and Cho Mun-tak sat down with bright smiles.
The drinking session was getting lively, and Sa Bigang and the students were filling their stomachs with rare delicacies for the first time in a while.
After some time had passed, Family Head Ha Tae-sang spoke to Sa Bigang.
“I’ve heard much about Director Sa’s reputation. Even rumors that you showed exceptional qualities during your time at the academy and that the students followed you well. But to think you achieved great merit in the Righteous-Evil Great War and now have even saved the Alliance Leader—you truly seem to be a person sent by heaven.”
“Huhu. It’s true that I’m quite remarkable. Well, rather than being sent by heaven, I returned to this world of my own accord.”
Ha Tae-sang inwardly sneered at Sa Bigang’s incomprehensible response.
‘As rumored indeed. They said his personality was unpredictable… looking perfectly normal on the outside.’
Hiding his true feelings, he picked up a wine bottle.
“Now that Director Sa is beginning his inspection duties in earnest, I expect our alliance will become even cleaner. In that spirit, allow me to offer you a drink.”
“Much obliged.”
Ha Tae-sang poured the wine and then lifted his empty cup.
But Sa Bigang, without any thought of filling the cup in return, simply drank his own wine straight down!
Ha Tae-sang’s hand holding the empty cup felt embarrassing, and he slightly frowned before setting it down with a ‘thud.’
‘What’s this? Does he lack basic etiquette?’
Just then, Sa Bigang looked around and said,
“This is truly a wonderful place.”
“Hahaha. I’m glad it pleases you. We hope that while you and the Heaven Annihilation Squad are staying…”
“It’s not the Heaven Annihilation Squad, it’s the Heaven Above Heaven Below Only I Am Supreme Blood Wind Annihilation Squad.”
When Sa Bigang interrupted with a quite serious tone, Ha Tae-sang gave an awkward smile.
“Haha… ha. Yes. We only hope that the Heaven Above Heaven Below Only I Am Supreme Blood Wind Annihilation Squad will stay comfortably before departing.”
Ha Tae-sang finished speaking and his lips trembled slightly.
‘Damn, having to spout this ridiculous name from my own mouth.’
Still, if he had gained even a little favor, that was fortunate.
But then…
“Speaking of which, would it be alright if we stayed here a bit longer?”
“Pardon? How long…”
“Hmm. Since we arrived earlier than the scheduled date for reaching Gangjin anyway, I’d like to stay about three days before leaving.”
‘Three whole days?’
Ha Tae-sang’s brow furrowed slightly.
This was an unexpected situation.
Sa Bigang shrugged his shoulders and said,
“Ah, if it’s inconvenient, just say so. I’ll leave immediately tomorrow if needed. Or wait, have I already been a burden? Ah, I really lack awareness. I should have known from the start that no one would welcome an inspection corps like ours. I must have gotten too excited by the Family Head’s hospitality. To think I was being a burden while the Family Head felt uncomfortable, not even knowing it was all just courtesy. Someone as lacking in awareness and manners as me really isn’t qualified to be Inspection Director… no, can’t even be called human…”
“Hahaha! Director, why do you speak so harshly? What’s three days? Not three days but three months would be fine too. It would be an honor for the family!”
“Do you truly think so?”
“Of course. Stay as long as you wish.”
“Indeed, with the Family Head’s warm hospitality, my heart feels secure. I must have been tainted by worldly concerns to judge you so carelessly.”
Ha Tae-sang showed a good-natured smile.
But his inner thoughts were somewhat different.
‘Do these people think this is some kind of inn? Why stay for three whole days? But when he puts it like that, I can’t very well tell them to leave. Damn!’
Once again, that inexplicably anxious feeling from last night resurfaced.
Right, let’s not be hypersensitive.
According to rumors, Sa Bigang often acted according to his moods.
In fact, wasn’t it true that the inspection corps had arrived earlier than expected?
He must simply be pleased with the hospitality.
Suddenly, Sa Bigang changed the subject.
“By the way, I heard the corruption in the Gangjin Branch is quite severe…”
“That’s right. I’ve heard those rumors too.”
“Is that so? Then that’s good. According to our investigation, there’s supposedly a hidden mastermind behind the corruption in the Gangjin Branch. Of course, that’s also just a rumor… but do you have any idea who it might be?”
For just a moment, Ha Tae-sang’s eyes wavered.
Because that mastermind was undoubtedly the Eastern World Family.
But he laughed as if ignorant.
“Haha. Well, I don’t know. This is the first I’m hearing of it. I’m sorry.”
“Is that so? According to rumors, that mastermind has accumulated considerable slush funds. I absolutely must find those funds and beat them to death.”
“Oh my, is that so? They certainly have some nerve.”
“That’s what I’m saying. If they had that kind of money, they should give it to me instead.”
“That’s exactly what I… pardon?”
“Ah, I mean they should give it to the Inspection Bureau for good causes.”
“Ah… that’s right.”
Sa Bigang smiled.
“Come to think of it, I heard Family Head Ha has a high standing in this region. That you perform many good deeds.”
“Hahaha. You flatter me. I’m simply doing what should naturally be done.”
“But where do all those funds come from? Even the cost of maintaining this vast family estate must be enormous.”
While it sounded like a casually thrown question, to Ha Tae-sang it felt like there was an ulterior motive.
‘Is this also just my imagination?’
Ha Tae-sang laughed it off.
“Hahaha. I’ve simply lived diligently.”
“I see. Living diligently is good… but these days I worry that the bad guys seem to live more diligently.”
“Isn’t that why people like Director Sa exist, to severely punish those bad guys?”
“Huhuhu. That’s right. That diligently living bad guy will probably be quite surprised soon.”
After throwing out these words, Sa Bigang quietly stared at Ha Tae-sang.
Ha Tae-sang also met that gaze directly without avoiding it.
The two men’s eyes remained entangled in mid-air for quite some time.
***
Gold ingots filled the space on all sides.
Ha Tae-sang held up a lantern, shining it here and there while habitually nodding his head.
Whenever his mind was troubled, he would come here to look at the gold ingots.
Looking at these spotlessly yellow gold ingots naturally calmed his heart.
To him, these countless gold ingots were like a religion.
Closing his eyes tightly for a moment, he let out a shallow sigh.
“I’m still concerned.”
“What do you mean?”
Sang Geom-ak, who had been standing behind him, asked casually.
Instead of answering, Ha Tae-sang recalled the conversation he’d had with Sa Bigang that evening.
Countless sharp edges were hidden within their softly spoken exchange.
Of course, the other party might have spoken those words without any particular thought.
In other words, it might be a case of a thief’s feet getting cold.
But it continued to bother him.
Ha Tae-sang spoke with a furrowed brow.
“This secret room must never be discovered.”
“Of course.”
“The conversation I had with that man today troubles me.”
“Surely he doesn’t know something? Those were probably just thoughtless words.”
“Hmm. I hope that’s the case.”
“Don’t worry too much. This place is an inaccessible area anyway, isn’t it?”
“True.”
Ha Tae-sang nodded and quietly looked at the orb in his hand.
The child’s fist-sized orb glowed brilliantly with red light.
‘Opening Door Orb.’
Literally an orb that opens doors.
He had obtained it exactly seven years ago.
While wandering the martial world, he had by chance encountered a peddler from whom he purchased an old box at quite a steep price.
Inside were a blue orb and a red orb, both emanating mysterious light.
Though he normally had little interest in gems or ornaments, strangely these orbs alone captured his curiosity.
In truth, these were items that had crossed over from the Demon Realm, but Ha Tae-sang had no way of knowing that.
After returning to his family estate, Ha Tae-sang researched what these orbs were used for.
The peddler had said he didn’t know their purpose either.
Then one day, when he struck the two orbs together in an empty space within the estate, something incredible happened.
The blue orb disappeared from that spot, and a door appeared in mid-air!
When he opened the door, instead of the courtyard on the other side, an enclosed space appeared.
No matter how he looked at it, it was miraculous.
Another amazing thing was that the door was only visible when he brought the red orb close to it.
This was actually a magic storage facility made in the Demon Realm, called a ‘Magic Cube.’
It was made for those who couldn’t use magic—only when carrying the red orb would the magically locked door appear and open.
Like Ragel’s Pouch, the advantage was creating a storage space in a sub-dimension, but the disadvantages were limited storage capacity and inability to move once installed in a location.
Therefore, it was considered far inferior to Ragel’s Pouch.
Regardless, even without knowing these facts, Ha Tae-sang had simply gained a mysterious space.
He immediately thought of ways to utilize that space and put his ideas into action.
And now, the Magic Cube was filled with gold ingots.
‘Right, no one can enter this place. Without this red orb, they can neither see nor find this place.’
Ha Tae-sang nodded faintly.
Even so, why did he keep feeling anxious?
***
Sa Bigang surveyed the Heaven Annihilation Squad gathered in the room.
“From now on, you will search this family estate thoroughly. Of course, the key is to act as naturally as possible so the family doesn’t notice.”
“What are we looking for?”
“Look for a heavily secured secret room. If you see any suspicious locations, report to me. However, don’t enter that secret room directly. It’s best not to take any actions that might raise suspicion.”
“Understood!”
With their response, the Heaven Annihilation Squad members left the room.