Chapter The Demonic Cult Instructor Returns Chapter 204

Chapter 204

“We’re almost there now.”

Cheon Se-myeong, who had climbed up the hill, pointed to the Jeongdo Alliance’s main headquarters visible in the distance.

Deung Bu-hyeong, standing beside him, spoke with an admiring expression.

“Truly, the Jeongdo Alliance never fails to amaze me every time I visit. What a truly magnificent sight.”

As he said, the Jeongdo Alliance’s main headquarters was so imposing that even its outer walls resembled those of a proper fortress.

Both men felt their hearts swell with emotion at its majestic size.

The reason they had come here was due to an invitation from the Jeongdo Alliance’s main headquarters.

This banquet that the Jeongdo Alliance was hosting was both a farewell party for Sa Bigang and a celebration of the Alliance’s stabilization.

For this reason, Dean Ju Yu-cheon had dispatched Cheon Se-myeong and Deung Bu-hyeong, whom he mistakenly believed to have close ties with Sa Bigang.

The corner of Cheon Se-myeong’s mouth lifted slightly.

“This will be a very good opportunity for us.”

“Of course. Even that Instructor Sa Bigang was appointed as Inspection General Bureau Chief, wasn’t he? Don’t we know more about him than anyone else? Come to think of it, Instructor Sa Bigang was quite lucky.”

“How could he be in that position through luck alone? He must have had some ability too.”

When Cheon Se-myeong spoke words he didn’t mean, Deung Bu-hyeong smiled broadly and replied.

“Yes, I’d give him about thirty percent credit for ability. Hahaha.”

“Hehe, you’re something else, Deung.”

Both men burst into pleasant laughter.

After laughing for quite a while, Deung Bu-hyeong added with a peculiar smile.

“Actually, the Jeongdo Alliance must have been quite troubled too. Some loach came in and caused all sorts of trouble, so they must have had a hard time cleaning up after him.”

“But we shouldn’t look at it that way alone. Haven’t you heard the rumors spreading through the martial world? They say the new Inspection General Bureau Chief achieved many accomplishments.”

“That’s just how the Alliance spreads rumors, isn’t it? If those rumors were entirely true, why would they send Instructor Sa as a hostage to the Blood Death Alliance?”

“Hmm. True…”

Both men were thoroughly mistaken.

Of course, there was no one to correct their misunderstanding.

Deung Bu-hyeong added.

“I knew it would turn out like this eventually. How could the position of Inspection General Bureau Chief possibly suit Instructor Sa? There’s someone else who would be appropriate for such an important responsibility.”

“Ahem. And who might that be?”

“Why, naturally it’s Division Chief Cheon. Division Chief Cheon is the one who would be most suitable for that weighty position.”

“Hehe, you’re embarrassing me, Deung. I’m someone with many shortcomings.”

“What are you saying? The fact that Division Chief Cheon is a talent among talents is something heaven knows and earth recognizes. The reason Division Chief Cheon received this invitation to go to the Alliance’s main headquarters today must be for that very reason, mustn’t it?”

“Hehe, you’re really something. Let’s not jump to conclusions.”

Cheon Se-myeong waved his hand dismissively as he walked forward.

But his inner thoughts were somewhat different from his spoken words.

He too was harboring subtle expectations.

If Sa Bigang were to step down from the position of Inspection General Bureau Chief, who would inherit that vacant position?

In such circumstances, the Jeongdo Alliance had invited them.

Of course, the Jeongdo Alliance had sent invitations not only to them but to prestigious righteous sects throughout the Central Plains.

However, only Cheon Se-myeong and Deung Bu-hyeong were interpreting this with a different kind of special meaning.

‘Yes, this is an opportunity for advancement! Let’s do well!’

Cheon Se-myeong clenched his fist and strode forward.

***

A splendid farewell party was held.

The banquet unfolded in the inner courtyard of the Inspection General Bureau, and not only the Alliance’s leadership but also dignitaries from throughout the Central Plains attended, brightening the occasion.

Music played continuously, and precious delicacies were served in succession.

Since this was the first banquet held after the Jeongdo Alliance had regained its stability, the atmosphere was thoroughly harmonious and bustling.

Sa Bigang was drunk on alcohol and intoxicated by the atmosphere.

Usually, the person concerned would decline such a grand farewell party.

Sa Bigang too had politely declined, saying there was no need for such a farewell party… or rather, he hadn’t.

Instead, he had actively spoken to the Alliance Leader.

“Since I’m leaving anyway, please hold a grand farewell party for me beforehand. I believe I deserve such treatment.”

At this unexpected request, Neung Un-pa stared blankly for quite a while before bursting into laughter and promising to do so.

Just then, Gu Yoon approached and sat beside Sa Bigang, striking up a conversation.

“Truly, Bureau Chief, you are a unique person. Usually, the person concerned would refuse such an occasion.”

“Why would I refuse such a good opportunity to taste delicacies from land and sea to my heart’s content?”

Sa Bigang picked up some unidentifiable food with his chopsticks, chewed it thoroughly, and tilted back his wine bottle.

“Kyaa, delicious!”

Gu Yoon smiled broadly as he watched him quietly.

Looking back, what a strange connection this was.

Sa Bigang was truly someone he had met in the midst of a raging typhoon.

He had first seen him when everything around was in chaos.

And at that moment, it felt as if he had entered the eye of the typhoon—the entire world seemed to fall into silence.

With his mind at peace, all situations appeared objectively.

How many people could give you that endless sense of trust just by sitting face-to-face and having a conversation?

Yet he had felt such a thing from Sa Bigang, who only engaged in bizarre and outrageous behavior.

So he had gambled on him.

For the first time in an uncertain situation, he had trusted his instincts and acted.

The result of that had created today.

That’s why it was even more regrettable.

Letting him leave like this.

As Gu Yoon was gazing at him with such earnest eyes, Sa Bigang glanced at him uncomfortably and spoke bluntly.

“If you look at me like that with that pretty face, people will misunderstand.”

“Let them. If I were the type to worry about others’ opinions, would I have gone looking for Bureau Chief Sa?”

“Ho, you’re saying even more things that invite misunderstanding.”

“Haha. Did I? Bureau Chief Sa, please take good care of yourself. The Evil Faction members are different on the outside and inside. Don’t be fooled by their outward appearance.”

“Huhuh. When it comes to being different on the outside and inside, no one could beat me.”

Sa Bigang grinned wickedly.

“Haha. That’s probably true too.”

Hearing Gu Yoon’s laughter, Sa Bigang turned his gaze.

Where his eyes fell, the students who had now become the Heaven Annihilation Squad were chattering noisily while eating their food.

And beside them sat Tang Iháp and Mae Seol-lan.

Tang Iháp put a piece of fried food in his mouth and chewed it for quite a while.

Mae Seol-lan watched him quietly before asking.

“How does it taste?”

“It’s very delicious.”

Tang Iháp replied in a blunt voice.

‘Is that the expression of someone eating something delicious?’ The thought rose in her mind, but Mae Seol-lan smiled brightly and brought up something else.

“Then why aren’t you eating more?”

“My throat… is choked up.”

“Then have some alcohol at least.”

“Alcohol won’t solve this.”

After finishing his words, Tang Iháp remained frozen like a statue with his eyes wide open.

Someone who didn’t know him might misunderstand and think he was angry about the food.

After quite a while, he swallowed what was in his mouth and said.

“I apologize. I became emotional due to the Bureau Chief’s consideration.”

“What consideration did the Bureau Chief show?”

“Don’t you know?”

Tang Iháp glanced at her briefly before turning his gaze away again.

The Heaven Annihilation Squad members sitting beside them were smiling cheerfully as they devoured their food.

Tang Iháp continued with the same blunt expression.

“He must have wanted to feed these guys. Until the very last moment of his departure. He must have wanted to fill these guys’ stomachs well. So they would grow strong and healthy. So they would become even stronger…”

Tang Iháp couldn’t finish his words.

He seemed to be emotionally stirred again.

His widely opened eyes looked as if tears could flow at any moment.

Mae Seol-lan was inwardly surprised since this was an aspect she hadn’t considered.

‘Did it have such meaning?’

It was said that Sa Bigang was the one who had first proposed this banquet.

She had thought it was just like him to be eccentric until the very end.

But perhaps it might have been for the sake of those kids.

‘No way, surely not…’

No matter what, wasn’t that too much of an overinterpretation?

Yes, surely if she asked him directly, he would say, ‘I just wanted to eat, that’s all.’

She could almost hear that voice ringing in her ears.

But…

Mae Seol-lan glanced over and looked at Sa Bigang.

“Maybe… it really might be true.”

She murmured softly.

Sa Bigang’s gaze was currently directed toward the Heaven Annihilation Squad members.

He was watching the squad members, who were chattering noisily and intoxicated by the atmosphere, with a pleased expression.

Suddenly, a question arose in her heart.

‘Ah… can I become a better Bureau Chief than him?’

Before leaving, Sa Bigang had recommended her as the Inspection General Bureau Chief.

Since the Alliance Leader had also shown approval, it was virtually confirmed.

Mae Seol-lan smiled faintly and murmured.

“I don’t know if I can do as well as you, but I’ll do my best. So I won’t bring shame to you.”

Meanwhile, two people sitting in a corner of the banquet.

They were Cheon Se-myeong and Deung Bu-hyeong.

Deung Bu-hyeong whispered in Cheon Se-myeong’s ear.

“Division Chief Cheon, it seems Instructor Sa doesn’t know that we’ve come. Shouldn’t we go and greet him?”

“Hmm. True, with so many people here, Instructor Sa might not have noticed us yet. Let’s go.”

Cheon Se-myeong and Deung Bu-hyeong stood up from their seats.

The two men exchanged words through telepathic communication.

[But what should we call him? Instructor Sa? Bureau Chief Sa?]

[Umm. He’s someone who will leave soon anyway, isn’t he? Wouldn’t it be fine to call him Instructor Sa like before?]

[I was thinking the same thing.]

Cheon Se-myeong nodded his head.

Just as they reached near Sa Bigang,

“Oh, Instructor Sa! How delightful to see you!”

Cheon Se-myeong shouted.

But perhaps because the surroundings were so noisy, Sa Bigang didn’t seem to hear him.

“Instructor Sa! It’s me!”

Cheon Se-myeong shouted once more.

Then,

“Where are you two from?”

A voice suddenly came from beside them.

Ham Cheon-seok, who had been sitting nearby, stood up with his eyes flashing sharply.

His manner was quite rough, causing Cheon Se-myeong to involuntarily gulp down dry saliva.

“Ah… I’m well acquainted with Instructor Sa Bigang over there.”

“So where are you from?”

“I came from Yongcheon Hall.”

“Yongcheon Hall is a training academy that teaches students, so how is it you don’t know basic etiquette? That person is the Bureau Chief of the Inspection General Bureau. It’s inappropriate to address him that way here.”

Ham Cheon-seok growled softly.

Cheon Se-myeong and Deung Bu-hyeong were overwhelmed by his presence and could only gauge the situation nervously.

Just then.

“Ah, who do we have here? Aren’t you Division Chief Cheon and Instructor Deung?”

Finally, Sa Bigang recognized the two and approached them.

Cheon Se-myeong and Deung Bu-hyeong perked up and waved their hands.

“Oh, Instructor Sa… no, Bureau Chief Sa! It’s been a long time!”

Then Ham Cheon-seok firmly grasped Cheon Se-myeong’s shoulder.

Cheon Se-myeong was startled and turned around.

“Wh-what?”

“Address him as Bureau Chief.”