Cheonma Sin Gyo’s Gangseo Pill Master, Ho-gyeong, was going through the pile of documents on his desk one by one.

The task Ho-gyeong did most during the day was carefully reviewing reports from each branch.

At that moment, Jungak, the Demon Sword Great Lord, visited his office.

“Are you busy?”

“Welcome. What brings you here without notice?”

“I came to see the Pill Master.”

“Glad you came.”

One side was digging behind the scenes, the other knew of it, but they greeted each other more warmly than usual.

Jungak looked at the pile of papers on the desk and said,

“So this is why the complaints are widespread.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Pill Master handles everything so meticulously that those doing the actual work below complain it’s difficult. You should take care of your subordinates’ morale too.”

Jungak joked with a smile, and Ho-gyeong answered calmly.

“Most of the trouble comes from not managing small matters properly, don’t you think?”

“As long as our Pill Master is here, the Satan Alliance won’t dare provoke us.”

“That’s not just because of me. It’s thanks to our Great Lord and the Demon Sword Corps.”

Their eyes met in the air. Both smiled with their mouths but not their eyes.

“By the way, have you heard the rumors about someone impersonating the main sect lately?”

“I have. I’ve already ordered an investigation.”

“I sent people to check, and it seems it’s not just a rumor but fact.”

Ho-gyeong’s expression grew serious. Impersonating the sect was a matter taken very seriously even by the main branch.

“Do you know who that is?”

“The identity is unknown, but there’s someone who can approach him.”

“If you give me information, I’ll send men to capture him.”

“Don’t think it will be that easy. They say he is quite a master.”

Ho-gyeong wore an expression of disbelief.

“A master impersonating the main sect? Strange indeed.”

“We’ll know once we capture and interrogate him. But do you think your branch can handle it?”

That was a clever way of challenging Ho-gyeong’s pride: if you can’t handle it, we’ll deal with it.

“We will handle it.”

It wasn’t provocation. As the Gangseo Pill Master, it was his duty to solve it. If the branch failed, they had to ask the Demon Sword Corps for help.

“There might be danger for your subordinates.”

That was why Jungak personally came today, fearing Ho-gyeong might just send subordinates instead.

“I will personally move with my men.”

“Ah, if the Pill Master himself acts, I am relieved.”

Jungak inwardly thought,

‘Your weakness is that vain pride of yours.’

If it were him, he would have answered differently. Isn’t the Demon Sword Corps for handling dangerous tasks?

“Then I will draw him in through my informants.”

“Thank you.”

As Jungak was about to leave, he added with a smile,

“Let’s have a drink once this is over.”

“Agreed.”

Ho-gyeong bid farewell with a pleasant face.

‘That drinking session will be your last.’

Jungak had obtained information about bribes. If it had been only once or twice, he might have overlooked it since the Demon Sword Corps was a crucial elite force in Gangseo.

But there were too many places regularly bribing him. The amount was huge. To what extent should one turn a blind eye? It felt like: I’m corrupt. So what? Are you going to cut me off?

‘I’ll cut off your head.’

Jungak thought the same as he turned away—only the difference was his was the real head.

“Finally, the heretical sect has decided to act.”

Juyang flinched at Jeokpae’s words.

Since Geom Mugeuk was about to die, he should have felt relieved, but he did not.

“Bring him to the abandoned temple in the west tomorrow. Can you do it?”

“I can. But am I okay?”

“I’ve explained it well. When you arrive, they will take care of you.”

“Understood.”

“If you make a mistake, we all die. Remember that!”

That night, Juyang had a dream.

He was floating on the sea, happily drifting under warm sunlight.

Suddenly, as he imagined Geom Mugeuk being butchered by demons, he felt his body tense and sink.

He flailed, fell off the bed, and couldn’t sleep until morning.

When Juyang went to find Geom Mugeuk, he was meeting someone at the guesthouse.

It was the first time Juyang had seen him with anyone there, so he watched carefully. The man handed Geom Mugeuk a letter.

Geom Mugeuk carefully examined its contents and spoke a few words. At times like this, he looked so serious he seemed like the real Little Pill Master of the heretical sect.

The man who gave the letter left the guesthouse. Standing at the entrance, Juyang glanced at the man passing by. He was an ordinary person commonly seen around.

Juyang approached Geom Mugeuk and asked,

“Who is that person?”

“A person from Tongcheongak.”

“Tongcheongak?”

“The top intelligence organization of Cheonma Sin Gyo.”

“You’re full of hot air again the moment we meet!”

Juyang shook his head but couldn’t help asking.

“So? What kind of conversation did you have with this top informant?”

“We were investigating Gangseo Branch. Also the Pill Master and the Demon Sword Great Lord.”

Mentioning those two made Juyang flinch.

“If it’s real, let me see that letter once.”

Geom Mugeuk extended his hand holding the letter. Just as Juyang reached to take it,

Flames rose from the letter in Geom Mugeuk’s hand and burned it to ashes.

“If you saw the main sect’s secrets, you wouldn’t survive.”

Surprised, Juyang stared blankly at the paper turning to ash. He had heard that true masters could burn papers this way through Sammaejinhwa.

“Do you believe my true identity now?”

Expecting an answer, he instead heard,

“If you’re that skilled, why are you crazy?”

Geom Mugeuk stirred the flying ashes and laughed.

“To make you believe, I’ll have to line up the Majon behind me.”

Juyang silently watched him.

‘There won’t be a chance for that. You’re going to die today.’

Geom Mugeuk stared back and asked,

“You don’t seem to have slept well. Are you troubled?”

Juyang was no longer surprised by how Geom Mugeuk guessed so accurately.

“We have a place to go today.”

“Let’s go.”

Geom Mugeuk cheerfully followed, which startled Juyang.

“You want to go without knowing where?”

“You’ll know when we get there.”

“What if I laid a trap? Are you ignoring me? Your traps are nothing to me.”

“That’s not it. If you kill me, you won’t get your interest. You’re someone who collects money, not lives.”

Taken aback by this unexpected reply, Juyang shook his head.

“If only you could talk properly.”

Juyang led the way with Geom Mugeuk following.

His mind was complicated. This strange relationship was almost over. He would never see this madman again.

Juyang glanced at Geom Mugeuk. Unaware he was going to die, he leisurely followed, watching merchants along the way.

“That outfit over there would suit you well. Shall I buy you one?”

“Use that money to pay your interest. Damn it! Stop talking nonsense and just follow.”

Why was he so irritable? The answer was simple. He did not ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) want to kill Geom Mugeuk. What was so pitiful about that guy laughing foolishly?

Suddenly, the coin came to mind. The one placed on his palm. It must have been a feeling of gratitude for not having damaged his hand.

After leaving the market street and reaching a fork, Juyang stopped and sat on a roadside rock.

“Let’s rest a bit.”

“You need to train your body too. Sitting around counting money all day, no wonder you’re like that.”

Geom Mugeuk sat beside him.

After a while, Juyang suddenly asked,

“If you’re really the Little Pill Master of the heretical sect... what exactly are you doing here?”

After a pause, Geom Mugeuk said,

“As you can see, meeting people. Meeting the carriage driver who’s been held captive for life over borrowed ten nyang for his child’s treatment, meeting you who drains blood by inserting a tube into him, meeting the unknown hero who jumped over the wall to save that man.”

Listening to this, Juyang’s heart began to tremble. It wasn’t words that should cause trembling, but being with Geom Mugeuk often made him feel his heart quake.

“Why does a demon want to fix Yeomwangchae? Even the righteous watch on. You’re a demon!”

“There can be heartless among the righteous, and demons who cannot stand such sights. Isn’t that so? And anyway, Yeomwangchae’s affairs aren’t mine anymore; they’ll be yours going forward.”

“How could someone like me do that? As you said, I’ve spent my life counting money, enjoying others’ misfortune. How could I do such grand things?”

“Not grand, normal.”

Geom Mugeuk calmly stared.

“If you’ve lived a life like a caterpillar, now try living one flying. If not a butterfly, then at least a moth.”

At that moment, Juyang wished he truly was the Little Pill Master of the heretical sect. Even if this was his punishment, he wanted to try living a new life. It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

That’s why he was more angry. Because he wasn’t the Little Pill Master. The Little Pill Master wouldn’t be telling such stories to a mere loan shark.

“I’m tired of your crazy talk! Leave this place now!”

Juyang’s voice trembled.

“Leave and never come to Gangseo again. If you come back, you will die.”

He had decided to spare this mad master.

He had never lived for others even once in his life. He had selfishly lived only for himself. He didn’t know why this madman was the sole recipient of his goodwill, but his heart was drawn to him.

“People who want to kill you are waiting. Go. Tell them you sensed the trap and fled far away. I don’t know if they’ll believe it.”

Had he ever taken such a risk for someone else? Certainly not.

“Why tell me this?”

“Because you’re the first strangely mad person I’ve seen.”

Geom Mugeuk said as if he knew the reason.

“That’s not why.”

He was looking deep into Juyang’s heart.

“You’re selfish but resilient. Your instinct knows you have to survive like this.”

“You really! Even when showing kindness! The real demons are waiting!”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“Didn’t you see the report? I’m watching Gangseo’s movements clearly.”

Juyang finally gave up.

“That’s right. That’s what a real madman is. Perfect, you.”

“And if you go alone, you’ll die.”

Geom Mugeuk got up first and started walking. The words sounded chilling, so Juyang silently followed.

‘I don’t know anymore.’

This had already been an excessive kindness. One day he would look back and think the madman had been the only one he ever wanted to save.

Thus began that memory.

The two arrived at the temple, their meeting place.

As they entered the temple courtyard, dozens of Gangseo demons lying in ambush appeared. They drew their swords simultaneously, radiating dark energy.

Among the demons, Pill Master Ho-gyeong stepped forward.

“For what reason have you been impersonating a demon?”

Ho-gyeong did not recognize Geom Mugeuk. They had met when Geom Mugeuk was young, long ago. Since then, Ho-gyeong had traveled many branches and had not had a chance to see him again.

“I have never impersonated anyone.”

Ho-gyeong’s expression hardened.

“There is already a witness.”

Ho-gyeong looked at Juyang beside Geom Mugeuk.

“Is that man impersonating the main sect?”

Faced with the cold question, Juyang was flustered. This was not the situation he expected. Jeokpae had said the people there would take care of things.

Neither the question nor the incoming dark energy showed any consideration for him. They merely saw him as an accomplice of an impersonating demon.

‘Damn it!’

His anger was aimed at Jeokpae. He had not protected him. Perhaps seeing him closely associating with Geom Mugeuk, he just hoped they’d die together.

“Stay right behind me. You wouldn’t want to be hit by a blind sword, would you?”

The only person here who cared for him was Geom Mugeuk.

“The one impersonating the main sect—is that man really him?”

Ho-gyeong asked again, and Juyang replied to Geom Mugeuk instead.

“The demon colluding with Tongcheongak is not that man.”

Hearing that, even Ho-gyeong tensed and waited for his words.

“The one colluding with Tongcheongak is...”

At that moment,

Someone flew swiftly over the roof and landed here.

It was Jungak, Demon Sword Great Lord. Warriors of the Demon Sword Corps appeared on the building roof and surrounding walls. Ho-gyeong was surprised by the sudden arrival, but Jungak’s cold dark energy focused on Juyang.

“Who is the demon colluding with Tongcheongak?”

If Juyang revealed Jungak’s identity, he knew he would die for sure. Even if he didn’t say it now, he would die eventually.

Terrified, Geom Mugeuk took two coins from his bosom and offered them.

“By the way, you haven’t paid today’s interest. Take this.”

Two coins were placed on Juyang’s palm.

Silently staring at them, Juyang handed the coins back to Geom Mugeuk.

“The interest is too much. The interest I’ve already paid exceeds the principal.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly at him.

Juyang summoned all the courage he had never used all his life and all the courage he would use until death.

“The one who took bribes from the Tongcheongak head Jeokpae and promised to kill you is that Demon Sword Great Lord.”

Cold dark energy radiated from Jungak’s body. At the same time, the Demon Sword warriors surrounding them also radiated dark energy.

Already a doomed life! Like a runaway carriage, Juyang shouted at the top of his lungs,

“You fools! This man is the Little Pill Master of Cheonma Sin Gyo! Kneel and worship him all!”

Ah, I’m going to die as such a madman!