Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Un Jongak smirked slyly, glaring at Ak Seol-ah as he raised his hand as if to warn her not to do anything troublesome. His hand aimed directly for her cheek. But, as soon as he tried to swing his arm, it met a fierce resistance midair, refusing to move as he had intended.
Seo Mugyeom, who had been waiting for an opportunity to teach Un Jongak a lesson, felt as if heaven itself had granted him this chance.
In this mission, the act he considered just as important as risking his life to become the Life-and-Death Demon was Un Jongak’s punishment. And now, seeing this scene unfold, he realized that even without revealing that Un Jongak had killed the former Vice Leader of the Sixth Division, he could personally deliver the justice this man deserved.
“Who dares!”
Un Jongak, whose hand was seized from behind, couldn’t immediately identify his assailant and shouted in anger.
Seo Mugyeom forcefully twisted the man’s wrist, then removed his outer robe and handed it to Ak Seol-ah. Though doing so meant he had to briefly release Un Jongak, he couldn’t stand idly by, knowing how humiliated Ak Seol-ah must have felt.
Ak Seol-ah quickly took the robe, bowing her head. She knew well that Seo Mugyeom had taken the time to remove it despite the situation, entirely for her sake.
Un Jongak took advantage of that brief opening to break free. He glared at Seo Mugyeom, then suddenly burst into loud laughter.
“Seo Mugyeom! You’ve truly lost your mind. What kind of man are you, exactly? Do you intend to follow me around like a tail everywhere I go?”
He waved his hand dismissively, as if annoyed.
“I see what you’re thinking, but it’s not what you believe. This young lady was the one who flirted with me first. Anyone could see it that way—she’s from the crumbling Ak Clan, trying to win my favor since I’m the Vice Leader of the Sixth Division of the Guardian Ten Division. She was seducing me to gain my attention, that’s all. I was only trying to be kind so that she wouldn’t feel humiliated.”
As he spoke, Un Jongak’s eyes darted nervously. He recalled the strength of Seo Mugyeom’s grip. To call it merely strong would be an understatement.
He felt cold sweat trickle down his back as he wondered what might have happened if Seo Mugyeom hadn’t let go voluntarily to hand Ak Seol-ah his robe.
“I suppose I was also at fault,” Un Jongak continued. “I should’ve been more cautious, representing the Guardian Ten Division as I do. Even if Miss Ak had flirted and tempted me first.”
Seo Mugyeom glanced at Ak Seol-ah, but she only turned red and said nothing.
Even before he arrived, Seo Mugyeom had spread his qi sense, listening to everything that had occurred. He knew perfectly well that Un Jongak was lying. But Ak Seol-ah’s trembling came not from fear but from shame—and from the worry that if she spoke the truth, it might bring disgrace to her already weakened clan.
“Vice Leader Un.”
As Un Jongak turned to leave, clearly displeased, Seo Mugyeom called out to him. The man frowned deeply.
After everything he’d said, Seo Mugyeom should have dropped the matter and walked away—but he didn’t.
Instead of answering, Un Jongak glared coldly.
“What is it?”
“Apologize to Miss Ak right here.”
“What?”
Un Jongak stared in disbelief.
“Apologize to her. The warriors of the Guardian Ten Division represent the Divine Martial Sect whenever they operate outside its walls. You came here under that name, not as an individual. You should conduct yourself accordingly. To use our division’s name to harass someone—do you think the Division Leader would ever condone such a thing?”
Un Jongak’s face flushed red and blue, no longer able to contain his fury. He lunged to grab Seo Mugyeom by the collar—but Seo Mugyeom had no reason to stand still and take it.
When Seo Mugyeom stepped back, Un Jongak pressed forward, anticipating the movement and reaching out again, only for his hand to slice through empty air once more.
Ak Seol-ah, startled by the sudden confrontation, trembled. At first, she’d been paralyzed by shame and despair—but now she realized there was no time for that. The young warrior trying to defend her might be in danger.
She didn’t know whether she should call for help or try to assist him herself.
If she could be sure he’d hold out until she returned with others, she would have run immediately. But fear that something might happen while she was gone held her back.
If Seo Mugyeom hadn’t appeared, she would’ve endured it alone. Her family had fallen from grace long ago, and even if they learned she’d been assaulted, they couldn’t do anything about it. She didn’t want to burden her powerless father with her suffering.
But Seo Mugyeom’s sudden appearance changed everything. She could endure her own pain—but not his.
Anxious and pacing, Ak Seol-ah decided she had to do something. Her eyes darted around until she spotted a large, heavy stone that filled both her hands.
She immediately grabbed it and approached Un Jongak, intending to strike his head the moment she found an opening—but the man was too tall, and the angle was impossible.
She considered hitting his back instead, but the stone didn’t seem suitable for that either.
Meanwhile, Un Jongak continued to swing wildly at Seo Mugyeom, who didn’t seem to be fighting back. He merely stepped aside each time, moving slightly faster than Un Jongak.
At first, Ak Seol-ah had been too flustered to notice. But soon, she realized something strange.
Though she had never learned martial arts herself, she was still born into a martial family. She had an eye for movement. Seo Mugyeom wasn’t barely avoiding the attacks—he was moving with precise, minimal effort each time.
Un Jongak probably thought he was barely missing, but Ak Seol-ah saw the truth: even if Un Jongak moved faster, Seo Mugyeom would still evade him just as easily.
Seo Mugyeom’s calm precision only enraged Un Jongak further. Losing his composure, he began using his internal energy, unleashing mysterious footwork and even casting lethal techniques.
At this point, it was clear he wouldn’t stop until someone got hurt.
Ak Seol-ah blamed herself—it wouldn’t have escalated this far if not for her.
Panicking, she turned and ran. If she didn’t fetch help, who knew what would happen? Judging by Seo Mugyeom’s composure, he could likely endure until she returned.
So she sprinted as fast as she could, desperate to find others.
Fortunately, she spotted a warrior from the Guardian Ten Division nearby, seemingly resting and wandering around the courtyard near a pond.
“Sir Warrior! Please help me!”
Her breath caught in her throat, but she forced the words out.
“What’s the matter, miss?”
“There’s trouble! An older man tried to violate me, and a young warrior stepped in to help—but now he’s in danger. Please, you must help him!”
The warrior immediately noticed her disheveled clothing. Whoever had done such a vile thing, he didn’t know—but he dashed in the direction she pointed using light footwork.
Ak Seol-ah believed she was saving Seo Mugyeom’s life—but in truth, she had just saved Un Jongak’s.
Other warriors nearby heard her cry and also rushed to the scene, including some from martial clans.
The moment they heard that a noble lady had nearly been assaulted, they were shocked—and when they arrived, they saw Un Jongak and Seo Mugyeom facing each other.
They couldn’t immediately tell who was who.
Un Jongak, however, quickly grasped the situation and shouted, “I caught this man attempting to assault a noble lady! I was trying to discipline him, but he struck my acupoints with a trick, and now I can barely move!”
His ability to conjure such a convincing lie on the spot was almost a talent. Seo Mugyeom couldn’t believe how effortlessly the man could twist the truth.
But from the others’ perspective, the scene seemed to confirm Un Jongak’s claim. Seeing Seo Mugyeom’s stunned expression, they assumed his guilt had been exposed.
Had Ak Seol-ah not arrived at that moment, Seo Mugyeom might have been condemned for something he never did.
“Seo Mugyeom! We never thought you capable of such a thing! The Division Leader trusts you dearly—how could you do something so disgraceful!”
The warriors of the Tenth Division looked deeply betrayed. The fact that their proud junior had committed such a heinous act filled them with anger and disbelief.
Yet Seo Mugyeom didn’t get angry. Instead, he felt strangely calm. If they truly believed he was guilty, then reacting with outrage was the correct response. It would’ve been far worse if they had blindly defended him just because he was their comrade.
He knew clearing his name wouldn’t be difficult if he spoke up—but explaining in detail would mean exposing everything Ak Seol-ah had endured, forcing her to relive the shame.
He decided it wasn’t worth it. There would be another time to reveal the truth—one where Ak Seol-ah wouldn’t have to suffer again.
But perhaps, in doing so, he had underestimated Un Jongak.