Chapter 43: Wraith (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 43: Wraith (2)
A middle-aged man brushed back his red hair.
Lifting his cup, the man spoke.
[Drink.]
[Cult Leader. How could I possibly...]
[Did we not share a table often in our youth? Is the world-renowned 'Bizarre' really going to walk on eggshells just because of a drink?]
The massive middle-aged man sitting across from him was Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon.
Hae Ak-cheon scratched his head, looking sheepish.
[Are you not the Cult Leader now?]
[Today, I am simply an old friend.]
[Well, then... Hehe.]
After glancing at the man called the Cult Leader, Hae Ak-cheon let out his characteristic laugh and drained his cup in one gulp.
The two sat in silence for a moment after the drink.
Then, Hae Ak-cheon spoke up cautiously.
[Cult Leader... are you truly going to fight them at Dopyeong-seon tomorrow?]
[Are you anxious? That is unlike you.]
[...Anxious! I know no such thing!]
Hae Ak-cheon thumped his chest with a fist twice the size of a normal man's.
Watching him, the Cult Leader gave a short laugh.
[Among the Venerable Ones, were you not the one who urged me most strongly never to retreat?]
[...The situation has changed. Has Peerless Fortress not joined the fray?]
[Peerless Fortress... Indeed.]
[We should have known when those bastards cut off the Flying Moon Hero Sect like that. It was our oversight.]
[How can that be blamed on you?]
[Cult Leader...]
[Is the great 'Bizarre' trying to make his leader weak of heart?]
[As long as you survive, Cult Leader, rebuilding our Cult will be no difficult task. Sometimes, evading is the best strategy.]
[If I do that, the eyes of those bastards, currently fixed on me, will turn elsewhere.]
[...That is.]
[Being at the top is not merely for enjoyment. It is a position of responsibility.]
[Your survival is also a responsibility.]
The Cult Leader offered a faint smile at those words.
Frustrated, Hae Ak-cheon couldn't contain himself and grabbed the wine bottle, guzzling it down.
After draining the entire bottle without a pause, he slammed it down roughly.
Then he spoke.
[You said we were old friends, did you not? Then will you listen to me as a friend?]
[Listen, Ak-cheon.]
[Yes, Cult Leader.]
[I am the face and the pillar of the Blood Cult. No matter how disadvantageous the situation, if I am the first to seek my own safety, what faith can the members who trust and follow this Cult have left?]
There was not a single word of falsehood in his statement.
Because of that, Hae Ak-cheon could only pull a bitter face.
[That is what it means to stand at the top.]
With those words, the Cult Leader pulled something from behind him.
It was a sword.
The entire scabbard was densely engraved with red characters, and the hilt was wrapped in black cloth also embroidered with red script.
Seeing this, Hae Ak-cheon spoke in a panicked voice.
[Surely you don't intend to borrow his power?]
[I must do what I can.]
[It is dangerous! Cult Leader! Have you forgotten that the previous leader passed away after rashly borrowing his power?]
Hae Ak-cheon opposed him desperately.
The Cult Leader placed his hand on the scabbard and spoke with a voice full of weight.
[If I borrow the power of a wraith, I shall pay the price.]
[A wraith?]
That person was the progenitor of the Blood Cult.
To describe him as a wraith was practically blasphemy, even for a blood descendant.
Seeing Hae Ak-cheon’s confusion, the Cult Leader shook his head and pointed upward with a finger.
[His soul (魂) resides there.]
[But the Blood Demon Sword contains his...]
[How can a spirit fragment (魄) filled only with resentment and madness be called him? If it were truly him, would he seek to devour even his own blood descendants?]
[...]
[Such a thing is merely a wraith.]
[Cult Leader...]
[But for this one time, I must borrow that wraith's power.]
The Cult Leader’s voice sounded incredibly bitter.
To the sorrowful Hae Ak-cheon, the Cult Leader gave a bright smile.
[Even a wraith has its uses, does it not?]
'This can't be...'
Hae Ak-cheon recalled the past from over twenty years ago.
The moment he saw the crimson-stained Blood Demon Sword in So Woon-hwi's hand and his transformed appearance, he knew immediately.
The spirit of the Blood Demon had taken over that body.
Looking at the hilt, the cloth inscribed with the sorcery to suppress the spirit fragment (魄) was missing.
'How did this happen...'
He couldn't understand it at all.
An ordinary person shouldn't be able to handle the Blood Demon Sword itself.
"Ugh."
At the sound of a pained groan, Hae Ak-cheon looked up.
Sama Yeong, her neck gripped by So Woon-hwi's hand, looked as if she might die at any moment.
Song Jwa-baek, dumbfounded, tried to step forward.
"Fuck, So Woon-hwi, you bastard! Are you crazy—"
"Stay back!"
"What? But Master..."
"I told you not to interfere!"
At Hae Ak-cheon’s reprimand, Song Jwa-baek fidgeted anxiously while looking at Sama Yeong.
Strength was rapidly draining from her dangling body.
Hae Ak-cheon spoke to So Woon-hwi in a respectful voice.
"O Blood Demon. The child you hold in your hand is a member of our Cult."
"A Cult member?"
So Woon-hwi raised an eyebrow and looked at Sama Yeong.
After staring at her for a moment, So Woon-hwi smirked and tossed her toward Song Jwa-baek as if she were a mere object.
"Oof!"
Song Jwa-baek caught her, but the internal power imbued in her body sent him tumbling backward.
If he hadn't fallen and absorbed the force, Sama Yeong would have been seriously injured.
'This guy, seriously? Ha!'
This was absolutely not the behavior of the So Woon-hwi he knew.
'Is he truly possessed by the sword's bizarre nature?'
That was one thing, but he couldn't understand why Hae Ak-cheon was calling the possessed boy "Blood Demon."
Then, So Woon-hwi put his hands behind his back and looked at them arrogantly.
"You look somewhat useful. Who are you?"
"This humble servant is Hae Ak-cheon, a Venerable One of this Cult."
"A Venerable One, as I thought."
Watching their conversation, Bukyeong Doseong Gwak Hyeong-jik was burning with anxiety.
He had intended to attempt a mutual destruction against So Woon-hwi, but even that seemed impossible now.
His gaze naturally drifted to his fallen disciple, Jang Myeong.
'Can I escape with that child?'
His opponent was the 'Bizarre' of the Blood Cult.
Anyone else might be different, but Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon was an old monster who had been famous in his own generation.
It was impossible to face that old monster with his remaining strength.
'...Is this where the fate of my disciple and I ends?'
Even when he lost his arm, he had never resented anyone.
But at this moment, the heavens felt indifferent.
'Jang Myeong. Jang Myeong. You met a pathetic master and now you must go like this. I am sorry.'
Gwak Hyeong-jik grit his teeth.
If he was destined to die anyway, shouldn't he burn his life away to uphold the spirit of the Orthodox path?
Just as Gwak Hyeong-jik was about to force himself up with grim resolve...
Hae Ak-cheon bowed his head and spoke to So Woon-hwi.
"O Blood Demon. The vessel you currently inhabit is also a member of our Cult."
"And?"
"He is my disciple."
At Hae Ak-cheon’s words, So Woon-hwi laughed heartily.
"It must be an honor. How could a mere member encounter such a moment? To have the very being he must serve inhabit his own body."
Hae Ak-cheon’s expression hardened at those words.
Though he had spoken indirectly, the Blood Demon seemed to have no intention of leaving that body.
Hae Ak-cheon raised his head and pointed to their surroundings.
"This place is not far from the Martial Alliance. If you remain descended like this, your safety may be at risk."
The corners of So Woon-hwi's mouth curled up.
"My safety? Who dares threaten me?"
"O Blood Demon. There are tens of thousands of them."
"Good. A chance has arisen to make them pay the price in blood for insolently imprisoning me for twenty years."
"Blood Demon!"
"Foolish. Do not defy me."
"Sigh..."
Hae Ak-cheon let out a deep sigh.
At his attitude, So Woon-hwi's eyes narrowed sharply.
Hae Ak-cheon muttered.
"A wraith... Yes. You are a wraith."
"What are you babbling about?"
In response to So Woon-hwi's question, Hae Ak-cheon silently stood tall.
Then, he clenched his monstrously large fists.
"What is the meaning of this attitude?"
So Woon-hwi slowly gripped the hilt of the Blood Demon Sword planted in the ground.
The atmosphere became ominous.
Gwak Hyeong-jik, who had been about to launch a suicidal attack, also sensed something strange and halted his movement.
"Your attitude offends me, Venerable One."
At those words, Hae Ak-cheon raised both fists in his unique Qi control stance.
His body turned a bronze hue, his muscles rippled, and steam began to rise from his skin.
It was his signature technique, the True Blood Golden Body.
So Woon-hwi spoke in a chilling voice.
"How foolish."
Hae Ak-cheon aimed his fist and spoke with a heavy voice.
"Give back my disciple's body."
"Ha!"
So Woon-hwi was incredulous.
"Do you truly intend to defy my will?"
"I do not take orders from a wraith."
"What?"
"The only one who can command me is the 15th Cult Leader, Baek Mu-yeong."
So Woon-hwi shook his head at Hae Ak-cheon’s words.
"Then so be it."
His form suddenly blurred.
The vanished figure appeared instantly in front of Hae Ak-cheon.
In that split second, Hae Ak-cheon crossed his fists and thrust them upward.
Rumble!
Hae Ak-cheon’s feet sank deep into the ground.
Between his two fists was So Woon-hwi's wrist, as he swung the sword downward.
"Impressive. To block my blade."
Thud! Shhh!
As soon as he finished speaking, So Woon-hwi's kick struck Hae Ak-cheon’s chest, sliding his massive frame back more than ten paces.
Song Jwa-baek was stunned.
It was the first time he had ever seen the giant old monster Hae Ak-cheon pushed back by pure force.
He couldn't tell if this was truly the So Woon-hwi he knew.
'Damn it!'
Song Jwa-baek looked at his brother, Song Woo-hyeon.
"Let's help Master!"
He prepared to manifest the True Blood Golden Body.
But then, Hae Ak-cheon’s sharp command rang out.
"Stay back! This is no place for you to interfere!"
"Master!"
When Hae Ak-cheon spoke so seriously, without a trace of his usual laughter, even Song Jwa-baek realized how dire the situation was.
So Woon-hwi clicked his tongue.
"Too late, Venerable One. If you truly cherished your disciple, you should not have defied me."
An immense killing intent erupted from So Woon-hwi.
If an ordinary person had been there, their heart might have stopped from the sheer pressure.
Yet, Hae Ak-cheon’s face remained perfectly calm.
Hae Ak-cheon spoke.
"I will show you the final stage of the True Blood Golden Body. Watch closely."
Those words were not meant for So Woon-hwi.
They were for the twin brothers.
Crack! Crack! Whoosh!
The amount of steam rising from Hae Ak-cheon’s body increased exponentially.
His bronze skin deepened in color until it took on a lustrous, blood-red hue.
"This is the Red Blood Golden Body."
Flash!
The moment the words left his lips, Hae Ak-cheon’s form lunged toward So Woon-hwi.
So Woon-hwi swung his sword at the charging Hae Ak-cheon, who moved like a maddened bull.
The Blood Demon Sword collided with Hae Ak-cheon’s fist.
Clang!
In that instant, both figures were blown backward simultaneously.
Their strength had become almost equal.
A look of interest flickered in So Woon-hwi's eyes as he skidded back ten paces.
"To make me bleed... You have a peculiar physical ability."
Blood was trickling from the palm of So Woon-hwi's hand that held the sword.
Watching this, Jo Seong-won marveled.
'Bizarre is truly incredible.'
He hadn't expected him to exert power equal to the monstrously strengthened So Woon-hwi.
However, the price for clashing with the Blood Demon Sword with bare fists was clear.
Hae Ak-cheon’s right fist was split open, dripping blood.
"It seems punching with your right hand will be difficult."
"Hmph!"
Ignoring the injury, Hae Ak-cheon clenched his fist even tighter.
Then he charged at So Woon-hwi again.
Hae Ak-cheon’s fists created dozens of shadows, covering So Woon-hwi like a storm.
It was, quite literally, a Red Wind.
Swish, swish, swish!
In response, So Woon-hwi traced arcs with the Blood Demon Sword.
The sword subtly disrupted the paths of the fist shadows, piercing through the storm Hae Ak-cheon had created.
'What?!'
It was an astonishing display of swordsmanship.
"There is a gap."
The Blood Demon Sword lunged accurately toward the center of his chest.
At that moment, someone’s kick slammed down onto So Woon-hwi's wrist from above.
"You?"
It was Gwak Hyeong-jik.
Annoyed that his trajectory had been skewed, So Woon-hwi lightning-fast launched a finger technique with his left hand.
Thwack!
Gwak Hyeong-jik tried to twist his body to avoid it, but he was struck in the thigh.
However, thanks to him, an opening was created for Hae Ak-cheon.
"Hah!"
Thud!
Hae Ak-cheon’s punch landed squarely on So Woon-hwi's chest, sending him flying back like a cannonball.
After blasting So Woon-hwi away, Hae Ak-cheon snapped at Gwak Hyeong-jik.
"Bukyeong Doseong. This is no place for you to butt in."
Gwak Hyeong-jik hurriedly applied pressure to his bleeding thigh and replied.
"Bizarre, he is not someone you can stop with your strength alone."
"Hmph! Unnecessary interference."
"I am not helping you."
"What?"
"I owe your disciple a debt. I am merely trying to repay it."
"What a ridiculous fellow."
Hae Ak-cheon clicked his tongue.
Gwak Hyeong-jik asked him seriously.
"Even though he let go of the sword, he hasn't escaped its influence. Is there a way to return your disciple to normal?"
At his question, Hae Ak-cheon took a deep breath.
Seeing So Woon-hwi stand up perfectly fine even after taking a direct hit to the chest, Hae Ak-cheon sent a sound transmission to Gwak Hyeong-jik.
[...Are you truly going to help?]
[I am.]
[Fine. Then I shall allow it.]
[What?]
It was absurd to hear him acting as if he were doing a favor when Gwak was the one offering help.
Regardless, Hae Ak-cheon continued the transmission.
[There are two pressure points on the head known as the Ghost Gates.]
[Spirit Command Point? Noehae?]
[So you aren't completely ignorant.]
[...To think I'd live to hear such words from you.]
Gwak Hyeong-jik looked incredulous.
But that didn't last long.
So Woon-hwi was already lunging toward them.
He was moving at such a terrifying speed that his form was a blur even when Gwak concentrated his eye power.
[I will restrain his body and aim for the Spirit Command Point. You aim for the Noehae.]
[Understood...]
The Noehae point was located below the occipital bone at the back of the head.
Tension filled Gwak Hyeong-jik’s eyes.
The two pressure points Hae Ak-cheon called the Ghost Gates could be fatal if struck incorrectly.
[We must apply internal power simultaneously. Do not forget.]
As soon as he finished, Hae Ak-cheon slammed a fist into the ground.
Boom!
A crater nearly half a meter deep formed, and stone fragments exploded upward.
The approaching So Woon-hwi sneered and swung his sword.
The fragments vanished, pulverized into dust before they could even touch him.
"A mere distraction."
So Woon-hwi spun around and thrust his sword forward.
Stab!
The Blood Demon Sword pierced through Hae Ak-cheon’s right palm.
The blade continued in a straight line, aiming directly for Hae Ak-cheon’s face.
In that moment, Hae Ak-cheon tilted his head to the side, then thrust his impaled hand even deeper, grabbing So Woon-hwi's hand firmly.
"You?"
Hae Ak-cheon grinned.
"Got you."
"Foolish."
So Woon-hwi launched a finger technique at his chest with his left hand.
However, the finger technique failed to pierce Hae Ak-cheon’s chest.
'!?'
The Red Blood Golden Body, which was nearly equivalent to the Indestructible Diamond Body, was not something even the possessed So Woon-hwi could pierce with his bare hands.
"Without your sword, you are nothing but a wraith. Hehe."
"You bastard!"
So Woon-hwi tried to erupt his internal power to blast him away with a counter-shock.
However...
"Now!"
"Hah!"
Pop! Pop!
Hae Ak-cheon’s left thumb struck the Spirit Command Point, and Gwak Hyeong-jik’s left index finger struck the Noehae point simultaneously.
"Aaargh!"
A scream erupted from So Woon-hwi's mouth.
As the two dangerous pressure points were struck at once, veins bulged across his face.
Soon, blood sprayed from his mouth.
'Did it work?'
Gwak Hyeong-jik looked at Hae Ak-cheon.
Hae Ak-cheon himself wasn't sure if it had worked, as it was a method he had only half-trusted.
This was a technique designed to force those possessed by the Blood Demon Sword to let go of the blade.
Then, as So Woon-hwi lifted his head, the red glow in his eyes intensified.
"I will kill you all!"
"Oh no!"
Boom!
At that moment, a massive counter-shock erupted, sending both Hae Ak-cheon and Gwak Hyeong-jik flying.
The expressions of the two men, who barely managed to steady themselves after being thrown back, darkened.
Their only hope of returning him to normal had failed.
So Woon-hwi glared at them.
"Abandon any hope of a quick death."
An even more intense killing intent radiated from him.
Red haze even began to drift from his body, and the energy felt ominous.
So Woon-hwi raised his sword high.
Then, red haze began to flow from the Blood Demon Sword as well, and the sharp energy started to take physical form.
"M-Manifestation of Qi!"
Gwak Hyeong-jik couldn't hide his horror.
The manifestation of energy into physical form was a peerless technique possible only for the Eight Great Masters.
"I intended to conserve my strength until I grew accustomed to this vessel, but you have brought this upon—ugh!"
Suddenly, So Woon-hwi stumbled.
"Did it work after all?"
Hae Ak-cheon and Gwak Hyeong-jik looked at him in surprise.
So Woon-hwi's expression froze.
His body wouldn't move as he willed.
'Why?'
As he stood there in confusion, a voice echoed in his mind.
—This is my body, wraith.
'You!'
He had been certain he had claimed not only the body but the soul and spirit as well.
He couldn't help but be bewildered when the original soul asserted its presence.
'Your body and soul belong to me!'
—I said, it's my body.
Then, a completely different voice echoed in his head.
[When even a thought (念) aligns with logic, it can be controlled. The Heavenly Authority (天權) has opened.]
'What is this?'
Whoosh!
In that instant, a blue flame flickered on the back of So Woon-hwi's right hand.
The blue flame soon seeped into the fourth dot of the Big Dipper-shaped marks on his hand—the Heavenly Authority—turning it blue.
"Aaaaaagh!"
At the same time, So Woon-hwi screamed.
A bizarre phenomenon occurred.
The red haze flowing from So Woon-hwi's body began to swirl and was suddenly sucked into his heart.