Chapter 44: Blood (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 44: Blood (1)
To get straight to the point, Bukyeong Doseong Gwak Hyeong-jik accepted my proposal.
It was clear just how much he cherished his disciple.
However, there was a condition attached to that proposal.
Gwak Hyeong-jik had spoken to me through Sound Transmission.
[You told me you would walk your own path, didn't you? If you truly walk the middle path, I will help you regardless of the reason.]
Gwak Hyeong-jik drew a line, stating he could not help the Blood Cult.
It was his pride as a member of the Orthodox Faction.
I couldn't force him to bend that pride either.
For now, this was enough.
Having finished negotiations with Gwak Hyeong-jik, we hurriedly left Wuhan City.
Wuhan was practically a holy land for the Orthodox Faction.
Simply possessing the Blood Demon Sword here was an invitation to danger.
-You should be grateful just to serve this great one.
'…'
This Blood Demon Sword was utterly uncontrollable.
Setting aside its arrogant and cocky personality, it was incredibly willful.
My original plan was to entrust the sword to my master, Haeakcheon, and then show my face at the Martial Alliance to completely dispel any suspicion.
But that plan was derailed thanks to this fellow.
Since I had absorbed the Spirit Fragment that was the Blood Demon's grudge, I thought it wouldn't be a problem for someone else to touch the sword.
But I was wrong.
When I gave the Blood Demon Sword to Song Jwa-baek, his blood vessels nearly went into a frenzy.
-How dare a piece of trash like that lay hands on me?
It threw such a fit that I knew it was the sword's doing.
Even if the Blood Demon's Spirit Fragment was gone, it was still a Demon Sword.
While it didn't devour one's ego, the Blood Demon Sword refused to let anyone touch its body.
Except for me.
-Don't even dream of handing this one over to others, human.
With it threatening me like that, I had no choice.
Since time was short, I ended up making a few requests to Bukyeong Doseong Gwak Hyeong-jik before leaving Wuhan with the group.
Ha Mun-chan and Lee Gyu, who assisted Song Jwa-baek and Song Woo-hyeon, had horses prepared in advance. We rode them for three days and nights without rest, finally reaching the vicinity of Honghu City.
To cross into Hunan Province, we had to cross the Yangtze River.
There are several piers south of Honghu City, and we had a specific one prepared as an escape route.
When we went up, we crossed the river through Seokmun, but for the return trip, we planned to head down the Yangtze River and pass through Dongting Lake toward Yikyang.
'We timed it well.'
The horses were exhausted anyway.
I had regulated the pace by alternating between walking and galloping, but they hadn't rested for three days.
It was impossible for even horses to hold out much longer.
"Ugh. We can finally rest."
Song Jwa-baek said, shaking his head.
Spending three days and nights on horseback was bound to tire anyone out.
No matter how much one protected their body with internal energy, their buttocks were bound to be sore.
"What was that?"
"A-Ah, it's nothing."
At a single word from Haeakcheon, the boy shut his mouth.
In fact, on the way here, the horse carrying the massive Haeakcheon had its leg snap and collapsed.
Because of that, Haeakcheon had to use his Lightness Skill for nearly half a day without rest.
We weren't in a position to complain.
"What a shame."
I heard Sama-yeong's murmur from behind me.
Because of her internal injuries, she couldn't ride a horse alone, so she rode with me.
While carrying her, she had leaned against my back and rubbed her face against it, which had been quite embarrassing.
-You liked it, didn't you?
'Ahem.'
Because of this, Song Jwa-baek had been glaring at me the entire way.
-He's just jealous.
The Lesser Conversation Sword chuckled.
-Tsk tsk. How childish.
The Blood Demon Sword clicked its tongue and mocked the Lesser Conversation Sword.
-What? You punk!
-Where does a little thing like you get off calling an elder "punk"?
Ugh, so noisy.
It had been like this lately.
The Lesser Conversation Sword had finally met its match.
Whenever it said something, the Blood Demon Sword would snap back with sarcasm, leading to endless bickering throughout the journey.
The quick-witted Namcheon Iron Sword kept its mouth tightly shut.
Yes, that was the wise choice.
"Anyway, I'm not sure if we'll be able to set sail."
At Deputy Branch Leader Lee Gyu's words, Haeakcheon looked out toward the distant Yangtze River with a disinterested expression.
As night fell, a thick fog had settled over the dark river.
"I'm more worried about the boat not being ready than whether we can sail."
I agreed with Song Jwa-baek's remark.
We had arrived much earlier than the original schedule.
If the boat wasn't ready, we might be stranded here or have to look for a public ferry.
"Standing here talking won't change anything. Let's go."
Following Haeakcheon, we headed toward a small village by the pier.
It was a small village, but I hoped there was at least a blacksmith shop.
Since I was carrying the Blood Demon Sword and the two Namcheon Iron Swords wrapped in cloth, I couldn't help but draw attention.
I needed to get scabbards.
Unfortunately, since it was evening, only the small inns had their lights on.
There was one blacksmith shop, but the lights were out and no one was there.
So, we had to head straight to our destination.
Among the houses in the village, there was one with red paint on the upper part of the rafters.
This was the safe house prepared in advance.
Knock knock! Knock knock! Knock knock!
When I knocked on the door at regular intervals, someone hurried out from inside.
It was a middle-aged man, and as soon as he saw us, he gave a small bow.
Then he let us into the house.
After closing the gate, he tried to greet Haeakcheon formally.
"I greet the Sajon..."
"Enough of that. Is the boat ready?"
At Haeakcheon's words, the middle-aged man looked troubled.
"Elder. We cannot set sail right now."
"Is it because of the fog?"
"Yes. Even during the day, it's hard to sail when the fog is this thick, but at night, it's difficult to steer even with lights."
"Hmm. Is the boat even ready?"
"That is... I didn't know you would arrive so early, so I have to check if there are any boats left. There should be one or two."
"When can we leave?"
"If we hurry, it should be possible by early morning."
In the end, it meant leaving right now was impossible.
Song Jwa-baek spoke cautiously to Haeakcheon.
"Master. We haven't encountered any pursuit from the Alliance or that other side yet, so why don't we rest for a bit before leaving?"
The "other side" meant Baek Hye-hyang.
Since we had obtained the real Blood Demon Sword, I thought there would be interference or pursuit from them during our escape, but contrary to expectations, we hadn't run into them yet.
Stroking his beard, Haeakcheon spoke.
"Hmph. Can't be helped. We'll rest here today and leave tomorrow."
At those words, Song Jwa-baek couldn't hide his joy.
The others were the same.
It was understandable, as they hadn't rested properly for three days and nights.
"Go check if there's a boat."
The middle-aged man guarding the safe house nodded and asked.
"By the way, Elder. Have you had dinner?"
At that question, everyone shook their heads simultaneously.
For three days and nights, all we had done was wet our throats with water from leather pouches and stave off hunger with jerky.
We were truly starving.
Haeakcheon asked him.
"Is there alcohol too?"
"Of course."
The middle-aged man, after serving us a simple meal, went out to check on the boat.
It was just stir-fried pork, dried rice, and kaoliang liquor, but to us hungry travelers, it was no different from a feast.
Everyone focused on eating ravenously in silence.
As our hunger faded and the alcohol kicked in, fatigue came rushing in.
Just then, Haeakcheon said to me.
"Give me the sword."
"Pardon?"
What Haeakcheon was pointing at was none other than the Blood Demon Sword.
"Will you be alright?"
At my question, Haeakcheon reached out his hand.
It was a silent command to hand it over without another word.
He must have seen the disaster that befell Song Jwa-baek the moment he grabbed the sword, so I wasn't sure if this was okay.
"Master. It's dangerous. That thing is a complete Demon Sword."
"I'm just checking it."
"Understood."
I unwrapped the cloth and handed the Blood Demon Sword to Haeakcheon.
Haeakcheon gripped the hilt of the Blood Demon Sword with his left hand.
In that instant, the veins on the back of Haeakcheon's hand bulged and throbbed violently.
"Master!"
Flash!
Haeakcheon forcibly let go of the sword.
Only then did the veins on the back of his hand subside.
'Blood Demon Sword!'
-Are you ignoring this one's warning? Human. Didn't I tell you not to hand me over to just anyone?
It really was a willful fellow.
For a sword, it wouldn't even allow a person to hold it.
I wondered if Baek Ryeonha would even be able to hold this sword properly.
"You, try grabbing the hilt."
"Me?"
"I said, pick it up."
"…Understood."
At Haeakcheon's words, I picked up the fallen Blood Demon Sword.
Seeing this, Song Jwa-baek muttered.
"No, why is he the only one who can touch that Demon Sword?"
Everyone found it incomprehensible.
I couldn't very well say that this damn sword was just being picky.
Sama-yeong said with a grinning face.
"Isn't it cool? Being the only one who can touch a Demon Sword. It's like you've been chosen by the sword."
"What? You think that's cool?"
Song Jwa-baek clicked his tongue.
The Blood Demon Sword spoke to me in a triumphant voice.
-That's right. This great one has specially accepted you as a subordinate. Consider it an honor.
I told you to stop talking nonsense.
You're just being difficult.
Then, Haeakcheon stared intently at the Blood Demon Sword and said to me.
"Are you hiding something from this old man?"
At the sudden question, I asked back.
"What do you mean by that?"
What was his intention in asking such a question all of a sudden?
While I was wondering, unexpected words came out of Haeakcheon's mouth.
"I am asking if you are truly the offspring of the Yikyang So family."
"!?"
For a moment, I was speechless.
I couldn't understand why Haeakcheon was saying this to me.
The only ones who knew I wasn't the biological son of the So family were the Family Head and myself.
Then Song Jwa-baek cut in.
"Master. Even if this guy was called a black sheep in his family..."
"You, stay out of this!"
Startled, Song Jwa-baek shut his mouth.
Haeakcheon spoke to me again.
"Was your mother truly a servant?"
"…Master. I have no idea why you are asking that…"
"The Blood Demon Sword is the divine object of our cult."
Who didn't know that?
Haeakcheon continued.
"Do you know why the Blood Demon Sword is called a Demon Sword?"
"Because of the demonic aura in the sword…"
"No. It is because the Blood Demon Sword can only be wielded by those who carry his blood."
At those words, everyone's eyes turned toward me.
They understood the implication of what Haeakcheon had said.
This was incredibly awkward.
The reason I could handle the Blood Demon Sword safely was because I had absorbed the Blood Demon's Spirit Fragment through the power of Heavenly Authority, and the Blood Demon Sword itself had allowed me to touch it, saying it had accepted me as a subordinate or whatever.
It was difficult to explain this in words.
If I didn't clarify, it seemed Haeakcheon and the others would misunderstand.
Just then, the voice of the Blood Demon Sword echoed in my head.
-What's there to misunderstand? Why do you think this one allowed you to hold me?
'…What?'
I was dumbfounded.
What are you talking about?
My mother might be related to the Flying Moon Hero Sect, but she had absolutely nothing to do with the Blood Cult.
To my thought, the Blood Demon Sword chuckled.
-What an interesting fellow. Not even knowing what's mixed in his own blood.
'What on earth does that mean—'
"Elder!"
Just then, Deputy Branch Leader Lee Gyu called out to Haeakcheon in a panicked voice.
But it wasn't just him.
The others also jumped up from their seats, looking flustered.
"M-My Dantian's internal energy!"
'!?'
At Jo Seong-won's words, I began to circulate my energy and checked the internal energy in my lower Dantian.
However, the internal energy would not concentrate in the Dantian and kept dispersing.
Haeakcheon muttered with a scowl.
"Energy Dispersal Poison!"