Chapter 44: Blood (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 44: Blood (3)
The Yangtze River was shrouded in a thick fog.
A large ship lay anchored at the pier.
A single light reflecting off the water faintly illuminated the night mist.
A handsome man sat on the forward deck, tilting a wine cup.
“Please, have a drink.”
A middle-aged man wearing a black hood stood across from him, politely filling the cup.
“It is an honor to have you visit such a place, Fourth Blood Star.”
The handsome man’s identity was none other than the Fourth Blood Star, Do Jang-ho.
Do Jang-ho drained his cup before speaking.
“I happened to be in the area for a few reasons.”
“A few reasons?”
“There was a name I hadn't heard in a long time, and I thought I’d see the face associated with it.”
At those words, the middle-aged man in the black hood could not hide his bewilderment.
Seeing this, Do Jang-ho gave a short, dry laugh.
“Well, it’s nothing major. I was just curious about a certain Young Brother So. Regardless, it’s a shame. I was hoping to see Brother Hwang after all this time.”
“The Fifth Blood Star would have shared that sentiment.”
The Fifth Blood Star, Fist and Kick of Blood Rain Hwang Kang.
The middle-aged man in the black hood was Mun Yul, a Unit Leader in charge of the Pagyeong Unit under the Fifth Blood Star’s command.
Unit Leader Mun Yul refilled the cup.
As Do Jang-ho accepted the drink, he asked casually, “By the way, is it alright for you not to be there?”
“Pardon?”
“Your opponent is none other than the Bizarre Venerable One himself.”
At that, Mun Yul smirked.
“Do not worry. No matter how great a Venerable One he is, as long as he’s been hit by the Energy Dispersal Poison, he won’t be able to move for at least an hour.”
“You seem overconfident.”
“Mad Demon Unit Leader Gwangma, five Great Leaders, twelve Advanced Warriors, and over sixty Mid-Level Martial Artists have been deployed.”
The primary combat strength of an entire unit had been committed.
This was the source of Mun Yul’s confidence.
Do Jang-ho spoke to him again.
“Variables always exist. Do not let your guard down.”
Faced with his continued warnings, Mun Yul finally conceded, albeit reluctantly.
“...I will keep that in mi—”
At that moment, someone rushed up onto the deck, panting heavily.
It was a masked warrior.
“What is it?”
“Unit Leader! We have a problem.”
“What?”
Unit Leader Mun Yul bolted upright.
He demanded, “Did the Venerable One somehow avoid the Energy Dispersal Poison?”
“No, sir.”
Mun Yul couldn't help but feel a momentary sense of relief.
If anyone else was involved, it might be fine, but if Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon hadn't been poisoned, a true disaster might have unfolded.
“Then what is the problem?”
“Unit Leader Gwangma has been defeated.”
“What?!”
As Mun Yul reacted in shock, Fourth Blood Star Do Jang-ho looked on with disappointment.
For a Unit Leader under the Fifth Blood Star, this was nothing short of a disgrace.
“If it wasn't the Venerable One, then who did it?”
“It... it was the Venerable One’s disciple.”
“So Woon-hwi?”
Mun Yul found it absurd.
He couldn't believe that Unit Leader Gwangma, whose reputation was well-known even within the Blood Cult, had been defeated by a mere fledgling—no matter whose disciple he was.
A strange light flickered in Do Jang-ho’s eyes.
“Did you say So Woon-hwi?”
“Yes, sir. The Venerable One’s disciple and some unknown brat are blocking the entrance to the villa. Because we have orders to capture them alive, our casualties are mounting.”
The order to bring them in safely was proving to be a shackle.
If they were guarding the villa, they were undoubtedly protecting the Bizarre Venerable One so he could recover his internal energy.
The more time passed, the more dangerous the situation became.
“Those fools! Immediately—”
“Wait.”
“!?”
As Mun Yul prepared to rush out, Fourth Blood Star Do Jang-ho stood up.
He spoke calmly.
“I shall go with you.”
At the news that a Blood Star was coming along, Unit Leader Mun Yul’s expression brightened instantly.
Clang! Clang-clang!
Parrying the swords of two masked men attacking simultaneously, I stabbed them in the heart and throat.
The one I targeted in the heart collapsed with a death rattle.
However, because another masked man struck my blade upward, the one I aimed at the throat narrowly managed to dodge.
Thud!
I kicked the chest of the man who had parried my sword.
Then, I pierced the space between his brows.
“Gah!”
The man stumbled and fell backward, a hole in his forehead.
I tried to finish off the other one who had retreated, but three more masked men targeted my vital points from different directions at once, forcing me to retreat using my footwork.
Swish! Swish!
This is getting troublesome.
With over ten of them already dead by my hand, the masked warriors were surrounding me and attacking with much more caution.
If they were attacking with the intent to kill rather than capture, it would have been even harder.
...Is he not done yet?
I couldn't even gauge how much time had passed.
It was the first time fifteen minutes had felt so agonizingly long.
—Woon-hwi! Someone’s going over the roof!
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
Whoosh!
At the Namcheon Iron Sword’s warning, I quickly used my Lightness Skill to leap up and threw the Lesser Conversation Sword, which was attached to the Silver Smoke Thread, toward the roof.
Flying like a hidden weapon, the Lesser Conversation Sword pierced the thigh of the masked man climbing the building.
Stab!
“Urgh! Damn it!”
I yanked the Silver Smoke Thread.
The masked man, who had been trying to infiltrate through the ceiling of the villa, tried to hold onto the tiles, but since he was outmatched in internal power from the start, he was dragged down along with the tiles.
“Hah!”
As I retracted the thread, I swung the masked man—with the sword still embedded in him—toward the others as if he were a flail.
Whoosh!
“Get out of the way!”
They could have caught him, but the masked warriors chose to dodge instead, abandoning their comrade.
Is it because they aren't Unit Leader rank? They’re cold-blooded bastards.
Thanks to that, the man slammed into the ground, twitched once, and stopped moving.
“Huff... huff...”
My breathing was growing ragged.
In terms of individual martial prowess, I was certainly superior to them, but there were simply too many.
Attacking in formations without a moment’s rest was dizzying.
Is Young Lady Sama alright?
I could still hear the fierce clashing of steel from the other side.
Judging by that, Sama Yeong seemed to be holding her ground well.
If even one of us was breached, it was over.
Please, hurry.
There was only a chance of victory if Hae Ak-cheon managed to expel the Energy Dispersal Poison quickly.
Swish!
Three masked men lunged at me simultaneously once again.
“Gokji! Geogol! Wijung!”
They were desperate to suppress me.
They targeted the acupoints on my right elbow, between my left shoulder and armpit, and my knee.
All of them were paralysis points designed to stop my movement.
Clang! Clang-clang!
I unleashed the third form of the Life Bright Sword Technique, the Illuminating Shadow Sword, frantically blocking their attacks.
The moment I used a variation to target the brow of the man in the center—
—Duck your head!
At the Lesser Conversation Sword’s shout, I hurriedly snapped my head back.
Zip! Thud-thud-thud!
Five needle-like hidden weapons grazed my face and embedded themselves into the wall of the villa.
The masked man who had thrown them looked incredulous.
“It’s not like you have eyes in the back of your head!”
I have eyes everywhere, actually.
That’s how I’ve been stopping you lot from entering the villa.
Even so, my focus was starting to fray.
It would have been easier if I were just running around cutting down enemies.
Defending is a nightmare.
With them rotating in waves and constantly eyeing the villa, my throat was parched from the stress.
I couldn't leave this spot for even a second.
On the other hand, the moment my gaze shifted, they tried to enter the villa from multiple directions or attempted to suppress me using various methods.
I had no choice but to whittle them down one by one.
Just a little more... just hold on a little lo—!?
A sharp, piercing aura pricked my senses.
It was clearly targeting me.
An intense sensation, vastly different from the masked warriors, was approaching.
The surrounding masked men split to the sides, and two men without masks revealed themselves.
Behind them, even more masked warriors appeared.
But my gaze was fixed on only one person.
!!!
The moment I saw the white leather tassel ornament tied to the end of his sword hilt, I couldn't help but be shocked.
The handsome middle-aged man curled his lips into a smile and spoke to me.
“Young Brother So. It has been quite a long time.”
...Fourth Blood Star.
It was Do Jang-ho, the Fourth Blood Star.
He was one of the Revered Stars I had encountered for the first time after my regression.
His presence was still as overwhelming as any of the Venerables or Blood Stars.
To think a Blood Star would show up.
This was a complete disaster.
My master, Hae Ak-cheon, had yet to recover.
And in the meantime, one of the current Blood Cult’s strongest masters had appeared.
“...I greet the Fourth Blood Star.”
I lowered the tip of my sword and offered a brief, formal greeting with clasped hands.
Do Jang-ho smiled at me.
“I wanted to see you.”
I’m sorry to say the feeling isn't mutual.
Do Jang-ho continued in an intrigued voice.
“Truly remarkable. In just a year and a few months, you went from a body that couldn't even perform martial arts to becoming the disciple of the Bizarre Venerable One—and growing this strong to boot.”
He was genuinely impressed.
“It is no wonder the Young Lady coveted you.”
“...You flatter me.”
Wait. Maybe I can use this situation to buy some time.
Just as that thought crossed my mind—
Fourth Blood Star Do Jang-ho spoke to the middle-aged man standing beside him.
“Unit Leader Mun. Leave this one to me. You go and attend to the Venerable One.”
“Yes, sir! Let’s go!”
“Understood!”
The man called Unit Leader Mun and the masked warriors prepared to bypass me and enter the villa.
Damn it!
Of course, he wasn't going to let me stall for time.
If I fought the Fourth Blood Star here, I wouldn't have the strength left to stop the others.
If that happened, everything would be over.
As my mind raced, I heard the laughter of the Blood Demon Sword at my waist.
—This is turning out to be quite entertaining.
!!!
At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind like a bolt of lightning.
If Hae Ak-cheon was captured, things couldn't possibly get any worse than they already were.
“Wait!”
At my shout, they paused for a moment.
I drew the Blood Demon Sword from my waist.
“What does this look like to you?”
“That is...”
Seeing it, Fourth Blood Star Do Jang-ho’s eyes narrowed.
He looked at the Blood Demon Sword in my hand and then turned his gaze to the man called Unit Leader Mun.
Unit Leader Mun gave a short laugh and said, “It’s a replica. We received word that the Young Lady has already seized the real divine object.”
At those words, Do Jang-ho smiled at me.
“So it seems, Young Brother So.”
I looked at Unit Leader Mun and asked, “And what if it’s not a fake?”
“Hahahaha! I was going to treat you with respect as the Venerable One’s disciple, but you’re talking nonsense. If that were the real Blood Demon Sword, do you think a brat like you could even hold it?”
“Is that so?”
I casually tossed the Blood Demon Sword toward Unit Leader Mun.
Mun Yul reflexively caught it.
“Why give this to me...”
It happened in an instant.
“Argh!”
Veins began to bulge and throb on the back of Mun Yul’s right hand.
Startled, Mun Yul tried to let go of the sword, but before he could, the veins on his hand burst, spraying blood everywhere.
Spurt!
“!?”
The masked warriors’ eyes widened at the sudden, bizarre phenomenon.
Even Fourth Blood Star Do Jang-ho frowned.
“Aaaaagh! Wh-what is this?!”
Mun Yul used his left hand to force the sword away.
As the Blood Demon Sword fell toward the ground, I hurriedly extended my left hand and fired the Silver Smoke Thread.
The sword, caught by the thread, flew back into my hand.
With a pale face, Mun Yul screamed at me.
“Y-you bastard! What kind of trickery did you use?”
“Trickery? You were just granted the honor of holding the real Blood Demon Sword, and that’s all you have to say?”
“What?”
The masked warriors began to murmur amongst themselves.
I knew why they were reacting this way.
If it were the real Blood Demon Sword, I shouldn't have been able to hold it either.
“I believe everyone knows what it means to be able to hold the Blood Demon Sword. Isn't that right, Fourth Blood Star?”
Every eye was fixed on the Blood Demon Sword.
Fourth Blood Star Do Jang-ho took a step forward, his eyes sharp.
“How do we know you didn't put poison or some other trick on the hilt?”
So that’s how he’s playing it.
Then there’s only one way left.
I gripped the Blood Demon Sword and focused the Mental Focus of my Upper Dantian.
In that moment, the fourth point of the Big Dipper on the back of my hand, the Heavenly Authority, glowed crimson.
Work. Please work.
I was half-doubting it myself when it happened.
The masked warriors muttered in unison.
“H-his hair?”
“It’s turning red.”
The change didn't stop there.
The blade of the Blood Demon Sword gradually shifted into a vivid scarlet hue.
The eyes of Fourth Blood Star Do Jang-ho, who had remained calm until a moment ago, were now trembling violently.
Do Jang-ho whispered in a voice filled with disbelief.
“He... he carries the blood of that man?”