Chapter 62: War of the Blood Demons (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 62: War of the Blood Demons (3)
Jang Ryong, the First Blood Star and Thunder Blood Sword, failed to maintain his composure upon hearing that Sama Chak, the Moon Evil Sword and one of the Four Great Villains, was targeting his life. Realizing his slip, he quickly hardened his expression.
While the matter was grave for the person involved, the attention of those around them was already shifting elsewhere.
The crowd began to murmur.
Buzz, buzz!
“The daughter of one of the Four Great Villains?”
“The Moon Evil Sword’s daughter?”
From the cultists in the square to the Revered Stars themselves, everyone was shocked by her identity.
Most of those surprised were on Baek Hye-hyang’s side.
The Revered Stars under Baek Ryeonha already knew this fact, so they were instead curious about what had transpired over the past two months.
Probably so.
But now was not the time to highlight that. This was the moment I had to be recognized as the Blood Demon by all the cultists.
It was then that Baek Hye-hyang spoke, her face cold.
“Jang Ryong.”
“Young Lady...”
“I told you to use any means necessary. Did I tell you to act recklessly on your own without reporting to me?”
“No, I did not. However, I also had no idea that woman was...”
He likely wanted to say he never dreamed she was the daughter of Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak. But now that he knew her identity, he could no longer treat her carelessly.
“You must think quite little of me.”
“No, Young Lady. How could I possibly...”
Then, something no one expected happened.
Slash!
Baek Hye-hyang’s imitation Blood Demon Sword, stained a vivid crimson, swept past Jang Ryong’s left arm.
“!?”
Thud!
Jang Ryong’s left arm fell to the ground.
“Aaaaaagh!”
A scream of agony erupted. Even he, a master, had been unable to react to the sudden strike and was cut down where he stood.
Since all the cultists and high-ranking officials were gathered, Jang Ryong likely never predicted she would actually sever his arm in such a place.
But Baek Hye-hyang had cut it off without a moment’s hesitation.
The Blood Demon Sword replied, - What do you mean, bold? That is the correct way. Hiding things from one’s superior, regardless of the reason, is not loyalty—it is mutiny. In the long run, establishing discipline is only natural. That human wench has inherited the Blood Demon’s blood quite strongly. I like her style.
It was a comment typical of the Blood Demon Sword, whose very essence was influenced by the original Blood Demon.
Baek Hye-hyang’s method was quintessentially Blood Cult. Even if an action was done for her sake, if a sworn subordinate deceived her, they would be punished ruthlessly regardless of their rank.
No one present raised an objection. Though they were startled by the sudden violence, they likely viewed her actions as justified within their laws.
This was the Blood Cult. It was entirely different from the Orthodox Martial Alliance or Peerless Fortress.
Passing by Jang Ryong, who was clutching his stump in pain, Baek Hye-hyang looked at Sama Yeong and spoke.
“You seem to think being the daughter of one of the Four Great Villains is some grand title. Tell your father clearly: if he wants this man’s life, he’ll have to deal with me first.”
Ha.
I couldn't help but let out a silent exclamation at her words.
Public matters were public, and private matters were private. Baek Hye-hyang was not intimidated by the reputation of the Four Great Villains; she was warning them that she would not tolerate anyone touching her people.
It was a statement truly worthy of the leader of a faction.
...Impressive.
She wouldn't forgive deception, but she would take responsibility for her subordinates until the end. Regardless of gender, she certainly possessed the qualities of a leader.
The Revered Stars following her, including the First Venerable Blood Breaking Sword Emperor Dan Wi-gang, seemed moved by this as they stepped forward to stand majestically behind her.
I agreed with the Namcheon Iron Sword. She was indeed a figure well-suited to be the Leader of the Blood Cult.
In any case, Baek Hye-hyang had used her own methods to turn a potential crisis into a morale boost for her faction. If left alone, her momentum would only grow.
However, I wasn't the only one thinking this.
Thump!
The sound of a staff striking the ground echoed. Everyone’s gaze shifted toward the source.
“The conversation has strayed. Shouldn't the most pressing matter be determining which of these two swords is the true divine object of our cult?”
The speaker was a grey-haired old man holding a skull-topped staff, standing to the right of Raging Demon Lord Seo Gal-ma. Judging by the unique sinister energy emanating from him, he appeared to be the Blood King, Gu Je-yang.
I didn't know yet. But if he was the one colluding with the Golden-Eyed Man, there was no telling what tricks he might pull. Along with the Second Blood Star, Asura Yu Baek, he was someone I had to keep a close eye on.
Then, Baek Ryeonha, who had been silently observing the situation with a dark expression since my appearance, finally spoke.
“There is a simpler way.”
All eyes turned to her. Baek Ryeonha looked back and forth between the swords held by Baek Hye-hyang and me.
“The Blood Demon Sword, the divine object of our cult, is a demon sword. It is impossible for anyone to even hold it unless they are a chosen one who has inherited the blood of the Founder.”
She was thinking of the same move I was. If Baek Hye-hyang tried to hold the sword, the Blood Demon Sword would reject her.
Then you’d just be spending your days chattering to yourself again.
At my thought, the Blood Demon Sword grumbled and fell silent.
Regardless, if I could just get the Blood Demon Sword into her hands, everything could be resolved swiftly without further conflict. Baek Ryeonha was likely inducing this situation because she knew that.
She had never held the Blood Demon Sword, so she didn't know what would happen. Since she knew her own sword was a fake, she might boldly try to grab the real Blood Demon Sword to turn the tide. It would also be an opportunity for her to be 'chosen,' just as I had been.
“Hmph!”
Baek Hye-hyang snorted. She strode forward and plunged her imitation Blood Demon Sword into the ground next to the real one.
Thud!
“Fine. I accept.”
As expected, she accepted readily. She had no intention of letting the opportunity slip by. Baek Hye-hyang pointed at the two swords and asked, “Who goes first?”
“Before that, let us make a promise.”
“A promise?”
“The one chosen by the sword is the Blood Demon of this cult according to the laws. If that isn't acknowledged, everyone here will have no choice but to see blood.”
I intentionally took a firm stance. If her only goal was to become the Blood Demon, she wouldn't care about my words, but if she had even a shred of concern for the Blood Cult, she would understand what I meant.
At my words, the corners of Baek Hye-hyang’s mouth curled into a sharp smile.
“You’ve become quite the man in the time we were apart.”
I expected her to react differently after learning my identity, but this was unexpected. The look in her eyes remained the same. It wasn't just simple greed.
Then, Baek Hye-hyang spoke loudly so that every cultist in the square could hear.
“According to the laws, the one chosen by the Blood Demon Sword, our cult’s divine object, is the Blood Demon of this generation. Everyone shall follow the Blood Demon!”
Having shouted that, she looked at me. It was as if she were asking if I was satisfied now.
Gallant.
Nodding, I grabbed both swords at once.
“I’ll go first.”
I pulled both swords from the ground. As I stirred my Mental Focus and circulated the Blood Heaven Great Achievement Art, both the real Blood Demon Sword and the imitation glowed with a vivid crimson light.
When I raised the swords high, the guard unit erupted in cheers.
“Waaaaaaaah!!!”
Other cultists also let out exclamations of awe. Now that I had proven I was chosen by the Blood Demon Sword, all that remained was to have her hold the sword to settle everything.
Thud!
I plunged both swords back into the ground. With a smirk, Baek Hye-hyang stepped forward to take her turn.
Right then.
“I will go first.”
The owner of that voice was none other than Baek Ryeonha. Both Baek Hye-hyang and I looked at her with bewildered eyes.
I didn't understand either. She had already failed to hold the sword back on the boat on the Yangtze River. I had assumed she set this stage specifically to help me.
“Young Lady, you...”
“I also carry his blood. Do I not have sufficient right to hold the sword?”
What on earth was she thinking? I couldn't understand why she was making such a bad move. Holding the sword would only result in a public demonstration that she wasn't chosen by the Blood Demon Sword.
“It seems you don’t lack guts. Your turn is next.”
Naturally, Baek Hye-hyang had no intention of yielding. As soon as she finished speaking, she boldly grabbed the hilts of both swords and pulled them from the ground.
The one in her right hand was the real Blood Demon Sword.
Blood Demon Sword.
The Blood Demon Sword replied curtly and revealed its true nature. The veins on the back of her hand began to turn black and bulge. It was a symptom of her blood vessels going out of control.
“This is...”
The expressions of the Revered Stars on Baek Hye-hyang’s side hardened as they watched from nearby.
At that very moment.
Rumble!
An explosive energy erupted from Baek Hye-hyang’s body. A red haze rose from her entire frame and began to swirl rapidly. It was quite different from the energy of the Blood Heaven Great Achievement Art.
Could it be Reverse Blood?
Suddenly, I remembered what Baek Hye-hyang had told me at Peerless Fortress—that she had circulated the Blood Heaven Great Achievement Art in reverse. It seemed she was trying to forcibly suppress the rampaging blood vessels with the Reverse Blood Great Achievement Art to subjugate the Sword Heart of the Blood Demon Sword.
The Revered Stars on her side watched her intently. They seemed to be desperately hoping she would subdue the sword.
...Is she trying to suppress it by force?
It wasn't impossible. In fact, Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak had demonstrated that it could be done. However, there was a fundamental difference between her and Sama Chak.
“Urgh!”
A groan escaped Baek Hye-hyang’s lips. The black veins on the back of her hand bulged even more violently.
The enraged Blood Demon Sword pushed her blood vessels even further toward the breaking point. As the corruption spread past her hand to her wrist, Baek Hye-hyang, who had been gritting her teeth to subdue the sword’s will, finally dropped it.
Clang!
“How can this be...”
“Ah...”
Laments escaped the lips of the cultists and Revered Stars on Baek Hye-hyang’s side. Everyone had witnessed with their own eyes that she had not been chosen by the Blood Demon Sword.
It was an inevitable result. To begin with, Sama Chak was a master who had 'Broken the Wall.' Because he had opened and mastered the Spirit aspect of Essence, Energy, and Spirit, he could easily suppress the sword’s will.
“Is that sword the real Blood Demon Sword?”
Thanks to this, the real sword had been identified. Everyone’s gaze turned toward the Blood Demon Sword lying on the ground.
Baek Hye-hyang, her face pale and drenched in cold sweat, wore an expression of hollow disbelief. Was it because her dream had crumbled in an instant?
After staring blankly at the sword for a long time, Baek Hye-hyang finally opened her lips.
“You...”
“Wait a moment.”
Baek Hye-hyang frowned and looked at Baek Ryeonha, who had interrupted her. Baek Ryeonha approached the Blood Demon Sword on the ground.
Then she said, “It’s not over yet.”
“Young Lady!”
Raging Demon Lord Seo Gal-ma called out to her, sounding concerned. He had already seen her fail to hold the sword on the boat. Holding the sword here would only serve to elevate me, just as it had for Baek Hye-hyang.
I also wanted to stop her.
[You don't need to push yourself further.]
I sent a sound transmission, but Baek Ryeonha looked at me with a strange glint in her eyes and reached for the hilt of the Blood Demon Sword.
Since Baek Hye-hyang had already made her attempt, there was no justification to stop her. Trying to do so would only cause more strife.
Taking a deep breath, Baek Ryeonha gripped the hilt and lifted the sword.
“!?”
Then, an anomaly occurred. Her blood vessels should have gone wild because of the sword, but although her hand trembled slightly, she held the sword without any visible issue.
“How is this possible?”
“Young Lady!”
The Revered Stars following her could not hide their astonishment. It was as if they were witnessing a miracle.
Flash!
Baek Ryeonha raised the sword high toward the sky, just as I had done. At the sight, the cultists following her erupted in a frenzied roar.
“Waaaaaaaah!!!”
Blood Hand Witch Han Baek-ha even had a look of overwhelming emotion on her face.
“That child... was also chosen?”
On the other hand, Baek Hye-hyang couldn't take her eyes off the raised sword, her own eyes trembling as if she were in shock. The Revered Stars on her side closed their eyes with a sigh. It seemed to be out of disappointment that only their candidate had failed to be chosen.
“Hmph. I truly cannot make head or tail of this.”
Haeakcheon was also unable to hide his bewilderment. Only two months ago, Baek Ryeonha couldn't even touch the sword. Who could have predicted such a variable?
Then, the Third Venerable Blood King Gu Je-yang, who had been watching silently, stepped forward.
“If this is the case, then two people have been chosen by the Blood Demon Sword.”
Everyone’s attention shifted to him. As Gu Je-yang said, not one, but two people had been chosen. However, there couldn't be two Blood Demons.
Gu Je-yang gave a meaningful smile and spoke.
“This old man’s thought is this: since the result is like this, we must discuss the matter of legitimacy even further.”
“Legitimacy?”
“Is it not so? I see no reason to recognize someone who carries the blood of the Flying Moon Hero Sect—those who turned their backs on our cult to join Peerless Fortress—as the Blood Demon.”
The crowd began to murmur at his words. He had been watching the situation like a snake because he had a specific aim.
Blood Hand Witch Han Baek-ha, not wanting to miss this opportunity, shouted, “He is right! We have a Young Lady who is the direct descendant of the previous Cult Leader. For someone carrying the blood of the Flying Moon Hero Sect, who left the cult, to become the Blood Demon is also...”
“Shut up!”
Someone cut Han Baek-ha off. It was Baek Hye-hyang.
Having recovered somewhat from the aftermath of her rampaging blood vessels, she spoke, her color returning.
“Direct descendant or whatever—why does that crap matter? What matters is having the ability to bring prosperity to this cult!”
She was rebuking them with anger, but strangely, her resentment could be felt. Han Baek-ha flinched, slightly intimidated by her murderous aura.
At this, Gu Je-yang stepped further forward.
“If that were the case, anyone could become the Blood Demon. Whether it be the Imperial Family or the numerous martial families of the Central Plains, who would choose someone who left the family over a direct descendant...”
Slash!
Before he could even finish his sentence.
Gu Je-yang leaped back to avoid the sharp killing intent erupting from the Namcheon Iron Sword I had swung.
Gu Je-yang frowned and said to me, “What is the meaning of this?”
I smiled brightly at the man and said, “Thank you for revealing yourself, Blood Lord.”
“!?”
The moment the name 'Blood Lord' left my lips, Gu Je-yang’s expression froze.