Chapter 63: Blood Demon (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 63: Blood Demon (1)
Exclamations erupted from the cultists as they watched the poison mist soar into the sky.
A situation that could have easily turned disastrous had been averted, and now every eye was fixed on me.
When I raised my sword toward the heavens, the cultists let out a thunderous roar in unison.
"Waaaaaaaah!!!"
Factions no longer mattered.
With nearly ten thousand cultists shouting at once, the very earth seemed to tremble. They all looked at me as if I were a hero.
Haeakcheon shook his head in disbelief and sent a quiet message via Sound Transmission.
[What on earth happened to you while I wasn't looking?]
[I came across a small fortuitous encounter.]
[What? If that was a 'small' encounter, then what the hell do you call a big one?]
I tried to be humble, but I only ended up getting scolded. Even so, Haeakcheon seemed to be in a remarkably good mood.
[Heh heh. I’m the one who taught you, but for some reason, it feels like that bastard Namcheon Sword Guest has come back to life.]
My master, Haeakcheon, had always called himself the arch-rival of the Namcheon Sword Guest, Ho Jong-dae. Since he knew that man's swordsmanship better than anyone, he must have recognized the Sword Intent in the technique I just used.
"Hehe. That was so cool, Young Master!"
Sama Yeong ran toward me with a beaming smile. I was the one who had displayed such divine authority, yet she looked even more proud than I did. Perhaps she had begun to feel as though my accomplishments were her own.
In the distance, among the crowd of cultists, I saw Song Jwa-baek standing with his mouth agape. When our eyes met, he looked flustered and quickly turned his head away.
-How cute. He won't be able to talk about being your rival anymore.
The gap had grown too wide for that. However, it seemed he had worked hard over the past two months as well. His energy had increased significantly, reaching the peak of the First-Rate Master realm. If he could just gain a bit more enlightenment, he would likely reach the Supreme Peak Realm.
'The reputation of the Black-White Twin Ghosts wasn't just for show, I see.'
"Hmph."
A snort drifted from a short distance away. I turned to see Baek Hye-hyang watching me with her arms crossed. I could feel a strange sense of battle spirit in her eyes.
It was very much like her. After all, she was someone who hadn't lost her nerve even against Mu Ak, one of the former Five Great Villains. She wasn't the type to be intimidated just because my martial prowess had grown.
Just then, a voice groaned from the ground.
"Ugh... You... You brat..."
The one spitting out those resentful words was the Blood King—no, the Blood Lord Gu Je-yang. Having been forced out of his Poison Human state, he was covered in blood from the sword wounds covering his body. I had severed all the muscle meridians across his frame; he wouldn't be able to move a finger.
-He doesn't have that weird recovery ability anymore.
It seemed so. That was actually a relief. Otherwise, we wouldn't have had the chance to interrogate him.
Blood Lord Gu Je-yang spat out a mouthful of blood and glared at me.
"You... Just wait and see what consequences your actions bring. Cough."
"Hmph! You've still got a lot of nerve, don't you?"
Haeakcheon strode toward him. Looming over him like a giant shadow, Haeakcheon watched as Gu Je-yang let out a chilling laugh.
"The Blood Cult no longer has a way to survive. Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon... If you had stayed quiet, you might have at least preserved its legacy."
"What did you say?!"
Thwack!
"Urgh!"
Haeakcheon grabbed him by the throat and hoisted him up. Caught in Haeakcheon's massive, brutal hand, Gu Je-yang dangled helplessly. Even though he lacked the strength to resist, he continued to sneer as if intentionally provoking him.
"Spit it out. Is that golden-eyed bastard the one behind you?"
"Haah... Haah..."
"Speak! If you tell me everyone behind this, I'll spare your life for the sake of our old acquaintance."
"Haah... No need. Just kill me."
The man showed no fear of death. Instead, he rambled cryptically.
"Do you think this is the end? Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon... Hehehe."
"You've changed, Gu Je-yang. If the previous Cult Leader were still alive, he would have ripped out your organs and used your gallbladder to brew Blood Arts."
"What good is invoking the dead? Foolish man."
"Who are you calling foolish?!"
Thud!
"Gah!"
Gu Je-yang retched in pain from Haeakcheon's punch. Yet, his will remained unbroken.
"Ptooey."
"This bastard needs more—"
"If you had just let that girl Baek Ryeonha become the Cult Leader, none of this would have happened. But because of that boy, you've chosen the path to the slaughterhouse. You will regret this for—"
Squeeze!
"Ack!"
"What are you plotting?!"
At Haeakcheon's interrogation, Gu Je-yang gave a bloody grin and then tried to bite his own tongue. He was attempting suicide. Haeakcheon quickly struck his pressure points. He sealed the Mute Point and the paralysis points to keep his tongue from moving, then knocked him unconscious.
"Stubborn bastard."
Haeakcheon clicked his tongue. Baek Hye-hyang approached him.
"Listen, Venerable. He's a fish in a net now. Whether we pull out his fingernails or sear his belly with hot irons to make him talk, we can do it later. Let's handle the urgent matters first."
"As you wish, Young Lady."
Thud!
Agreeing with her, Haeakcheon slammed the man down onto the ground, still venting his frustration. High-ranking leaders came forward to bind him and drag him to one side.
"Be careful. Every drop of blood he spills is poison."
"Understood!"
Master Haeakcheon gave the warning, even though he himself hadn't cared about getting blood on him. It seemed the realm of the Red Blood Golden Body truly was immune to poison. Even when Gu Je-yang's vomit-flecked blood touched the back of his hand, he wasn't poisoned; instead, the toxic energy simply evaporated into smoke.
Baek Hye-hyang approached me with a grim expression, seemingly ready to settle things. Just then, the sound of retching reached our ears.
"Bleeegh!"
Baek Ryeonha was vomiting purple blood.
-Whoa. Is she going to be okay?
She didn't look okay at all. Her face had turned deathly pale from the sheer amount of blood she had lost. Baek Hye-hyang and I looked at each other before approaching her.
"What is the situation, First Venerable?"
The First Venerable, Blood Breaking Sword Emperor Dan Wi-gang, who had been purging the poison from Baek Ryeonha, frowned deeply.
"I have managed to expel the poison that invaded her internal organs. However, no matter how much internal energy I inject, I cannot completely clear the poison that has reached her brain."
"Her brain?"
"When I tried to force the toxic energy out, it reacted violently and tried to spread further. As a temporary measure, I have used my internal power to corral the poison into a corner. However..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but I could guess the rest. If left alone, the poison in her brain would eventually spread. Baek Ryeonha, who had been vomiting piteously, muttered to herself with vacant eyes.
"Why... why can't I have anything? Why..."
She was even shedding tears.
"Baek Ryeonha."
"I... I..."
Baek Hye-hyang called her name, but she continued to mutter as if in a trance, unaware of anyone around her. I couldn't tell what kind of poison would cause such symptoms.
-Didn't they call it Illusion Demon Poison?
I believe they did. But I wasn't a poison expert, so there was no way I'd know the details of every toxin. Seeing that even the First Venerable and Master Haeakcheon were puzzled by these symptoms, it was likely a new concoction created by Blood Lord Gu Je-yang.
"Young Lady!"
Blood Hand Witch Han Baek-ha rushed over and asked the First Venerable in a worried voice.
"Why is the Young Lady like this? Is there no way to help her, First Venerable?"
"There is nothing more I can do with internal energy. We must either seek the help of a divine healer or extract the antidote from that man."
Han Baek-ha bit her lip hard. Her eyes, as she looked at Baek Ryeonha, were filled with a sense of futility. Having lived only for Baek Ryeonha for over a decade, her despair was likely deeper than anyone's.
"Blood Flower Pill!"
"At your command!"
At Han Baek-ha's call, several women wearing white veils ran out from among the cultists. It was a unit composed of her disciples and subordinates. As everyone looked on in confusion, Han Baek-ha spoke.
"Her condition is too critical for her to remain here. I will take the Young Lady to the cultists trained in medicine."
"......Very well."
"And please, hand over the Third Venerable, Gu Je-yang, to me."
"What?"
Haeakcheon frowned and questioned her demand. Han Baek-ha pointed to the bound Blood Lord.
"We cannot stop the General Assembly right now, can we? Since the Young Lady's condition is dire, I will interrogate him and find the antidote."
Her logic wasn't flawed. However, there was one thing she had overlooked.
"That will not happen."
First Venerable Dan Wi-gang refused her firmly, his voice cold.
"And why not?"
Baek Hye-hyang suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"What is so funny?"
"Hey, Blood Hand Witch. You're in no position to be interrogating anyone right now."
"Excuse me?"
As Han Baek-ha looked on in confusion, Baek Hye-hyang's expression turned deadly serious.
"You are also a subject for interrogation."
"What do you mean by that!"
Shing!
Baek Hye-hyang's imitation Blood Demon Sword pointed at her throat with lightning speed. Han Baek-ha tried to retreat, sensing something was wrong, but Haeakcheon blocked her path from behind.
"Venerable! What is the meaning of this?"
"Blood Hand Witch. You served Lady Baek Ryeonha closely. You're not planning to get away with the excuse that you knew nothing while she ended up like this, are you?"
At Haeakcheon's interrogation, Han Baek-ha couldn't hide her panic. This was karma. In front of everyone, she had consistently defended Gu Je-yang and tried to manipulate public opinion to ensure Baek Ryeonha became the next Blood Demon. Now, it was impossible for her to escape suspicion by claiming she had no involvement.
Han Baek-ha shouted in desperation.
"I truly did not know! I have served the Young Lady since she first suffered from that strange illness that prevented her from learning martial arts. Do you really think I would conspire with that man?"
"And who was it that pushed Woon-hwi and me to the brink while harping on about that damn legitimacy?"
It seemed Baek Hye-hyang intended to use this opportunity to completely strip her of power. Han Baek-ha had provoked too many people here. Of course, if Baek Ryeonha had successfully become the Cult Leader, it might have been swept under the rug, but that was no longer the case.
"Second Venerable!"
Realizing she was in trouble, she called out to the Second Venerable, Raging Demon Lord Seo Gal-ma.
"You know, don't you? My only loyalty is to Lady Baek Ryeonha. Do you really believe I would collude with outsiders?"
She tried to escape the crisis by drawing Seo Gal-ma to her side. However, his reaction was lukewarm.
"I'm sorry, Blood Hand Witch. But you went too far."
"What did I do that was too far?"
Haeakcheon pressed her further.
"Hmph! You're asking because you don't know? You've told too many lies. Just a moment ago, didn't you try to deceive all the cultists by claiming Lady Baek Ryeonha was the one who retrieved the sword, when it was actually the Blood Demon himself?"
At those words, Han Baek-ha's face turned beet red as she screamed.
"Second Venerable, Fourth Venerable! You both knew that was the only choice in that situation, which is why you stayed silent! When you thought the Young Master was dead, you went along with it, and now you're acting like you're different—"
"Blood Hand Witch."
I cut her off. She turned to look at me with trembling eyes. Han Baek-ha was well aware of the situation. She knew who in this place was closest to becoming the Blood Demon, and who held the power to decide her fate.
Han Baek-ha calmed her breathing and spoke to me composedly.
"Young Master... It wasn't me. You've uncovered the truth of this incident with your brilliance, so you must know better than anyone that I have no connection to the Third Venerable."
I nodded silently. When I appeared to agree with her, contrary to her expectations, her expression brightened slightly. The others, surprised that I would side with her, frowned in confusion.
"The Sixth Blood Star is right. If she were truly in league with that man, she would be more concerned with saving her own life than worrying about interrogations or antidotes. Why would she act in a way that invites suspicion?"
[Have you lost your mind?]
As I defended her, Baek Hye-hyang sent me a message via Sound Transmission, sounding incredulous.
[Because it's the truth.]
[Are you naive or just stupid? If you don't deal with that woman now, she'll be a thorn in our side forever. Are you really planning to let her go?]
[Who said anything about letting her go?]
At my words, one of Baek Hye-hyang's eyebrows arched. She would soon understand what I meant. Unaware of this, Han Baek-ha looked at me with gratitude.
"Young Master. I have no personal ill will toward you. If I did, why would I have recognized you as the Blood Demon at the Yangtze River and tried to arrange a match between you and the Young Lady?"
"Yes, yes. I'm sure. It was all out of your singular loyalty to Lady Baek Ryeonha."
"Thank you for understanding."
"However, we still need to settle the issues that need settling."
"Pardon?"
Flash!
Before she could finish her sentence, I closed the distance between us. Startled, she tried to back away, but Haeakcheon was guarding her rear, leaving her no escape. In an instant, I placed my palm against her Dantian.
"Master!"
Seeing her in danger, the women in white veils tried to step forward. But how could they dare to act recklessly in front of the Venerables?
"You'd best stay right where you are."
At Haeakcheon's murderous warning, they froze in place, trembling. Since I hadn't yet released any internal power through my palm, Han Baek-ha asked in confusion.
"......What is the meaning of this?"
"To 'help' Lady Baek Ryeonha, you went to great lengths to ensure I couldn't attend the General Assembly, even going so far as to destroy the ciphers. Can you deny it?"
"Th-that was..."
"You claim Lady Baek Ryeonha acted as she did because of the poison, but even after I appeared here, you sided with the enemy to suppress me. Can you deny that?"
"Young Master. I was only doing what was best for the Young Lady—"
"You call it loyalty, but it looks a lot like personal malice to me."
As I applied pressure with my hand, she panicked and tried to strike my hand away using her Blood Jade Hand. But before she could move, Haeakcheon seized her wrist.
Grip!
"Hmph! Stay still."
In her desperation, she began to plead.
"Y-Young Master, stop. This will never happen again. I will swear my loyalty to you, so please, just leave my Dantian—"
Crunch!
Before she could finish, my fingers dug in, and her Dantian was shattered by a surge of internal power. Han Baek-ha, who had been shouting at me venomously, had her face contorted in agony. I knew this pain better than anyone. It was absolutely unbearable.
"AAAAAAAAAAAH!"
A scream bordering on a death rattle erupted from her throat. I leaned in and whispered into her ear.
"Keep your hollow loyalty. There is no place for you in the Blood Cult I lead."
At my words, Han Baek-ha's bloodshot eyes trembled violently.
"Aaaauuugh!"
I had nothing more to say to her. As I stood up, Han Baek-ha, her face flushed red with pain, shrieked with pure hatred.
"Aaaaah! So Woon-hwi, you bastard—"
Grab!
"Agh!"
Baek Hye-hyang roughly grabbed Han Baek-ha by the hair as she screamed. Then, with a cruel smile, she spoke.
"You're lucky. If it were me, I would have started by cutting out that three-inch tongue of yours."