Chapter 97: Live Anyway
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 97: Live Anyway
Rumble!
Thunder echoed from a sky choked with dark clouds.
Though it was noon, the heavens had turned so somber it felt as if rain would pour at any moment.
This was the cemetery of the holy land, Spirit Mountain, where the remains of deceased cult members were laid to rest. To the northwest lay the new burial grounds, where those who had recently fallen in battle were interred.
In front of a grave marked by a fresh headstone, a red-haired woman sat dressed in funeral attire, her face devoid of soul.
It was Baek Ryeonha.
She stared at the headstone with hollow, vacant eyes, looking like someone who had lost her mind.
Watching her from a distance was another woman, dressed in black light armor and wearing a bamboo hat.
"Is she still at it?"
At my question, the woman in the bamboo hat replied.
"Yes."
The woman was none other than Baek Hye-hyang.
Unlike her usual self, Baek Hye-hyang’s expression was unreadable, her gaze fixed intently on her half-sister, Baek Ryeonha.
Baek Hye-hyang bit her lip and muttered.
"…Stupid girl."
I let out a sigh at her words. Not everything in this world goes according to plan.
Yes.
She looks like she’s about to collapse. She’s pushing herself to the limit despite her broken body.
The Second Venerable, Seo Gal-ma, and even my masters had tried to bring her back personally, but seeing her in that state, they hadn't the heart to touch her.
I looked at the new grave standing solitary before Baek Ryeonha.
The epitaph on the headstone read: Han Baek-ha, the Blood Hand Witch.
Pitter-patter!
Raindrops began to fall. The light drizzle quickly intensified, soaking the cemetery.
Grit!
Grinding her teeth, Baek Hye-hyang strode toward Baek Ryeonha. Whether she approached or not, Baek Ryeonha simply continued to stare at the grave with glazed eyes.
Baek Hye-hyang leaned down beside her.
"How long are you going to sit here looking so pathetic?"
"……."
"Do you think that woman is going to crawl out of her grave just because you’re sitting there like a lunatic?"
At those words, Baek Ryeonha’s vacant eyes suddenly sharpened with a fierce edge.
Until now, she hadn't shown the slightest interest in anything anyone said. But it seemed she could not tolerate those words from Baek Hye-hyang.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Baek Ryeonha raised her hand to slap her, but Baek Hye-hyang wasn't about to just take it. She roughly snatched Baek Ryeonha’s trembling, weak wrist out of the air.
"Do you really think you can slap me with that broken body of yours?"
Baek Ryeonha’s pupils shook. Her eyes began to turn red and well with tears.
She whimpered.
"Augh… Auuuugh…"
Seeing her unable to even speak properly, I took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.
Due to the effects of the poison in her brain, she had reached a point where she couldn't even form words. My heart grew heavy looking at her. I felt as though this was partly my fault, so I couldn't bring myself to step closer.
As Baek Ryeonha struggled to hold back her sobs, Baek Hye-hyang spoke.
"Stop staring into space and just cry."
"Auuugh…"
Shuaaaaaaa!
The downpour grew heavier. Baek Hye-hyang took off her bamboo hat, swept her damp hair back, and spoke.
"No one can tell if you're crying in this rain anyway."
As if those words were the breaking point, Baek Ryeonha, who had been desperately holding it in, finally burst into tears, her face contorting in agony.
"Auuuugh-aaaaah!"
She wailed as if the world were ending, her face a blur of tears and rain.
*
Just six days ago.
On the day the five branch vanguards of the Martial Alliance launched their invasion.
The Blood Cult’s headquarters at Spirit Mountain had been emptied of all but a skeleton crew. If they couldn't stop this invasion, the Blood Cult would perish anyway, so it wasn't a situation where they could afford to hold back their strength.
In a detached villa within the headquarters.
Clang! Clatter!
The sound of dragging chains echoed through the hallway of the villa.
The woman walking down the hall, dressed entirely in black, was the Blood Hand Witch, Han Baek-ha.
As a prisoner, her legs were shackled, and the sound of the chains scraping against the floor rang through the corridor with every step. In her one remaining hand, she carried a tray with a bowl of steaming porridge.
She stopped in front of the master bedroom.
"Young Lady. I am coming in."
Despite her words, the room remained deathly silent.
With an expressionless face, Han Baek-ha took a long breath and opened the door. Inside the dark room, Baek Ryeonha lay on the bed, staring blankly at nothing.
Han Baek-ha approached her slowly. She placed the tray on a round table by the bed and helped Baek Ryeonha sit up. Then, she picked up the bowl and blew on a spoonful of porridge.
"You must eat."
Baek Ryeonha didn't respond. Accustomed to this, Han Baek-ha brought the cooled spoonful to her lips.
"Open your mouth."
"……."
"You need to eat to regain your strength."
Even at the coaxing, Baek Ryeonha remained unresponsive. Han Baek-ha carefully moved the spoon toward her lips again.
Suddenly, Baek Ryeonha swatted it away.
Smack!
The spoon flew across the room, and porridge splattered over the bed.
Baek Ryeonha opened her mouth.
"Augh… Auuuugh…"
She was so broken she couldn't even articulate sounds. The masters of the cult had taken turns using their internal energy to suppress the poison in her brain, but there was no way to stop it from spreading slowly.
Even the most skilled physicians had given up; the Illusion Demon Poison was gradually eating away at her body.
"Sigh…"
Han Baek-ha closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh.
Thanks to the First Venerable’s internal energy treatments and the physicians' desperate efforts, Baek Ryeonha had regained some semblance of consciousness a month ago, but she had lost all will to live. She refused to eat, like someone simply waiting for death.
"Auuugh! Auuuugh!"
Baek Ryeonha waved her hand, gesturing for her to leave.
Looking at her, Han Baek-ha spoke in a heavy voice.
"It is not your fault, Young Lady. It is all mine."
"Auuugh…"
"…It is my fault for failing to stop Gu Je-yang’s scheme."
Baek Ryeonha was tormented by the fact that she had been poisoned and manipulated. Han Baek-ha had been constantly trying to soothe her, as she wanted to die. Having cared for Baek Ryeonha since she was an infant, Han Baek-ha could not let her perish.
Han Baek-ha picked up the fallen spoon, wiped it on her sleeve, and scooped more porridge.
"You must live. Only then can you do anything."
"Auuugh…"
"You must eat."
Han Baek-ha forced the spoon into her mouth. Even when Baek Ryeonha spat it out, she kept trying.
It was then.
Slide!
The door opened. Han Baek-ha turned her head and frowned.
"You!"
"It’s been a while, Sixth Blood Star."
A scarred old man stood in the doorway.
It was the traitor and former Third Venerable, Blood King Gu Je-yang. Han Baek-ha couldn't hide her shock at seeing the man who should have been locked away in the Golden Prison.
"How are you here…?"
Grip!
At that moment, Baek Ryeonha grabbed Han Baek-ha’s wrist tightly. Something was wrong with her. The moment she saw the Blood King, her breathing became ragged, and she began to shake with terror.
Han Baek-ha held her hand and demanded of him.
"What have you done to her!"
"The suggestion of the Illusion Demon Poison still remains, it seems."
Gu Je-yang was the one who had used the poison to implant the hypnotic suggestions. Baek Ryeonha was still under that influence.
Seeing Baek Ryeonha’s state, Han Baek-ha’s rage flared.
"Return the Young Lady to normal this instant!"
Gu Je-yang gave a thin smile.
"That is exactly why I am here."
"What?"
Han Baek-ha’s eyes wavered. Then, a voice came from behind Gu Je-yang.
"Blood Lord. We must hurry."
"It will only take a moment."
Gu Je-yang, addressed as the Blood Lord, turned back to Han Baek-ha.
"Blood Hand Witch. I’ll be blunt. Don’t you want to return everything to the way it was?"
"Return it?"
In response to her question, Gu Je-yang pointed at Baek Ryeonha.
"From the looks of it, the Illusion Demon Poison has affected her brain so much she can barely speak."
"Are you threatening me?"
"Threatening? No, I’m making a proposal."
"A proposal?"
Gu Je-yang whispered in a smooth, soft voice.
"I can neutralize her poison and restore your dantian. Ah, of course, not me—but the one I serve."
"The one you serve?"
"Yes. He has conquered life and death; nothing is impossible for him."
Han Baek-ha was momentarily speechless. Since her dantian had been destroyed, she had abandoned all hope of ever recovering her martial arts. Furthermore, she was a high-ranking criminal of the Blood Cult.
"I think it’s a fair offer. Oh! I almost forgot. He has already designated Lady Baek Ryeonha as the next Cult Leader."
"Designated her as the Cult Leader?"
Han Baek-ha found it absurd. Who was this person to decide the succession of the Blood Cult at his whim?
Ignoring her reaction, Gu Je-yang continued.
"Once this war is over, Lady Baek Ryeonha will be the only one left of the Baek bloodline anyway."
"What do you mean by that?"
Locked away in the villa with Baek Ryeonha, she knew nothing of the outside world. She had only vaguely noticed that there were fewer people around than usual.
"I suppose you didn't know. I only found out after leaving the Golden Prison, but that monstrous old man, the First Venerable, is dead. And the one who became the Cult Leader is on the verge of death, having been cut by the Killing Fiend’s Calamity Slaughter Sword."
"On the verge of death?"
"And with the Martial Alliance bringing a massive army, the outcome is obvious."
She hadn't known any of this. If it were true, the Blood Cult was facing its greatest crisis. It finally made sense how Gu Je-yang had managed to escape the Golden Prison. The headquarters was currently vulnerable.
"The Peerless Hegemon Saber has moved personally, so the war won't last long. If you decide now, I will take you and the Young Lady to him."
Han Baek-ha couldn't help but waver. The only ones who could possibly heal Baek Ryeonha in this state were the Divine Healer of Ten Thousand Ailments or the Blood King, Gu Je-yang. Since the Divine Healer’s whereabouts were unknown, he was the only option.
Seeing her hesitation, Gu Je-yang pressed on.
"Will you miss this chance? Don't you want to protect Lady Baek Ryeonha, the only one with true legitimacy?"
"……."
Han Baek-ha looked down at Baek Ryeonha, who was still gripping her arm. Seeing her trembling with fear, Han Baek-ha bit her lip. She had no choice. If she refused, he would likely kill them both before leaving.
Finally, she nodded.
Gu Je-yang smiled broadly.
"I knew you’d make the right choice. Now, bring the Young Lady and follow me."
"The Young Lady is not in a good state. It’s difficult for me to support her alone."
"Don't worry. Young Lady, please follow me."
At Gu Je-yang’s command, Baek Ryeonha’s trembling stopped. Han Baek-ha was inwardly appalled. She hadn't realized the power of the brainwashing was this terrifying—that even after all that treatment, a few words could control her physical reactions.
"Now, follow."
Han Baek-ha supported Baek Ryeonha as they stepped out of the room. In the hallway, she saw the bodies of servants and guards scattered about. Seeing how they had been killed silently, the masked man leading Gu Je-yang clearly possessed formidable martial prowess.
Is there really a war going on?
There were noticeably few people in the headquarters. It seemed that, indeed, everyone except a few left to guard the prison had been mobilized for the war.
The masked man and Gu Je-yang headed toward the stables. It seemed they intended to escape on horseback.
Once they were clear of the villa's surroundings, the masked man told them to wait while he went ahead to scout the situation.
As they waited, Gu Je-yang chuckled softly.
"It’s truly unpredictable, isn't it? Who would have thought such heavenly luck would follow me?"
"……."
"It’s a pity. I was looking forward to the day I could kill that brat in the Golden Prison with my own hands."
She knew who he was talking about. He had been utterly crushed by that person. It was a miracle he had endured such harsh torture fueled only by a desire for revenge. Or perhaps he had been certain someone would come to rescue him?
Suddenly, her eyes flickered as she looked up at the sky.
Ah!
If her eyes weren't deceiving her, she had seen it. Unaware, Gu Je-yang continued to prattle on.
"Well, it doesn't matter. He’s destined to die anyway. You will thank me for this choice for the rest of your life."
"…Is that so?"
"Do you think another golden opportunity to restore your dantian and make the Young Lady you follow so loyally the Cult Leader will ever come again?"
As Gu Je-yang spoke triumphantly, Han Baek-ha approached him cautiously.
"You will release the hypnotic suggestion, won't you?"
"…I will, at the appropriate time. At the appropriate time."
At those words, Han Baek-ha’s expression turned cold. She carefully pulled something from her robe.
It was a sharp shard of a bronze mirror. She had carried it with her ever since her dantian was destroyed and she was confined to the villa. It was meant for her to take her own life if anything ever happened to Baek Ryeonha.
Gu Je-yang, who was keeping watch, turned his head.
"Don't get any ideas. You should know that with a single word, I can still—"
At that exact moment.
Thuck!
"Gah!"
Han Baek-ha stabbed Gu Je-yang in the chest with lightning speed. Since his dantian was also destroyed, he couldn't avoid her surprise attack.
"You bitch…!"
Han Baek-ha spoke fiercely.
"I may have lived for the Young Lady, but I am still a member of the Blood Cult. Did you think I would stand by and watch a piece of filth like you manipulate her for your own greed?"
"You wench!"
Grip!
Gu Je-yang grabbed Han Baek-ha’s wrist with both hands. Even though he was wounded, she only had one arm. She couldn't overpower his two hands.
Vicious woman!
Even as blood flowed from her palm where she gripped the mirror shard, Han Baek-ha tried to hold her ground with her one arm. Gu Je-yang kicked her in the stomach.
Thud!
"Agh!"
Gu Je-yang staggered, clutching the shard in his chest. It looked like pulling it out would cause severe bleeding.
Suddenly, Han Baek-ha screamed at the top of her lungs.
"OVER HEREEEEEE!!!"
Gu Je-yang looked at her with disbelief.
"Do you think anyone will save you just because you scream? The cultists left here aren't even worth a single strike from the Gal Ju."
Gu Je-yang had absolute confidence in the masked man who had come to rescue him. In truth, there was no master currently in the headquarters who could match him.
"AAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
"Shut up!"
Gu Je-yang, holding the shard with one hand, lunged at the screaming Han Baek-ha. In that instant, Han Baek-ha grabbed his arm and threw him over her shoulder.
Crash!
"Urgh!"
Even without internal energy, she had once been a Peerless Master. Her basic external martial arts were still formidable. After slamming Gu Je-yang down, Han Baek-ha desperately stomped on the shard embedded in his chest.
"GYAAAAAAAGH!"
She immediately ran and grabbed Baek Ryeonha’s hand.
"Young Lady, we must run!"
Holding the hand of the dazed girl, Han Baek-ha tried to flee.
At that moment.
Thuck!
Han Baek-ha looked down at her chest. A blade had pierced through her from behind.
The Gal Ju had appeared out of nowhere and stabbed her through the back.
Schwing!
"Cough…"
As the sword was withdrawn, Han Baek-ha coughed up blood and collapsed forward with Baek Ryeonha. Baek Ryeonha, with her vacant eyes, was like a wooden doll.
Han Baek-ha looked at her with a piteous expression.
"Young Lady…"
At the thought that she had failed to protect Baek Ryeonha in the end, the eyes of the woman once called the Cold-Blooded Witch began to tear up.
Gu Je-yang staggered toward them.
"Damned bitch!"
Practically snatching the sword from the Gal Ju, Gu Je-yang stabbed Han Baek-ha in the back.
Thuck! Thuck!
"I don't need a one-armed wench anyway."
Losing his mind in a fit of rage, Gu Je-yang stabbed Han Baek-ha repeatedly. As he did, he suddenly felt a chill.
Han Baek-ha was bracing herself on her one arm, holding her body up so that Baek Ryeonha, who was beneath her, wouldn't be hit by the blade.
"T-this woman…"
She made him feel disgusted until the very end. Gu Je-yang raised the sword to take Han Baek-ha’s head in one stroke.
At that exact moment.
Slash!
"Guh-ack!"
The shoulder of the arm holding the sword was severed. Gu Je-yang looked at his right arm twitching on the ground in utter shock. A sharp killing intent had suddenly flown through the air.
The moment he looked up through the pain—
"How are you…?"
A red-haired man wearing an evil ghost mask was charging toward him. There was no time to dodge. A palm struck his face.
Crack-crunch!
Gu Je-yang’s neck snapped and was driven down into his torso. With his head forced into his chest, there was no way to survive. Gu Je-yang died instantly.
"What!"
Seeing Gu Je-yang fall in an instant, the Gal Ju hurriedly tried to strike the masked man with a sword finger.
Slash!
But his extended hand was severed instantly. He was a man who had reached the Supreme Peak Realm and prided himself on not losing to almost anyone.
T-this guy is different.
The man before him was a literal monster.
"D-damn it!"
The Gal Ju didn't even look back as he took flight. There was no other way but to flee.
However, escaping from the man in the evil ghost mask was impossible. In an instant, the man overtook him and subdued him.
Meanwhile…
Drip! Splash!
The blood flowing from Han Baek-ha soaked Baek Ryeonha’s face. As the warm blood continued to drench her, Baek Ryeonha’s vacant pupils eventually returned to normal.
Her eyes trembled.
"Augh…"
She saw the pale face of Han Baek-ha. Baek Ryeonha didn't know what to do as she watched her die. She had to save her.
At that moment, the strength in Han Baek-ha’s bracing arm gave out, and she collapsed onto her.
"Auuuugh…"
The dying Han Baek-ha painfully reached out a hand to Baek Ryeonha’s head. Stroking her hair, she whispered.
"…You… must live."
"Auuuugh! Aaaaahhh…"
Tears burst from Baek Ryeonha’s eyes like a flood. She couldn't control it. This woman had cared for her like a nanny—no, like a mother—since she was a child.
"Aaaaaah! Aaaaaah!"
"…If you… cry like that… how can I…"
With those final words, the hand stroking her head fell limp. Baek Ryeonha clung to her and wailed. She screamed as if to rend the heavens.
*
Shuaaaaaaa!
The rain continued to fall.
But Baek Ryeonha’s wailing had stopped. After over an hour of sobbing before the grave, her voice had gone completely hoarse.
Looking at her, Baek Hye-hyang spoke.
"Do you want to die? Live anyway."
Baek Ryeonha bit her lip. Her eyes were no longer those of someone waiting for death.
Baek Hye-hyang turned and walked toward me, as if she had finished her duty.
"You actually acted like a proper older sister."
"Sister, my foot," Baek Hye-hyang snorted. Then she said to me, "I’ll find the Divine Healer. So you catch that bastard. Without fail!"
"…I will."
Even if she hadn't said it, I would catch him. He and I are tied together by too many ill fates. I must sever that chain.
"I feel like crap, so I’m going to drink until I’m blind today."
"Your body probably hasn't healed yet."
"Who cares!"
Baek Hye-hyang donned her wet bamboo hat and leaped away. They had been snarling at each other as if they’d kill one another, but I guess blood is thicker than water after all.
I should head down now, too.
No.
She’ll make her own way down now.
As I turned to descend from the gravesite, I saw Baek Ryeonha carving something into the headstone.
[我的媽媽—My Mother]