Chapter 98: To the Martial Alliance
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 98: To the Martial Alliance
A room lit by a single flickering oil lamp.
A figure wearing a bamboo hat with a black veil entered, leaning on a staff. Upon spotting a silhouette standing with hands behind its back in front of a bookshelf, the newcomer asked, “Did he send you?”
The silhouette replied without turning around. “He did.”
Hearing the voice, the veiled figure immediately recognized the identity of the black shadow.
“To think you would come in person…”
“There is no need for idle chatter. How did that matter turn out?”
At the shadow’s question, the veiled figure dragged their staff along and sat in a chair before answering. “A variable has emerged.”
“A variable?”
“I set the stage for a power struggle between the former Alliance Leader and the Deputy Alliance Leader, but Bukyeong Doseong recommended the Lesser Sword Immortal as a candidate for the position.”
“The Lesser Sword Immortal?”
The black shadow could not hide its bewilderment. After a moment, it continued, “His whereabouts should be unknown.”
The last time he had been seen was during an informal duel with Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun at an inn. Since then, his trail had gone completely cold.
The veiled figure asked, “On that note, is it possible he has reappeared?”
“That is unknown. He ordered us to track the Lesser Sword Immortal’s every move, but seven months ago, the man vanished as if he had evaporated into thin air.”
“Then the situation remains uncertain.”
“Indeed. However, the plan remains unchanged.”
“Heh heh heh.”
The veiled figure let out a dry chuckle at the shadow’s words. “That works out well. In fact, I intend to use this variable to verify something.”
“Verify?”
“The fact that Bukyeong Doseong recommended the Lesser Sword Immortal, whose whereabouts have been unknown, suggests he might be connected to him.”
“I see.”
“Therefore, we have decided to proceed without publicly announcing the election of the next Alliance Leader.”
“There must have been backlash?”
“I claimed that if we held a public election, the Blood Cult might interfere, so everything must be handled in absolute secrecy.”
“A clever approach.”
If they did it that way, they could reduce the manpower needed by monitoring only Bukyeong Doseong. This would eventually reveal the nature of his relationship with the Lesser Sword Immortal.
“However, I doubt you sought me out merely for a progress report.”
“We need the Vice Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Family.”
“The Tang Family?”
Tang Woo-jung, the Vice Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Family. He was the Ninth Elder of the current Martial Alliance and the foremost expert in poison arts within the Orthodox Faction.
“For what purpose?”
“A significant amount of our reserve Illusion Demon Poison was consumed while brainwashing that man.”
The veiled figure could not hide their surprise. “Does that mean you have finally succeeded in the brainwashing?”
“Yes. But as a result, we are short on Illusion Demon Poison.”
“...It seems the attempt to capture the Blood Lord failed after all.”
The Blood Lord was the one who had created the Illusion Demon Poison. They had intended to use the Martial Alliance’s subjugation war as an opportunity to seize him, but the mission had ended in failure.
“If only you or Seol Baek had moved personally…”
“That is no longer necessary.”
“No longer necessary? Why is that?”
“The Blood Lord is dead.”
“How can this be… Then the formula for the Illusion Demon Poison is truly lost.”
Only the Blood Lord knew the exact composition of the poison. Since the capture had failed, they needed a contingency plan.
The veiled figure clicked their tongue. “Then the Gal Ju must be dead as well.”
“No.”
“He succeeded in escaping?”
“He did.”
“That is a relief amidst such heavy losses to our strength. Then I assume you know who killed the Blood Lord?”
“It was the Blood Demon.”
“Hmph… First the Lesser Sword Immortal, and now the Blood Demon. That man continues to be a thorn in our side.”
The Blood Demon’s existence had already begun to grate on them following the defeat in the subjugation war. If things had gone according to plan, the Blood Cult should have been moving according to their will.
“In any case, like Peerless Fortress, the Blood Cult has ultimately ended in failure.”
“Why do you think it was a failure?”
“I assumed they wouldn't touch the Blood Lord for the sake of Baek Ryeonha’s detoxification. Killing him anyway means they’ve given up on her, does it not? If they haven't secured Baek Ryeonha, then moving the Blood Cult, which values bloodlines so highly…”
“Heh heh heh.”
“Why are you laughing?”
“We lost the Blood Lord, but what makes you think we failed to secure Baek Ryeonha?”
“What do you mean by that?”
The black shadow spoke in a meaningful tone. “Nothing is easier to manipulate than a woman consumed by a thirst for revenge.”
Rattle! Clatter!
Inside a swaying carriage.
There sat a woman with red hair, her eyes covered by a thick cloth. Black veins were visible through the skin of her face; it was Baek Ryeonha.
Sitting across from her was a middle-aged man covered in scars, his arms crossed. Why was she, who should have been with the Blood Cult, traveling with a stranger in a carriage?
The middle-aged man, who had been staring intently at the blindfolded woman, spoke. “We will arrive soon.”
“Augh… ugh…”
The man clicked his tongue inwardly at her inability to speak properly.
The side effects of the Illusion Demon Poison are truly terrifying.
Even though she was broken like this, her will was remarkably steadfast. If she hadn't risked her life to help him escape from the underground Golden Prison, he would have shared the same fate as the Blood Lord.
She is a formidable woman.
When he first saw her, she seemed to have no will to live. But after losing her people, she had become a literal avatar of vengeance. It would have been disastrous if that revenge were directed at them, but her rage was focused solely on the current Blood Demon.
The Blood Lord’s death turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
If the Blood Lord were still alive, the situation would be different. But she believed that losing her precious people to the Blood Lord was entirely the current Blood Demon’s fault. She thought his decision to keep the Blood Lord alive had brought about this entire situation.
Well, it’s only natural for a legitimate successor to be furious after losing everything to collateral lines or those of lowly birth.
She had handed over quite useful information—specifically, that those currently holding power in the Blood Cult lacked legitimacy. She even claimed the current Blood Demon held a grave secret, one that would deal a devastating blow if it were revealed.
However, she refused to tell him that secret.
[Let me meet the one at the very top.]
That was her demand. Despite being poisoned and in a position of weakness, she accurately understood her own utility. She intended to contact the highest authority to get what she wanted.
She doesn't know who ‘He’ is.
It was unfortunate, but that person was not one to be trifled with. He would likely inject her with more Illusion Demon Poison to brainwash her completely. Once that happened, she would naturally confess the Blood Demon’s secret.
It would have been better if I could have uncovered it myself.
It was a shame, but this seemed sufficient. At the very least, he had succeeded in securing Baek Ryeonha.
Will this achievement be enough to receive the procedure for immortality?
Many who followed the organization desired it. Their ultimate goal was to perform great deeds and receive the treatment for eternal life.
“Augh… ugh…”
Clink!
Baek Ryeonha frowned in pain and clutched her head. However, she was unable to move freely, her hands restricted by the chains of her shackles.
The poison must be painful.
She cried out in pain from time to time. She seemed to be suffering from a severe headache caused by the Illusion Demon Poison.
“Just endure a little longer.”
Even though her body was ruined, he had driven needles into her Seven Great Vital Points and shackled her hands and feet just in case. She could never escape their grasp.
Before long, the carriage carrying the suffering woman entered a manor as grand as a palace. When the carriage stopped, the middle-aged man led the blindfolded woman outside.
“You have worked hard, Gal Ju.”
Numerous warriors were waiting outside. An elderly man with half-white hair, who appeared to be their leader, greeted him.
The man called Gal Ju whispered something to the elder via Sound Transmission. The elder nodded.
“Follow me.”
At the elder’s words, Gal Ju supported the blindfolded Baek Ryeonha.
“Augh… ugh…”
“You will soon be able to see the person you desire.”
“Ugh.”
Baek Ryeonha nodded. They passed several pavilions and entered a three-story main hall. Instead of going upstairs, they descended into the basement and eventually entered a room.
Inside the room were a table and two chairs. Several sheets of paper were stacked on the table, with a brush and ink set beside them.
Gal Ju sat Baek Ryeonha down and said, “Please wait a moment.”
Baek Ryeonha nodded. Shortly after, the sound of someone entering the room was heard.
The door opened, and a woman wearing a bamboo hat and a purple fur coat appeared. Strands of hair peeking through the hat had a silvery hue.
Upon seeing her, Gal Ju bowed respectfully. Ignoring him with an arrogant air, the silver-haired woman in the bamboo hat sat across from Baek Ryeonha.
Baek Ryeonha opened her mouth. “Augh… ugh…”
Gal Ju explained, “The Illusion Demon Poison has affected her brain so severely that she cannot speak properly.”
“She can still write, I assume.”
“Communication is possible that way.”
“Put a brush in her hand.”
At her command, Gal Ju dipped a brush in ink and placed it in Baek Ryeonha’s shackled hand. As she held the brush, the silver-haired woman spoke.
“I heard you wanted to see the one at the top?”
At those words, Baek Ryeonha wrote on the paper with a trembling hand. Because she was blindfolded, the handwriting was a mess, but it wasn't illegible.
[Are you the highest authority in this organization?]
The silver-haired woman replied with a cold expression. “Let’s just say I am the closest thing to it.”
Baek Ryeonha moved the brush again.
[I requested the one at the very top.]
The silver-haired woman snorted at the writing. “He is not someone you can see just because you want to.”
Scratch, scratch, scratch!
[Then I have nothing more to say.]
“What?”
[The one at the top was promised, and I intended to make a pact with that person.]
The corners of the silver-haired woman’s mouth twisted. Gal Ju clicked his tongue inwardly. She had finally provoked her.
Of all people, why did she have to be the one to come?
She was someone whose actions always preceded her words.
As the silver-haired woman raised her hand, someone entered carrying a tray. On it was a small incense burner-like object, filled with a thick black liquid and several acupuncture needles.
Once it was placed on the table, the silver-haired woman spoke. “Let’s just say there are other ways to make you talk besides voluntary cooperation.”
At the threat, Baek Ryeonha scribbled as if in a frenzy.
[Are you saying you will force me to speak?]
“You catch on quickly.”
Baek Ryeonha let out a deep sigh. The silver-haired woman sneered.
“I will ask one last time. What is the Blood Demon’s secret?”
Her hand was already reaching for the needles in the small burner. If she didn't get an answer, she intended to drive a needle into a pressure point in the woman's head immediately.
Baek Ryeonha picked up the brush with a trembling hand.
“I suppose you didn't want to be forced.”
The silver-haired woman chuckled. She looked down at the paper to see the Blood Demon’s secret, but only two characters were written there.
[雪白—Seol Baek]
“!?”
The silver-haired woman’s eyes widened behind the veil of her bamboo hat. The name written on the paper was none other than her own. She was Seol Baek, one of the three confidants serving the Jonju.
“...How do you know who I am?”
Gal Ju was equally bewildered. He couldn't understand how the blindfolded Baek Ryeonha had identified Seol Baek just by her voice.
“I’ll let you answer that.”
Seol Baek was always faster to act than to talk when it came to resolving such questions. she snatched a needle and tried to plunge it into a pressure point on Baek Ryeonha’s head in a single motion.
It was at that moment.
Clang!
Baek Ryeonha spread her arms, using the chains of her shackles to block Seol Baek’s hand.
“How?”
Gal Ju could not hide his shock. Baek Ryeonha was supposed to be ruined by the Illusion Demon Poison. Furthermore, her Seven Great Vital Points were blocked; she shouldn't have been able to block Seol Baek’s move.
Seol Baek released a chilling aura and spoke in a fierce voice. “Who are you?”
At that question, Baek Ryeonha spoke.
“Whew. It really isn't easy to get an audience with the Golden Emperor.”
“!!!”
Amazingly, she was speaking perfectly fine.
She can talk?
Gal Ju, who had been with her all this time, was so stunned he was speechless. But that was only for a moment. What shocked them even more was the title she had mentioned: the Golden Emperor.
“Subdue her!”
At Gal Ju’s shout, the warriors in the room tried to rush her. In that instant, Baek Ryeonha’s body trembled violently. Then, sharp needles erupted from her body—from her spine and various pressure point locations.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
“Ugh!”
“Gah!”
The needles that burst forth were fired like hidden weapons at everyone in the room. Gal Ju and the elderly man managed to dodge, but the others were pierced through the neck and head, dying instantly.
“You wench!”
Seol Baek, having lightly dodged the flying needles, was enraged and prepared to strike Baek Ryeonha with a palm.
It was exactly then.
Suddenly, Baek Ryeonha reached her hand toward the ceiling. They couldn't understand what she was doing, but then—
Rumble! Crash!
The ceiling shook with a thunderous roar.
“What on earth…”
Before they could process the sound, the ceiling was pierced, and a single sword was sucked accurately into Baek Ryeonha’s hand.
Seol Baek’s face contorted as she muttered, “The Blood Demon Sword?”
It was unmistakably the Blood Demon Sword. However, the hilt of the sword was drenched and stained with blood.
Just then, someone burst through the basement door in a panic.
“I-it’s a disaster! A sword suddenly started flying through the entire manor, slaughtering warriors at random and—ah!”
The man stopped mid-sentence, speechless as he saw the sword held in Baek Ryeonha’s hand.
The sword was right here.