Chapter 22: Who is the Winner? (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 22: Who is the Winner? (3)
-I knew it. You’re not the type to just take a loss. I’ve been feeling this lately, but your guts are starting to resemble Hae Ak-cheon’s.
Hmm.
Why does that feel like a backhanded compliment?
Regardless, I couldn't afford to come out empty-handed.
I was prepared to draw the ire of other factions by joining the ranks of the weakened Baek Ryeonha. Even if I couldn't get a down payment, I had to secure what was owed.
-What? What are you going to ask for? Gold and treasures? Or a high rank?
The Lesser Conversation Sword chirped, clearly curious.
What use was wealth I couldn't even spend? Moreover, in the Blood Cult's current state, she didn't have the authority to grant ranks as she pleased.
[We don't have time. Speak quickly.]
Baek Ryeonha urged me.
Once my internal energy was sealed before the duel, we wouldn't be able to communicate. Knowing this, I quickly sent a message via Sound Transmission.
[Grant a Pardon Token in your name to my senior brothers, my master, and me.]
[Pardon?]
At my words, bewilderment clouded her eyes. She clearly hadn't expected me to demand such a thing.
A Pardon Token was exactly what it sounded like—the right to be forgiven for any crime committed within the cult. It might not seem useful right now, but if she ever became the Cult Leader, or if we were ever held accountable for something, it would be invaluable.
For instance... if the day ever came when we had to sever ties with the Blood Cult.
-You... you're preparing for the future.
Exactly.
There was no telling what would happen next. Since I was already tied to the Blood Cult, I wouldn't be able to leave easily, but I had to prepare for the "what ifs."
Still looking flustered, she sent a reply.
[You've already taken my Sect Token, and now you make such an excessive demand?]
Had she read my mind? She hesitated to grant the Pardon Tokens. Giving one to a single person was already a significant matter, so asking for four must have felt like too much.
Just then, the Blood Hand Witch, Han Baek-ha, spoke up.
"Since the Young Lady has accepted the duel, it cannot be helped."
Time was running out. Frowning, Baek Ryeonha hurriedly sent a transmission.
[Giving them to everyone is too much.]
[Then?]
[I will give Pardon Tokens to Hae-suk and you. Is that a sufficient compromise?]
She was narrowing the scope like someone haggling at a marketplace. As expected, she was skilled at negotiation.
I glanced briefly at the twins, Song Jwa-baek and Song Woo-hyeon. I’d grown somewhat fond of them during our time together and wanted to look out for them, but it seemed there was no helping it. I couldn't risk her changing her mind by being too greedy.
[Fine.]
[Good. Then, in the duel...]
[There is one more thing.]
"!?"
At my words, she sent a transmission that sounded utterly exasperated.
[You're saying the Pardon Tokens aren't enough?]
[May I ask one thing?]
[What is it?]
[You have one of the Divine Healer's Sect Tokens, don't you?]
That silenced her. She must have thought I’d let that slide. Did she really think I’d miss this opportunity?
"Young Lady and Young Master So, please have your pressure points struck by the two Venerable Ones as before," the Blood Hand Witch said to us.
As she walked toward Hae Ak-cheon, Baek Ryeonha sent a transmission.
[Sigh. That... it wasn't me, but my master—no, the Sixth Blood Star—who received it for finding the medicinal herb, even if it was premature...]
She stopped mid-transmission, as if realizing she’d made a slip of the tongue.
I already heard you.
Ah, so the Sixth Blood Star received it.
[Then it is indeed the Sect Token you were supposed to give me, right? Since I was the one who found the Descending Immortal Spreading Snow.]
She grimaced. The cat was out of the bag. If she hadn't used a Sect Token to win over the Second Venerable, Seo Gal-ma, just now, I might never have known.
Standing before Hae Ak-cheon, she let out a sigh and sent a transmission.
[...I thought my own Sect Token would suffice as a replacement, so it unintentionally seemed like I was hiding it. I apologize, Young Master.]
I thought she might try to argue her way out of it, but she surprisingly apologized. She truly was different from most people.
[Fine. Since the Divine Healer's Sect Token has already been used on someone else, I will pay a corresponding price. However, we're out of time, so let's discuss that later.]
Time was up. Hae Ak-cheon was already sealing her pressure points. Still, since she promised a corresponding reward, I had gained everything I wanted.
-What were you going to ask for?
'Maybe a spirit medicine?'
I realized again today that my internal energy was still lacking. Even if it wasn't for my Middle Dantian, I needed enough internal energy to display my skills stably. I had already absorbed all the energy scattered throughout my meridians, but that only took me so far.
-Will she actually give it to you?
'Probably.'
She would. At the very least, she wasn't the type to break her word.
Tat-tat-tat-tat!
Meanwhile, Seo Gal-ma also finished the pressure point technique to seal my internal energy. It felt like he was being rougher than before. It hurt every time his fingers made contact.
Then, Seo Gal-ma's voice reached my ears via Sound Transmission.
[If you use those evil arts—no, that Illusion Eye—against the Young Lady, I will crush your skull myself, even if your master tries to stop me.]
'......'
He was still hung up on me using the Illusion Eye. Come to think of it, Seo Gal-ma was quite a unique individual for someone in the Evil Faction.
Setting aside his stance on me, my master Hae Ak-cheon and even the Blood Hand Witch Han Baek-ha didn't think it was particularly wrong to use the Illusion Eye in a fight. This was because the Blood Cult and the Evil Faction were full of people skilled in bizarre methods and unorthodox arts. Most people in the Evil Faction, who didn't adhere to the "Orthodox" way, didn't see anything wrong with it.
But Seo Gal-ma was different.
-He reminds me of my previous master.
'The Namcheon Sword Guest?'
-My previous master also took great pride in his martial arts and despised techniques like the Illusion Eye.
Hearing the Namcheon Iron Sword's words, it made sense. If one had an extraordinary pride in their martial path, they might loathe such tricks even if they were part of the Evil Faction.
In a way, my own perspective seemed to have changed a lot. I was originally from a prestigious Orthodox sect, after all. Perhaps it was because I had lived as a member of the Evil Faction for ten years before my regression, and for another year after.
"What are you doing? Go and stand at the front."
Thud!
Seo Gal-ma pushed me toward the center of the room. Between cutting off his first disciple's arm and everything else, I seemed to have made a very bad impression on this man. I should be careful not to cross paths with him alone.
Then, Hae Ak-cheon's transmission reached my ears.
[Don't tell me you've actually taken a liking to the Young Lady?]
I almost coughed involuntarily. What did he take me for? No matter how beautiful Baek Ryeonha was, she was a dangerous thorn. There was no position more precarious than being her partner.
[I don't know what you two were whispering about through transmissions, but I trust a cunning brat like you hasn't failed to grasp my intentions.]
Of course I know.
I had realized long ago that he had decided to support Baek Ryeonha. He kept talking about legitimacy, but I was curious about the real reason he chose her, even considering her faction's weakness.
[Anyway, I've left it to you, so I trust your judgment.]
Since I couldn't use Sound Transmission, I gave a small nod. He’d probably be shocked later when he found out I’d secured a Pardon Token from her.
"Whew."
I steadied my breathing and looked at Baek Ryeonha standing opposite me. This was the first time we were facing off directly. Honestly, I had no idea what level of mastery she had reached. Seeing how she hadn't been pushed back at all against two Great Leaders even when she was obese, she had definitely crossed the wall into being a first-rate master.
-Even if you're going to lose, don't let your guard down. If she really is the granddaughter of the Blood Cult Leader, she might have inherited not just the Blood Hand technique, but the Blood Demon's own martial arts.
The Namcheon Iron Sword pointed this out sharply. He was right. The Blood Demon, who was once called one of the Five Great Villains and possessed the greatest martial prowess under heaven—if she had inherited his arts, I had to be careful.
'Huh?'
But even before the duel began, Baek Ryeonha lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with me. It seemed that despite our agreement, she was guarding against the Illusion Eye just in case. She was thorough.
"Now, we shall begin. Start (開)!"
The Blood Hand Witch, Han Baek-ha, gave the signal.
At that exact moment, she lunged forward. It seemed she intended to end the fight before I could even draw the Namcheon Iron Sword.
Step!
Still, I had to put up a decent fight, so I used my footwork to back away and create distance. Moving without internal energy made my body feel much heavier than usual.
Clang!
Having gained some distance, I thrust with my sword while it was still in its scabbard. She tilted her head back by a hair's breadth and dove under the sword.
Swoosh!
The way she glided under the blade was incredibly graceful. Her movements were on an entirely different level compared to the advanced warriors. Her right hand aimed for my abdomen.
My pride wouldn't allow me to be hit right at the start.
Thwack!
I raised my left arm to block her palm. Since our internal energy was sealed, there was no Blood Hand or proper palm force, but the impact still made my forearm sting.
'Where is this strength coming from?'
She looked slender now that she’d lost weight. But for me to feel pain meant her external martial arts were also extraordinary. I thought I should dodge to the side and pressure her with sword forms...
Grab!
"Ugh."
Suddenly, she grabbed my wrist with the hand she’d just struck with and pulled. My body was yanked forward. She threw her left hand toward my face.
Thud!
In that moment, I slammed the Namcheon Iron Sword into the floor, using it as a pivot to spin my body and kick her in the shoulder.
Clap!
She quickly blocked it with her left hand. However, because my body weight was greater, the force of the kick pushed her back about five steps. A look of surprise flickered in her eyes.
"You are quite resourceful."
"I got lucky."
After praising me, she took a strange stance and then clenched her open palms. She extended only the index fingers of both hands.
'Finger techniques?'
If she was using her fingers, it was definitely a finger technique (指功). I hadn't noticed before, but her index fingers were gnarled and covered in thick calluses. I’d heard that finger techniques were harder to master than fist or palm techniques because one had to be prepared for their fingers to break multiple times during training.
'...Is this the Blood Demon's martial art?'
Finger techniques weren't part of the Blood Hand Witch's repertoire. The thought that it might be the Blood Demon's art made me tense up. Even with internal energy sealed, I couldn't afford to be careless against the techniques of a peerless master who had dominated an era.
She lunged toward me.
Swish! Dash-dash-dash-dash!
In an instant, her fingers moved in a blur, thrusting toward me. Even without internal energy, the forms were astonishing. I couldn't see a single opening.
'Illuminating Shadow Sword (泌鰍形劍).'
I countered with the third form of the Life Bright Sword Technique. I had no internal energy and the sword was sheathed, but the variations of the sword form remained. The sword stance, bending like a willow branch, dove between her strikes to disrupt her finger technique.
"Why aren't you drawing your sword?"
Even though I was supposed to lose, she seemed puzzled that I wouldn't even unsheathe my blade as we clashed. I didn't answer and focused on the forms. In truth, her finger technique was so fierce that I was struggling just to block it.
-This is definitely the Blood Demon's finger technique. I've never seen one so refined.
The Namcheon Iron Sword was impressed. I felt the same. I couldn't imagine how much more formidable it would be if she could use her internal energy.
Poke!
Suddenly, her finger found a gap in my sword form. It was dangerous. Instinctively, I drew the Lesser Conversation Sword with my left hand to block her strike.
Clink!
Her eyes widened. She must have intended to end the fight with that one blow.
"You've practiced with your left hand as well?"
She was surprised that I could use a dagger with my left hand. This was something the Lesser Conversation Sword and the Namcheon Iron Sword had both encouraged me to practice, and I hadn't realized it would be this helpful.
"Impressive."
I heard Seo Gal-ma's murmur. He seemed to have a high opinion of that last move. Despite despising me for using evil arts, he was remarkably honest when it came to martial prowess.
"Are you going to keep your sword sheathed?"
"I wanted to properly face your finger technique."
At my words, her expression became peculiar. She seemed to have realized my intention. I hadn't kept my sword sheathed for the sake of fairness in a duel I was meant to lose; I simply wanted to test myself against the Blood Demon's martial arts.
"You are a truly interesting person, Young Master."
She let out a small chuckle and said that.
Slide!
Then, she shifted her stance. Her stride widened, and the atmosphere around her changed. It was amazing that simply taking a starting stance could create such pressure.
-This is no ordinary form. Be on your guard.
The Namcheon Iron Sword warned me. I also sheathed the Lesser Conversation Sword and corrected my posture. It seemed I would have to use the ultimate technique of the Life Bright Sword Technique. I watched her with tense eyes.
Flash!
The timing was off. Her body moved at a moment I hadn't expected her to attack. I belatedly thrust my sword toward her.
Thud!
In that instant, she dove low. Just as I was about to swing my sword down to match her,
Clang!
Using a unique posture, she kicked my scabbard aside and then used her other foot to vault over me in a somersault. She was so agile that I almost lost track of her movement for a second.
-Above you!
The Namcheon Iron Sword called out her position. If I drew the Lesser Conversation Sword and reached upward now, her attack would be neutralized. But it was time to end this. I didn't move my hands.
'Whew.'
This is going to hurt, right?
Then, her voice reached my ears.
"This will hurt."
'.........'
Along with the warning, her fingers rapidly struck the pressure points on my head. No matter how much internal energy was sealed, the points on the head were more vulnerable than anywhere else.
Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop!
The moment her fingers touched the points, my vision turned white, and I lost consciousness.
When I opened my eyes, it was dark everywhere. Was it already night? Looking around, I saw several beds, and someone was lying in the one next to me. I focused my vision to see the face clearly.
'Ho Geum-won?'
It was him. His entire right arm was wrapped in bandages, and he was sleeping like the dead. The smell of medicine hung heavy in the air, suggesting the Divine Healer had reattached his severed arm.
Throb!
My head ached as if I had a migraine. The pressure points on the head were truly dangerous if not handled carefully. Moreover, because I had intentionally suppressed my Innate True Qi, the finger technique seemed to have taken full effect.
-Woon-hwi!
-Are you awake?
I heard the voices of the Lesser Conversation Sword and the Namcheon Iron Sword. Where were they?
-Under the bed.
I climbed down and looked under the bed; the Namcheon Iron Sword and the Lesser Conversation Sword were lying there together. My leather boots were also placed nearby. After putting on my boots and gathering the swords, I asked:
'How long was I out?'
-You were unconscious for almost twelve hours. We thought you were dead because you wouldn't wake up.
As if I’d die from that.
But I really had been out for a long time. Even without internal energy, the power of that finger technique was no joke. It was truly worthy of being called the Blood Demon's martial art.
Throb!
My head was still ringing. She could have held back a little, but she really struck those points hard. Well, I got what I wanted, so it wasn't a bad trade.
'What happened after I passed out?'
-Well, exactly what you expected.
-Hae Ak-cheon swore an oath of loyalty to support Baek Ryeonha.
It was the natural outcome, since I had lost the duel.
-We don't know what happened after that. You were moved to this room immediately. Hey, I saw that doctor guy attaching the arm. It was really gross. He was connecting the blood vessels one by one...
I didn't need a detailed explanation of that. Anyway, my head hurt and the smell of medicine was overwhelming, so I didn't want to stay here any longer. I suppressed my presence so as not to wake Ho Geum-won and quietly left the room.
'This is the main hall.'
I thought the structure was different from the guest house; this was the main hall. Most of the lights in the building were out, and it was quiet. Since I’d been out for twelve hours, it must be the middle of the night.
'I should go to my room.'
I quietly left the main hall and headed toward the guest house. But then, I saw someone cautiously slipping out of one of the rooms in the guest house.
-Isn't that Go Eun-jae?
I saw him too. It was definitely Go Eun-jae, the second disciple of the Second Venerable, Seo Gal-ma. Why was he out alone at this hour?
'Hmm.'
Something was suspicious. I considered going back to my room but, driven by curiosity, I decided to tail him. He moved toward a certain destination, skillfully avoiding the sentries as if he had mastered some stealth technique. It was lucky I’d spotted him from the start, or I might have lost him.
He headed into the forest not far from the Six Blood Valley's main hall.
-This is very suspicious.
I had no idea where he was going. But he didn't go very far—only about a few minutes' walk from the main hall. He stopped, looked around, and suddenly took off his leather boots.
-What is he doing? Why is he taking off his shoes?
After removing his boots, he tore off the soles. He grabbed something from inside and suddenly began scattering it. A white powder spread in all directions like smoke.
'Ha!'
I think I knew what he was scattering. After finishing, he tried to reattach the soles and put his boots back on.
Schwing! Dash!
Drawing the Namcheon Iron Sword, I lunged forward. Startled by my presence, he fumbled with his boots and drew his long saber.
Clang!
"Who is it?"
I asked the bewildered man.
"What is your true identity?"
Recognizing me, he grimaced.
"So Woon-hwi?"
Point!
I aimed my sword at him and asked again.
"Answer me."
"......What I do is none of your business, is it?"
He tried to play innocent. Did he really think I hadn't seen that? I gestured toward his boots with my eyes and spoke.
"That's Thousand Li Autumn Scent, isn't it?"
At those words, a murderous glint flashed in his eyes.