Chapter 7: Six Blood Valley (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 7: Six Blood Valley (1)
Dots resembling the Big Dipper appeared as the blue flames rose.
I was certain these dots were related to the Secret Records of the Sword Immortal.
Come to think of it, when I died by Moyong Su’s sword, it was those same blue flames that engulfed my body and allowed me to regress ten years into the past.
Just what secret was hidden within the Secret Records of the Sword Immortal?
Since no one would have discovered the records yet in this timeline, I felt I had to find them if the opportunity arose.
It had already been fifteen days since I started living in the back of the wagon.
Normally, we should have arrived before the fifteen-day mark, but there must have been some friction along the way, as we were delayed by about two days.
Judging by the sounds I heard from outside, it seemed we had encountered bandits.
If I recalled my past memories correctly, I believe one unit arrived late to the Blood Cult’s hideout back then as well.
Rattle! Creak!
The wagon door swung open.
A sliver of light spilled in, making me squint.
The boys and girls, aged fifteen or sixteen and bound with ropes, trembled with fear.
Shhh.
A silhouette stood at the entrance of the wagon, silhouetted against the light.
It was Great Leader Oh, the leader of the Demon Tiger Unit.
Great Leader Oh was glaring at me with a terrifying expression.
‘I’m definitely on his bad side.’
That would likely act as a significant variable.
However, it didn't matter for the moment. From this point on, the higher-ups, not Great Leader Oh, would be in control.
—Have we arrived? I can’t see anything.
The Lesser Conversation Sword tucked in my shirt pestered me to take him out.
‘This isn't the time.’
—It’s suffocating.
‘Endure it.’
If I pulled a dagger out of my shirt here, imagine the suspicion I’d draw. It was out of the question.
Great Leader Oh scanned the children inside the wagon before speaking.
“Get out. Now.”
At his command, the boys and girls hesitated, glancing at one another.
I was the first to step out of the wagon.
As I exited, a space surrounded by towering mountain peaks on all sides revealed itself.
‘It’s been a long time.’
The moment I saw this place, goosebumps erupted over my skin as if the memory were engraved into my very soul.
This was where I had spent a truly hellish time.
This place was the Six Blood Valley, a secret hideout of the Blood Cult used to raise new cultists.
After losing to the Martial Alliance in the Great Orthodox-Evil War, the Blood Cult had scattered its entire force across the Central Plains.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they operated like an intelligence network of isolated cells.
“Hey. So Woon-hwi.”
Great Leader Oh called out to me.
“Loyalty!”
I bowed my head and showed respect to ensure he had nothing to nitpick.
He then warned me in a low voice.
“I’ll be watching you.”
I really was marked.
In the meantime, the boys and girls were forcibly dragged out of the wagon.
Among them were the twins, Song Jwa-baek and Song Woo-hyeon.
Having been unconscious for most of the journey except for mealtimes, they looked completely disoriented.
Rumble!
Aside from the wagon we were in, there were two more. From those, more terrified children emerged.
Among them, one face caught my eye.
‘Ah!’
Though she still had the youthful face of a child, I knew that face well.
With a face as pale as a sheet of paper and delicate features, that girl was Dam Ye-hwa, the future disciple of the notorious Blood Hand Witch.
The Blood Hand Witch was the Sixth Blood Star, ranked sixth among the Seven Blood Stars.
Born with a naturally cold body, Dam Ye-hwa was destined to catch the Blood Hand Witch’s eye and be selected as her disciple.
‘Talk about luck.’
While some people ended their lives as third-rate spies.
Then again, it was hard to judge whether that was truly lucky or not. Even being selected as a disciple happened entirely regardless of one's own will.
“Do you see that place?”
Great Leader Oh pointed somewhere.
There was a platform where he pointed, and a man in gray martial robes stood upon it with his hands behind his back.
“I’ll give you a count of five. Run.”
At the sudden command to run, everyone hesitated, not knowing what to do.
In the midst of that, I was the first to sprint toward the platform.
“W-what?”
Caught off guard, the twins, Song Jwa-baek and Song Woo-hyeon, followed suit and ran after me.
Having been beaten once before, their intuition had become surprisingly sharp.
“Run if you don’t want to die!”
Great Leader Oh’s shouting echoed from behind.
I had run first because I knew this would happen.
Thump, thump, thump!
Only then did the rest of the children scramble toward the platform.
Arriving first, I immediately dropped to one knee and took a formal stance.
“Ho?”
The man standing on the platform with his hands behind his back looked intrigued.
In truth, this was the basic stance of the Blood Cult that would be taught here first.
“Damn it. What the hell is this?”
“Yeah, what are we doing?”
The twins stood there blankly for a moment before mimicking my stance.
For now, they were determined to follow whatever I did. It was a wise choice.
The crowd of children followed suit, glancing around before taking the same stance as the three of us.
“This is a first,” the man on the platform muttered.
I knew exactly who he was.
‘Unit Leader of Raging Blood, Gu Sang-ung.’
The rank of Unit Leader existed above that of Great Leader.
One Unit Leader commanded five units.
Unit Leader Gu Sang-ung was in charge of selecting and training new cultists.
Tap!
At that moment, four men and one woman appeared beside the platform.
The children flinched, feeling the overwhelming pressure from these individuals who were clearly high-ranking figures.
The woman curled her lips into a smile and spoke.
“This is a first. Taking the proper stance before even being taught.”
You should thank me.
I made them like this before you could start screaming and making examples out of people.
—Are you actually feeling proud of something like this?
The Lesser Conversation Sword mocked me.
‘I just did what was ingrained in my body.’
—Yes, yes. I’m sure you did.
Fine. It wasn't exactly something to brag about.
While I was bickering with the sword, the cultists surrounded us as we knelt before the platform, effectively encircling us.
It was to prevent anyone from escaping.
“What do we do?”
“They might kill us.”
The children whispered anxiously, looking at one another.
“Silence!”
At Gu Sang-ung’s shout, everyone covered their ears.
It was so thunderous that my eardrums throbbed with pain.
Once silence fell, Unit Leader Gu Sang-ung spoke with an arrogant laugh.
“Rejoice. You have been chosen.”
Chosen, my foot. Since when did kidnapping become a choice?
“The will of the Great Blood Demon has led you to the loyal Blood Cult.”
“T-the Blood Cult?!”
Murmur, murmur!
As soon as the words 'Blood Cult' were uttered, the children became rowdy again, forgetting the warning to stay quiet.
It made sense; even those who weren't martial artists knew of the Blood Cult.
The words most commonly used to describe them were 'cruel and heartless.'
Thwack!
“Gah!”
Silence returned with the sound of someone’s scream.
It was the boy who had reacted most loudly to the mention of the Blood Cult.
“I told you to be quiet.”
The one who killed the boy was none other than Great Leader Oh.
As he pulled his sword from the dead boy’s neck with a sickening smile, everyone nearby turned pale with horror.
—What? Who died?
The Lesser Conversation Sword somehow realized someone had died even though it couldn't see.
‘It’s a warning.’
—Wow. That’s brutal. Killing someone just as an example?
This was the way of the Blood Cult.
Their goal was to sift through the kidnapped and find only the useful gems.
Of course, the most basic requirement for being a 'gem' was absolute loyalty to the Blood Cult.
—How did you survive ten years in a place like this?
‘You just have to obey like a dog.’
—...Sigh. As if being trash wasn't enough, you lived like a dog. You really were dog-trash.
‘Keep it up and see if I don't snap you in half.’
Unbelievable. This guy’s ability to combine words in bizarre ways was evolving by the day.
Just then, several cultists brought out wooden boxes and set them down in front of the platform.
Thud!
Ah, it was finally happening.
Everyone looked on in confusion, wondering what was in those boxes.
At Unit Leader Gu Sang-ung’s signal, one of the cultists opened the lid of a box.
The moment the lid opened, something red began to wriggle inside.
“Hieee!”
“I-Insects?”
The disgusting red insects filling the wooden box were none other than Blood Parasites.
They were the means by which the Blood Cult controlled its members.
Seeing the reality of the Blood Parasites for the first time in ten years made my face contort involuntarily.
I had carried something like that inside my body for ten years.
“Hey. You there. Yes, you.”
Unit Leader Gu Sang-ung called out to me.
He smirked and asked, “What do you think that is?”
“...It is a Blood Parasite.”
“Ho. As expected of a descendant of our Cult’s bloodline.”
At Gu Sang-ung’s praise, all eyes focused on me.
With just those words, I had officially become a member of the Blood Cult.
It was a seed I had sown myself, but the impact was immense. Everyone was looking at me as if I were the spawn of a demon.
“This guy, I knew it...”
Beside me, Song Jwa-baek’s eyes went wide as he muttered that he’d suspected as much.
Well, there was no use crying over spilled milk.
If this could be even slightly advantageous, I had to make the most of it.
Gu Sang-ung addressed the crowd again.
“Chosen ones, listen. If you wish to become true members of the Blood Cult, accept these Blood Parasites of your own accord.”
As if their worst fears had been confirmed, everyone’s eyes shook with terror.
They couldn't run, and they couldn't scream.
I knew their feelings better than anyone.
Then, someone quietly raised their hand.
‘Ah...’
A low sigh escaped my lips.
It was the same ten years ago. When there are many people, there’s always someone who fails to grasp the situation.
“W-what if we refuse?”
As expected, my prediction was spot on.
The moment the words left his mouth, a nearby cultist strode over and brought his saber down on the boy’s head.
The effect was immediate.
No one else dared to raise an objection. Who would open their mouth if they didn't want to die?
—They’re going to kill everyone at this rate while trying to make examples.
‘...They’re doing it because there are still plenty of us left.’
Two were dead, but about fifty remained.
It was cruel, but if killing two could effectively subjugate the rest, it was by no means a losing bargain from their perspective.
—It’s a miracle you survived in a place like this.
‘This is just the beginning.’
The Blood Parasite was merely a basic means of control.
Through indoctrination and hellish training, they would gradually be transformed into the loyal cultists the organization desired.
“Now. Who will be the first to accept?”
Gu Sang-ung said, pointing at the wooden box.
Everyone hesitated, wavering. Even if they were terrified, who would willingly eat such a disgusting, poisonous creature?
‘Sigh.’
I couldn't avoid this, even if I wanted to.
Thinking it was better to get it over with, I stood up.
Once again, all eyes were on me.
“Please grant me that honor first.”
“Oh. As expected.”
As I volunteered, Gu Sang-ung looked satisfied, his expression full of approval.
On the other hand, Great Leader Oh glared at me with a look of extreme displeasure.
Go ahead, keep doubting me. See if I leave even a single opening.
Step.
A cultist approached me and picked up a Blood Parasite with long chopsticks.
The parasite was squirming between the tips.
“Open up.”
“Is there any chance I could have some water with...”
“Open up.”
I really hate this.
Plop!
With a fishy taste, the wriggling Blood Parasite entered my mouth.
I had asked for water because I hated this damn sensation so much.
Gulp!
As if it had been waiting, the Blood Parasite slid over my tongue and down my throat.
I wanted to grimace at the sensation of the foreign object sliding down my esophagus, but I forced myself to look composed and raised a fist.
“Truly, the spirit of a descendant of our Cult’s bloodline. Did you see... hm?”
Gu Sang-ung, who had been praising me, suddenly looked at me with a strange expression.
It wasn't just him; the cultist who had fed me the parasite had a similar reaction.
“Is something wrong... Urgh!”
Suddenly, a searing pain erupted in my chest.
It felt as if something was wreaking havoc inside my body.
Seeing my condition was abnormal, the female Great Leader standing beside the platform rushed over.
“Why is his face turning blue? Did you press too hard on the parasite with the chopsticks?”
“N-no. I did it gently, just as I always do...”
Hearing their words, I felt a sudden sense of despair.
Could something be wrong with the Blood Parasite?
The pain in my chest made it difficult even to breathe.
“Haa... haa...”
It was a pain like being seared with a hot iron.
“Tsk!”
The female Great Leader quickly placed both hands on my back.
It seemed she was trying to inject internal energy to prevent any poison from spreading.
A warm energy spread through my back where her hands were placed.
“Urgh!”
But something was strange.
The fire-like pain in my chest gradually began to move downward.
It traveled down toward my stomach.
Could this be... no way...
“What is it? Does it hurt here?”
“Ugh... Great Leader! Please, wait a moment...”
Ignoring my plea, the female Great Leader sent her energy toward my abdomen.
I tried desperately to hold it in, but—
P-r-r-r-r-r-t!
“Gah!”
The female Great Leader, who had been injecting her energy, hurriedly pulled her hands away and pinched her nose.
—Pwahahahaha!
The Lesser Conversation Sword laughed so hard it sounded like its throat might burst.
“You!”
The female Great Leader, who had taken the blast right in front of her, looked so offended that her face turned bright red as she glared at me sharply.
Since I had just farted right in her face, I had nothing to say.
Ah... how humiliating.
‘Huh?’
However, after the gas was released, the pain that had traveled down to my stomach subsided, and I felt a sense of relief.
In fact, I felt a surge of vitality.
‘What is this?’