Chapter 21
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The Blood Cult Demon's Rampage
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At that very moment, an alien energy erupted from Ga Ui, filling the entire hall.
Bok Jung-ho grimaced and tightened his grip.
"Urk!"
Feeling the pain from the crushing force, Ga Ui scattered his qi in all directions to break free.
"KyaAaAaak!"
"Get out of the way! Move!"
The scattered qi sprayed toward the spectator seats, wounding and killing people.
The hall turned into a scene from hell in an instant, with the audience scrambling for the exits.
At the same time, Yi Ho-chang's brow furrowed.
'This energy...!'
Yi Ho-chang found the energy familiar.
A filthy, repulsive sensation.
It was the same one he'd felt earlier with Chun Seom.
Mo Gun-hyeong, who had been beside him then, had narrowed his eyes and spoken.
"Do you know anything about gu, Squad Leader?"
"Not much. What's gu?"
"Gu is a type of sorcery using venomous insects. Feed it to someone to parasitize them, and you can control or torment them through the gu."
Mo Gun-hyeong's expression darkened further as he continued.
"Do you know who I feared most during the Righteous-Demonic Great War?"
"People possessed by gu?"
"Right. More precisely, the fiends of the Blood Cult. Those infested with blood gu weren't human anymore—they were like beasts. No, maybe even worse than beasts. They craved blood and knew no fear."
"Then this Ga Ui guy...?"
"Exactly. Blood gu marks a Blood Cult fiend, so he's probably one too."
But according to Chun Seom, they'd all vanished after the Great War.
The others seemed to share Yi Ho-chang's thoughts, letting out shocked cries.
"Why is the Blood Cult, thought wiped out, showing up now...!"
"No way..."
But they couldn't deny it.
A Blood Cult fiend was right there in front of them.
At that instant.
Shiiik!
Yi Ho-chang whipped his gaze toward the sharp whoosh.
Ga Ui, his reason lost to the gu's rampage, charged at Bok Jung-ho like a wild beast.
Bok Jung-ho calmly countered with the staff he held.
But the practice staff tore like paper, and Bok Jung-ho retreated to create distance before shouting.
"Mo Gun-hyeong!"
"Yes!"
At his call, Mo Gun-hyeong tossed him his personal weapon, the Taotie club.
Bok Jung-ho caught the iron club and smashed it upward into Ga Ui's head. Ga Ui's chin snapped up, sending his body flying through the air for a moment.
A normal human would've been knocked out cold... no, their jaw would've shattered. Yet Ga Ui twisted his body grotesquely and stood again.
Everyone gasped in horror.
And they realized it at the same time.
Leaving Ga Ui unchecked would spell disaster.
"Surround that Blood Cult bastard!"
"Draw your weapons now!"
The other gang leaders bellowed, and their warriors drew unique weapons, encircling Ga Ui.
The Dragon Pearl Gang warriors joined in as well.
But the surrounded Ga Ui showed no fear, chuckling as if something was hilarious.
In that moment, one Total Leaf Gang warrior, unable to overcome the eerie terror, charged at Ga Ui.
"Die!"
"No!"
Bok Jung-ho couldn't stop him in the frantic situation.
Ga Ui easily dodged and sliced the man with his signature technique, the Grain-Slicing Claw.
The warrior became chunks of flesh in an instant, splattering across the floor like rags.
Blood sprayed everywhere, and Yi Ho-chang witnessed it right in front of him.
Was that why?
Suddenly, goosebumps erupted across Yi Ho-chang's body, bile rising in his throat.
It was only natural.
This was the first time he'd seen someone die like that.
Then, the enraged Total Leaf Gang Leader Hwang Dae-sim lost his reason and roared.
"Kill that mongrel right now!"
"Total Leaf Leader! Stop this instant!"
"Shut up! I'll kill that Blood Cult scum myself!"
Blinded by fury, Hwang Dae-sim ignored Bok Jung-ho's pleas and charged with his gang members.
But their rage never reached Ga Ui.
Ga Ui's claws tore through the entire Total Leaf Gang, leader included.
It happened in a flash.
"Heh heh heh..."
Overwhelming power.
Ga Ui, having shredded the Total Leaf Gang, extended his hand.
Bloody mist rose from the scattered corpses and seeped into his skin.
In that instant, his aura exploded, his skin turning red as serpentine veins writhed.
"Kyaha hahaha ha!!"
Absorbing their blood to amplify his strength, Ga Ui let out a monstrous laugh.
At the same time, dense killing intent scattered everywhere, overwhelming the weak with shivers like leaves in the wind.
"W-what the hell...?"
"Is that... human...?"
"No... way...!"
Yi Ho-chang felt it too.
Not fully adapted to the martial world, with a child's body to boot, his hands, feet, and jaw trembled uncontrollably.
This terror was entirely new to him.
Then.
Shoooo...
Sword qi began emanating from the Flower Points on Yi Ho-chang's hands.
It gently enveloped him, miraculously quelling the nausea and tremors.
His mind calmed, the inner fear fading rapidly.
At that moment, Ga Ui, sensing the sword qi, turned his gaze to Yi Ho-chang.
His eyes burned with the hatred of a blood enemy, promising to tear him apart.
Ga Ui lunged immediately.
No chance for anyone to intervene—he leaped straight at Yi Ho-chang.
"Squad Leader!"
"Ho-chang!"
The Dragon Pearl Gang members shouted belatedly.
But Ga Ui was faster.
Closing the distance in a blink, he swung claw-like nails wrapped in qi right at Yi Ho-chang.
'Damn!'
Freed from fear by the Flower Points, Yi Ho-chang's mind finally started working rationally.
But escape was impossible now—the distance was too close.
Only two choices.
Block or dodge.
But instinct told him.
Blocking would end like the others.
So he twisted reflexively to evade.
Ga Ui's nails sliced the stone pillar behind him like tofu.
Seeing it, Bok Jung-ho yelled urgently.
"Get out of there now!"
He wanted to.
But could he really flee from this berserk Ga Ui?
'They say even if a tiger bites you, stay calm and you'll live.'
Yi Ho-chang took a deep breath.
And focused on the enemy, clinging to reason.
No blocking.
Dodge as much as possible, counter if he could.
Not sure if it'd work as a counter, but it was the only way out.
Then, Ga Ui, who'd cleaved the pillar, charged again like a rabid dog.
Point-blank range.
But Yi Ho-chang spotted a tiny opening.
'Now!'
No other choice.
Fleeing meant death, blocking meant death.
So he dodged the incoming nails and bet everything on that slim chance.
A gamble for life.
Trusting his instincts, Yi Ho-chang thrust his fist into the gap.
Paak!
The impact at his fist's tip.
It landed true.
Hitting Ga Ui's face, the Flower Points' sword qi burst forth automatically.
"Kraaak!!"
Ga Ui screamed in agony.
Thanks to the sword qi.
The qi-infused strike scorched his already red skin blisteringly raw.
"Kuh!"
But Yi Ho-chang wasn't unscathed.
The hasty punch, even with Flower Points, cracked against Ga Ui's steel-hard skin—his wrist fractured.
Still, trading wrist for life was a win. Bok Jung-ho arrived late and pulled him behind.
Bok Jung-ho quickly checked on him.
"Squad Leader, you alright?"
"Yes, aside from my wrist."
"Good thing."
"Yeah, got off cheap."
Bok Jung-ho chuckled.
Impressed that the young Yi Ho-chang hadn't succumbed to the killing intent.
Then Chun Seom shouted.
"Gang Leader! He's coming!"
Regaining senses, Ga Ui leaped at Yi Ho-chang again.
Bok Jung-ho shoved Yi Ho-chang aside and clashed with Ga Ui himself.
Kagak!
A heavy pressure like iron bars colliding.
Bok Jung-ho gritted his teeth and yelled.
"Only the Great Benevolence Leader can handle Ga Ui now! Find him!"
But Yi Chan-seong's whereabouts were unknown.
Not just him—the other Great Benevolence warriors were gone too.
Where the hell was Yi Chan-seong at a time like this?
No chance to spread aura sense.
He needed all his inner power to block Ga Ui.
Realizing the gravity, Mo Gun-hyeong tried joining late.
"Stop! Stay back! It's suicide!"
Bok Jung-ho held him off.
"Urk!!"
Blood trickled from Bok Jung-ho's gritted teeth.
Even for him, current Ga Ui was a tough opponent.
Then, momentarily overpowered, Ga Ui's nails struck Bok Jung-ho.
"Kuh!"
He deflected midway, avoiding disaster, but a deep gash scarred his face.
His blood sprayed everywhere.
Now he was at his limit.
Thighs and arms quivered like they might burst, feet sliding back.
No one else dared approach.
Ga Ui's killing intent was that ferocious.
As Bok Jung-ho teetered on collapse.
Kwabang!
A massive explosion rocked the Grand Reputation Hall entrance, dust billowing.
A gust followed, revealing a familiar figure through the haze.
"Does my word amuse the Three Response Leader so?"
A chilling voice.
Yet never more welcome.
It was Yi Chan-seong.
Ga Ui's gaze shifted to him.
In that instant.
Seogeok!
A sharp slicing sound.
A head soared into the air.
Ga Ui's.
And simultaneously.
Pukwaaak!!
Blood fountained from the severed neck.
"...!"
"...!"
"...!"
Everyone's eyes widened like saucers.
Yi Chan-seong, from the entrance, had instantly reached Ga Ui and decapitated him.
Ga Ui's head rolled across the floor.
Thud!
Confirming Ga Ui's death, Bok Jung-ho finally collapsed to his knees.
Yi Chan-seong asked.
"You alright?"
"Hoo... Just a bit startled."
"Sorry for being late."
He shook blood from his blade casually.
"Understand, though. Had to clean up outside."
"What do you mean?"
"The entire Three Response Gang were fiends. Followed just in case—spot on."
"Ah...!"
In the chaos, it hadn't crossed his mind.
That's why they were missing.
As Great Benevolence Leader, he prioritized civilian safety.
Then Gyo Jong-yeo arrived late, dropping a large sack before Yi Chan-seong.
It held the heads of the entire Three Response Gang.
Yi Chan-seong asked her.
"Others?"
"Checking, but seems no more."
"Still, be thorough."
"Yes, Gang Leader."
As Gyo Jong-yeo withdrew, Yi Chan-seong said.
"Everyone's shaken. Treat wounds, rest first, then investigate."
Thus the commotion ended.
The Famous Name Assembly was halted.
Naturally.
Fiends thought eradicated had returned.
Participants couldn't leave the Grand Reputation Hall—for investigation at least.
No objections.
It was that serious.
Everyone dispersed briefly to rooms prepared inside for rest.