The Blood-Returning Saber
Flutter, flutter.
Sending off a carrier pigeon to report the appearance of the Blood Demon Cult, Yoo-sung followed behind Na Ho-cheol.
"Damn it, the Blood Demon Cult! This is a completely unexpected turn of events," Dang Hwa-soo spat, clicking his tongue in frustration.
Ha Tae-gun's mind was also in a whirl, weighed down by the sheer gravity of the name "Blood Demon Cult."
"In the worst-case scenario, the spies inside our ranks might actually belong to the Blood Demon Cult."
"That would indeed be the absolute worst," Ha Tae-gun agreed.
Their reactions were by no means exaggerated.
The Blood Demon Cult.
Once, they were blood-crazed fiends who screamed of blood dominance over the heavens.
They were demonic practitioners who had been active in the Jianghu long before the rise of Macheon.
Alongside the Sacred Cult of Cheon-san, the Blood Cult had been one of the premier sects representing the Demonic Path.
After Macheon emerged, they clashed fiercely, and the Blood Cult eventually submitted to Macheon.
Stripped of their original name, they had the character for "Demon" appended to their name, becoming the "Blood Demon Cult"—one of Macheon's "Heavens."
Alongside the Blood-Sucking Demons, the blood warriors of the Blood Demon Cult were a major force that allowed Macheon to expand its influence so rapidly.
Since the Blood-Sucking Demons themselves were monsters created using the occult arts of the Blood Demon Cult, the cult's influence on Macheon was beyond imagination.
However, because they never received a reward commensurate with their contributions, the Blood Demon Cult had always dreamed of independence.
When the Sovereign of Macheon died and Macheon suddenly collapsed, the Blood Demon Cult was the very first to vanish without a trace.
Yet, the orthodox Jianghu feared the Blood Demon Cult far more than the Ten Demonic Sects.
They believed the cult's insidious and sinister arts posed an existential threat to the martial world.
"We were lucky," Na Ho-cheol said.
Just as he said, Cheolgajang had been incredibly lucky the previous night.
If the actual cultists of the Blood Demon Cult had taken the field themselves, the damage to Cheolgajang would have been far more devastating.
"It's too early to breathe a sigh of relief. In fact, we might be in even greater danger now."
As Ha Tae-gun feared, last night's raid might have been a mere warning.
It was highly likely a probe to confirm whether the item they sought was indeed inside Cheolgajang.
"The item Patriarch Nam Ji-hong possesses... would it be possible for us to see it?"
If the cause of the recent attacks lay in the demonic blade Nam Ji-hong was unsealing, the three of them had every reason to inspect it.
"We must know the exact value of the item to get the Alliance to move. The Alliance has been in turmoil internally of late, so they won't act rashly without good reason."
"I see."
If the Blood Demon Cult was indeed operating in Sichuan, that was a highly plausible concern.
"Wait here a moment. I shall go and ask him. That fellow is quite stubborn, so..."
Na Ho-cheol's worries proved unfounded.
Contrary to expectations, Nam Ji-hong readily summoned the three men.
He, too, realized that the attacks were drawn by the demonic blade he was working on.
If the demonic blade—which he claimed had revealed his heavenly calling—was drawing the Blood Demon Cult and putting Cheolgajang in mortal peril, he could hardly afford to remain stubborn.
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The pitch-black saber exuded a heavy, oppressive aura just by looking at it.
A faint, eerie sharpness flowed along its edge.
An ominous sensation radiated from the dark blade.
"It is certainly a demonic blade," Dang Hwa-soo muttered, narrowing his eyes as he stared at Nam Ji-hong's creation.
He believed himself highly resistant to bizarre and sinister artifacts, but even he found the oppressive weight of this demonic blade difficult to bear.
Yoo-sung aside, it would be no easy feat for Ha Tae-gun or Na Ho-cheol to endure.
In fact, Na Ho-cheol had already stepped back, complaining of nausea.
Nam Ji-hong could withstand it because he had developed a degree of resistance while unsealing the blade, but Ha Tae-gun should have been struggling.
And yet...
Is Ha Tae-gun truly a master of that caliber?
Contrary to expectations, Ha Tae-gun was holding up remarkably well.
Though his face was pale, he was skillfully enduring the blade's malevolent influence.
I'll have to revise my assessment. Ha Tae-gun is someone to keep an eye on.
The prestigious families of Sichuan, including the Tang Family, maintained a registry of notable figures in the region.
This registry, compiled over generations, listed those who could be of use to them, those who must be eliminated, those to keep at a distance, and those who required careful observation.
The registry was so vital it was considered part of a clan's hidden strength. Although Dang Hwa-soo was from a branch line, he still had access to it.
Of course, his access was restricted.
On that restricted registry, Ha Tae-gun was classified as a low-tier figure.
But after observing him over the past few days, Dang Hwa-soo felt a strong need to adjust that ranking.
Well, the most baffling one is this guy.
Dang Hwa-soo's gaze shifted to Yoo-sung.
Yoo-sung had caught his eye from the moment they met, and the more time they spent together, the more enigmatic he became.
Judging by his martial prowess, actions, and temperament, he should have left a massive name in the Jianghu.
Yet, no matter how much Dang Hwa-soo searched his memory, he couldn't find any prominent figures of Yoo-sung's age who matched him.
If there were any, they would be at the very top of the registry...
But there's no way he's that high.
Yoo-sung's father, Do Sang-woon, was currently listed as a high-tier figure.
Even then, he was only promoted to that rank after breaking through the wall of the Ultra-Peak Realm last year and barely touching the threshold of the Transformation Realm.
Kwak Yoo of the Cheondo Gate was the same.
Therefore, Yoo-sung had likely been overlooked, or perhaps placed in the mid-tier.
Once I return, I must tell them to reinvestigate and rewrite his entry.
While Dang Hwa-soo made this silent resolve, Yoo-sung's eyes remained fixed on the demonic blade.
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So it was here.
Yoo-sung knew the true identity of this demonic blade.
The Blood-Returning Saber.
It shall return, dyeing the world in blood.
A treasure that carried the hopes and prayers of the Blood Cult.
To think that the legendary Blood-Returning Saber was in Nam Ji-hong's possession.
It's a miracle he's still alive.
Realizing the blade's true identity made Yoo-sung realize just how incredibly lucky Cheolgajang had been.
If the Blood Demon Cult had been absolutely certain of its identity, Cheolgajang would have been wiped off the map long ago.
That was how sacred the Blood-Returning Saber was to the cult—it was their ultimate holy relic.
However...
It is heavily suppressed by an exorcism seal. In this state, it doesn't truly look like the Blood-Returning Saber.
Its appearance was dull, and it lacked its signature razor-sharp edge.
The Blood-Returning Saber Yoo-sung remembered was far sharper, sending shivers down the spine of anyone who looked at it, and it reeked so strongly of copper that the scent of blood would assault one's nose.
In its current state, it was understandable why anyone would doubt its identity.
Most likely, someone had leaked a rumor, and the Blood Demon Cult, recognizing the described traits, had merely sent a small force to verify it.
And the result of their verification...
There was no need to even think about it.
If even Yoo-sung could recognize it, there was no way the Blood Demon Cult would fail to identify their own holy relic.
Furthermore, Nam Ji-hong's craftsmanship must have been truly exceptional.
The ego of the Blood God sleeping within the Blood-Returning Saber was whispering temptations with surprising clarity.
"Awaken me... He who awakens me shall possess the power to command the heavens."
"Do you not wish to become my master?"
"You there... can you not hear my voice?"
Yoo-sung casually ignored it, but the consciousness residing within the saber had already sensed his acute spiritual perception.
The voice that had been endlessly tempting Nam Ji-hong was now directed entirely at Yoo-sung.
If it could be heard this clearly even by someone like him who did not practice the Blood Demon Art, then the Blood Demon Cultist from last night must have been absolutely certain of the saber's identity.
A bloodbath is coming.
And indeed, the Blood Demon Cult moved far faster than Yoo-sung anticipated.
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"Is it confirmed?"
The middle-aged man's eyes were cold and indifferent.
His voice was steady, but those who had followed him for years could detect a subtle shift.
It was faint, but he was filled with immense anticipation.
The subordinate felt relieved that he could satisfy that anticipation.
"It is indeed the Blood-Returning Saber. Though it is far from what we remember..."
The subordinate's voice trailed off, but the middle-aged man dismissed it lightly.
"That is only natural. It has been well over a century since we lost the Blood-Returning Saber."
It had been lost for over a hundred and fifty years.
One of the holy relics symbolizing the glory of the Blood Cult.
It was said that the Blood-Returning Saber contained the divine arts and the Blood Core left behind by the Blood Demon.
And the Blood Core was far more important than the divine arts themselves.
The Blood Core was the source and the very essence of all cultists who practiced the Blood Demon Art.
Because the Blood Demon's legacy had been incomplete, they had been forced to bear the shameful name of the "Blood Demon Cult."
But now, the time had come to step out from that long shadow and once again announce the true name of the Blood Cult to the world.
This was why they needed the Blood-Returning Saber.
Though he wished to reclaim the saber immediately, he forced himself to remain calm.
He could not allow a moment of impatience to ruin a century of waiting.
"You say Dang Hwa-soo has arrived?"
"Yes. Only three entered Cheolgajang, but they are backed by about fifty members of the Dark Moon Unit."
Dang Hwa-soo was indeed a rising star of the Tang Family.
Setting aside the fact that he was not of the direct line, he possessed more than enough martial talent to bring glory to the Tang name.
Moreover, the fact that he was the grandson of Dang Joong-myung—the pillar of the Tang Family's branch lines—could not be ignored.
"How many of our people can we gather nearby?"
"If we have enough time, we can assemble up to two hundred."
It was a substantial force, but it required time.
"And how many can you bring by tomorrow night?"
"In that case... slightly less than a hundred."
"Tomorrow night, we erase Cheolgajang."
At the middle-aged man's command, the subordinate looked hesitant.
"Will we be enough on our own?"
"Do not worry. I have someone in mind."
She was a wicked, insidious woman, but she was also someone who kept her boundaries clear.
Yeo Mi-ho. You must be getting anxious yourself.
Because the seeds she had sown across Sichuan had failed to ignite as planned, Yeo Mi-ho's schemes had hit a snag.
The middle-aged man, who maintained a close relationship with her, had weighed her proposal carefully.
But as long as he could obtain the Blood-Returning Saber through her, it was a highly profitable bargain.
"I shall make my preparations as well. Let us meet in front of Cheolgajang tomorrow night."
"Understood!"
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Everyone in Cheolgajang spent a busy day preparing for the Blood Demon Cult's attack.
Yoo-sung sat lost in thought in the quarters Na Ho-cheol had provided for him.
The Blood-Returning Saber was undoubtedly a demonic object, but it was a waste to simply discard the power sealed within it.
Particularly from Yoo-sung's perspective—wishing to elevate the Heavenly Sword Academy into the greatest sect under heaven—the Blood-Returning Saber was a highly attractive relic.
My brother-in-law can't use it.
Though Ha Tae-gun was striving to reclaim his lost Heavenly Fragrance Saber, he was far from capable of enduring the demonic energy of the Blood-Returning Saber.
If so, one particular face came to mind.
'Binghwa' Na Hye-mi.
The cold Ice Flower was originally a martial artist with an extraordinary talent for the saber.
Among the descendants of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, the concubine's daughter, Binghwa, is the most outstanding. For the sake of the orthodox Jianghu, we must eliminate her at the first opportunity to prevent future disasters.
This was the warning that fool from the Sima Clan had given to the Vagabond Unit.
The successors Yoo-sung had encountered while wandering near the Northern Sea Ice Palace possessed a talent that was on an entirely different level compared to Na Hye-mi.
Though she currently hid her true self as Do Yoo-chan's wife and Do Soso's mother...
She was always prepared to unleash her hidden strength for the sake of her family.
The only thing she lacked was a high-quality weapon worthy of her immense talent.
In that regard, the Blood-Returning Saber could satisfy every requirement.
As long as he could completely cleanse the lingering consciousness of the Blood God within the blade.
It's entirely possible.
By employing one of the various esoteric arts he possessed, he could easily purge the Blood God's residual consciousness.
If all else failed, he could simply shatter the saber's ego entirely and reforge it.
Though I wonder if it would still hold any meaning as the legendary Blood-Returning Saber then.
That was the source of Yoo-sung's dilemma.
While Yoo-sung was deeply contemplating how to handle the Blood-Returning Saber...
The long night of Cheolgajang had finally begun.