Chapter 140 - Why Is Sinhwi Called the Blood King?
Why was Sinhwi called by the chilling moniker of the Blood King? Was there truly anyone in the jianghu who didn't know the reason?
Probably not.
Thwack!
"Gah!"
A severed head tumbled to the ground where Sinhwi's sword passed.
"H-heck!"
Those who saw their comrade's intact head suddenly fall screamed in horror and drew their weapons.
Shing! Shing! Shing!
Sinhwi charged straight at them.
Krunch!
"Arghhh!"
"Gaaah!"
"Enemies!"
The rear of the Golden Merchant Group plunged into chaos.
They had been lined up along the slope, but the sudden appearance of Sinhwi and the Blood King Army shattered their formation in an instant.
The Blood King Army was merciless.
They hacked, snapped, and tore apart the Golden Merchant Group's warriors indiscriminately. They showed no mercy even to those fleeing in terror. Those who dropped their swords, knelt, and begged for their lives while sobbing were killed even more cruelly.
"You bastards! Rip them all to shreds!"
"How dare these money-grubbing worms crawl into our territory! Kill them all!"
Boom! Boom! Crunch!
A headless corpse rolled down the slope, its body flailing wildly for a long time as if unaware of its own death before finally collapsing.
The Golden Merchant Group, which had been leisurely until moments ago, had fallen into the depths of hell in the blink of an eye.
Thud!
Sinhwi kicked off the ground and leaped toward the ridge above. As he passed, he unleashed indiscriminate blasts of qi energy beneath his feet, turning everywhere he went into a living hell.
He Hoe's face twisted in dismay.
"The likes of the Northern Region dare..."
That was when it happened.
"It's the Blood King Army! The Blood King Army is coming!"
The identities of those slaughtering his subordinates from the rear were finally revealed.
"They're specialized in cavalry charges on open plains—don't fear them, stand and fight!"
"Don't fall back!"
He Hoe's close aides bellowed encouragements. Some of them even hurled themselves toward the rear, where the Blood King Army's assault had begun.
But they ran straight into Sinhwi on his way up.
Sinhwi charged at them without hesitation. He Hoe's aides, unaware of his identity as the Blood King, met him even more ferociously.
Whirr!
A glow emanated from Sinhwi's left hand, morphing into a massive shield.
Clang!
Some swords that failed to pierce the shield snapped in half and flew off. Those who lost their weapons recoiled in shock, but Sinhwi was faster.
Thump! Thump!
"Argh!"
"Guh!"
Two more lunged at Sinhwi from behind like lightning. But before they could reach him, arrows pierced their heads, sending them crumpling to the ground.
Whistle! Thud!
"Gaaah!"
Sinhwi was a charging tiger. He slashed and smashed anything in his way.
And moments later, he spotted He Hoe and landed before him.
"...The Blood King."
He Hoe's eyes shook violently.
Sinhwi's gaze, fixed on him, was as serene as a misty morning lake. That utter lack of emotion was the sure sign of his true fury.
Boom! Boom!
Deafening explosions rang out right beside them. When had they appeared? Songyeong was clashing with the Ghost Corps, sparks flying everywhere. The other was Seobaek's target.
"Are you the leader?"
Sinhwi strode toward He Hoe.
He Hoe stumbled back.
He had dominated the unorthodox sects of the martial world with his own eerie moniker, Poison Eye Sword. But the Blood King Sinhwi was on another level entirely.
Shing!
Sinhwi's single sword stroke slashed through the air, radiating light.
Bang!
He Hoe barely blocked it, gritting his teeth against the shock that felt like it would tear his body apart.
'Damn it, why is he here...'
Shing! Bang!
Blood trickled from He Hoe's mouth after blocking the second strike. He'd clenched his teeth too hard, shattering one.
Sinhwi unleashed another stroke.
Bang!
"Guh!"
The bones in He Hoe's right wrist burst through his skin. Yet he didn't drop his sword.
And the fourth strike followed.
Thud!
"...!"
He Hoe's right arm finally tore free from his body. But he didn't scream. Or rather, he had no time to.
Crack!
Sinhwi had already closed in and seized his throat with his left hand.
"Name."
"P-Poison... Eye Sword... He... Hoe."
Crunch!
With the sound of crushing bone, He Hoe's head tore away from his body, dangling by a thin thread of nerve.
Sinhwi turned slowly, holding the dripping severed head.
"Uwaaah!"
"R-run! Run!"
Those who witnessed He Hoe's gruesome end fled into the woods.
Sinhwi didn't pursue. Excluding the rocky area where the Hwasan Sect survivors were, the other three sides were already blocked by the rest of the Blood King Army, lying in wait.
Those fleeing without the will to fight were nothing but prey.
And sure enough, agonized death cries began echoing from beyond the woods.
Sinhwi stared toward the Hwasan Sect survivors. Cheonggong, who had been watching him, met his gaze. He spoke up.
"We'll help too!"
"No need."
"......"
* * *
Cheonggong's eyes trembled at the massacre unfolding before him.
His enemies—those he'd wanted to kill hundreds, thousands of times—were being butchered. He should have been overjoyed, yet the Blood King Army's brutality forbade even that.
"Sasung!"
Cheongmyeong's voice called from behind. Turning, Cheonggong saw him climbing onto the rocky outcrop. He confirmed everyone was safe and let out a sigh of relief.
"What in the world happened?"
"We ran into them on the way."
That was when it happened.
"Sasook! Look over there!"
At a disciple's shout, Cheonggong and Cheongmyeong turned to where he pointed.
The Ghost Corps member battling Songyeong staggered back. Songyeong's twin palms then spewed flames at him.
Boom!
Whoosh!
"Gaaaaah!"
A massive hole burned through his back, spilling guts and blood. But that wasn't the end. Somehow, flames erupted across his entire body, inflicting unbearable agony until his last breath.
It was a death so horrific that onlookers curled up in instinctive horror.
Songyeong's figure entered Cheonggong's vision. It grew larger as he lightly landed beside him.
Songyeong cupped his fists in salute.
"Songyeong of the Iron Blood Family. I've come to aid you all on my lord's orders. Of course, Lord Blood King came along as well."
"...!"
Cheonggong could hardly believe it. The lord of the North had ordered them rescued?
Hwasan had no prior ties to the North. They'd come only to survive.
"...Did the North's lord truly order our rescue?"
"Yes. He issued a search order across the entire North for Hwasan and Mudang survivors. Fortunately, we found you before it was too late. It's all over now—please rest here safely for a bit."
Boom!
Songyeong leaped back into the fray.
Cheonggong watched him cover the dizzying distance in a single bound, catching his breath. As Songyeong said, they could finally relax. With no more disciples dying, emotion welled up in Cheonggong.
"Heaven hasn't abandoned Hwasan after all. Haa..."
"Sasung, you should circulate your qi and meditate before your wounds worsen."
"No. We can treat them at the Iron Blood Family later. For now, prepare the uninjured disciples for any contingencies."
"...Yes."
* * *
The enraged Blood King Army were not mere warriors—they were demons.
At least, to the Golden Merchant Group facing them.
It was the Blood King Army's iron rule: for every comrade lost, kill ten in revenge. And now, they were faithfully upholding it.
Thud!
"Argh!"
"Heh heh heh. When Yama asks who sent you, tell him it was your sons, you bastards!"
Crunch!
"Gaaah!"
Gruesome deaths followed one after another. Some, crushed by terror, collapsed on the spot and wailed like children.
Many had already surrendered, but Sinhwi permitted no such mercy.
If hell existed, this was it. And if the reaper of death walked the earth, it was surely Sinhwi now.
Huff!
Hot breath escaped Sinhwi's lips. His body was drenched in blood, yet his eyes remained icy and serene.
Even his Blood King Army subordinates nearby felt a chill at that overwhelming presence.
This slaughter—worthy of being called a massacre—was rushing toward its end.
Few fought back anymore; the survivors scrambled to flee in all directions. Even so, compared to their original numbers, less than one in ten remained.
In that short time, nine out of ten had been brutally cut down.
Sinhwi gazed upward. Cheonggong and Cheongmyeong bowed their heads toward him.
Click!
Sinhwi sheathed his sword and walked toward the Hwasan survivors.
After a few steps, the head of the Ghost Corps fighter facing Seobaek flew off cleanly.
Coincidentally, the severed head rolled right to Sinhwi's feet.
Squish!
Songyeong and Seobaek approached.
"Good work."
As blood dripped from Sinhwi's entire body, Songyeong's eyes widened.
"Are you alright?"
Smack!
"Guh!"
Seobaek smacked the back of Songyeong's head.
"Watch how you talk to him, you punk."
Sinhwi ignored their bickering and lightly ascended the rocky outcrop.
Cheonggong and Cheongmyeong bowed once more.
"Cheonggong of Hwasan bows in gratitude for saving our lives."
"Cheongmyeong greets the Blood King."
Sinhwi examined them in turn, then asked impassively.
"Will you come with us?"