Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Corpse Vulture
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Pale mist filled the training grounds in an instant.
"Young cult leader!"
"This is—"
The spirits sensed the energy emanating from the fog and began to riot.
I knew exactly what it was, too.
Ghost Fog.
A type of dark sorcery that forcibly dulled the senses and perception.
It was mainly used to erase the caster's presence and carry out stealth assassinations.
It seemed Namgung San-yeong had finally made her move.
The same woman who'd been feeding me that nerve toxin.
'Well, she finally took the bait. Took her damn time.'
I swallowed the grin threatening to break across my lips.
Did she really think I'd stupidly let myself get caught releasing the spirits outside?
The giant spider had been bait.
Bait to lure out the rats hiding in the shadows.
If I could uncover the enemies' identities without being detected?
Perfect. Ideal.
But if I got spotted?
Just draw them out here. Simple.
No matter what happened, I came out ahead.
Sure, the spider got sacrificed, but he'd betrayed me first, so no guilty conscience there.
Of course, he'd worked harder than expected, so I had a separate reward in mind for that.
"Sister."
I smiled at Dang Gyujin, who had already donned her ghost mask over her face.
"Would you mind helping me out?"
"??"
A puzzled look crossed Dang Gyujin's face.
Alright then. Time to craft some magic tools after a long while?
* * *
Mok Ga-il was one of the Evil Swordsmen boasted by Black Bone Ghost Valley.
Evil Swordsmen were a type of Blood River Ghosts who drank specially crafted demonic elixir to strengthen their bodies and summoned the souls of dead masters as familiar spirits, possessing them to steal the techniques they'd wielded in life.
"It feels like I'm just cleaning up after others, which rubs me the wrong way, but hey, it's been ages since I hunted. Hope it's worth it! Heh heh!"
Swordsmen like him had long taken pleasure in killing unaffiliated sorcerers and stealing their magic tools.
Thanks to that, Mok Ga-il was burning with excitement.
The spirit-summoning technique he'd seen moments ago was high-level sorcery, just as his master had described.
No way such a powerhouse would be holed up in this rundown manor, so the enemy sorcerer likely wielded some top-tier magic tool.
If he could claim that, his own abilities would skyrocket!
'Maybe I could even surpass Evil Swordsman and aim for my master's level as a Spirit Swordsman...!'
Flash!
Before he knew it, he'd appeared atop the main hall's roof, overlooking the White Fortress in a single glance.
"Corpse Vulture, oh Corpse Vulture. Raise the Ghost Fog with your cry."
Kee-eeek!
The eagle perched on his forearm let out a long screech.
The Corpse Vulture was a monstrous bird that dwelled in graveyards, devouring corpses.
Their cries were said to shatter the senses of the living, bewitch the mind, and lure them to the tombs.
Hypnosis, brainwashing, dark sorcery. Even formidable combat prowess.
With such versatile support abilities, Black Bone Ghost Valley possessed only four of these elite summoned beasts.
Mok Ga-il planned to use it to trap the White Fortress in Ghost Fog, sneak up on Yun Hwi, poison him again with nerve toxin, and drag him to the shrine.
Fortunately, he didn't have to worry about other experts detecting him.
Thorn Ghost Fog Formation.
A formation designed to let the Corpse Vulture easily summon Ghost Fog had been activated across the entire White Fortress.
As long as it held, the experts wouldn't notice the intruder's arrival—and even if they did, he'd be long gone after finishing the job.
"Alright, let's go."
Swoosh—
Once the fog thickened enough, Mok Ga-il lightly leaped into the White Fortress.
Ghost Shadow Step.
With Black Bone Ghost Valley's premier stealth technique, he slipped naturally into the inner courtyard.
'They're in chaos, as expected.'
Mok Ga-il sneered coldly at Yun Hwi, trapped in the fog and flailing in confusion.
"What the hell is this? A formation?"
Yun Hwi jabbed his spear around wildly.
But the fog didn't lift—instead, it only grew denser.
'Keep flailing all you want. Nothing's gonna change.'
Unlike Mok Ga-il, Yun Hwi probably couldn't see an inch ahead.
His senses dulled, he stumbled about like a drowned rat—pathetic and laughable.
Mok Ga-il crept behind Yun Hwi.
As he reached for the pressure point on his back—
"Hee hee hee! Gotcha!"
"!!"
A sinister ghostly aura suddenly wafted from behind Mok Ga-il.
He spun around on instinct, and the fog split wide as a streak of light flashed past where he'd stood.
"...Qi Script Sword Aura!? You're no spirit sorcerer—how is a Qingcheng Taoist here—"
"No reason I'd tell a sneaky rat like you, right?"
Dang Gyujin, who'd been lying in wait for an assassin on Yun Hwi's orders, grinned with her lips but her eyes gleamed sharply.
Her instincts had pegged Mok Ga-il as Namgung San-yeong's man.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!
Dang Gyujin swung her sword relentlessly.
Each time, it flashed, unleashing a storm of sword auras that cleaved the fog and even threatened the Corpse Vulture.
Kee-eeek! Kek!
"Damn it!"
Mok Ga-il hurriedly lofted the troublesome Corpse Vulture into the air and retreated.
Deep craters pockmarked where he'd stood.
"If you're a Qingcheng Taoist, you must be Lady Dang Gyujin! What are you doing in the White Fortress? Surely you're not the spirit sorcerer!"
"Hee hee hee. No clue what you're babbling about? Die first, then we'll talk!"
Scree-ee!
Sword aura hurtled toward his throat again.
No more!
Mok Ga-il swiftly drew the sword plastered with yellow talismans from his back, deflecting the attack, then widened the gap.
Or tried to. Dang Gyujin pursued relentlessly, refusing to let him escape.
Flying Stream Step.
"Where do you think you're going!"
"Shit—"
Boom, boom-boom-boom—
Mok Ga-il flailed his sword wildly to shake her off.
Demon-Sealing Magic Sword—a sword art laced with dark sorcery that Evil Swordsmen favored.
However, beyond blocking sword auras, Mok Ga-il refrained from unleashing offensive sorcery.
After all, Namgung San-yeong was the client this time.
Who knew what disaster striking her daughter might bring?
His master, who valued clients above gods, would surely fly into a rage.
Clang-clang-clang!
Hee-hee-hee-hee—
As the fight dragged on, Dang Gyujin's stern face began to twist.
Euphoria leaked from her eyes, filled with the sole intent to capture and kill Mok Ga-il.
At this point, even Mok Ga-il couldn't hold back any longer.
"You insolent wench! I've spared you this long out of respect for Lady Namgung's face! Keep this up, and I won't hold back!"
"!!"
For a split second, Dang Gyujin's sword hesitated.
'Mother... after all...!?'
The Evil Swordsman seized that momentary flinch, ripping off the stack of talismans shrouding his blade.
A pitch-black sword body emerged, greedily sucking in the Ghost Fog.
Ssssh—
Whoooosh!
The Thorn Ghost Fog Formation didn't just mask the Evil Swordsman's presence.
It amplified the spirit energy channeled into the sword several-fold.
It was as if a murky giant's phantom loomed behind the Evil Swordsman.
Phantom Ghost Amplification Art.
An Evil Swordsman's power-boosting technique.
It enhanced the soul of the master forcibly summoned and bound during the Blood River Ghost refinement process.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Mok Ga-il slashed down ferociously.
Each stroke carried monstrous strength, like a giant wielding the blade itself.
Dang Gyujin, having lost the initiative once, was pushed back helplessly in an instant.
Her Qingcheng sword bent dramatically, on the verge of snapping.
'Why hesitate, Dang Gyujin? You knew Mother would do this. What's important now is catching this guy and interrogating his backer. To stop her from straying further down the wrong path!'
Dang Gyujin steadied her wavering heart.
If they were summoning Ghost Fog—something even Qingcheng deemed a demonic path—then Mother's allies were undoubtedly a formidable demonic magic sect.
The problem was the potential ties to the South Palace Clan.
As a Qingcheng Taoist before being Nine Dragons Branch heir, she couldn't overlook this.
The demonic arts might have sunk their claws deeper into the orthodox sects than she'd imagined.
"I'll erase your memories with amnesia sorcery afterward, Lady Dang. Best stay put."
"Try it. If you can."
Her tone was icy.
Mok Ga-il grimaced.
"Mother and daughter, both a pain in the ass the same way!"
Scree-ee!
Mok Ga-il absorbed more Ghost Fog, swelling the phantom behind him even larger.
KABOOM!
A massive explosion forced distance between them.
"Grab her! Leave the head and heart—devour the rest!!"
To wrap things up quickly, Mok Ga-il commanded the Corpse Vulture circling overhead, evading the Qi Script Sword Aura.
Yun Hwi merely stood dazed in a corner, too terrified to aid Dang Gyujin.
Kee-eeek!
The Corpse Vulture screeched gleefully, folding its wings for a dive.
Like a hawk snatching prey.
* * *
"Send this lowly one!"
"Let me go! Put me at the vanguard!!"
The spirits had been clamoring to volunteer since earlier.
Eager to impress me after seeing the giant spider's fate.
But I didn't deploy them, merely watching the fight with arms crossed.
I was curious if Dang Gyujin could truly showcase her skills in real combat.
And whether she'd truly side with me against Namgung San-yeong.
Above all, I wanted to know the assassin's backer.
Luckily, identifying them was easy.
Only one group handled Evil Swordsmen and Corpse Vultures.
Black Bone Ghost Valley. Black Bone Ghost Valley!
It felt like hooking an unexpected prize fish.
I'd figured South Palace Clan at most. Who'd have thought I'd snag a tail from one of the Seventy-Two Demonic Magic Sects here?
With the Divine Cult mired in civil war, their presence in the Central Plains meant ties to the Assembly—highly likely.
Especially since Black Bone Ghost Valley and I had a history of debts from my 'Yeon Un-hwi' days, I needed to plot a revenge that'd make waves.
Yet here they came, charging with a Corpse Vulture to hunt me.
They must think I'm too scared to move.
'Hmm, but of all things to target—'
'That's almost a pity.'
Scree-ee!
Razor-sharp talons sliced toward my face.
'Right? The cost to create and raise one Corpse Vulture nearly equals years of Black Bone Ghost Valley's operating budget, doesn't it?'
I uncrossed my arms. In that instant, violet light streams bloomed profusely around my eyes like fireworks.
Fwoosh!
'Blowing it to smithereens must sting.'
As the Corpse Vulture filled my vision, I unleashed the sorcery power I'd stored in my upper dantian.
Kiiiiieee!
With a ear-splitting shriek, a venomous evil ghost materialized behind me.
Violet Yao Eye, First Form
Evil Ghost Emergence
"Smash its head."
—!
The Corpse Vulture's savage face paled blue in an instant.
As if facing its natural predator.
It slammed its head into my mask at full dive speed.
Thud!
Tremble, tremble...
Oh. Didn't mean go that hard. Head hurt?
'No, watching it get snatched away hurts more. After all that toil setting the table, someone else gobbles it up!'
'True that. Heh heh! To Blood River Ghosts from Black Bone Ghost Valley, the Ghost King is no different from a natural enemy! What can they do? The fools don't know their young cult leader. Such a shame, tsk tsk.'
The spirits shook their heads at the Evil Swordsman.
Black Bone Ghost Valley's Blood River Ghosts all stemmed from dead spirits—abominations born of the restless dead.
The ghosts within were mere lesser kin to me, naturally.
That's why they'd been effortlessly looted by me before—they couldn't even fight back from the trembling.
So why would a Corpse Vulture be any different?
In its eyes, I probably looked like a colossal demonic beast wearing a mask, ready to devour it anytime.
"H-How... is this...?"
Of course, the clueless Evil Swordsman just gawked at me in shock.
Still smirking, I tapped the Corpse Vulture's quivering leg with my toe and called out.
"Hey! Wanna live?"
At my call, the Corpse Vulture slightly lifted its buried head.
Its eyeball rolled upward.
Its face was drenched in cold sweat.
Nod, nod...
"Then I'll give you a chance."
Gulp?
"Bring him here before I count to three. One, two—"
Grrrrowl!
In a flash, the Corpse Vulture bolted toward the Evil Swordsman like lightning.
Reincarnation Demon God Chronicles