Chapter 160: A Woman's Resentment
Chapter 160: A Woman's Resentment
Mount Jeomchang, Yunnan Province. The office of the Jeomchang Sect Leader.
Guyueumma Jigieum, one of the Blood Cult's Five Demons and one of the Thirty-Six Stars of the World, was currently prostrated flat on the floor, trembling faintly.
Even for a being who stood near the absolute masters of the martial world, the aura pressing down upon him was utterly unbearable.
And that was even though the aura was not directed at him.
Crash! Clang! Crack!
The furnishings in the room floated up into the air before bursting apart and scattering.
The walls of the solidly built office seemed to be slowly bulging outward as well.
At this rate, it felt as though the office itself would simply explode.
It was then that the architect of all these phenomena, the Slaughter Blood Demon Jeon Mu-gwang, muttered darkly.
"You're telling me... Hwa Sa-yu and Yu-sang are dead? Is that confirmed intelligence?"
Jigieum pressed himself even flatter in prostration and answered with great effort.
"I too was shocked and hurriedly investigated upon hearing the news... but it appears to be confirmed. My apologies, Supreme One!"
At this, the Blood Demon Jeon Mu-gwang clenched his fist tightly and spat out through gritted teeth.
"Son Eun-sang!"
Crunch!
Simultaneously, the table that had been slowly warping crunched loudly before Jigieum's eyes and was crushed flat.
Even Jigieum, who was normally fearless in the world, could not help but swallow dryly at that formless energy.
But while he was afraid, that did not mean he could not understand.
No, Jigieum felt he could, in fact, fully understand the rage the Blood Demon was now displaying.
Because he knew well what kind of existence Gu Yu-sang was to the Blood Demon.
He was the successor whom the Blood Demon had raised with genuine affection and care.
At the very least, Gu Yu-sang was a being far closer to flesh and blood than someone like the grandson Ma Yu-gyeom, whose whereabouts still could not be found even now.
That was why Jigieum felt he would not be surprised even if the Blood Demon decided right now to launch the Second Blood Correction War.
'Perhaps the cult's advance into the Central Plains might be pushed forward sooner than planned.'
But it was while Jigieum was thinking that thought.
The aura that had been fiercely billowing out from the Blood Demon suddenly vanished as if washed clean away.
As if it had never been there from the start.
It was an abrupt change, too abrupt.
So abrupt, in fact, that the bewildered Jigieum unconsciously raised his head to look at the Blood Demon.
And then he could see it.
The Blood Demon's face had already regained its composure.
With a somber face, but having recovered his cool rationality, the Blood Demon asked Jigieum.
"You said the Murim Alliance is currently tearing Guizhou's capital apart?"
Contrary to his expectations, Jigieum felt admiration for his master who had recovered his composure so quickly, and bowed his head again to answer.
"Yes, I understand that Yu-sang's subordinates, as well as those we planted in various regions, have already been nearly annihilated. It seems the bastards obtained all the intelligence on the seeds we sowed in Guizhou's capital. So securing accurate intelligence is also..."
"Hmm."
The Blood Demon, who had been pondering briefly, spoke again.
"Gieum, it will be difficult, but can you go to Guizhou's capital and retrieve the bodies of that child and Hwa Sa-yu?"
Jigieum answered immediately.
"Of course, Supreme One. I shall go and return at once!"
But Jigieum, who had answered readily and was about to leave, hesitated for a moment before asking the Blood Demon again.
"Supreme One, will you not take revenge on that bitch Son Eun-sang?"
At those words, the air in the room, which had briefly recovered, instantly grew heavy once more.
It was due to the Blood Demon's unconsciously released aura.
But the Blood Demon did not spew forth a storm-like aura as he had before.
He looked at Jigieum with sharp eyes and spoke.
"If you or Cheokgang could handle Son Eun-sang, then taking revenge right now would be fine, wouldn't it? So, is it possible?"
At his words, Jigieum simply could not say that it was possible.
Because for himself to take revenge on her, one of the Four Demons of the World, an equal of the Blood Demon, was an impossible story.
If it were the fool Cheokgang, he would have stubbornly boasted that he could do it, but in the end, he would obviously meet a dog's death just like Hwa Sa-yu.
Jigieum prostrated flat again and cried out.
"My apologies, Supreme One! We are incompetent...!"
At this, the Blood Demon burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! It was a jest. What is there to apologize for? If you could handle Son Eun-sang, there would be no reason for you to be under me."
Then, wiping the mirth from his face, he muttered gravely.
"An opportunity will come within a few years, will it not? The day we break free of Yunnan Province will come soon. Revenge then will not be too late. And... the place where Son Eun-sang was staying is the Seonwoo clan?"
"Yes, Supreme One. It is also the place Yu-sang marked as the next target to occupy after the Un clan. Would you like me to sweep that place away as well while I am gone?"
At Jigieum's words, the Blood Demon fell into thought for a moment.
"Hmm."
For Jigieum, sweeping away a place like the Seonwoo clan would not be a particularly difficult task.
And achieving that much would also be sufficient to vent some frustration.
But after a brief moment, the Blood Demon ultimately shook his head.
"No, there is no need to provoke the Murim Alliance further. Besides, Son Eun-sang may still be staying there. Just quietly retrieve the bodies and come back."
Where Son Eun-sang currently was, was not known.
This, too, was because No Sam-ryong, under Seonwoo Jin's direction, had manipulated the rumors.
They intended to create the illusion that Son Eun-sang might still be at the Seonwoo clan to guard against any possible provocation, and in the end, that arrangement had prevented Jigieum's attack.
Though Seonwoo Jin would not know it, it could only be described as an immense stroke of fortune.
At the Blood Demon's command, Jigieum respectfully bowed his head low.
"Yes, Supreme One."
Jigieum's figure vanished immediately, and the Blood Demon Jeon Mu-gwang, left alone in the room, abruptly recalled the secret techniques of the Blood Cult.
The Blood Cult possessed not only martial arts but countless types of secret techniques.
Poison arts, soul-possession arts, corpse arts—as well as techniques close to sorcery, like the Descending Spirit Art, the Spirit Summoning Art, and the Great Soul Separation Method, secret techniques of various fields.
The secret technique the Blood Demon was now recalling was one of them.
The Spirit Summoning Art, which called forth the soul of the deceased.
The Blood Demon muttered.
"If only I could summon Yu-sang's soul and fix it into a body made into a Blood Demon human...."
Of course, that was a story with almost no chance of success.
Even in the long history of the Blood Cult, there had been only one person who had succeeded in making the soul of the dead settle back into a body.
But that there had been one person meant it was not impossible, did it not?
And he himself, the Blood Demon of the present era, was a man who had made many impossibilities into possibilities.
Moreover, Gu Yu-sang was an existence into whom the Blood Demon had poured enough affection to make challenging the impossible worthwhile.
"Hmm."
The Blood Demon's contemplation was deepening.
***
Guizhou's capital, the Seonwoo clan.
Several days had passed since Seonwoo Jin had been confirmed as the young family head of the Seonwoo clan.
In that short span, the Seonwoo clan, which had suffered many external shocks, was rapidly regaining stability.
Unlike before, power had been centralized in the family head Seonwoo Jung, and a young family head who held the overwhelming support of the clan warriors had been established, making it possible.
Now, it seemed only good things lay ahead for the Seonwoo clan.
This was because they had absorbed the Ha clan and become the true rulers of Gaeyang, had repelled the Blood Cult's invasion and spread their fame through the martial world, and rumors were spreading of the fact that the Lust Demon Son Eun-sang was protecting them, as well as other rumors.
Moreover, with rumors circulating that they were soon scheduled to establish ties through marriage with the Jegal clan, gossips were even speculating that the premier clan of Guizhou was already decided.
Perhaps because of that, the reception hall of the Seonwoo clan these days was crowded every single day with warriors hoping to join the household.
The family head Seonwoo Jung, the elders, and the commanders of the Divine Eagle Unit were so busy they did not know how time was passing.
And amidst them, Seonwoo Jin, who was now the young family head, was preparing to return to the frontline.
When he came to Seonwoo Jung's office and conveyed his intention to leave today, the Great Elder Heo Jin-guk, who had been present, asked Seonwoo Jin with a regretful expression.
"Must you really go, young family head?"
He was the man who, even in Seonwoo Jin's past life, had died defending the Seonwoo clan to the very end.
But he was also a man who, until that final moment, had not particularly liked Seonwoo Jin.
Seeing someone like that look at himself with such a regretful expression, Seonwoo Jin felt a strange sense of emotion.
He smiled and answered.
"My leave is already almost over. To stop by the Sichuan Tang Family and then return to the frontline, time is already tight. Wouldn't it be a disgrace if the young family head of the Seonwoo clan became a deserter from the frontline?"
"Hmm, that is true."
Heo Jin-guk sighed deeply and nodded.
The other elders around him were also nodding with regretful expressions.
At this, the family head Seonwoo Jung spoke up with a gentle smile.
"Four years isn't such a long time, what's all this about? At this rate of work, he'll be back in no time. Wouldn't we rather run short on time if we want to show Jin the changed face of the family when he returns?"
At those words, Heo Jin-guk chuckled and nodded.
"That is also true, family head. We should tell the young family head to take his time coming back."
Seonwoo Jin gazed at the leisurely smiling Heo Jin-guk with a pleased expression.
To even crack jokes like that. Heo Jin-guk truly had changed a great deal compared not only to Seonwoo Jin's past life but even to just a short while ago.
Perhaps the reason he had always acted like a lone wolf in the past was because he had been displeased with the Seonwoo clan as it was back then, the clan he genuinely wished to serve.
For he was a loyal subject who sincerely devoted himself to the Seonwoo clan.
It was then that the family head Seonwoo Jung abruptly asked Seonwoo Jin.
"So, when do you think you'll depart?"
On the surface, it was a nonchalant expression, but Seonwoo Jin could read the deep regret and worry dwelling in his father's eyes.
These were all things he had never received in his past life.
'Wait, no. Maybe Father always looked at me like that, and I was the one who didn't know.'
A warmth spread in his chest.
For a moment, a thought arose that he did not want to leave home, his father's side.
Seonwoo Jin answered with a forcefully smiling face.
"I plan to leave right after lunch."
"I see. Then I'll gather everyone at lunch today. Better to say your goodbyes all at once then, rather than going around greeting everyone individually, don't you think?"
"Yes, I would be grateful if you would."
In truth, there were not many people Seonwoo Jin particularly needed to bid farewell to.
He only had to greet the elders, the Divine Eagle Unit commanders, and the Chaos Soul Witch So Nan-so.
It was obvious that Seonwoo Jung's first wife or fourth wife, and those types who were still holding their positions, would rather be more uncomfortable seeing Seonwoo Jin.
Because these days, they could not even meet his eyes properly in front of Seonwoo Jin.
'But well, if it puts Father's mind a little more at ease, I should do that much.'
Seonwoo Jin thought of them briefly as he returned to his room.
In truth, until just recently, Seonwoo Jin had been pondering somewhat over how to deal with them.
Whether he should purge even them, or if he could leave them be....
Especially the first wife, Lady Gok—was she not the enemy who could be said to be connected to his mother's death?
He could let Seonwoo Seong, the eldest brother, go since he was not evil enough to be cut down, and the fourth son Seonwoo Gi was a figure to be sold off as a matrilocal son-in-law to the Jegal clan soon, but as for that woman alone, Seonwoo Jin could not feel at ease just leaving her be.
So Seonwoo Jin, who had originally been considering bringing about her downfall as well, had decided some time ago to simply abandon that thought.
The reason was none other than the Chaos Soul Witch So Nan-so.
Recalling her, Seonwoo Jin let out a chuckle.
'Senior So is truly a remarkable person, you know.'
After the second wife and fifth wife were imprisoned in the Thunder Prison, the first wife, Lady Gok, now believing her competitors had vanished, had apparently begun to behave quite arrogantly and imperiously.
She threw her weight around, of course with the fourth wife, but also all over the place, and in the process, she ended up going to So Nan-so, who was staying in the annex, and picking a fight with her.
'Who the hell are you, you wench, to be residing here?! Looking like a fox just like the former mistress of this place! Are you some new concubine my husband has taken in?!'
Thereupon, So Nan-so, who had at first regarded her with puzzled eyes, soon broke into a grin.
There was no way So Nan-so, who had weathered every storm of life, from the mountains and waters to the very skies, would simply let such provocation slide.
She retorted with a startled expression.
'Oh my, what is this? What's with this pig-like man rampaging around in women's clothing? Is he a pervert? Kyaaak! Help me! There's a pig-like pervert here!'
As Lady Gok, who hated nothing more than being called fat to begin with, had just been called not just a pig, but a pig-like man, it was only natural that she completely lost her reason.
'You, you, you insolent wench!'
And Lady Gok, who lunged at her, was naturally and thoroughly sent rolling on the ground.
Having been rolled on the ground until her clothes were nearly reduced to rags, Lady Gok eventually went, weeping pitifully, to the family head, Seonwoo Jung.
But all that returned from Seonwoo Jung was a cold response.
'I have already heard the news. As I understand it, Madam, you dared to go and pick a fight with Lady So, who is an honored benefactor of our clan. Furthermore, I hear you said she looked like a fox, like the former mistress of that place?'
Under his cold gaze, Lady Gok froze, her weeping ceasing abruptly.
'You seem to be greatly mistaken, Madam. The son of the former mistress of that place is the young family head of our clan. And as far as I know, that young family head is also aware of why his mother died. In truth, I find it more surprising why that child has still left you alone. It is not as though I am unaware of your secret dealings with the Gaeyang Sect.'
In the end, Lady Gok had no choice but to flee from the family head's hall, trembling all the while.
And from then on, So Nan-so began to visit Lady Gok every single day, as casually as if going for a stroll.
The reason, of course, was purely to torment her.
Once, when Seonwoo Jin was looking at So Nan-so, who was tormenting Lady Gok, with a curious expression, she winked at him and grinned like a mischievous child.
At that moment, Seonwoo Jin was able to realize it as well.
That she, who had been the master of the Hao Gate in Guizhou, also knew everything about the internal affairs of the Seonwoo clan.
And that she was therefore deliberately tormenting her in the same way Seonwoo Jin's mother had suffered.
And so, Seonwoo Jin was finally able to make up his mind.
'It's better to just leave her be.'
It seemed that for her, simply being left as she was would be a more agonizing life than being locked away in the Thunder Prison.
Thus, it could be said that Seonwoo Jin's work within the Seonwoo clan was now completely finished.
But as he was about to enter his room thinking that, Seonwoo Jin suddenly turned his head.
Toward the place where the only person who weighed on his mind among all the things he had done was staying.
***
Jegal Seoyul had not once set foot outside her room since that day.
She ate almost nothing either.
It was because she felt so utterly wretched that she could neither go out nor eat anything.
Endlessly, within her room, she recalled the events of that day.
Her foolish self, who had been secretly thrilled at the thought of becoming his wife even after losing the martial match, and his image, firmly declaring before everyone that he could not marry her.
'How could I have been such a fool....'
It was so pathetic, so shameful, so miserable.
The events of that day were a humiliation and an ordeal that she, who had always received only envious gazes from others, could not possibly bear.
She simply had no face to see anyone else.
It felt as though everyone was laughing at her.
It was so bad that the thought even crossed her mind: wouldn't it be better to just die like this?
But after agonizing over suicide for the past few days, she had ultimately resolved not to die.
Instead, what she resolved upon was revenge.
To take revenge upon Seonwoo Jin, who had toyed with her and made her a laughingstock, even if it took her entire life.
'I will definitely, even if I have to sacrifice everything I possess, utterly destroy everything of his!'
Now, her eyes, filled with nothing but venomous energy, were burning blue in the darkness.
Come to think of it, there were many ways.
She was, after all, the daughter of Jegal Ji-gang, the military advisor of the Murim Alliance.
With the power of the Jegal clan alone, she could overwhelm and crush a clan like the Seonwoo clan with room to spare, but if she made the effort, could she not also wield the power of the Murim Alliance?
'And that's not all. If I marry into a powerful force in the martial world, I can use their power as well.'
For Jegal Seoyul, who had resolved to dedicate her entire being to revenge, things like marriage no longer held any importance.
Suddenly, a faint, arc-like smile traced across her lips.
It was because merely imagining the downfall of Seonwoo Jin and his Seonwoo clan was already enough to make her mood seem to lift.
It was while she was thus laying out her future plans one by one.
Suddenly, a voice came from outside her room.
"Lady Jegal, are you in there?"
At that, her heart sank with a jolt.
It was his voice.
That he would come to find her. The thought even crossed her mind that the schemes she was hatching had already been discovered.
Gulping down her saliva, Jegal Seoyul quietly held her breath.
It was because she thought that if he believed she wasn't there, he might just leave again.
***
I was watching Jegal Seoyul inside the room with my Mind's Eye.
I already knew she was inside, but she was simply remaining still, holding her breath.
Apparently, she was waiting for me to leave.
A sigh escaped me.
"Fuuu."
I could fully understand her avoiding me.
Of course, since I had always acted stiffly toward her, she certainly had no desire to marry me anyway, but surely the feeling of refusing someone versus being rejected by them must be vastly different.
It seemed entirely possible that she could feel sufficiently insulted.
'Still, I never imagined the reaction would be so severe that she'd shut herself away for days.... I hear she's not even eating properly either.'
I felt extremely uncomfortable.
She was... someone who couldn't even raise her voice about the death of a friend, but at the very least, she was not a bad person.
That much was certain.
I knew well enough that the sons and daughters of ordinary martial clans were taught to obey their family's decisions unconditionally.
'Well, Lady Dang was the same.'
So, my condemnation of her had not been without a bit of excess.
And in truth, that had also been a means to keep my distance from her.
Since I had already calculated that, in due course, I would duel her but not marry her.
Therefore, I had expected that if she ended up not marrying me, she would consider it a relief.
That it was, rather, a good outcome for her.
But... apparently, I had greatly underestimated the matter of a woman's sense of shame.
'As expected, women are simply too difficult for me.'
Of course, it wasn't my fault.
Across both of my lives combined, the instances where I had been involved with a woman were almost as few as could be counted on the fingers of a Son.
And the only people around to give me advice were guys like Squad Leader Seolpung, Bi Sayeong, and Bae Jonggwan.
Just thinking about it was hopeless.
'But Lady Jegal isn't going to understand my circumstances, is she?'
That was only to be expected.
So, one way or another, I had to resolve this situation with my own strength.
I opened my mouth to begin.
"It seems you do not wish to speak with me."
But beyond that, I couldn't figure out what else to say.
Suddenly, the thought occurred to me that this situation resembled one I had experienced before.
The situation back when Miss Cheongyeon had refused to talk, and I had waited before her door.
'Back then, I just kept waiting and eventually got an answer that we'd talk later.'
But that later chance had never come in the end.
Suddenly, my heart felt heavy.
I resolved to say what I wanted to say right here and now, after all.
With as much sincerity as I could muster.
I didn't know how Lady Jegal would take it, but still, I felt that if I did this, I wouldn't be left with regrets later.
Slowly, I began to speak.
"You may not know this, young lady, but—no, in truth, even I did not know until recently—but before I was born, the Seonwoo clan had once come to the brink of ruin. All of the clan's masters were killed, and at that time, my father, though just a young child, had to become the family head and protect the clan all by himself."
I couldn't tell if she was listening, but I calmly laid out the events of the past.
Why my father had been forced to draw many clans to his side, why my mother had died.
"Returning home, I thought that, if not necessarily for revenge, I had to root out the maternal family factions that were dictating the clan's affairs. I also had to root out the Blood Cult operatives in Guizhou who had seized control of the Un clan. So, I formed a plan to borrow the power of the Jegal clan for all those matters. Yes, that's right. Just as you said, young lady. Everything was part of my plan."
Having confessed that far, I let out a sigh.
"Fuuu."
I didn't think confessing all of this was a wise thing to do.
It's not as though I had inflicted harm upon the Jegal clan, and there was a just cause of purging Blood Cult operatives, so they could hardly take issue with it, but if she were to speak of me to Jegal Jigang, it would likely draw his attention.
But even so, I simply wanted to tell her things as they were.
Because it felt like it would ease my mind.
"As for criticizing you regarding Miss Cheongyeon's affair... I was not truly sincere. Even if it was not the right thing, it was not as though I couldn't understand that you, as a daughter of your house, had no choice. I merely... thought that by acting that way, it would lighten your heart when you did not have to marry me later. So, I deliberately tried to distance myself from you."
Having said that much, I now chose my final words.
"I do not regret all that I have done. For rooting out the faction trying to control my clan, avenging my mother, and purging the Blood Cult operatives were all successful. However, to you, at least, I am sorry. It was because I had not stopped to think that this matter could cause you such a great sense of insult. I am... truly sorry."
Having said that, I pushed myself up from the door I had been leaning against.
It seemed I had now said all that I could possibly say.
If her heart remained unrested despite this, what more could I possibly do about it?
And just as I was about to turn my steps away, a sudden thought came to me, and I added one last thing.
"And I do not know how this will sound, but the fact that I returned to gain my father's permission for marriage and that I came having made a promise to the family head of the Sichuan Dang Clan are both truths. So, the reason I never considered a marriage alliance with you from the beginning was never because of you, young lady. I hope you will not take too much offense."
Having finished even those words, I now truly moved my feet.
If I thought about it more, other things that needed saying might come to mind, but I felt it was better to just quickly remove myself from the premises.
From within, the low sound of weeping could be heard.
The sound of sobbing, crying so very sorrowfully...
It seemed my words had failed to ease her heart, after all.
As expected, a woman's heart was simply too difficult for me.