Kkobong (3)
There's this internet term called a 'meme.' It's kind of like a viral phrase, but not limited to words—photos, videos, even real people. Similar to emoticons, but way funnier if you get the reference. And since the Gallery is basically internet-adjacent, memes exist there too. Photos used in all sorts of jokes, videos, the works. Sometimes you stumble on a 'victim' meme while scrolling old threads, and that's a type too.
Title: Who the hell is Wi Ho Chang?
YasaengGrill (Video of Kkobong answering "Wi Ho Chang")
Asked Kkobong who taught him speech and martial arts. This is the answer I got. Cheonma says he's the Blood Demon—anyone know more details?
ㄴSwordTasteStar) Saying that name out loud... They'll be here soon.
ㄴYasaengGrill) Who?
ㄴWhy's that fucker asking?
ㄴWi Ho Chang is alive!!!
ㄴWi!
ㄴHo!
ㄴChang!
ㄴAh. Shit, the Blood Cult sniffed it out and swarmed already;;
ㄴSerious advice: delete it quick if you don't want the comments to go weird;;
ㄴYasaengGrill) Why's everyone freaking out?;;
ㄴWi!
ㄴHo!
ㄴChang!
ㄴWorship Wi Ho Chang!!
ㄴThe Blood Cult hasn't fallen yet!
ㄴWryyyyyyy!!!
Among them, the most notorious meme was the one I'd just asked about: Wi Ho Chang. The second I mentioned his name, these bizarre comments exploded like crazy. So many piled up it was hard to get any real answers. Super disorienting.
What the hell is this?
Who was this Wi Ho Chang guy to cause such an explosive(?) reaction? I slogged through the spam-filled comments. I desperately wanted answers. Luckily, it wasn't totally overrun—some normal replies slipped through.
ㄴSmartMine) Wi Ho Chang—he's the bastard who started the Orthodox Blood War. You know what that is, right?
ㄴYasaengGrill) Nope. No clue.
ㄴSmartMine) Think of it like a civil war ripping the country apart. You know about the Orthodox sects, Evil sects, Ma-gyo, Blood Cult, etc.?
ㄴYasaengGrill) Vaguely, but not details. Just tell me about the Blood Cult?
ㄴWi!
ㄴSmartMine) They were utterly insane. Only interested in killing people. And the Blood Demon was the worst of them.
ㄴHo!
ㄴYasaengGrill) How bad was he?
ㄴChang!
ㄴSmartMine) If you even slightly pissed him off, he'd blow your head up. And he was so strong, most experts couldn't touch him.
ㄴWi!
ㄴYasaengGrill) So that's what sparked the Orthodox Blood War?
ㄴHo!
ㄴSmartMine) Yeah, but the Blood Demon was ridiculously strong, so the Orthodox and Evil sects teamed up against him.
ㄴChang!
Weird chants(?) kept interrupting, but I pieced the story together. Wi Ho Chang earned the title Blood Demon through straight-up massacre. For some reason—revenge against a specific ethnic group, apparently—he committed atrocities on a massive scale. No surprise followers formed; they were just drawn to his overwhelming power.
ㄴSmartMine) But like I said, even his own people weren't safe if they crossed him. Heads went boom!
ㄴYasaengGrill) Yeah, dude looks like he had zero friends.
ㄴYou bastard! Dare doubt Lord Wi Ho Chang?!
ㄴDivine punishment awaits!
ㄴYasaengGrill) Fuck off, the Four Seasons Forest is punishment enough.
ㄴHm. Fair point.
ㄴHe's already getting punished, so no need to step in.
ㄴEww, boomer smell;;;
ㄴHow are these guys so persistent lol
ㄴHead mod says they crawl back like bugs even after bans lol
From the full rundown, the Wi Ho Chang meme started simple: his survival in the Orthodox Blood War was unconfirmed. Diehards convinced he's alive infiltrated the Gallery. The Blood Cult's image was already trash, and this creepy meme made it worse. Not that a group of murder-lovers deserved sympathy.
ㄴOrthodox Blood War wiped out so many Orthodox/Evil experts, overall power levels dropped.
ㄴThat's why Cheonma wrecked everyone—not for nothing.
ㄴWasn't the military fine? Didn't he behead the emperor?
ㄴThey were in bed with the government, but even that fell apart.
ㄴDoesn't change Cheonma being a monster;;
ㄴBack then, wasn't Yaksha Blood Flower her famous title?
ㄴYeah, there were rumors she was Blood Demon's secret kid.
ㄴWait, that albino gorilla's palms are red, right?
ㄴWi Ho Chang had red palms too—called him Blood Hand Overlord.
ㄴDid Wi Ho Chang really flee to the Four Seasons Forest?
ㄴIf he fled, what’s he doing now? Dead maybe?
If the Immortal King rules the west, Wi Ho Chang rules the east. Immortal King sent his brother here; Wi Ho Chang came himself. Of course, who knows if it's true. It was just Kkobong's word.
I needed more intel. Perfect timing—a related question on the list.
"Kkobong. Answer this one too."
"……."
Kkobong narrowed his eyes at the paper, just like before. The question: Where is that guy now?
Kkobong answered, and I asked Cheonma to translate.
[Cheonma: He says he left the group young, so he doesn't know.]
[YasaengGrill: Got it.]
That explained why Ppareumbo didn't recognize him. With such a distinctive look, impossible otherwise.
"@$@%& %@#!"
Maybe because it was someone he knew, or nostalgia? Kkobong started rambling unprompted. Middle Kingdom tongue, so I got Cheonma to translate again.
[Cheonma: The only one who cared for him when the group discriminated against him. Taught him until he left.]
[YasaengGrill: Wasn't the Blood Demon a bad guy?]
[Cheonma: True, but maybe lenient with beasts. The world's full of scum worse than animals.]
Sharp observation. Reality's packed with subhuman trash—higher thinking just makes 'em worse.
I mulled over Kkobong's backstory briefly, then the Blood Demon.
Still a criminal, right?
Era of loose self-defense, but he went way beyond. Now a meme, but he killed casually like snacks. Silver lining: probably not in this world anymore. If alive, Leader Gorilla would've reported him, and we'd have met.
Orthodox Blood War was about 50 years ago...
Blood Demon last seen in his 50s. Over 100 now—natural death plausible. Monster strength? Four Seasons Forest doable.
Wait. Even he couldn't escape?
Failed escape or gave up? Probably the former. Gallery said sky-high pride. Teaching speech, writing, martial arts to mere gorillas? Fishy.
To confirm, need traces—Leader Gorilla likely has 'em.
That outfit he wore must be Blood Demon's.
Some pieces clicked, others didn't. Heart change upon entering? Realized escape impossible? Still foggy, but time to dig.
Priority: Blood Demon intel.
ㄴYasaengGrill) Blood Demon's level?
ㄴHeard Manifest Realm? Grand Master tier.
ㄴManifest Realm is Manifest Realm, wtf Grand Master;;
ㄴWhat's Grand Master vs Grand Sword Master?
ㄴSame thing, just convenient label.
ㄴHow strong?
ㄴThink flipping heaven and earth.
ㄴCheonma) This lady reached Manifest Realm too. Ma-in call it Transcendent Demon Realm.
ㄴSwordTasteStar) Sure, sure. I could too, but too lazy.
Beyond monster—insanely strong. Even he couldn't leave Four Seasons Forest. War wounds? Something else? Unknown.
I tabled Blood Demon/Wi Ho Chang for later, moved to next question.
This might be the big one.
My key question: Why kill Rice Kraone, the senior survivor?
Per journal, Kkobong attacked, fatal aftermath. Blood Demon's bastard traits? Or reason? If bored kill... I'd execute on sight. No justification? Murder's messy.
"……."
Kkobong scowled at the question, even snorted. Outrageous reaction—curious now.
He answered; Cheonma translated.
[Cheonma: Guy stole his food before.]
[YasaengGrill: ……]
Context clear. Stealing's hard to forgive, especially with bad eyes hindering pursuit.
Can albinos even get glasses fitted?
Sudden thought. Fix Kkobong's sight? Might worry better vision hurts me—nope. Prevents workshop accidents (industrial injuries?). Plus, builds goodwill. We're stuck together; comfort matters.
Title: Low-vision glasses available?
YasaengGrill (Video of Kkobong squinting at text)
Albino, vision sucks. Want glasses—anyone got spares? I'll trade what I can.
ㄴCheonma) My aide wears some. Want 'em?
ㄴYasaengGrill) No stealing;;
ㄴSwordTasteStar) Mana users don't get bad eyes usually. Doesn't know eye-strengthening?
ㄴYasaengGrill) Congenital bad eyes.
ㄴSwordTasteStar) Ah. Won't work then. Like opening a blind man's eyes.
ㄴYasaengGrill) No spares?
ㄴSwordTasteStar) Mine's over 9.0;;
ㄴ9.0 what...
ㄴYasaengGrill) Whoa, hawk eyes. See ants on the floor?
ㄴSwordTasteStar) Why look lololol
ㄴSunForever) Got a spare. Want it?
ㄴYasaengGrill) Yes please. You got bad eyes?
ㄴSunForever) Nah, fashion. Fine for bad eyes.
ㄴYasaengGrill) Thanks. Need anything?
ㄴSunForever) Nope. Cheap anyway.
ㄴGlasses ain't cheap?
ㄴDepends, but quality's pricey. Jewelers make 'em.
ㄴReal rich guy.
ㄴPassingDwarf) Glasses aside, dress that thing. Looks ragged.
ㄴYasaengGrill) Why clothe a gorilla;;
ㄴChangguPrincess) Need Chaeyu uniform? :)
ㄴThis guy's at it again lololol
ㄴWonmo, Ppareumbo, now Kkobong lolol
ㄴWhite fur screams camouflage fail tho?
Advice for glasses and clothes. White fur's a survival nightmare. He's strong enough usually, but collared now. Glasses first, clothes later.
Classic old-school specs.
SunForever's gift: round frames, inverted V lenses. No plastic here—standard fare.
"Kkobong. Try these."
"……."
Kkobong eyed the glasses suspiciously as I handed them over. Collar made him wary. But pure goodwill item. I urged him; he took 'em reluctantly.
"……Whoa?"
Suspicion on, glasses donned. Quickly turned to shock.
"Whoa? Whoooaaa!"
Shock to awe.
"Ooooh!!!"
New world discovered—explosive reaction. Then endless on-off testing. Eyes sparkled, fierce face softened. Puckered lips—pure ape bliss.
"Ooooh……!"
Glasses on, he shuffled off. Deep into the forest.
I watched his back, smiling warmly.
"……Wait."
Where the hell's he going?