A Warning in Blood
Having been cooped up on the island all this time, it was only natural for him to feel stifled.
"What do you think of him?" Jekyeong asked.
Han Cheongyu did not answer immediately. He remained silent for a moment, organizing his thoughts, before speaking cautiously. "His talent for cultivation seems quite remarkable, but he is highly cunning and knows how to cut corners."
"Indeed, he is," Jekyeong agreed with Han Cheongyu's assessment as he recalled Juhyeong. He was neither meticulous nor leisurely enough to observe each of his subordinates individually. At most, he would occasionally glance at them whenever they crossed his mind. Consequently, his understanding of his individual subordinates was not particularly deep—with the sole exception of Juhyeong. Having personally brought the fellow back from Jimagwon, Jekyeong knew all too well that Juhyeong was as sly as Han Cheongyu described. It was no exaggeration to say the man possessed an extraordinary instinct and knack for self-preservation.
Is that what this is about again?
Previously, the fellow had been entirely occupied with consuming alchemical pills and focusing on his cultivation. For him to suddenly bring up gratitude and volunteer for work naturally forced Jekyeong to recall the events of a few days ago.
"Grrr..."
Recalling the incident he had tried so hard to bury caused his unhealed wounds to throb, dragging his mood down with them. As a low growl slipped from Jekyeong's throat, Han Cheongyu's face instantly drained of color. Though he managed not to collapse or take a step back, his breathing turned ragged and his spiritual energy fluctuated so violently that it seemed he might cough up blood at any moment.
Jekyeong regulated his breathing and calmed his mind. "I grant it. Let him do as he pleases."
"Understood."
After Han Cheongyu departed, Jekyeong resumed his meditation with a bloodless expression. Right now, his face was even paler than Han Cheongyu's had been moments ago. Following his battle with Ha Yuseong, his physical condition was far from ideal. Had it not been for his Origin Earth Fire, which possessed immense healing properties, he would still be stuffing himself with beast cores to recover.
That absolute mad dog.
Just thinking of Ha Yuseong, who had glared at him with defiant eyes until the very moment of his departure, made his blood boil again. Still, he found some solace in the thought that the bastard was likely in a far worse state than himself by now.
They always said the Beast Race was completely unhinged.
From early on, Jekyeong had heard nothing but bad things about the Beast Race from human cultivators and his seniors in Bul-mang-won, but he had never truly resonated with those complaints. He was a beast himself, and he had never encountered a demon beast so utterly depraved or wild as to warrant such vitriol. But now, he understood. A bastard like Ha Yuseong was the textbook definition of the unhinged Beast Race he had heard so much about. To put it nicely, the guy was a battle-crazed maniac; to put it bluntly, he was a rabid dog. Since neither common sense nor rules applied to him, he was no different from a mere wild beast.
Sigh.
The inner fire he thought had died down reared its head once more. Jekyeong summoned his Origin Earth Fire to heal his wounds while simultaneously calming his mind through meditation. For the past few days, this had been his constant routine.
Having obtained permission, Juhyeong immediately joined the fleet. This fleet, which commanded hundreds of vessels, had no official name. Those serving under the Dragon Lord simply referred to it as "the fleet," while outsiders called it the Black Cult Fleet.
The fleet comprised hundreds of ships. Among them were tiny fishing boats that would be cramped with just a few people aboard, as well as massive warships capable of easily carrying hundreds of soldiers. The vessel Juhyeong boarded was somewhere in the middle. It could comfortably accommodate dozens of people, but it was not a warship. It possessed neither defensive formations nor any equipped weaponry; it was merely an ordinary vessel.
"You're Juhyeong, right? Welcome aboard."
The captain greeted Juhyeong with a warm smile. He was a middle-aged cultivator at the late Qi Condensation stage, his temples dusted with white hair that spoke of his years of experience.
"I am Juhyeong. I will do my utmost not to be a burden. Please guide me well."
"Oh, you're far too polite. A burden? Nonsense." Seeing Juhyeong behave so respectfully, the captain's smile grew warmer and more genuine.
"Our task is simple. We merely patrol the water territory and keep an eye out for any suspicious movements. It is, quite literally, a patrol."
"Suspicious movements?"
"Strange behavior from the water beasts, or unrest among the humans."
Hearing this, Juhyeong widened his eyes in feigned surprise. "Are there actually those who dare defy the majesty of the Dragon Lord?"
"Is it not human nature to want to sit once you stand, and lie down once you sit? There are more than a few foolish people who fail to remember the past and continue to let their greed run wild," the captain said with a sigh. "Our job is to shut their mouths before they can raise their voices in earnest. We stomp out the embers before they can spread into a raging wildfire."
The captain did not seem particularly comfortable saying those words. Juhyeong guessed that the man was a native of the Heukgyo water territory. It was likely distressing for him to have to raise his hand against his own countrymen.
"I understand."
Unlike the visibly conflicted captain, Juhyeong felt absolutely no hesitation. Having hailed from Jimagwon, he felt no sense of kinship whatsoever with the humans of the Heukgyo water territory. Fellow humans? What a sick joke. Throughout his entire life, his fiercest competitors had always been his fellow humans.
They must have a death wish.
Recalling the battle from a few days ago that had nearly sunk the entirety of Heukgyo Island, Juhyeong wondered what kind of idiots would dare harbor rebellious thoughts. Did such fools truly exist?
"Let us go."
Juhyeong followed the captain aboard and met his thirty-odd crewmates. Most of them were at the early to mid stages of Qi Condensation, and there was nothing particularly noteworthy about them.
This is probably normal.
Although the captain was at the late Qi Condensation stage and seemed highly experienced, the faint aura he exuded suggested he lacked significant combat experience. As for the crew, most were in the early to mid stages of Qi Condensation, appearing more like sailors than true cultivators.
These people are just laborers. Aside from the captain, they probably haven't even bound themselves to the Blood Covenant.
Juhyeong knew that the Dragon Lord controlled his subordinates through the Blood Covenant. The cultivators residing on Heukgyo Island had all sworn the Blood Covenant, and they took immense pride in that fact. They even went so far as to refer to themselves as Blood Children. According to these Blood Children, not just anyone could audience the Dragon Lord and bind themselves to the Blood Covenant; thus, becoming a Blood Child signified that one had received the Dragon Lord's recognition and favor.
When Juhyeong had first heard this, he had dismissed it as slaves bragging about their leashes. Over time, however, his perspective had gradually shifted. Whether they bound themselves to the Blood Covenant or not, everyone in the Heukgyo water territory was ultimately under the Dragon Lord's command. Therefore, what they needed to compete for was not meaningless wealth or negligible differences in cultivation realms, but the Dragon Lord's favor. Since the leash of the Blood Covenant served as proof of the Dragon Lord's esteem, it was not entirely incomprehensible why those who bound themselves to it wore their collars with pride.
While Juhyeong was not yet at the point of boasting about his own leash, his perception of the Blood Covenant had undeniably changed. At the very least, using the presence of the Blood Covenant to gauge another's status and capability had become as natural to him as it was to any other Blood Child.
Though it was his first time aboard this unfamiliar vessel, Juhyeong did not shrink back or act awkward. He carried himself naturally as if he were the first mate, and the crew instinctively treated him with the deference due to a superior, sensing the late Qi Condensation cultivation he subtly exuded.
"Dragon Lord. The insolence of the humans has crossed the line," Hyeongu said in a grave tone.
He reported that suspicious signs had been detected on more than ten islands. He raised his voice, presenting circumstantial evidence that they had crossed boundaries without permission to trade with other islands, and had even attempted to flee the water territory entirely.
"Your Grace bestowed your grace upon them, yet the humans have utterly betrayed that benevolence. Such wretches do not deserve to live."
Hyeongu was subtly advocating for a complete purge of the humans, though he did not truly expect his proposal to be accepted outright. For reasons unknown, the Dragon Lord valued humans more than the Beast Race, so he would not abandon them based on mere circumstantial evidence.
"A warning is sufficient."
Hearing Hyeongu's report, Jekyeong felt displeased, but that was the extent of it. He remained rational and did not lose his temper unnecessarily. Discontented elements existed everywhere and in every era. Furthermore, since they were being ruled by the Beast Race, it was only natural for a few bold individuals to raise their heads.
Had this been his past life, such matters would have to be taken far more seriously. In his previous world, there had been plenty of instances where insignificant commoners began raising their voices one by one until eventually, even the king's head rolled. But in this world, such a thing was impossible. Here, humans were not equal, and cultivators were not equal; the cries of the weak could be swept away without a trace by a single breath from the strong. The suspicious movements Hyeongu spoke of were nothing more than a speck of dust in Jekyeong's eyes—something that could be blown away effortlessly at any moment.
"Would it not be wise to make an example of them?"
At Hyeongu's subtle prompting, Jekyeong fell silent for a moment before nodding. "Very well. It would be wise to make a suitable example of them."
As Hyeongu's face lit up with joy, Jekyeong added a warning. "Do not forget that each and every one of them is a resource. Make an example, but minimize our losses."
"Of course, I understand. I will ensure Your Grace has no cause for concern."
"Good."
Shortly thereafter, Hyeongu led the humans and water beasts of Heukgyo Island to completely wipe out three islands. Tens of thousands of islanders across the three islands were slaughtered, sparing only the young children. For days, the savage cheers of the water beasts and the agonizing screams of the humans echoed across the neighboring islands.
Whether Hyeongu's warning was truly effective remained to be seen. It was true that for a time after the three islands were drenched in blood, the humans were gripped by terror, and the rebellious voices fell completely silent. However, whether the rebellion had been entirely uprooted or if they were merely keeping their heads down to weather the storm was something no one could know.
"Tsk." Juhyeong clicked his tongue quietly at the countless gazes directed toward them. He could vividly feel the fear and hatred burning in their eyes.
"They view us as traitors," the captain whispered softly, his face expressionless. "And who can blame them? In their eyes, we are traitors who flatter the Beast Race, labor for them, and oppress our own kind."
"Do you think so as well, senior?"
"Who knows?" The captain shook his head. "What does it matter anyway?"
Those words were laced with resignation and helplessness. Juhyeong did not reply, instead turning his gaze to survey his surroundings. Compared to the islands he had seen previously, this place looked quite decent. The people were neatly dressed, and the island's facilities, while not on par with Heukgyo Island, were fairly well-established.
Was this Yeongi Island?
The island where the spirit blacksmiths gathered. A place the Dragon Lord valued above all else. Juhyeong's calm gaze swept over the islanders watching them from a distance.
Exactly three months after his bloody battle with the mad dog of the Court of Demons. Aided by beast cores and the healing properties of his Origin Earth Fire, Jekyeong finally shook off his injuries and rose to his feet. To celebrate his recovery, he took a light flight around Heukgyo Island to clear his mind. Upon his return, he found Han Cheongyu waiting for him at the entrance of the Black Cult Palace.
"I pay my respects to the Dragon Lord."
With a simple wave of his hand, Jekyeong stopped Han Cheongyu, who was about to bow deeply at a right angle.