Plunging into Hell
Left alone after my new acquaintance, the Blood Demon, and his followers departed the pavilion, I stared at the space they had occupied for a moment before letting out a long, heavy sigh of relief through my sister Suhwa's body. "Whew..."
Though I, too, had become a monster, my hands and feet still trembled whenever I stood before that man. I did my best not to show it, but I could never get used to the chilling aura radiating from his eyes. And ever since I became a Blood Ghoul, his cruel, oppressive energy had become even more palpable. When I was human, it had felt like nothing more than an ominous foreboding, but now I could perceive it with absolute clarity. The countless resentful spirits trapped inside his body. I could clearly feel those souls screaming, wailing, and thrashing in agony.
Currently, I was struggling just to keep my sanity intact under the weight of the few souls the Blood Demon had given me. To see him carry countless numbers of such venomous, resentful spirits so nonchalantly sent shivers down my spine. Just what kind of life did one have to lead to absorb tens of thousands of human lives? What kind of life forced him to slaughter so many? What kind of grudge did he hold against the world? As these thoughts crossed my mind, my pupils trembled involuntarily.
Furthermore, the people who followed him were far from normal. The woman named Biwol, who maintained a deadpan expression at all times and whose inner thoughts were impossible to read, was terrifying enough. But the man I had just met, Lee Hak, was equally chilling. He put on a bright, cheerful facade, but for some reason, I knew it wasn't genuine. I couldn't shake the feeling that he was merely acting to conceal a wicked, insidious nature.
Although I had become a monster of the same caliber as them, I had yet to adjust mentally. They were killers who had committed countless slaughters long before this. Even though I had received their favor, I believed I could never truly become one of them.
Yet, after two days of deep contemplation, I had finally made my decision. I would become an evil spirit that cursed the world, just like them. That was why I had handed the forbidden power over to that wicked demon. The Primordial Origin Pill, refined by grinding down human souls. A power my father and sister would have never created had they still been alive. But since the world had abandoned us, I, too, would abandon the world.
Rising slowly using my sister's body, I stepped out of the pavilion. The crimson moonlight shone brilliantly, bathing the sky and the clouds in its bloody hue. That red light passed through my sister's eyes and flooded my vision.
"O world that turned its back on me, let us plunge into hell together."
I, too, shall become a minion of the evil god. I will become a demon.
The moon set and the sun rose, but the thick, heavy clouds kept the weather gloomy and bleak.
"Lord Blood Demon, good morning," Biwol greeted, approaching me with a slow, respectful bow.
"Yes. Did you sleep well?"
"Since becoming a Blood Ghoul, I require far less sleep. It is quite convenient."
It wasn't that Blood Ghouls didn't need rest at all, but as she said, we could maintain a perfectly sharp mind with far less sleep than a human required. I glanced around the area before asking Biwol in a lowered voice, "It seems... Lee Hak still needs some time?"
Yesterday, after consuming the Primordial Origin Pill, he had claimed he was fine, but he had been breaking out in cold sweats, looking as if he were on the verge of death.
Just then, the creak of a worn wooden door echoed, followed by the sound of heavy, ragged breathing from inside the house.
Screeech.
"Huff... wheeze..."
Lee Hak pried his squinted eyes open slightly, revealing a pair of flickering, dark red eyes beneath. Crimson capillaries spiderwebbed across the skin around his eyes.
"Urgh..." Lee Hak stumbled forward, taking slow, unsteady steps.
Seeing his state, I asked in a flustered voice, "A-are you alright? You don't look well at all."
"Khhh..."
He swayed on his feet for a moment, then lurched toward a nearby Blood Jiangshi. He reached out and grabbed it by the back of its neck.
"Keeeyaaah?!"
The Blood Jiangshi thrashed in his grip, but its body rapidly began to shrivel as Lee Hak drained every last drop of its blood qi. The corpse, which had retained a meager amount of flesh, withered into a mummified husk before turning brittle and crumbling into dust.
"Phew..."
Only after completely absorbing the Blood Jiangshi's blood qi did Lee Hak finally calm down. He took a moment to catch his breath, then plastered a playful smile back onto his face as he addressed Biwol and me.
"My, that certainly comes with some nasty side effects. Still, now that I've become a Blood Ghoul, I can definitely feel an incredible surge of power. If a mere Hundred Soul Pill can do this much, then the increase in realm for Lord Jigok-do and Lady Biwol—who received the power of a thousand souls—must be truly astronomical."
In truth, San Ireong had been an ordinary boy who didn't know the first thing about martial arts. Yet, after receiving the souls of two thousand people, his raw internal energy alone was comparable to a master of the Blossom Realm. Of course, if he were to actually fight a true Blossom Realm master, his lack of experience and comprehension would put him at a severe disadvantage. Biwol, on the other hand, had already been a master at the late Peak Realm. After her transformation, her internal energy had surpassed the Blossom Realm, and she claimed she was confident she wouldn't lose to any master of that caliber.
"I was originally at the late Transcendent Realm," Lee Hak said. "But after receiving this power, without any formal comprehension, I have reached the Blossom Realm... well, perhaps it is more accurate to call it Entering Demonhood. Yes, I believe I have entered the demonic realm."
"Entering Demonhood?"
What is that? I've heard of Qi Deviation, but is it similar to that?
I had learned about the basic martial realms from Biwol, but she hadn't explained Entering Demonhood back then. When I cast a subtle glance toward her, she bowed her head slightly and explained in terms I could easily understand.
"Entering Demonhood refers to obtaining power equivalent to the Blossom Realm through shortcuts or demonic cultivation, rather than breaking through the barrier via proper enlightenment. It is generally considered to be on par with the Blossom Realm."
"Ah, I see."
So, if the Blossom Realm was the orthodox path, Entering Demonhood was like taking the dark, illicit route.
"Well, in any case, I'm glad you're alright."
It was just a polite platitude, but Lee Hak looked at me with an expression of exaggerated, tearful gratitude, his voice dripping with playful drama.
"Lord Blood God! You are the very first person to ever speak such warm words of concern to me! I, Lee Hak, the Blood Wolf Disciple, shall serve you with my absolute utmost!"
Judging by his theatrical gestures and tone, he was probably only half-sincere. I waved my hand dismissively, speaking in a dry, exasperated tone.
"I think I understand why no one has ever said such things to you before."
Lee Hak reacted with an overly dramatic display of shock, quickly turning it into another joke. Biwol shook her head in disapproval and quietly fell into step behind me.
With that, we left the blood-mist-shrouded county of Wuyuan and headed toward the mountains.
As we walked, Lee Hak slid up beside me. With a sharp thwip, he unfurled his folding fan, partially concealing his mouth as he spoke.
"Lord Blood God? Have you decided on our next destination?"
"Hmm, I haven't given it much thought. Is there a good place nearby?"
"I do not know what your criteria for a 'good place' might be, but as your loyal Blood Wolf Disciple, I simply cannot stand by and watch the Lord Blood God wander aimlessly without a destination."
Just then, a large shape emerged from beyond the fog-shrouded hill. I narrowed my eyes to get a better look.
Clatter, clatter, clatter.
A luxurious, dark crimson carriage was rolling toward us.
"I have prepared this for you, my Lord."
The carriage came to a halt right in front of Biwol and me, showing off its elegant design. It wasn't gaudily bright or overly decorated, but even to someone like me who knew nothing about carriages, it practically screamed "luxury."
Biwol eyed the carriage and spoke to Lee Hak in a slightly softer tone than usual. "You certainly have a quick wit when it comes to these matters. Well done."
"But of course. How could I possibly allow the Lord Blood God and a member of the Six Paths Blood Ghouls to travel on foot?"
Guided by Lee Hak, I stepped toward the carriage, but the driver caught my attention. The vacant, unfocused eyes and unnaturally pale skin were deeply unsettling.
Sensing something off, I muttered under my breath, "A Jiangshi?"
"Oh, and here I thought I dressed her up quite neatly! You recognized her just by looking at her face? Indeed. She is my cherished personal Jiangshi, Il-ho. She was the nanny who raised me when I was a child."
"Il-ho? That is a rather unusual name for a woman."
"Ah, hahaha! It is not a name, but a number. It means she is my most treasured, first personal Jiangshi."
"Ah, 'Il-ho' as in 'Number One'..."
When I gave him a slightly bizarre look, Lee Hak noticed and chuckled sheepishly.
"If I could remember her actual name, I would have called her by it. But no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot recall it. Haha! Well, that is of no importance! Please, step inside! I have made sure the interior is exceptionally comfortable!"
Lee Hak opened the carriage door, revealing simple yet elegant crimson seats. The moment I sat down, I couldn't help but gasp in surprise. The plush, springy cushioning felt incredibly similar to a modern sofa.
Wait, they had this kind of technology in this era?
Naturally, the technique of stuffing seats with animal hair to make them soft existed in this era. However, a carriage of this caliber—crafted from the finest fabrics, premium furs, and high-grade timber—was not something just anyone could acquire.
Even Biwol looked quite astonished as she asked Lee Hak, "Where on earth did you procure a carriage of this quality?"
"My merchant group built it themselves."
I tilted my head slightly. "Your merchant group?"
Lee Hak's eyes curved into crescent moons as he snapped his folding fan open, declaring with immense pride, "Ah, I haven't had the chance to mention it, but allow me to introduce myself properly. I am the owner of the Jeokcheon Merchant Group, the most successful merchant group in the Central Plains. Heheh."
Biwol gave him a skeptical look. "I knew you ran a merchant group, Lord Lee Hak, but was it truly on such a massive scale?"
"Remember when I disappeared from the Cult for a long time? I was busy pouring my efforts into expanding the merchant group back then."
"Mmm, I see. I assumed you were slacking off somewhere, but it seems you were actually doing something commendable."
"Just what do you take me for...?"
Amidst our lighthearted banter, the carriage rolled smoothly out of Wuyuan County. We traveled aimlessly, simply following wherever the road led. After about half a day of travel, we heard a loud commotion up ahead.
Before long, our carriage came to a halt. The Jiangshi driver, having assessed the situation, poked her head inside and reported in a flat, monotonous voice.
"Lord Lee Hak, there is a band of bandits ahead surrounding a carriage. Upon spotting us, they have pointed their weapons in our direction. It seems we cannot pass through peacefully."
Indeed. We had run into that classic staple of the martial arts world: bandits.