I Hate Places Like This
"Hehehe." There is a saying that you can feel full without even eating. That was exactly my situation right now.
*Clink*
This pouch Ju Haryun gave me... It contained a whopping twenty gold taels!
Twenty gold taels was worth nearly two hundred million won in modern currency. Mathematically speaking, it was enough to last a whole year even if I spent six hundred thousand won a day.
"I'm rich!"
What should I do with this money? Since I was technically a martial artist now, should I buy a nice sword? Or maybe some spiritual elixirs? Or... should I invest it in a merchant guild and grow my wealth?
...Or so I had fondly thought.
*Chatter, chatter*
"Hohoho, Lady Hero! Please come back again soon!"
"Ehehe! You bet!"
As usual, I was stumbling out of a courtesan house when...
*Flutter*
I froze.
*Gasp!*
I stared in sheer horror at my pouch, which had somehow become paper-thin.
*Ugh! What is wrong with me?*
It wasn't just the courtesan houses. Betting on local dog races, playing high-stakes mahjong—I'd been doing it all. Before I knew it, my once-plump pouch of twenty gold taels had shriveled up to nothing.
Spending money at the courtesan houses hurt the most. If I were still a guy, I could have at least gotten a few kisses out of those beautiful courtesans! But since I was a woman now, all I did was drink and chat!
I shook my head.
Is it because of that?*
There was one highly plausible suspect.
What was it called... dopamine something?*
In my past life, I had watched a video about why retired athletes often fell into gambling and ruined their lives. The conclusion was that once they retired, they had nowhere else to get that massive rush of dopamine.
I nodded.
That theory perfectly applied to my current self.
My very first commission had been a roaring success. I had rescued Ju Haryun and even absorbed that crazy eunuch's true qi.
Having tasted such a massive high, trying to live a normal life left me feeling empty inside. I kept craving more stimulation. In modern terms, I was suffering from dopamine addiction.
But modern humans had already developed a foolproof solution for this.
I leaped to my feet.
"That's it!"
A dopamine detox! Taking cold showers, going on a temple stay—basically, lowering your threshold for stimulation. To put it simply, if I lived like a monk for a few days, my brain would reset to normal.
I smiled.
"Perfect."
Unlike the modern world, I didn't even need to find a temple. In medieval China, remote, backwater villages were practically everywhere. If I just tossed a few silver taels to some villagers, they'd gladly provide me with food and shelter.
"Strike while the iron is hot."
With my mind made up, I packed my bags and immediately checked out of the inn. There was no need to pick a specific destination. Whichever direction I walked, I was bound to hit a remote village eventually.
"Mmm, flawless."
It was a perfect plan with zero flaws. Or so I thought, until I ran into one minor, completely unexpected variable.
...
*Chant, chant*
"Repeat after me! The Blood Sect shall rule the heavens! Long live the Blood Sect!"
"The Blood Sect shall rule the heavens! Long live the Blood Sect!"
"The Blood Sect shall rule the heavens! Long live the Blood Sect!"
Of all the places in the world, the remote village I chose was currently being targeted by recruiters of the Blood Sect.
The Blood Sect.
They were a bunch of bloodthirsty fanatics who had painted the Central Plains red thirty years ago. They had declared their intention to summon the Blood Immortal by drowning the world in gore, and they had slaughtered people with terrifying diligence to achieve that goal.
Men, women, the elderly, children, orthodox sects, unorthodox sects, commoners, and government officials—no one was spared from their butchery. Of course, drawing that much aggro was bound to end badly.
Virtually the entire Central Plains rose up in a massive coalition of "The World vs. The Blood Sect," which ultimately led to their eradication.
I scratched my head.
I can't believe I'm seeing these bastards in the flesh.
Since Yeonhwa had been educated by Yeop Huhu, she possessed a decent grasp of the Blood Sect's history.
*Murmur, murmur*
"One more time! What did we say?"
"The Blood Sect shall rule the heavens! Long live the Blood Sect!"
"Excellent! Here is your free rice!"
"Hooray!"
In any case, the notorious Blood Sect was openly recruiting in broad daylight. This was possible for two reasons: first, the villagers were completely ignorant peasants who had no idea what the Blood Sect actually was and were just happy to get free stuff; second, the Blood Sect deliberately targeted these isolated backwaters.
I watched them, deeply conflicted.
What should I do about this...
The simplest solution was to report them to the authorities. But if I did that, the villagers would all be slaughtered. The government would simply raze the entire village to the ground to root out any trace of the cult.
"Hehe! Long live the Blood Sect!"
A little kid giggled, happily munching on a piece of candy they'd just received. What sin had that child committed?
I scratched my head in frustration.
Ugh, seriously!
Though I grumbled inwardly, I ultimately decided to step in and handle this myself. If Ju Haryun's subordinates had seen me now, they would have wept tears of joy and babbled about how "truly fitting of the Mother of the Nation" my heart was.
"U-Um, I'm interested too..."
I threw myself right into the mix to get a closer look at these recruiters.
Khehehe... Look at this one.
Of course, the Blood Sect members in the village noticed me immediately. For cultists who had evaded the pursuit of the entire Central Plains for decades, this level of situational awareness was basic survival instinct.
*Whisper, whisper*
"Missionary, what should we do?"
"I have a plan. Follow my lead."
"Understood!"
"Hehehe... I can't wait."
The man laughing like a pig was Hyeol Yu. He was the leader of this missionary group. His martial arts were pathetic, but he was a smooth talker—a classic mid-level manager.
He stared at me from a distance, practically drooling.
"How absolutely delectable."
"Judging by her face veil, she's probably ugly... but that body is simply irresistible."
He gestured with his fingers.
"Prepare the Myriads Heaven Asura Art."
The subordinate gasped.
"Missionary?! But that cultivation technique is..."
"Silence! We are merely bolstering our Sect's strength! You need only obey!"
"U-Understood..."
The Myriads Heaven Asura Art.
In terms of raw power, it was an peerless, divine technique. However, for some bizarre reason, anyone who practiced it had their sanity completely shattered. And that side effect was exactly what Hyeol Yu was after.
He swallowed hard.
"Ehehe. It's been a while since I've had some real fun."
Destroying a woman's sanity and using her like a mindless puppet for his own amusement—that was Hyeol Yu's sick hobby. Truly, a fitting pastime for a Blood Sect cultist.
*Scurry, scurry*
"Missionary! The ritual is fully prepared!"
They must have had everything set up beforehand, because the preparations were finished in the blink of an eye.
"Excellent, excellent. Now, lure the girl in."
"As you command!"
The recruiters lured me in with pathetic ease.
"Our missionary was deeply moved by your passion, young lady. He wishes to meet you in person..."
"Lead the way!"
After all, I was looking for them too. Besides, these guys are weak as hell, aren't they?
The fact that Hyeol Yu's squad specialized in brainwashing rather than actual combat made me lower my guard.
*Step, step*
I was guided into a hidden reception room.
"Hahaha, I am the missionary. I am truly delighted to meet you."
What is this pig?
He was the literal definition of a greedy pig. On top of that, he was staring at my body as if trying to lick me with his eyes. Naturally, I was utterly disgusted.
*Shring!*
"Oh, really? Let's see if you're still delighted, you cultist bastard."
Since my target had delivered himself on a silver platter, there was no reason to delay. I immediately drew my sword and pointed it at Hyeol Yu's throat.
"Hahaha! Of course I am! After all, you walked right in here to become our Sect's puppet, didn't you?"
"W-What?!"
Hyeol Yu didn't look even slightly bothered. Instead, he burst into a hearty laugh.
"Activate it!!!"
*Rumble!*
The moment Hyeol Yu barked the command, the entire reception room began to shake violently.
*Stumble*
"M-My head...!"
I suddenly clutched my temples and fell to my knees.
"Words are not the only way to spread our teachings. The murals on these walls, the arrangement of the furniture... they can all achieve the same effect."
Simply put, it was a brainwashing formation. And the purpose of this formation was...
"Well, how does it feel? Having our Sect's divine art hammered directly into your brain?"
It was designed to force-feed the Blood Sect's cultivation technique straight into my mind.
A forbidden Blood Sect technique that devours Turbid Qi and blood. It normally drives practitioners completely insane.
*Struggle, struggle*
"Aaaargh! You fat pig! Stop this right now!"
"Hahaha! Curse all you want for now. Soon enough, you'll be pinned beneath this very pig's belly."
"Prepare the Blood Mist!"
*Hiss! Hiss!*
At Hyeol Yu's command, a crimson mist began to spray from all corners of the room. This was the Blood Mist, brewed from the Blood Sect's secret elixirs. If one inhaled this mist while their mind was being force-fed the technique's information...
*Sip*
"Ngh..."
The Blood Mist would seep into the dantian and settle there as Blood Qi. This was their method of forcing someone to cultivate their demonic arts.
*Tremble, tremble*
*Thud*
Forcing a cultivation technique into one's body was bound to take a massive physical toll. Having fully absorbed the Blood Mist, I collapsed onto the floor.
*Step, step*
"Ehehe."
Hyeol Yu walked over to me with a triumphant smirk.
*Rip!*
He snatched away my face veil. He wanted to see the face of the woman he was about to enjoy. The moment my face was fully revealed...
"Gasp?!"
Hyeol Yu froze in sheer shock. If my beauty was enough to make an imperial prince melt, what hope did this greedy pig have?
"Bwahahaha! I hit the jackpot!"
*Hummmmm*
"I, Hyeol Yu, command you. Strip."
A puppet whose sanity had been destroyed would unconditionally obey anyone who wielded Blood Qi. It was the perfect state for Hyeol Yu to indulge his sick desires. He channeled his Blood Qi and barked the order, but...
There were two crucial things he had failed to account for.
*Grab*
"Wh-What?!"
First, I had mastered the Guihua Preservation. Second, I possessed the Heavenly Martial Physique.
The Guihua Preservation acted as a perfect anchor, allowing me to easily absorb and control other types of inner force. Combined with my peerless talent as a Heavenly Martial Physique...
"You piece of shit."
My mind remained completely intact, even after mastering the vile, demonic Myriads Heaven Asura Art!
The forbidden demonic energy of the Blood Sect surges through the meridians, perfectly anchored by the Guihua Preservation.
*Squeeze*
"Hey, want me to show you something way better than stripping?"
And finally, the absolute worst stroke of bad luck for Hyeol Yu was...
*Surge, surge*
"Th-This is Blood Qi!"
...the fact that the Myriads Heaven Asura Art was an incredibly powerful, peerless technique. The moment I channeled that demonic Blood Qi...
"We're not peeling off clothes. We're peeling off skin. How about it? Sound fun?"
Despite the stabilizing influence of the Guihua Preservation, the sheer malice of the Blood Qi temporarily turned me into a cruel, merciless arch-demon.
*Riiip!*
*Tear!*
"Aaaaargh! Stop! Don't skin me! Noooo!!!"
*Squelch!*
*Riiiiiip!*
"Please! I beg of you!!!"
Hyeol Yu was being skinned alive. The physical agony was excruciating, but the psychological horror of watching his own skin get peeled off was far worse. Perhaps that was why...
*Slump*
Before I could even get halfway, his body went limp as he died of shock.
*Patter, patter*
"Missionary!"
"How could this happen...!"
Hearing his blood-curdling screams, the other cultists rushed into the room. They really shouldn't have.
*Squish, squelch*
I smiled warmly at them.
"Why are you guys still wearing yours?"
Because waiting for them inside was a literal skin-peeling witch.
*Murmur, murmur*
"What on earth is going on in there?"
"Ugh... the smell of blood is overwhelming."
A massive crowd of villagers had gathered outside the Blood Sect's hideout, drawn by the thick, metallic stench of blood wafting from the building. After a tense wait...
*Bam!*
The door flew open, and a woman stepped out.
"We're closed for business~ Everyone go on home now."
She was a stunning beauty with a playful voice. However...
"Aaaah! A monster!!!"
"Run for your lives!!!"
The villagers shrieked in terror and scattered in every direction.
*Drip*
"What's their problem?"
The woman was literally drenched in blood from head to toe. No matter how breathtakingly beautiful she was, looking like a walking crime scene was bound to make people mistake her for a monster.
I scratched my cheek.
Hmm... Is it really that bad?
Since I wasn't channeling Blood Qi anymore, my mind was completely back to normal. Still, standing there covered in gore made me look like a textbook arch-demon to any onlooker.
*Rustle*
"Tsk, tsk. Look at the mess you've made. How untidy."
"Yikes! You scared the crap out of me!"
A man suddenly appeared out of nowhere, as if he had teleported, and handed me a handkerchief.
"W-Who are you?!"
Startled, I stared at him. The man smiled faintly and replied,
"Well... you could say I'm your senior."