Chapter 255: Bloody Sword Demon Pi Sang-deuk
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 255: Bloody Sword Demon Pi Sang-deuk
Born the son of a third-rate thug, Pi Sang-deuk spent a miserable childhood under a father who subjected him to habitual physical and verbal abuse.
His mother supported both him and his father by selling her body, but she vanished one day after a massive argument with his father.
Pi Sang-deuk assumed she had simply run away, unable to endure his father’s violent nature any longer.
He resented her for it. He hated the mother who had fled this living hell, leaving him all alone.
He told himself that as soon as he was old enough, he would leave and never look back.
Then came a certain day.
Driven by a hunger so gnawing he was ready to catch and eat a rat, Pi Sang-deuk entered the old storehouse behind their house.
His father had strictly forbidden him from ever entering, but to a boy blinded by starvation, his father’s threats were no longer frightening.
And when he stepped inside the storehouse...
He saw it.
A single, heavily decomposed corpse.
The sight made Pi Sang-deuk gag instinctively. The body emitted a horrific stench, and swarms of flies buzzed around it.
Confusion washed over him. Why was there a human corpse in the storehouse behind their home? Had his father accidentally killed someone and tried to cover it up?
As he examined the body, his mind racing through countless possibilities, his eyes suddenly went wide.
The clothes on the corpse were hauntingly familiar.
It was a tattered dress, patched over and over again because the owner had thought it a waste to throw away.
Pi Sang-deuk knew exactly who had worn those clothes.
He wept tears of blood. He finally realized why his mother had disappeared.
She had been murdered. Killed by the hands of a drunkard who knew nothing but how to guzzle liquor.
Pi Sang-deuk headed straight for the kitchen.
He grabbed a kitchen knife, walked over to his sleeping father, and drove the blade straight into his skull.
His father died instantly, and Pi Sang-deuk was overcome by an indescribable rush of pleasure. An unknown sense of liberation and ecstasy surged through his entire body the moment he took his father's life.
In the throes of that extreme peak, he ejaculated right then and there.
He had discovered sexual pleasure not through women, but through murder.
After burning the house to the ground, he immediately joined the Jeonggeom Sect, a group renowned as an orthodox power. He believed he needed to become strong to commit murder to his heart's content.
Fortunately, he possessed a natural talent for martial arts. His skills improved by leaps and bounds, and he soon acquired strength that surpassed even the leader of the Jeonggeom Sect.
Once he attained power, he maintained a facade of a martial artist who revered chivalry, while in the shadows, he spent his days happily as a thrill-killer, murdering countless people across the Central Plains for no reason at all.
Though many died, no one could catch the culprit. Pi Sang-deuk’s methods were so cunning that it was impossible to identify him. Furthermore, no one could have imagined that a famous hero like him would be a serial killer.
For over ten years, Pi Sang-deuk terrorized the Central Plains as a phantom murderer.
But as the saying goes, if your tail is long, it will eventually be stepped on.
One day, due to an unexpected mistake, his true nature was revealed to the world. A victim he had failed to kill exposed his identity.
The revelation sent shockwaves through the Central Plains. Because he had been so highly regarded as a hero, the impact was enormous.
He was promptly declared a public enemy, and countless martial artists became obsessed with capturing him—all to claim the massive bounty on his head.
The reward was staggering because Son Chang-byeok, one of the Five Great Merchants of the Central Plains who had lost his granddaughter to Pi Sang-deuk, had pledged half of his fortune for the killer's head.
However, despite the pursuit of many, no one could catch him. Pi Sang-deuk had reached a realm of martial arts far too high to be dismissed as a mere murderer.
After slipping through the Heavenly Net with ease, he left for the North Sea without a hint of regret. He realized there was no longer any place for him to stand in the Central Plains.
Settling in the North Sea, Pi Sang-deuk gathered other killers who had fled there like himself and established an organization called the Northern Wind Unit. He gained infamy by plundering and murdering the Central Plains merchant guilds that visited the region.
"Unit Leader, a merchant caravan has been spotted not far from here."
A man with a rugged, intimidating appearance spoke to Pi Sang-deuk.
"Distance?" Pi Sang-deuk asked in a voice that was utterly calm.
"Approximately ten li."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, sir."
"How large is the scale?" Pi Sang-deuk asked, looking directly at his subordinate.
"Quite large. It appears to be medium-sized."
The man answered exactly what he had heard.
"Hmm... a medium-sized guild..."
Pi Sang-deuk appeared to fall into thought. A medium-sized guild was a bit of a gray area.
Usually, if it were a small-scale guild, he wouldn't even hesitate to strike. There was no way a small guild could handle the Northern Wind Unit.
On the other hand, he generally avoided large-scale guilds. Not only would the damage be severe, but there was a high probability that they would be guarded by numerous masters who would be a burden even for the Northern Wind Unit.
But a medium-sized guild was tricky. While not as dangerous as a large one, the potential for casualties was still significant, and there was a high chance of skilled masters being present.
Yet, letting them pass felt like a waste of the many goods they likely carried. In the North Sea, the most valuable commodity was food. And most of the goods brought from the Central Plains were foodstuffs capable of long-term storage.
How could he not be tempted?
"Hmm."
He sank deeper into contemplation, likely calculating the profit versus the loss—how much damage they would take compared to what they would gain.
"We strike," he said shortly, looking at his subordinate.
"Understood."
The subordinate bowed his head slightly in response. He turned and left the tent immediately, likely to inform the others of the decision.
"I hope there's a decent woman this time," Pi Sang-deuk added, his eyes gleaming with a sadistic light.
*
Rumble, rattle.
Inside a swaying carriage, a person wearing a pure white veil sat gracefully.
The veil covered her entire head, making her face difficult to see, but the ample curve of her chest made it easy to guess she was a woman. Furthermore, her luxurious golden silk robes proved she was of no ordinary status.
"Sigh."
The veiled woman let out a long breath.
"What is the matter, Lady Sohwa?"
The man sitting across from her, Chief Ma, spoke as he looked at her.
"No matter how far we go, there is no end to this. It is stifling," Neung So-hwa replied, her voice laced with frustration.
She was feeling incredibly cramped. She had been stuck inside the carriage for the entire journey from Beijing to the North Sea.
At first, she had been determined to stay hidden to keep her identity a secret, but as time dragged on, the boredom became unbearable. Moreover, since they had minimized their luggage, she had nothing to read or entertain herself with.
How could she not be frustrated?
"Why not try meditating?" Chief Ma suggested.
Even though her internal energy was currently restricted, she was still a martial artist. Through long meditation and self-reflection, she might achieve spiritual enlightenment.
"I have meditated more than enough!" Neung So-hwa snapped.
She had already meditated until she was sick of it. What else was there to do in a carriage with zero entertainment? She had meditated throughout the entire trip from Beijing. But doing it for over a month was enough to make anyone restless.
It was agonizing. Truly agonizing.
Besides, wasn't meditation supposed to be a way to organize the insights and changes gained through daily martial arts practice? With her internal energy sealed, she couldn't even train properly. What kind of enlightenment could she possibly find in a repetitive daily routine?
To her, sitting still in the carriage was nothing more than a waste of time.
"But it cannot be helped. Your appearance is so striking that you draw everyone's attention, My Lady," Chief Ma continued, sounding apologetic.
He was telling the truth. Neung So-hwa’s appearance was beyond exotic; it was so unique it felt mystical.
This was due to her burning, vivid red hair, red eyebrows, and red eyes. Those brilliant colors, impossible for a person of the Central Plains to possess, naturally drew every eye. Furthermore, when those vivid colors were paired with her stunning beauty, anyone who saw her once would never forget her.
That was why Chief Ma had made her wear a veil that covered her entire head the moment they left the detached palace. It was to prevent any unnecessary trouble. He had also earnestly requested that she stay inside the carriage as much as possible.
He believed that was the only way to deceive their many political enemies and reach the North Sea safely. Neung So-hwa had agreed with his reasoning and lived confined to the carriage, but it seemed she had finally reached her limit.
"I know that. But what can I do about this boredom? I've decided. During the next lunch break, I'm going to step outside the carriage and at least go for a walk."
She spoke quickly, looking at Chief Ma.
"And what if your veil gets blown off?" Chief Ma asked, his voice full of concern.
"I am only going for a walk. Why would the veil fall off?" she countered, dismissing his paranoia as nonsense.
"You might not know because you haven't been outside, but the snow wind out there is incredible right now. It's strong enough to tear a veil like yours to shreds."
He spread his arms wide, exaggerating his gestures.
"Don't lie to me. How could a mere wind tear a veil woven from Heavenly Silkworm Silk?"
Neung So-hwa snapped back, refuting his claim. What she was wearing was made from an incredibly rare fabric called Heavenly Silkworm Silk. It was miraculously thin and soft, yet its strength surpassed that of steel. No matter how cold and biting the North Sea's snow wind was, it couldn't tear Heavenly Silkworm Silk.
She figured Chief Ma was just exaggerating because he didn't want her leaving the carriage.
"Well, even if it doesn't tear, it could still fly away, couldn't it?" Chief Ma argued back, frustrated.
Even if the fabric itself was strong, the way it was secured was not. It was just wrapped around her head; how could it withstand the fierce snow wind?
"I'll just be careful. Don't worry," Neung So-hwa said dismissively.
"How can I not worry? If that veil flies off, it's over. Over!"
"Haven't we already entered the North Sea anyway? Why are you being so negative?" Neung So-hwa asked, genuinely confused by his overreaction.
They were already in the North Sea, so what was the problem? Even if her identity were revealed here, it would take over a month for the news to reach her enemies. By then, she would have already found the Ice Essence.
"Sigh... My Lady, you need to be more aware of your own beauty."
Chief Ma let out a small sigh as he spoke. She was beautiful. Madly so. Any man who saw her would undoubtedly approach her, trying to win her over. She was just that captivating.
"I know. I'm aware that my hair and eyes are red..." Neung So-hwa said, her voice trailing off gloomily.
She knew how different she looked from everyone else. Red hair, red eyebrows, and red eyes. It wasn't a look a normal person would have. While she didn't necessarily hate her appearance, hearing Chief Ma talk made it feel like a massive burden, making her feel dejected.
"No, that's not what I meant! Your face is—!"
Chief Ma couldn't finish his sentence.
Jolt!
The carriage suddenly shook violently and came to a dead stop.
Thud!
"Ugh..."
Neung So-hwa, whose head slammed into the ceiling, let out a groan of pain. Her body was so light that the sudden impact had sent her flying upward.
With tears welling in her eyes, she glared toward the driver's seat with a look of pure resentment.