Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Investigation (1)
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The next morning.
I woke up early in the morning and, as usual, performed meditation disguised as Qi Circulation Breakfast.
To be honest, doing Qi Circulation Breakfast doesn't give me the feeling that anything's really happening.
Aside from my head feeling clearer, like after regular meditation.
I don't get the sense that my energy is being gathered or anything like that.
It's more like the feeling of taking a deep breath.
'Haa... I wanted a growth-type wuxia story.'
I wanted to see that slow, steady growth.
Well, what's the point of nitpicking now?
It's pointless, so I just picked up the still-sleeping Snow Python.
[...Young one? You're up early...]
Morning Snow Python was adorable.
She seemed to have a lot of morning sleepiness.
'Around 5 a.m., maybe.'
This body of mine strangely doesn't need much sleep.
Back there, I slept a ton.
Maybe because the body feels so light.
It really felt like I'd become an immortal.
"Even after sleeping outdoors, my body's still spotless."
[With a body no different from a fairy's, of course it is.]
Snow Python yawned and stretched as she said that.
I let out a chuckle and extended my arm so she could climb onto my body.
"I wonder if I'll be able to handle a flying sword or something later."
[If you achieve enlightenment in your heart, absolutely. Your internal energy is already several decades worth.]
"Th-that much?"
[Hehe, who do you think made that body?]
I stroked Snow Python's head as she smirked and handed her a piece of jerky.
"Should we let the kids sleep in?"
[No, we should wake them soon. We need to head to the Tang Family.]
Fair enough.
From what So-so and Wei the hero told us, the situation at the Tang Family was pretty dire.
Or rather, the entire Sichuan region was shaking.
Blood ghosts were popping out left and right.
"...If we delay, we might end up watching the Central Plains fall into the blood ghosts' hands."
We had to hurry.
"Then we should move with So-so first."
[Without the young lady of the Tangs, they'd cause another ruckus at the family.]
So-so had said she was investigating the blood ghosts.
'...The Tang Family's considering internal traitors too, so if she just shows up with me, she might get suspected as one.'
Wei the hero was around, but...
Who knows when or where that enigmatic guy would pop up.
We couldn't demand ID from him every time.
'According to So-so, there's some resentment toward the Martial Alliance's constant pressure.'
"Let's get moving, then."
With that thought, I quickly woke up Ji-yeon and So-so.
So-so, who had risen at dawn, gathered the collapsed soldiers and fed them breakfast.
Of course, So-so herself hadn't eaten yet and sat before Ha-yeon, ears open to hear what she had to say.
'She'll want to head to the Tang Family.'
Should she send a messenger pigeon ahead?
But no one could keep up with this expert's speed.
As she prayed her family wouldn't freak out over Ha-yeon and the blood ghosts...
"I heard the young lady of the Tangs is tracking the blood ghosts."
Ha-yeon said this with a fan wave and a bright smile.
So-so nodded in response.
"Yes. We need to prove our innocence to the Martial Alliance as soon as possible."
Blood ghosts were evil by their very existence.
Even peak experts fell the moment a blood ghost's energy invaded their dantian, turning into blood ghosts themselves.
Unless they had blood poison in their dantian like the Tang Family, making them natural counters, they were helpless.
So the righteous sects wanted the vile blood ghosts exterminated.
Failing to prove innocence would tarnish the Tang Family's honor forever.
'Why ask something she already knows? She's here to help after investigating.'
So-so tilted her head, puzzled. Hadn't she finished probing the Tang Family yesterday?
In So-so's mind, Ha-yeon was a peerless expert of the Nangong Family.
A martial powerhouse rivaling the Sword Sovereign, secretly leading some unknown Martial Alliance black ops group.
Of course she'd know everything, root out the traitor, and come save the Tang Family in peril.
Ha-yeon's thoughtful expression.
As So-so fidgeted anxiously...
"Let's go together."
"...Pardon?"
Ha-yeon folded her fan with a smile and suggested they go as a group.
"Y-you're going to the Tang Family to find the internal enemy...?"
So-so stammered, and Ha-yeon tilted her head.
"I never said that..."
"......"
Hearing this, So-so bowed her head, bit her lower lip, and broke into a cold sweat.
'Why?'
Pondering deeply, So-so arrived at an answer.
'Ah...!'
The Martial Alliance valued power and honor above all.
And to gain honor...
'In a crisis where the Great Ming's people might die, she can't just save one family. Such noble intent...'
The Great Ming's people needed saving.
Rescuing them and upholding justice and harmony—that was the foundation of the righteous sects.
So-so nodded, gazing at Ha-yeon with respect.
'Forgive me for calling you blood ghost, blood demon, old monster, hero...!'
How could she have spouted such nonsense to someone so full of righteousness?
To correct her mistake, she should follow this woman's will. So-so nodded.
"With you by my side, young lady, I fear nothing."
"So it's okay to tag along?"
"Yes...! Please!"
Ha-yeon, oblivious to the complications...
'...Fine. After hearing how much I'm evil faction scum, time for some payback.'
She was filled with thoughts of massacring blood ghosts for stress relief.
The people?
Ha-yeon didn't care one bit.
Honestly, ordinary folk who couldn't even use martial arts were beneath her notice.
After devouring breakfast, we hurried on our way.
"People started vanishing in Sichuan about a month and a half ago."
"I see."
According to So-so...
The first reports of disappearances in Sichuan were about a month and a half ago.
But many must have been sacrificed before it even got reported.
"In reality, it probably started even earlier."
"......"
"The number of missing is estimated at least a thousand, up to two thousand."
"That's quite a lot."
So-so nodded at Ji-yeon's words.
"You've probably heard of it too, young lady Zhuge... Do you know of Thousand Varieties Poison?"
"...Yes, I've heard of it."
It was my first time hearing about this poison.
As I was about to ask...
[It's a poison made from a thousand species of plants and animals. Even those immune to myriad poisons would struggle. And it requires the blood of a thousand people as an additive ingredient.]
Snow Python transmitted the explanation telepathically.
A thousand species of flora and fauna.
And the blood of a thousand people.
'...Disgusting.'
Just imagining it turned my stomach.
"I heard it needs the blood of a thousand people... Don't tell me."
Ji-yeon said, and So-so nodded.
"Recently, the Tang Family confirmed that ingredients for Thousand Varieties Poison had gone missing."
"It's certain, then."
"The problem is, the first report mentioned a thousand to two thousand victims. The second and third reports arrived at the Tang Family just two weeks ago."
So-so explained that each report tallied exactly a thousand to two thousand sacrifices.
In other words...
"Someone in the Tang Family leaked info on Thousand Varieties Poison, and the blood ghost scum found out. Now they're massacring civilians to mass-produce it using the Tangs' poisons."
The blood ghosts might be churning out Thousand Varieties Poison en masse.
The Tang Family's blood poisons were fatal to blood ghosts.
Because blood was essential to their martial arts.
So, if not martial arts, they'd wipe out the Tangs another way.
'And they chose the Tangs' own poisons.'
It made me mutter, "They're insane."
What kind of twisted mind comes up with that?
'Truly evil faction scum thinking.'
I ground my teeth in revulsion.
But among us, the most furious was undoubtedly So-so.
"...The Tang Family's Thousand Varieties Poison was first created during the first Righteous-Demonic War. Infused with the grudges of those brutally slaughtered by the Demonic Cult, it was made to topple them and soothe those souls."
"And now evil faction scum are using that poison for their wicked desires."
So-so nodded at my words.
"The Tang Family's poisons... were never meant for such purposes."
"......"
"Please, help us, hero."
So-so called me hero.
But this time, I just nodded without retort.
The mood wasn't right for quips.
After that, we walked endlessly.
Toward our destination village.
The first rural village we reached after about an hour...
"This place... looks like nothing happened."
As the young lady said, it seemed perfectly peaceful.
Yes.
It only seemed that way.
"Young lady Dang."
"Yes?"
"......"
Dang So-so tilted her head.
I transmitted to Snow Python.
[Blood smell. Am I the only one?]
[...Revolting.]
Looks like only Snow Python and I could smell the nauseating stench of blood.