166. Blood Cult Lord (2)
I looked at Jin So-cheong.
Blood was dripping from her face.
This wasn't some half-hearted act. She'd slammed her head against the hard stone floor dozens of times.
Looking closer, the front of her forehead was slightly caved in. It seemed her skull had even fractured.
If this were the real world, she'd be rushing to the ER right now. But in the world of Murim Returner, where even serious injuries were brushed off, this was nothing.
"...Your face is ruined."
"It is only fitting punishment for disturbing Your eyes, Lord. There is no need for concern."
"Don't misunderstand me, Jin So-cheong."
I continued with a cold expression.
"That's not what I mean. If you, known publicly as a physician, go around with a battered face, it'll make your activities difficult."
"Ah... Truly wise words. But fear not, my Lord. There is no cause for worry."
A grotesque sound, like wringing water from laundry, accompanied the healing of Jin So-cheong's wound.
Even the caved-in bone in her forehead realigned itself perfectly.
Maybe that's why she'd laughed off my threat to rip out her tongue next time. It felt like even that would grow back.
...This is weird.
I'd definitely seen something like this before.
Jin family, bizarre regenerative martial art... One thing immediately came to mind.
"Blood Art?"
"As expected of one so exalted—you know everything. Yes."
[Is Jin So-cheong saying she's from the Yin Blood True Family? Does that mean the Jin family are traitors!?]
No. Probably a branch family that split off. If anything, distant relatives sharing the same surname.
[...Such!]
It's not strange. Families have direct and branch lines; splitting off is common.
Paeng Yu-gun had said something similar.
Among the Jin clan who followed the First Heavenly Demon, those who stayed in the Divine Cult became the Yin Blood True Family, while those who left became Blood Cultists.
Besides, the Blood Cult worships the Blood Tribulation, so those who use Blood Art naturally hold high positions.
But one thing puzzled me.
"I heard those who cultivate Blood Art crave blood."
"That was a trait of the outdated Blood Art passed down in the old Jin family long ago. After repeated refinements, it no longer craves blood. Nor does it turn one into a monster like before. That's how we can conceal our energy too."
That explained how Jin So-cheong could practice Blood Art while posing as a physician without detection.
I wondered what Jin Yeong Ryeong would say if she heard this.
...She'd probably still want to suck blood anyway.
For some reason, I suspected Jin Yeong Ryeong would see blood craving not as a side effect, but something to enjoy. She'd probably shake her head wildly if told it had been "fixed."
"Here."
I pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her.
"What is this, my Lord?"
"Can't you tell by looking?"
"Why give me this...?"
"So my chambers don't get dirty."
"Understood."
Jin So-cheong smiled brightly as she wiped the blood smeared across her forehead and face.
"I'll wash it clean and return it."
"No need. Keep it."
"Ah—."
Even with my blood on it, reusing a bloodstained handkerchief from someone else was horrifying just to think about.
For some reason, madness flickered in Jin So-cheong's eyes again, so I quickly changed the subject.
"I have a question."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Wandering the jianghu to gather the Blood God's legacy, I've been out of touch with the Blood Cult's affairs. Explain."
"Wise words indeed."
Jin So-cheong explained the Blood Cult's structure.
Below the vacant throne of the Blood Cult Lord were the Three Demon Lords and the Twelve Blood Law Envoys who followed them.
The Three Demon Lords were Super Peak masters, and the Twelve Blood Law Envoys were late Peak experts.
Unlike the Divine Cult, there were no strict hierarchies.
"Each Demon Lord seeks a Cult Lord candidate to enthrone. Currently, Imajon and Sam majon had brought their candidates for 'training'... but now it's all for naught."
"Which Demon Lord do you serve?"
"I am an envoy directly under Ilmajon. Oh, and the physician known in the jianghu as Yi Seong is my grandfather, Ilmajon."
Impressive.
Fooling the entire jianghu for decades by pretending to be a righteous physician.
Hiding my identity for just a few months was exhausting—how fanatical did one have to be to maintain the act for decades?
"Surprising. With 'Il' implying first, you'd think you'd find a candidate first."
"Precisely. That's why we held back until finding the perfect blood heir. Now that You've appeared, all is resolved."
"Are there factional struggles?"
"Factional struggles, my Lord?"
Jin So-cheong looked slightly flustered. I was the one more surprised.
"Where there are people, factions form naturally."
"Ah, my Lord."
Jin So-cheong suddenly knelt again, ready to smash her head.
"Our Blood Cult has no such thing as factional struggles."
"How is that possible?"
"Factional struggles are for ignorant fools who know nothing. Our sole purpose is the Blood God's return—why waste time on such nonsense? For failing to recognize You sooner, I beg forgiveness by plucking my eyes."
Jin So-cheong raised her hands to her face.
"Stop."
"But my Lord, please punish me. I deserve it."
"Are you trying to waste my time with your petty excuses? Finish your explanation."
"F-Forgive me, my Lord!"
Still kneeling, Jin So-cheong continued.
"The other role of the Demon Lords and Twelve Envoys is to strive for the Blood Tribulation in this world."
Striving their best for the Blood Tribulation—it was the first time I'd heard it phrased that way. And with such a bright expression, no less.
"Thus, we've deeply embedded our forces throughout the jianghu, ready to move in unison when the time comes."
"In the orthodox sects, the Five Great Families are the center. The Nine Great Sects and Beggar Clan have too much unorthodox energy to approach easily."
"As expected, so exalted and insightful. You see through it at a glance."
She continued.
"We judged a long preparation necessary for a perfect, beautiful Blood Tribulation. So we've been working from the shadows, targeting the younger generation of the Five Great Families."
"Namgung Jin was the start?"
"Yes. A curse to stimulate human desires and shatter reason. Unfortunately, he unexpectedly reached Super Peak, delaying things."
"Who after Namgung Jin?"
"Paeng So So of the Northern Paeng Family."
As expected.
That solved all the mysteries.
Why the Paeng So So I'd "seen" differed from the one I'd "encountered."
In Murim Returner, Paeng So So was a ferocious madwoman—raiding her family's warehouses, setting fires, causing scandals without restraint.
Utterly disconnected from the current Paeng So So.
If it was due to a curse, it wasn't impossible.
"What about the unorthodox side?"
"We're targeting the Sa Wang Castle Lord. Ilmajon himself is pretending to treat him while worsening his condition."
It clicked immediately.
Unorthodox groups rarely unite due to their nature. Sa Wang Castle held together solely by the Castle Lord's charisma.
If he falls, the castle crumbles.
"The Sa Wang Castle young lord appearing at the Yao Immortal ruins wasn't coincidence...?"
"Correct. All arranged by us. We'd already excavated that site."
"But you couldn't take the items inside?"
"Of course."
Jin So-cheong said with utter confidence.
"The Blood God's legacies only activate properly with the Blood God's energy. Other candidates could only crack walls or cause minor changes."
In the end, we'd danced on the Blood Cult's stage. Though I was the variable.
It was chilling—almost irritating.
...If they hadn't poked the Heavenly Demon and gotten crushed, the Blood Cult could've been a real headache.
Based on Murim Returner info, I'd pegged Sado Gwang as the war's spark.
But peeling back the truth, the Blood Cult was no slouch.
Maybe Sado Gwang just lit the pyre they'd stacked high.
Considering their goal, they played a game they couldn't lose.
As long as blood flowed in the world someday, by anyone, anytime.
"One last question."
"Ask, my Lord."
"Have you... no, in the Divine Cult—did you plant spies?"
Jin So-cheong's answer—
"Naturally."
[We must cut her down.]
At that instant, Pa Cheon slipped from its sheath toward Jin So-cheong's neck. I exerted control to halt it.
It looked like I'd pressed a blade to her throat in threat.
Yet Jin So-cheong only smiled wider. She even leaned her neck toward Pa Cheon's edge.
Blood trickled down the blade.
"You... know my identity."
"Of course. You are the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons, the Blood Cult Lord who will drown this world in blood."
"Don't dodge. You know that's not what I mean."
Jin So-cheong met my eyes directly.
"Ma-do Yuk-ga, head of the Asura Apostle House, Sado Hwan. Is that the name you wish to hear?"
She knew.
Here goes nothing if we kill her.
Even knowing my identity, she hadn't revealed it.
"Why keep it secret, knowing who I am?"
"My Lord."
Jin So-cheong's eyes gleamed with fervor.
"Even if You were the Murim Alliance Leader, nothing changes. Such things are petty human illusions. When the world drowns in blood, families and sects will all vanish anyway, no? It matters not if You're from that false cult."
The Blood Cult was truly insane.
"We use false identities to operate in the jianghu too, so we're no different. We will never expose You. Besides, our ties in the Divine Cult aren't spies—they're collaborators. Arrogant heretics, those."
"So, you want me to play that role?"
"I believe the great Blood Cult Lord can do far more."
"Like what?"
"Slay the false god, the Heavenly Demon, and take their throne. Until the day of the Blood Tribulation arrives."
Jin So-cheong said with a face stained in madness.
"Please... act as the Heavenly Demon."