Chapter 182: Hwasan (2)
Jin So-cheong's signature poker face had cracked ever so slightly. To anyone else, it probably just looked like shock at some bizarre phenomenon.
It's definitely the Blood Cult's doing.
Is there some plan in motion that even Jin So-cheong doesn't know about?
[You said there were no factional fights, but you never said they were all of one mind and purpose.]
Pa Cheon had a point.
No matter how many Blood Cultists there were, no single person could know every detail of a massive organization's affairs.
For now, I turned my head forward again.
Fortunately, everyone else seemed focused on the word "bloodwood" itself and hadn't noticed that awkward moment.
Paeng Yu-gun, in particular, fixed his gaze on Gwang-yeon with a grave expression.
"Bloodwood, you say. Care to explain in detail what that is?"
"It's a tree that literally drinks blood. Do-young."
At Gwang-yeon's words, one of the disciples called Do-young stepped forward. He opened a pouch, took out a single leaf, and respectfully handed it to Gwang-yeon.
The leaf looked like any common one at first glance, but it was dyed blood-red. It wasn't dried out like a fallen leaf; it had an eerily vivid sheen.
It really has absorbed blood.
Ever since absorbing the blood jade pearl, I'd gained a sensitivity to blood. I couldn't control or manipulate it like a blood arts practitioner, but I could at least sense it.
"This is a leaf from the bloodwood."
With that, Gwang-yeon twisted the leaf. It crumpled, and drops of red liquid fell—drip, drip.
"Blood..."
Paeng Yu-gun watched with sunken eyes.
"Exactly. Strangely, the roots, trunk, and branches remain unchanged until suddenly the leaves turn red, transforming it into bloodwood."
"The reason?"
"We're investigating. That's why we've come to ask for the descendant of Yak-seon."
Gwang-yeon continued.
"Our Hwasan alchemists have been analyzing it but can't pinpoint the cause. As the heir of Yak-seon, we thought you might have insight into such anomalies."
Yak-seon, with his "Immortal" moniker, was more renowned in Daoist sects anyway.
These days, alchemy had been sidelined, but it was the foundation of Daoist schools to begin with.
Of course, things couldn't have worked out better for me.
If it's a Blood Cult problem, I can solve it easily.
I was the provisional Blood Cult Lord, certified by their Blood Law Emissary, Jin So-cheong.
Even if my authority wasn't fully acknowledged, I could still apply some pressure through her.
The question is... what do I get out of it?
Protagonists get compensated for their actions. Doing tough jobs for free is what they call a "sucker" in novels.
The Demonless Trace Wall it is. Might as well wrap it up in one go.
The problem was, if the wall was somewhere off-limits to outsiders in Hwasan Sect grounds, that'd be trouble.
I'd need permission to access anywhere—even places where outsiders were banned.
Enough to let me rummage around freely without questions.
Hwasan might just be treating it like an ordinary wall and ignoring it, so I might have to poke around everywhere.
To get that kind of access, I needed to seem like I knew something—mysterious and insightful.
Like a shrewd fortune-teller or shaman: diagnose the problem before they even explain.
No matter that I'm Yak-seon's heir, for proud Hwasan to humble themselves and ask for help means it's serious. I need to hit the nail on the head.
Hwasan in Return to the Murim wasn't called "elves" for nothing. Sky-high pride.
And they'd swallowed that pride.
The reason Hwasan would swallow its pride.
A threat to Hwasan's foundation.
The reason they were called elves in Return to the Murim.
Once I connected those dots, the conclusion was obvious.
I spoke up.
"The blood blight has spread to the plum groves, hasn't it?"
"How did you—?!"
Gwang-yeon and the Hwasan disciples' eyes wavered at my words.
Bingo.
In any world—especially modern wuxia—Hwasan obsessives are plum blossom fanatics.
The Return to the Murim Hwasan Taoists were nicknamed elves.
Hell, the novel even joked that elves worshiped plum trees, not world trees. This was no small matter.
I opened my eyes slightly, crafting a voice full of gravitas and trust.
"Hwasan's plums are the sect's foundation and essence. Seeing them defiled is unbearable even for me as a fellow martial artist. I'll help to the best of my ability. But."
I continued.
"My method is Yak-seon's secret art, a forbidden technique from Secret Prescriptions Not Passed On. No objections allowed. Is that acceptable?"
I'd already pulled off the "diagnose without hearing" skill.
If old monsters like Paeng Yu-gun and Dang Mugi fell for it hook, line, and sinker, what chance did Gwang-yeon have?
Gulp!
Gwang-yeon swallowed hard and nodded.
"We'd have to report to the sect leader, but... it should be fine."
Done.
"Elder. You okay with this?"
"Of course. And..."
Paeng Yu-gun's next words came via transmission.
- Bloodwood screams Blood Cult. Mixing blood into nature's order—that's their style.
I replied with my puppet voice transmission.
- That's exactly why I'm stepping in to investigate.
- So the secret art was a bluff from the start?
- There is one, but no guarantee it'll work. If bloodwood is the Blood Cult's doing, dealing with them should restore it naturally. Plus, thinking on your words, elder, I figured the fewer who know about the Blood Cult, the better.
- ...Figuring that out in such a short time. I should be grateful you're a good man.
A mix of satisfaction and regret crossed Paeng Yu-gun's face. I got the satisfaction, but regret? Stubborn old coot.
Mount Hwasan, one of the Five Great Mountains of the Central Plains.
I swear it.
Even Manager Kim couldn't climb this.
It wasn't a mountain—it was a cliff.
No one built it for humans to climb.
A narrow, treacherous path barely wide enough for one person snaked up to dizzying peaks.
And up there, past the clouds, was Hwasan Sect.
"Ah, when are we supposed to climb that?"
Sis, can't we just stay down here?"
The Cheongbi Group was ready to give up. No wonder—Paeng So-so had tied head-sized boulders to their limbs on Paeng Yu-gun's orders.
"...I agree. Better to leave them here."
Climbing Hwasan with boulders? Might get sued for copyright infringement. Probably.
"They said it was urgent, so yeah. Hey, Taoist uncle. Anyplace down here for these kids to crash?"
"There's a small county half a day's lightfoot from here."
"Heard that? Go train there. I'll check."
The Cheongbi Group grumbled but perked up at skipping the climb and bolted.
The problem was me.
"Shall we go?"
Gwang-yeon said it like it was obvious, standing perpendicular to the cliff face.
Humans aren't magnets—how do you stand straight on a wall?
Before I could gape, Paeng Yu-gun did it effortlessly, and Paeng So-so wobbled but stuck to the wall.
So we were running straight up vertically to Hwasan.
Are they insane?
[It's a feat any Peak realm can manage.]
Indeed, lower-realm Hwasan Taoists excluding Gwang-yeon and a few others had been bounding up the path ahead.
Fine. Can't back out now.
If they'd said crawl up, I could've gritted my teeth—fix the acrophobia, and this body's specs could handle it.
But as that thought hit—
Peak realm means anything below that won't do, right?
I summoned Mu Geuk-i.
Mu Geuk-i, hovering in the sky, descended in massive firebird form.
"Ooh! Divine beast!"
The Hwasan Taoists exclaimed again.
With my sage-like vibe and a tamed divine beast, first impressions mattered.
Perfect cover for hiding my lightfoot skills.
Flying on Mu Geuk-i worked, but any martial artist skipping lightfoot would raise eyebrows.
I told Paeng Yu-gun and Gwang-yeon, pointing at Jin So-cheong.
"Lady Jin So-cheong here is a physician, so I'll escort her up. Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa won't carry anyone it doesn't recognize as its master, so I'll have to ride with her."
Lie, of course. One "tsk" from me and it'd carry anyone—Tak Horak rode it fine.
"Ah, right. I didn't think of that. Sorry, physician."
Jin So-cheong bowed at Paeng Yu-gun's words.
Publicly, she was known for medicine over martial arts.
"No, thank you for your consideration."
Playing the gentleman, I helped Jin So-cheong onto Mu Geuk-i's back.
"See you at the top. Follow well."
Sa Wol and Tak Horak bowed. As Mu Geuk-i flapped, we were already soaring through the air.
[No itch on the back of your neck? Ears not twitching?]
Why? Someone cursing me?
[...Nah.]
Such nonsense. Not the point now.
Riding solved lightfoot, but I needed private talk with Jin So-cheong too.
Throttling Mu Geuk-i's speed, I addressed her.
"Jin So-cheong."
"...Flying through the sky together."
"Jin So-cheong!"
"Y-yes?"
She turned, showing her profile—flushed red.
Fair enough; I'd whooped with joy on my first flight too.
But no slacking.
"The bloodwood. Explain. You said no factional fights. Did you lie to me?"
Critical point.
If Jin So-cheong had lied, nothing she said could be trusted. Huge risk.
"N-no, absolutely not, Lord!"
She cried out.
"Not factional infighting—custom forbids encroaching on another majon's work, out of mutual respect. The bloodwood is Imajon's creation, designed to make blood arts easier to learn."
Her explanation:
Blood arts need blood.
At high realms, you can absorb without harming, but before that, victims dry up like husks.
"The Blood Cult must stay hidden! But training everyone in blood arts exposes us. The Murim Alliance has even sent investigators after spotting traces."
That explained Paeng Yu-gun's knowledge.
"So Imajon created bloodwood to train without killing."
Good deed for Blood Cult?
"The principle?"
"Using pure essence blood from a thousand boys and girls to create blood crystal—"
I tuned out.
Scratch the good deed.
Sacrificing a thousand to save ten thousand? If not for the Cult, those kids wouldn't die.
Blood Cult: absolute evil.
Started as zealots human-sacrificing to deify the First Heavenly Demon.
Exterminate them.
Use while valuable, then wipe out.
"Why spread bloodwood in Hwasan?"
"You'll see on arrival. Please quell your anger."
Honestly, I'd rather chill, but that's me—not the Cult Lord's personality.
Pa Cheon.
Having heard, Pa Cheon clucked his tongue.
And the next instant—
Kwachuk!
Pa Cheon Sword's blade pierced Jin So-cheong's hand—Time Wheel Jade accelerating it.
"Mmph!?"
She stifled a gasp in shock.
Piiik!
Mu Geuk-i screeched, annoyed at impure blood on its sacred body. Splattered drops burned away on contact.
"Remember this, Jin So-cheong. Prove your worth, or you're no exception."
"Y-yes... I will, forever."
"Heal it."
Grievous wound, but blood arts kicked in, mending the surface.
By then, Paeng Yu-gun, Gwang-yeon, and company neared the peak.
"We'll continue below."
I directed Mu Geuk-i to land in Hwasan Sect.
Lord... my Lord.
Jin So-cheong stared at Dong Yun's back.
You alone are the vessel for the Blood God. The true Lord.
Her hand wound hadn't fully healed—just the skin. The inside throbbed endlessly.
If it's in the way, anyone—
Her eyes fell on Sa Wol, who also watched Dong Yun's back.
Sensing it, Sa Wol met her gaze squarely.
—will be erased.
Jin So-cheong smiled sweetly.