Chapter 331
Chapter 331
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 331
Chapter Title: Next Stage (6)
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A considerable time had passed since the Blood Cult disciples who wished to join the True Blood Unit began filling out the forms.
The busy hands of the Blood Cult disciples gradually came to a halt, one by one.
"We're all done."
"...Your subordinate has finished as well."
I issued a command to Dokgo Cheol among them.
"...Dokgo Clan Head, collect the documents from those who have completed them."
"Yes."
And so, the documents filled out by the eleven gathered in my hands.
I pretended to be indifferent as I meticulously examined each one.
'Song Ho-gyeom. From Guangxi Province. His family scattered due to the greed of a county magistrate. Before being assigned to the Dokgo branch, he operated in Shaanxi. Song Guang Hap-seom for memorization. Next, Yi Il. From Changyi in Shandong Province...'
Seeing me like this, my master posed a question.
- You're picking out the key points and repeating them, so it seems you're trying to memorize them right here?
'Yes. That's correct.'
- Why bother memorizing what's written on paper?
'Because I'm going to burn these documents right here.'
- Burn them? Won't that mean letting go of the hard-earned evidence?
'Not at all.'
Controlling people with evidence might seem like strong leverage at first glance, but it can't draw out true loyalty.
'I've confirmed their firm intent to devote themselves to a secret society, and I've memorized their individual stories. Keeping the documents would bring more harm than good.'
- Is that so?
'Yes. They may seem insignificant now, but these individuals will become the vanguard and seeds that swallow the Blood Cult in the future. It's better to firmly display the demeanor of the Ghost Face Elder and win them over completely.'
As I responded to my master's question, I continued reviewing the documents.
And once the personal details of all eleven were etched into my mind...
I spotted the three-legged cauldron lit with fire in front of the clan head's quarters.
'There it is.'
Burning the documents would have been simple with the Triple Flame Ignition Technique.
But this was the inauguration of the True Blood Unit as an organization.
'Adding an appropriate ritual will leave a deep impression on those gathered here.'
I extended my left palm toward the tripod cauldron.
And activated the Blood Manipulation Technique.
Whoosh—
The gushing blood stretched out in streams, soon transforming into the shape of a massive hand.
I gripped the tripod cauldron with that hand and slowly brought it before me.
The Blood Cult disciples gasped in unison, mouths agape as if entranced.
"Void Grasping Technique!"
"B-but calling it mere Void Grasping... That's definitely a blood technique."
"Yet the slower it moves, the higher the realm. Like those blood wings extended last time... Has the Ghost Face Elder reached the pinnacle of blood arts?"
Thud.
The floating tripod cauldron settled before me.
Song Ho-gyeom questioned my identity.
"...Ghost Face Elder. Who are you?"
It was a somewhat natural question.
But I had no reason to reveal it.
"Heh heh. You're not yet ready to accept who I am."
I dismissed Song Ho-gyeom's question with an aged chuckle.
"You will naturally learn who I am when the time comes. More importantly, what matters is that you have begun dreaming of the true Blood Flame Dominion."
And I began feeding the documents clutched in my right hand into the tripod cauldron flickering with flames.
"...You have shown your intent to stake your lives on joining the True Blood Unit."
Roar—
Thus, one by one, the documents vanished until the last one turned to ash.
"Today, under the banner of the True Blood Unit, we become true brothers."
I squeezed a stream of blood into the cauldron.
Sizzle—
The flames, now dramatically reduced after being doused in my blood.
I called Dokgo Cheol's name.
"Dokgo Cheol."
He stepped forward without hesitation.
Dokgo Cheol wounded his left hand and squeezed blood toward the embers.
"Song Ho-gyeom."
I continued calling the next name.
"Yi Il."
Each called forward mimicked Dokgo Cheol's actions.
"Wang Yuk."
By the time all eleven names had been called...
Sizzle—
The flames in the tripod cauldron were completely extinguished.
Confirming this, I began formally declaring the True Blood Unit's rules.
"Now, I shall decree the unit's rules. There are only two. Address the old man uniformly as Unit Leader. Understood?"
Whether due to the prior ritual's effect, the eleven Blood Cult disciples replied with serious expressions in unison.
"Yes! Unit Leader!"
I fixed my gaze on the two among them corresponding to officers and spoke.
"Dokgo Cheol, branch leader. Song Ho-gyeom, squad leader."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"I will separately inform you two of the means to contact me."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"All hear this. All regular reports, irregular reports, individual missions, and any contact with the cult will henceforth be reported to branch leader Dokgo Cheol and squad leader Song Ho-gyeom. They will report to me. You will move not by the whims of the senile elders disrupting the cult, but under the True Blood Unit's will. Understood?"
With the two rules declared...
The unit members responded in resolute, booming voices as one.
"Yes!"
At that sight, my master clicked his tongue in admiration.
- ...I once said you should have entered government service, but now it seems I was mistaken. Making pseudo-cults enthralled from the basics? Had you walked that path, you would have misled the masses on a grand scale.
I pretended not to hear my master's words and continued.
"Then, I assign the first common mission. Aid the people of Zhangwan and the Ten Valleys region, and suppress the unorthodox sects and ruffians."
At my command, puzzlement filled the True Blood Unit members' faces.
It seemed the overly righteous order was incomprehensible.
"Heh heh. What bewildered expressions. Daring to show bewilderment at the Unit Leader's command... In my blood-boiling youth, I would have burst the skulls of those who just rolled their eyes."
"......"
"However, today I shall personally explain my intent. The Dokgo Clan will be our foundation supporting the greater cause, our stronghold, and our funding source. To fulfill that role, we must elevate our reputation within the orthodox martial world. Is that clear?"
"...Yes!"
"I won't be this lenient again. Every mission I issue as Unit Leader leads to the true Blood Flame Dominion... Follow silently. Even if it seems trivial now, you will surely reach the grand and glorious moment of righting the Blood Cult."
* * *
While digesting the academy schedule and workload, and managing the True Blood Unit, time flew by.
Soon, the day of the plaque unveiling ceremony for the Dokgo Clan arrived.
"So-ryeong!"
"Yes! Brother Eon!"
"Climb up to the roof over there and double-check the tent ropes. It's dawn, but the wind's picking up?"
"Got it!"
My younger siblings and I had been helping prepare to welcome guests at the Dokgo Clan since dawn.
The first honored guests to arrive were the academy professors.
Among them, Chief Gyeong Hye Sa-tae smiled gently and spoke.
"President Eon. And all the other autonomous committee executives who pushed this forward—great job. Truly meaningful."
Uncle Jae-hyeok grinned and patted my back.
"Feels like yesterday you were getting called a scoundrel, Yong-un. Not content with elevating the Pearl Eon Family's status, you're contributing to rebuilding a junior clan's legacy after their near-extinction. Heh, generations apart indeed."
"Right? I still vividly remember Uncle scolding me at the exam hall, 'Do you know where you are?!'"
"Ahem. Why bring that up now? Forget that stuff!"
"I won't forget."
At that moment...
Professor Chang-ryang interjected with a faint smile.
"Unlike you, respecting the operation committee's decision and procedures to wield positive influence."
Since it was deeply tied to the Blood Cult, I felt a twinge of guilt inwardly.
Then Professor No Sam appropriately stepped in.
"Unlike him? How much credit has Yong-un earned in the jianghu?!"
"The point is pure intent. Once he starts something, doesn't he always hide a move or two from us and play the dutiful candidate?"
I turned the topic by questioning Professor No Sam.
"Professor No Sam. I don't see Professor Jeon Gal-min from Yun Gu-gwan?"
"Ah. He said he's stopping by his main house first. He'll come with the Jeon Gal Clan Head."
As the topic shifted, I gestured toward the clan head's quarters.
"I see. Then let's head that way. The student Dokgo Cheol, who will lead today's feast, is over there."
We had been greeting arriving guests and doing final checks for the ceremony for quite some time.
Grrrrumble—
Hearing a stomach growl, I turned to see Cheon Jang-ho scratching his head.
"Hehe. Been at it since dawn, and now I'm starving."
"The Alliance Leader's here too... Everyone except the Jeon Gal Clan guests has arrived, so hold on a bit. It's a clan revival—feast after the rite, or it'll bring bad luck."
"Yessir! I held back with iron will from snatching food being carried from the kitchen on the way."
"...That needed iron will?"
"Of course. Anyway, seeing the food prep isn't skimpy, it'll prosper. I heard from following the Vessel Leader before: a banquet house that skimps on food won't last three generations."
Yong-myeong and Brother So-cheon shot Cheon Jang-ho cold looks.
"Hey, Jang-ho. This is a clan hanging its plaque—what's with talk of ruin?"
"Yeah. Stay quiet, and you might make it to mid-tier."
Namgung Yun pointed toward the clan head's quarters then.
"Dokgo Cheol's coming."
Dressed in formal robes, as Dokgo Cheol approached, Eun Ha-seong teased.
"The star of the day arrives. My, Clan Head. Congratulations. And please take good care of us going forward."
Dokgo Cheol brushed off the tease with an awkward smile and formally clasped his sleeves toward us.
"President. And seniors—thanks to you, we can hang the 'Dokgo Clan' plaque once more. Even as bones, I'll never forget this grace."
My siblings and I returned the greeting with clasped fists.
After mutual courtesies...
Eun Ha-yeon and Dang Ok-gi spoke in turn.
"...White Bone. You know Eon Gong-ja really has that capability, right?"
"Not just capability. He's the type we can actually... fully... exploit."
"True. I said not to forget the grace first... but rethink that 'White Bone' bit."
As I prepared to retort 'What do you take people for?'...
Song Ho-gyeom, guarding the main gate, announced the Jeon Gal Clan's carriage arrival.
"Guests from the Jeon Gal Clan have arrived!"
If my siblings and I were one wing in reviving the Dokgo Clan, the opposite wing was the Jeon Gal Clan, who secured approval from the Go Clan, local tyrants of Zhangwan.
Having the biggest role among today's guests, we went to greet them at the gate.
"Hm?"
Jeon Gal-gyu, the clan head, and Jeon Gal-min, Yun Gu-gwan's ethics professor.
Besides the two promised, an elderly man with hoary white hair was with the group.
Jeon Gal-seolji's eyes widened as she rushed forward.
"I thought just Father and Uncle were coming... Grandpa too?"
The former Martial Alliance Great Strategist and Jeon Gal Clan Supreme Patriarch, Heavenly Mechanism Mysterious Immortal Jeon Gal-cheok, had graced us.
"Heard a lot of faces were gathering, so I came out for some air."
We hastily clasped our sleeves.
Jeon Gal-cheok addressed Dokgo Cheol among us.
"Congratulations."
"Th-thank you."
"Hanging the plaque is mere formality. To truly be recognized as revived, you'll face countless trials ahead. May you navigate them wisely, Clan Head, for blessings to your descendants."
"Wise words. I'll etch them in my bones."
Having offered auspicious words to Dokgo Cheol, Jeon Gal-cheok then regarded me.
"You must be the famed Ghost Dragon?"
"Yes, Supreme Patriarch. Thank you for not scorning us juniors' will and providing great aid."
"If grateful, make time to visit Yingzhong sometime. Let me see that Go skill that crushed Hye-a and Seolji."
"G-Grandpa! We didn't get crushed that badly!"
* * *
With the Jeon Gal Clan guests arrived, the plaque ceremony properly began.
Rites were offered.
A plaque inscribed with "Dokgo Clan" in bold, dragon-snake soaring calligraphy was hung at the gate.
The ceremony proceeded solemnly.
Once done, lavish banquet tables spread across the estate.
As the mood ripened...
The Alliance Leader approached and spoke.
"Good work."
"No need. Alliance Leader, you suffered cleaning up my mess last time."
"You know?"
"Of course."
"Was a joke, but now I've nothing to say. Heard through correspondence from Yong-i about your great achievements at Shaolin... Seeing you in person, your aura's truly different. Might catch up to me at this rate."
"Nah, still far off. But you seem to have something else to say?"
"Always so perceptive."
The Alliance Leader smiled thinly and sent a transmission.
[Any plans for this summer break?]
[Well, I have a place in mind. But if it's transmission-worthy... Might decide based on what you say?]
[No, not urgent enough for transmission.]
[Then why?]
[Needs discretion. Invitation from the First Prince's residence.]
[First Prince's?]
[You've met the prince and princess consort, so you know— no pressure.]
[Yes, I know their character.]
[Right. Just an invite to beat the heat if no good retreat... Told you before, you don't rest enough. World's quiet lately, so resting safely sounds good?]
The First Prince's fief was Guangxi.
Where the golden carriage of Yong Dae-in, holding the inner core of the Ink Scale Earth Dragon, lay dormant.
'Perfect excuse for Guangxi trip, with ironclad security and full support?'