Chapter 386
Chapter 386
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 386
Chapter Title: True Blood Group (3)
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My shout echoed inside the meeting hall.
At that moment, Dang Ok-gi sent a final telepathic confirmation.
[Smoke screen. Light it up?] I nodded.
Soon after, thick plumes of smoke billowed out from Dang Ok-gi, spreading across the entire area.
In sync with it, I mobilized the corpse legion I had prepared.
'Corpses, advance ten steps.'
Thus forming up a massive force crowding into Muryong Valley.
Then, I signaled with hand gestures to my Eon brothers, who were acting as close escorts to the Masked Elder.
'I'll go first. Hold for exactly one breath, then charge down in unison.'
They nodded, each wearing their masks.
Confirming that, I slashed open a wound on my left hand.
Slash-
Using the drawn blood, I manifested demonic wings on my back.
Then, I leaped down toward the gathering below.
Whoosh-
As my robes billowed while I stepped through the air.
My master spoke up.
- For all your guts, there's no one in the world who can match you. It's practically an enemy den, and you're diving right into the heart of it.
'You should've said that before I jumped.'
- Do you ever listen when I talk?
After that remark, my master scanned the Blood Cultists drawing ever closer one by one, then spoke in a tone laced with concern.
- No one seems to surpass your aura, but if those guys swarm you, even you can't guarantee survival. Especially those in the bright red blood wind robes...
'They're called the Blood Wind Squad, apparently.'
- Name doesn't matter! The stench of blood clinging to their souls is foul.
'Well, ever since the Blood Cult fell under the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, they've been the shadows of the higher-ups, handling all sorts of dirty work. Their hands must be drenched in blood.'
My master's words continued right up until I landed in the center of Muryong Valley.
- Those addicted to killing always have a trick up their sleeve. Don't forget it's different from handling the Dokgo Clan fools.
'Got it.'
I couldn't dismiss my master's worries as mere unfounded fears.
The Blood Wind Squad on the platform, and the mid-level Blood Cult officers gathered below it.
If they all turned their blades on me?
As master said, I'd experience the true meaning of outnumbered and outmatched with my whole body.
'But it's worth a shot.'
To the Blood Wind Squad, my very existence would be a mystery.
A massive force appearing in a top-secret meeting spot.
The Blood Tide Art, visible only through the ultra-exclusive Blood Mist Divine Art, permitted to but a handful in the Blood Cult.
'No Byong-o and his underlings hesitating to charge right away is proof they're caught in that doubt.'
That doubt would breed the slightest hesitation.
If I shattered it, I'd seize not just the advantage, but the chance to subjugate every Blood Cultist in this meeting.
As I thought that.
Step. Step.
Step step step.
The sounds came of my Eon brothers landing behind me one by one.
Soon, I felt their auras revealed.
Once they were in position.
'This should capture the secret society's vibe perfectly.'
I dispersed the demonic wings I'd spread.
Then took one step toward No Byong-o.
Thud.
At that, No Byong-o's eyes flicked from us to the forces atop the valley.
Then he furrowed his brow and spoke.
"...Who might you be, elder?"
Neutralizing No Byong-o and the Blood Wind Squad up close was the top priority.
But tying down the cultists below was crucial too.
"The one who will show you and all gathered here the true path to Blood Flame Supremacy."
To give the cultists food for thought, I invoked the Blood Cult's banner: 'Blood Flame Supremacy'.
"Calling insanity-inducing martial arts 'divine arts' and binding cultists with antidotes. Is that truly the relationship between cult and followers? Or just master and leashed dog?"
I pointed out how the Blood Cult shackled its members.
"With followers' pains and aspirations ignored, everything dictated by a handful of Cult Protector Kings—is this reality truly the path to Blood Flame Supremacy?"
I poured out those words while slowly advancing on No Byong-o.
"......"
But rather than heeding my speech, he focused on my identity.
"Slandering the Cult Protector Kings means you're not one of them... Where'd you get that force? No, more importantly, how do you know the Blood Mist Divine Art?"
It wasn't incomprehensible.
With my masked brothers posed as guards, moving slowly without overt hostility, I probably didn't seem that threatening.
Thanks to that, I could inch closer to No Byong-o.
"...Could this be. The Cult Leader testing me?"
No Byong-o muttered to himself for a moment.
"...No. No reason for that."
He pulled a scroll from his bosom and spoke again.
"Elder, immediately pay respects and reveal yourself."
"Haven't I already? The one to show the true path to Blood Flame Supremacy. And you demand obeisance without even knowing who I am?!"
I snorted derisively at that.
No Byong-o bristled and shot back.
"...This is an edict penned by the Cult Leader himself! Not to me—to the Cult Leader! Refuse, and regardless of your identity, I'll execute my duty as loyal inquisitor and purge the heretic!"
His brief suspicion of a test from the Blood Demon, and reliance on the edict's authority.
'Even in this compartmentalized organization, doubts fester in No Byong-o's heart too.'
To sow more chaos in his mind, I deliberately flashed a leisurely smile.
"Heh heh heh. Did you get that directly from the Cult Leader?"
"......"
For a fleeting instant, a strange glint crossed his pupils.
I seized it without missing a beat.
"As if. It's a fake forged by those old monsters squatting in the Blood Heaven Asura Palace, claiming to serve the Cult Leader. Check the seal and handwriting again!"
"!?"
As his gaze shifted to the scroll.
I kicked off the ground without hesitation.
Drawing Regret like lightning, I thrust at his nape.
Screeeeech!
No Byong-o's face twisted in realization as he jerked back frantically.
But dodging Regret completely from this range was impossible.
Splurt!
Regret tore flesh with a wet sound, punching a hole in his nape.
As I shook the blood from Regret's tip.
"A bit short."
No Byong-o clutched his neck while swinging his arm at his subordinates.
"Cough. K-kill them!!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Blood Wind Squad standing behind him surged toward me.
At that instant.
Sa Gyeom, who had knelt silently watching everything, rose.
Grabbing the napes of the charging Blood Wind Squad members, he slammed them into the ground and spoke.
"I'll join you."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As Sa Gyeom revealed his hostility while declaring he'd join the Masked Elder.
The Blood Wind Squad roared around them.
"What are you waiting for? Heretics defying the Cult Leader's command! Kill them!"
But immediately, the Masked Elder spoke.
"Who gathered you here, labeling dissenters as heretics to purge—and who came to save you? Use those heads while they're still attached."
With that single line solidifying the tide, the Masked Elder turned to Sa Gyeom.
"I can protect myself. Southern Sea Archbishop, focus on that No Byong-o instead. Prove your resolve from moments ago is ironclad."
"Understood."
Sa Gyeom bowed deeply in response.
No Byong-o bared bloodied teeth in a sneer.
"...Knew it. Sa Gyeom. No hard proof, but your actions always felt off. And here you are, scheming from the shadows. My suspicions were spot on."
To that, Sa Gyeom ground his teeth and replied.
"So, in other words, you had no real certainty I'd betrayed the cult—yet tried to kill me anyway?"
"......"
Unable to retort to his own words.
Sa Gyeom recalled the Masked Elder's phrase 'master clutching a dog's leash' and let out a dry laugh.
"Expected it, but... once I outlived my usefulness and became a nuisance, you cooked up an excuse to eliminate me. No deeper purpose than boiling the hunting hound after the chase."
As Sa Gyeom calmly recited his piece, closing in step by step.
No Byong-o gripped his sword tighter and bellowed.
"Hmph! Falling for some masked geezer's words without showing face or identity, switching sides like a rag—you dare lecture me?!"
Gazing at No Byong-o, Sa Gyeom recalled fragments of life from moments before death's door.
'Betrayed by the whole world.'
Family slaughtered by pirates; officials turned a blind eye when he sought justice.
Even famed orthodox clans claiming righteousness ignored his rage.
So he plunged into the underworld for vengeance himself.
But there, only betrayal and treachery awaited.
'Then the current Blood Cult—Blood King Division—extended a hand.'
Yet even they deemed him expendable now.
Drawing the blade of purge.
'I'd resolved to forsake all, discard the filthy world first...'
The Masked Elder appeared.
And showed him once more what the true path to Blood Flame Supremacy was.
'Just like the talk with Heo Uk on the way to Namyeong. Like a lifeline dropping from the heavens.'
Then he'd grasp that line.
And climb as far as it reached.
With renewed resolve etched in his heart, Sa Gyeom spoke.
"No intent to teach you. I simply confirmed where my desired Blood Flame Supremacy lies."
As those words ended.
His loyal subordinate Heo Uk leaped from below the platform, placing a greatsword in Sa Gyeom's hand.
"Division Leader!"
The moment crimson haze—that earned him the moniker Myriad Mirror Blood Wave—coiled around the greatsword.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Whether my words had struck home.
Or my Eon brothers standing silently, auras bared, seemed intimidating.
Or the sheer numbers of the corpse legion atop the valley overwhelmed them.
Impossible to read the Blood Cultists' true hearts, so the exact reason was unclear.
But the cultists gathered below the platform didn't budge from their seats.
Clang! Clang!
Clang clang clang!!!
Thus, the immediate foes were limited to the Blood Wind Squad.
Splatter!
With Sa Gyeom splitting the already critically wounded No Byong-o and fully unleashing his power—Heo Uk joining in—the Blood Wind Squad crumpled helplessly.
Allowing me the leisure to overlay Blood Tide Arts for even flashier maneuvers.
Splaaaaash!!!
Then my master spoke in an abashed tone.
- Heh. My fretting was for naught.
'We hit them from multiple angles. My identity and the army above would've distracted them.'
While conversing with master and swinging my sword for a bit.
Splatter!
The entire Blood Wind Squad under No Byong-o turned into cold corpses.
Eliminating the Blood Wind Squad—our immediate goal—was a success.
But the real issue started now.
The cultists below not joining the fray didn't mean they were on our side.
'They're not True Blood Group material yet.'
Storming the Blood Heaven Asura Palace, and further transforming the Blood Cult as a whole—both hinged on turning them into assets.
Click.
Sheathing Regret at my waist, I adopted a stern tone.
"Your hesitation nearly earned the cult's suspicion and doomed you all. But today, that same hesitation saved your lives. However... now you must choose."