Chapter 389
Chapter 389
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 389
Chapter Title: True Blood Corps (6)
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Yunnan Province served as the gateway for exchanging goods between the Central Plains and the Western Regions.
The trade route known as the Tea Horse Ancient Road, or sometimes the Present Iron Path, stood as one of the three great trade routes alongside the western Silk Road and the northern Han Iron Road.
Given the immense profits generated there,
conflict was inevitable between the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, the hegemon of the Western Regions, and the Jiancheng Sect, the entrenched power of Yunnan's orthodox martial world.
"Jiancheng will accept the Eastern Path Assembly Leader's proposal."
"Hoho. Will you really?"
Je Gal-cheok, who had headed to Mount Jiancheng to back Eon Yong-un's plan, had finally drawn out the Jiancheng Sect Leader's concession.
"Yes. If the demons' honed daggers are that sharp, we can't afford to brawl with the Beast Palace. It would be chasing small gains at the risk of losing the greater prize—something shameful in our disciples' eyes."
"You've thought it through well. Very well considered."
"However, as Senior Brother well knows... my decision and whether the Beast Palace Lord will accept it are separate matters."
"Hohoho. That'll be for me to handle."
"Yes. I'll write you a letter. Take Jin-eok with you."
And so, the procession bound for Yunnan gained Mae Jin-eok, who had shed his role as chairman of the Xianglan Pavilion's autonomous council to return as the Jiancheng Sect's Cloud One Sword, along with other disciples.
Just as their procession fully ascended the Tea Horse Ancient Road,
Je Gal-cheok stroked his white beard and praised Mae Jin-eok.
"Hohoho. It seems things went smoothly thanks to the Cloud One Sword persuading Jiancheng's elders in advance. Truly commendable work."
"You flatter me."
As Mae Jin-eok humbly demurred with a clasped fist salute, Je Gal-seol shook her head.
"It's no flattery, Senior Brother. In this critical time, you've bought us several days. That's no small achievement."
Je Gal-cheok turned to his granddaughter.
"You're right that it's no small achievement, but calling it just 'buying a few days' is wrong. Once people's resolve hardens, it can take centuries to unravel. Just look at us and the demons—a century-old grudge."
He then gazed back at Mae Jin-eok.
"In any case, you've been a tremendous help. Worth revoking my retirement. The Monster Dragon, the Cloud One Sword... Watching these promising sprouts is endlessly rewarding. So reassuring."
Mae Jin-eok, at a loss for where to put himself, offered another fist salute.
"...Speaking alongside Assembly Leader Eon embarrasses me, Assembly Leader."
Je Gal-seol, watching, let out a soft chuckle.
"Ahem?"
"...Je Gal Junior? What's that laugh?"
"Nothing."
"Doesn't seem like nothing..."
"Just... Back at the academy, you nitpicked every Qingzhu Pavilion event. Seeing you act for Yong-un oppa now... I just thought you've changed quite a bit, Senior Brother?"
"...That's not! Well, you're hardly innocent of that, Je Gal Junior? You trailed after Eon Junior like a leech, didn't you?"
"Leech...? Mine's different!"
Namgung Yun, guarding the rear, galloped up to their carriage at that moment.
"Urgent dispatch from the Grand Strategist."
Je Gal-cheok took the letter, decoded the cipher on the spot,
and summarized its contents.
"The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is on the move? The Alliance Leader and Hyea were attacked, but they weren't the targets—looks like they were searching for someone else."
Namgung Yun furrowed his brow at those words.
"...Does that mean?"
"The procession from Zhongnan to Kunlun is a feint. They've seen through that our true strength lies with the Monster Dragon."
"Then that's trouble, isn't it?"
"But they won't know the full details. Their aim is finding the Monster Dragon's location and sticking their oar into southern affairs."
Je Gal-seol, listening quietly, spoke up then.
"Yes. They'd only risk such a move without knowing, exposing their hand. The issue is that by now, Yong-un oppa's plan should be underway..."
Je Gal-cheok stared south, his eyes gleaming fiercely.
"Indeed. Which makes the Beast Palace crucial. If they side with us, the Blood Cult's retreat gets sealed, and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's advance blocked. Let's make haste."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The information confessed by the division leaders at the meeting, along with the names and aliases they revealed during their blood oaths.
Using that, I sorted the other division leaders—excluding Sa-gyeom and Son Cheong-jeong—into three groups: 'Excellent', 'Average', and 'Caution'.
I gave each group a different rendezvous point, disbanded the division leaders' assembly, and left word for the Dokgo Family's rear guard to head to Yongning.
Then I replotted the route to pass through branches en route to the Songzuo Stronghold, where I'd meet No Sam and Do Jung-gwang.
"We'll visit the Mashan, Shanglin, Binyang, and Yongning branches in order, absorb them, then cross to Songzuo."
Leading the enlarged group now including two Blood Cult members, we departed.
"You've heard the gist from the Gold Stone Division Leader here. This old man will cure your blood frenzy... Send them in one by one."
At each branch, we administered the same blood oaths as at the division meeting.
Thus, we folded the Blood Cult's branches one by one into the True Blood Corps' domain.
"Corps Leader. It's done."
"What is it."
"Blood oaths completed for all cultists in the branch."
"Then order everyone to withdraw fifty paces from the barracks. Have the Southern Sea Grand Division Leader secure the perimeter. Cheol, you stand guard right in front of the barracks."
"Yes."
Of course, we weren't solely fixated on seizing Blood Cult branches.
'Blood Demon. Jin Gwang-ryang.'
With formidable foes ahead, training couldn't be neglected.
But to preserve the Ghost Face Elder's immortal aura,
we relied on meditation and qi circulation in place of physical drills.
- Meditating again today?
'Yes. Not as effective as direct movement, but necessary.'
- Sometimes, mental sparring with imagined foes surpasses actual swordplay. Though capped by opponents you've truly faced.
'Hm. Today, though, something different.'
- Different?
'Yes. Suppressing the cultists' frenzy by sealing their bloodlines let me grasp exactly how their great laws empower the caster.'
I continued.
'At first, I dismissed them as fakes against our purity. But reflecting, there are learnable aspects.'
- Learning's nature. Don't scorn lightly. Some paths are forged by force, others trodden over ages into roads. Demonic arts are the latter—don't blindly reject as fake.
'Yes. It struck me: with Heaven-Splitting Divine Art fortifying even my Three Veins, couldn't I adapt their methods?'
- Not implausible. Provided no 'overreach'.
'...Why stress 'overreach'?'
- Feigning ignorance? I've seen you swell blue once, twice, thrice...
'Tch. Not with demonic arts.'
Master's view matched mine,
so I promptly sat cross-legged and began the Grand Heavenly Circuit.
First, the standard route.
Sahaaak—
After channeling familiar Heaven-Splitting energy through the meridians,
then routing through select acupoints.
Sahaaaak—
As the energy circulated,
a small explosion rippled in my dantian.
To soothe the throbbing meridians, I persisted with the Grand Circuit until all settled.
'The inner power pooled in my dantian has widened in girth.'
Along with its sheer increase.
My body was soaked in sweat.
As I lifted my eyelids, Namgung Yeong proffered a towel.
"Senior Brother."
"Thanks."
Wiping the torrent of sweat,
U So-ryeong returned from her errand and spoke.
"Eon hyung."
"Yeah. News?"
"Dokgo Family's entered Guangxi."
"...We're detouring, they'll come straight—we'll meet precisely at Yongning. Link up and head to Songzuo. That's all?"
"One more. Grand Strategist's relayed via local Beggars' Sect branches and Martial Alliance outposts: Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's moving—stay vigilant."
"Expected. Blood Cult declares founding, Green Forest acts odd. Orthodox world's doing unorthodox things like Eastern Path Assembly, and I'm invisible?"
Yin Ha-seong swallowed dryly, staring at me.
"...Gulp. Seems on plan, hyung."
"But?"
"Blood Demon alone's no picnic, Heavenly Demon Divine Cult moving too? Heart's racing. Worst case here?"
At Yin Ha-seong's words,
Dang Ok-gi fixed a murderous glare and snapped.
"Kak. Jinxing it? Words seed reality."
Yin Ha-yeon rarely backed Yin Ha-seong.
"That saying exists. But business says assume worst and act."
"...Hearing you, yeah."
"No, Ok-gi unnie. Same words—why glare at me, affirm unnie?"
"Yours grate wrong."
"......"
As banter flew,
Yin Ha-yeon addressed me again.
"Better we know details and prepare than you alone, Young Master Eon?"
"Was going to brief when So-ryeong returned. True Blood Corps at full planned strength holds against Blood Cult."
I began outlining the Blood Demon clash, drawing on original knowledge and intel.
"Blood Demon was a Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Protector King, so won't equate his self-proclaimed ones equally. We've Professor, Senior Do Jung-gwang. Key: Gong Yun southbound, Je Gal lass..."
"Beast Palace intervenes, Heavenly Demon Divine Cult can't easily reach Mount Mangap?"
"Right. Not our worry—trust them."
Jeong Hyeon, stroking his chin, queried.
"Won't Blood Heaven Asura Palace move? Sent-back leaders unlikely true converts."
"Yes, critical. Some reported back there—why we sent them."
Recalling Blood Cult forces, I smacked my lips.
"Unknown identity means no Blood Demon or Protector King personally..."
Nor weaklings.
"...Blood Wind Corps main force comes. Sorts new True Blood Corps cultists too. Clearing them opens path to Blood Heaven Asura Palace."
Eon Yong-un toured Guangxi Blood Cult branches, curing cultists' frenzy.
Upon reaching Yongning branch,
Dokgo Family rear guard joined.
"Greetings, Southern Sea Grand Division Leader."
"Yes. Met at Silver River Fleet before? Song something."
"...Song Ho-gyeom."
"Right, Song Ho-gyeom. This is Iron Hand Scholar."
"Son Cheong-jeong. Clan Leader Son fine?"
"Yes. First meeting."
"Heard you're first True Blood Corps joiner among us?"
"Excluding Blood Fairies and masked folk, arguably."
Thus joined Song Ho-gyeom, Dokgo Family clan leader among Eon Yong-un's Blood Cult entourage.
"Not just first frenzy cure, actually sent back other leaders... Pot calling kettle black. Not trustworthy."
As the first to know Ghost Face Elder, Son Cheong-jeong questioned him.
"...Leaks inevitable. What thinking? Clan Leader Song seen behind Ghost Face Elder's mask?"
"No."
"Grand Division Leader saw true face in Southern Sea. What drives your loyalty?"
"Hard to say... Ghost Face Elder rekindles abandoned humanity. Mask's back crucial? Did Scholar Son join via Cult Leader's personal invite?"
"...No."
"Same. Never met above division leader. Just believe he won't betray true Bloody Heaven Under Heaven path. That's it."
At Song Ho-gyeom's words,
"...True Blood Corps."
Son Cheong-jeong murmured the name awhile.
Sa-gyeom eyed distant fluttering leaves, brow furrowed.
"Blood Wind Corps! Blood Wind Corps arrived! Clan Leader Song, report to Ghost Face Elder!"