Chapter 391
Chapter 391
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 391
Chapter Title: True Blood Pill (8)
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As I spoke in my original voice,
one of the Blood Phoenix Squad members standing right next to Jin Dong-cheol hurriedly extended his palm, freezing everyone in place.
"Everyone, fall back half a step."
Judging by his commanding demeanor, he seemed to be the vice commander or something similar.
The man who had pulled back his subordinates scanned me over once more.
Then, as if making sure everyone heard, he spoke up.
"Could you... perhaps not be the Young Master?"
At those words, a subtle ripple passed through the Blood Phoenix Squad.
That was when my master asked through transmission.
Young Master? What's with these guys? They're hesitating, unlike when they were chasing us down.
'I tossed it out on a hunch, and it seems to have worked.'
What hunch?
'The Blood Demon is roughly the same age as Father, so maybe he has a son.'
I gave my master a vague excuse, but thanks to the original story, I knew the full situation.
Pretending to speculate, I relayed it to him.
'Jin Gwi-ryang has been radiating rebellious ambition since his youth. The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult isn't so sloppy as to leave someone like that without any leash.'
And so?
'I figured his son might be held hostage.'
The sons of the current Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Leader, Hyeok Ryeon-gang.
Jin Gwi-ryang's son was being kept under the pretext of serving as an attendant during the ongoing Young Cult Leader Selection Tournament.
Of course, Jin Gwi-ryang—prioritizing his own ambitions over father-son bonds—disregarded it all and founded the Blood Cult anyway.
So they mistook you for him?
'For now.'
As I exchanged a few words with my master,
Jin Dong-cheol spoke up.
"That's impossible."
"But it all fits perfectly. Reports say you know the Blood Rain Divine Art, and disrupting our cult's event makes sense for someone like that. You've even shown skill in crude corpse manipulation..."
"The Jin family scum posted at the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. Didn't you confirm the report that they slaughtered everyone with thick blood ties to the Leader?!"
"...That's true, but."
"And even if this bastard is the Young Master himself, nothing changes. The Leader won't treat blood kin any differently if they interfere with the cult's event."
Jin Dong-cheol tried to sound resolute to steady his men.
Yet his unwavering stare betrayed a flicker of hope.
'He must have done all sorts of dirty work as the Blood Demon's shadow, but this is his first time dealing with something like this.'
Snickering behind my mask, I addressed Jin Dong-cheol.
"Curious? Five hundred nyang."
"Mocking us again... Come to think of it, you insulted the Jin family while fleeing earlier. You can't be the Young Master."
"Why not? Father abandoned me, and my so-called relatives tried to kill me just to survive. Can't I end up a bit twisted?"
"...To the end! You'll pay for mocking us, who faithfully carry out the Leader's orders!"
"I'm just asking for five hundred nyang, and you're raging because you don't wanna bet? What 'price' are you gonna make me pay?"
As I added that jab at the grinding Jin Dong-cheol,
his hand swung toward us immediately.
"Attack!"
The Blood Phoenix Squad's demons charged like arrows loosed from a bowstring.
To counter the wedge formation pouring in, I signaled to my Eon family siblings.
'Spread like wings!'
At my signal, they withdrew their steps in perfect unison.
And widened the distance between each other.
Seeing this, Jin Dong-cheol sneered.
"Just seven of you forming a Crane Wing Formation? Using a tactic for equal numbers... Guess your flapping tongue hasn't seen much real combat."
His mouth curved in a smirk,
but it twisted the moment Jeong-hyeon's sword began slicing through the demons in earnest.
Slash! Slash!
Slaaaash!!!
"Mount Hua's swordsmanship?"
I tossed a line at him before continuing.
"You said something about 'just seven forming a Crane Wing Formation'?"
I drew up the technique from my upper dantian and issued the command.
"Rise."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the western region of Guangxi, there lay Chongjwa.
And on the ridge leading from Chongjwa land toward Yunnan stood a mountain stronghold once part of the One Soul Two Bandits.
This stronghold, called Chongjwa Stronghold, had been infiltrated by the Blood Cult.
But all that history was now in the past.
Because No Sam and Do Jung-gwang had seized it.
Having achieved their original goal,
the two now stared in the same direction.
"......"
"......"
The direction they watched was a place called Ongnyeong.
Whoosh—
Roar—
For a moment, they observed the thick black smoke billowing skyward, as if a fire had broken out.
Then Do Jung-gwang cautiously spoke.
"That place should have an old mountain lodge managing ancient dynasty tombs... A fire there?"
Eon Yong-un had only told them to meet at Chongjwa Stronghold, without sharing detailed plans.
But Do Jung-gwang had rolled in the darkest depths of the bandit world,
and No Sam had lived his life as a Beggar Clan beggar.
"Right when it's almost time to meet the Ghost Dragon... Quite the coincidence."
Both veterans of the underworld and Beggar Clan, they suspected Eon Yong-un was caught up in the flames rising from Ongnyeong.
Even as he broached it indirectly, No Sam gave no response, so Do Jung-gwang cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem. Shouldn't we go check?"
No Sam slid his gaze from Ongnyeong to Do Jung-gwang.
"What's your scheme? Bandit boss, you sending me off so you can pull some stunt?"
At No Sam's words,
Do Jung-gwang furrowed his brow and replied.
"I'm not scheming anything by sending you old beggar. With riches within reach, why would I sabotage for glory?"
"Then? Why're you so eager to send me?"
"Hey, the premise is wrong. I was planning to go together."
"......"
"If guarding this stronghold is the issue, send a subordinate? Twin Ghost Ears or One-Eyed Arhat know you, so no mishaps."
At Do Jung-gwang's follow-up,
No Sam scratched his scruffy chin and tilted his head.
"...Wait. Do Jung-gwang, are you worried about Yong-un?"
"Not worry exactly... Since we're in the same boat, treat allies right till the end. That comrade thing you guys do."
"It's Comrade Assembly, Comrade Assembly, you illiterate fool."
"Ah, same difference."
"Your words are the same nonsense. If not worry, what is it?"
"...Ahem. Yeah, guess it is worry."
"Why's a bandit boss fretting over someone else's disciple?"
"Hey, that kid actually listens, unlike useless old beggars or prim alliance lords who twist words!"
At Do Jung-gwang's attitude, No Sam chuckled inwardly.
'He really took a liking to him... Heh. Yong-un properly enchanted this bandit boss.'
Thus, the thought that he was one hell of a guy crossed No Sam's mind.
But contrary to his inner pride, No Sam shook his head.
"Can't do it. If he chose to move separately, he has his reasons. Meddling could backfire."
"So if his disciples are in peril, you'll just watch from across the river?"
"Sneakily painting me cold... Yong-un always pulls through. I know him. We stick to our jobs."
"It's done."
"Done my ass! The ones we killed or maimed will target this place. We hold it. You, Do Jung-gwang, rein in your underlings from pointless civilian harassment."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Crane Wing Formation had been mocked at first.
But as I issued the command, corpse soldiers filled the gaps.
Rawr!!
Thus, the completed wings enveloped the Blood Phoenix Squad.
What was meant to split us against the dead-end valley had backfired—they were now backed against the valley and surrounded.
"...Moving corpses. You're the Ghost Dragon."
"Nah? Told you, your Young Master."
"...That mouth."
Still, Jin Dong-cheol and the Blood Phoenix Squad were no pushovers.
Unlike their initial caution, mistaking me for Jin Gwi-ryang's son,
they now revealed their true colors.
"Unleash the Blood Phoenix Full Heaven Barrier Formation!"
As Jin Dong-cheol called the name of the joint formation that earned them their moniker,
the demons' eyes turned blood-red in unison, and they began growling.
"Grrr."
With eyes bloodshot, they swarmed like a hive of bees.
Their transformed movements were incomparably more menacing than before.
Whoosh! Whi—
Whi whi whoosh!
Each Blood Phoenix demon moved with heightened agility.
Sss! Sss!
Ssssaaa!!!
Their signature energy, thick with blood scent, intensified dramatically.
With each individual stronger and their synchronized sword strikes flowing as one,
Clang! Clang!
Ching ching clang!!!!
Even we, using corpse soldiers as shields to whittle them down, were pushed back.
At that moment,
my master inquired.
Bloodshot eyes, drooling... Those guys seem a bit unhinged.
'Seems like they've deliberately induced the mania from cultivating the Blood Cult's divine art.'
Clang! Clang!
Chiiiing!!!!
But they still seem rational... Constitution?
'Yes. Unlike most cultists I experimented on, these seem born to withstand deep demonic qi in their marrow.'
Don't let your guard down. Your mental fortitude is strong, but that blood scent wafting with every sword strike is no joke.
My master's prediction was spot on.
The blood aura flooding from the Blood Phoenix Full Heaven Barrier Formation gradually dulled the senses, ultimately aiding in killing the foe.
At a glance, sharp swordplay and beastly moves seem their forte. But this formation... It's a cunning trap, an Illusion Sword Array.
'...And if pushed, they can burst their blood vessels for self-detonation, like the Blue Water Stronghold Chief.'
The Blue Water Stronghold Chief, Du Heung, did it tricked.
These were zealots who could choose it willingly.
'But worth trying.'
My Eon siblings were all battle-hardened veterans.
They were handling it adeptly.
"Ugh! Gotta breathe shallow! It's like poison!"
"Sis, can we talk now?"
"Probably? He's using necromancy."
"Everyone, stay sharp and cluster around me. Seems to counter Jade Maiden Sword's chill—it's fine near me."
Among them, Jeong-hyeon had reached the Flower Realm.
He wouldn't lose his way in this Illusion Sword formation turning into phantoms.
With that in mind, I commanded my siblings.
"Jeong-hyeon, move with the others."
"Yes!"
"Don't overdo it. Prioritize maintaining the formation over thinning them."
Leaving those trusting words, I stepped into Shadowless Heaven-Splitting Step,
leaping into the eye of their blood wind storm.
Meeting me was Blood Phoenix Squad Leader Jin Dong-cheol.
The moment our swords clashed.
Kaaaaang!!!!!!!!
He hurled a question at me.
"...What the hell are you?"
"The one you'll soon serve as lord? Use honorifics properly."
At my words, Jin Dong-cheol gnashed his teeth.
"Shut up! I have but one lord!"
I grinned and spoke again.
"Ah, I don't necessarily need living subordinates."