Chapter 393
Chapter 393
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 393
Chapter Title: True Blood Corps (10)
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Son Cheong-jeong knelt on one knee and paid his respects to me.
After a short moment, he urgently opened his mouth.
"Right now, at Archbishop Sa Gyeom's location..."
From Son Cheong-jeong's attitude and the thick scent of blood emanating from the turtle shell armor he wore.
I immediately pieced together the circumstances that had led him here and turned to the Eon family retainers.
"I'll head over to where the scholar and the archbishop are for a bit. You all handle cleaning up this place."
"Yes!"
I nodded toward Son Cheong-jeong, gesturing for him to lead the way.
He rose and began running ahead.
As we ran, Son Cheong-jeong posed a question to me.
"...You're coming along without even hearing the full story?"
"Do I really need to hear it all? The blood scent on your martial robes didn't come from the valley where we were. It's proof you came straight from a fight."
"......"
"The opponents are the Blood Wind Corps, right? Considering the archbishop and his subordinates chased them all the way to the valley... Jin Dong-cheol must have detached a single squad. You fought them."
"......"
Seeing Son Cheong-jeong remain silent in response to my words.
I wondered if there were other intruders and asked again.
"Am I wrong, old man?"
To that, Son Cheong-jeong shook his head and replied.
"No. Everything the Division Commander said is correct. Right after the Blood Wind Corps infiltrated, Archbishop Sa Gyeom tried to block their movements, but the situation didn't allow it, so he sent me ahead first."
"Then why the strange expression if it all matches up perfectly?"
"I'm astonished by your insight—discerning all that from just a glimpse of the situation. And..."
"And?"
"...Actually, what I meant wasn't about not hearing my full story, but why you're following me."
From Son Cheong-jeong's continued words, I could guess what he wanted to say.
But to avoid assumptions, I asked once more.
"You're wondering what I'm basing my trust in you on to follow along? It could be a trap to lure me in."
Son Cheong-jeong nodded and spoke.
"...Yes. I even shook off Lady Blood Fairy and the escorts to come here."
To that question, I chuckled and answered.
"The reason you shook them off is because of our cult's unique bombardment techniques. If we all charged in together, the Blood Wind Corps bastards would realize something was wrong and deploy their Blood Thunder Formation, wouldn't they?"
"That's true."
"Besides, whether you're sincere or not is obvious just by looking. It's clear right now. Where in the world is there a scheme where you openly advertise that it's a trap to lure someone?"
Son Cheong-jeong continued in a serious tone.
"...But I did weigh the Blood Wind Corps against you, Division Commander. I endlessly pondered what kind of person you are and whether following you was right."
"You're consistently calling me Division Commander, so it seems you've finished weighing and chosen."
"...Yes."
"The scholar's the type to say things that don't need saying."
Someone who invites unnecessary trouble and aligns with the reckless.
"I get why a smart guy like you failed the civil service exam. You look like the type who'd sharply criticize the court and officials instead of just writing the expected answers."
Still, I didn't dislike that temperament.
Above all, I appreciated his frankness in revealing his true feelings to me.
"I'm the type who gives someone a chance once. And I know full well that the deep-rooted distrust implanted in your heart won't vanish just because some sudden newcomer performed a bit of medicine."
"......"
"Everyone weighs their options, don't they? I'm doing the same—I don't fully trust every cultist who's passed through my hands. In fact, the Blood Wind Corps tracked me down."
"......"
"That said, for those who've sought refuge in our cult with nowhere else to turn, I expect they'll eventually join the greater cause of the True Blood Corps. Anyway, separate from that, I hope your choice is firm."
"...Yes."
"This isn't a threat—it's for your own good. In the upcoming bloodbath, hesitation won't let you survive."
We'd been walking and talking with Son Cheong-jeong for a while.
Suddenly, a acrid smell of gunpowder pierced through, followed by a thick, fishy blood scent.
Clang! Clang!!!!
Kakakakclang!!!!!!
The sound of metal clashing began reaching my ears.
"They're nearby."
"Yes. The location seems to have shifted a bit since I left."
Concentrating my senses, I moved toward the site of the battle.
Blood-soaked Sa Gyeom greeted us.
"Elder! You're safe!"
Me being safe meant, one way or another, the main force's plan had failed.
"!"
The Blood Wind Corps demons froze for a moment upon realizing that fact.
"I barely escaped the jaws of death... This is a real dilemma. To rescue the South Sea Archbishop before Jin Dong-cheol arrives, we need to hurry."
Instead of letting them flee or self-destruct, I tossed out false information to focus them on blocking me.
Then I gave instructions to Son Cheong-jeong.
"I'll take the left flank. Scholar, you handle the right."
Son Cheong-jeong, with blood-red auras wrapped around both hands, kicked off the ground without hesitation.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The remaining Blood Wind Corps members.
They were enemies whom Sa Gyeom alone had been holding back, bloodied though he was.
With me and Son Cheong-jeong joining in.
And adding a touch of urgency as if I were truly being pursued by Jin Dong-cheol.
The fight with them ended without difficulty.
Splash!
Splaaash!!!
As all the remaining Blood Wind Corps members collapsed. Sa Gyeom pointed urgently toward the ridge with an anxious expression.
"Go that way. I'll guard the rear. Scholar, you take the lead!"
"No need."
"Pardon? Didn't you say the Blood Wind Corps Leader is chasing us?"
"That was just to keep those bastards from trying anything funny. In reality..."
I explained the full story to Sa Gyeom.
"...That's how it is."
"You mean you took out the Blood Wind Corps...?"
"What's with that reaction? Did you think I'd lose to them?"
"I was a bit surprised. I figured you wouldn't go down easily, Elder, but to wipe them out instead."
As Sa Gyeom expressed his admiration.
Son Cheong-jeong asked a question.
"What's the next plan? What should we do?"
"Archbishop, how bad are your injuries? Can you move?"
"I've got wounds here and there, but nothing serious. I'm fine."
"Then, Archbishop, head to Yeongmyeong. Scholar, to Cheondeung. Gather the assembled cultists at the rally points I just mentioned."
As I spoke, I pointed to the sprawled demon corpses.
"Take one of their blood wind robes each—it'll help control the cultists."
"The bright red blood wind robes symbolize the Blood Wind Corps themselves, serving as proof that the True Blood Corps defeated them."
"Exactly. Have them climb to the peak west of the sacred seat."
Sa Gyeom and Son Cheong-jeong saluted.
"Yes!"
"Understood."
Leaving them behind, I returned to the valley where I had clashed with Jin Dong-cheol.
The Eon retainers had neatly gathered the demon corpses, and in the midst, Yin Xia Lian sat cross-legged.
Just then, having finished regulating her inner energy, Yin Xia Lian stood up, dusting herself off.
I spoke to her.
"Is your inner energy alright? I told you to fall back, so why charge in?"
To my words.
Yin Xia Lian replied nonchalantly.
"My inner energy's fine. The reason I didn't follow Young Master Eon's words was, during the fight, I realized my ice arts were a perfect counter to their martial arts. I thought it best to step in."
Then Yin Xia Xing added a word.
"Didn't you just say something about village dogs and that it turned out better than expected?"
"The result was good, but you broke the chain of command."
"Isn't that the typical thing big brother does? Shaking everyone up, but the results are good? How about it—do you get how we feel now?"
As she grumbled.
Jeong Hyeon took my side.
"What she's saying is right in essence, Young Master Eon. Thanks to Lady Yin's quick thinking, everyone survived. But maintaining the system is important."
In response, Yin Xia Xing and Wu So-reung ganged up to scold Jeong Hyeon.
"Hey. It was a rare chance to chew out big brother. You're not a Taoist, you're the enemy."
"Right!"
"...E-Enem... Ahem."
Jeong Hyeon cleared his throat awkwardly and turned to me with a question.
"More importantly, what happened to Archbishop Sa whom you went to rescue with Scholar Son?"
"We took care of the remaining Blood Wind Corps. I sent the two of them to different rally points from Cheol-i's. We'll meet at the sacred seat."
"...You revealed the final rally point, the sacred seat."
As Jeong Hyeon mulled over my words.
Namgung Yeong nodded and spoke.
"The Blood Wind Corps seems to hold significant prestige among the blood cultists. But those two stood against them, so we can trust them a bit."
At Namgung Yeong's words, the other Eon retainers nodded in agreement. Seeing their changed attitude from initially questioning if we could trust the cultists. A faint smile naturally tugged at my lips.
Then Master spoke up.
- You've overcome another hurdle.
'Yes. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. The True Blood Corps organization has taken a step forward.'
As I replied, Jang Seon scratched his head and spoke.
"But is Cheol-i friend okay?"
"He'll be fine. The Blood Wind Corps prioritized capturing Old Man Ghost Face. Chasing multiple hares means losing them all—they know securing the house rabbit is lower priority."
"Ah? I don't quite get what you mean, but if big brother says he's fine, he is! So we're heading straight to the sacred seat camp?"
"No. First, we need to properly handle the Blood Wind Corps bodies."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As I pointed to the Blood Wind Corps corpses and spoke.
Dang Ok-gi tilted her head and asked.
"We gathered them as ordered, but what do you mean by 'properly handle'? What are you planning?"
"Turn them into jiangshi."
"Huh? Now?"
"What, next year?"
"Ack! That's not what I meant. Jiangshi aren't something you whip up on the spot, right?!"
As I exchanged a few words with her.
Yin Xia Lian stared at Dang Ok-gi and said.
"Jiangshi aren't made on the spot, true."
"Right?!"
"But Young Master Eon isn't an ordinary corpse manipulator, is he?"
Then she shifted her gaze to me and spoke again.
"You're planning to process them enough to transport to Manap Mountain, even if not fully refined jiangshi?"
"Exactly. Just stitch the wounds and do basic preservation."
"If I add my ice arts... and for preservation, if Ok-gi lists the herbs we need, others can fetch them when they arrive."
"Good. Then Lady Yin, you oversee the whole thing."
"What about you, Young Master Eon? Where are you going?"
"Not going anywhere. Over there—the Blood Wind Corps Leader's corpse. I want to try something directly with it."
"Ah, got it."
Leaving the minions to Yin Xia Lian, I headed to Jin Dong-cheol's corpse.
Then Master questioned me.
- Planning to make a death knight assassin?
'No.'
- No?
Jin Dong-cheol's soul had the caliber for a death knight.
But that sorcery required a contract between the death spirit and the corpse god.
'Don't you remember how hard it was even making the assassin? The base spirit, Valley Lord's ghost flame, was tough to bind.'
I could bind it with gluttony sorcery.
'But Jin Dong-cheol's soul, a fanatic, would sooner perish than submit to me.'
Still, worth a shot.
Jin Dong-cheol hadn't self-destructed or drawn on his core energy for a desperate technique.
Meaning.
The energy from his lifelong blood arts remained intact.
- Then what are you doing?
'Not the soul—absorb the energy left in the flesh and make something. Why, didn't I show you once before?'
Blood Golem.
Using Jin Dong-cheol as the core, I could make a proper one.