Chapter 394
Chapter 394
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 394
Chapter Title: Ghost-Faced Elder (1)
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I drew my sword Regret and began inscribing the ritual around Jin Dong-cheol's corpse.
"...You said he showed it to you?"
My master, mulling over my words, let out an "Ah!" at that moment.
"You're talking about the Blood Effigy?"
Come to think of it, when my master saw the Blood Golem, he'd called it a soldier effigy made of blood.
An effigy was typically a figure buried with the dead, so it was a fitting name.
'It has its own true name, though.'
I replied to my master as I continued drawing the ritual.
Scritch-
Scritch-scritch-
Finally, I finished inscribing all the necessary rites.
I began inspecting the completed ritual array from start to finish.
From outside to inside.
Then from inside back to outside.
As I meticulously examined the rites forming the array twice over, my master spoke up again.
"You're checking it even more carefully than when you were trying to obtain the assassin."
"Yes. This is essentially a one-shot opportunity."
When I'd used the ritual from the Ho-sik Store to obtain the assassin, I'd wrestled with the evil spirit using my own internal energy.
'The Death Knight's ritual allowed some intervention from my own power. But now, absorbing the energy of the Blood Marionette Technique from Jin Dong-cheol's corpse leaves me with nothing to do once the array activates.'
If I couldn't immediately absorb the energy drawn from the corpse, it would simply return to nature.
So, I had to perfect the activation array.
Upon review, there were no flaws in the rites.
"Everything's drawn correctly."
With the inspection complete, I immediately channeled energy from my upper dantian into the rites.
Woooong-
A massive chunk of my internal energy drained away, and the entire array began glowing a dark crimson, like aged blood.
I slowly stepped into the array.
Slice-
I nicked the tip of my index finger with Regret.
Then I let a single drop of blood fall onto Jin Dong-cheol's corpse at the center of the array.
Plip.
The falling droplet transformed into a grain-of-rice-sized human figure—the very effigy my master had named the Blood Effigy.
Confirming this, I backed out beyond the array's boundary and spoke in a resolute tone.
"Blood Effigy. The Heir of the Nether King commands thee: claim the remnants the departed left in the Nine Heavens." ⟨ Blood Effigy Rite ⟩
Vapors rose from Jin Dong-cheol's corpse, mingling with the array's dark crimson energy as they were sucked toward the Blood Effigy.
Shhhhwiiiiish!!!!
This unleashed a sudden gale across the area.
'...The array was perfect, though?'
It seemed this phenomenon occurred because the energy was so dense in this world.
I channeled internal energy into my legs using the Myeok-geun-chu principle to brace myself while holding my palm up as a shield to observe the proceedings.
About half a gak later.
The raging winds abruptly halted, clearing my vision completely.
'...An egg shape.'
Where Jin Dong-cheol's corpse had vanished without a trace, a pitch-black egg remained.
Crack- The egg split with a sound, and a towering Blood Effigy burst forth.
Grrr-
Its scarlet eyes blazed fiercely.
At that moment, my Eon siblings came rushing over.
Dang Ok-gi spoke first.
"What the hell? I thought you were doing something special with the Blood Wind Captain's corpse to make a unique jiangshi, but you caused a natural disaster? Are you seriously a yokai?!"
"...Yokai? Sure, yokai's one way to put it, but what do you mean 'this'? You can't say that to a person!"
"Kyaah!!! My herbs and corpses nearly flew away! Warn us first! I got scolded for holding on!"
"...It wasn't on purpose. Well, at least the fires all went out thanks to it."
As Dang Ok-gi ranted on.
Eun Ha-seong showed interest in the Blood Effigy.
"Brother Yong-un. It won't bite or anything, right?"
"Not without my command."
"Really? Seon-a, go stand next to it."
"...Pardon?"
"Never mind. No need. It's bigger than you. Almost as big as Brother So-cheon? So what is that? Like the assassin?"
"It's called the Blood Effigy Rite."
"So its name is Blood Effigy?"
"Yeah. No point explaining in detail since you wouldn't get it. Just think of it like the assassin. It sleeps inside me and comes out when needed—same thing."
As I answered him.
U So-reung asked innocently.
"Is it stronger than the assassin? It looks big, at least."
Eun Ha-yeon replied.
"I'm no expert in necromancy, but the assassin was made from Qi Yeom-gokju's soul, and this used the Blood Wind Captain as a medium, so this one's probably stronger."
Starting with her, my Eon siblings chimed in with their thoughts. My master added his piece.
'To me... it looks kinda dumb compared to the assassin. Maybe because it's based on that drooling, red-eyed guy.'
'...Call it sturdy, please. They're listening.'
Though I said that.
My master's intuition was sharp.
Unlike the assassin, which prioritized my commands but could think and act independently, the Blood Effigy simply carried out my orders with unyielding obedience.
That was why Death Knights were called the pinnacle of necromancy.
'Well, the Blood Effigy has its own strengths.'
It placed less burden on summoning and unsummoning.
And against demon practitioners who specialized in blood arts, it would be a natural counter.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After storing the Blood Effigy, I helped my other Eon siblings gather the remaining Blood Wind Division corpses.
Then we moved to the Sungju grounds, our designated final rendezvous.
I'd tasked No Sam and Do Jung-gwang with seizing the mountain stronghold here.
Evidently, the plan had gone smoothly, as the two greeted us upon arrival.
"You made it safely."
"Yes. Professor, you're safe too."
As I greeted No Sam, who spoke first.
Do Jung-gwang cleared his throat.
"Ahem."
"Senior Brother, you're safe as well."
"Indeed. Truth be told, I could've handled it alone, but even a hundred blank sheets are better than that filthy old beggar's grubby hands."
"Blank sheets? It's blank slate, you illiterate brute!"
"Wasn't talking to you. Anyway... I saw the fire in Ongnyeong. That was you lot, right?"
As I bantered with Do Jung-gwang.
"Oh? I didn't even tip you off, but you figured it out just from the fire? As expected of the senior who rose from nothing in the Black Way, where the half-baked don't survive."
"Ahem. Well, self-made man does fit."
No Sam kept interjecting.
"Self-made bandit? What nonsense..."
Do Jung-gwang glanced at No Sam, shook his head, and continued.
"Don't trust this old beggar too much."
"Pardon?"
"I saw the fire in Ongnyeong, figured you were there, and wanted to go rescue you, but he wouldn't budge. Heartless wretch."
"...This punk's turning me into a monster?!"
We moved to the stronghold the stronghold lord had used, accompanied by the bickering pair.
There, I recounted everything that had happened.
"...And that's how it went."
No Sam crossed his arms and asked.
"So what's next?"
"Arrival times will vary by distance, but the Blood Cult forces I sent in three groups will assemble on the peak opposite this stronghold."
"We already spotted a group settled there."
"Yes. It'll be the followers Cheol brought. Those Sa-gyeom and Son Cheong-jeong went to fetch will join within days."
I pointed to a map of the area on the table and continued.
"We crushed the Blood Wind Division, blunted their edge, and bought time. But the Blood Cult's forces aren't limited to that. Enemies will appear on the paths into Manyeop Mountain."
"Figured as much. After we took this stronghold, a few scouts-looking fellows attacked us."
"Yes. This will be a fight where we pour out every skill and ounce of strength we have... but I can't fight properly hiding behind the Ghost-Faced Elder's mask."
Jung Hyeon furrowed his brow at my words.
"...So you're saying you'll reveal your identity? Young Master Eon, you're far more influential than you think. In my humble opinion, it might just confuse the cultists."
"I'm not saying I'll reveal that the Ghost-Faced Elder is me."
"Then?"
"Both the Ghost-Faced Elder and the Monster Dragon need to step onto this stage at once. In short, the Ghost-Faced Elder of the True Blood Group joins hands with the Monster Dragon of the Eastern Path Society."
No Sam uncrossed his arms and scratched his head.
"Huh? Aren't they both you? What're you saying?"
"Yes. In reality, both are me. Not to brag, but... as Jung Hyeon said, I've become a symbol of the Righteous Martial World. Coming out as the Ghost-Faced Elder would cause more harm than good."
Namgung Yeong spoke up then.
"So you're planning to set up a proxy?"
"Exactly."
"If you step forward, you won't be able to rally the cultists. Makes sense—the public remembers you more as the Righteous Martial World's hero now than the scoundrel cast out by your clan. So who will take that role...?"
He narrowed his eyes briefly before voicing the name I'd had in mind.
"...Cheol?"
"Right."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Soon, dusk arrived.
Confirming the sun dipping behind the western mountains.
I slipped away under cover of night toward the rendezvous where Dokgo Cheol waited.
He responded to my summons, tilting his head and sending a transmission.
[Why come so secretly instead of openly?]
[There's good reason. You guessed as much by transmitting, didn't you?]
[Yes. I did.]
I got straight to the point with him.
[I'm arranging a scene where the Ghost-Faced Elder removes his mask.]
[Mm, true. Before entering Manyeop Mountain, we need something to inspire more trust in the cultists.]
[For that, hand over the mask you're wearing first.]
At my words, Dokgo Cheol removed his mask and offered it.
I took it, removed the Ghost-Faced Elder's mask, and handed it to him.
[And from now on, you become the Ghost-Faced Elder.]
"Pardon?"
Dokgo Cheol blurted aloud in shock.
My senses detected no one else nearby.
Still, to prevent mishaps, I pressed a finger to my lips.
He swallowed dryly.
[Me?]
[Yes.]
[But you've publicly referred to me while in the Ghost-Faced Elder's guise. Especially when we Dokgo Clan cultists were... disciplined together?]
[That's a common ploy for disguises since ancient times. It'll seem even more convincing.]
He fell silent at my words.
Then sent a measured transmission.
[...I don't understand why you're doing this so suddenly. Why me?]
[The coming battles matter, but I can't stop worrying about what comes after.]
[...After the battles?]
[Cheol. What does the 'Gyo' in our cult's name mean?]
[It carries the meaning of religion.]
[Think beyond our nascent cult to those long-established in the Central Plains. The Buddha's Stone Buddha or the Daoist Heavenly Venerable are, simply put, pillars of support.]
[......]
[Martial arts have no right or wrong. If we sever the path to demonhood, the Blood Cult could become a pillar for the common folk. I can handle purifying the arts. But to walk that path, we need a symbol of hope and reconciliation.]
[......]
[Otherwise, history repeats. Unlike me, who gained fortune as a scoundrel and had all rights restored upon connecting with the Blood Cult, you and the Dokgo Clan stand between the light and shadow of the Righteous Martial World. You're the perfect fit.]
When I finished.
Silence settled between Dokgo Cheol and me.
He broke it.
His eyes burned quietly with resolve.
[I'll do it. No—I'll make it happen.]