Chapter 401
Chapter 401
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 401
Chapter Title: Turtle-Face Old Man (8)
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Splat!
Splatter!!!
In the downpour of the raging storm, Sa Gyeom began swinging his massive cleaver.
The demons, caught between Sa Gyeom behind them and me in front, froze in a dilemma.
"That cleaver with Turtle-Face... It's Sa Gyeom! Has the True Blood Group made it this far?! But what about the Blood Wind Corps?"
From their chatter, it seemed rumors about us were circulating within the Blood Cult.
I seized the moment and swung Regret.
Slash!!
Slaaash!!!
As we frantically coordinated our attacks, I shouted orders to the detachment.
"Attack!"
Yin Ha-seong nodded to Woo So-ryeong and said to me,
"Since the Archbishop is covering the rear, we'll take the right flank and harass those bastards!"
Having weathered countless battles with me, Yin Ha-seong's judgment was sound.
I nodded and added,
"The rain is unnatural. Stay sharp in every way."
"Yes!"
The two paired off, aiding each other as they cut down demons.
The other wastrels in the detachment heeded my command and charged the enemy.
Among them, the assassin, who had stuck to my back after Yin Ha-seong and Woo So-ryeong departed, spoke up.
"The battlefield is getting chaotic. I'll guard your back, my lord." The others filled the valley with roars as they pushed back the demons.
Grraaah!
GRRAAAHH!!
Blood Dragon was the standout.
GRRAAAAAH!
The beast barreled forward with a body slam, shattering the demons' formation.
BOOM!!!!
The demons facing Blood Dragon couldn't hide their shock at its power and form.
"...Kuhk. What kind of strength?! A m-monster?!"
"That's... not a monster. I've seen vermin turn monstrous back in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains days, but this is different. Wide-open features, that foul blood stench. That's no human."
"Th-then... a yokai? Unless Turtle-Face Old Man is some immortal...!"
Such sentiments bred panic, shaking the demons' ranks.
I plunged through the gap without mercy.
Slash!
Slaaash!!
However, these were demons forged in environments far crueler than the Black Way.
They didn't stay rattled for long.
"That blood-soaked giant is the real problem! It's wrecking our formation!"
"Yes! Archbishop! There's only one of them, so we should take it out first!"
"Right. The one posing as Blood Wind Corps Leader is fierce, and Sa Gyeom is no one to ignore... but we take down that giant first!"
The branch's lead archbishop issued the order after devising a plan.
"Target its limbs! It's humanoid, so without them, it won't move even if the torso remains!"
The demons, who had been holding swords at ready in all directions, broke formation and swarmed Blood Dragon like a hive of bees.
Swoosh!
Swoooosh!!
But that was their fatal mistake.
GRRAAAAHHH!!!
Blood Dragon bellowed and thrashed wildly.
Its crimson hue darkened to blackish red, hardening like stone.
"?!"
"!"
The demons' swords, infused with Blood Tide Technique energy, froze solid and lodged into Blood Dragon's body.
'Idiots.'
A sneer flashed through my mind.
GRRAAAH!!!
Blood Dragon thrashed again, spinning like a top.
The demons gripping their weapons were flung in all directions, crashing hard.
Those who barely let go ended up weaponless on the battlefield.
I didn't miss the opening and swung Regret.
Slash! Slash!
Slaaash!!
With Heaven-Splitting sword strikes from me, the detachment's fierce assault, and Sa Gyeom's reinforcements piling on...
The demons who had first entered the valley were halved in moments.
Then Master chimed in.
"The pouring rain has caused some twists, but in Go terms, they're already captured stones." Just as Master said.
Annihilation or surrender were their only options now.
The tide had fully turned in our favor.
Yet I regulated my breathing and gripped Regret tighter.
'Normally, yes. But these bastards aren't the type to surrender meekly.'
And sure enough.
The archbishop commanding the demons' eyes turned venomous.
"We let these scum hand the waterway to Blood Heaven Asura Palace! Everyone, jade shatter!"
The cornered Blood Cultist invoked their final resort.
"Drag as many traitors to hell as we can!"
At his command, the demons' faces flushed with rage as they charged us.
Boom! Boom!!!
I cast Shadowless Heaven-Splitting Step to swiftly evade while...
"Rise!"
...timely raising scattered corpses to block the paths of the demons turning their bodies into bombs.
Boom!
I even protected Yin Ha-seong, Woo So-ryeong, and Sa Gyeom's men this way.
"Rise!"
Boom! Boom!
BOOOOM!!!!
Not everything went my way.
Splat!
Splatter!!
The biggest issue was the relentless downpour.
'...The worst conditions for us.'
The rain chilled the body, slicked weapon grips, and dulled smell, sight, and hearing.
Not content with slowing warriors' movements, it turned the ground to muck.
Boom!
BOOOM!!
Dodging the charging human bombs was nightmarish.
Of course, with my Flower Realm attainment, I navigated the storm fine.
But Yin Ha-seong and Woo So-ryeong weren't at my level.
BOOM!!!
In evading a demon suicide, their feet slipped on the mud.
"!"
"Brother Yin!"
A demon targeting their flank lunged, crisis imminent.
Too far for me to reach.
I raised the nearest corpse and ordered it to intercept, but...
"Rise!"
Most bodies were shredded from prior blasts.
The freshly raised corpse was too distant.
'Damn.'
All I could do was hope the pair shone through.
In that desperate moment.
Swoooosh!
Sa Gyeom wedged between the exploding demon and my brothers-in-arms,
slamming his cleaver into the ground with a roar.
"Duck!"
Yin Ha-seong and Woo So-ryeong dropped low at his shout.
The demon detonated right before them.
BOOOOOM!!!
Checking their spot afterward, their clothes were tattered, but all three seemed unharmed.
Whoosh.
Sa Gyeom readjusted his cleaver and resumed unleashing cleaver strikes on the demons.
I kicked off again, swinging Regret.
Slash!
Slaaash!!!
We dodged self-destructing demons and cleaved through them for a while.
Drip. Drip.
Plop.
The hole-in-the-sky torrent stopped, and blazing sun emerged as if nothing happened.
"They say Southern Manor's weather is a real bitch... Unbelievable."
I muttered skyward.
A prickling gaze drew my eyes.
There stood Sa Gyeom, blood-drenched, clutching his cleaver, watching me.
"......"
"......"
Thoughts raced through my mind.
'What does Sa Gyeom think of me?'
'Does he truly not know I'm Turtle-Face Old Man?'
'Or is he pretending?'
'If he knows... he might feel betrayed?'
As doubts swirled.
Sa Gyeom sheathed his cleaver first and turned away.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Exiting the valley after the rain-soaked battle.
In the distance, the Rogue Family fortress bore a flag reading 'True Blood Group'.
We headed there briefly.
A group rushed out toward us.
Leading was Yin Ha-ryeon, disguised as Blood Sword Witch.
"The Captain conveys his thanks for your hardships."
Mindful of watching eyes, she stayed in character.
I returned a polite clasped-hands salute.
"Our gratitude for the support. Land and water routes prevented swift contact—how did you know?"
"We click just right, Captain. The dock garrison was lighter than expected, prime ambush terrain around, plus Southern Manor's sudden downpour— so the Archbishop was dispatched."
"I see. Thanks to that, we cleared the enemy without overextending."
"No trouble at all. Anyway, Rogue territory is ours now. But no time to celebrate."
"Indeed. This close, Blood Cult HQ must suspect the True Blood Group's alliance and Blood Wind Corps' return. We need to regroup fast."
After exchanging thoughts.
We sent messengers to the trailing Beggars' Sect disciples.
Some gathered intel from local natives.
As the fortress bustled.
I assisted Dang Ok-gi and Jang Seon at the infirmary treating wounded.
"Seon-ah! Gold Wound Salve over here!"
"Yes!"
"Eon Yong-un, you... never mind."
"Why trail off?"
Dang Ok-gi whispered suddenly.
"...Look. Pirate uncle's there?"
Turning, Sa Gyeom stood at the entrance.
I signaled Dang Ok-gi I'd return and saluted Sa Gyeom.
"My men are receiving proper care. They'll recover soon. Feel free to inspect."
"...If fated to live, they live; to die, they die."
"...Haha. Well. Thanks for the valley aid, senior. Your help got us through."
"Walk with me?"
"Sure."
Following Sa Gyeom to a secluded riverside overlooking Rogue lands.
No soul around but us—his tone shifted subtly.
"Crisis? I just eased your fatigue load. You could've handled it solo."
"Suddenly formal?"
At my question.
Sa Gyeom chuckled.
"Alone like this, no need to play the White Path prodigy you pretend to be."
"......"
"You're Turtle-Face Old Man, right? From Namha, and the council. That Turtle-Face Old Man."
"As I thought... you knew and played along."
"...From council to Blood Wind Corps' arrival, chaos left no room for thought. But deep down, things felt off."
"......"
"Dokgo Cheol who sought me in Silver River Army didn't vibe like that. Plus other improbables. If Monster Dragon is Turtle-Face Old Man, it fits."
At Sa Gyeom's words, I cautiously apologized.
"...I deemed it necessary at the time. But it ended up deceiving you and the others."
"No need to apologize."
"Really? If I were you, I'd feel betrayed. And me, the White Path prodigy, being Turtle-Face Old Man—doesn't it seem absurd?"
Sa Gyeom smirked and continued.
"Facing these events taught me that's meaningless. What matters is the true path to Blood Flame ruling all. I believe you're the one to show it."
I shook my head.
"That path isn't shown by me—it's forged together."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, at Blood Heaven Asura Palace, deep in Myeongaeb Mountain, Blood Cult HQ.
"One!"
"Ha!"
"Twooo!"
"Ha!"
The cult's main forces gathered, training daily with fervor.
Yet despite thousands assembled, allowing True Blood Group to inch toward the palace unchecked stemmed from...
leadership disarray.
"Dividing into three armies means Turtle-Face Old Man's force numbers thousands, per initial reports, right?"
"Impossible."
It had to be.
Incoming intel was all grim.
This fell, that taken.
"Wait for Blood Wind Corps' next report at least. If true, our numbers match... Deploying and taking any losses risks Heavenly Demon Divine Cult or Southern Manor Beast Palace baring teeth."
With endless vague reports.
They hesitated to move forces.
As Cult Protector Kings and Archbishops debated in the stone hall.
Swish—
Blood Fiend Jin Gwang-ryang opened a drawer in his desk.
Demon Brain's letter lay untouched.
''Unfold if the outlook seems dire.''
He'd resisted opening, fearing a ploy, but now...
Rustle—
Unfolding revealed Demon Brain's demand and position.
''Hand over Blood Rain Divine Art. I'll await at the triangle in mid-Lan Cang River.''
And inescapable intel.
''Oh, regardless of your choice, for old ties, one tip.
Monster Dragon Eon Yong-un.
He's at the heart of the daggers flying your way along Myeongaeb's foothills.''