Chapter 46: Encountering the Blood Lama (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 46: Encountering the Blood Lama (3)
“Search their robes and find the antidote. Seven Cats, go fetch a bucket of water now.”
At my command, Seven Cats brought over a bucket of water.
I mixed in the white powder we had taken from the Blood Lama’s person. Since all the powders they carried were the same color, I trusted it was the antidote.
However, just in case it wasn't, I looked around. Il-myo’s face was a sickly shade of blue, a clear sign of being poisoned by the Poison Blood Palm.
“Il-myo, you drink first to see if it’s the real deal.”
When else would I put a guy like him to use if not now? He hesitated.
“You don’t want to? The sooner you take the antidote, the better. If you wait too long, it won’t work.”
At my words, he made a tearful face and gulped down a ladleful. After a moment, the blue tint faded from his skin, confirming it was indeed the antidote.
“It seems certain. Everyone, have a ladle of this water.”
I drank a ladleful myself, then sat down to begin my Energy Guiding Technique.
“Two dead from the Sword Palace Squad, four from the Demon Subjugation Group. Three wounded from the Sword Palace, and four from the Demon Subjugation Group.”
A sigh escaped my lips. The clash with just three Blood Lamas had significantly depleted our strength.
“Seong Estate isn't far from here. Let’s head there,” Fairy Doyeon suggested.
I thought to myself, ‘If we run into those Blood Lamas again there, we’re dead for sure. We have to avoid them.’
With that in mind, I turned to Doyeon.
“That’s an option, but we should think of the wounded first. Taking them to a physician should be our priority.”
Since I put it that way, Doyeon didn't argue further.
We stopped at the nearest clinic to treat the wounded. I wasn't worried about the cost; I had plenty of money taken from the moneylenders. With over ten injured men suddenly arriving, every physician in the building came out to assist.
Just then, an eagle descended from the sky. These were the Messenger Eagles used by the Murim Alliance to deliver secret missives. We had brought one along when we left Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress for this very purpose.
“What is it this time?” I asked.
Doyeon read the missive and replied, “The Blood Lamas have withdrawn from Seong Estate. The message says to head to the Ilguk Sect.”
“The Ilguk Sect is a power in Shingyong that rivals Seong Estate,” Smiling Face Sword added, providing context as if he had been there before.
Ye Woon, who had been dejected over the death of his two squad members, spoke up upon hearing this.
“Let’s go to the Ilguk Sect. I’ll kill every last one of those Blood Lama bastards.”
His youthful blood was boiling; he couldn't contain his rage over the death of his subordinates.
However, our group—the "third-rate" Demon Subjugation Group—wasn't nearly as gloomy, despite having lost four men. For those at the bottom, there is no time to grieve for fallen comrades; they are too busy worrying about how to survive themselves. Survival is a much more pressing mandate than emotion for a low-level martial artist.
Furthermore, the Demon Subjugation Group had quickly realized something: the Blood Lamas were on a level they couldn't even hope to touch.
And I was no different from these underlings.
I shook my head and said, “We are going to Seong Estate.”
“What?” Ye Woon reacted sharply. He seemed to think I was robbing him of his chance for revenge.
I had no choice but to make up an excuse.
“How much help would we really be if we went straight to the Ilguk Sect now? It’s better to go to Seong Estate, regroup with the warriors there, and then head to the Ilguk Sect together. Besides, we’re supposed to meet up with the masters of the Nine Demons Chamber there. So, we’re going to Seong Estate first.”
The Demon Subjugation Group seemed to agree, but the Sword Palace Squad was not on board.
“The Murim Alliance’s order is to go to the Ilguk Sect. It is only right to follow that order,” Ye Woon insisted.
His stubbornness made my chest feel tight.
‘I didn't bring masters with me; I brought children. Mok Gal-jin might have trained the Sword Palace Squad to be masters in martial arts, but they’re reckless and utterly lacking in worldly experience. I guess the saying that Murim life is thirty percent martial arts and seventy percent experience and wisdom isn't just talk.’
“In my opinion, the best course of action is to go to Seong Estate, assess the situation, and join forces with the Nine Demons Chamber masters,” I advised Ye Woon once more, but he showed no sign of changing his mind.
“I believe it is right to follow the Alliance’s orders.”
He had made up his mind, and he wasn't budging.
At that, Poison Wolf Ibu stepped forward. “Then let’s stop the bickering and split up. We’ll head to Seong Estate, and the Sword Palace Squad can go to the Ilguk Sect.”
Ye Woon shot back, “Fine. That works for me.”
Since it had been agreed upon leaving Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress that the Sword Palace’s Demon Subjugation Group and the low-level Demon Subjugation Group would have separate chains of command, I had to accept his decision.
Still, I felt as anxious as if I were leaving children by a riverbank, so I spoke to him one last time.
“Squad Leader Ye. This isn't a problem you can solve just by charging in. Our opponents are masters. You need to solidify your strength before facing them.”
Ye Woon shook his head. “Young Hero Eo, you may feel that way, but that is not how we were trained.”
Sigh. This is where that flawed "elite education" shows its true colors. One needs the flexibility to know when to take a detour, but seeing him so stiff-necked and practically rushing toward his own grave was pitiful.
“Do as you wish, then. Go on ahead to the Ilguk Sect. We’ll follow after we’ve joined up with the Nine Demons Chamber.”
I had nothing left to say.
Just then, raindrops began to fall. The dark clouds that had been gathering since morning finally unleashed a downpour.
“At least wait until the rain stops before you go!”
Ye Woon replied firmly, “A little rain cannot dampen our righteous spirit.”
Sure, just make sure that 'righteous spirit' doesn't get you killed.
After the Sword Palace Squad departed, Doyeon spoke. “We should get moving as well.”
I shook my head. The rain was getting heavier.
“If we force a march in this weather, the Demon Subjugation Group will lose their body heat and won't be able to fight at their best. Right now, the question isn't when we fight, but how. We need to figure out how to wipe out the Blood Lamas and how to keep our members from dying in the process.”
Doyeon didn't push the matter further.
I secretly hoped the rain would keep falling so we wouldn't have to move at all.
As I was about to enter the inn, I saw a beggar taking shelter from the rain outside the door. When I was young, rainy days were the ones I hated most. When it rained, I couldn't even beg for food, and I usually went hungry.
Remembering those days, I pressed some money into the beggar’s hand—enough for him to at least buy a bowl of noodles.
*
The morning after the rain was incredibly refreshing. It was perfect weather for a sightseeing trip. However, my heart was heavy, and sighs kept escaping me. I could feel my "sightseeing trip" drifting further and further off course, heading straight toward a grave.
I vowed that if I survived this trip, I would devote my life to making offerings to the Buddha.
With the heavy heart of a cow being led to the slaughterhouse, I headed toward Seong Estate.
As we entered the estate, the place was abuzz. It was practically a scene of carnage. Dead and wounded were scattered everywhere. Among the corpses, I counted ten Blood Lamas in their red robes. I could only imagine how fierce the battle must have been.
Ironically, this made me feel that the place was now safe.
‘It seems Seong Du-kwon’s skills were enough to repel the Blood Lamas after all.’
As we walked further in, people began to gather around us. It was natural for them to be surprised by our unannounced arrival, but something felt strange. Their faces were filled with... emotion?
“Welcome.”
A man who was clearly the master of the estate, Seong Du-kwon, greeted us. He had a rugged impression, but seeing his moved expression, it was clear he was overjoyed to see us.
Seong Du-kwon looked at Doyeon and me and asked, “Judging by your flag, you must be the Demon Subjugation Group from Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.”
“We are,” I replied. “And this is Fairy Doyeon.”
Seong Du-kwon responded, “Ah, the Ice Jade Ice Sword! I have heard of your fame for a long time. Are you the squad leader, Fairy Doyeon?”
Doyeon pointed at me. “This gentleman is our leader.”
Seong Du-kwon looked slightly disappointed, likely because I appeared so young.
Doyeon continued, “This is Young Hero Eo Ja-seo, the Silent Star Throwing Sword.”
At those words, Seong Du-kwon’s face lit up instantly.
“Oh! So you are the new hero of Sichuan I’ve heard so much about, the Red Sword Hero! I had no idea the hero who slew the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon was so youthful.”
However, the worry didn't entirely leave his face. He was clearly concerned about whether I could actually handle the Blood Lamas.
Noticing this, Po Zhongyin spoke up. “Before coming here, our Lord cut down two Blood Lamas in a single strike.”
“Oh! Is that true?”
A wide smile finally broke across Seong Du-kwon’s face. He turned to the warriors gathered behind him and shouted:
“We thought the Murim Alliance had abandoned us, but we were wrong! The justice and chivalry of the Murim have not yet fallen! The Red Sword Hero, Young Hero Eo Ja-seo—the Silent Star Throwing Sword who slew two Blood Lamas in a single stroke—has come with the Demon Subjugation Group of Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress to aid us! Let us all take heart and drive out the Blood Lamas!”
The entire Seong Estate erupted in a roar.
“Whoa! If it’s Young Hero Eo, the Silent Star Throwing Sword, we definitely have a chance!”
“The Red Sword Hero who killed the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon?”
“Oh! We’re saved!”
“To kill two of those Blood Lama devils in one strike on his way here... Young Hero Eo truly is a match for the Four Dragons of Sichuan!”
Wait, this isn't right.
I felt the situation spiraling in a very strange direction.
“Find out what’s going on,” I whispered to Seven Cats. They scattered into the crowd.
Soon, Il-myo returned with information he’d gathered.
“It seems the Blood Lamas raided the place two shichen [four hours] ago and there was a massive battle. But as they withdrew, they apparently said they’d be back in two shichen.”
“What?!”
My voice went up an octave.
As it turned out, in my attempt to avoid the fox, I had walked straight into the tiger’s den. I immediately regretted not going to the Ilguk Sect with the Sword Palace Squad.
‘No, wait. It’s not too late. I need to get out of here, fast.’
I noticed some bodies of those who had died because they couldn't neutralize the poison from the Poison Blood Palm in time.
“The battle dragged on, and these warriors died because they couldn't be treated in time,” Seong Du-kwon said in a somber voice as he approached me.
Knowing how much sacrifice it must have taken to kill ten Blood Lamas, words of comfort came naturally to me.
“More than half of my disciples and subordinates are dead. I’ve resolved to fight to the death when they return. We were supposed to receive reinforcements from the Ilguk Sect, but since they haven't arrived, I suspect the Blood Lamas hit them as well. Still, now that Young Hero Eo is here, I can breathe a sigh of relief.”
“The Sword Palace Squad, the elite of Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress who came with us, went to the Ilguk Sect.”
“Oh! As expected of Young Hero Eo! While other sects are cowering, worried about their own losses, Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress and Young Hero Eo are giving us their full support. The rumors that Young Hero Eo’s chivalry pierces the heavens were true!”
From what he said, I could gather one fact: although the Demon Subjugation Order had been circulated by the Murim Alliance, very few sects were actually taking active part. Because the Blood Lamas possessed such high-level martial arts, most sects were avoiding them to prevent being wiped out.
“Now that we have the antidote, we won't be pushed back so easily if we take it before the fight. And with Young Hero Eo here, the odds are in our favor. Our losses were heavy mainly because of their Poison Blood Palm, but we gave as good as we got.”
To be fair, the warriors of Seong Estate were stronger than I expected. If they could kill ten Blood Lamas, they were certainly not inferior to the prominent sects in Chengdu. Not only was their martial level high, but their extensive combat experience allowed them to fight the Blood Lamas on equal footing.
I spoke to Seong Du-kwon to buy myself some time to think.
“I need to perform some Energy Guiding Technique before the fight. Please show me to a quiet place.”
“Of course, you must.”
At my request, Seong Du-kwon led me to his personal quarters. His family and disciples were gathered there.
“This is Young Hero Eo, the Silent Star Throwing Sword, who has come to aid our Seong Estate.”
The disciples stood up abruptly upon seeing me. I had heard he had twelve disciples, but seeing only five left, it was clear many had perished.
They clasped their hands in a respectful salute.
“It is an honor to meet Young Hero Eo, whose fame for chivalry rings throughout Sichuan. We sincerely thank you for coming to our aid in this difficult time.”
When the middle-aged man who appeared to be the eldest disciple saluted, I returned the gesture.
“Not at all. I am the one who is deeply moved by the righteous spirit shown by the Master and his disciples in the face of the Blood Lamas.”
At my words of praise, the disciples seemed encouraged and saluted again. I could see that the disciples were reflections of their master; their eyes were full of vital energy. It was no wonder they hadn't fled and remained to fight, even knowing the Blood Lamas would attack again. There was a reason Seong Estate’s reputation in Sichuan remained untarnished.
Usually, when there are many disciples, there’s bound to be at least one rotten apple, but Seong Du-kwon must have been a strict teacher; every one of them conducted themselves like disciples of a prestigious orthodox sect. Seeing them made me feel a bit sorry for Doyeon, considering her only disciple was Mok Seon-hwa.
But that was neither here nor there. If I just slipped away from Seong Estate now, I’d be branded a coward for life. I had to find a good way out.
“This place is quiet, so please focus on your cultivation. My disciples will stand guard.”
I sat down and pretended to cultivate, my mind racing for a way to escape before the Blood Lamas arrived.
However, as I took a breath, a warm sensation flared in my right wrist, and a trickle of True Qi began to flow into me.
‘Huh? True Qi is flowing in from the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet.’
Then, a passage I’d read in the Artifact Catalog came to mind.
‘That’s right. It said this bracelet acts to increase the internal energy of those who practice orthodox mental cultivation methods.’
Every time my internal power moved along my blood paths, a warm energy continued to flow in from the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet. Entranced by the sensation, I fell deep into the Energy Guiding Technique.