Chapter 133: Blood Crow Sect (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 133: Blood Crow Sect (2)
Four guides were unnecessary.
When Seo-jun ordered the men to leave only one behind, they all turned to look at a single man in unison.
It was the fellow who had been sent flying by a slap earlier—the same one who had first dared to speak to Seo-jun.
He glared at his companions, but with Seo-jun standing right in front of him, he couldn't find the courage to protest.
Ultimately, the man yielded. Face pale with dread, he offered a fist-and-palm salute.
"My name is Cho-baek, Senior..."
"Right. Nice to meet you."
Seo-jun patted Cho-baek on the shoulder.
"You’ll be my guide. As for the rest of you..."
Every time Seo-jun’s gaze swept over them, the men flinched and trembled. Sighing, Seo-jun waved them off.
"Get lost."
"Yes, sir!"
"We’re leaving right now!"
The men fled instantly, abandoning any pretense of camaraderie. Cho-baek’s trembling eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.
Of course, Seo-jun couldn't care less.
"How far is it from here to the Blood Crow Sect?"
"It will take four days by Lightness Skill."
"Four days?"
Just how far off-course had he wandered? Seo-jun sighed and gestured with his chin.
"Lead the way."
"Yes, sir."
* * *
Southern Mongolia was vast.
The territories of the Righteous Faction bordering it included Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Hebei.
Being on the front lines, the region was naturally teeming with martial artists. And martial artists with frayed nerves were prone to picking fights at the slightest provocation.
They fought because they didn't like someone's face, because they didn't like the sword at someone's waist, because of the way someone walked, or simply because they didn't like the look in someone's eyes.
Like petulant teenagers, these martial artists found everything disagreeable and picked fights whenever they were bored. Consequently, Seo-jun became filthy rich.
"Wow, everyone’s loaded."
"Most of them are ronin, so if they've survived this war so far, their pockets are likely quite heavy."
After Seo-jun thrashed three more ronin, he tossed their coin pouch to Cho-baek. The man grinned broadly as he tucked the pouch into his robes.
Seo-jun didn't necessarily have to give it to him, but his own load was becoming physically heavy from all the silver and copper. Since it felt like a waste to just throw it away, he handed it out occasionally. Because of this, Cho-baek’s attitude had completely changed. He had become incredibly helpful.
"So, what are the rumors about the Blood Crow Sect?"
"Um... are you going there as a guest, by any chance?"
"Why do you need to know?"
"Mmm."
After a moment of hesitation, Cho-baek spoke up.
"They’re a bunch that could be called passionate in one sense, and atrocious in another."
"We’re not exactly on good terms, so just be honest."
"Yes, sir! They’re lunatics who grind people up like mindless beasts!"
Grind. That likely wasn't a metaphor; it probably meant they literally ground people up.
Seo-jun let out a dry laugh.
"Is that unusual?"
"Even demonic sects usually have a sense of 'the way.' If you grind up all the commoners, it makes things difficult for the rest of us. But more than anything, the resentful spirits cause annoying problems."
This was news to the 'Righteous Hero' Lee Seo-jun.
"I wouldn't know."
"Pardon? Doesn't the North Sea Ice Palace perform exorcism rituals every year?"
"Are you talking back?"
"...If you kill many people in one place continuously, the accumulated resentment absorbs Qi and becomes evil spirits!"
"Really? Is it dangerous?"
"Not to that extent. Occasionally, the big ones are quite threatening, but usually, even if they appear, a master at the Peak Realm can handle them without much trouble."
It seemed that internal energy could exorcise ghosts as well. If that was the case, it wasn't something Seo-jun needed to worry about.
And so, for about four days, he crossed the territory of the Black Lotus Union while occasionally pestering Cho-baek.
Even in Southern Mongolia, crows were still black, and people still found a way to live.
Though the atmosphere here was slightly different from the Righteous Faction's territory, there wasn't a massive difference.
‘I suppose that makes sense.’
After all, people lived here too.
The wealthy lived well, and the poor suffered. It was a universal truth; the gap was simply a bit more extreme here.
Upon reaching the Blood Crow Sect's domain, Cho-baek pointed to a sprawling compound visible in the distance.
"That is the Blood Crow Sect."
"Right. Good work."
As Seo-jun waved him off, Cho-baek bowed deeply.
"May you live a long and healthy life, Great Hero Baek!"
"Try to live a decent life yourself."
"Yes! I shall become a hero!"
"Don't give me that bullshit."
"Haha..."
Cho-baek bowed once more and hurried away.
Seo-jun stood in the middle of the road, contemplating.
‘Now, what should I do...’
He had about three options.
First, infiltrate using the Shadow Hiding Technique and start by assassinating the Sect Leader.
Second, fly in with the Primordial Unity Step and start by leveling a few buildings.
Third, take some time to detonate a massive Heaven-Defying Sun-Moon Art and start with a bang.
‘Assassination is probably better.’
The small fry didn't matter; the Blood Crow Sect Leader was the key. From what Seo-jun had gathered, the Sect Leader was the only Super Peak master in the sect.
In reality, once that man was taken down, collapsing the rest of the Blood Crow Sect wouldn't be difficult.
Since an assassination was best suited for the night, he decided to wander the city until then.
* * *
"It’s desolate."
There weren't many people around.
Judging by the presence of Qi, there seemed to be plenty of people inside the buildings, but only one or two could be seen walking outside.
According to Cho-baek, it had been about six months since the Blood Crow Sect began indiscriminately 'grinding' people.
That was likely why everyone was holed up in their homes, though Seo-jun couldn't fathom why they were grinding people up like that.
Were they trying to reach a higher realm?
"Nothing to do."
After finishing a cursory tour of the city, Seo-jun sat down in a suitable alleyway and stared blankly at the sky.
— Do you know what it means to set foot in the Murim?
Suddenly, he remembered Chun-bong’s words from their days in the back alleys.
— The grudges of the Murim are like a ball of yarn so tangled that it can never be unraveled. And you have already set foot in it.
Grudges.
Come to think of it, he was already entangled with a lot of people.
The Azure River Sect, the Wang Family, the Hao Sect, the Mount Hua Sect, the Namgung Clan, Shaolin, and many others.
On the negative side, there was the Giryeon Sect, the Blood Crow Sect, the North Sea Ice Palace... what else was there?
Anyway, there were many. The Demonic Cult would likely be added to that list soon.
The metaphor of a tangled ball of yarn was apt.
That was just how life went, but unlike commoners, the grudges of martial artists usually involved blades.
He had already killed countless people.
If the war continued, that number would likely skyrocket.
So, it felt a bit late to start preaching about the weight of a human life.
Wasn't the Super Peak master Lee Seo-jun a super-elite killing machine who could slaughter hundreds in a single strike?
Because of that, Seo-jun didn't possess any grand sense of justice or a burning desire to 'punish' the Blood Crow Sect Leader.
The man was going to die today simply because he was a nuisance.
Truly, an unfortunate turn of events for the Blood Crow Sect Leader.
‘Well, I have something I want to test out anyway.’
Seo-jun kept his mind busy to kill the spare time. He happened to have a suitable subject to ponder.
Had he not witnessed Shaolin’s 108 Arhat Formation, renowned among all formations?
However, he would have to modify it so that a formation meant for 108 people could be executed by just one.
If he combined that modified formation with the uniqueness of his Inner Core and wove it together with sorcery...
‘It might be possible.’
He might be able to reach it, even if only halfway.
A Domain.
That authority which was the exclusive preserve of those in the Transcendent Realm.
As Seo-jun searched for the path forward, the sun tracked busily across the sky above his head.
* * *
Sss... Hooo...
In the dead of night, the sound of thin breathing leaked from a cramped room.
The eyes of the man sitting cross-legged in the center of the room snapped open.
"...Success."
Hooo...
A crimson energy mixed into his exhaled breath. The man stood up and used Astral Qi to burn away the foul impurities that had seeped out of his pores.
Afterward, he threw on his robes and habitually placed a long pipe in his mouth. He lit it with a spark of Samadhi True Fire and inhaled the smoke; his mind cleared instantly, as if his brain was finally waking up.
As he stepped out of the room, the subordinates standing guard outside bowed their heads.
"Congratulations, Sect Leader!"
"That’s enough."
The man, the Blood Crow Sect Leader, questioned one of his subordinates.
"What happened with the Jin Gi-jae-cheon matter?"
"There has been no significant progress. It seems he is still running rampant. We heard he failed to achieve any results in Henan a few days ago as well."
"Is that so..."
The Namgung Clan’s new Super Peak master, Lee Seo-jun.
He had thought the boy would stay holed up in the clan for a while if pressured appropriately, but it seemed he wasn't the cautious type.
"He’s being a nuisance. Leave it for now. There’s no point in pursuing it further."
"Yes, sir!"
It had been a contract given to the Blood Crow Sect by the Black Lotus Union. But now that he had successfully raised his realm, it was better to take on other tasks.
The Black Lotus Union would likely judge it the same way.
The Blood Crow Sect Leader clenched his fist, gauging the power overflowing through his body.
‘Finally, the Mid-Stage of the Super Peak Realm.’
He had ground up three thousand, three hundred, and thirty-three humans to create an elixir. Perhaps because the quality of the ingredients was poor, the effect wasn't as grand as he'd hoped.
Still, he had managed to cross the wall.
At the Mid-Stage of the Super Peak Realm, one could relatively freely manipulate the shape of their Astral Qi. This meant the power of the Blood Crow Sect’s signature martial art, the Blood Phosphorus Astral Qi, would increase exponentially.
"Where is the Rakshasa Sword?"
The subordinate answered immediately. "He is resting in the guest house."
"I see. I’m glad nothing happened."
He was a guest expert invited just in case something happened while the Sect Leader was in secluded training, but it seemed there had been no need for his services.
The money and spirit herbs invested were a waste, but what could he do?
No news was good news.
"First, you go report the news to the Black Lotus Union. The rest of you, get some rest. We will likely be heading to the battlefield soon."
"By your command!"
The subordinates quickly dispersed.
The Blood Crow Sect Leader tapped out the ashes from his pipe.
"Hmm."
His mouth felt dry. For some reason, he had a bad premonition.
Clicking his tongue, the Sect Leader tucked the pipe into his robes and began to walk.
He intended to meet the Rakshasa Sword in the guest house.
‘With two Super Peak masters here, surely nothing will happen.’
Just as he turned a corner in the hallway, feeling slightly better, a chilling sensation tickled his neck.
"Hup...!"
He immediately imbued his hand with Astral Qi and swung.
Slice—
The blade cut right through his Astral Qi. His severed hand fell to the floor.
The Blood Crow Sect Leader’s eyes bulged.
"Urgh...! You...!"
Clutching his hand, which now had only a thumb remaining, the Sect Leader saw the figure of a man in the shadows.
The face was strangely familiar. It was a face he had definitely seen several times in portraits.
"...Jin Gi-jae-cheon! How are you here!"
Hadn't they just said he was in Henan a few days ago?!
Seo-jun, looking at the horrified Sect Leader, gave a smirk.
"You blocked that? Good instincts."
The Heaven-Defying Sun-Moon Astral Qi dissipated from Seo-jun’s sword, replaced by the chilling aura of the Ice Soul Divine Art.
Today, the Blood Crow Sect would be annihilated by the North Sea Ice Palace.