Chapter 209
Chapter 209
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 58
>Chapter Title: Karma (5)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
Blue Spirit.
According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, it is an ancient vengeful spirit whose root of grudge resembles an unforgettable wail, its existence spanning over three hundred years.
From the moment it reaches the Blue Spirit stage, it transcends the spiritual realm, its rank comparable even to high-level yokai or demonic beasts, and it is deemed extremely dangerous.
It is a moving minor calamity in itself, making exorcism nearly impossible.
-Shooooaaaaah!
The pouring raindrops were all dyed in blood, filling the world with crimson.
Along with the foul stench of blood, the surging pools of blood brought a chilling terror to everyone present.
Even Seop Chun and Mong Mu-yak, who could be called true masters, were no exception.
They were at a loss for words before the reality unfolding right in front of their eyes.
Was this an illusion? Or reality?
It felt too real to be an illusion—all their senses screamed that it was fact.
"Huh-euk."
-Splash.
"Ah, Miss!"
If even they were this shocked, there was no way Woo Hyang, the ordinary innkeeper's daughter, could endure the sight.
Even the burly man hastily supporting her fallen form had a face pale with fear.
He didn't know where to look and couldn't even glance upward.
'What in the world is this?'
Defrocked monk Ja Geum-jeong, whose spiritual eyes were opened, could see the dead and the eerie with his own two eyes.
Even he had never witnessed a scene like this before.
The blood staining everything around was no mere illusion—it seemed the vengeful spirit's spiritual power had seized control of the space itself.
'This can't be dismissed as just a simple vengeful spirit...'
Just the power encompassing the entire space had surpassed the line of mere danger.
For a fleeting moment, the words "Amitabha" nearly escaped his lips for the first time since defrocking.
-Huu.
From the pooled blood on the ground, the fully manifested Cyan Spirit removed the pipe from her mouth and exhaled thick smoke.
She then curled the corner of her mouth wickedly and spoke.
-How refreshing.
It had been a long time since she had unleashed all her spiritual power and revealed her true form.
Within the Heaven and Earth Society, she had suppressed her spiritual power as much as possible to hide herself, but here, there was no need.
Thus, she felt freed from all her shackles.
Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly at her and said,
"Will it be alright to leave it to Qing Ling?"
-Wasn't that why you summoned me? Heheheh.
Qing Ling laughed leisurely as she gazed at the vengeful spirit possessing the innkeeper, who stood before the main hall where the blood rain had extinguished the fires.
When the vengeful spirit met her eyes, it flinched involuntarily.
The difference in their ranks was that stark.
One was Blue Spirit rank, bearing grudges over three hundred years old, while the other was Cyan Spirit rank, with grudges around a hundred years deep.
'How could such a being exist?'
The Cyan Spirit-rank vengeful spirit possessing the innkeeper was inwardly dumbfounded.
It hadn't even noticed this existence entering its own domain.
What an embarrassing situation.
The Cyan Spirit-rank vengeful spirit arduously opened its mouth.
-For one like you to descend upon such a place alongside mere humans... why?
-That's none of your concern.
-......
At Qing Ling's words, the Cyan Spirit-rank vengeful spirit couldn't easily reveal its emotions.
It knew that acting rashly due to the clear difference in rank could lead to disaster.
-Splash!
At that moment, the vengeful spirit possessing the executioner Yi Mun-hae knelt in the pooled blood and said,
"Great vengeful spirit of higher rank. Though we linger in this world due to our grudges, we do not invade each other's domains or resentments."
-Invade?
"This place has been Lord Ha Yun's domain for over a hundred years. Please respect this one's grudge and..."
-The adults are speaking—children should stay out of it.
-Swish!
With those words, Qing Ling lightly swung her hand.
In that instant, hands formed of blood crept up from the pooled blood on the ground.
-Papapapapak!
The blood-soaked hands then seized the arms and legs of the vengeful spirit possessing Yi Mun-hae.
"H-How!"
-Children, step aside.
As Qing Ling clenched her fist in mimicry,
-Shwaaaaaah!
"Ah, nooooo!"
The vengeful spirit possessing Yi Mun-hae, still in his fleshly body, was sucked into the blood pooling on the ground.
It was as if sinking into an abyss of unfathomable depth—no sound emerged.
'!?'
Seeing a Lord Spirit-rank being subdued in an instant, the expression of the Cyan Spirit-rank—no, Ha Yun—possessing the innkeeper's body hardened.
Among vengeful spirits, the older ones develop a mutual respect.
The higher the rank, the more they transcend being swayed by grudges and instincts, gaining clear reason and ego.
This was especially true for high-rank ones reaching the yokai realm.
Yet the Blue Spirit-rank being before them showed none of that.
Instead, it brazenly displayed hostility in its own domain.
"Great vengeful spirit of higher rank. We bear no grudge against you—why invade my domain and reveal such enmity?"
-Enmity? You think this is enmity?
"If not enmity, why interfere? This is the karma wrought by the Woo Clan."
"That may be. No reasonless being like you would move without cause, after all."
Ha Yun was a high-rank ancient vengeful spirit approaching Cyan Spirit level.
For such a being to curse and topple an entire household without direct grudge involved was no small matter.
But if they considered that, they would have to withdraw.
Thus,
-But we have our reasons too.
-Reasons?
"Yes. Out of respect for you, the master of this region, I suggest you end it here. Leave that man's body at once."
At Qing Ling's words, as if granting mercy, Ha Yun's eyes grew cold.
After all, this was its domain.
The Woo Clan's actions had enraged countless vengeful spirits in the area, and it was the culmination of their fury.
For an outsider to meddle in that grudge was infuriating.
"Great vengeful spirit of higher rank."
-......
"Can you, suppressed by another, abandon the grudge that defines you?"
Grudge.
It was the reason vengeful spirits existed.
Telling one seeking to resolve its grudge to abandon it was little different from erasing its own reason for being.
At Ha Yun's words, Qing Ling let out a shallow breath.
Low-rank vengeful spirits might yield their will to superior power, but those with grudges deep enough for Cyan Spirit rank were different.
No matter how vast the power gap, they did not bend easily.
Especially one rooted as a guardian spirit with its own domain.
-No choice then. I'll have to subdue you by force.
At Qing Ling's words, Ha Yun glared and replied,
"I acknowledge your higher rank and greater strength. But this entire region is me—ours. No matter how much you heighten your spiritual power, do you think your spirit domain can affect me?"
No sooner had the words ended.
-Kurrr rumble boom boom!
Thunder roared, and the rain intensified.
Lightning flashed from the blood-dyed surroundings.
Then, as if cracking, space rippled and shook.
"What's this?"
To Mok Kyung-un's question, Qing Ling answered nonchalantly.
-Domain invasion.
"Domain invasion?"
"Vengeful spirits of Green Spirit rank or higher can create their own domains with spiritual power, even outside lands imbued with their grudges."
"Ah... ghost intent domain."
He knew of this.
It was the Ghost Intent Domain created by the strong念 of high-rank vengeful spirits.
"This is that grudge-bearing one's domain. It's clashing with my Ghost Intent Domain and starting to invade."
While Qing Ling had formed her own Ghost Intent Domain with spiritual power, Ha Yun's was the entire region imbued with its grudge—not spiritual power.
In its unique domain, where grudge dwelled, spiritual power was maximized.
Thus, Ha Yun claimed the whole area as its domain.
-Huuuuuugh!
-Wuuuuuuugh!
Wails from countless vengeful spirits echoed from all sides.
Looking around, innumerable vengeful spirits had gathered around the area—too many to count.
Low-rank, but their numbers exceeded even those at Blood River Gorge cliffs.
Just how many had died here?
'Damn. There are too many.'
Defrocked monk Ja Geum-jeong, who could see vengeful spirits directly, stuck out his tongue.
It was impossible to tell if this was a place where humans lived or hell itself—the area brimmed with them.
The situation grew graver.
Could that one really handle this?
As doubts arose.
"Great vengeful spirit of higher rank. I return your earlier words as they are. Leave this region at once, and there will be no incident."
-Gotten cocky, have we?
"I suggest this out of respect for you. Withdraw now. The Woo Clan must face the karma they wrought."
-Kurrr rumble boom boom!
Thunder and lightning struck from all sides, the blood-dyed surroundings rumbling.
The vengeful spirits filling the area seemed ready to press into this domain at any moment.
Then Qing Ling curled her lip.
She sneered and said,
-Do you think this is the extent of my domain?
"This entire region is my domain. No matter how much you bolster your spiritual power, in the end..."
Before the words finished.
The black clouds darkening the sky suddenly turned blood-red.
The blood rain, until then confined to the main hall, spread instantly across the entire village, dying over two hundred jang in crimson.
'Wh-what is this...'
Ha Yun couldn't hide its bewilderment.
This region was imbued with its and countless spirits' grudges.
It had completely ignored that unique domain and overwritten the entire area with its Ghost Intent Domain.
And it wasn't over.
Qing Ling raised the pipe she held.
Then,
-Dong dong!
The fierce blood-red rain suddenly halted.
The sight of densely packed blood droplets frozen midair was utterly bizarre.
Then Qing Ling laughed and swung the pipe.
In that instant,
-Shwaaaaaah!
The halted blood droplets didn't fall—instead, they surged upward.
Those upward-soaring blood-red droplets pelted toward the vengeful spirits encircling the manor like a barrage.
-Papapapapapapapapang!
The spirits' ethereal forms tore apart.
They couldn't withstand the overwhelming spiritual power.
The spirits unable to endure the spreading blood droplets scattered in panic.
-!!!!!!
At this sight, Ha Yun's face twisted in misery.
'......It can even ignore a unique domain?'
This rank was overwhelmingly dominant.
Even at Blue Spirit rank, this exceeded all imagination.
Qing Ling sneered at the bewildered Ha Yun.
-What now? This entire region is my domain.
-......
Ha Yun had no words for her mocking tone.
The gap between them was that vast.
Then Mok Kyung-un spoke.
"No time left—finish it now."
"Indeed."
Ha Yun turned trembling eyes toward Mok Kyung-un.
What was that human's true nature?
How could a vengeful spirit of such high rank obey a mere human's command?
It was utterly incomprehensible.
[Chapter 58: Karma (5)] End