Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Following the Yangtze's Currents (1)
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During my spar with the branch leader, a sudden realization hit me.
It was that the chill filling my body had accumulated far beyond what I'd imagined.
In truth, I'd swallowed the full brunt of White Snow Heavenly Peak's chill whole, so I'd expected this to some degree. But if simply releasing my internal energy could unleash power close to true ice arts, that changed everything.
Chill energy was a double-edged sword, plain and simple. Especially for a man who'd taken in more than his body could handle—it turned you into a walking time bomb.
If the balance between my internal energy suppressing the chill broke and the power ran rampant, even I might not be able to control what happened next.
In the worst case, I could lose my reason, slaughter everyone around me without distinguishing friend from foe, and become a mindless killing machine.
To prevent that, I'd either need to master ice arts to control the chill or periodically vent it from my body.
The problem was, even in my past life, I'd never learned ice arts, so I had no way to control it.
With no means to tame it, periodically releasing the chill was my best bet for now.
"Is something wrong?"
Baek Eunhwa approached cautiously and took my arm, likely because I'd been wearing such a grave expression. With her insight, she'd probably already sensed there was an issue.
"It's nothing serious. I'm just worried because the chill in my body is more excessive than expected."
"I'll find a solution."
Her eyes burned with the resolve to see it through, no matter what.
Right—this life, I wasn't alone.
If even my past life's experience couldn't solve it, borrowing someone else's strength might be the way.
Not every problem had to be shouldered solo.
"I'm always in your debt."
"I'm the one relying on you constantly."
Her bright smile filled me with an inexplicable certainty.
"By the way, how do you plan to gather intel on the Black Path Gathering?"
"Leave that to me—I have a way."
Above all, I had a swift and reliable method. I could uncover the gathering's location and time easily enough. The real issue came after.
Even if we entered under the Lower Five Gates' name, no one would welcome a faction that had already quit the Four Black Coalitions.
"If you're attending the Black Path Gathering, this old man will join you."
As we pondered our next moves, the guard branch leader stepped forward.
"As the former leader of the Lower Five Gates, I can be of help."
Former leader. It suddenly clicked—a record of past leaders had listed the 36th as Baek Hanseong.
Baek Eunhwa's father, the current guard branch leader, must have been that very man.
"Thank you for offering your help. I look forward to working with you."
"Think nothing of it. It's my duty."
With both the former and current leaders of the Lower Five Gates attending the Black Path Gathering, even deep grudges wouldn't lead to rash actions.
And with that, the pieces all fell into place.
"Then I'll be off."
"We pray for your safe return, hero."
All that remained was to seek out an old connection and face them head-on.
Yiwang, the city bordering the Yangtze, was a hub for martial artists and merchants alike. True to its nature, buildings lined the riverbanks.
Among them, hidden deep in the mountains where docked ships couldn't be seen from outside, lay Hyeongsan County—the stronghold of the Yangtze Waterway Bandits.
They exploited its seclusion for stealthy pursuits of merchant vessels, extorting tolls or plundering. Known as river pirates, they'd grown their forces this way.
They might not have started big, but as they honed their martial arts and expanded along the Yangtze, they became a massive organization worthy of the Four Black Coalitions.
Though in my past life, they'd foolishly crossed the mad Blood Demon and been wiped out in an instant.
"What the hell are you? This is Yangtze Waterway Bandits territory. Get lost."
And now, I stood alone by Hyeongsan County's riverside, a place no one else dared approach.
Now what? Honestly, I didn't want to see unnecessary bloodshed this life.
Sure, plenty of unorthodox scum were beyond redemption, but there were also a few worth sparing.
Take Haun, for example.
"Oh? Not leaving? Fine. You're in for it big time today..."
Thwack!
Whoops—my fist flew out on instinct.
The bastard was yapping from barely an arm's length away; how was I supposed to hold back?
"Boss!!"
"This punk, he hit our boss."
They crumpled too easily—I figured them for small fry. But apparently, the one I dropped was their squad leader.
The Yangtze Waterway Bandits' base was on land, but true to their pirate roots, higher-ups often lived on ships.
In other words, these were just the bottom rung.
"What's the holdup? Time's wasting—come at me all together."
Thud. Crack. Crunch.
I faced them barehanded, without drawing my sword.
"You bastard..."
Honestly, no need for a blade, and I hadn't come to kill them all anyway.
"Over there! That's the guy!"
After dropping about a dozen of the first bunch I ran into, eyes turned my way. Dozens of Waterway Bandits soon surrounded me.
Sigh—even for me, handling this many without killing was a hassle.
"No matter how skilled you are, taking on this many unscathed is impossible. Back off now, and we'll let you go nicely."
One who looked like their overall leader stepped forward to parley. Unsure of my level, they were playing it safe.
Smart move.
But if mere words could stop me, I never would've been called the Blood Demon.
"What to do? I don't feel like leaving quietly."
"Then no choice—kill him!"
At the leader's shout, all dozens drew blades and charged without hesitation. Good discipline.
Alright, too tedious to handle one by one—time to test my new power.
I slowly loosened my control over the internal energy suppressing the chill. Not too much—just a pinhole's worth leaked out.
Couldn't overdo it; dead men wouldn't serve my purpose.
The trick was gathering the chill by inverting yin and yang. This time, I focused at my toes and channeled it through my body.
Then expelled it outward.
Shwaaa!
Chill spread beneath the feet of those charging me. Frozen air hit the ground, forming a vast ice sheet.
The ice crept up their bodies, instantly freezing dozens of grown men in place—unable to twitch a finger.
"What the...?"
Their leader's eyes darted in panic. Seeing me approach, terror twisted his face.
"Time to get down to business."
I drew my sword slowly, radiating menace—like I could behead them all in a flash.
"P-please spare us! Ask anything if you let us live."
"Now we're talking."
About time.
"Where's your stronghold lord?"
I withdrew the chill and made them kneel, then asked their leader flatly.
"The lord's aboard that ship."
Thoroughly broken, he pointed without hesitation. In that direction floated a massive, ornate vessel with grand sails and decorations.
That guy—parading his position so brazenly?
He spilled the location easily because there was no need to hide. Should've known; no point in beating these small fry.
Sorry about that.
"Uh, if I may—mind telling me why you're seeking the lord?"
Asking my reason after spilling so casually?
"What if I said I came to kill him—could you stop me?"
I glared with full killing intent. Our eyes met; he trembled but held my gaze.
"Couldn't stop you, but as his subordinate, I should offer my neck first, right?"
Hoh—loyalty after all. The lord must treat his men well.
Still scum who prey on the innocent with their petty code, but at least they had some redeeming quality—not total lost causes.
"Don't worry. Just have questions for him."
Only then did relief wash over his face. Though whether he'd truly live depended entirely on the lord.
That aside, the ship was too far to reach by jumping.
Swimming across? Undignified.
...Might work, though. Worth a shot.
I stood at the Yangtze's edge, drew my sword, and fixed on the lord's ship.
Sip...
Eyes closed, I breathed deep, feeling the flow of internal energy through my body.
The Blood Heaven Asura Art was a unique style I'd refined in my past life, tailored to that body's limits.
Never meant to teach it, it lacked refinement for transmission—focused purely on wielding, an odd art indeed.
Thus, now in the transcendent realm, I needed to reforge it for this body.
Devise the most efficient, powerful movements for my current state.
Hoo...
I drew out the chill maximally, circulating internal energy via the Blood Heaven Asura Art. Crimson-black aura seeped outward.
The gathered black-red sword aura formed sword force; dense chill clumped into deep hues.
Flash!
I swung. Like a drop of blood turning a lake red, the chill from my blade froze the river's surface.
The dark crimson ice spread wider, finally reaching the distant ship's hull—over thirty feet away.
"...It worked?"
Honestly, didn't expect success.
The chill's power exceeded expectations; even the Waterway Bandits—and I—froze in shock, breath caught.
Now, what to name the technique?
Blood... ice... freeze... spread... burst...
Blood Heaven Asura Art: Blood Scatter Ice Burst.
That'll do.