Chapter 250
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 250
Chapter Title: Ghost Demon (2)
A heterogeneous shift in the space itself.
The stone chamber that had clearly served as Wudang's sacred site until moments ago vanished without a trace, replaced by a horrific landscape utterly drenched in blood, as if the dimension itself had ruptured.
"Heart Image?"
"Indeed, my lord. Isn't this a magnificent world? Hehehe. It's not something shown to just anyone."
"I wasn't exactly dying to see it."
Honest feelings slipped out, but...
"Oh my. This is the place where you and I will dwell together forever, hmm, how should I reshape it to suit your comfort, my lord?"
Granny Hong Sundok declared with utter nonchalance, her cheeks flushing, that she would confine me in this nightmare.
For now, time to reason it out.
This space itself was likely Hong Sundok's unique Heart Image.
And even more so...
Souls who met death without ever awakening their Heart Images, and even those who had forged their own yet were utterly devoured by it, all patched together.
It was a realm stitched crudely like ragged cloth.
I could faintly sense the aura of illusion demons too.
As if someone had just fallen victim to a jiangshi somewhere, the distant, harrowing screams of a freshly drawn-in soul echoed in my ears.
This seemed to be the origin of that bizarre sorcery, utterly divorced from the standard jiangshi arts known to the world.
"Oh my, as expected of my lord. Spot on, hehehe."
Her response felt like it pierced even my thoughts, chilling my mood further.
Still, whatever.
She didn't give off the vibe of lunging at me demanding my cock right then and there.
So I figured I'd clear up some of the nagging doubts I'd piled up.
Only then did the mental turbulence ease a touch.
"Oh?"
Hong Sundok cocked her head in surprise.
"The killing intent pouring from you until just now was so sweet and electric, I nearly climaxed from it alone... How did you steady your heart so swiftly? Truly, my lord."
Anyway.
She was a bona fide lunatic, no two ways about it.
"Hong Sundok-ssi."
My face twisted into a demonic snarl for an instant.
"U, um, but when my lord calls me... Even this worthless name from my past doesn't sound half bad. Still, if possible, might you call me Hong Ryeon?"
"Hong Sundok-ssi."
Grit.
Judging by the grinding of my teeth echoing around...
I'd best not prod further.
"Haa. Hong Ryeon-ssi."
"Yes, my dear lord~."
The moment I switched titles, her voice dripped with coquetry.
No clingier bitch in existence.
"Why live like that?"
To my philosophical query.
Hong Sundok tilted her head once more.
But the intent landed true.
"This girl strives harder than any for a brighter future~?"
A classic line from a veteran filter-jumper.
"Does that brighter future really demand slaughtering folks, brewing jiangshi, guzzling blood, and oh-by-the-way devouring souls too?"
"Oh my."
Hong Sundok blinked in genuine surprise.
"Isn't doing whatever it takes to grow stronger the fate of every jianghu warrior? And for lives doomed to end anyway, wouldn't merging with this girl for eternal shared existence be the ideal path~?"
Woooong—!
Her mad words resonated, igniting howls across the entire space.
"The victims say quit spouting bullshit."
"Nonsense. They're weeping tears of profound gratitude."
How she could spin this seething grudge into sunny innocence was beyond me.
"You're mortal too—your lifespan will run out eventually—so why eke out such a pathetic existence devouring others?"
"Oh my, 'you bitch' stings more than 'Sundok' spoken fondly~."
This title-obsessed hag suddenly gazed skyward.
"Blood Immortals are immortals nonetheless. Sacrificing fleeting worldly vermin to ascend the sublime? Utterly worthwhile."
As if attuned to her words.
The blood veil draping the ceiling parted, birthing a cosmos in its stead.
From beyond.
A sinister rope, ominous enough to weaken my knees on sight, crept slowly into our realm.
Catching that, I faltered mid-sentence.
"Fear not, my lord. Your soul, memories, thoughts, very being, that robust flesh—all intact as we ascend together."
The hag yapped more drivel.
A hollow chuckle escaped me.
Finally, it clicked.
Hong Sundok's entire mindset.
Boiled down simply.
She was an old demon mistaking the genre for xianxia.
Unfortunately...
"I don't recall installing xianxia mode."
Enduring his rather hostile barbs, Hong Ryeon answered Geum Sihyeon with unwavering loyalty.
That was the principal wife's way with her lord.
Right now, just a smidge.
Their views diverged ever so slightly.
But this domain lay wholly under her sway.
Honed to extremity, it had warped the world's principles until eroding reality itself into her lair.
Thus, neither mortal realm nor underworld.
A Soul Realm governed solely by her.
Once entered.
Be it soon or late.
Geum Sihyeon was destined to merge with her.
His petulance? Utterly endearing.
Smacking her lips, Hong Ryeon humored his futile back-and-forth.
"Xianxia, xianxia. Immortals upholding righteousness, yes? Hm, never dreamed such stuffy heroics from my lord's lips."
Righteousness? Laughable.
What fate befell that self-styled hero Hyunga?
Couldn't even graze Qin Shi Huang, the man who chased immortality in mortal flesh—just a wretched cur's end.
And the hero posers after? Hypocrites draping self-preservation, safety, solace in noble-sounding facades.
"Sundok-ah. Without righteousness, how's a martial artist any different from a market egg peddler?"
"Where's the difference? Harming others for self-gain is identical, so how do my deeds differ~?"
To Hong Ryeon's retort.
Geum Sihyeon heaved a profound sigh.
That heartrending sight tantalizingly inflamed her already simmering flesh.
"My dear lord."
"Quit trailing off—only I get to talk like that."
"Some mongrel bitch's name? Pfft, irrelevant anyway."
Eternal oneness awaited.
Embracing none but her.
Trailing off, she flashed a bewitching smile and glided toward Geum Sihyeon.
By now, limbs frozen solid.
Devoured by the realm or granted fleeting mercy? Her call alone.
Yet no urge to gulp him down immediately.
Though he'd doubtlessly sullied himself with another woman's form.
The instant he savored her flesh's supreme ecstasy, those memories would be obliterated.
Alive or dead.
A existence holding only her.
No interference possible from that meddlesome brat this time—no barriers at all.
"Euhh, ugh."
Geum Sihyeon, eyes squeezed shut in futile effort, his poignant expression.
Surged her arousal exponentially.
Patience at breaking point, she twitched a finger.
Her na-sam cloaking her bare skin.
His robe swaddling his nudity.
Vanished in a blink.
"Waa..."
Gazing upon Geum Sihyeon's dragon, not yet fully unveiled, Hong Ryeon could only gasp in awe.
As expected of her lord.
Resolving firmly: never let that flesh perish, preserve eternally at her side.
She approached Geum Sihyeon, thoroughly ensnared in her binding curse.
Finally.
Finally, the moment to lavish the bedchamber arts honed solely for him──
"Sundok-ah."
A voice from nowhere jolted her gaze to his face.
Undeniably.
He should be a limp puppet, heeding only her will.
"I, Geum Sihyeon the man, don't bar incoming women, nor grovel in snotty tears for the departing... fully prepared for that."
Geum Sihyeon's lip curled slyly.
"Sundok-ah. It reeks... just like our school chicken coop..."
Words defying comprehension.
"Eh?"
The world she had forged.
Her unique Heart Image, vessel of her lifetime's power, staircase to celestial heights.
The Soul Realm began crumbling.
In an instant, her body swarmed with talismans, chains, plastered every which way.
Resembling the monkey pinned beneath Mt. Huaguo.
This is why the inner self trumps the shell.
Ugh, chicken coop stench...
NUOOOOOONG──!
Even Yuanshi Tianzun would nope out—admit it?
I'm into older women and all, but over a century? Chicken coup's my line in the sand.
Geum Sihyeon's on a hot streak lately—how's she not dealt with yet?
Go! No xianxia drift allowed!
Agh! I wanna double-hand it!
Sigh, you maniacs. Empty your minds per Buddha's will. All is impermanent.
How do you see a naked woman and unanimously declare no boner?
Sundok-kun, truth is I've never been to the immortal realm either...
Everywhere her gaze fell.
Geum Sihyeon filled the ten thousand phenomena.