Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Bloodsuckers
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"Bloodsuckers?"
A familiar word popped up in my conversation with Dang Ayoung over a meal at the inn, and I couldn't help but ask her back.
"Yes. Bloodsuckers. Rumors about monsters that kill people and drain every last drop of their blood. The talk started spreading around a month ago."
"Hmm..."
-Slurp-
It might be a nickname coined by Central Plains folk now, but from my perspective, it's a terribly familiar term.
Vampires show up everywhere—games, movies, novels. Regular customers, through and through.
If this were a fantasy world, bloodsuckers wouldn't be all that strange.
'But isn't this the martial world?'
Why the hell would there be bloodsuckers in the martial world?
Probably just some nasty-tempered human practicing blood-draining martial arts.
Or maybe not. With possessions and fantasy-linked shops around, vampires aren't out of the question.
Anyway.
"So they formed a subjugation squad to take it down... and you're part of it."
"Me?"
"Don't underestimate me just because you're you. I'm pretty impressive, you know?"
She really was impressive, no doubt.
One of the top late-stage disciples of her generation, after all.
"But aren't there plenty of other experts in Shaanxi?"
"Ah, it's not just one bloodsucker. The same thing's happening in other regions too... I'm heading to one of those spots. And the estimated skill level's first-rate, conveniently enough."
"I see."
Still, I had some lingering doubts about Dang Ayoung joining the subjugation squad.
From what I'd seen of her personality so far, she wasn't purely righteous.
She knew how to calculate her own interests and wasn't the type to scatter favors around without compensation.
She seemed like a decent person at heart, but not someone driven solely by a sense of justice...
"The reward must be pretty generous, huh?"
"Hehe."
Sure enough, it wasn't just blind righteousness pulling her into the squad.
"The Murim Alliance promised a hefty payout. And these kinds of jobs naturally build reputation afterward. Something like, 'The Tang Clan's late-stage disciple, Poison Phoenix, slays the bloodsucker.' Boosted fame means more sway at official gatherings, naturally."
"Aren't there plenty of other late-stage disciples?"
"Our Tang Clan of Sichuan's martial arts specialize in subduing or killing without leaving marks. The Alliance isn't just after killing bloodsuckers. They're hoping to investigate if this ties to the remnants of the Blood Cult that got wiped out twenty years ago."
"Ah."
That made sense.
Human experimentation sounded creepy, but that's how this world worked.
Especially sensitive about Blood Cult traces, from what I'd heard.
"Personally, I doubt it's really connected to the Blood Cult, but that doesn't matter. It's a chance to grab both reward and fame—who'd turn that down?"
"So when do you head out? Gonna be pretty lonely without someone to chat with for a while."
"Ah. You're coming too."
Oh, right. I'm going too.
...
"Me?"
What?
"Miss, even if I taught you a bit of hidden weapons, I can't handle a third-rate martial artist. Why would I go there...?"
"Of course I'm not saying come blindly. It's a proposal. Read this first. It's a letter from the squad leader."
Dang Ayoung pulled a sheet of paper from her bosom.
I always wear a cloak, but how does she hide hidden weapons in those clothes? Never ceases to amaze me.
'Come to think of it, her outfits feel thinner lately.'
Compared to when we first met, her clothes were lighter.
Her body's curves stood out more now.
It had changed bit by bit around a month ago, I think.
'Weather's been hot lately.'
Even back on Earth, summer meant lighter clothes. No helping it.
Seems the martial world was no exception.
High-realm martial artists resist cold and heat, but Dang Ayoung wasn't there yet.
"...Feels kinda rude staring like this. Am I imagining it?"
"Nah."
Truth was, her skill level didn't change the fact that even going all-out, I couldn't beat her.
"Anyway, let's read it."
I carefully read the paper she handed me.
Contracts always need a thorough check.
By the way.
"Four days for four taels of gold?"
"Pretty sweet, right?"
The pay was substantial.
My daily earnings topped out at around forty or fifty silver taels on good days—over double that.
Still...
"Factoring in the risk, it doesn't really appeal. No clue why you'd want me along either."
It was a monster subjugation, after all.
No desire to tag along as someone even a third-rater could crush.
"First off, we're bringing you to track the bloodsucker with your divination."
"You think divination's some miracle cure?!"
"Can't it be?"
"It could work, but..."
"Wait, really?"
"You were just guessing...?"
Anyway, still not tempted.
Even as non-combat personnel, safety wasn't 100% guaranteed.
Four gold taels was big money, but not worth risking my life over.
"Anyway, I'm not really inter—"
"—that's why I swapped the proposal."
Dang Ayoung swiftly took the paper from my hand and handed over a new one.
And the difference this time?
"Ten taels?!"
"That enough to come along?"
"Urgh..."
Ten gold taels for four days.
'With this, the booze...'
I could hit up high-end taverns, not just my usual dives.
'Wonder what gold-tael liquor tastes like.'
Saliva pooled in my mouth.
My usual stuff maxed at thirty silver taels—pricey enough, but an alcoholic's curiosity about gold-grade drinks was inevitable.
Or I could save up and dump some into shop points for once.
"Still... isn't it dangerous...?"
The conviction in my voice had weakened considerably.
Ten gold taels were that big.
"Come on, I'm going too, and other martial artists will be there. If combat breaks out, just hide behind them. I've already told everyone to protect you no matter what."
"...Can I trust that?"
"Oh, and this is off-the-record info from my channels—the squad leader's a huge booze hound. He's got a stash of rare liquors..."
"I'm in."
The risk was worth it now.
"Hehe, butter me up more and who knows what else you might get?"
"No one tops you, Miss. Meeting you was the luckiest break of my life."
"...I know it's flattery, but it feels good anyway."
A faint blush colored Dang Ayoung's cheeks.
"The paper has the full schedule, so check it out... I'm heading out for today."
"Already?"
"Stay any longer and I might get in trouble..."
"Huh?"
"N-nothing."
With that, Dang Ayoung bolted from the inn.
"Something urgent come up?"
-Slurp-
She'd been acting a bit off lately.
.
.
.
After finishing my meal and returning to the shop, a cloaked figure like mine stood out front.
"Hm?"
Still far off, yet she turned her head precisely my way. Not an ordinary feat.
"Here for a reading?"
"Are you that Faceless Golden Ghost fortune-teller I've heard about?"
"Not my favorite moniker, but yes."
"Ho, fascinating. Your face really is hidden."
"Come on in. We can talk details inside."
The voice was a woman's.
I seated her at a chair inside, then sat across the table.
"So, what brings you? Birth chart? Romance luck? Fertility? Exams? Anything goes."
"Rumors of your skill have spread far and wide. Completely accurate?"
"Ah... sadly not. How could a mere sorcerer like me grasp the full will of heaven and earth? I see only fragments. But I guarantee it's not entirely useless."
"Hmm..."
A faint smile played on the woman's lips, visible within her cloak.
'What?'
This reaction was new.
Most were disappointed or told me not to be so humble. This enigmatic smile was a first.
"I like it. Good. You said anything, right?"
"I'll do my utmost, whatever it is."
"Then... give me a reading."
After all that buildup, just a standard fortune?
Just an eccentric customer, then.
-Clack clack clack clack-
I laid out the eight wooden plaques on the table as usual.
"Eight Trigrams... the orthodox method."
"..."
Maybe not just weird—could be a martial artist.
Her aura felt utterly ordinary, though.
"...Alright, then..."
"If it's not too rude, may I touch your hand for a moment?"
"...Customer?"
"Ah, sorry. Got a bit excited."
Who the hell was this woman?
'Ha...'
If Dang Ayoung were here, maybe she'd chase her off.
But with my hidden weapons skill, I wasn't up to tangling with a suspected martial artist.
"Here. Go ahead."
"Oh, thank you."
I offered my hand, and she began examining it.
Soft like a woman's, yet firm.
The calluses were insane—palpable without looking.
'Dodged a bullet not resisting.'
Relieved I hadn't acted tough, I wondered how long she'd fondle it when she spoke.
"Have you ever studied under a sect?"