Chapter 236
Chapter 236
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 236
Chapter Title: Infiltration
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It had been two days since Yeo Sochen's group left home and began checking places suspected to be the Blood Cult's stronghold.
'...I can sense signs of life inside.'
'Yeah. It does seem like there are an awful lot of them.'
They had successfully located what appeared to be the Blood Cult's base.
The entrance wasn't out in the open; it was disguised as some strange pattern that allowed instant teleportation inward.
Any ordinary martial artist would fail to grasp its purpose and mistake it for some lost ancient formation, but they had an ally who wasn't from the martial world.
'I see.'
'Do you know how it works?'
The entrance they had created was just this one teleportation circle, and using it posed too great a risk.
'Should we just blast it with a huge lightning strike and smash everything?'
'Unless we wipe them out in one blow, it'll draw every eye inside right to us. Even with the three of us, taking on that Lord guy and all the vampires at once won't be easy. There might even be more like that bandit stronghold lord we met before.'
'Sneaking in and swiftly beheading the leader before slipping out seems like the best plan.'
'But how do we infiltrate?'
'Hmm...'
......
-Thud... thud...
'...These clothes are incredibly uncomfortable. What the hell are they even made of?'
There were many abilities commonly attributed to the gumiho, but the most iconic was transformation.
Fitting for a seductive yokai that lured humans, rumors abounded of foxes changing forms at will to commit their wicked deeds—it was practically essential for fox spirits.
They had knocked out a passing vampire, stolen his clothes, and transformed into his exact likeness. Visually, the disguise was perfect.
'Quit complaining. We're just wearing them briefly before ditching.'
'Can't I say they're uncomfortable?'
The vampires' garments, made from fabric utterly unlike Central Plains silk, felt stifling to her.
It wasn't an issue of fit due to bodily differences.
Her millennium-old transformation mastery replicated body shape and voice flawlessly—no problem there.
If it only mimicked faces, the plan wouldn't have been feasible from the start.
And so, their scheme was set:
She would transform into a vampire, the other two would use spells for crude disguises, and she'd bring them along as prisoners.
Ideally, she could have transformed the other two to her level, but the technique's scope didn't allow it—unavoidable.
The vampire they'd captured had two subordinates (or prisoners?) in tow, so it shouldn't look suspicious.
'Hear that? Absolute obedience required.'
'Try giving an order then. I can mimic the voice, but not the language, so I can't speak inside anyway.'
'...'
And this was the plan's biggest flaw.
She could mimic voices perfectly, but they didn't know the vampires' language.
Vampires hailed from another world.
They'd learned the Central Plains tongue out of necessity, but in their base, they comfortably used their native one.
They could get real-time translation from the linked saintess in their minds, but reciting her words verbatim would sound unnatural in pronunciation. So, they had to minimize speech.
To do that, they needed to avoid other vampires as much as possible...
{Oh, Roel. Back already? You rushed out saying you'd forgotten something, but you returned quick.}
-Flinch!
No matter how they dodged other vampires, avoiding encounters entirely in their base was impossible.
Thanks to the saintess, translations fed straight into their heads in real time, but opening their mouths carelessly could arouse heavy suspicion.
'...What do we do?'
'Ask how to pronounce it quick, then mimic as best you can.'
'You think pronouncing an entirely alien dimensional language is easy, like some regional dialect?'
'No fighting, you two. If we get made, we strike immediately—get ready...'
As the three frantically transmitted thoughts on how to react, the one holding the key to defusing the situation spoke up.
'?'
Flip him off while debating a preemptive strike?
Unaware of the gesture's meaning, she floated question marks in her mind but followed the saintess's advice anyway.
-Snap.
{...Tch. Keeping me from talking, huh. Fine. I'm busy too—no time to play with you. Get lost to your lab. Lord's in a foul mood, so don't stir shit.}
'...It worked.'
The vampire, flipped off for merely being addressed, scowled and turned away, vanishing from sight.
'Fascinating. What the hell does that mean?'
'That's a good wish—why'd he get pissed?'
'Ah, got it.'
Understanding why the vampire took offense, the trio resumed scouting the base.
Not aimlessly—they had clues.
They had a guide who'd faced vampires to the point of boredom.
...Experience helped, but perfectly mapping alien architecture was impossible—pure guesswork.
Still, it proved somewhat effective.
'...Someone's guarding it.'
'Looks like there's definitely something inside. I sense an alien energy from within.'
'What now?'
'Got it? Let's go.'
'...'
Yeo Sochen grimaced, feeling like he was being ordered around, and placed his hand on his sword.
Moments later—
-Crackle!
-Thwack!
At a speed no ordinary eyes could follow, the vampire guard's head was severed.
He likely died without even realizing his neck was cut.
To prevent blood spray noise, Yeo Sochen cauterized the veins with lightning around his blade—no mess.
The Sword Empress could behead foes swiftly too, but her techniques favored power over speed, so Yeo Sochen took point.
She knew this and expected as much.
'...Shall we head in?'
'Doesn't seem like anyone's inside...'
'Open carefully. Could be traps or an ambush.'
Even with their senses probing ahead, nothing was perfect.
Especially against unfamiliar otherworldly tech—better safe.
'...Opening.'
-Creak...
Yeo Sochen, ready to retreat instantly, opened the door while the others prepared from behind.
......
......
'...Seems empty?'
Opening revealed no presence.
Judging it vacant, they entered cautiously, senses sharp.
'...This is...'
They discovered it:
A massive blood-red sphere, surrounded by ominous energy.
Death aura, vividly manifested.
'...Ugh...'
As they stared speechless, the saintess spoke gravely.
"Ugh... I dozed off from fatigue. You must be the ones bringing the materials I requested..."
Then came a voice familiar to Yeo Sochen.
Unlike the unintelligible vampires, fluent Central Plains speech.
"...What are you lot? Why's your heart pounding..."
Emerging from a corner door, seemingly just awakened, he sensed their oddity—befitting a vampire lord.
-Crackle!
"...! You damn—"
Yeo Sochen unleashed his maximum speed, sword wrapped in blue lightning. The lord reacted, sprouting black wings instantly.
-Krrrrunch!!
"Grk!!"
"Not escaping this time!!!!!!!"
"You damned bitch...!!"
Major Wound: Wing
The ambush at the start carved a deep gash in the vampire lord's wing.
Yeo Sochen aimed for the neck, but the twist saved it—forcing wing satisfaction.
-Woooeeeng!! Woooeeeng!!
The base-wide clamor erupted, triggered by his wound perhaps.
"You've caused enough trouble in our world. Time to end it for real."
"..."
-Crunch.
The battle for the Central Plains' fate began.