Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Approaching Fate
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-Thud... thud...
It felt like trudging through the middle of a desert.
Who am I? Where am I?
I had opened my eyes amid the cold grasp of death, then wandered in search of Yuseong, but I couldn't tell where he was or even where I was now.
I simply let my instincts guide my body onward.
-Thud...
No matter how much water I drank, the burning thirst in my throat refused to fade.
I knew instinctively how to quench it.
'Blood...'
Drink the blood of another living being.
Sink your fangs into their throat, let their struggles and screams be your appetizer as you slake your thirst.
Fresh human blood.
An impulse that overrode even my instincts.
Even now, my body screamed to sink my teeth into the neck of every human passing by and suck them dry.
But I held back.
It wasn't some moral rejection of my inhuman nature.
'Yuseong-ah...'
If I had to drink blood, it would only be his.
I had no desire for anyone else's.
Even if someone forced it into my mouth, I'd spit it right back out.
-Squeeze
I pulled the Bloodstained Cloak I'd grabbed from where I awoke as far over my head as it would go.
I had no idea what had been done to me, but my revival had changed my appearance so drastically that it stood out from ordinary Central Plains folk. No sense drawing unwanted eyes.
My eyes had turned red, and my once-black hair now streaked with crimson in places.
'A red-eyed demon, huh...'
My aura had shifted a lot from life, but it had its own charm.
My own opinion mattered less than his.
If Yuseong found these red eyes repulsive, I was prepared to gouge them out myself.
Though I hoped it wouldn't come to that—I'd never see him again if it did.
'Ah, what if I swapped them out?'
If I gave him one of mine, he'd have no choice but to accept it, right? No more disgust.
I wasn't sure if it was possible, but it seemed like a solid idea.
-Creak
I pushed open the door to my destination and stepped inside.
The noisy clamor hit me the moment I crossed the threshold.
A rough-looking man with a nasty scowl sat at a table near the entrance, chewing on something.
"What's your business?"
"...I'm looking for someone."
"Got an introduction token or anything?"
-Thud
I pulled an item from my robes.
It was a badge marked with a red heart emblem and some incomprehensible numbers.
"...Hmph. Came on their referral, huh."
The man examined it briefly before handing it back.
-Flick flick
"Follow me in for now."
I trailed after him into a room where a quiet hush hung in stark contrast to the rowdy exterior.
"Name, age, description, last known sighting—tell me everything you know. Need paper and brush?"
"...No. Name's Dan Yuseong. Age is..."
-Halt.
Come to think of it, I had no clue how much time had passed since my death.
The world seemed to be chugging along fine—no signs of the Demonic Cult taking over or anything dramatic—but I couldn't pinpoint the exact years.
"...What year is it now?"
"We starting from there...?"
The man sighed and gave me the year. I did some mental math with Yuseong's age.
'About ten years, then...'
"Probably around thirty."
"Dan Yuseong... around thirty... description?"
"..."
Too much time had passed.
Enough for the small, adorable Yuseong from back then to grow into a strapping young man.
"...Not sure. It's been too long. But he was incredibly small and cute as a kid."
"...Not the most helpful intel, but I'll jot it down. Anything else?"
"Ten years ago, he was with Mount Hua Sect. Don't know after that."
"Tch... One of the Nine Great Sects, huh? That bumps the price."
"...Tell me if it's short. I'll take a job or whatever to pay."
"We'd love to, but... the owner of your intro token was a bit of a headache for us. Always paid way late, after tons of hassle. Puts us in a tough spot."
"So what're you saying?"
"Might need payment upfront. Info's gone once you hear it—not like a product you can return."
"...Tch."
She'd turned out more useless than I'd hoped.
I didn't have much money, and the papers that looked useful were covered in weird, unreadable script. I'd thought her Hao Clan connection would help, but not like this.
Not worthless, but way below expectations.
-Clink
"This is everything I've got."
"Hmm... Not even close."
"...Get to the point."
"Straight shooter, nice. Anyway, you look like you handle a blade. Got a favor to ask."
'Assassination gig?'
I'd never done it, but if I set my mind to it, no problem.
If it was just a step toward reaching Yuseong, I could kill without a shred of guilt.
"Who do I cut down?"
"Whoa, feisty one. Not quite killing—just a warning."
"Warning?"
"Yeah. Two days by carriage from here, there's this tavern called Golden Orchid Inn. Used to be tight with our Hao Clan... but lately, no payments, no cooperation. Sure, they're booming now, but it's getting on our nerves."
I got the picture.
The tavern, once under Hao Clan wing, was trying to cut ties and go independent.
"I'll be back quick. Best have the info ready by then."
"Naturally. We deliver full value for full pay."
I left him behind and stepped out, lost in thought.
Ten whole years gone by.
Yuseong had become a full-grown man in that time.
'Wonder how much he's grown...'
Handsome base to start with—he'd be stunning now.
Still, it left a pang.
I preferred the Yuseong etched in my memory over some big, grown version.
If he'd grown up healthy...
'...It's fine.'
Couldn't stop natural growth on purpose.
If he'd shot up even bigger and healthier than I remembered...
I'd just lop off some arms and legs to fix it.
'Yuseong-ah... Big sis is coming for you soon... Just stay alive...'
Even if someone else had claimed him already. Even if he was sullied.
I'd kill them and take him back, no matter what.
Just hold on a bit longer.
-Stumble
"S-sir... My glass isn't even empty yet. You don't have to refill it..."
"Drink up. Isn't the liquor good?"
"Martial artists don't get drunk easy... or so they say. Glug."
I kept ordering and pouring into his glass until his speech started slurring.
A little more push, and he'd be blackout drunk.
He was already muttering nonsense here and there.
"Seriously... even Master is too much... At least let me out sometimes, and I wouldn't have snuck away... We wanted to come out together originally..."
"Here, your glass is empty."
"Ughhh..."
-Gulp gulp
If he hated it that much, he could've just refused.
Was it pride? Or did he just love booze that much? He couldn't stand an empty glass.
How much longer did we go?
"..."
-Thump
He face-planted onto the table and collapsed.
"...That do it?"
-Pat pat
"Come on, snap out of it."
I poked his slumped body to check if he was truly out.
Just faint groans—no sign of real awareness.
-Glance around
I scanned for anyone nearby, then spoke up.
"Ahem. Looks like you've had plenty. Let's call it and head back..."
As I moved to help him up,
-Knock knock
"Guest? Still in there?"
-Flinch
A woman's voice.
"Ah, yes, inside."
"Hee hee. Pardon the intrusion."
The woman who entered wore similar garb to the earlier servers, but her beauty put them to shame.
Even to another woman, her face and figure—accented perfectly by her outfit—were captivating. No one could look away.
-Glance
Seeing her made me check myself instinctively.
'Size-wise, I hold my own... but...'
Her outfit flaunted it all.
Mine hid everything under the Bloodstained Cloak—no contest.
"...What do you want?"
"Hello. I'm the manager of Golden Orchid Inn. I came to apologize for our staff's rudeness today."
"...Apologize?"
"Yes... I heard you're quite the liquor enthusiast... so..."
A mountain of rare bottles trailed behind her.
"I'll pour personally and explain each one."
"...What."
"Hee hee. The highest hospitality we offer."
She flashed a sultry smile.
I saw through her ploy instantly and started to refuse.
"...No. He's pretty wasted, so we're heading out. Thanks, but no."
"Oh... Already?"
"Guess my pouring hit the spot."
I smirked inwardly at her flustered look.
"Mind stepping aside? Time to get him back to the inn..."
As I started to demand with a victor's grin,
"...Wooow. More booze..."
-Flinch
A familiar voice.
"Didn't we order everything already...? Why more liquor...?"
Slurred, drunken drawl.
The kind that tugged at something just hearing it.
While I panicked at his sudden lucidity,
"Ahaha... Guest, I'm the Golden Orchid manager. Here to apologize for our employee's rudeness personally."
"So those drinks too...?"
"Yes. Our finest rare vintages. Do you like liquor, sir?"
"Hee hee... Love it..."
"Perfect. If it's alright, I'd love to pour and describe them for you?"
The conversation was wrapping up while I stood stunned.
Part of me worried, part relieved.
From our earlier chat, he'd said he didn't like women pouring for him.
So he'd probably refuse her too...
"Of course, sounds great..."
...I'd forgotten.
He loved the booze itself, no matter who poured.