Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Thousand Island's Secret
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Blood Shadow gauged the mood for a moment before cautiously opening his mouth.
“There are too many shadows. I'm worried they might waver.”
It was something he had no choice but to say with utmost care. It directly contradicted the Blood Demon's actions. Yet Blood Shadow spoke from pure loyalty. Had he cherished his life, he never would have uttered those words.
And the Blood Demon knew that fact all too well.
“Heh heh, it's a valid concern. But that's what makes me who I am. That's the very difference between me and the Heavenly Qi Master.”
The Blood Demon spoke those words while flashing an even deeper smile.
“The Heavenly Qi Master bore everything alone. Even with his genius talent, that's all he achieved. But I'm different. My talent matches his, yet I can share it. And because of that, I've surpassed him in every way now.”
Blood Shadow nodded. But he couldn't fully accept everything.
“I've outdone the Heavenly Qi Master in every field except two: poison and formations. Poison is no issue, but formations... that was truly regrettable. The time he and I had was far too different—I simply couldn't overcome that. That's when I found that child.”
The Blood Demon's eyes gleamed with chilling light.
“Wol Yeong was born with talent to surpass the Heavenly Qi Master in formations. But he doesn't need to waste it on martial arts too. Focusing solely on formations would yield far greater growth. Isn't this just squandering his potential?”
Blood Shadow's face grew grave at the Blood Demon's words. He quietly bowed his head.
“Your wisdom.”
Before his voice could even fade, Blood Shadow's body vanished like a puff of smoke.
The Blood Demon's gaze remained icy.
Above Dongting Lake, the boat swaying in the wind began gliding silently forward.
“Umm...”
Yeom Hye-mi slowly opened her eyes. Her senses gradually returned, her vision brightening. Faces came into view one by one, and beyond them, the ceiling appeared.
“Ah!”
Only then did she recall losing consciousness while swinging the Thousand Island.
“Are you coming around?”
At the Sword King's gentle voice, Yeom Hye-mi nodded. She glanced at the people surrounding her. All her companions were watching her.
“Ah, because of me, for no reason...”
Realizing her frail body had worried everyone, her heart ached. This blackout was surely from overexertion.
“I'm sorry. I won't push myself like this again.”
The Sword King squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head at her words.
“No, that's not it.”
A faint mist gathered in the Sword King's eyes. He pulled Yeom Hye-mi into a tight embrace.
Startled by the sudden gesture, Yeom Hye-mi's eyes widened. But she soon beamed and hugged him back.
“Grandfather, I'm okay now. You don't need to worry.”
She tried to sound as cheerful as possible. Yet the Sword King kept holding her, shaking his head.
“How long do you plan to stay like that?”
It was the Sword Demon speaking. The Sword King finally released her. Another's words might have earned a snort, but the Sword Demon's carried weight.
“Tch, you old grouch with no sense of timing.”
The Sword King grumbled. Moisture still lingered in his eyes and voice. No further explanation seemed possible.
Watching the scene, Jegal Rin smiled faintly and spoke.
“Congratulations, Miss Yeom.”
“Pardon?”
Yeom Hye-mi blinked in bewilderment at the abrupt remark.
“Don't you sense the change?”
Yeom Hye-mi tilted her head at Jegal Rin's words. But realization dawned soon enough, widening her eyes further.
Her body felt incredibly light. She sprang to her feet. Vitality welled up from within.
“Now... now I'm a normal person too.”
Jegal Rin smiled faintly at her words.
“Far from normal—you're much stronger. The city's top physician already examined you. Said your vital energy is brimming. What exactly happened?”
Everyone present could tell Yeom Hye-mi's condition had improved dramatically. Not one among them was anything less than an expert.
And the Sword King, who had spent years by her side, noticed first. Still uneasy, he summoned the best local physician. He longed to rush back to the Physician Immortal Sect but settled for this.
“I was just swinging the Thousand Island when...”
Yeom Hye-mi dredged up the memory. She had slipped into a trance, unsure if she wielded the Thousand Island or it wielded her.
“Then suddenly, lightning...”
“You were struck?”
The Sword King asked, alarmed. Yeom Hye-mi shook her head hastily—misunderstandings could only heighten their worry.
“It felt like I became the lightning, surging into the sky. Then my mind went blank...”
The group tilted their heads at her description. No one knew precisely what occurred. But the Thousand Island had clearly played a key role.
All eyes turned to Dan Hyeong-u. He stood silent, lips sealed.
“Still a long way to go.”
Yeom Hye-mi smiled at his words.
“Of course. It's far too thrilling to quit now.”
She gazed steadily at Dan Hyeong-u, then bowed deeply and politely.
“Thank you.”
Dan Hyeong-u's eyes widened ever so slightly at her gratitude. He regarded the bowing Yeom Hye-mi a moment, then nodded.
“Enough.”
With that, he turned to Jegal Rin. Her cheeks flushed under his unwavering stare.
“What is it?”
Dan Hyeong-u offered no reply, simply staring. He couldn't say why the thought struck him then, but it felt like the bond between the Thousand Island and Jegal Rin had sparked.
He couldn't comprehend it. He lacked any gift for discerning fates. Yet connections tied to the Thousand Island shone vividly to him.
It began the instant he realized his own link to it had severed.
The Thousand Island's bond lingered with Yeom Hye-mi, but recently extended to Jegal Rin too.
“Examine the Thousand Island.”
His sudden command left Jegal Rin—and even owner Yeom Hye-mi—stunned. Yet neither dared refuse.
For though Yeom Hye-mi held it now, all knew Dan Hyeong-u was the true master.
Yeom Hye-mi offered the Thousand Island, gripped even in unconsciousness. Jegal Rin accepted it gingerly, scrutinizing it with utmost care.
Time passed. She pored over every detail, sparing nothing. Dan Hyeong-u wouldn't speak without reason—he was that sort of man.
Jegal Rin's eyes lit up. She spotted what prior inspections had missed: faint scratches near the hilt.
They resembled erratic strokes from a razor-sharp blade—so subtle, only touch revealed them. The naked eye saw nothing.
Jegal Rin cocked her head. These were new.
“This...?”
Examining closer, she startled. The lines followed a pattern, radiating profound mystery.
The group watched her intently. Jegal Rin lost herself in the enigmatic markings.
“There must be something there.”
The Sword King's remark jolted her back. She nodded briskly.
“It's definitely a formation. More study needed, but it ties to the Thousand Island's energy.”
Nods rippled through the group. The Heavenly Qi Master forged the Thousand Island—a formations genius. Of course it bore his craft.
And likely, that enabled Yeom Hye-mi's transformation.
Jegal Rin met Yeom Hye-mi's gaze. Earnest longing shone there—the burning desire to delve into the Thousand Island.
Yeom Hye-mi smiled and nodded. Opposition was impossible. Dan Hyeong-u had commanded it.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you, Miss Yeom.”
“No need—it's only right.”
The women clasped hands.
The onlookers beamed warmly.
Dan Hyeong-u, a step apart, watched with a faint smile tugging his lips. Spotting it, Umun Hye latched onto his arm.
The Demonic Alliance's maneuvers turned frantic. Breaking from prior restraint, they surged like a tempest. Their blade's edge targeted the Golden Lotus.
The Golden Lotus had foreseen this resurgence and prepared. Yet the Demonic Alliance's might exceeded all forecasts.
They struck multiple Golden Lotus branches simultaneously. Despite anticipating and fortifying, the Golden Lotus couldn't quell the onslaught.
Worse, the Demonic Alliance reclaimed their fallen Black Warriors from the prior clash. A utter rout. Those corpses would transform into Iron War Demons, throttling the Golden Lotus tighter.
Declaring war on the headquarters next, hordes of Black Warriors marched on Suzhou. The advance was vast and brazen.
Crisis mounting, the Golden Lotus unleashed coffers. Ronin swarmed, sects heeded calls for aid. Gold-bought legions massed at headquarters against the fury.
The Demonic Alliance committed everything—even Alliance Lord Gal Cheon-ak joined. All remaining force hurled in one strike.
The Iron War Demons stayed leashed; the grand ritual needed time. They were reserved for foes lingering post-Golden Lotus.
Over a thousand Black Warriors crashed upon them. Heaven and earth quaked. The Golden Lotus was ravaged.
Headquarters crumbled amid mountains of casualties.
Yet the Golden Lotus endured. A merchants' union, it checked martial tyrants through collective might.
Headquarters lost and fortunes bled? Not enough to topple it.
But damage was grievous—material and morale alike.
Sub-lord Yu Baek-sang rode a carriage with fiancée Geum Yu-hwa, fleeing Demonic grasp with twenty-odd escorts along Anhui's highways.
Golden Lotus headquarters lay in ruins, warriors and kin slaughtered wholesale.
“Will they truly aid us?”
Yu Baek-sang replied grimly to Geum Yu-hwa.
“No choice left. Martial Alliance is impossible—we head to the Righteous Heaven Alliance. Their Demonic raid wounds run deep; they'll have to hear us out.”
“I hope so.”
Yu Baek-sang nodded fiercely, resolve etched deep.
“We will. This blood debt demands payment.”
Geum Yu-hwa eyed him worriedly. The lord had perished; Yu Baek-sang now reigned.
He'd have ascended soon regardless. No dissent— all awaited his prowess to end this cleanly.
“Can the Righteous Heaven Alliance stop them? I'm so anxious.”
Geum Yu-hwa distrusted them. Power aplenty, yet Tyrant Dragon slain recently, fractures showing—unease gnawed.
And she'd witnessed Demonic might firsthand. Black Warriors terrified: bodies shredded painless, minds alive till the end, thrashing for kills. Pitch-black flesh, blood-red eyes. Eerily horrifying.