Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Blood Cult
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Following Black Wind's instructions, I pulled out all the night-luminescent pearls.
In the darkness, I heard sniffing sounds as he scented the air.
"When some senses fade, the others sharpen. Let's see..."
"Are you a dog?"
"With special training, even a novice can do it. If you ask nicely, I could teach you."
"I'll pass."
"Tsk tsk. Missing out on a one-of-a-kind opportunity."
Black Wind muttered something. I even heard him scratching at the wall.
"All right. Put the night-luminescent pearls back in."
The underground elixir workshop lit up again, revealing a large character scrawled on the wall.
The character for blood.
"...Blood? Does it mean they saw blood?"
"It's probably not that simple. They must have tried to write the key point even while being captured. The character itself must signify something..."
A group or person connected to the character for blood.
As I pondered, Black Wind clicked his tongue in front of me.
"...I thought it was just infighting among the three sects, but apparently not. Damn. A third faction entering the fray, and of all things..."
"What are you talking about?"
"An old tale. The closest thing we've seen here is probably the Blazing Heaven Fist Demon."
"Explain properly, you brat."
"Have you heard of the Blood Cult?"
"...What? Blood Cult? The faction that split from our cult?"
The Blazing Heaven Fist Demon growled.
"They're all dead, brat. It's been decades since they were made an example of. The faction splintered, and all their manuals were burned. Every last one carrying on the Blood Cult's legacy was slain by the previous Heavenly Demon. So why the hell are they popping up now?"
"That's what I thought too, but it doesn't seem like it ended that cleanly. They're the group most closely tied to 'blood,' and more importantly, this martial arts residue is something I've never seen before."
"Isn't it just your shallow experience?"
"Hah! Don't talk nonsense! The name Black Wind carries weight. I know far more than I don't. If I say I haven't seen it, nine out of ten warriors in our cult haven't either!"
Black Wind bristled as if I'd touched a sore spot. Mockery laced his voice.
"And you, Blazing Heaven Fist Demon, so confident-can you identify the traces of the martial arts that wrecked this place at a glance? Huh?"
"Arrogant bastard. Time to teach you some manners."
"With that empty head of yours yapping 'wrong, wrong' from the sidelines, who'd keep their cool? Catch me if you can. You won't even touch my toenail."
"You little-!"
"Enough, both of you."
I sorted through the information.
"...Blood Cult. A fallen organization. You're saying they're the most likely third force?"
"If my guess is right. If you doubt me, Young Master Wu, I have nothing to say."
I thought it over deeply. Pondered and pondered some more.
"...Blood Cult. If Black Scholar's reasoning holds, a third force interfered. Black Scholar, back when the Blood Cult existed, what was their relationship with our cult?"
"What do you think? The story ends with the previous Heavenly Demon wiping them out. The Blood Cult was steeped in violence, so much so that even the previous Heavenly Demon rejected them. Blood, literally. A mad group that slaughtered countless followers and offered their corpses in rituals."
"If they split from our cult... they wouldn't get along with the three sects either."
"Naturally."
I pieced the links together one by one.
"A group hiding for decades... versus sects openly building power... Which do you think amassed more strength?"
"The sects, obviously. What grows in the light absorbs more nutrients."
"The three sects hold the advantage over the Blood Cult. And those three already clashed in bloody battle in Akmin."
"It's been six months since the incident. Everyone hushes it up, but Akmin's foundations are piled with countless corpses. Enough to shake the sects' very roots."
"Yet if your Black Night Squad still hasn't been found... Black Scholar, what do you think is the reason?"
"......"
Black Wind's expression hardened.
"They provoked infighting among the three sects? That makes sense. And the fact that the group hasn't been exposed yet... points to traitors hiding within the sects."
"Just a hypothesis."
"It fits too perfectly for a guess. Blood Cult and sects. People connected between them. If we root them out, we can pick up the trail again. But how do we find them?"
"I'm thinking."
"Warrior. If all that holds together, leave that part to me. It'll be tedious work, but not impossible."
Black Orchid rose gracefully.
I asked her.
"Can you explain the method?"
"I can, but I don't want to say it in front of others. Four unpleasant people here."
"Including me?"
"Did you think you were excluded?"
The explanation would have to wait. I searched the place once more for anything else we might have missed.
Nothing turned up. That was it.
"...Blood Cult."
The Blazing Heaven Fist Demon, lost in thought, strode off wordlessly. His two disciples followed suit.
Black Wind vanished like the wind, saying he'd return later.
Only Black Orchid remained. She gently took my arm.
"Warrior. Rest should come first, don't you think?"
"True, but..."
"This will take time anyway. Can't rush it overnight. So let's rest. To save the Black Night Squad members, we need to conserve energy for whatever comes."
Black Orchid tugged at my hand.
"One room should suffice, right? Prices in Akmin are absurd right now. Splitting into two would just waste money."
"...I'm fine with that, but Black Lady..."
"I'm fine too. I know you won't pounce on me. If you were obsessed with women, you'd have been humping the air like that idiot Black earlier."
"I'm not that bad, but I am a man."
"The funniest, cutest thing I've heard."
Her veil twitched.
"If you're so sure, feel free to pounce."
"...You're quite the teaser."
"Am I?"
"......"
......
After handing over a hefty sum, we finally got a room at the inn to lie down.
She was right. Staying in Akmin cost a fortune these days. It was okay for now, but who knew about later.
Better to save money. I'd be sharing a room with her for a while.
Black Orchid said she'd bathe first and disappeared behind the closed door. Amid the rustling sounds, I suddenly thought of White Charm.
Come to think of it, she bathed like that too. Wonder if she's training under Myo Ye-rin...
What could she be doing now?
"Gonna peek?"
"No peeking."
"You can if you're curious."
"Black Lady, treasure your body."
"Treasure myself... Tough words."
I heard the sound of her slipping into warm water.
A languid sigh drifted from beyond the unseen door.
"You asked about the method earlier? Simple. I don't know exactly what the Blood Cult is, but the reason they risked everything for your Black Night Squad is obvious: revenge against the Demon Cult. Just as you said, they're clearly trying to fracture the three sects. Make them distrust each other endlessly, drive them to clash. They've already reaped some rewards. Akmin's been stacked with corpses for six months; the blood hasn't even dried."
"....... "
"I've heard rumors since arriving. All dripping with malice. 'So-and-so has the Black Night Squad'-deliberate whispers. Most pointed to the sects' masters. Far fewer accused unaffiliated demons.
---Rustle.
The sound of her drying off.
"So it's simple. Trace those malicious rumors to their source. Grab one, interrogate, grab the next linked one, interrogate again. Tedious, grueling work... but effective. We'll know who's spreading the nonsense."
"...Speculation, isn't it? Too much to assume every rumor stems from Blood Cult spies."
"True. Some might be deliberate from the sects. They're pillars supporting our cult, but massive forces checking each other. Still, real leaks from spies will be mixed in. With my soul-capturing arts, I can extract every bit of info. Verify everyone spreading rumors... That's why I call it tedious labor."
"....... "
"Can't request official investigations from the sects. Big movements make noise, and rats hide. The Blood Cult would too. We work quietly in the shadows, repeatedly, without drawing attention. Warrior, while I'm digging, clashes with sect members might happen. Snooping covertly invites suspicion."
"I'll protect you then."
"That's what I wanted to hear."
I asked at the closed door.
"Why go this far to help me?"
"Curious. What kind of man is this 'Warrior'?"
"...Me?"
"You're unlike anyone I've met. Heard you're the world's greatest beauty, yet you don't peek behind my veil, don't rush to close the distance. Didn't react to 'you can hold me,' and even now, won't come in when invited?"
"Wouldn't it be weirder to barge in when asked?"
"You said before: if charm's ten parts, body and looks are just one. I disagree. Looks are nine of ten. No matter the talent, a ruined face erases it all. Gazes change, your standing vanishes."
"......"
"Ever worked hard only for it to mean nothing? I have. Felt like I wasn't myself anymore..."
She murmured something unknowable, then asked me.
"Still curious about the face behind the veil?"
"...Show me if you want."
"Honestly, no courage. I'm a terrible liar. You'd be disappointed."
"Black Lady."
"Yes."
"I don't know what happened to you. Still don't. But you've helped me, so I want to repay that."
"......"
"If you need help, just say. I'll do what I can."
"Grateful words."
"Grateful..."
I leaned my head against the door.
"Black Lady, lately I've realized how vital relationships are. How grateful one is for someone to believe in, rely on. And now I know they're not one-sided aid, but sharing between equals."
"......"
"People seem like they can live alone, but I think we can't. Everyone has weak moments, needs help then. That's normal."
"......"
"You said before: born eldest of an unremarkable clan, worked hard. I don't know what's truth or lie. Don't know the face behind the veil."
I spoke up.
Gathered my thoughts.
"...But if a relationship changes over mere appearance, it was flawed from the start."
"....... "
"I believe the unseen holds more than the seen. Even if the face behind the veil suddenly turned ugly or scarred, it wouldn't erase your efforts, right? Raising your clan. The martial arts you wielded to bear responsibility. The endurance you hid despite hardship..."
"......"
"I don't know your life, but if people treat you differently over looks, they're the strange ones. And so... it's not too late."
"Too late for what?"
"To build proper relationships, not twisted ones."
Soul-Capturing Witch Dan-hwa.
Our first meeting was disastrous, but she's considerate, given me much.
I don't know her exactly. Infamous, but circumstances unknown, stories untold.
Yet I know one thing.
She's striving for me.
If I've received, I must give. Fortunately, the more we talk, the less she seems inherently vicious.
"My name is Red Cloud, Black Lady."
"......"
"Just for you. Don't spread it."
"...Ahaha."
The sound of her rising from the water. Dripping on the floor.
A fresh voice whispered from right before the door.
"Red Cloud. Will you be my new relationship?"
"If 'friend' suits, then yes."
"Friend... Friend. Nostalgic word. Had a few once, none now. But a condition, Red Cloud."
"What is it?"
"Will you look behind my veil?"
"If you wish."
The door cracked open. A hesitant hand emerged, fidgeting, slowly widening the gap.
I saw it. Below her bound-up hair, a face revealed. Burn scars devoured half, clearly once beautiful.
No pus or foul smell. An old, healed wound, just the marks remaining.
Black Orchid touched her face.
"...Unhealable scar. Mishandled at first, every doctor after shook their heads. I'll live with this face forever. World's greatest beauty? All lies. Not then, but now... just an ugly, twisted woman."
"......"
"Does it still hold? Wanting to be friends?"
I reached out. Gently stroked the flinching Black Orchid's face.
I felt the hardship. Sighs in my fingertips.
A scar harsher than it looked. But my intent remained.
The contents outweigh the form.
---Smack.
I lightly flicked her forehead. She yelped.
"Why hit me?!"
"Your face showed your heart, so I did. Eyes expecting my feelings to change."
"......"
"You'd know best with a scar. Has my attitude toward you changed?"
She studied my face. Turned her head slightly.
"No... it hasn't."
"Then?"
"Then what?"
"You've seen it hasn't changed. So, will you form this relationship or not? Black Lady."
I offered my hand.
"What'll it be?"
"....... "
Black Orchid hesitated, then took my hand.
"One more condition."
"What?"
"Call me by name."
"...Dan-hwa."
"Yeah. Nice."
She reached for the distant veil, then pulled back.
"No need for it?"
"If you want. But please put on something else."
"Huh?"
"...Your clothes are loose; I can see inside."
Black Orchid blinked. Burst into laughter.
"Red Cloud's weird. Why? Too sexy?"
"...Don't tease."
"No way. Fun. Ahaha! How long since I laughed like this."
Black Orchid lunged at me. Clung to my back, rubbing her cheek.
"Nice to meet you, friend."
"Likewise. But clothes..."
"I sleep naked alone."
"I'm here."
"Friends count as men?"
"Yes."
"Aw."
"Clothes first."