Chapter 67: The Young Sect Leader’s Work-3
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 67: The Young Sect Leader’s Work-3
Before he had charged at Namgung So-yeon.
"A moment will come when Master is in danger. When that happens, can you stop that monster’s movements for just a second?" the Young Sect Leader asked Spirit Demon.
"Even if my arms are torn from my body, I will stop her."
"There’s no need for that. Just a very brief moment will do."
"May I... ask what the plan is?" Spirit Demon asked cautiously.
In-ho, his face etched with exhaustion, managed a small smile. "That dagger. You said it was coated in the Chief Steward’s poison."
He pointed to a violet-gleaming blade among the many weapons Spirit Demon had produced.
"Do you intend to poison her?"
"If... just if... she’s healing her body with absorbed blood rather than internal energy, then destroying her Dantian won't be enough to win."
The Young Sect Leader slowly explained his reasoning as he took the dagger from Spirit Demon. Staring at the blade as it shimmered with an eerie purple light, he muttered, "Then I have to poison that blood and make her collapse from within. Many people died at the Black Sky Cult, but that thing didn't absorb their blood."
Recalling how they had gathered and burned the corpses, In-ho spoke with conviction.
"The plan is for me to restrain the Thunder Sword while you poison her, Young Sect Leader... but wouldn't it be better to tie the weapon to my iron wires and throw it?"
"No. She’ll realize there’s poison on a flying projectile and definitely avoid it. If that happens, we won't get another chance."
"Forgive my presumption... but you have not learned martial arts, Young Sect Leader. To wound the body of a trained martial artist, even with a blade, one must possess a corresponding level of internal energy."
"Don't worry. I have a way."
A look of unshakable confidence settled on his face as he grinned, leaving Spirit Demon unable to say anything more.
And so, to the present.
"Young Sect Leader!!!"
As blood poured from In-ho’s mouth after his abdomen was impaled, the fallen Spirit Demon screamed. Battered and broken as she was, she could not easily stand.
"In-ho...!"
The Heavenly Demon, barely regaining consciousness, was speechless at the sight of her disciple.
"Urgh... I thought I’d... gotten used to this kind of thing."
In-ho’s body trembled violently as he spilled dark red blood.
"You fool...!"
The Heavenly Demon couldn't finish her sentence, staring blankly at her reckless disciple in despair.
Namgung So-yeon, the one who had pierced him, wore an ecstatic expression as she watched In-ho’s blood flow down her crimson spike.
"Ah... Young Master. It hurts quite a bit, doesn't it?"
Her eyes gleamed with an eerie light as she watched his blood soak her own body.
"Yeah... it hurts like hell."
In-ho looked down at Namgung So-yeon with a smirk.
"Young Master... I’ve been thinking. I think all these problems happened because we were apart."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes. So, I think it’s better if we become one. That way, no one can interfere with us."
In-ho’s eyes rolled back as he felt the spike in his stomach drive even deeper.
"Agh...!!"
"In-ho!!!"
The Heavenly Demon forced herself up and threw her body at Namgung So-yeon, but she was swatted away by a swinging arm, sent flying back toward Spirit Demon.
"Now... let us become one."
Opening her mouth wide, Namgung So-yeon bit into In-ho’s neck. Blood sprayed violently from the wound.
"No... no... you can't...! No!!!"
"Sect Leader!!"
The Heavenly Demon screamed like a madwoman, crawling across the ground, while Spirit Demon held her back as she tried to lung forward again.
A fountain of blood erupted, and Namgung So-yeon greedily gorged herself on his lifeblood.
How long did the feeding last?
Having filled her belly, Namgung So-yeon dropped him to the ground.
Lying in the dirt, his chest rose and fell with agonizing slowness. He was still alive, but it was clear he wouldn't be for long. His face, drained of vitality, was already turning a sickly dark hue, and blood leaked incessantly from his midsection.
"Ah... the Young Master is inside me..." Namgung So-yeon muttered, stroking her stomach. She looked as if she were carrying his child.
She turned back toward the Heavenly Demon and Spirit Demon.
"Now... let’s end this. This isn't fun anymore, and I don't want to drag this out."
Step, step.
As she walked slowly toward them, Namgung So-yeon’s legs suddenly gave way.
Thud.
She slumped to the ground, a look of confusion crossing her face as if she didn't understand why it was happening.
"Huh?"
A chill ran down her spine, and she felt as if her very blood were drying up.
"What? Why is this...?"
Black spots began to bloom here and there on her once-pale skin.
"Ah...?"
Nausea surged. A lump rose from her throat, pounding against the back of her mouth.
"Bleargh!"
After vomiting up a dark, clotted mass, Namgung So-yeon hurriedly looked back.
In-ho was lying on the ground. Black spots were appearing on his body as well.
"N-no way... Gag..."
Vomiting blood, Namgung So-yeon staggered to her feet. She stumbled toward In-ho in a zigzagging gait, but her breath grew shallow, and she collapsed forward.
"Young... Master...!"
She reached out a hand, calling to him piteously. "Young Master, why...?"
At her call, In-ho merely turned his head to look at her.
"...This is... for the Chief Steward..."
"For... Maebwam..."
"And for Yeonhwa... this is my revenge..."
"You... bitch."
"Young... Master!!!"
Blood now streamed from her eyes. Spilling filth from every orifice, Namgung So-yeon died on the spot.
The end of the genius who had appeared as a rising star of the Murim, carrying everyone's expectations, was quite pathetic.
*
I felt someone tapping my cheek.
More than that, my body felt heavy. It was hard to open my eyes, and now, even breathing was a struggle.
Still, I had to wake up.
Struggling to open my eyes, I saw familiar faces.
"Master..."
Master and Spirit Demon were already by my side.
"In-ho! You’re awake. Just wait a little longer. We will neutralize the poison. You’ll be better soon, so just hold on a bit more."
Was it because we had shared so much physical intimacy? Or was it simply because of the time we’d spent together?
I knew she was lying. If there were a way to save me, she wouldn't be wearing such a desperate expression.
"It’s okay... it’s already too late."
"Don't say that!! How dare you... in front of your Master... say such a thing... Sob!!"
I felt a faint sensation of someone hitting my shoulder. She was likely sobbing as she swatted at me.
"Young Sect Leader... was this what you meant... by poisoning her no matter what?" Spirit Demon spoke to me as if she had committed a capital crime.
"Well... I don't have internal energy... so I didn't think I could stab her... That’s why I did it this way."
I forced the corners of my mouth up to respond.
Before charging at Namgung So-yeon, I had driven the dagger into my own thigh. Then, I provoked her into absorbing my blood.
Throughout our journey here, she had frequently shown a desire to consume my blood. Perhaps it was superhuman patience... or perhaps the lingering righteous will of the original Namgung So-yeon that had stopped her.
But now, after the battle had raged on and she had tasted the blood of so many others, I was certain she would take mine. Who would refuse a feast laid out right in front of them?
And this was the result.
We won.
"Why... why did you do it! If you go like this, Young Sect Leader..."
Spirit Demon’s face contorted as tears streamed down her face.
"The Young Sect Leader... is also... hic... a member of the Black Sky Cult."
"What?"
"I’m not just someone to be protected... I’m someone who throws his life away for the Cult..."
"This is... exactly what a Young Sect Leader should do..."
The Chief Steward, Spirit Demon, and Fist Demon had all told me: the Black Sky Cult is the Heavenly Demon. And they throw their lives away for her.
"I... am the same... I did this... for Master..."
And for the people of the Black Sky Cult who had vanished like fallen leaves.
"Stop talking nonsense!!!"
Master screamed again, cutting off the conversation between Spirit Demon and me. She buried her face in my chest and wailed.
I slowly raised my hand and stroked her hair.
"Don't cry... Master..."
"Uuuugh... In-ho... In-ho... don't leave me behind..."
Stroke, stroke.
I ran my hand through her hair with affection.
"You really are... a high-maintenance Master..."
Feeling my chest grow damp with her tears, I savored the texture of her hair a little longer. Because I wouldn't be able to feel it anymore.
"Cough!!"
My breathing grew ragged. I felt my abdomen swelling. It was likely a symptom of the poison. Master was doing everything she could to alleviate the symptoms, but it was like pouring water into a broken pot.
"Master... I have a request."
"In-ho... yes, I’ll grant whatever you ask. Do you want the world? I will bring it to your feet. Do you want women? You can take as many concubines as you like. So..."
"So..."
"So please, don't leave me."
Hearing her plea, something hot welled up in my own eyes. But I didn't want to meet my end like this. I wanted to face the end smiling, looking my best.
Because... for the first time since I began traveling through dimensions, I was leaving after doing something meaningful.
"Master. Please let me go now."
I stated my will clearly.
"No... no!!! To send you away again... I can't..."
She grabbed my hand and rubbed it against her cheek, muttering like a madwoman. I squeezed her hand and met her eyes.
"Because of the poison... it’s hard to stay any longer. Please... make it painless. All at once... kill me."
"...No. I am not ready to let you go."
"You’ll never be ready anyway. So let me go now."
"......."
She remained silent, and in that interval, I coughed up blood a few more times. Tears flowed endlessly from Master’s eyes as she looked down at me.
After a long wait, she finally spoke.
"Then... tell me. Tell me that we will meet again someday. Tell me that when we meet again, we will live happily together forever."
It sounded like a child’s tantrum, so I let out a small chuckle. Well, it was the end; why couldn't I do at least that much?
"Don't be sad. We’ll meet again someday, and when we do, I’ll live happily with you forever, Master."
At my words, she smiled. The sight of her smiling through her tears was heartbreaking, yet beautiful.
"Yes... thank you."
With those words, my vision faded to black.