Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Descendants of the Blood Demon
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The gap widened further.
No matter how exceptional their lightness skills, they couldn't easily close in on Yi Hwan.
Pa Pa was no different.
There was no worry of being caught. Yet Yi Hwan wanted to confirm their identities.
[Into the dense forest!]
[Yes!]
At Yi Hwan's command, Pa Pa veered direction again. A short while later, a thickly overgrown forest appeared, dense as a jungle.
Yi Hwan deliberately slowed his pace.
The distance to the blood-robed men shrank to within twenty paces in an instant.
Pa pa pa pat!
Once inside the forest, tangled branches made running impossible, so Yi Hwan and Pa Pa leaped up to the treetops. The blood-robed men followed suit, leaping up after them.
Yi Hwan scanned ahead.
A narrow, deep ravine lay not far off.
[Into the ravine. Full speed, Pa Pa!]
[Yes!]
Moments later, Yi Hwan and Pa Pa plunged into the ravine.
[To the left cliff face!]
Pine trees jutted from the left cliff in spots, piercing the rock, with thick underbrush around—perfect for hiding.
Just as Yi Hwan and Pa Pa reached it, the blood-robed men entered the ravine. It was a close call. Rather than charging ahead blindly, the blood-robed men began sharply scanning the surroundings.
Yi Hwan and Pa Pa watched them silently, suppressing their presence. Pa Pa asked,
[Shall we attack?]
[Wait for my signal.]
[Be careful. We know nothing of their abilities. What you're seeing likely isn't all they have.]
[Noted.]
It was then.
One blood-robed man stared right at their position. In that moment, Yi Hwan glimpsed the blood-red aura gleaming in his eyes.
‘If that's Blood Demon Qi...’
They had to be the Blood Demon's descendants. But to be certain, he'd need to see their martial arts firsthand. He'd encountered Blood Demon Qi before.
Back then, it was identifiable by sight alone, but these blood-robed men's version felt similar yet somehow different. Seven motes of light rose from Yi Hwan's fingertips. He concealed them carefully, out of the enemies' view.
"Spread out and check the surroundings!"
"Yes."
Another blood-robed man leaped straight toward Yi Hwan and Pa Pa's position. At the same instant, the seven motes shot from Yi Hwan's fingertips.
A blood-red glow erupted around the blood-robed man soaring through the air. A protective barrier?
Ting ting ting ting!
The seven motes struck the glow and vanished.
"Over here!"
The blood-robed man shouted urgently.
But his cry cut short. Pa Pa's sword pierced his chest.
Thud!
"Gah!"
A master of his caliber would have died instantly. Yet as he plummeted, the blood-robed man unleashed a final strike at Pa Pa.
Pa Pa twisted midair, returning to her position. Astonishingly, fresh blood seeped from her forearm—the final blow had grazed her.
Thump!
The scattered men all returned.
The one slain by Pa Pa's sword fell before them. He convulsed once before going limp. The blood-robed men's eyes filled with an even deeper crimson glow as they stared.
One of them muttered coldly.
"The poison user has some skill with the sword, too."
At that, Pa Pa's eyes flashed. Relief soon followed in her gaze. She'd feared her identity exposed.
Pa Pa turned to Yi Hwan—and flinched. The air around him as he gazed down at the blood-robed men felt ominous.
[What's wrong, Great Prince?]
[Ever heard of the Blood Demon?]
[If you mean the one from two hundred years ago, of course.]
[They're his descendants.]
"......!"
Yi Hwan had confirmed the presence of Blood Demon Qi when the blood-robed man launched his final strike at Pa Pa. No amount of time or space could make him forget the Blood Demon's arts.
The Southwest King's face, Jo Yun's, naturally came to mind.
‘How many true inheritors of the Blood Demon does he have at his side?’
It was then.
"Let's see how long you can hold out up there."
One blood-robed man called out coldly.
Behind him, another released a messenger pigeon skyward.
[They're calling for reinforcements. Any more delay is dangerous, Great Prince.]
Urgency filled Pa Pa's voice.
[Stay calm, Pa Pa.]
Yi Hwan eyed the cliff above. Near-vertical, but protruding rocks dotted it—climbable enough.
[We'll go up there. Catch your breath first.]
[We can't afford delays.]
[No need to worry. They see us as the poison killers. They won't dare climb with the poison threat.]
[......Understood.]
Pa Pa began regulating her breathing. She marveled inwardly at Yi Hwan's composure and cool judgment.
‘He keeps surprising me more and more.’
Whoooosh!
A fierce wind howled through the ravine, clawing at them.
Shhh!
As the pines and brush shook, swaying their bodies, Yi Hwan pulled a flask from his bosom and took a swig. Then he hurled it at the blood-robed men.
Crack!
One swept his hand, sending a burst of energy that shattered the flask.
Yi Hwan leaped to the underbrush atop the cliff.
With the human skin mask, his identity stayed hidden. The chase had exposed his face anyway, so he'd switch masks from now on.
"Impressive for a young pup."
"Does poison care about age?"
"Why slaughter people? What's your goal?"
"Couldn't stand the sight of your master."
"Big talk. Let's see if that mouth's still flapping later."
"Tell your master this: from tomorrow, watch every drop of water, every breath of air."
"......!"
"See you next time."
Yi Hwan shot up the cliff face, Pa Pa close behind.
"They're escaping!"
The other blood-robed men surged upward but were stopped. Their leader shook his head with a grim expression.
"Forgot the poison? We'd be done if we climb."
"But......"
"I'll take responsibility. Stand down."
"......Yes."
Having calmed his men, the leader glared up at Yi Hwan and Pa Pa, already far above, biting his lip.
‘Calculated this from the start and led us here? In that frantic chase?’
He realized now.
The height was impossible by human strength alone, but the jutting rocks made it feasible. Still, pursuit was out.
Poison aside, Pa Pa's skill in slaying his subordinate couldn't be ignored. If she used poison from above, dodging it could leave them open to her sword—likely fatal.
"We can't go back empty-handed. His Highness will punish us. You sure?"
"They changed direction twice midair. With such experts backing them, using poison to slow us—could we handle it?"
"......"
The leader turned.
"Pursue from another angle."
* * *
Emerging from the ravine, Yi Hwan and Pa Pa plunged into the forest to steady their weary bodies.
Even profound inner force masters tired like any warrior after heavy expenditure.
"Apply the golden sore salve first."
"It's just a graze. I'm fine."
"Take care of yourself. For the Crown Prince, if nothing else."
"......Understood."
Pa Pa turned away, shed her top, applied salve to the wound, and tore cloth into a long strip to bind it tight.
"May I ask something?"
"Go ahead."
"How did you know those men were the Blood Demon's descendants?"
"I'm interested in that lineage."
"Is the Southwest King involved too?"
"He's a descendant. Likely their leader."
"......!"
Pa Pa's eyes widened in shock.
Yi Hwan continued evenly.
"Your Crown Prince was unlucky. A tiger of an uncle, and a Blood Demon descendant at that. No one could have handled it."
Yi Hwan narrowed his eyes, turning the question back.
"You never suspected anything?"
"The Southwest King never came north of Kunlun Citadel until revealing his ambitions. He sent tribute yearly without fail, aided the kingdom generously in good times and bad. No one in the court or imperial family doubted his loyalty. His martial arts seemed the same—just Imperial Palace Martial Arts like any prince. No one imagined he'd inherited the Blood Demon's legacy."
"Even the Emperor didn't know?"
"Yes. Had His Majesty known, the Southwest King would have been eliminated long ago."
Yi Hwan could guess.
‘He hunkered down in the west, perfecting the Blood Demon's arts in secret.’
The question remained: how did Jo Yun inherit them?
If a hereditary line, the Emperor—same blood—should be involved.
Heh.
‘No way he's reincarnated like me.’
The thought drew an involuntary chuckle.
"Why laugh?"
"Nothing."
Yi Hwan eyed Pa Pa's arm. Tightly bound, but blood had soaked through, staining red.
‘That was some move. Twice redirecting midair—masterful realm.’
Perhaps Pa Pa was a higher expert than she'd shown.
"Time to head back to the city."
"Change your human skin mask first."
Soon after, masked anew, Yi Hwan and Pa Pa left the forest for the bustling markets. They bought fresh clothes, changed, and set off for the Zhao Kingdom's capital, site of the upcoming martial conference.
* * *
Twitch.
"You let them slip away right in front of you?"
Jo Yun's brows twisted angrily. Cold sweat dripped down the reporter's back.
"The culprits' prowess was beyond imagination. We couldn't block them, so we called for backup and waited—but they scaled the cliff and escaped."
"Poisoned, you said?"
"They didn't use poison."
"No wonder. No fight, no need for poison. Two culprits, both unimaginable experts......"
Jo Yun's gaze darkened.
Silence fell. The watching middle-aged man spoke first.
"I'll deploy more experts."
"Something else first."
"What?"
"Spread rumors: not two culprits, but dozens, all top experts. Make sure the ministers hear fast—as in, now!"
"May I ask why?"
"I'll explain later. Move!"
"Understood."
The middle-aged man left with the reporting warrior.
A meaningful smile curled Jo Yun's lips.
‘Why didn't I think of this sooner?’