Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Dragon's Blood (2)
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“As expected, nothing beats a cup of Biluochun brewed right here in Jiangsu.”
The flower tea and citron flower tea I had before were excellent, but how could they compare to Biluochun enjoyed at its source?
The Demonic Doctor, Heavenly Dragon, continuously marveled at the aroma as he watched the sky intently.
If the Black Dragon had been defeated, the Hidden Dragon Star, positioned above the Big Dipper, would have fallen.
If not that, then rumors would spread through the martial world faster than one could see a star fall.
Rumors that a mysterious master of the Unorthodox Path, who had been living in seclusion on Mount Mao, had appeared.
The Demonic Doctor, Heavenly Dragon, wore a faint smile, savoring the unique scent of the Biluochun.
‘He’ll probably absorb all the river pirates in Jiangsu to expand his influence and seize control of the waterways.’
Although the Black Dragon was the most impetuous of the Eight Evils, he had lived for hundreds of years.
If he were merely simple and foolish, he never would have survived the era of the Demonic Doctor. He was wise enough to be able to use the sorcery of the High Heavens.
Therefore, despite wishing for the Black Dragon’s defeat, the Demonic Doctor did not expect him to lose.
He had already accounted for the Omniscient One being unable to stop the Black Dragon.
After all, even if he was the sole successor of the Mount Mao lineage, one man could not stop a demonic beast alone.
Just as the Demonic Doctor’s hand reached for a snack, the Hidden Dragon Star moved.
“...Ah!”
The star that had hung at the highest point began to slowly descend.
Watching the Hidden Dragon Star, which had floated aloof as if to look down upon even the Big Dipper, gradually fall, the Demonic Doctor let out a regretful sigh.
It was time to get up.
“The bill, please.”
“Right away, sir!”
With the sign of the Hidden Dragon Star's fall, the Eight Evils—no, the Seven Evils now—would surely be in an uproar.
The Demonic Doctor closed his eyes, savoring the aroma of the Biluochun.
The Asura’s Mask would still be wandering for the sake of his tragic ambition, and the Crow’s Mask was holding its breath in the heart of the martial world.
As for the most troublesome one, the Ghost’s Mask, he was likely holed up in that place of his.
He was the type who wouldn't move even if his mask were to shatter, unless someone went to him directly.
The Eight Evils were not united.
And in this situation, the Black Dragon had died.
‘With the Black Dragon dead, a rift will form between the masks.’
The Demonic Doctor had no doubt that he would ultimately be the true victor.
‘I will stand above it all, at the very pinnacle, orchestrating everything.’
With that thought, the Demonic Doctor smiled quietly.
* * *
“Grrr…”
Ouyang Jue forced himself into a meditative posture as he chewed the dragon’s blood.
The more he chewed, the more the revulsion compounded, to the point where he wanted to vomit it all out.
But at a similar rate, his wounds were healing.
And that wasn’t all.
His torn skin knit back together, even tougher than before, and the deep bruises that had painted his insides crimson vanished under the immense healing power of the dragon’s blood.
‘If I could have taken this in a healthy state… my innate True Qi would have increased.’
Ouyang Jue lamented that he couldn't bring this to Ha Jin-ak. Still, there was a way.
‘Since he was saved by the divine arts of the Mount Mao Sect, the Omniscient One should be able to further improve Senior-most Brother’s condition.’
Of course, there was no reason for the Mount Hua Sect, a Daoist sect, to look favorably upon a sorcerer like the Omniscient One.
They might even shun or despise him due to their history of fierce battles with the former Demonic Cult.
But if he could just provide assurance that Ha Jin-ak could be saved…
Despite his pain, Ouyang Jue tore a piece of his robe and wrote on it with his blood.
He made his handwriting as clear as possible so they would know it was from him.
*I, Ouyang Jue, the Plum Blossom Sword Hero, vouch for this man's identity.*
Having done that, Ouyang Jue took a deep breath and circulated his Purple Mist Divine Arts.
*Swoosh— Whooo—*
With each deep breath Ouyang Jue took, the hideous scabs fell away, and his internal injuries began to mend.
This was all thanks to the potent healing power and energy contained within the dragon’s blood. His internal energy, which had been just shy of a sixty-year cycle, felt as if it would surpass that threshold thanks to this fortunate encounter.
Besides, what was dragon’s blood?
‘They say it can turn the greatest fool into a military strategist and allow a one-armed cripple to become a first-rate warrior.’
It was a spiritual medicine that also possessed the ability to enhance one's innate enlightenment.
Ouyang Jue felt a small thrill of joy as he realized the day he would perfectly comprehend the secrets of the Heavenly Escape Sword Arts was drawing near.
If that happened, fighting a demonic beast like the Black Dragon would not be an entirely impossible feat.
Then, Ouyang Jue let out a faint sigh.
‘…Still, I’d rather not have a fight this grueling ever again.’
He hadn't fought alone; he had fought with a peerless sorcerer like the Omniscient One at his back.
Thanks to that, Ouyang Jue had been able to fight in better condition than usual. Conversely, the Black Dragon had only been able to use half of his strength.
If anyone else heard this, they would be right to call him a coward, but what was the result?
He had won, but he had been completely broken.
If the Black Dragon hadn't bestowed his blood, he might have been crippled. No, it was almost a certainty.
“From now on, I should only fight when victory is certain.”
The Black Dragon possessed a naturally gifted body that gave him an advantage on any battlefield, but there was a chance the other members of the Eight Evils did not.
In that case, he just needed to investigate them beforehand and face them on the battlefield they would find most discomforting.
Ouyang Jue muttered to himself as he replayed the fight in his mind.
For the most part, he had been overwhelmed by sheer power and forced to defend, but there were also moments where his own misjudgments had worsened the situation.
The fact that the Omniscient One was behind him had become a burden, and blocking even the blows he could have dodged had been a self-defeating move.
The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth, and Ouyang Jue bit his lower lip.
‘The Omniscient One trusted me and drew his formation, leaving himself defenseless. And I treated him like a child left by the water’s edge.’
Isn't it about time he started sharing the burden with those around him?
Was he acting too hastily, bound by the memories of his past life?
‘This life is not one I live alone.’
Liu Zhangming and Bai Duanxian had both said it.
It was okay not to do everything by himself; they asked him to share the load.
Ouyang Jue’s eyes slowly closed.
When he first returned to this life, he thought he was the one who knew everything. That was why his actions were so unrestrained, and why he found the Daoist temperaments of Bai Duanxian and Liu Zhangming so frustrating.
‘I spoke harsh words to them.’
At the time, he thought it was the right thing to do. As long as they could overcome the crisis of the future, it didn't matter if they had to abandon their original nature. That's what he had thought.
But what about him now?
He thought he knew everything, yet he didn't even know how his close acquaintance, the Omniscient One, had died. He had only just learned of the enemy known as the Eight Evils.
Moreover, hadn't his inability to perfectly execute what he did know led to Ha Jin-ak's critical condition?
Ouyang Jue could finally admit it.
‘I am not a superman.’
‘I’m just someone who knows a little more.’
He let go of the urgency to solve everything by himself. He also let go of the obsession that every action had to be perfect.
It was enough to simply live faithfully in this life.
It was okay not to act like a lone general.
Weren't there reliable people around him, like the Omniscient One, Bai Duanxian, and Liu Zhangming?
Even Jin Mu-wol had given him so much.
Regardless of his intentions, there were many who would be a source of strength. It was just that Ouyang Jue, obsessed with the memories of his past life, had refused to accept it.
“...Hoo.”
Ouyang Jue realized he had finished chewing the dragon's blood and rose to his feet.
As it turned out, the dragon's blood was no mere legend; no spiritual medicine from the heavens or the sea could exhibit such healing power.
‘If I could take this back, it would be an immense asset to the Mount Hua Sect.’
Ouyang Jue scanned the area with a look of regret.
Just then, a familiar voice came from the cave entrance.
“So, are you alright?!”
“Omniscient One? Did you take some too?”
“...You mean the dragon’s blood?”
When Ouyang Jue gave a small nod, the Omniscient One opened his mouth as if to show him.
Aside from his slightly reddened teeth, there was nothing left.
But the act was so undignified that Ouyang Jue laughed out loud.
“Haha… What is the sole successor of the Mount Mao lineage doing?”
“What does it matter? I have no reason to be cooped up on Mount Mao anymore. And I don’t particularly want to pass the lineage on to anyone.”
Because he knew how painful it was.
The Omniscient One swallowed his last words and grinned.
“Anyway, I never dreamed that a demon would leave a gift at the end. It’s not just you; I also consumed a great deal of my lifespan during the fight, and the dragon’s blood has filled it right back up.”
At those words, a natural smile graced Ouyang Jue’s lips.
Before facing the Black Dragon, he had been consumed by anguish, but now, he felt as if he had gained the drive to live on.
“I’m glad.”
“Well, I did save a little of the dragon’s blood, though.”
Ouyang Jue tilted his head.
“Why?”
“A sorcerer needs a hidden ace more than enlightenment. A single drop of dragon’s blood can accomplish a great deal.”
“Is that so.”
He answered, but to be honest, Ouyang Jue couldn't relate to the statement.
‘It would be better to just drink it and strengthen his frail body…’
Since he hadn't studied it systematically like the Omniscient One, he didn't know how valuable dragon's blood was to a sorcerer.
In that respect, it was a wonder he had learned the divine art of forcibly binding a dying person's soul to their body.
The Omniscient One himself had said at the time that it was a technique that was strangely compatible with Ouyang Jue.
He had said it was like creating sword qi without proper enlightenment.
‘Perhaps that too… is related to how I returned to this life.’
Once doubt took root, everything became suspect.
Ouyang Jue erased the pointless thought. Now was the time to enjoy this sudden windfall.
A time when even laughing and chatting was not enough.
Ouyang Jue pointed toward the cave's interior and asked the Omniscient One.
“I’ve read in books that dragons have a hobby of collecting supreme treasures. Shall we have a look around?”
“Whatever you’ve been reading, it must be some common pulp you found in the marketplace.”
The Omniscient One placed his hands on his hips, and his voice filled with confidence.
“These are no ordinary treasures. When you see them, you’ll be so surprised you’ll fall right over.”
“I like the sound of that.”
Ouyang Jue and the Omniscient One walked deeper into the dragon's lair.
* * *
Ouyang Jue let out a sharp whistle.
He couldn't hide the pounding in his chest as he saw night-luminescent pearls scattered throughout the large cavern and piles of gold everywhere.
This was especially true for Ouyang Jue, who knew the value of night-luminescent pearls and money.
“Seeing this makes me feel like the protagonist of a marketplace novel.”
“...This is the first time I’ve seen so many night-luminescent pearls gathered in one place.”
“For a man who’s lived for hundreds of years, that sounds a bit too humble, don't you think?”
At that, the Omniscient One gave a hollow smile.
“Even a sage over a hundred years old sometimes learns from a child.”
“You have a way with words.”
Ouyang Jue’s well-timed response made the exploration feel enjoyable to the Omniscient One.
Though the time they had known each other was shorter than any other acquaintance, perhaps it was because they had risked their lives fighting the Black Dragon together.
The Omniscient One's eyes suddenly deepened.
‘Somehow, it feels like this man has known me for a long time… The way he knows what I like, and the way he talks about my age.’
There was still a question that lingered about Ouyang Jue.
‘That talisman… he said I drew it.’
Frankly speaking, it was not something his past self could have drawn.
At least five years.
Even considering his own genius, the Omniscient One estimated it would have taken that much time.
But feeling that Ouyang Jue would tell him someday, the Omniscient One exercised the patience unique to those who have lived a long life.
Just then, Ouyang Jue gasped and pointed to a section of the wall.
“What is that?”
“...!?”
Spotting what Ouyang Jue’s finger was pointing at, the Omniscient One’s face stiffened as well.
A mural that seemed to hold hundreds of years of time.
Depicted there was the history of the Black Dragon's life.