Chapter 92
**
심율 opened his mouth. His dim pupils whispered.
“…Blood Sea World… long live…”
“Where is Blood Sea Member Wolhyang?”
“I don’t kno…w…”
“…What about Yeon Mi-ryeong?”
“I don’t kno…w…”
Huachun Quenma burst out in anger.
“Is this guy under some kind of hypnosis or spirit possession?”
“It’s because he doesn’t know! Stop getting mad. It looks like he really doesn’t know… Let’s change the direction a bit. Is Yeon Mi-ryeong alive? What about Blood Sea Member Wolhyang?”
“…….”
Shim Yu said.
“She is… alive.”
“……!”
In an instant, Ilma’s face flashed through my mind.
Unable to contain my overwhelming heart, I asked.
“But why doesn’t he know?”
“There’s… a limit to the information I have…”
“Give me a detailed explanation.”
“All I know is… about one branch of the Blood Sect…”
Shim Yu explained in a vacant tone. Although the words were long, the essence was simple.
“…A cell organization?”
A small organization composed of dots, coming together to form a huge organization.
Shim Yu only knew three people in the Blood Sect. Even those two were close to being ordinary citizens.
“They’ve made it difficult for me to pursue them. Managing a cell organization must be very hard… Those Blood Sect fellows must have been sharpening their claws for quite a while.”
“So what you know is just about one branch of the Blood Sect?”
“Yes…”
“Just give me whatever info you have. You must know something about the branch’s main members, right? How many branches are there in total?”
“Only the one I know about is… 72… The rest…”
“What about their locations?”
“I don’t kno…w…”
Huachun Quenma growled.
“Stop hiding and spill everything you know! Where is Mi-ryeong?! You guys must be hiding something, right?!”
“I don’t kno… *cough*…!”
“Huachun Quenma! Calm down! Shaking him won’t help!”
I gathered my thoughts. In the end, there was only one thing I could do.
The branch of the Blood Sect hiding in Eungmin. I would have to search each one out.
Even if it’s a cell organization, an organization is still an organization. There must be at least some connections between them.
If I raid one small branch, I should be able to find the location of the connected branches.
…But.
I had to do all this without the other side noticing, or they had to be oblivious to the raid itself. The moment they realize they’re being tracked, they could sever the connected ties.
“…Dan-hwa. Can you help me a little more?”
Black Danhwa understood my hidden meaning and gave my sleeve a light tug.
“Don’t worry. I’ll help you till the end.”
“Thank you.”
“What’s with the thanks? Just keep it for now. I’ll collect it from you later. In kind.”
“Eh?”
“Just kidding.”
The Nine Heavens Jade Woman, who had been silent, finally spoke.
“How many of the Blood Sect’s members are mixed within the Wima Sect?”
“I don’t kno…w…”
“You might not be the only one.”
The Nine Heavens Jade Woman turned her gaze to me.
“What’s your name?”
“Mu Myung.”
“I won’t ask too much. You seem to be in a hurry. Just answer one thing clearly. What I want is a list of their names. Once this is over, hand it over to me.”
“…What can we gain from that?”
“I’m not dumb. Based on the things you’ve done, I can roughly guess your method of tracking. You’re likely trying to dig up the branch locations without leaving traces using that spirit possession trick or whatever it is, right? If you kill the Blood Sect members, the tracking would be exposed… So you’ll probably dig up information as much as you can without touching them. It’s an easy deduction.”
The Nine Heavens Jade Woman rested her chin on her hand and nodded.
“Even if you’ve identified all the members of the Blood Sect, the numbers will still be considerable. Even if you’ve managed to locate their targets for rescue, you’ll likely not be able to overcome their numerical advantage. Therefore, on the day of the showdown, the Wima Sect will provide direct assistance.”
“…….!”
“The story of the Blood Sect isn’t merely one of a sect conflict. It’s a significant matter that could threaten our main sect. If you are a member of the main sect, it’s a problem that must be resolved. I will cooperate as much as I can. Of course, that’s not the end. If you organize the names and hand them over to me, I’ll have another sect partner with us to start purging at once. On the day of the showdown, you shall move separately to rescue the Blood Sea Member and Yeon Mi-ryeong.”
The Nine Heavens Jade Woman licked her lips.
“It will be a bloody day. If those ruthless members from the Blood Sect are indeed as powerful as their martial arts suggest, it will be a fun hunt. By the way, let me ask you. What will you do if you encounter Turtle Messenger Black Wild Dan?”
“…I will hand her over to the Nachal Sect.”
“Why?”
“Are they not the original owners? If Yeon Mi-ryeong is still alive, I will hand over the decision-making power to her.”
“Are you not going to take it for yourself?”
“I’m not interested in taking what belongs to others. Initially, I already have enough background, so honing my own skills comes first. No matter how good an elixir is, I don’t believe it will guide my path.”
“…Oh?”
The Nine Heavens Jade Woman placed her hand on my shoulder.
“What’s your name?”
“Mu Myung…”
“I’m asking for your real name.”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Is that so? I’ll let it slide. Normally, I’d force you to tell me, but… I don’t want to do that with you. Your sword was impressive. It was firm and straight. But you know, in fights like ours, that won’t give you much advantage. You can tell just by looking at Huachun Quenma’s body. Do you see blood gushing out when fighting against me?”
“It’s just a scratch! You little brat!”
“The mystery of martial arts is also important in sword fighting. If you add just a bit to your sword, you’d gain a lot.”
The Nine Heavens Jade Woman caressed my face.
“It doesn’t seem to be the Infi-Mystic Blade. Hmm. If that face were the Infi-Mystic Blade, it would have been regrettable.”
“Eh?”
“I would have said so. It’s a preference. You seem to have the right attitude toward your sword… Your thoughts regarding Turtle Messenger Black Wild Dan also align with mine. No matter how amazing an elixir is, it doesn’t sketch out your path. It would be nice to consume, but it’s not worth being greedy for. If it were Huachun Quenma, I would have killed all the Wima members. Sparing them is also commendable. One should have mercy when dealing with the lowly, after all. There might come a time when we’ll face off against each other.”
“…….?”
“I’ve made up my mind. After this is over, I shall claim you. I’ll hear your true name then.”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Nine Heavens Jade Woman!”
“Huachun Quenma. Your fists are powerful. It was a real match after a long time. But it won’t work against me. I’m sure. If you had thrown a punch there, your head would have been severed by me.”
“Stop screwing around!”
“Normally, I’d offer to engage in another sword fight… But today is where it ends. We have to move toward our common goal.”
The Nine Heavens Jade Woman brushed my cheek. She was considerably shorter, so she was visibly on her tiptoes.
“I like that you are tall. Next time we meet, carry me on your back.”
“Eh?”
“I like high views. Remember that.”
The Nine Heavens Jade Woman organized the Wima members. She casually tossed a card to me.
“Once you’ve gathered all the necessary information, come find me. Until then, we are strangers. The patrol we carried out today was just a minor incident; let’s pretend the Wima Sect subdued it. And that nameless woman. What will happen to her once that spirit possession is over?”
“If it’s just a brief moment of one session, it’s possible to manipulate memory. The more detailed the manipulation, the higher the chance of detection, though.”
“Go to Gilu, then change the memory to having been caught by me. It’s just a regular affair, so they won’t suspect deeply. Shim Yu will continue playing the role of the member as usual. You won’t have anything to worry about.”
The Nine Heavens Jade Woman looked back at me for the last time.
“But if a tail grows too long, it will surely be caught. The more people who have confusion in their memories, the more the Blood Sect will sense something strange. Hurry and track them down before the enemy hides.”
“…Yes. Thank you, Wima Sect Leader.”
“You can also call me Master.”
“That crazy woman!”
The Nine Heavens Jade Woman walked away. The Wima Sect took Shim Yu, who was under memory manipulation.
Black Danhwa organized the information extracted from Shim Yu.
“I learned the location of the branch. What will we do now?”
“I’ll chase right away. I probably won’t have much time to rest… Danhwa. As I said earlier…”
“I said I’m fine. I’ll help. She’s a friend, after all, right?”
“Are you really going to learn from the Nine Heavens Jade Woman? You should rather learn Huachun Explosion Sword from me! It suits you much better.”
“This isn’t the time for joking, elder.”
“No… I was just a bit bitter… Sigh. Right. That’s a story for later. We need to move. I heard that Mi-ryeong is still alive.”
Huachun Quenma stood up.
“We can’t kill them, right?”
“No. Absolutely not. We’ll be moving in the depths without the enemy noticing. All we have to find out is what name they are hiding. Kidnap and use the spirit possession to charm them, extract the information, then release them. Repeat until we uncover the overall framework, and once we gather all the final information…”
Black Danhwa unfurled her fan.
“We’ll join forces with the Wima Sect to sweep away the remnants in one go. If multiple branches are attacked at the same time, the enemy’s psyche will also be shaken. After that, we’ll forcibly take them. Simple, right?”
“How many people do I have to stir up to unfold that simple story?”
“If you don’t want to do it, then step back.”
“…Why are all the women from the main sect so rude… Tsk.”
I rose from the ruined building.
“I think it’s better to stop the small talk and move.”
…
The shadows swayed. The man tightened the crimson cloak he was wearing even deeper.
Aside from the sound of the flames burning, nothing else could be heard around. Those on guard did not chatter, staring ahead like the dead.
A silence deeply settled into their bones. But how could one not love this silence?
This silence brought us to where we are now.
And the flowers that bloomed from that silence are truly the color red.
A long time had passed preparing for this event. And it only now began to bear its fruit.
The sound of the burning flames gradually faded away in the deepest darkness.
The man opened the closed door. The woman chained in place lifted her head.
“Guqcheong? Hmm. Meal time? What are today’s side dishes?”
“……”
Asking with familiarity despite being tied up. Even in this situation where her internal energy was almost sealed, she didn’t lose her composure.
It wasn’t acting. She truly had that composure.
The man, Guqcheong, chuckled softly. With a hand gesture, he signaled his companion to take out the ration.
“I recall you saying you wanted to eat pork? It’s prepared.”
“Really? You’re the only one here who communicates well, Guqcheong.”
“Of course. You’re going to become family, so would I not listen?”
“Eh? Didn’t I say before? I’m not into you. I prefer something a bit… bloodier! Ahahaha! That sort of thing!”
“If it’s bloody, then I wouldn’t be lacking either.”
“No, not that kind of blood. I don’t mean blood in that sense… But the smell is good. Let’s see…”
The chains clinked.
“Please loosen my hands a bit so I can eat comfortably. Isn’t that something you can do as family?”
“I’ve answered so many times, but today’s the same. No can do.”
“Are you afraid of a weak woman like me?”
“I am. The elite of the main sect slaughters more than seven of you with a single hand. All of them were at the leader level.”
“I’ve said it again, but they were not at the leader level at all! They were all just weaklings.”
How many can speak so boldly in the main sect?
Guqcheong picked up the meat from the ration with chopsticks. He shoved it directly into the woman’s mouth.
“Chew! Isn’t this the meat you wished for? How does it taste? Hmm? Ah, you seem to be having difficulty chewing… Here, let me help you chew.”
Not only stabbing her with chopsticks, but he also put his hand into her mouth.
With a twist, blood began to seep from her cracked palate due to his trained nails.
“Oh dear. I’m sorry. I was a bit rough. I hope you can understand since feelings swell when thinking of the dead members.”
*Cough cough!*
Guqcheong wiped the laughter from his face.
“There’s not much time left. Blood Sea Member Wolhyang. Make your choice quickly. There’s so much you could do alive rather than honorably dying, you know? It doesn’t even seem like you’re loyal to the demon cult’s creed.”
Wolhyang, who spat out the blood tainted saliva, grinned.
“No, I actually love it! I really do. I really love it. This main sect operates on strength, right? It’s the best doctrine! You can kill freely, and as long as you have the power, you can be forgiven endlessly!”
“That’s the same for our Blood Sect.”
“Eheh. Right. It’s a gathering of lunatics. But still, I really don’t like your side. There’s no Master of Blood Sea on your side.”
“Master of Blood Sea?”
“The number one of the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists. The one at the highest seat. You see, I can’t go anywhere without that person’s sword, you know? So I really have no choice. No matter how strong you are, there’s no way you can follow that person, right?”
“The Heavenly Eight Martial Artists are just for show. The strength that our Blood Sect possesses is far greater.”
“Do you really think that? Compared to the main sect, your Blood Sect isn’t even worth considering. It’s not worth worrying about!”
“…….”
Guqcheong sighed.
“Don’t speak like you’re so brilliant. The Heavenly Eight Martial Artists won’t come to save you, will they? There’s nothing as foolish as blind loyalty.”
“It’s not loyalty. It’s attraction. You see, I’ve only met a few people I found appealing. Among them, only two I haven’t killed. One was an entirely different species and the other a celestial. You see, Guqcheong. The kind and cute person who even went to buy meat for me.”
Wolhyang whispered.
“You’re also charming. But… but you’re not. Right? Absolutely not. I’m not curious about your blood scent. I’m not curious about blood taste. Hah, not even a bit excited. The place where someone like you stands as the center is the Blood Sect, so shouldn’t the higher-ups be similar?”
“…….”
“There’s a strange lack of alluring blood scents in the organization that calls itself the Blood Sect. Isn’t that weird? Huh? It’s strange, isn’t it…?”
—Clank clank!!
“Answer me… Guqcheong…!”
The chains shook more violently. Several seemed about to break.
Even with her internal energy sealed, that much was a feat. The famed Eternal Chain was shaking that much.
How much poisonous blood is mixed beneath that flower-like beauty?
Guqcheong stepped back. He wiped the damp nape of his neck unnecessarily. His usually relaxed smile crumbled easily only before her.
In front of her, he truly couldn’t put on an act.
That woman is genuinely insane.
If she didn’t have the main sect’s treasure binding her, she would have been buried that day alongside Seven Star Gate.
This was madness he couldn’t handle. He wanted to grasp her hand and end his life right there, but…
She was already under the gaze of the sect leader. He had to convince her as much as possible.
His master’s words were absolute.
Listening to the sect leader was also the duty of a vice-sect leader.
“Finish feeding her.”
“Are you leaving already? Huh? Let’s not go further. I feel like I’m going to get mold in my mouth.”
“If you want to talk, then come to the main sect.”
“I don’t want to go there.”
Guqcheong left her, heading upward. In a relatively brighter place than before, a woman was sitting quietly.
The woman beyond the iron bars merely gazed silently at the wall. Guqcheong spoke.
“Yeon Mi-ryeong.”
“…….”
Her glance flickered briefly. Guqcheong extended the food he brought.
“Eat. If you don’t, I’ll force-feed you.”
“……”
“Are you still going to stay silent? Since coming here, you haven’t spoken a single word. But that will soon end. We will be leaving Eungmin. All that we need is gathered, and once we conclude, we shall escape from here. At that time, you will also come with us.”
Yes. The time for retreat is coming.
There’s a reason for everything that has unfolded here.
Weakening the Nachal Sect? Sect conflicts?
Those are all secondary. What I truly desire has been in my grasp for a long time.
Yet, I still remain here only to gather even those secondary matters.
When we leave Eungmin, it will be a bloodbath.
“The Blood World is coming.”
Guqcheong looked down at the last heir of the Seven Star Gate.
“Your talent will be of great help to the main sect. You will live your life serving the main sect for eternity. Consider it an honor, Yeon Mi-ryeong.”
“……”
“Don’t get agitated. Don’t you hate helping those who slaughtered your family?”
Guqcheong grinned.
“But when the Blood World descends, all this talk means nothing at all. You will come to appreciate my choice when that time comes. You’ve pretty much boarded a ship of success that’s already confirmed.”
“……”
“It was necessary blood, and it was necessary work. We have long prepared for this plan. We made pivotal structures everywhere, and we’ve been with Eungmin since it prospered, mingling among the civilians. This has been planned long before I was appointed as the vice-sect leader.”
It’s been a long time.
So now is the time to reap that fruit.
“The Turtle Messenger Black Wild Dan and Seven Star Gate. Countless blood was shed in that story. It will serve as the foundation for me to complete the True Blood Forbidden Emperor.”
Guqcheong stood up.
“Everyone will fear the coming of the Blood Demon.”
