-What will happen once Baek Ryeon-ha returns back to her senses?
I was silent at Short Sword’s question.
It was a conclusion that I had come to after much thought, but Baek Ryeon-ha wouldn’t just feel regret if she found out about this.
However, Han Baekha, the Bloody Hand Witch, was a woman who would stab me at any time if she had a reason to do it for Baek Ryeon-ha.
It would be better for the future if I took her out of the equation, even if it’s just for discipline.
“You are kind, the man closest to Blood Demon.”
I smiled at Baek Hye-hyang’s words. If it were her in my position, it wouldn’t end with just a shattered dantian.
She would have cut off the tongue and limbs as well to make sure.
-Blood Demons have done that in the past.
‘Right, right, they do.’
Blood Demon Sword, you brat.
He seemed to have taken a liking to Baek Hye-hyang after meeting her.
It must be because she was the closest to being a Blood Demon in nature among those he had met. However, if I became the Blood Demon, the Blood Sect would be different from before.
‘Why drown the world with blood for no reason?’
If that kind of teaching was followed and cherished, the Blood Sect’s wish to overthrow the Murim would drown the entire land in blood. It would only end when only those who followed the Blood Sect’s laws were left.
If the world went with the Blood Sect’s teachings, the number of enemies would be astronomical.
I didn’t want the hypocritical justice of the Murim Alliance either, but I did want a careful step forward.
‘Walk the path you want to take.’
My maternal grandfather and father had told me the same. I would go my own way.
I looked around.
Of the top 11 Blood Sect members, two were now missing.
Gu Jae-yang’s identity had been revealed. Han Baekha had crossed a line against me. As a result, only 9 were left.
First Elder, Second Elder, Fourth Elder.
First Blood Star, Second Blood Star, Third Blood star, Fourth Blood Star, Fifth Blood Star, Seventh Blood Star.
-Aren’t you glad this ended with just two casualties?
That was true, in a sense. It wouldn’t have ended like this if the factions had decided to stick together.
Of course, the Blood Sect gathering had yet to end.
The First Elder, Dan Wei-kang, acted as the head of the senior members and spoke.
“I think it is time to bring forth the conclusion.”
To which everyone nodded their assent.
Some of them approved of me, while some of them didn’t.
At that moment, Hae Ack-chun spoke up.
“Hehe, a conclusion? The successor to the Blood Demon Sword is here. According to the laws of our sect, everyone must swear loyalty to the Blood Demon..”
This was a worthy statement and altogether accurate. However, this wasn’t something that could be pushed with just the sect’s laws.
I stepped forward and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear me.
“I am the heir to the Blood Demon Sword and the current Blood Demon.”
Everyone shifted their focus to me.
Hae Ack-chun looked like he had something to say but went silent.
“If the Fourth Elder asks them to be loyal to me according to the laws of the sect… then there would be those who wouldn’t like it.”
Srrng!
I pulled Blood Demon Sword from its sheath.
The sword became dyed red. Everyone there was clearly puzzled about why I was doing this, so I shouted with all my might.
“I will give anyone who has doubts about me a chance to challenge me for my spot.”
‘…!!’
Everything went silent on the grounds after hearing my words. No one would have thought I, who was already the Blood Demon by law, would make such a statement.
The Fourth Blood Star, Do Jang-ho, was shocked at my words.
I could already hear Hae Ack-chun nagging me.
[You. What are you doing?]
[There is a limit to the law.]
[Limit?]
[I did deny what the Bloody Hand Witch said, but I do indeed have less of a claim to this position than the two ladies. Therefore, I need to press them all down with overwhelming force.]
I only inherited this blood from my mother’s side. She was the one who had ties to the Blood Demon. This tenuous connection meant that not many would readily accept me.
Hae Ack-chun stroked his beard and grinned, his yellow teeth showing after hearing my justification.
[You have learned to be a Blood Demon.]
He clearly liked my answer. The silence over the gathering also became tense. Some of them might be tempted to try to challenge me for the position of Blood Demon. Especially since this position could only be received by those with the right blood.
But not one came forward.
I thought at least one or two would have come up.
-It would be strange if they did come up, considering how easily you dealt with that old man.
Oh right.
Well, it wouldn’t be easy to come and challenge me after that. Then, one man walked forward.
He was a middle-aged man with a well-developed lower body and wearing a black uniform and a red belt.
“Middle Path Captain?”
The Seventh Blood Star, Seom Mae-hyang, spoke up.
It looked like it was someone she knew.
“Is this someone that the Blood Star knows?”
The First Elder asked her, and she nodded.
“I am the Middle Path Captain, Ha Jong-il. As I have not mastered Yin arts, I am leading an independent troop in the northern part of Jiangsu.”
‘Ha Jong-il!’
I was surprised when I heard his name. Short Sword then asked me.
-Someone you know?
It was impossible for me not to know him.
Before I died the first time, I had been sent as a spy for seven years in the Murim Alliance before an order arrived.
It was an order to disrupt the Murim Alliance’s northern branch in Anhui province to stop people from retreating.
At that time, this man was the one who was active there. I had seen him in action with a mask on.
I still vividly remember how he leisurely took down hundreds of warriors before escaping.
-A member?
‘…one who would become part of the Eight Blood Stars.’
-Blood Star?
To see such a person here. It seemed like he was still tied to the position of captain.
“Hmm.”
“Hoo.”
Both the First Elder and Hae Ack-chun looked interested. I didn’t feel much when he was further away, but I noted his unusual presence as he got closer.
Even among those who reached the rank of captain, some had reached the super master level. However, when it came to this man who was nicknamed the Butchering Blade, he had reached a higher level than that.
Ha Jong-il bowed and said,
“How can we miss this chance to compete with the person who would become our Blood Demon? Please teach me a few things.”
A chance.
-What chance?
A chance to make him mine.
I was holding back a laugh of glee. It would be a pity to use him right away, but such a skilled person had only arrived after such a long time.
I aimed my sword at him.
“Thank you for accepting my challenge.”
Ha Jong-il chose to use a thick and large blade that was different from a standard curved blade. He then took his stance.
In my past life, I heard he used middle-path techniques that suited him.
“Start.”
I gestured to him to start and noted that his eyes narrowed when I did.
I wasn’t sure about the manners in martial arts, but since he was my elder, this act might have offended him.
“… I will not decline.”
Pat!
He rushed towards me while drawing his blade, gathering wind pressure as he did. Just looking at the path of his blade, I noted that he was skillful at using a blade with a sense of weight.
In response, I took a stance to utilize my sword technique with the Blood Demon Sword. I then began to use a strange type of footwork.
Like a hawk, my body shot forward.
“Blood Sura Sword Heaven.”
Baek Hye-hyang, who recognized it, mouthed out the technique.
Chaaak!
I moved forward and performed my sword technique, drawing a large circle and raising the Blood Demon Sword midway.
Chaaak!
Ha Jong-il tried to block the Blood Demon Sword with his blade. However, even if he was someone who excelled for his rank, what he was trying to do was something he couldn’t do unless they were ready to accept the Blood Demon’s will.
“Kuak!”
Ha Jong-il’s eyes, which had been embarrassed, went flat.
His body, which had come into contact with my sword, slowly rose from the ground.
“Haaah!”
I swung my sword up after infusing some qi, sending Ha Jong-il soaring high. From that position, I used the Blood Demon Sword to attack him.
Yet he managed to twist his body to block it.
Chachachang!
He countered and bounced back into the air. Ha Jong-il, who had been pushed back over three paces, barely landed on the ground.
“Haa… Haa…”
Rough gasps came from his mouth as if he had been exhausted to the limit after just blocking a single attack. He must be quite drained from blocking my sword with all his strength.
-You aren’t giving him any gaps.
Because I needed to overwhelm them.
“To think a captain would break down after just one clash.”
“Did he cross over the highest wall?”
I could tell that what I intended to do was being received positively as the cult members in the plaza were all shocked.
“Do you want more?”
Hearing my question, he dropped to one knee and bowed after putting aside his blade.
“As expected of the Blood Demon. This lowly member of the sect is grateful for the instruction.”
Although he had been defeated, he looked quite happy.
This man was truly a warrior by nature. As he got up, I called for him.
“Captain Ha, was it?”
He stopped and turned to answer me.
“Yes.”
“You had the courage to step forward when no one else would. Since you did something like that, you don’t deserve to just be called a captain.”
“What do you mean?”
He looked a bit taken aback. I smiled and said,
“I want you to be my guardian and become the leader of the guards of the Blood Sect.”
Ha Jong-il’s eyes widened at hearing these words.
He had simply come up to make a challenge and seemed surprised when I tried to select him for something else.
“If you don’t want to, I will not…”
Before I could finish, he had knelt down and banged his head on the ground.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“I will follow the order of the Blood Demon.”
It must have been a very good position for him. He was trembling, and his forehead was bleeding from the forceful ground contact.
Seeing this promotion, some of the captains looked at Ha Jong-il with jealousy. It seemed like they were motivated to do it now.
-Yah. Wonhwi. Look at Song Jwa-baek.
Short Sword smiled and told me this.
As I turned to look at him, he was gritting his teeth while his body shook. He was visibly angry as if a position he wanted was snatched.
I smiled.
‘Still a bit far.’
At my silent words, Song Jwa-baek stomped his feet while his twin simply looked bored.
I smiled and then shouted out to the sect members.
“Would anyone else like to challenge me?”
Since Ha Jong-il had been entrusted with a position, someone else should have considered stepping forward, but no one else did.
It seemed like taking down my opponent in two attacks had left a strong impression. Did that prove I had the martial arts worthy of a Blood Demon?
I then heard steps coming towards me.
-This is the biggest fish.
I can see why Short Sword said this, as it was the First Elder who was coming towards me.
“First Elder.”
“The Slashing Blood Sword Emperor is showing his sword?”
“He is coming out!”
Srrng!
The person who was at the apex of the Blood Sect drew his sword, instantly plunging the whole gathering into both noise and silence.
This was a different sense of honor.
Hae Ack-chun and Do Jang-ho seemed to think that this was my biggest obstacle as their expressions turned quite severe.
[Be careful. That old man must have crossed the wall.]
Hae Ack-chun warned me. Of course, I already knew about this.
Now that Cheon Mu-seong, one of the top warriors of the Dual Martial Troops, had died, this man could feasibly take his place.
Shhh!
The First Elder held his sword in reverse and bowed.
He bowed to me as a swordsman.
As a courtesy to the sect’s strongest warrior, I did the same.
“Is the First Elder challenging me?”
Dan Wei-kang shook his head at the question and said,
“How can I, who have served the sect leader since the previous generation, have such a disloyal heart?”
‘Uh?’
Then why did he pull out his sword? Was he not going to fight?
He released the grip on his sword and lowered it as he said,
“It is said that an excellent swordsman can understand his opponent through a clash of swords.”
“Then, did you come up to seek an understanding of me?”
“Yes. I have seen enough martial arts, so if we compete once, I can tell how far the young lord’s martial arts have reached.”
The First Elder only had one purpose. He wanted to see how far I’d grown.
No, what he wanted to check was whether or not I’d crossed the wall.
-He doesn’t know?
That seems to be the case.
From the beginning, I had walked into this place with my upper dantian open. It was natural that he could not tell what level I was at.
-You need to do your best.
Right.
I straightened my sword and replied.
“I will gladly receive a lesson from the sect’s best warrior.”
Woong!
I exhaled, and blood began to flow through my body, followed by steam.
The elder’s eyes changed as he saw this. It was the same as how I saw him.
He gripped his sword and stepped forward.
Shhh!
I took a deep breath and focused my mind on Blood Demon Sword. The red covering it became thicker, and the sword shook slightly.
Along with the new sword union, this was the best technique I had received from the Immortal Sword’s enlightenment.
This didn’t work on the Wicked Moon Sword, but would it work on the First Elder, who was of a lower level?
Pat!
The First Elder and I moved at the same time.
In the first place, this wasn’t a competition of technique but a method of showing our opposing swords.
Two swords used by two people drew a large path and collided.
Chaaang!
The moment our swords collided with each other, a loud bang exploded from the impact.
PPAANNGGGGGG!
At the same time, the wind of our clash pushed outwards. The aftermath of our blow was so intense that the ground cracked, and those around us were pushed back.
Once the wind had stopped, everyone turned their face to us. Hae Ack-chun’s face became stiff.
“Ah…”
Sighs and exclamations of shock escaped from their mouths. The sword that was at a higher level had been decided.
At the point where our swords clashed, I had been pushed back three steps while the First Elder had only been pushed back one.
Anyone could see that the First Elder was still a step above me.
‘As expected, there is a gap with a warrior who crossed the wall.’
I felt disappointed. The Blood Demon Will, the True Blood Diamond Body, and the Xing Ming Sword technique.
I had hoped to at least tie after using them.
At that moment…
Tuk!
Drops of blood fell from the First Elder’s palm, and everyone’s eyes turned there.
Dan Wei-kang then smiled and said.
“As I thought…”
Jjkkk!
A crack appeared on his sword.
It was where our swords had clashed.
Hae Ack-chun, who had been unable to smile, was now smiling. The others were also shocked.
“Ah….”
I was also shocked at this. The First Elder then sheathed his sword, turned towards me, and looked at Baek Hye-hyang.
Baek Hye-hyang took a deep breath and nodded.
In response, the First Elder knelt on one knee and shouted as he clasped his hands.
“Dan Wei-kang greets the Blood Demon.”
‘…!!’
No one said anything.
The feeling that this statement released was too heavy.
To think that I, who was a third-rate warrior and a spy for the Blood Sect before my death, was now being acknowledged as the Blood Demon.
Baek Hye-hyang then approached.
Did she also want to fight?
If she was ready, then she would do it.
She then spoke up.
“Why are you looking so stiff? Afraid that I will fight you?”
“You can do it.”
“You have become quite bloody, huh?”
She smiled. Well, she was just being herself.
But then came her unexpected words.
“You gave the captain who challenged you a guardian position. What kind of position can you give me?”
