novelraw Chapter 74 : Chapter 74
Chapter 74 : Chapter 74
Chapter 74 Ghost Blood Sect (7)
“Be careful!”
Having spotted Ice Rakshasa Pan Bing-yeong late and leaped in, Red Faced Ghost and Yuk-ryong took positions to her left and right, raising their swords toward the Ghost Blood Sect disciples.
“Ah, I don't need this, so move aside. It’s distracting.”
Ice Rakshasa tossed the words out as if they were a nuisance, but the two men, gripping their weapons tightly, shook their heads and replied.
“Unni. You know better than anyone that a blind blade is the most dangerous. If things go wrong, we will block them with our bodies.”
At Yuk-ryong’s words, Red Faced Ghost also aimed his sword forward with a solemn face and guarded the flanks.
“Whose blade is going to hit me? It’s all over, so stop acting foolish and back off. I told you to guard Young Master Ban well, so why are you here wasting your energy?”
“Don't worry, we left that scholar hidden safely in the banquet hall. That aside, where did that little brother go, leaving you to suffer like this all alone, Ice Rakshasa?”
While Red Faced Ghost was turning his head left and right to survey the surroundings, a loud scream erupted from behind.
“Aaaaah!”
The three of them turned back simultaneously.
Two men in black were sprawled on the ground.
And there was Myoan Sura, whose head had vanished.
Finally, there was the Ghost Blood Sect Leader, spraying blood from one arm.
“Oh? He already finished?”
Ice Rakshasa shrugged her shoulders once and loosened her neck with a series of cracks.
Red Faced Ghost, who had been rubbing his eyes to grasp the situation behind him, soon widened his eyes.
After tilting his head for a while, he whispered into Yuk-ryong’s ear.
“T-That person over there, isn't that the Ghost Blood Sect Leader?”
“……It seems so.”
Yuk-ryong nodded with a pale face.
“Earlier, it was said for sure that the Ghost Blood Sect Leader had surpassed the First-Rate……. Gasp! T-The guys collapsed next to him! Those guys are the escorts who came from the Demonic Cult?”
“Right. They’re the ones the Ghost Blood Sect Leader treated with extreme hospitality when I came here about three years ago.”
At Yuk-ryong’s answer, Red Faced Ghost swallowed hard.
“……Just what is happening right now? Don't tell me that little brother handled all of them by himself?”
Hearing the whispering of Red Faced Ghost and Yuk-ryong, Ice Rakshasa let out a deep sigh and turned her head.
“Of course our Young Master Jaun did it alone; who else would have? Tsk, tsk. What’s the use of having eyes? You can’t even properly gauge an opponent’s skill.”
Shaking her head, Ice Rakshasa shouted loudly toward the Ghost Blood Sect disciples.
“Everyone, stop! You see that your Sect Leader has been captured, right? Don't act rashly and everyone, lower your swords. If anyone moves, I cannot guarantee the Sect Leader's safety.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, the Ghost Blood Sect disciples, who had only just grasped the situation, faltered before lowering their weapons.
Ice Rakshasa turned and began to walk toward me with light steps.
“Aaaaah!”
Meanwhile, the scream of the Ghost Blood Sect Leader was heard once more.
Having severed all the tendons and meridians in the Ghost Blood Sect Leader's arms and legs, I brushed off my hands and stood up.
After looking down at the Ghost Blood Sect Leader with cold eyes, I moved my steps toward Mang-hon and Mang-ryu, who were suffering with their Dantians destroyed.
Approaching the fallen Mang-hon and Mang-ryu, I grabbed them by their hair and lifted them up.
Subsequently, after whispering something to the two of them, I let out a small sigh.
Shaking my head, I drove my dagger into their hearts without hesitation.
After tossing their limp bodies into a corner, I spotted the approaching Ice Rakshasa, Yuk-ryong, and Red Faced Ghost, and waved my hand.
Red Faced Ghost, looking at my blood-stained hands, whispered into Yuk-ryong’s ear with eyes filled with dread.
“Did I do anything wrong to that little brother on the boat?”
“……It would be harder to find something you didn't do wrong, wouldn't it?”
At Yuk-ryong’s words, Red Faced Ghost began to scratch his head and watch my reactions.
Seeing Red Faced Ghost with beads of cold sweat on his forehead, Yuk-ryong swallowed hard and stood behind Ice Rakshasa while grabbing Red Faced Ghost’s sleeve.
“……He was a terrifying person. Let's just stick close to Unni. At least she seems to be somewhat close to him.”
Keeping their bodies hidden behind Ice Rakshasa, the two of them cautiously followed after her.
“Young Master Jaun. Did you find out anything?”
Looking up at Ice Rakshasa as she drew near, I shook my head and glanced at the headless corpse of Myoan Sura.
“I should have kept that guy alive instead. These two knew almost nothing about the ritual.”
Glancing back at the trembling Ghost Blood Sect Leader, I continued speaking.
“It can't be helped. We have no choice but to obtain information through that Ghost Blood Sect Leader over there.”
Ice Rakshasa nodded.
“Leave that to us. Most likely, because of his relationship with that Blood Demon or whatever, the Ghost Blood Sect Leader won't spit out information immediately. We can't just spend all our time here to get information, so let's take him to the Sado Alliance first and try to dig it out there.”
“Let's do that.”
When I agreed, Ice Rakshasa smiled brightly and gave a light shrug.
“I was frustrated because there wasn't much I could do in the Murim Alliance, but I like that I feel helpful to the Young Master now.”
“I look forward to your help. From now on as well.”
As I replied with a smile, an excited Ice Rakshasa approached the Ghost Blood Sect Leader.
Grabbing the Ghost Blood Sect Leader, who was trembling on the ground, by the scruff of his neck and lifting him up, Ice Rakshasa turned toward the Ghost Blood Sect disciples and shouted loudly.
“I am Pan Bing-yeong, a Law Enforcer of the Sado Alliance. The Ghost Blood Sect Leader will be escorted to the Sado Alliance for the crime of threatening the safety of the Hunan region. For the time being, warriors dispatched from the Sado Alliance will fill the Sect Leader's vacancy, so I hope those of you unrelated to this matter will not be agitated and remain in your positions.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s shout, the Ghost Blood Sect disciples filling the surroundings began to murmur.
“Sado Alliance? It seems there is some misunderstanding. Our Sect Leader is not the type of person to do anything that would warrant being escorted to the Sado Alliance.”
Turning toward the warrior who had bravely stepped forward, Ice Rakshasa pointed toward the pavilion with her hand.
“Physical evidence remains in the Sect Leader's residence. The Law Enforcement Hall of the Sado Alliance will investigate those evidences clearly. If the investigation reveals no problems, we will return the Ghost Blood Sect Leader immediately, so for now, I hope you follow our instructions so that a precise investigation can be conducted.”
“Physical evidence?”
“In the Sect Leader's lodging? Then is there really something there?”
The murmuring grew louder here and there.
Ice Rakshasa slowly calmed the agitated disciples and then approached me.
“Young Master. Seeing such a thing break out makes me a bit worried. After all, members of the Sado Alliance are bound to be much more vulnerable to the Blood Cult's temptation than those from the Orthodox side. Seeing as they've been exerting influence even on a small sect like this since several years ago…… there might be fewer places south of the Yangtze River that the Blood Cult's hand hasn't reached.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, I bit my lip.
“That might be the case. Let's go meet the Sado Alliance Leader before it’s too late. The Sado Alliance also needs to properly realize the gravity of the situation.”
“Yes. It’s not a matter to delay, so let’s go quickly and talk to him. I will help as much as I can.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, I bowed my head slightly to express my gratitude.
Raising my head, I turned toward Yuk-ryong and Red Faced Ghost this time.
“The two of you.”
“Eh? Us?”
Red Faced Ghost flinched in surprise and watched my eyes.
“Yes. That box we chased, it seems it came from the Imperial Court. Could you perhaps monitor the waterway from your fortress for a while to see if any more Imperial goods cross the Yangtze River?”
At my question, Ice Rakshasa answered on their behalf.
“The Yangtze Waterway Fortress and the government are not exactly on close terms, so it won't be easy to obtain information. No matter how much they travel the Yangtze, the Waterway Fortress cannot touch government goods.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s regretful gaze, I nodded with a disappointed expression.
“It can't be helped. Then, could you at least check the sender of that box?”
“Hmm……. Finding the sender of a box should be fully possible for the Waterway Fortress. Since it will take some time to move the Sado Alliance anyway, we should seek the help of the Waterway Fortress for this.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, Red Faced Ghost and Yuk-ryong, who were watching the situation from behind, scratched their heads with troubled expressions.
Soon, Yuk-ryong approached quietly and whispered to Ice Rakshasa.
“Well…… Unni. As I mentioned earlier, since it is the period for selecting the Chief Fortress Master, taking people away is a bit……”
“Tsk, tsk. Let's grasp the situation, Yuk-ryong. The Central Plains is about to fall to the Blood Cult, is the selection of a Chief Fortress Master important right now?”
Receiving Ice Rakshasa’s cold glare, Yuk-ryong hung his head low.
“But Unni. As you know, I have no power at all.”
Looking at Yuk-ryong with his head hung low, Ice Rakshasa let out a sigh of disapproval.
“Tell the Yangtze Fisherman that if he resolves this matter, I will erase one of the old debts he has tucked away. If he hears this, he will step forward to help regardless of the Chief Fortress Master selection or whatever.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, Yuk-ryong’s expression brightened up.
“Thank you! Unni. If you say that much, it makes it much easier to report.”
“In exchange, you owe me one, okay?”
Tapping Yuk-ryong’s shoulder once, Ice Rakshasa turned toward the group.
“Now then, we don't have much time, so let's wrap up quickly and move to the Sado Alliance.”
I nodded and looked around.
“I will go check the incense burners again. Miss, please lead the Ghost Blood Sect disciples, and you two from the Waterway Fortress, please organize the corpses here and then stay in the open space with Young Master Ban.”
At my instructions, the group nodded and scattered in all directions.
****
After wrapping up the remaining tasks and binding the Ghost Blood Sect Leader, Ice Rakshasa Pan Bing-yeong, Ban Cheol-hwi, and I headed toward the Sado Alliance in a carriage prepared by the Waterway Fortress.
Since the two men I met on the Yangtze had left to verify the box's sender, it was a situation where only the three of us remained again.
Watching Ban Cheol-hwi and Ice Rakshasa sleeping inside the rattling carriage, I quietly closed my eyes.
‘Time is insufficient.’
My understanding of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was growing deeper and deeper, and I had also built a good relationship with the Murim Alliance.
If I completed this task well, it was a situation where I could even have the Sado Alliance join the anti-Blood Cult front.
However, the problem was that the Blood Cult’s movements were too fast.
Since the Blood Cult, which had been sharpening its blades for over a decade for a comeback, had even subverted the Demonic Cult, I too had to increase my speed.
The Blood Cult had been preparing for over ten years, but the Murim Alliance and Sado Alliance were only just beginning to move.
If things continued to flow like this, there was a high possibility of being placed in an irreversible situation.
‘I must properly persuade the Sado Alliance Leader.’
Even if it meant pushing a bit hard, I had to instill a strong sense of crisis in the Sado Alliance.
While I was lost in thought, looking at the scenery passing by the carriage, Ice Rakshasa stretched and let out a large yawn beside me.
“Aah-ha-hum. Young Master Jaun, you didn't sleep?”
“Yes. I couldn't fall asleep.”
“Still, it would be better to get some sleep. The guest houses of the Sado Alliance are noisier than you'd think.”
Loosening her body here and there and letting out another large yawn, Ice Rakshasa turned her head and looked around.
“Oh boy. It’s already too late to sleep. It seems we’re just about there.”
After checking the state of the Ghost Blood Sect Leader, who was unconscious and tied up tightly in a corner, Ice Rakshasa tapped Ban Cheol-hwi to wake him up.
“Young Master Ban. Wake up. We’re arriving soon.”
Ban Cheol-hwi, who had glanced at Ice Rakshasa with half-open eyes, hung his head again and curled up into the corner of the carriage.
─ Slap!
Only after Ice Rakshasa’s hand slammed onto his back did Ban Cheol-hwi sluggishly raise his head.
“Ah…… why are you doing this. I can just wake up after we arrive.”
At Ban Cheol-hwi’s words, which were laced with a bit of irritation, Ice Rakshasa shook her head.
“There is something both of you need to hear. Please focus for a moment.”
The grumbling Ban Cheol-hwi struggled to sit up and looked at Ice Rakshasa with swollen eyes.