Chapter 22: Bloodline (5)

Sichuan Province, Chengdu.

A mournful scream echoed from the main hall of the Hyolyeon Gang.

The source of the scream was none other than the demons.

A single girl and six of her guards were being dragged away, tightly bound by fishing lines.

“Kyaaak! Damn it! Let go of me!”

The girl, whose pressure points had been released, shrieked.

Her plump cheeks and doll-like small face clashed violently with the crude curses spilling from her lips.

It was a truly mismatched combination.

“Old Man Jang.”

Before my words even finished, Old Man Jang pressed the girl’s demon pressure point again.

In the Central Plains, demon pressure points referred to acupoints that, when pressed, would paralyze.

Since demons were universally foul-mouthed and would cause endless chaos once they regained their senses, pressing their pressure points was an extremely effective method.

Still, the captured girl’s face and figure were eye-catching in many ways, so the gazes of the Hyolyeon Gang warriors surrounding them kept drifting toward her.

Jin Cheonwoo was no exception.

He, too, stared at the girl’s exposed figure, her clothes torn here and there, and gulped hard.

Seeing this, Cheongwoon smacked the back of Jin Cheonwoo’s head.

Whack!

“Gahk!!”

Jin Cheonwoo yelped and clutched the back of his head.

“Stop staring. It’s wearing thin.”

“……”

Damn it.

Jin Cheonwoo chewed back the words rising to the tip of his tongue.

Now that this bastard had become the gang leader, saying the wrong thing could lead to who-knows-what kind of consequences.

Instead, Jin Cheonwoo asked something else.

“Gang Leader.”

“What?”

“Can I ask you just one thing?”

“What is it?”

“These bastards— aren’t they just a waste of food if we keep them alive? Is there a reason we’re sparing them?”

Cheongwoon answered with a distant expression.

“There is.”

“What is it?”

“Curious?”

“Yes.”

“I see. Then stay curious.”

“……”

Cheongwoon walked away with his hands behind his back, his expression still faintly detached.

****

The headquarters of the Righteous Alliance, which had been quiet for a while, was thrown into chaos.

“Did you just say the Red Night Sword Venerable has taken a disciple?”

“Yes, it’s said he took on a young man named Cheongun as his disciple.”

The commotion began with the report that none other than the Red Night Sword Venerable had taken a disciple.

The Red Night Sword Venerable, Jin Muwu.

With a single sword, he roamed the world freely. 

His other title was “Sword Saint,” and he stood at the pinnacle of the current martial world, counted among the Ten Great Masters of the Realm. 

Among them, he was a living legend, unrivaled in the art of the sword throughout history.

One of his most famous exploits was when he single-handedly stormed the stronghold of a bandit group simply because they had demanded a toll from him— and with a single stroke, he beheaded their leader.

Though he had once been a wandering swordsman without affiliation or a proper title, that night, the sky was said to have been dyed red by his sword aura and blood.

Thus, he was given the epithet “Red Night” , and the honorific reserved only for the supreme master of the sword—”Sword Venerable”.

From then on, he became known as the “Red Night Sword Venerable’.

Though he often vanished like the wind, there was no martial artist in the Central Plains who did not know his name.

For that reason, the Righteous Alliance— the core of the orthodox martial world— kept a close watch on his every move.

The presence of an absolute master was overwhelming in the martial world.

Moreover, his unique sword technique, the Red Night Severing Heaven Sword, was counted among the Five Great Sword Techniques of the current era.

What was a unique sword technique?

It was a sword art exclusive to a particular sect, passed down only within its lineage.

But for someone like the Red Night Sword Venerable, his very existence could be considered a one-man sect.

Thus, the sword technique he personally devised was more than deserving of being called a “unique sword technique.”

However, sword techniques only shone when passed down to successors.

His only nominal disciple, Namgung Yul, had never received proper instruction in the sword technique, which was widely interpreted as meaning he had failed to meet the Sword Venerable’s standards.

And now, a disciple— one who had received full transmission of martial arts?

This was an event that could shake the entire martial world.

But that wasn’t even the end of it.

“Elder, if I may…”

“Speak. I’m listening.”

“Have you heard of the Blood Lotus Sect?”

“I have. A dark faction based in Chengdu, correct?”

It was a familiar name.

Recently, based on various circumstances, they were suspected of being connected to the Heavenly Demon Cult.

Because of this, the Righteous Alliance had recently sent operatives to investigate and gather evidence.

If they truly were a branch of the Demon Cult, action would need to be taken before their influence grew any further.

But then—

A report came in from one of their embedded spies.

“The leader of the Blood Lotus Sect has been killed.”

“…What?”

“A young man infiltrated the sect, and the leader was beheaded by his hand.”

“Surely his subordinates didn’t just stand by and watch?”

“No, dozens of them engaged in battle.”

“And the outcome?”

“In less than half an hour, all were subdued by the young man. The sect leader’s position was taken over by him, and the existing members were all brought under his control. The sect’s defenses have reportedly become even tighter than before.”

The elder listening to this was utterly dumbfounded.

Not killed— subdued.

In fierce battles, it was inherently difficult to hold back and control one’s strength, yet this young man had done so in the midst of chaotic combat.

That alone suggested his skill was several levels above his opponents.

And they called him a young man?

It was simply incomprehensible.

But what was even more astonishing was the young man’s subsequent actions.

He released the innocent civilians imprisoned in the sect’s dungeons, gave them generous compensation, and rounded up the demonic practitioners to lock them up instead.

And that young man’s name was—

“His name is Cheongun.”

Cheongun.

He was the disciple of the Jeok Sword Master.

“A star has risen in the martial world.”

The old man’s remark was brief.

The boy’s actions truly embodied the spirit and valor of a righteous warrior.

“So, what is that boy doing now?”

The old man was genuinely curious.

Having devoured the entire Blood Lotus Sect, what grand ambition would he pursue next?

Given that his master, the Jeok Sword Master, was a figure of the orthodox faction, there was no doubt about the disciple’s character as well.

The old man smiled kindly as he asked.

And then.

“Well…”

“Why the hesitation?”

“It’s just… the story I heard is rather absurd…”

“Speak your mind.”

At those words, the man cautiously finished his sentence.

“…He’s fishing.”

…Fishing?

“For what?”

“Well… he’s fishing for demons…”

“???”

The answer that came was somewhat unexpected.

****

Meanwhile,

Blood Ties Sect Headquarters, Warehouse Secret Room.

“Is it the Demon Sect?”

“You think I’ll answer if you ask?”

Cheongun was interrogating a freshly caught girl.

She was so fresh that she was still thrashing around with all her might, making her incredibly difficult to handle.

Of course, that didn’t mean Cheongun would give up.

“What’s your name?”

“Shut up.”

“How old are you?”

“I told you to shut your damn mouth.”

“Where do you live?”

“……”

The girl was speechless.

First, she had been dragged here tied up like a fish on a line, which was infuriating enough, but the guy who had caught her was clearly out of his mind.

At first, she had considered how to trick him, but after a few exchanges, it wasn’t hard to realize that deceiving him was outright impossible.

Just one look at his eyes told her he was insane.

This wasn’t the kind of madness that could be faked.

No, he was genuinely, purely deranged.

Cheongun clicked his tongue, looking at the girl who had firmly sealed her lips.

“Tsk tsk. Well, fine. If you’re going to keep your mouth shut, then so be it.”

The girl scoffed inwardly.

Go ahead and kill me if you want.

She had already practiced demonic arts— what did she have to fear from death?

At any moment, she could lose her life to qi deviation.

Torture, rape, destroying her dantian?

None of that mattered.

Fine.

If it comes to that, I’ll detonate the accumulated Yin energy I’ve gathered and take at least one of these bastards with me to the afterlife.

But just as she steeled herself—

“Guess there’s no helping it.”

That was it.

Cheongun indifferently pressed a finger infused with qi against her pressure point.

And with that, he left the warehouse.

The girl, now paralyzed and bound so tightly she couldn’t move an inch, was left behind.

And that wasn’t all.

The warehouse was damp, reeked of rot, the floor was filthy, and bugs crawled everywhere without rest.

“……”

A full day passed like that.

The gap under the door let her see the sun rise and set, so she could keep track of time.

At dusk, the warehouse door opened.

Who entered? 

None other than Cheongun and Old Man Jang.

The odd thing was, Cheongun had a fishing rod slung over his shoulder, and behind him, demonic cultivators were strung along like sausages, tied up and dragged in.

Cheongun shoved them into a corner of the warehouse, then immediately returned to the girl.

After releasing her pressure point—

“What’s your name?”

“Ha, shut up.”

That was the end of it.

“Old Man Jang.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Tie up the new catches properly and come back.”

“Understood.”

With those words, Cheongun left.

And the next day.

“What’s this, a windfall?”

Another three burly men were dragged in, tied to the fishing line.

And again—

“What’s your name?”

“Piss off!”

After hearing just one response, he pressed their pressure points and vanished.

“Only three today.”

The day after that.

“Old Man Jang, see this today?”

“Kekeke! Sure did. That’s a real prize catch!”

The day after that.

“Tsk, the bites aren’t satisfying today.”

“Indeed. The bait must not be very good.”

“You think so?”

And the day after that.

“……”

This lunatic kept fishing for demonic cultivators like they were nothing more than fish.

And every time he came back, he asked for their names. 

At this point, irritation was giving way to creeping fear.

No, actually, it was terrifying.

Even she, a demonic cultivator, had never seen such madness in her life.

Now, whether she was staring blankly into space, at the ceiling, falling asleep, or even in her dreams—

‘What’s your name?’

That damn voice haunted her like an auditory hallucination.

Why the hell do you keep asking for my name?!

What are you even planning to do with a demonic cultivator’s name?!

If you’re going to kill me, just kill me! If you want information, then extract it! 

But just asking for a name over and over was driving her to the brink of insanity.

On top of that, after being paralyzed for so long, her body felt sluggish and her mind foggy— she couldn’t even think straight anymore.

A week later.

“What’s your name?”

Hearing that question yet again, the girl finally—

“……Jeok Hwaryeon.”

“Huh?”

“Jeok Hwaryeon, you bastard! Happy now?! Are you fucking happy now, you psycho?!”

“Oh.”

She had finally broken.