Chapter 304 – Black Sheep (4)

“There’s no need to hide in this situation. Yes, I am a disciple of Geomseon Yeodongbin.”

“Wow…!”

“And the opponent was probably someone as fresh as my master.”

“Oh…?”

The Myeongwoljinin’s head twisted as if it had broken down.

It was a natural reaction for a traditional monk like Myeongwoljinin.

The officials who had been listening from behind finally nodded as if they understood, unable to ask any further questions.

“That’s right. If she can handle Cheonma’s sword and even another woman, she must be a disciple of Geomseon.”

“Of course… Who would stand shoulder to shoulder with Cheonma if not someone like Geomseon?”

…It was a very Hong Yeon-hwa-centric view, but the congregation seemed to understand the slightly off parts. Myeongwoljinin, who had regained his senses, asked again.

“Is that really what that crazy author meant by ‘fresh’?”

“Yes. If it’s like my master’s case, then the current situation makes sense.”

How could a Hyungyeong-class monk suddenly appear from somewhere and have such extensive knowledge of various sects to recognize that I am my master’s disciple?

It wouldn’t make sense if it wasn’t someone who had once reached the point of life and death like my master.

Myeongwoljinin, who had been cursing and foaming at the mouth, seemed to have a complicated expression at the thought that the person he had been targeting might have been Shinseon all along.

“Huh…? Wait a minute. If the master of Sohyeop is Geomseon, then could it be that Manyeondongjeong…?”

“…Yes. That person is Geomseon Yeodongbin.”

“….”

Myeongwoljinin, who had a bewildered expression, stiffened up.

I can understand that feeling. When I first heard various stories from my master’s teachings, I made a similar expression.

A person who made up all sorts of stories and black history to seduce women, and even with his good martial arts skills, he was given the nickname Manyeondongjeong, and he was Geomseon?

And he even poked at me when I was young?

Even I would have been stunned if it were me.

Myeongwoljinin, who had devoted his life to pursuing Shinseon, will do even more.

Look. He’s still shaking his fingertips like a drunk person and rolling his eyes.

It’s a typical panic symptom.

“No, what? That ugly…eccentric Manyeondongjeong is Shinseon? Even though I just brushed past him, that stupid…idiot…anyway, that person is that famous Geomseon…?”

“Master…you didn’t even hold hands with him, you just brushed past him and you even named him…?”

I didn’t want to know this! I didn’t want to say it because I was afraid it would be like this!

Chapter 304 – Black Sheep (4)

I could feel the shock of Myeongwoljinin, and I even felt like burying my head in Hong Yeon-hwa’s chest and hiding, but I couldn’t do that now.

I took a deep breath and tried to hide my rising emotions before speaking.

“Phew…let’s move for now. I’ll tell you about my master on the way.”

Whether we talk or fight, we still have to face each other at some point.

***

I explained briefly about my master being Geomseon Yeodongbin, the separation of the Seon-gye and In-gye, and how Shinseon, who had taught me the Ojakgyo technique in my dreams, was actually my master’s disciple.

Even though I was still tense while speaking, nothing happened.

The guy kept his promise and left us alone until we arrived.

Thanks to that, I became more convinced that Shinseon might have been the one who taught me the technique.

Having composure comes from having the ability. Even if it’s just me or someone else, it’s impossible to remain calm in front of a furious Hong Yeon-hwa.

Unless you’ve gone through life and death situations like Shinseon, who has surpassed the Hyungyeong level.

Anyway, I touched the hilt of my sword, ready to draw it at any moment, and we walked for a while. Soon, something suspicious came into view.

A structure that looked like an altar, with a flat and barren ground without a single rock, unlike the ceiling that was filled with symbols and bloodstains that looked like it was covered in blood.

As we got closer, the identity of the structure became clear.

“An altar…?”

“I can see it too.”

The appearance of the altar itself was ordinary. It was just a large rock that was cut neatly.

But what was on top of it was far from ordinary.

Skin that was rough like the bark of a tree, a piece of cloth hanging on its waist that was about to fall apart, and a shape that was clearly human, but didn’t feel like it at all.

A neck.

The emaciated corpse, also known as a neck, was sitting cross-legged on the altar.

Was it a sacrifice?

Perhaps it was one of the people sacrificed for the blood that was dripping from above.

As I thought about that, I unconsciously looked up at the ceiling.

“Huh?”

As if to prove that this was the center, all the shapes and symbols on the ceiling converged into one point.

And a drop of blood fell from that point.

Thud.

The moment the blood, which was a deep red, fell on the neck’s head, the neck, who I thought was dead, opened its eyes.

“You’ve come.”

A voice that sounded like it was chewing on sand.

However, the voice was the same as the one that had echoed through the cave just moments ago.

“Could this be the real body?”

“That’s correct. Surprised?”

“Yeah. I was so surprised that I almost swung my sword.”

I grumbled, but for some reason, instead of getting annoyed or retaliating, the guy laughed with a friendly voice.

“Hehe. Is that so? That’s a shame. If you had really swung your sword, I could have surprised you even more.”

I don’t know why he’s acting so friendly, but it seems like he’s prepared for something.

Let’s hold off on swinging our swords recklessly for now.

“But I understand that feeling. Actually, I’m still surprised myself. That I, of all people, would end up in a state where I can’t even move my own body properly.”

“So, did you call us because you can’t move?”

“That’s the biggest reason, but there are other reasons too.”

The guy nodded his head happily. But every time he did, bits and pieces fell off his dry body.

He only moved his neck and mouth a little, but his body seemed like it would collapse any moment.

If we leave him alone, he might just die on his own.

Thud.

When a drop of blood fell from the ceiling onto the guy’s body, the broken parts of his body instantly healed.

Is it some kind of life support device?

If that’s the case, it would be better to completely heal by using a lot of blood… Maybe this neck is like a puppet or something?

The guy who noticed my doubts slowly raised his head.

“I think I know what you’re thinking. Don’t doubt it for no reason. This body is my real body, and I didn’t deliberately maintain it like this. It was the only way to survive.”

“What do you mean…?”

“It’s simple. I had to forcibly extend my lifespan… Wait. If we keep going like this, the story will never end.”

That’s a valid point. There are more than one or two things that I don’t understand or am curious about.

“Let me explain everything from the beginning, step by step, so that you can understand.”

“Do we have to?”

“Yes, we do. Of course, I didn’t originally plan to do this… As I said earlier, if there’s a practitioner of the Geomseon Yeodongbin, the story changes. I owe him a debt.”

Master… What are you doing?

Did he take my confusion as a sign of agreement? The guy spoke in his dry voice.

“First, let me introduce myself. I roughly know who you are, but you don’t know who I am.”

His glassy, unfocused pupils pierced through each of us one by one.

“I was once called Hansangja Hanxiangzi, but I abandoned that name a long time ago. Now…yes, call me Hemma, the Blood Demon. That’s the name that suits me best now.”

“Hansangja…? The Hansangja of Palsun?”

As if unable to believe what he was hearing, Myung Woljin’s eyes widened in surprise.

Perhaps Hemma is pleased that someone recognizes him. He nods his head vigorously, almost to the point of breaking his neck.

Of course, he was instantly healed again by the drop of blood that fell afterwards.

“That’s right. I am that Hansangja. That’s why I was able to recognize the sword of the Geomseon.”

“Master’s sword…?”

Of course. If they were both Palsun, they must have fought together more than once or twice.

Just as I know what Pungsososo’s sword looks like, it’s not strange for Hansangja…no, Hemma to recognize Master’s sword.

If he was Master’s colleague, it’s understandable that he harbors one-sided affection for me.

But that doesn’t mean I view Hemma favorably.

Holding the sword tightly for no reason, Hemma alternates between looking at me and the sword.

“Master? Are you saying that you’re not just a practitioner who continued the lineage, but a disciple who directly inherited the sword?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t believe that the Geomseon would pass on the sword to a disciple…not just me, but others have changed and become like this.”

Muttering to himself, Hemma lets out a thin sigh.

“By chance, I wondered how my daughter, who had crossed over to another world, came back. It was thanks to the Geomseon. I said I would explain everything step by step, but it’s a bit strange to say this…anyway.”

“Master returned several years ago.”

Perhaps trying to ask about Master’s well-being, I quickly answered, and Hemma’s mood seemed to sour slightly.

“…Is that so. That’s how it turned out. I’m a little late.”

As if in contemplation, Hemma closes his eyes for a moment and tightly shuts his mouth.

A normal action to mourn an old colleague, but even at this moment, rotten blood pulsates regularly above his head.

Perhaps the blood that was created by sacrificing countless people.

Did he not understand that imbalance? Myung Woljin asks Hemma with a confused expression.

“If you’re really Hansangja, does this massacre have any meaning? So far, only corrupt factions have been resurrected through the Toegwi, so maybe…”

“Hmm? Ah, the contemplation was too long.”

After saying that, Hemma makes a creaking movement and looks up at the ceiling.

He stares intently at the complex spell that fills the room.

“Meaning…of course, there is meaning.”

“Then…!”

Myung Woljin, who still hasn’t completely abandoned his delusion about the divine, also sparkles for a moment.

Hemma’s words that followed shattered his expectations.

“Thanks to the blood they spilled, we can ignite the holy fire.”

Myung Woljin’s expression darkened.

“What do you mean by that?”

Hemma’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Are you not aware of the holy fire?”

Myung Woljin shook his head.

“I’ve never heard of it.”

Hemma let out a small sigh.

“The holy fire is the ultimate goal of the Palsun. It is the fire that will burn away all impurities and bring about a new world. And to ignite that fire, we need a massive amount of blood.”

Myung Woljin’s eyes widened in shock.

“A massive amount of blood…you mean, like a sacrifice?”

Hemma nodded.

“Yes. Sacrifices are necessary to ignite the holy fire. And the blood spilled in this massacre will be enough to ignite it.”

Myung Woljin felt a chill run down his spine.

“You’re saying that this massacre was…for that purpose?”

Hemma’s expression was cold and unfeeling.

“Yes. The Palsun have been working towards this goal for generations. And now, we are finally close to achieving it.”

Myung Woljin couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“You’re willing to sacrifice innocent lives for this…this holy fire?”

Hemma’s eyes flashed with anger.

“Innocent lives? There are no innocent lives. Everyone is tainted with impurities. And the holy fire is the only way to cleanse this world of those impurities.”

Myung Woljin felt sick to his stomach.

“I can’t believe this. I can’t believe that the Palsun, who were supposed to protect the people, would do something like this.”

Hemma’s expression softened slightly.

“The Palsun were never meant to protect the people. Our duty is to protect the balance of the world. And to do that, sacrifices are sometimes necessary.”

Myung Woljin shook his head in disbelief.

“I can’t accept that. I can’t accept that innocent lives are being sacrificed for some…some holy fire.”

Hemma’s eyes narrowed again.

“You don’t have to accept it. But it’s the truth. And soon, the holy fire will be ignited. And when it is, a new world will be born.”

Myung Woljin felt a sense of despair wash over him.

“What can I do? What can anyone do to stop this?”

Hemma’s expression was grim.

“Nothing. It’s too late to stop it now. The holy fire will be ignited, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it.”