Chapter 128
The absolute numerical disadvantage, coupled with the unyielding corpses, was taking a toll on Yerin and Doyul’s stamina.
On top of that, there was the problem of the Mountain Poison spreading through their inner energy.
It was a situation piled high with adverse conditions.
Moreover,
‘…The psychological issues that the Madam must be experiencing as well.’
Doyul tightened his grip on the sword.
Yerin had lost her father here and witnessed her brother’s death with her own eyes.
Although she was managing to hold off Dang Yejun at the moment, he couldn’t even fathom the extent of her despair.
If she were an ordinary martial artist with a close-knit family, this would be enough to drive her mad.
Doyul glanced at Yerin with concern.
Yerin raised her sword to block the arm of the corpse that had once been Dang Yejun.
Crack!
A chilling sound rang out as the bone-exposed arm collided with the sword.
Even though the body was that of a martial artist trained in combat, it could no longer wield inner energy like it did in life.
The evidence was clear; Ye-jun’s body had been sliced by her sword multiple times, leaving it ragged and torn.
Yet, the bizarre thing was that there was no scream or any minimal human response to pain; he only seemed madly intent on killing Yerin.
Yerin took a step back, gasping for breath.
“Haah, haah…”
Her entire body was drenched in sweat.
Yerin calculated the current situation in her mind.
Her judgment wasn’t too different from Doyul’s.
‘Right now, Doyul and I are holding the upper hand, but…’
That advantage likely wouldn’t last long.
If that was the case,
Yerin glanced sideways at Doyul.
It was clear who needed saving.
She has lived solely for Doyul until now and will continue to do so.
‘Not for the ‘original story’ but for herself…’
‘I want to save Doyul.’
Her heart raced so violently that it felt like it would burst.
Yerin forced herself to steady her breath and spoke.
“Doyul.”
Sensing the seriousness in her voice, Doyul turned to her, even amidst the battle with the corpses.
“…Madam?”
“It seems it’s not going to work out.”
“What do you mean it’s not going to work out?”
“For now, you need to get to safety.”
In an instant, Doyul’s eyes flared with intensity.
“I will do my best to hold them off!”
“Why do you have to—?”
“In this state, both of you will eventually tire out. The Mountain Poison and Dang Yejun…”
As Yerin explained, trying to catch her breath, she bit her lip until it bled.
She couldn’t help but resent her still-maturing body.
‘…If my body was even half as capable as it was during the Baeksulryeon days.’
Then she wouldn’t have been cornered like this.
She could have rescued Doyul safely.
No, she wouldn’t have let Doyul fall into such a dangerous situation in the first place.
There was no need for her to struggle so much against corpses risen from the dead.
But then,
“The Madam sometimes says the most nonsensical things.”
At Doyul’s muffled voice, Yerin snapped back to reality.
“Doyul?”
Clang!
Doyul swung his sword, sending a corpse flying far away, and quickly ran to stand beside Yerin.
He positioned himself closely next to her and raised his voice again.
“Rather than leave the Madam and run away, I’d prefer to die together!”
“Who’s dying?!”
Yerin raised her voice in irritation.
At that moment, Doyul, who had been panting heavily, managed a faint smile.
“Right? Who’s dying?”
Yerin paused at his lighthearted tone.
“We’re both going to live through this. So…”
Doyul’s voice gained strength.
“Please don’t tell me to run away alone.”
“…”
Yerin stared blankly at Doyul.
His eyes were still shining with determination.
‘Doyul hasn’t given up yet…’
She tightened her grip on her sword.
‘Then I won’t either.’
Doyul, who was much younger than her, was holding out like this.
As a descendant, she didn’t want to show any more weakness.
‘I will protect Doyul.’
So, somehow, they would survive together.
She would smile at him, looking him in the eye.
She would not allow herself to be defeated by a mere blood cult.
Just then—
– ‘Contractor!!’
A voice calling out to Yerin echoed loudly.
Startled, she turned around.
“Somi!?”
In the distance, a small, fluffy white figure was running toward her like a madman.
– ‘Is everyone all right!?’
Somi, the Millennium Ice Crystal, followed up with a booming shout, carrying a strong inner energy.
“Madam! My Lord!”
From afar, a crowd was approaching.
There were at least over fifty martial artists.
Hyuk Min-woo, Yang Gun, and Seok Gwandu led the charge, each bringing their own martial artists.
‘Finally…!’
A spark of excitement ignited in Yerin and Doyul’s eyes.
Somi landed on Yerin’s shoulder and looked at her urgently.
– ‘Please tell me I’m not too late!?’
“No, you arrived just in time.”
Yerin shook her head.
She felt the tension that had been tightly coiling around her entire body start to ease.
“Thank you, really.”
At her words of gratitude, Somi looked as if it might burst into tears.
– ‘What is this mess you’re in, really…’
“Pretty awful, right?”
– ‘Is that even something you should say!?’
As the Millennium Ice Crystal grew indignant, Yerin smiled brightly.
That smile seemed to strike a chord in the Ice Spirit’s heart, and it murmured in a choked voice.
– ‘…I should’ve stayed by your side.’
Just then, the martial artists, who had formed a defensive formation to approach the corpses, gasped.
“Wait, are those… corpses?!”
“Then how are they moving!?”
The martial artists’ eyes widened in horror.
It was no surprise.
The only group capable of performing such strange sorcery to animate corpses was the Blood Cult.
The mere existence of these corpses was enough to reveal to the world that the Blood Cult had returned.
“Be careful; the corpses are contaminated with Mountain Poison!”
Doyul raised his voice in warning.
The martial artists’ eyes widened further.
“Everyone, be careful! Avoid direct contact with the corpses!”
“Absolutely do not disrupt the formation!”
The booming voices of Seok Gwandu and Yang Gun resonated as they directed the martial artists.
As Yerin watched the martial artists efficiently subduing the corpses, she let out a long sigh of relief.
But then,
The martial artists halted.
They had spotted Dang Yejun standing among the corpses.
“That person is…?”
“Isn’t that the young master of the Dang Clan?!”
His pale skin was streaked with dark veins, and his vacant eyes showed no trace of emotion or intellect.
His ragged clothes hung off him like rags.
But the most bizarre thing was his expressionless face.
Even with his body nearly torn apart, he showed no sign of pain whatsoever.
“Th-this is impossible.”
“I can’t believe the young master of the Dang clan has fallen into the Blood Cult’s hands.”
A sigh escaped the martial artists.
At that moment, Somi jumped off Yerin’s shoulder and stood in front of her.
– ‘Now you don’t have to worry!’
The Ice Spirit bared its fangs at Dang Yejun and growled.
– ‘Once I return to my true form, taking care of that abomination will be a piece of cake!’
“No.”
At that moment, Yerin shook her head firmly.
– ‘Contractor?’
The Millennium Ice Crystal, startled, called out to Yerin.
But she remained resolute.
“You don’t need to reveal your true form.”
– ‘But…’
“I told you, you’re my secret weapon.”
At those words, the Millennium Ice Crystal closed its mouth tightly.
Yerin gently reassured Somi.
“There will be more confrontations with the Blood Cult in the future. Until then, you need to keep your power hidden as much as possible. It’ll allow us to catch them off guard. And…”
With a faint smile, Yerin took a step forward.
“My own hands must deal with Dang Yejun.”
– ‘I understand your feelings, but contractor…’
The Millennium Ice Crystal looked up at Yerin, uncertain.
– ‘Your condition doesn’t look very good. Are you sure you can do this?’
It was true.
Having arrived in this town early in the morning, it was already twilight.
During that time, Yerin had been engaged in a fierce struggle.
Naturally, her stamina had long since run out.
What had kept her going until now was only her determination to save Doyul.
“I’m fine; I can endure this much.”
With that declaration, Yerin boldly walked toward Dang Yejun.
– ‘But…!’
Somi tried to stop her, but at that moment, a figure suddenly emerged and blocked its path.
It was Doyul.
The Millennium Ice Crystal glared at Doyul with its triangular eyes.
– ‘What’s this?’
“This is something that my lady must finish,” Doyul said.
Though he looked extremely exhausted, his eyes still held a fierce determination.
Doyul continued, keeping his gaze fixed on Yerin’s back.
“It would be a disgrace for the Dang Clan if the young master were to be dealt with by someone other than my lady.”
– ‘…Young Palace Lord.’
“So please, leave this matter to her.”
– ‘…’
Though the Millennium Ice Crystal seemed displeased, it refrained from further protest.
As the twilight stained the world with blood red,
Yerin gripped her sword tightly and sprinted toward the ground, which was stained black with poison.
She swung her sword wide.
Though the sword was already a mess, smeared with black blood and flesh, the blade cutting through the air gleamed a brilliant blue.
