BYWMANML Chapter 149

Chapter 149

“No!”

Yerin, along with Doyul standing behind her, rushed forward in a frantic attempt to stop it, but it was already too late.

A meticulously crafted false tooth concealed poison within it, and Blood Wolf Sect Leader had bitten down and swallowed it.

“It’s time now…”

In a faint, fading voice, Blood Wolf Sect Leader muttered.

“The Blood Demon… returns.”

Blood Wolf Sect Leader lowered his head, his gaze distant.

At the same time—

Zheng!

The air trembled violently, and the surroundings erupted into chaos as if a hornet’s nest had been stirred.

“What—what is going on?!”

“Where did this fog come from?!”

Yerin and Doyul instinctively turned to face each other, their expressions grim.

“It’s a formation.”

Yerin spat the words out coldly.

More precisely, it was a formation designed to be completed through the death of the Blood Wolf Sect Leader.

“Using Blood Wolf Sect Leader’s death to activate such a formation… truly, it’s just like Blood Sect.”

Doyul stared down at the lifeless body of the Blood Wolf Sect Leader with cold, calculating eyes.

He then raised his gaze to examine the scenery beyond the window, which had quickly darkened.

In an instant, the atmosphere grew heavy with tension.

“Doyul, use the ‘Protection Aura’.”

At Yerin’s suggestion, Doyul nodded and began to draw upon his internal energy.

Protection Aura was a technique used to directly shield oneself with internal energy, although it consumed a significant amount of energy. Normally, it wouldn’t be employed unless the situation was dire.

‘This is… dangerous.’

Yerin clenched her teeth in quiet frustration.

“Let’s move outside.”

“Understood.”

The two rushed outside immediately.

—

Outside the Formation

“…This can’t be happening.”

Yerin and Doyul surveyed the surroundings with tense, solemn expressions.

The scene was eerie.

The day seemed to blend indistinctly into the night, and it was impossible to tell whether it was morning or evening.

The sky was entirely bathed in a violet hue, and thick fog enveloped the entire city.

“To trap all of Hangzhou within a formation… this is unprecedented.”

Doyul spoke in a low, cautious voice.

“Such a large-scale formation… I’ve never heard of anything like it.”

Just then, a frightened voice rang out, breaking the tense silence.

It was a servant of the Martial League.

“W-what is this?!”

“Why is it so dark? What is this fog?”

The frightened servants stared at the dense fog that had enveloped the entire city, bewildered for a moment.

“W-Wait a second.”

One of the servants staggered, collapsing to the ground in disbelief.

“No, what’s wrong with you?”

Quickly helping the fallen servant, another quickly collapsed, his eyes glassy and unresponsive.

Yerin hurried to check the fallen servant’s breathing.

“He’s alive… for now.”

Yet, her expression betrayed little reassurance.

‘Alive isn’t enough…’

His complexion was pale, and his breath shallow.

To put it accurately, he had been forced into a state of unconsciousness.

“It seems this fog is causing people to collapse…”

Doyul glanced around with a concerned expression.

Ordinary citizens, those without martial arts training, had already fallen lifelessly to the ground.

Even the martial disciples of the League clung to their consciousness, but only just.

“What in the world is—”

“Why do my eyes keep closing?”

Everyone had a hazy look, staring blankly into the void.

Simply keeping their eyes open was all they could manage, as if the slightest touch would send them collapsing into unconsciousness.

Even those relatively stable disciples struggled to use their martial arts under the oppressive influence of the formation.

‘It’s no surprise.’

Yerin clenched her fists tightly.

For someone to form a ‘Protection Aura’, they had to be one of the top-tier warriors within the League.

‘Yet, in this formation…’

Ordinary League disciples were useless in combat—it was as simple as that.

“Gack!”

Suddenly, a loud barking sound pierced the air—a dog’s frantic barks.

It was Somi.

Shortly after, Seolgum Brigade Commander arrived, rushing alongside the barking dog.

“Lord Doyul, Madam! Are you alright!”

– ‘Contractor! What in the world is going on here?!’

Somi growled irritably.

– ‘From what I’ve heard, humans are calling this strange phenomenon a formation. It’s absolutely unbearable!’

At that moment, Seolgum Brigade Commander stared at Manyeon Bingjeong (Somi) with a bewildered expression.

“The dog… is talking?”

– ‘Ridiculous! I am the mighty Winter Spirit, Manyeon Bingjeong!’

Manyeon Bingjeong snapped back indignantly.

Seolgum Brigade Commander’s bewilderment only deepened.

“This… this is absurd. Manyeon Bingjeong?”

“Things are dire, so it’s hard to explain fully, but yes, it’s Manyeon Bingjeong.”

Yerin, observing the scene from the side, replied nonchalantly.

Seolgum Brigade Commander rubbed his eyes in disbelief and looked back at Manyeon Bingjeong.

“Huh… this is too much…”

However, his stunned expression didn’t last long.

Manyeon Bingjeong continued speaking.

– ‘The purpose of this strange phenomenon you call a formation is to siphon the life force from all living beings.’

All faces hardened in silence.

“Life force?”

– ‘Yes. Precisely. It seems they aim to shape something using that life force…’

Manyeon Bingjeong shook his head slowly.

– ‘But I cannot discern what it is.’

“…”

– ‘Only… it’s extremely ominous.’

Manyeon Bingjeong’s voice lowered ominously.

– ‘Whatever will be born from this phenomenon will be a horrifying entity that opposes all life.’

In that moment, Yerin felt her heart sink.

The description fits a particular being she knew all too well.

Meanwhile, Manyeon Bingjeong observed the trio carefully before continuing.

– ‘Most likely, my Contractor, the Lord, and this rude human can endure this strange phenomenon.’

“What about the others?”

– ‘They won’t be able to hold on.’

Manyeon Bingjeong declared resolutely.

Doyul’s eyes shook violently.

“That means… if we can’t break the formation.”

Doyul clenched his teeth and asked,

“All the civilians trapped inside the formation will die?”

Manyeon Bingjeong nodded firmly.

– ‘Yes.’

“……”

“……”

A heavy silence pressed down on the three of them.

Then Yerin softly murmured,

“…Blood Demon.”

Doyul shuddered, as if struck by a whip, his shoulders stiffening.

Blood Demon.

The being that the Blood Cult seeks to resurrect—a being promised to paint the world red with blood.

An entity spoke of only in legends of the Blood Cult.

‘But the Vice Leader I met in Szechuan Province…’

The face had been one confident that the Blood Demon would return.

Yerin calmly continued her explanation,

“This formation itself is designed for the resurrection of the Blood Demon.”

Blood Wolf Sect Leader said he was the starting point.

‘Now I understand.’

With the Blood Wolf Sect Leader’s death, the formation was activated, collecting the life forces of people.

‘…This is how they intend to bring back the Blood Demon.’

Seolgum Brigade Commander tried to deny Yerin’s words, his shock evident.

“Blood Demon’s resurrection? But that’s just a legend from the Blood Cult…”

“Seolgum Brigade Commander, I understand your reluctance to accept this reality.”

Yerin shook her head coldly.

“There’s no room for hesitation.”

“…Ah.”

The moment those words hit, the Seolgum Brigade Commander quickly regained his composure.

At the same time, Yerin turned to Manyeon Bingjeong.

“Soma, if they’re shaping something using life force, they would first need to gather that life force at a single point, right?”

– ‘That would be logical.’

Manyeon Bingjeong nodded absentmindedly.

“Then do you know where that point of gathering is?”

– ‘…Why are you asking all of a sudden?’

Manyeon Bingjeong tensed, staring at Yerin cautiously.

– ‘You don’t intend to go there, do you?’

“I have to.”

– ‘No, Contractor, have you stored a spare life somewhere?’

Manyeon Bingjeong erupted in frustration.

– ‘First, worry about yourself, not meddling!’

Before Manyeon Bingjeong could continue, Yerin’s voice rang softly into his ear.

[You said before, didn’t you?]

– ‘What?’

[That I changed the flow of this world and that I’m responsible for it.]

– ……

Manyeon Bingjeong was speechless.

Yerin smiled gently.

[You remember?]

– ‘That…’

[It’s time to take responsibility for the twisted flow.]

The distant past, when they first made their contract—when the flow of the world shifted as another world was introduced into it.

‘Since you’ve entered this world, which once belonged to another, you have a duty to correct this flow.’

‘You owe it to this world due to your very existence.’

Yes, those words had once been spoken. But now…

Manyeon Bingjeong tried to persuade her.

– ‘Contractor, that moment… my words…’

[You don’t need to try and convince me.]

Yerin’s smile deepened slightly.

[There’s no need to exert effort.]

– ‘You stubborn fool!’

[It doesn’t matter if it’s the flow of the world or my responsibility. That’s not what’s important. I just—]

Yerin’s gaze lingered briefly on Doyul.

‘Because it’s the world Doyul will live in.’

That alone was a sufficient reason to protect it.

[Whether you ask or not, I was planning to stop the Blood Demon’s resurrection regardless.]

– ……

[You understand, right?]

After staring at Yerin for a moment, Manyeon Bingjeong clenched his teeth and turned away.

– ‘Damned Contractor! You never listen!’

[Thank you, Somi.]

Yerin expressed her sincere gratitude to Manyeon Bingjeong.

She truly was grateful.