Chapter 153
Manyeon Bingjeong jumped in shock.
– ‘What do you mean by ‘tear it apart’? What kind of nonsense is that?’
Yerin quickly continued speaking.
“At the end of this path, the resurrection ritual of the Blood Demon is probably taking place.”
She swiftly added.
“Therefore, we need to split into groups. One group will focus on destroying the remaining components to break the formation, while the other will stop the resurrection ritual of the Blood Demon.”
The Murim Alliance leader immediately joined the conversation.
“Then, I’ll handle the Blood Demon…”
“No.”
Yerin shook her head resolutely.
“I’ll go.”
– ‘Contractee!’
Manyeon Bingjeong was stunned, almost to the point of fainting, and called out to Yerin.
– ‘Don’t you know how reckless that is?!’
“I still have to go.”
Although it wasn’t intentional, Yerin’s intervention in the original story had already changed many things.
Therefore, she had to take responsibility for her actions.
But the reason she wanted to face the Blood Demon herself wasn’t just that.
‘Only I can stop the Blood Demon.’
Her instincts whispered to her.
Though others would call it madness and criticize her if they knew her thoughts, Yerin was certain.
Manyeon Bingjeong gritted his teeth.
– ‘Then I’m going with you.’
“No.”
Yerin shook her head firmly.
“You’re the only one who can sense the components. You need to guide us.”
– ‘Absolutely not! How dare you try to leave me behind!’
Manyeon Bingjeong, clinging to Yerin, tried to protest, but she smiled faintly.
“You know, this formation slowly drains the life force of those inside it, right?”
– ‘That’s…’
“If we don’t break the formation, everyone in Hangzhou will die.”
Yerin looked up and met Manyeon Bingjeong’s eyes.
Her gaze was steady, unwavering.
“And if the Blood Demon is resurrected, not just the martial world, but ordinary people’s lives will also be in danger.”
– ‘…….’
Manyeon Bingjeong opened its mouth as if to retort but couldn’t bring itself to.
All of what Yerin said was true.
“The surest way to stop the resurrection of the Blood Demon is to break the formation.”
– ‘……Contractee.’
“I understand your concern.”
Yerin reached out and gently stroked Manyeon Bingjeong’s neck.
“I’m sorry for asking something so unreasonable.”
The tenderness in her touch.
The kind voice that reached his ears was already filled with the resolve of someone who had made up their mind.
Manyeon Bingjeong felt a sharp pain in his chest as if it’d been struck with a blade.
“But you know, this is something that has to be done, right?”
Yerin smiled sweetly.
Manyeon Bingjeong gazed at her with a dazed look.
She might die.
They might never see each other again.
How could she smile like that, not even caring about her own life?
A long silence stretched between them.
Then,
– ‘…Come back safely.’
Manyeon Bingjeong gritted its teeth and spoke, its voice heavy.
– ‘Promise me you’ll come back safely.’
“Of course,” Yerin replied with a gentle smile.
Yerin nodded vigorously.
Manyeon Bingjeong couldn’t control its emotions and buried its face in Yerin’s shoulder.
Her shoulder slowly became soaked with tears.
Normally, Yerin would have teased them endlessly for this, but now, she simply caressed the back of their neck gently.
And then, at that moment.
“If that’s the case, I’ll move with the lady.”
A cold voice rang out.
It was Doyul.
“Manyeon Bingjeong has something else to do, so it’s understandable if they don’t move with the lady.”
Doyul raised the corners of his lips into a smile.
A sharp smile.
“I, on the other hand, have no choice but to follow, right?”
“…Doyul.”
“Isn’t that so?”
In front of his cold smile, Yerin couldn’t bring herself to say, “Stay somewhere safe.”
—
Because time was of the essence, the group quickly split up.
The death squad, led by Manyeon Bingjeong, was assigned the task of destroying the scattered components.
‘Honestly, the current number of people feels a bit insufficient.’
If there are components, the Blood Sect’s followers guarding them will likely still be around.
Continuous battles will ensue, so it is a difficult time.
However, the Murim Alliance leader seemed most concerned about Yerin and Doyul.
“Are you sure I don’t need to go with you?”
“Yes, we’ll be fine.”
In response to his concerned question, Yerin calmly nodded.
“Alliance leader, please focus on destroying the components as quickly as possible.”
“…Alright, I’ll do that.”
The Murim Alliance leader nodded and gave one last instruction.
“Take care of yourselves, both of you.”
“We will. Please stay safe as well, Alliance Leader.”
Though she smiled outwardly, Yerin felt a bit uneasy.
‘I’ll probably have to face the Vice Leader at least once.’
The first disciple of the Blood Demon, the Vice Leader.
No one was more suited than him to officiate the resurrection ritual of the Blood Demon.
And Doyul had lost his father to the Blood Sect, or more precisely, to the Vice Leader.
‘How does Doyul feel about this right now?’
Yerin glanced sideways at Doyul.
Doyul had an unreadable expression as he stared silently at the sword in his hand.
‘If he faces the Vice Leader, can Doyul maintain his composure?’
She couldn’t tell.
Just as Yerin swallowed a sigh internally, the leader of the Seolgeom Division approached the two.
“My Lord, Lady Yerin. I’ll follow you two.”
“No.”
Doyul shook his head and gave an order that seemed like a thunderclap.
“No, Seolgeom Division Leader, you’re to support the death squad.”
“What?”
The Seolgeom Division Leader doubted his ears.
Doyul met the Seolgeom Division Leader’s gaze with a stern face.
“As my wife said earlier, the most effective way to stop the resurrection of the Blood Demon is to break the formation.”
“But…!”
“So, Seolgeom Division Leader, focus on destroying the components. But more importantly, the priority is…”
Doyul added with force.
“You and the death squad must survive.”
“….”
The Seolgeom Division Leader was at a loss for words.
“I…”
Doyul cast a glance at the Alliance Leader and continued.
“I don’t want to lose anyone to the Blood Sect ever again.”
“…My Lord.”
He thought about the people who had died in Haesim Palace due to the Blood Sect’s attack.
And…
‘Father.’
As he recalled them, Doyul let out a small, wry laugh.
“Look at me. A big guy like me, with this face that looks like I’m about to cry, it’s quite burdensome.”
“B-burdensome? That’s too much, my lord!”
“Don’t worry too much. Both the lady and I will return safely.”
Doyul said with firm resolve.
The Seolgeom Division Leader stared at him for a long time with an indescribable look.
“No, I’m just saying… I’m one of the people who remembers when the lord could barely walk.”
The Seolgeom Division Leader muttered with a hint of nostalgia.
“Now that you’re older, you’re giving orders so coldly; isn’t that a bit too much?”
“Are you planning to disobey?”
“…Well, I wasn’t going to, but…”
The Seolgeom Division Leader tucked his tail between his legs.
Sniffling, he turned back toward the Murim Alliance leader.
“Whose orders would I disobey? Really.”
Doyul and the Alliance Leader locked eyes.
“Well, this is something. We haven’t even fully paid for the Thousand-Year Snowflake yet.”
The Murim Alliance leader sighed, then let out a hearty laugh.
“Now you’re even sending the Seolgeom Division Leader our way. I’m feeling a little embarrassed.”
“If you really feel that way, then go ahead and successfully break the formation,” Doyul replied playfully.
“After all, that much is the least we should get in return, isn’t it?”
“Can you give us a discount?”
The lighthearted exchange lasted for a moment, but then the Alliance Leader turned serious and looked at Yerin and Doyul.
“Then let’s make sure we meet again, alive.”
“Of course.”
“Definitely.”
The two of them smiled brightly as if reassuring him not to worry.
—
After the group departed, Yerin and Doyul made their way toward the passage that Manyeon Bingjeong had indicated.
On the surface, it appeared to be an ordinary cave—dark, but not so much that it would hinder their movement even with heightened senses.
However, the reason it felt unusual was…
‘…This is the passage where the life force flows through, right?’
A shiver ran down Yerin’s spine.
She rubbed her exposed wrist vigorously.
‘This place is truly strange.’
It felt as if they were wandering in another world, detached from reality.
The air was so dense it almost felt tangible like it had substance.
‘It’s like walking underwater…’
Absently thinking this, Yerin glanced up at the ceiling.
She could faintly sense dampness on the roof of the cave.
‘Could it be that we’re under the Western Lake right now?’
‘Now that I think about it, the last location was near the Western Lake, too.’
A swirl of thoughts clouded her mind.
And then, Yerin understood why she was caught up in these random thoughts.
It was because…
‘Why haven’t I asked him?’
She gazed blankly at Doyul, who was walking ahead of her.
The conversation she had with Manyeon Bingjeong before leaving the Murim Alliance.
Although they had communicated via telepathy, Doyul didn’t know the exact details, and the situation was suspicious enough to warrant questions.
Until now, the urgency of the situation had left no room for asking questions, but now, they were alone, so it would have been the perfect time to ask…
“Yerin.”
Just then, Doyul quietly called out to Yerin.
