Chapter 156
“Will?”
The Vice Leader tilted his head as if he had heard the most absurd question.
“Whether it’s my will or the Blood Demon’s will, what does it matter?”
“…What do you mean?”
“The Blood Demon is meant to be resurrected.”
The Vice Leader stared at them as if they were fools.
“The Blood Demon will grant the sect’s wishes and make the sect prosper forever—an absolute, magnificent being.”
“…”
“The sect’s desires are his will, so from the start, the Blood Demon doesn’t need a self.”
…Is that so?
Yerin clenched her lips tightly and glared at the coffin.
Based on the Vice Leader’s words, it seemed that the Blood Demon was less of an individual and more of a transcendent being formed from the accumulated magic of the Blood Sect.
‘If that’s the case…’
Yerin shook her head resolutely.
“No, the Blood Demon won’t be resurrected.”
With that declaration, Yerin tightened her grip on her sword and stepped forward.
“I will stop it.”
Even though it had been in her past life, it had once been ‘her’ body.
She had lived that life, creating countless memories—laughing, crying, and getting angry with those she cherished.
Thus, the resurrection of Baek Seol-yeon as the Blood Demon was an insult to the life she had lived.
“To be used like that… who would allow it?”
Just as Yerin clenched her teeth, Doyul moved forward, blocking her way as if to protect her.
“…Doyul?”
“Vice Leader, please yield to me.”
Doyul spoke calmly.
“Yield?”
The Vice Leader laughed derisively as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
But Doyul remained unwavering, staring at him with sharp eyes.
“I’ve thought about the price of the bloodshed your sect caused in the Northern Sea Ice Palace…”
Doyul smirked coldly, his lips curling up slightly.
“Taking the lives of the Blood Demon and the Vice Leader should be enough to settle the score.”
Without another word, Doyul launched himself at the Vice Leader.
Whoosh!
The sword slashed through the Vice Leader’s ceremonial robes, cutting them cleanly.
The Vice Leader stepped aside, narrowly avoiding the strike, and glared.
“You little—!!”
At the same time, Doyul raised his voice.
“I’ll handle the Vice Leader! You focus on the Blood Demon!”
“Yes!”
Yerin nodded and swiftly brushed past Doyul.
“No!”
The Vice Leader tried to shove Doyul away, but Doyul clung to him tenaciously.
At that moment, Yerin ran toward the coffin, opening its lid with a swift motion.
‘Ah.’
Her eyes widened in shock.
Baek Seol-yeon’s body was almost within reach.
‘…This can’t be.’
She looked exactly the same as before.
It was as if she were merely sleeping peacefully.
Overcome with emotions she couldn’t describe, Yerin gritted her teeth and drew her dagger.
She was about to stab it into her neck.
Thud!
A cold, ice-like hand grabbed Yerin’s wrist.
At the same time, Baek Seol-yeon slowly lifted her eyelids.
Her eyes were as black as obsidian, gazing down at Yerin.
And then…
“…Master.”
A soft voice echoed.
Tears like pearls slid down Baek Seol-yeon’s pale cheek.
‘Lies.’
Yerin froze, her wrist still held in that unrelenting grip.
Though her appearance was the same as in the past, Yerin knew.
She knew it couldn’t be her.
The person who called her “Master” was…
“Se-jin.”
The first disciple she had ever taken in, Hyeon Se-jin.
Only he could have called her that.
The body of Seol-yeon—or rather, the body now belonging to Se-jin—slowly sat up.
Then, he flashed a bright smile at Yerin.
“Master.”
“….”
“Now, at last…”
Se-jin—no, the being possessing Seol-yeon’s body—tightened her grip on Yerin’s wrist.
“We can be together… forever.”
In that instant, Yerin felt as if ice-cold water had been poured over her head. Her mind snapped back to reality.
A powerful realization struck her like a thunderclap.
The person smiling at her from within Baek Seol-yeon’s body was no longer Se-jin.
She had transcended human limitations, willing to stain the world with blood for her desires.
This was no longer a mere human.
The entity in front of her was… the Blood Demon.
—
Elsewhere, Manyeon Bingjeong, who had separated from the group to move alone, was rushing frantically.
They were trying to break the remaining catalysts as quickly as possible.
‘Contractor!’
They were desperate, almost losing their mind.
Since becoming a great spirit, Manyeon Bingjeong has never once felt fear or anxiety.
But after meeting Yerin and making her their contractor, everything changed.
Yerin had taught them many emotions.
Though she was reckless and often took advantage of Somi, using them for her own gain…
‘Still.’
The gentle caresses and the warm, sweet voice calling their name made them feel a comfort They’d never known before.
When Yerin occasionally held them close, Somi had come to find the warmth of her embrace soothing.
The short time they had spent with Yerin felt infinitely more valuable than the eons they had spent as a solitary spirit.
So…
‘I won’t let you die.’
Manyeon Bingjeong pressed their feet harder into the ground and pushed forward.
—
“Blood Demon!”
A voice full of joy echoed loudly.
It was the Vice Leader.
He swung his arm wide and sent Doyul flying back before rushing toward the Blood Demon.
Crash!
Doyul’s body slammed violently into the wall.
“Ugh!”
Doyul gasped in pain, groaning in agony.
Yerin’s eyes widened.
“Doyul!”
Regardless, the Vice Leader was unquestioningly devoted to the Blood Demon.
Even though he knew how dangerous it was to take his eyes off his opponent during a life-or-death battle…
He firmly believed that the Blood Demon would protect him and that Doyul would never be able to lay a finger on him.
So, the Vice Leader knelt before the Blood Demon, offering his obedience.
“The first servant of the Blood Demon presents himself before the Blood Demon.”
“…”
The Blood Demon looked down at the Vice Leader with indifferent eyes.
But the Vice Leader paid no mind to this.
‘Right before my eyes, the Blood Demon, who will fulfill the Blood Sect’s desires, is alive and moving!’
Just that fact alone made his chest swell with an overwhelming sense of pride.
With a trembling voice, the Vice Leader shouted toward the Blood Demon.
“I have waited so long to trample down the righteous sects—their heart, the Murim League! I’ve longed to crush them underfoot!”
“…”
“Now that the Blood Demon has returned, all of those filthy bugs from the righteous sects will bow before the Blood Demon and our Blood Sect!”
“…”
“O mighty Blood Demon, on behalf of all the sect members, I implore you!”
The Vice Leader’s eyes gleamed with madness.
“Please, kill all the people of Hangzhou!”
Once again, he bowed deeply, shouting at the top of his lungs.
“And let the world know that the Blood Sect has returned to the martial world!”
“…”
Though the Vice Leader phrased his words as a plea, he firmly believed that the Blood Demon would certainly grant his request.
After all…
‘It is the Blood Demon!’
The Blood Demon.
An overwhelming existence created by the culmination of centuries of blood magic passed down in the Blood Sect.
A being forged from the bodies of the greatest warriors, combining the life forces of countless humans.
An entity that moved solely for the prosperity of the Blood Sect, with no self-awareness whatsoever.
Therefore, the Blood Demon was easy to manipulate!
“…”
However, the Blood Demon remained silent.
It simply looked down at the prostrating Vice Leader with a calm gaze.
The Vice Leader, sensing something was wrong, cautiously raised his eyes to meet the Blood Demon’s.
“Blood Demon…?”
“Why should I do that?”
The sudden question made the Vice Leader freeze.
“W-what?”
The Blood Demon… asking for a reason?
His spine went cold as if ice water had been poured over him.
‘This can’t be happening…’
The Blood Demon had no self-awareness.
It had always been designed to fulfill the requests of the Blood Sect, a secret weapon created to serve their desires.
But now the Blood Demon seemed…
‘Like it has a will of its own.’
The Blood Demon looked down at the frozen Vice Leader, its eyes filled with disdain.
“Right. Actually, I don’t need to answer you.”
“B-Blood Demon…?”
“While performing the life-and-death ritual, you turn your back to your enemies…”
The Blood Demon clicked its tongue and lifted its gaze.
At the end of its gaze stood Doyul.
With a subtle glance toward the Vice Leader, the Blood Demon whispered.
“Kill him.”
What?!
The Vice Leader’s eyes widened in disbelief.
At the same time, Doyul charged toward the Vice Leader’s back.
It didn’t matter that the enemy had created this opportunity.
As long as he could kill the Vice Leader, his lifelong enemy!
Thrust!
Doyul drove his sword into the Vice Leader’s exposed heart.
“Gah!”
Blood burst from the Vice Leader’s mouth.
He stared in a dazed manner at his own chest, unable to believe what had just happened.
“T-This… this is impossible…”
“Shut up.”
The Blood Demon slightly furrowed its brow, then reached out and grabbed the Vice Leader by the skull.
At the same time, the Vice Leader gasped for breath, foaming at the mouth.
“H… Haa… Haa!”
The Blood Demon forcibly injected internal energy into his body, turning his brain into mush.
The Vice Leader’s eyes widened in agony.
“Grrr… Gah!”
He could no longer make a sound.
His body, no longer able to fight, slumped sideways and fell to the ground.
“…”
“…”
A chilling silence descended.
Red blood spread across the white clothing like petals falling from a flower.
The Blood Demon, staring indifferently at the scene, slowly lifted its head and gazed at Yerin.
“Master.”
Its voice was eerily calm as if nothing had happened.
