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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Cyno
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The journey with Okhwa was more peaceful than I had expected.
She wasn’t much of a talker, and aside from checking on Jin Ga-young’s condition, I mostly meditated or scribbled in my journal.
The Beggar’s Sect’s main headquarters wasn’t exactly close, but thanks to Okhwa’s tireless stamina, we didn’t waste time on unnecessary stops.
Before long, we arrived at the Beggar’s Sect.
Swish—
I stepped inside a shabby hut made of straw and burlap with Okhwa.
This rickety place, looking like it might collapse at any moment, was the Beggar’s Sect—one of the Nine Sects and Five Clans, a gathering of beggars who upheld righteousness.
“Sword Saint… Are you sure about this? Once you enter the Beggar’s Sect, every piece of information about you—including your identity as the ‘White Wanderer’—will be stripped bare. Your goal of starting a new life might become meaningless.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve long since mastered the art of keeping my identity hidden from them.”
“I-Is that so? Well, that’s a relief, but still…”
“Just stay calm. We’re both from righteous sects—why are you so nervous?”
Okhwa kept fidgeting, clearly uneasy about the prospect of meeting Chwi-seon.
Not that it would change my mind.
“Chwi-seon, it’s been a while.”
Pushing open the worn-out door, I saw a grimy old man swaying drunkenly.
Truly, a sight befitting the nickname “Drunken Immortal.”
“Huh? Who the hell are you, calling me ‘old friend’?”
“The White Wanderer from the Taiyuan Jin Family. Pleasure to meet you.”
“White Wanderer? Ah, the shadow power behind the Taiyuan Jin Family? Hmm… Why does your face look so familiar…?”
“Haha.”
His bleary, drunken eyes widened as he stared at me.
Eventually, his pupils dilated to the size of bowls, revealing just how shocked he was.
“The late-blooming martial artist Okhwa pays her respects to Senior Chwi-seon.”
“…! O-Okhwa? W-Why are you here? No, wait… More importantly… You…”
Chwi-seon stammered incoherently at me.
Though the sight was somewhat comical, I didn’t have much time to spare.
“I came to ask you something.”
“A-Ask me…?”
“I’m looking for information on the Twin-Life Pill. As the leader of the Beggar’s Sect, you must know something.”
“…!”
The moment I mentioned the Twin-Life Pill, his pupils trembled violently.
But Chwi-seon was still Chwi-seon—he quickly regained his composure as if nothing had happened.
Still, that brief lapse was more than enough for me.
“So you do know.”
“Hah…”
“Name your price. I need that pill.”
“First the Tang Family brat, now you… Seems like everyone’s after that treasure these days.”
He quickly steadied himself—fitting for an elder who had ascended to the ranks of the Twelve Noble Ones. His mental fortitude was impressive.
“Tang Family brat?” So I wasn’t the only one searching for the Twin-Life Pill.
…Of course. A treasure like that, unmatched in this world—it was only natural.
It was just that its whereabouts were so rare and obscure that rumors hadn’t spread.
“Is Dokjon involved with the Twin-Life Pill?”
Okhwa, who had been silently standing behind me, stepped forward.
“Okhwa, I never thought I’d see the day you’d question this old man.”
“Just answer properly. Is Dokjon searching for the Twin-Life Pill or not?”
“…Yes, he is. Normally, I’d charge for this kind of information, but… I suppose I’ll let it slide this time.”
“Dokjon… That bastard…”
Okhwa’s voice carried a sharp edge.
Were they enemies or something? If so, who hadn’t Okhwa clashed with in her life?
…Well, considering that during the Martial Alliance meetings, everyone except me and the Divine Monk had voted to exile her, she did have a loner’s temperament.
But that wasn’t important right now.
“Enough about that. Just tell me where the Twin-Life Pill is.”
“‘Enter the valley, never return alive’—it’s in the Valley of No Heaven. How many times do I have to say this…?”
“The Valley of No Heaven. Understood.”
“…? Do you even know where that is? How can you be so calm? The thing you’re looking for is in a cursed ravine where no one returns alive!”
“I’ll handle that myself. Okhwa, let’s go.”
“Huh? Ah, right. Chwi-seon, we’ll be leaving now.”
“You’re not even staying for a drink? Tsk, youngsters these days have no manners…”
I grabbed Okhwa’s wrist and turned to leave. Behind me, I heard Chwi-seon click his tongue, but there was nothing left to discuss. We weren’t exactly close enough for friendly small talk anyway.
Only after completely exiting the Beggar’s Sect did I let go of Okhwa’s wrist.
Unlike before, when she had trembled nervously at the thought of meeting Chwi-seon, her expression was now steady.
She even seemed a little more confident.
“See? I told you it’d be fine.”
“Hmm… This is a first for me.”
“What is?”
“Not being treated as an enemy. I’ve always been so extreme that I clashed with everyone I met… I even thought everyone hated me.”
“How foolish.”
“Yes, I was foolish. If I hadn’t been so rigid, even he wouldn’t have had a problem with me.”
“Better late than never. People are meant to grow.”
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I’ve gained another revelation.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Ever since leaving the Wudang Sect—no, ever since she resolved to repent during the Seven Flowers Tournament—Okhwa had been changing day by day, as if becoming a different person.
She had softened, so to speak. Of course, she still occasionally made her signature eerie remarks, but overall, she was much better than before.
“But Sword Saint, didn’t he just say the Twin-Life Pill is in the Valley of No Heaven?”
“Yes, the Valley of No Heaven—one of the Three Great Bizarre Valleys. Quite famous.”
“Aren’t you worried at all?”
“Should I be?”
I threw the question back at her, and Okhwa hesitated before answering sharply.
“It’s the Valley of No Heaven we’re talking about. The ravine where no one returns alive—haunted by vengeful spirits!”
“No need to be so afraid. It’s just a gathering place for lost souls who couldn’t move on to the afterlife.”
“Hmm… Well, you’ve always been fearless…”
“Even if I were afraid, I wouldn’t fear the Valley of No Heaven.”
Truthfully, I had been there before—not in this life, but in others.
The cave at its heart, connected to the depths of hell, had often been useful for training.
This time, though, I only needed to go deep enough to retrieve the Twin-Life Pill.
“You really are… a strong person. Both in body and mind.”
“Calling this ‘strength’ is a bit embarrassing.”
“And yet… I completely ignored you, watched as you fell apart… Ugh!”
“…”
Sometimes, during conversations like this, Okhwa would suddenly grimace and lower her head.
She’d clutch her chest, then after a moment, clear her throat and return to normal. I had no idea why.
…Could it be guilt? If it was pushing her in a good direction, fine—but given Okhwa’s rigid personality, it probably wasn’t.
“…”
For now, I needed to focus on the Twin-Life Pill. Jin Ga-young’s life depended on it.
A place where human blood flows endlessly, forming rivers and seas.
Where human flesh piles high, blanketing the earth.
Where screams and curses gather, filling the very air.
The Blood Cult’s main headquarters.
“I’ve brought what you requested, Cult Master.”
A man walked down the blood-soaked halls of the Blood Cult’s headquarters, carrying a plate in one hand.
Soon, the plate was placed before the master of the sacred throne at the end of the hall.
The master, whose red hair and eyes stood out unnaturally, bore the title of Blood Demon.
To be precise, she was the Second Blood Demon, who had remained as vice-leader until the Righteous-Blood War.
“Oh? Did you prepare it exactly as I instructed?”
“Yes, without the slightest deviation.”
“I don’t consume anything older than three years.”
“…Rest assured. Only those of exact age were selected.”
The Blood Demon licked her lips greedily as she eyed the plate.
Drops of blood fell from it.
Drip—
Drip—
Drip—
Then, at some point, the falling droplets reversed midair and flowed into the Blood Demon’s parted lips.
A divine feat made possible only by her martial arts reaching its peak.
“Slurp— Ah, nothing is as fresh as three-year-olds. Beasts or humans.”
“…”
“Mmm… Gulp… Raw is always the best…”
The Blood Demon reached for the neatly sliced pieces of meat on the plate.
The completely uncooked flesh entered her mouth.
And then—
Chew, chew—
The man watching silently soon found it unbearable and lowered his head.
Though he had no moral qualms, the Blood Demon’s cannibalistic tastes—especially her preference for young children—were beyond even his comprehension.
‘Ugh… The previous Blood Demon at least ate those five and older. How the hell am I supposed to gather three-year-olds every single day?’
Of course, he couldn’t voice his complaints.
The moment he showed even a hint of dissatisfaction, his head would roll.
So instead, he asked a question to mask his emotions—to avoid letting the Blood Demon sense his irritation.
“Is… there a particular reason you prefer it raw?”
“Oh? Are you curious too?”
“N-No! It’s just… I find it a little strange that you insist on raw meat instead of cooking or boiling it…”
Chewing the tender human flesh, the Blood Demon answered in a bright voice—so cheerful that one might mistake it for genuine delight.
No one would ever guess what she was eating unless told.
“I once visited a remote island in the east. Saw them eating raw fish there. That’s when I started.”
“But… they eat fish there. Not people.”
“Have you been to the southern barbarian lands? The savages there sometimes eat humans too. That’s when I realized—humans can be excellent food as well.”
“…”
The man felt nauseous just continuing the conversation. He quickly covered his mouth, suppressing the urge to vomit.
He had tried small talk to hide his discomfort, but it only made things worse.
The Blood Demon was truly a monstrous being.
“Hmm… I finished it faster than I thought. What a shame.”
She gazed wistfully at the empty plate. Regret—or perhaps drool—dripped from her eyes.
“Maybe… just one more plate— Ghk!”
The Blood Demon suddenly convulsed and collapsed. The regret in her eyes twisted into pain, and the saliva dripping from her lips turned into thick, red blood.
Gush—!
A torrent of dark crimson vomit erupted from her mouth. Her body slumped from the throne.
“Cough! Gah—! Damn it…!!”
With a pained groan, she desperately covered her mouth.
But the blood kept pouring out uncontrollably.
“C-Cult Master?”
“Haah… Shit… Cough! Hack! Wheeze…!”
The man watched with concern.
He knew exactly why this was happening—knew the state of her body. But he couldn’t act recklessly.
All he could do was hope she would endure this episode.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—the Blood Demon eventually recovered.
Long after the convulsions began.
“Hah… Hah…”
She slumped back onto the throne. Unwiped blood clung to the corners of her mouth.
When the man cautiously offered her a towel, she snatched it away irritably.
Like a wounded beast, hypersensitive to everything.
“Damn it… If only I hadn’t fought that bastard Sword Saint… That fucking piece of shit…”
A stream of curses spilled from her lips.
“If I hadn’t gotten these internal injuries…! What’s the point of regretting it now…?”
Slumped on the throne, she quietly called out to the man.
“You said the Twin-Life Pill has been found?”
“Yes. Rumors say it’s deep within the Valley of No Heaven.”
“We need to get it. Now. I can’t afford to wait any longer. These injuries won’t heal on their own. If I can’t bathe in the Jade Clear Spring, then I must take the Twin-Life Pill.”
“I’ll prepare immediately.”
“Good. You’re competent—I trust you’ll make it quick.”
The moment the Blood Demon gave the order, the man turned to leave.
Watching his retreating figure, she casually added one last command just as he reached the door.
“Gather the Four Great Demon Generals.”
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