Reincarnation of the Blood Demon - Chapter 28

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Blood Demon Hall: A Past Life
Chapter 28
A Secret
“……Hah.”

After moving forward a short distance, Jek Un-hui stopped in a place where no one could see him, and drew his breath slowly. Deep furrows creased the space between his brows.
‘I pushed too hard.’

During the fight, power had surged through him as if he might take flight at any moment, but now that the heat had faded, the aftereffects were severe.
His muscles were torn, on the verge of snapping fiber by fiber, and his bones were riddled with countless fractures.
By this measure, his condition was far worse than it had been immediately after his rebirth into this new life.
‘If I’d hesitated even a moment longer, I’d be in real trouble.’
He wouldn’t have died, but he certainly would have required months of convalescence.
‘How many of them did I drain?’

Even if the bandits’ qi was meager, the sheer volume he’d absorbed was substantial.
A vast quantity of demonic qi was flooding through his entire body in rapid succession—the extreme cold energy it carried was making his hands and feet tremble violently.
On top of that, he’d unleashed the Blood Heaven Seal Technique itself. In truth, the fact that he was still alive was almost miraculous.

‘I had no choice.’

Daelyeok, the problem-solver of Heungryong Mountain Stronghold, and the Three Shamans of Shensi were masters worthy of respect even by standards of the wider world.
As the sect leader had said, the blades the Nokrim Bandits had kept hidden were threats of that caliber.
To face them with a body already half-dead would have required taking on injury that I couldn’t avoid.

‘It irritates me that my body shatters so easily from this alone.’

What he’d used this time wasn’t even a formal opening move of the Blood Heaven Seal Technique. He’d simply manipulated his blood essence according to the martial art’s foundational principles, nothing more.
Compared to the realm he’d reached in his past life, it was a pathetic imitation.
Mere hand gestures to crush an enemy.
That was the realm that Jek Sa-hyeok had attained in his past life.

‘In other words, I nearly destroyed this body just by imitating that.’

It was only because of Jek Un-hui’s bizarre physiology that he’d endured at all—an ordinary person would have ruptured from the overload to their blood vessels and died on the spot.
‘I must recover the realm of my past life as soon as possible.’
As for mastering all seven opening moves of the Blood Heaven Seal Technique—I harbor no such foolish dreams.
My current goal is merely to properly master the First Form itself.
Of course, even just entering the gateway of the First Form was harder than achieving mastery in most martial arts, so it wasn’t a problem he could solve easily.
And the thing that would allow him to surmount most of these difficulties far more readily was…….

‘Spiritual elixirs.’

Gateways that he couldn’t cross through lack of strength could be crossed readily if he borrowed the power of spiritual elixirs.
Of course, finding a spiritual elixir suited to Jek Un-hui’s constitution wouldn’t be easy, but fortunately, he knew of a place where such things might be found.

‘The Blood Heaven Secret Vault.’

The Blood Cult’s greatest treasure repository, accessible only to the sect leader.
‘I’ve found yet another reason to meet with the sect leader.’
Coaxing his trembling legs—as if they might shatter at any moment—forward again, Jek Un-hui resumed his steady stride.
* * *
Upon returning to the sect, Jek Un-hui made his way directly to the Blood Demon Hall.

“The Third Son has arrived.”

As the Blood Heaven bodyguard standing watch announced his arrival, just as before, the dark iron gate opened of its own accord.
‘Hmm?’

Inside the revealed interior of the Blood Demon Hall, there was a white-haired man of middle years that he hadn’t seen before.
From the man in the white long robe emanated an elegance untypical of Blood Cult members.
To look at him, one might easily mistake him for a venerable master of some orthodox sect.
“Greetings, Father.”

Jek Un-hui offered his respects to the Cult Leader first, then turned to perform a formal salute toward the middle-aged man.
“It has been some time, Master of the Blood Sea Hall.”
The middle-aged man’s identity was none other than Heuk Ji-gwang—the master of the Blood Sea Hall, the Blood Cult’s supreme intelligence apparatus, and the most trusted military strategist of the Blood Demon, Jek Wi-geuk.
He too received the greeting with a gentle smile.
“Long time no see, Third Son. I nearly failed to recognize you—you’ve grown so much handsomer.”
After the exchange of formalities, the Cult Leader spoke.
“You rushed off spouting talk of hunting bandits—when did that end, and why have you returned?”
“The Nokrim Bandits have been dealt with, though that was merely the surface layer. I uncovered evidence that the victims of human trafficking were being sold to the Hwanhon Sect.”
As Jek Un-hui spoke thus, he watched both the Cult Leader and Heuk Ji-gwang carefully, yet neither showed any sign of disturbance.
‘They already knew.’
Jek Un-hui’s eyes turned cold beneath the surface.
If these men had known yet taken no action, he would be profoundly disappointed.
“Were you aware of this?”
Holding his gaze steadily, the Cult Leader replied.
“I only learned of it recently.”
If that were true, it would be something at least.
Jek Un-hui pressed further.
“Will you leave matters as they stand?”
“What would you have me do?”
At this indifferent question, Jek Un-hui answered without hesitation.
“The Hwanhon Sect must be struck. I request your permission.”

A truly audacious declaration. Both the Cult Leader and Heuk Ji-gwang fixed their eyes upon Jek Un-hui at once.
Soon, a flicker of interest crossed Heuk Ji-gwang’s eyes.
‘So he has changed—this is no ordinary matter.’
Here he stood, brazenly proposing to invade the forces of his own blood relatives before the Cult Leader himself.
The Third Son he remembered would not have met the Cult Leader’s gaze; now there was an air of audacity about him.
Yet it was no forced affectation—it flowed naturally, as though born to it from the start.

‘Have I misjudged the Third Son all this while?’

As Heuk Ji-gwang exhaled softly, the Cult Leader, rather than grant or refuse permission, turned to another subject.
“You know your brothers better than anyone, I imagine.”
“Well, that is true enough.”
Among the Cult Leader’s three sons, the Eldest Son was praised for his broad capacity and magnanimous nature, while the Second Son was universally spoken of as inherently vicious and contemptible—a vessel fit only for a demon.
‘And finally, me. The Third Son was said to be good for nothing—a sickly wretch soon to die.’
The Eldest Son held the foremost position among all the candidates for vice leadership, including the Cult Leader’s other offspring and various deputy leaders.
By any measure, the Third Son was no match for such a rival.
“Can you manage it?”

At this, Jek Un-hui nodded without the slightest hesitation.
“Is that not how brothers grow—by fighting one another?”
The Cult Leader, whose face had remained expressionless, twisted his mouth into a sneer. It was the same derision he had shown when Jek Un-hui spoke of the bandits’ suppression.
It was then that Heuk Ji-gwang stepped forward.
“Cult Leader, might it not be wise to entrust the handling of this matter to the Third Son?”
“This matter?”
In an instant, two gazes sharpened with focus.
The Cult Leader’s eyes held skepticism as to whether the boy could manage this task at all, while Heuk Ji-gwang’s gaze brimmed with something like expectation.
‘Whatever it is, this is my chance.’
Receiving the contrasting gazes of the Cult Leader and the Master of the Blood Sea Hall, Jek Un-hui nodded at once.
“If you will entrust it to me, I shall bring back his head on the spot.”
At this bold boast, the Cult Leader stared at Jek Un-hui for a moment, then, as though he had not heard, turned his gaze to Heuk Ji-gwang.
“I still believe he is unequal to the task.”
“The Third Son appears to have changed considerably—would it not be prudent to test the matter?”
“Hmm……”
The two men exchanged words as though the matter were of no great consequence.
From that composed demeanor, Jek Un-hui could discern one crucial fact.
‘He’d already made up his mind to handle the Hwanhon Sect.’
Perhaps Heuk Ji-gwang’s presence here was for no other reason than to discuss this very matter.

‘His handing this task to me means…….’

An opportunity for reformation—a chance for the Third Son, who until now had wielded neither real authority nor earned distinction.
Should he succeed in a mission handed down directly by the sect leader, his standing within the organization would become incomparable to what it had been.
What Heuk Ji-gwang was thinking, Jek Un-hui couldn’t say, but for himself there was nothing to lose.
While Jek Un-hui’s mind raced, the sect leader—consultation concluded—posed a brief question.
“Can you manage it?”
A question compressed with layers of meaning. Jek Un-hui answered equally tersely.
“Yes.”
At that, a sneer bloomed distinctly across that cold face—audacious, almost mocking.
“If you’re confident you can bear it, then try.”
The sect leader gave his consent once more.
Jek Un-hui’s brief moment of satisfaction evaporated as the leader’s voice hardened, signaling he was far from finished.
“Consider this task a test for you. You are to resolve it with only your own strength, without any support from this sect. Until it is concluded, the very fact that I have entrusted you with this mission remains classified.”
“Understood, sir.”
He had never counted on support anyway. In truth, he’d been prepared to handle the matter unilaterally had the sect leader not approved—so gaining his sanction alone was harvest enough.
“I won’t disappoint you.”
The sect leader merely laughed coldly, and Heuk Ji-gwang bowed with perfect courtesy.
“I wish you fortune, Third Son.”
The moment when Blood Heaven Divine Sect’s thorn in the side—the Third Son, Jek Un-hui—received his first formal assignment.

“Then…….”

Just as Jek Un-hui turned to leave.

“Take this.”

With a soft voice, a wooden case rose soundlessly through the air and flew toward him.

“……What is this?”

Jek Un-hui asked, puzzlement written across his features, and the sect leader answered as if it were nothing of consequence.

“Blood Spirit Pills.”

Blood Spirit Pills were a secret elixir of the Blood Cult—a medicine of extraordinary potency for modest Internal Energy advancement and, more crucially, for treating Internal Injuries.
Combined with the Third Son’s singular physiology, they could restore him completely from combat’s aftermath. Their value was immense, naturally.
The sect leader’s mouth twisted in a derisive smile.

“Those bandits’ tactics proved rather savage, it seems. In a physical state like yours, nothing worth attempting could succeed.”

He revealed that he’d already grasped how considerable the damage Jek Un-hui had sustained in his clash with the Nokrim Bandits had been.
He could easily have sent a subordinate to deliver the pills—yet he’d chosen to hand them over directly.

‘He went out of his way to give them himself.’

Wondering what lay beneath that gesture, if only for a moment.
Jek Un-hui secured the Blood Spirit Pills and bowed with respect.

“I am grateful for your kindness. I shall take my leave now. Please mind yourself.”

* * *
“I’m coming in.”
Creak.
As Ma Hyeol-jin opened the door and stepped through, he found Jek Un-hui standing with his back turned, gazing out at the landscape.
“Organization Leader, did you call for me?”
“How much money do we have left?”
No greeting—straight to business.
Ma Hyeol-jin produced a ledger as if he’d been waiting for the question, and handed it over.
Jek Un-hui glanced through it briefly and nodded.
“Quite substantial.”
“Yes, sir.”
The figures were indeed impressive. Unifying Namhwa Province had amassed considerable wealth, and the recent plundering of the bandits’ stores had proved especially fruitful.
Even after distributing funds among the common folk they’d liberated, a substantial sum remained.
“Let’s start with uniforms for the organization. Things are too haphazard right now—no way to tell people apart.”
Unified dress was fundamental to organizational cohesion and identity.
Had Jek Un-hui not raised it first, Ma Hyeol-jin had planned to suggest it himself.
Ma Hyeol-jin bowed his head in agreement.
“I know a fabric merchant, sir. If you entrust this to me, I’ll see it handled properly.”
“Good. Just don’t skim too much off the top.”
“…As if I would, sir.”
Ma Hyeol-jin laughed awkwardly, and Jek Un-hui returned the smile with equal brightness.
“You’ve cleared out Heungryong Mountain completely? Once the uniforms arrive, take the men there. Time we put them through proper training.”
“Understood, sir. Will you be conducting the training personally?”

Jek Un-hui shook his head.

“No—I’m leaving that to Ju Yi-gyeom.”
“Pardon, sir? Not you, but the bodyguard…?”
“Not bodyguard. Vice Leader. That’s what he wants to be called. Since he asked, we should oblige.”
“Ah, yes. Vice Leader, then. And you, sir…?”
“I’ll be away for a while.”

Jek Un-hui delivered this with a decidedly casual expression.

“Get me information on all the sects in Seolyong Province. Everything you can.”
“Seolyong Province, sir? Not Namhwa—why would you suddenly need intelligence on someone else’s territory?”
“I have my uses for it.”
“Sir?”

Seolyong Province—the Eldest Son’s domain.
Of the four provinces spanning east, west, south, and north, it boasted the strongest power, and was home to the Hwanhon Sect in particular.

‘Wait—the Hwanhon Sect?’

A dark premonition flickered through Ma Hyeol-jin’s mind. The color drained from his face as he stammered out the question.

“S-sir, wait a moment. Surely you’re not…? No, you wouldn’t be…?”
Watching Ma Hyeol-jin’s alarm, Jek Un-hui’s lips curved upward in a meaningful smile.

“It’s a secret.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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