As a member of the Martial Forest Alliance, we urgently mobilized to counter the recent attack on Go Sang-mun by the Blood Sect.
“Two days ago, several experts in the area headed toward the Blood Sect’s base.”
Typically, even the low-ranking members of the Martial Forest Alliance would be strong enough to secure their region. Yet, it was utterly perplexing that such sects, after sustaining significant losses, would still consider assaulting the Blood Sect’s lair; clearly, some individuals were lacking in common sense.
Whether it was the allure of reputation or sheer audacity, the martial artists who formed a group to attack the Blood Sect’s base became unreachable after their incursion.
While these impulsive individuals only managed to dig themselves a proverbial hole, a life is still a life. Our choice was simple: acting quickly to attack the base was the only way to ensure their safety.
“I will lead from the front with the Five Great Clans. I ask the members of the Nine Great Sects to provide guarding for the O-Haengjin.”
“Amitabha.”
“Infinite Life Buddha.”
Leading the charge were the Hwa-gyeong Martial Artists from the Moyong Clan and the Five Great Clans, while I positioned myself in the middle of the formation, escorted by the Hwa-gyeong Martial Artists from the Nine Great Sects.
“The Martial Forest Alliance is here!”
“The Martial Forest Alliance has appeared!”
As the mountain stronghold descended into chaos, Moyong Seo signaled the attack. The martial artists of the Martial Forest Alliance, now emboldened, sprang into action, executing their techniques as they swarmed the stronghold.
“Graah!”
“Uwaah!!”
The Blood Persons from the Blood Sect burst forth but were swiftly subdued in an instant, thanks to the focused assault of the Hwa-gyeong Martial Artists.
Even after swiftly suppressing the Blood Persons, Moyong Seo’s expression remained stern.
Despite the uproar loud enough to be heard throughout the stronghold, there were likely no more than ten Blood Persons in total.
“Search the stronghold!”
At Moyong Seo’s command, the martial artists of the Martial Forest Alliance swiftly combed through the surroundings.
“There are traces of the fugitives here.”
“This place is the same.”
“Goodness.”
Moyong Seo sighed heavily, for it was clear that evidence of the Blood Sect’s escape was scattered all over the stronghold.
“The stronghold was being monitored by Go Sang-mun and the righteous factions nearby, how could the Entities and the Blood Sect’s members vanish without a trace?”
Before long, Moyong Seo’s question was resolved.
“There is a long tunnel here.”
A massive hole opened up in the center of the stronghold.
The moment I saw it, I recognized it as a burrow made by the Badger Entity. Likely, Moyong Mo, who would have been investigating the Shengsu Faction’s underground, felt the same, as he let out a long sigh.
“It seems they’ve escaped through a tunnel dug by an Entity.”
“The inside is blocked.”
“Oh dear.”
Everyone wore faces of disappointment. After rushing here from the Martial Forest Alliance, it felt like a disappointment that these Thunder-headed beasts had merely rustled through the grass and allowed the Blood Sect’s group to escape.
“What’s done is done. More importantly, shouldn’t we search for survivors?”
“Still, as it’s the Blood Sect’s base, there might be useful information remaining.”
Thus, the search began, and soon the entire raiding party was mobilized.
“There is an underground area here.”
“There is a tunnel over here.”
The Badger Entity seemed to have extensively dug underground spaces, uncovering sizable regions throughout the entire stronghold.
My group joined the investigation.
“Infinite Life Buddha, is it really necessary for you to participate?”
“Given that the Blood Sect’s members are confirmed to have fled, wouldn’t it seem odd for me to remain alone as your guard? How about we split up to seek out clues?”
“Understood.”
With the renowned Sage of the Mu-dang Sect leading the charge, the experts from the Nine Great Sects who were escorting me also scattered.
“Indeed, there are a variety of things here.”
The underground space felt more like a tunnel than a basement. Scratches from the Entity’s claws were glaringly present on the earthen wall. Behind them, signs of the Blood Persons carving and filling for their survival were abundant.
The underground area of the lair showed clear signs of a hasty cleanup. Plenty of items that seemed to be utilized for techniques, along with books and messages, were discovered.
Yeo Il-ye frowned as she looked at a blood-stained jar.
“What kind of blood technique did they use here?”
“Who knows. Now that I think about it, aside from splattering blood droplets, I’ve never actually seen the Blood Sect’s rituals in action. The Explosion Technique is also not really a technique in the first place.”
“Isn’t summoning Entities enough? I really don’t want to experience blood techniques any further.”
“That is indeed the case.”
Listening to my companions’ discussions, I found myself pondering over a seemingly useless list of ingredients.
Blood techniques, blood techniques.
I didn’t know what kind of sorcery was used to tame the Blood Sect’s Entities, but it was clear that blood magic was involved. Otherwise, I couldn’t explain why Seo Gong had attacked me, defying commands from the Blood Persons.
“Hmm.”
If the Blood Sect’s blood techniques were mediated through blood, how would the connection of that blood influence the sorcery in any way?
In that case,
was the sensation that has been irritating my nerves since earlier a talent or instinct infused within that blood?
“Is there anything you feel?”
At my question, my companions tensed up, grasping their weapons while backing each other. It seemed they took my words as a warning.
Feeling awkward, I scratched the back of my head and added, “I don’t mean that there’s an enemy hiding… just a sensation that feels off, or something that’s concerning…”
“What, you! Why articulate it in such an ominous way?”
“Well, it’s not particularly pleasant, but that doesn’t mean I feel anything particularly unusual.”
So it was that I was the only one sensing it.
Following that feeling, I clambered back to the surface. The sensation was guiding me underground, but I somehow felt it was in a different location.
Following the sensation presumed to be the pull of blood, I headed towards the underground of a certain building. It seemed it had been an area the members of the Martial Forest Alliance had recently investigated, as evidence of foot traffic was evident, but I entered, compelled by the sensation.
“Hmm.”
The instant I stepped into the underground, I was convinced.
This was precisely the place my sensation was steering me towards.
With an inexplicable certainty, I approached one wall. It was a rough earthen wall, no different from the other walls, yet an undeniable feeling told me something was hidden here.
I didn’t know how to explain it, but I felt assured that I had to insert my hand into this black wall.
Surely, there had to be something related to entry.
Perhaps a doorknob or a hole for blood to be spilled through.
Taking a deep breath, I coated my hand with a faint Qi and thrust it into the earthen wall. After a few explorative motions, I distinctly felt the grip of a metallic rod.
There couldn’t just be a metal rod concealed within this earthen wall without reason, so this had to be a handle.
With a firm grasp, I pulled the handle, causing the dirt to collapse and the door to come loose. It was more of a plug than a door.
“A secret space…”
“They’ve indeed concealed it well.”
Listening to my companions murmur, I gazed at the lid that had fallen away.
The intricate sorcery design had densely etched around the handle, revealing fragments of its form.
What had been prodding my senses all this time turned out to be this very sorcery design.
It seemed that while our Hwa-gyeong Martial Artists and many of the Martial Forest Alliance couldn’t catch onto the sensation, this was a type of sorcery that could only detect members of the Blood Sect.
Turning my head, I surveyed the room.
Barely the size of a bookshelf, the secret space held volumes of documents and scrolls that clearly seemed to belong to the Blood Sect.
The tomes and scrolls found in this secret space were immediately entrusted to the hands of the expert, skilled in light movement, and dispatched to the Martial Forest Alliance.
As a result, when the investigation party arrived at the Martial Forest Alliance, they were able to receive immediate translations of the inscriptions.
“You’ve done a remarkable job!”
Yeon Cheon-baek gathered all the Hwa-gyeong Martial Artists of the investigation party.
Seeing the harvest from the inscriptions was substantial, Yeon Cheon-baek couldn’t hide his joy.
“The inscriptions recorded quite useful information. Records of the movements of key Entities and members of the Blood Sect and information on relatively new bases, as well as parts of the Blood Sect’s plans and directives.”
The successful findings brought joy to the experts of the investigation party.
“Wow, I thought we hit a dead end, so I’m relieved that we actually harvested something.”
“The Brain Knife Outcast has once again achieved a significant feat. This is the luck of the martial realm.”
“How can this be credited to me? It’s everyone’s hard work in the investigative team.”
“Indeed, indeed.”
In the midst of a friendly atmosphere where praises were exchanged, Moyong Seo drew attention.
“It seems the leader has something he wishes to convey…”
“Indeed.”
Yeon Cheon-baek surveyed the faces of the investigation team and seized the moment to make a bombshell revelation.
“Based on the information from the inscriptions, we have pinpointed the Blood Sect’s headquarters.”
“…!”
A silent shock spread throughout the room.
Everyone held their breath, reflecting on the meaning and weight of that statement, when Moyong Seo spoke up.
“I believe this has been thoroughly vetted, but could it not be an overly hasty conclusion? No matter how secretive the inscriptions, it would be unusual for them to record information about the headquarters…”
“While it’s true that the inscriptions played a decisive role in identifying the headquarters, the search for the Blood Sect’s base has been ongoing ever since the Martial Forest Alliance began its activities. This conclusion synthesizes all those efforts.”
“Umm.”
“Even if it’s not the headquarters, it’s certain that it’s either a significant base or where the leader of the Blood Sect resides.”
…the leader of the Blood Sect.
Does that mean my maternal grandfather, the Blood Ancestor, is at that base?
An inexplicable feeling of turbulence spread through my chest. Unbeknownst to my inner turmoil, Moyong Seo continued on with a grave expression.
“If we can leverage this information properly, it could grant us an opportunity to eliminate the head of the Blood Sect in one fell swoop.”
Yeon Cheon-baek nodded.
“The alliance shares your thoughts, Moyong Seo. Hence, it has been decided that the Martial Forest Alliance will raid the Blood Sect’s headquarters.”
“Wow…!”
“It includes not only the current investigation party but also the Eighteen Arhats of the Shaolin Temple and Master Un-jong from the Jeomchang Faction. Time is of the essence, so the investigation team should prepare for immediate departure.”
The words of Yeon Cheon-baek caused everyone to swallow hard.
With the participation of the Hwa-gyeong Martial Artists and the Eighteen Arhats, is there ever a time this much power has mobilized?
A huge shift in the Martial World was imminent, and it appeared those seasoned veterans were unable to hide their tension.
“I sincerely wish for everyone’s good fortune.”
The next day, the investigation party set out for the Blood Sect’s stronghold in the Gang-so region.
