The Blood Merchant (1)
A woman emerged from the shadows.
She carried a small, colorful bundle on her back, which was as charming and pretty as she was. Her features were delicate and endearing, making her the kind of person anyone would want to hug, regardless of gender.
But her eyes were something else entirely.
They were a shade of gray, reminiscent of the eyes of the dead. Yet, her overall cuteness made them seem more mysterious and special than eerie.
With a smile, she greeted the man before her.
“It’s been a while.”
“Indeed, it has. How have you been?”
“Oh, you know, just living with the constant scent of blood.”
“Haha, not much different from my own life.”
The man, known as the Dark Merchant, welcomed her warmly, but the Dark Master beside him was less than pleased. It was clear he didn’t like her, though he couldn’t openly show his disapproval.
The woman turned to the Dark Master.
“Still the same, I see.”
Whether she referred to his demeanor or his large frame, it was clear her words weren’t meant kindly.
The Dark Master twitched his cheek and smirked.
“People don’t change easily.”
“Is that an excuse for laziness?”
This time, the other cheek twitched. Despite his constant smile, the Dark Master was a cold and calculating man.
As tension thickened between them, the Dark Merchant spoke up.
“We have a problem.”
“It seems that way.”
“We need you to handle it.”
“What outcome do you desire?”
“Eliminate him.”
“You want me to kill the one who shut down four of Yashi’s shops at once? That’s an impossible task.”
“If anyone can do it, it’s you.”
“The target is like a reincarnation of Chunhajin in his prime. I know there was talk within the organization about eliminating Chunhajin once.”
“Indeed. Chunhajin was too much of a champion for the people and couldn’t stand injustice. His leadership marked a humiliating period of low profits for us.”
“Despite the discussions, we never acted on them. Chunhajin’s weaknesses were hard to find, and we feared provoking him would lead to our downfall. And now you want me to kill someone comparable to him? It’s too much.”
Though she claimed it was impossible, the woman’s expression was calm and composed. She looked young, but her demeanor and speech were anything but. Her age was impossible to guess.
“But he’s not Chunhajin.”
“True. If he were, I’d have fled already.”
She smiled sweetly, her face radiating innocence and charm.
“Please, help us.”
“Since you ask so earnestly, I suppose I must.”
“Thank you.”
“You know the price, right?”
Her gray eyes glinted slightly.
“Of course.”
“Good. Then I’ll take the advance payment now.”
She untied her colorful bundle and retrieved a small vial from within.
Next, she pulled out a curved blade, its spine adorned with a serpentine carving. On closer inspection, it was neither a dragon nor a snake, but some strange creature.
She handed a bamboo tube to the Dark Merchant.
“Drink this.”
Without hesitation, he drank it, while the Dark Master watched with a mix of unease and disapproval.
The woman then rolled up the Dark Merchant’s sleeve.
With a swift motion, she nicked his forearm with the curved blade, letting the blood flow into the vial she had taken out earlier.
Once the vial was full, she sealed it and carefully placed it back in her bundle.
“Alright, I’ve received the advance. You do remember, don’t you? You’ll owe me another vial of blood once the job is done.”
“I understand.”
She was known as the Blood Merchant because she literally traded in blood. Just as other merchants were paid in silver, she demanded her clients’ blood.
“Now that I’ve bought your blood, I’ll fulfill my end of the bargain. Leave him to me.”
“Thank you.”
“No, it’s I who should thank you. I’ll be in touch once it’s done.”
With her bundle on her back, the Blood Merchant vanished from sight.
The Dark Master, who had been watching, turned to the Dark Merchant.
“She’s always unsettling.”
“How many women do you know who can provoke you like that? That’s why she can handle him. An ordinary woman wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“Do you know what she does with the blood?”
“I don’t.”
“Is it really okay to sell your blood like this?”
“Why not? If a little blood can clean up this mess, it’s worth it.”
“There might have been other ways. We have skilled fighters in the Yashi combat group and the Dark Ten.”
“Would they easily reveal their trump cards? Would you?”
“I’d reveal mine immediately.”
“Thank you for saying so. But save it for when you take my place.”
“Haha, I have no such ambitions.”
His laughter made his ample flesh jiggle.
“Life can change your mind. Come, let’s have a drink.”
“Sounds good, let’s drink the night away.”
Laughing, the two men walked away. At the entrance to Yashi, Seong Wangbo stood waiting.
The Dark Merchant paused before him.
“Yashi is closed. Go back to your duties.”
“Yes, understood.”
Though he answered politely, Seong Wangbo’s mind was in turmoil.
‘What are they planning for me?’
It seemed they might kill him, or perhaps they’d let it go if the target was eliminated.
Just then, he caught the eye of the Dark Master, who gave him a slight smile.
As the two men left, Seong Wangbo bit his lip. The Dark Master had always disliked him. For him to smile kindly now could only mean one thing.
‘They’ve decided to kill me.’
Seong Wangbo looked at the now completely darkened Yashi.
‘I must remember that my choices were forced upon me by them.’
＊ ＊ ＊
A massive crater, as if left by a fallen meteor, marked the landscape. Nothing remained there.
Except for one thing.
I stood at the center.
Everything had vanished around me.
[Hahaha.]
The Heavenly Demon laughed heartily, then spoke candidly.
[I’ve been angry about losing to you. What if I had done this? What if I had used that move first? Could I have won? Those thoughts plagued me.]
The Heavenly Demon was more open than ever. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who felt our bond had deepened.
[But it seems my defeat was inevitable.]
Such was the overwhelming power of the Great Cataclysm.
I asked him then.
[Do you still think the Soul-Reaping Demon Sword technique is incomplete?]
His answer was immediate.
[No. How could a technique with such power be incomplete? You’re already insufferably arrogant; I can’t bear to hear more.]
When I didn’t respond, he asked.
[What’s wrong? Is there a problem?]
[There is.]
[What problem?]
[The Soul-Reaping Demon Sword technique is incomplete.]
[What?]
[You were right. My martial arts have improved. I executed the Great Cataclysm more stably this time. That’s how I realized.]
[The technique is incomplete?]
[No. The Soul-Reaping Demon Sword technique is complete. It’s a perfectly crafted technique.]
[What? You madman! What are you trying to say?]
[The technique is perfect, but I misunderstood some parts. That’s why you felt it was incomplete, and why the Great Cataclysm was unstable.]
Using the Great Cataclysm, I realized I had misunderstood parts of the Soul-Reaping Demon Sword technique. As the Heavenly Demon said, I’ve grown stronger recently.
In other words, my martial arts have advanced. I’ve gained enough insight to recognize my previous misconceptions about the technique’s execution.
Yet, I still couldn’t use the Heart Sword. How many more insights and advancements would it take to reach the Heart Sword realm?
It was impossible to know. It could be the next step, or it could be far off.
Regardless, the advancement in my martial arts was something to celebrate. Moreover, I could now use the Great Cataclysm with much more stability.
[You must be pleased. You’re one step closer to being able to kill me.]
[Of course, I’m pleased.]
[Hmph!]
Was I truly pleased?
To be honest… no.
When the Heavenly Demon first possessed me, I was determined to learn the Heart Sword and rid myself of him.
But now… that’s not entirely true.
Fearing he might sense my thoughts, I began walking briskly.
[Let’s head back.]
＊ ＊ ＊
The room was painted a deep red on all sides.
It was as if the walls were drenched in blood. Statues, a mix of human and demonic forms, stood around, with incense burning in various spots.
The Blood Merchant entered.
She set down her bundle and took out the vial filled with the Dark Merchant’s blood.
Opening the vial, she inhaled deeply.
“Ah, it’s as good as expected.”
She knelt before an altar. Beyond it stood a massive statue.
It was a goddess clad in crimson armor, holding a crescent-shaped blade in one hand and a human head in the other. The blood flowing from the blade and head was vividly carved. The goddess was both terrifying and beautiful.
The woman bowed nine times to the goddess.
“Oh Blood God, grant me new insight and strength!”
She began to drink the blood she held, swiftly consuming every drop from the dark vessel.
Once she had drained it completely, she closed her eyes and began to meditate, channeling her energy.
A soft, crimson aura rose around her like a shimmering haze, enveloping her.
Simultaneously, she started chanting an incantation in a language unknown to most.
Drinking the blood made her younger and stronger, but not just any blood would do. The blood of the weak would only diminish her power.
It was the blood of those with formidable strength, unyielding will, fiery ambition, and unparalleled wisdom that truly empowered her.
As her chant reached its peak, the crimson mist thickened and was absorbed into her body.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Her eyes, now a deeper shade of gray, contrasted sharply with the red aura that had surrounded her. She bowed nine times toward the goddess.
Just then, a man’s voice came from outside.
“I’ve prepared what you asked for.”
The young man waiting outside was handsome and, like her, had gray eyes.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, please follow me.”
He led her down a corridor and into the basement, opening the door to the last room.
In the center of the room was a round altar, upon which sat a bottle identical to the one that had held the dark vessel’s blood. It was filled to the brim with blood.
“This is the blood of those who fell on the first night of the hunt. Not a drop was left after the second day’s battle.”
They drew their strength from blood, the source of their power and martial prowess. Collecting blood was their first task in any conflict.
“This will suffice.”
She poured the blood into her palm.
The crimson liquid trickled through her fingers and onto the floor.
“Oh Blood God, hear the grievances of these unjust deaths!”
She began chanting again in that mysterious language.
The blood, defying gravity, rose from the floor and gathered in her palm.
As her chant grew louder, the blood lifted into the air, forming a shape.
Amazingly, it took the form of a face.
It was the face of the one responsible for the death of the blood’s owner. Her ability to perform such eerie and fearsome magic earned her the title of Blood Merchant. With blood, she could achieve the impossible.
“Reveal your true self!”
At her command, the face suspended above her palm quivered.
In an instant!
With a tearing sound, the unfamiliar face mask ripped apart, revealing the true face beneath.
The face formed from blood was none other than that of Byukridan.