Chapter 115. Manufacture

Haerak listened more intently than ever, yet it was difficult to understand So-hwa's words.

"So-hwa, I don't know what you're talking about right now."

Haerak also knew the Blood Demon's body was unusual. He would always boast that the fortune he enjoyed was thanks to his special blood.

But So-hwa said the Blood Demon's body was a powder keg.

Even more, she said it was a body that could not cultivate qi in the dantian.

He did not know what she had seen, but it did not seem like she was lying to him. She was not one to make frivolous jokes.

Haerak asked urgently,

"What do you mean, holding a powder keg?"

"The Blood Demon's body is such that even if he forcibly opens his meridians, they close again before he completes a small circulation. He rather makes use of that. Just before the meridian closes, he pushes in the stolen internal energy and conceals it."

"Then, he forces open the meridian whenever he needs it and uses it?"

"Yes. But because the meridians close so quickly, he cannot even use it properly. And once a meridian is opened, internal energy is greatly lost."

So-hwa recalled the Blood Demon's obsession with the Blood Jade.

"The Blood Demon is trying to create blood channels, to fuse the internal energy concealed in all his meridians into one mass, and to conceal that power. So that he can unleash his greatest strength at any time. That must be the wall he seeks to surpass. That is why he sought me, to make a medicine that would hold the meridians open as long as possible."

Her words sounded sympathetic, yet her voice was dry.

"If, while all his meridians are open, the internal energy goes awry, the Blood Demon will not withstand it. Since he has devoured countless clashing internal energies, even a small disruption will cause them to collide and explode. Before he can regain balance, not only his meridians but his organs will be shattered to pieces."

So-hwa looked at the silent Haerak and said,

“The more greed he shows, the more painful his downfall will be.”

Haerak was a martial artist.

He must have roughly understood the Blood Demon's body.

Thus, it was only natural that he would have many questions to ask.

"You..."

But Min Haerak asked something strange.

"Don't tell me you provoked that old geezer on purpose just to check the Blood Demon's insides?"

Haerak's face was calm as ever.

Even the way he held the basket looked peaceful, and the scent of herbs filling the surroundings was utterly tranquil.

Yet, strangely, an uncomfortable silence followed.

"Don't do that."

Min Haerak sighed and spoke.

"If it's needed, make me do it. I'm a hundred times better at riling up the Blood Demon than drying these damned herbs."

So-hwa's gaze lowered. All the herbs in the basket were dried, as though they had been laid under the sun for three days.

She looked at the basket but, without answering, turned to walk away.

If there were no more questions, she had nothing further to say.

She had already said all she needed to.

"You don’t have to help anymore. I’m going to gather medicinal herbs to use raw."

Yet the sound of footsteps following her remained.

Before long, Haerak came alongside her and asked,

"Let me ask just one more thing."

"As much as you want."

"You said you would make that medicine for the Blood Demon within two days, didn't you? Then, does that mean the Blood Demon will die in two days?"

"No. Not yet. I'm still thinking about how to disrupt his internal energy. For now, it's enough to show him that I'm someone he needs."

She had to prove she could paralyze him to earn his trust.

The medicine could only paralyze his recovery—it could not kill him. When the Blood Demon tried to merge all the internal energy inside him, only then could he be killed.

If the Blood Demon trusted her enough to order a Blood Jade that maintained the effect for long hours, then she would have to use a method to twist his internal energy at that time.

"Then when will you kill him?"

"First, after two days, I'll watch the Blood Demon's internal reaction and figure out a method. Meanwhile, I must win his trust and take back the North Sea and the Great Solar Palaces, to return them to their rightful Palace Lords."

Haerak frowned.

"Do you mean you really have no thought of returning to the Central Plains?"

"The Blood Demon already put my doppelganger in the Alliance Leader's chamber. He said he would soon erase me from the Central Plains by making it appear I had died."

So-hwa thought of the Alliance Leader.

The Alliance Leader would willingly close his eyes to the Blood Demon's scheme.

For he wished to imprison her so that she could not change the future—whether in her own residence or in the prison cells of the headquarters.

"Then doesn't that make you think you should hurry back before that happens?"

"Well. If I misjudge the timing, the Alliance Leader might use the Blood Sect's doppelganger to tie me to the Blood Sect."

"No way. If he tried to tie you to the Blood Sect, would the Tang Clan stay still?"

And that's why.

If the Alliance Leader tried to imprison her in the dungeon, the Tang Clan would never sit still.

Tang So-hwa had no confidence to fight against the Murim Alliance Leader, who knew the future.

Especially, she had no confidence to fight while protecting the Tang Clan.

The alliance members held deep trust in their leader.

Unless the Alliance Leader himself destroyed that trust, there seemed to be no way for the Tang Clan to defeat him.

When So-hwa stayed silent, Haerak quietly urged her for an answer.

"Even if you don't return, if they notice your disappearance, the Murim Alliance might come looking for you."

So-hwa let out a bitter smile.

"Well, the Murim Alliance won't even know I've vanished."

"Damn it."

Haerak sighed.

"If I want to do something in the Central Plains, I have to leave, but if I do, those bastards will probably rush at my Poison gu antidote."

"If you have something to do, then go. I'm not as weak as you think."

So-hwa answered without much regret, yet the sound of footsteps trailing behind her did not disappear until she returned to the hall.

***

The sun set over the Murim Alliance headquarters.

Even though the Martial Arts Tournament ended without any major incident, Zhuge In-hwi's expression was dark.

The victory had gone, without a doubt, to the disciple of the Tai Chi Sword Saint of the Wudang Sect.

Tomorrow, after awarding the champion with the Cold Iron, the closing banquet would be held. With that, the events at the Murim Alliance headquarters would come to an end.

Leaving the Alliance Leader's residence, Zhuge In-hwi unconsciously lifted his head. The clear night sky was filled with stars.

Though everything was proceeding smoothly, he felt uneasy.

'The Alliance Leader himself will award the prize tomorrow, so why do I feel so unsettled?'

Mulling over the inexplicable anxiety, he began walking quietly.

For some reason, the headquarters was especially silent tonight.

It was the last night of the tournament, and most had gone out.

People wanted to talk about the results of the finals freely, without worrying about others overhearing, and since they did not know when they would next return to Hubei, many went out to see Wuhan.

Having been stationed at headquarters early, Zhuge In-hwi had never experienced this before, but he knew that most post-limelight martial artists spent the last night of the tournament deepening exchanges.

Suddenly, Zhuge In-hwi grew curious.

Why had the Alliance Leader summoned him to headquarters at such a young age?

'Even with time, that question never found an answer.'

Zhuge In-hwi recalled the Alliance Leader who always teased him with cryptic replies, jesting that he had eyes to see the future and thus brought promising talents early to headquarters.

With a faint smile, Zhuge In-hwi lowered his head.

At that moment, just as he was about to leave the unusually quiet residence of the Alliance Leader—

Step.

Zhuge In-hwi turned his body back toward the Alliance Leader's quarters.

The Divine Physician was approaching him. Facing the Hall Lord, the Divine Physician clasped his hands together in greeting.

"I greet the Hall Lord."

Zhuge In-hwi returned the greeting and lifted his head.

With a nervous voice, the Divine Physician asked,

"Hall Lord, may I know when the medicinal herbs will be ready?"

Zhuge In-hwi's brows slowly rose.

"Medicinal herbs?"

"Yes. I made a request through the Alliance Leader two days ago... have you perhaps not received it?"

Zhuge In-hwi remained silent for a moment.

He had never heard of such a thing.

Yet the Divine Physician was clearly not lying.

Not knowing the details, Zhuge In-hwi, instead of denying it, covered for the Alliance Leader as though it were his own mistake.

"Ah, my apologies. I was so distracted with preparing for the finals that it completely slipped my mind."

"Ah, I see. That must be it."

The Divine Physician nodded.

Zhuge In-hwi fixed his gaze on him and asked,

"I'm sorry, but I seem to have forgotten which medicinal herbs the Alliance Leader mentioned. Could you tell me once again?"

"Of course. Ah, Hall Lord, could you wait just a moment? I'll write it down and bring it to you right away. They are all herbs stored in the Tang Clan's pavilion, so if you deliver them now, they should arrive in time."

Zhuge In-hwi curved his lips slightly and nodded.

"Yes, take your time. The tournament is over, so I am free now."

"Thank you."

The Divine Physician bowed and quickly returned to a small pavilion. Soon after, he hurried back and handed Zhuge In-hwi a slip of paper.

"It hasn't dried yet, so you'll have to carry it carefully as it is."

"Yes, I will deliver it properly."

Leaving the Alliance Leader's residence, Zhuge In-hwi placed his hand behind the paper. His fingertips brushed against the still-damp spots.

Quietly reading over the writing, he then closed his eyes.

There was nothing special in it.

The handwriting was steady without hesitation, written lightly as if merely listing items.

It did not seem like a secret order to be passed to the Tang Clan.

'But then, why did he not tell me?'

Since the Alliance Leader's behavior had been strange lately, Zhuge In-hwi could not simply overlook the fact that he had concealed the Divine Physician's request.

Instead of returning to his own quarters, Zhuge In-hwi turned his steps toward the Tang Clan's residence.

***

It was a leisurely night.

Because those excited by the results of the finals could not contain themselves and had poured out into the streets of Wuhan. The Tang Clan was no exception.

For a martial artist with any sense, it would be wise not to speak of the Murim Alliance in the marketplace tonight. Too many ears were listening, and disputes could easily arise.

'Naturally, plenty of disputes will break out.'

Han-won, who was guarding the pavilion, let out a small laugh

The duel between the Plum Blossom Sword Master Muso's disciple and the Tai Chi Sword Saint's disciple was thrilling in itself, and on top of that, Namgung Jin's half-brother had advanced to the finals. What better fodder for gossip could there be?

Han-won looked up at the Tang Clan's pavilion, now shrouded in silence.

Even the Young Lord, who had been in low spirits all day, and Tang Hae-han of the Medical Hall had gone out together tonight.

Even the Clan Head himself had gone out, saying he had someone to meet, accompanied by the Black Sky Demon.

Thus, only the two attendants sent from the headquarters and Han-won remained in the pavilion.

Amid the cool night air, the chirping of insects spread faintly.

"It's peaceful."

Han-won murmured unconsciously.

Despite fifteen sects being gathered here, for it to be this quiet suggested that the headquarters was an uncomfortably stifling place for martial artists.

'I wonder if other murim alliances are like this?'

Thinking it fortunate he had not been dispatched to the headquarters himself, Han-won began to relax his guard.

It was then.

Without sensing the slightest presence, a dark figure approached the main gate.

"Who goes there?"

At Han-won's call, the man halted.

He lifted his head to look up at the pavilion.

With that small motion, his short hair, just long enough to brush his shoulders, swayed lightly.

"The Divine Physician asked me to deliver a letter to the Medical Hall, but it seems no one is inside."

Han-won picked up the torch fixed to the pillar and shone it ahead. Then at once, he straightened his posture.

"I pay respects to the Four Seasons Hall Lord, Zhuge In-hwi."

Zhuge In-hwi slowly lowered his head.

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