Disciple of The Three Kings [EN]: Chapter 75

The Three Kings’ Disciple (76)

075

“The agreement with Jongnam went well,” Kang Eun-ha reported.

“An alliance with Jongnam…”

The relationship with Jongnam, forged in secret, filled Kang Eun-ha with emotion.

The Blood Cult, which operated a sizable corporation and guild called the Kangha Group, had always been on the fringes. They couldn’t join the mainstream, and they couldn’t rely on martial artists, making their situation precarious. The Blood Cult seemed destined to decline and decay.

But then, Ro-woon arrived.

‘Jongnam.’

In less than a year since Ro-woon’s arrival, the Blood Cult’s position had drastically changed. Even if it was under Eun-ha’s name, they had formed an alliance with one of the Nine Great Sects [powerful martial arts factions]. They, who once held the Nine Great Sects in contempt, now had an equal footing.

Twitch.

She couldn’t help but smile. Moreover, the secret agreement with Jongnam was made with Eun-ha and Jongnam as equals. Even if they were seen as a faction of the Heavenly Demon Church [a powerful and often villainous martial arts group], it didn’t matter.

“With the Black Market’s investment decreasing, this is a good thing.”

Since Ha Se-min’s disappearance, the Black Market’s investment had dwindled.

“We’re at a level where we can maintain ourselves now, but we needed continuous investment for faster development…”

In the end, the world revolved around two things: money and power.

“Given Eun-ha’s position, it was difficult to receive investment. With Jongnam’s investment, we’ll be able to completely control the Gyeonggi area [a region in South Korea].”

Kang Eun-ha continued, “And Jongnam has requested to establish a branch.”

“Establish a branch?”

“As a sign of the alliance, they said that Eun-ha needs a branch near Shanghai, which is Jongnam’s sphere of influence.”

Ro-woon chuckled. “There must be someone they want.”

“That’s right,” Kang Eun-ha said. “They would like to appoint Yu-ran as the branch manager.”

Choi Yu-ran, the guild leader of Baran, had formed a significant relationship with Baek Cheong in the Heavenly Demon Cave. Originally, she thought Baek Cheong saw her as a mere curiosity, but after learning about his personality, she realized that wasn’t the case.

“He must have liked her quite a bit.”

It was clear that he genuinely liked Choi Yu-ran.

“But…” Kang Eun-ha said with a worried expression. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Why?”

“Jongnam thinks of us as a faction of the Heavenly Demon Church. According to the Blood Demon’s words, they want us, a faction of the Heavenly Demon Church, to take back the demon that resides in the Hoe [a mysterious organization].”

Nod.

“But…” Eun-ha is not part of the Heavenly Demon Church.

“We are the Blood Demon Cult.”

The Heavenly Demon Church and the Blood Demon Cult.

“You can use the Heavenly Demon Energy now, right? Then it’s no different from the Heavenly Demon Church.”

“We think so.”

The higher-ups of the Blood Demon Cult knew part of the truth: that in the past, the Heavenly Demon Church and the Blood Demon Cult branched out from one source. But they were different.

“To the righteous sects, the Blood Demon Cult is an even more evil and cruel group than the Heavenly Demon Church.”

If Jongnam were to find out that Eun-ha’s background was the Blood Demon Cult and not the Heavenly Demon Church, the secret agreement would be nullified, and there was even a possibility of hostility.

“Yu-ran… is a resident of Earth.”

A human who has not learned Blood Qi [a type of martial arts energy]. Even if they controlled her through the Blood Gu [a parasitic insect used for control].

“Jongnam has the ability to decipher the Blood Gu.”

They couldn’t rule out the possibility of Choi Yu-ran’s betrayal. It wasn’t that they didn’t trust her, but if she were to betray them, the situation could become complicated.

“Ah. That doesn’t matter.”

“Yes?”

“Send Choi Yu-ran. As a collaboration between Baran and Eun-ha. Choi Yu-ran cannot betray us.”

There had been progress in the meantime.

***

“How are you feeling?” At Ro-woon’s words, the man clenched his fist.

Squirm.

Red threads began to appear in the whites of his eyes. They moved towards his pupils and soon dyed his pupils a deep red.

Whoosh!

At the same time, an energy emanated from his body. It was definitely….

“I, I can’t believe it,” Kang Cheol-woo said. “I never thought this would be possible…”

The Brand of the Holy Fire he had placed on Yoo Do-hyung had yielded results, so Ro-woon also branded Kang Cheol-woo. In any case, he was a person who had posed a threat to Baran and Eun-ha. Thinking that he was paying the price, Kang Cheol-woo willingly accepted Ro-woon’s punishment.

But it was not a punishment.

“This is internal energy…” As a player, he was able to use internal energy, the power of a martial artist.

“It’s different from internal energy, to be precise,” Ro-woon said. Certainly, the power felt from Kang Cheol-woo was similar to internal energy, but it was different.

“The system core just converted magic power into internal energy.”

The system core had become a kind of filter. And the reason why that was possible was:

‘I encroached on Kang Cheol-woo’s system core with the Holy Fire and Blood Demon Energy.’

With the power of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and the Blood Demon Divine Art, he had encroached on the system core, the foundation of a player, and gained control. Originally, it was definitely impossible. No matter how absolute the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and the Blood Demon Divine Art were, they could not influence a player.

But Ro-woon was a player.

‘Who knew that that terrible pain would be helpful.’

Also, through the teachings of his teacher, Shin Yeo-wool, he had the experience of creating a dantian [an energy center in the body] in his own body as a player in that hellish pain.

And lastly.

“The reason why I feel chaos…” He had felt the energy of chaos in a part of the system core. Ro-woon succeeded in encroaching on the system core using that power.

With this.

“Congratulations,” Ro-woon said. “On becoming a member of the Blood Cult.”

Although it was different from that, to be precise.

“T, thank you.”

“There’s no reason to be happy, right? You can’t disobey me anymore, can you?” At Ro-woon’s words, Kang Cheol-woo shook his head.

“Isn’t it a life where I have to obey someone anyway?” The reality of the residents of Earth was that their lives were subordinate to the martial artists of Eun. Kang Cheol-woo, who was the guild leader of the Gyodong Guild, was also in a position where he had to kill and be killed according to their words after coming under the influence of Hainan.

“I didn’t choose the master, but I’m satisfied.” At those words, Ro-woon also smiled. It was because he felt a different kind of loyalty than that of the real Blood Cult members like Kang Eun-ha.

“Keep using that power, and mix it in when you use skills. Report back later.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

But Kang Cheol-woo stood there, looking at Ro-woon.

“Do you have something to say?” At Ro-woon’s words, Kang Cheol-woo made a sorry face.

“I… received a message.”

A message. There was no need to say who it was from.

“But why do you look so glum? I gave you permission.”

Kang Cheol-woo, who had brought the righteous army to Baran, had paid the price, and Ro-woon had given him another permission. He was allowed to maintain his relationship with the righteous army. In other words, the message that Kang Cheol-woo was talking about now was from his friend in the righteous army.

‘Lee Shin-woo of the Blue-Clad Army.’

To be precise, it was a message from Lee Shin-woo.

“I understand.”

“What kind of message is it?”

“That is…” Kang Cheol-woo’s face, which was apologetic despite Ro-woon’s permission, was different from the emotion he had felt earlier. A face that seemed to feel guilty for even mentioning it.

“It’s a message… to be careful because someone is targeting the Blood Demon.”

* * *

‘Someone is targeting the Blood Demon.’

That was the message Lee Shin-woo had conveyed. Ro-woon had said that he would not form a relationship with the righteous army, but he had left a connection through Kang Cheol-woo. It wasn’t because of Lee Shin-woo.

‘The righteous army.’

They needed to be watched. Although it was not reported, they were fighting even at this moment. In particular, what Ro-woon was watching was not the Blue-Clad Army.

“The Red-Clad Army.”

Kwon Cheol’s righteous army. They were different from the Blue-Clad Army. They were extending their reach not only in South Korea but throughout Asia, and their power was several times that of the Blue-Clad Army.

Kwon Cheol and Lee Shin-woo. Both were on the Hoe’s most wanted list, but in terms of danger, Kwon Cheol was much more dangerous.

‘Hardliners.’

They were extremely radical. Since it could affect what he had to do, he had left a connection with Lee Shin-woo to grasp the movements of the Red-Clad Army.

But the message that had been conveyed was not about the Red-Clad Army but a warning about his own safety.

‘Is the Red-Clad Army targeting me?’

It wasn’t impossible. Eun-ha was growing rapidly, and he was known to be a guild member who was treated especially well even within Eun-ha.

‘My brother’s information network is similar to the Black Market’s.’

His information network, which could use the power of an Intervener, was no less than that of the Black Market. It was clear that someone was targeting him….

“It’s true.”

Ro-woon glanced out the window. The place where Ro-woon was now was the Eun-ha Guild House. It was Ro-woon’s private residence that had been prepared there. It was a place that had been decided after ignoring the opinions of Kang Eun-ha and the others, who had been making a fuss about preparing a plausible mansion.

Ro-woon got up from his seat and lay down on the bed. Then he closed his eyes.

Tick, tick, tick.

The sound of the clock ticking filled the room, and Ro-woon’s small breaths occasionally popped out. It was clear to anyone that he was asleep.

Swoosh.

Only then did someone appear through the open window. A pitch-black robe. There was no way that someone who had entered through someone else’s window wearing such a thing had good intentions.

“How much Dreamy Mountain did I sprinkle, enough to put Drake to sleep with just a pinch… why are you only falling asleep now?” A voice filled with dissatisfaction leaked out like a thread.

The black-robed man carefully looked around and approached the bed where Ro-woon was lying.

Swoosh.

As he moved his hand, something in the room twisted.

“It’s quite a high-level formation. Is it really worth my time to move?” The man lightly deactivated the formation with a thread on his hand. He continued to mutter to himself as he moved forward.

“Oh, there’s a magic circle too?” This time, he stopped and seemed to be thinking a little, then took something out of his pocket and rubbed it.

Dong, dododong.

As his inner energy was imbued, a bead that dropped something like a bubble. As it touched the floor.

Chiiiiik!

The sound of burning and a foul smell spread throughout the room. He had neutralized the magic circle.

“The magic circle is more advanced than the formation. What is this place?” The black-robed man made a few more preparations. He finally stood in front of the bed. In his hand was a blue-glowing blade. It also seemed to be an extraordinary object, filling the room with its presence alone.

Swoosh.

The black-robed man, who had grabbed the handle, was about to stab the sword into Ro-woon, who was lying on the bed, when.

“Puh, puahahahaha!” Laughter burst from Ro-woon’s mouth. The black-robed man did not panic and immediately pushed the sword in. He thought that even the sect leader of Hwasan [a famous martial arts sect] would not be able to avoid it at this distance.

Flash!

Indeed, the black-robed man’s sword pierced deep into the bed at lightning speed.

“……!” Not into Ro-woon’s body, but into the bed.

“What kind of assassin talks to himself so much? I thought I was going to die trying to hold back my laughter.” A voice came from behind the black-robed man.

The black-robed man, without hesitation, infused his inner energy into the sword handle again.

Pop!

A sound echoed from the end of the sword handle.

Pshooooo!

Along with that, thick, murky smoke spewed out, filling the room. The ultimate poison, only used when assassinating a special assassination target. The black-robed man thought that this time he would not be able to avoid it and tried to pull his body back. But his body did not move as if it were nailed down.

Thud.

A rough hand gripping his neck.

“Are you trying to kill me because I laughed?” Ro-woon said with a dumbfounded look on his face.