Chapter 49: The Two Edges of Unsealing Training.
Crimson Tear Dream.
This name, wholly unlike that of a demonic art, was given because it was refined amid the blood tears of two hundred virgin boys and girls.
Despite its dreamlike name, it was a demonic art of unfathomable wickedness.
This demonic art, said to exhibit its optimal power on nights thick with fog, was closer to sorcery and was therefore sometimes classified as a ‘dark art’.
Once Crimson Tear Dream was unleashed, the distinction between friend and foe vanished. Companions who had been steadfastly guarding one’s side just moments ago appeared as enemies rushing in to steal one’s life.
A bloody battle erupted among allies themselves. Those who had mastered Crimson Tear Dream then infiltrated that chaos and summoned bloodshed.
That was precisely why, whenever mass slaughter occurred during the Bright Cult’s night battles, there were always those who had mastered Crimson Tear Dream present.
Those who mastered Crimson Tear Dream were called the Dream Faction within the Bright Cult.
Once every thirty years, there was a ritual in which all members of the Dream Faction gathered.
It was the procedure by which those who had completed basic training formally entered true Crimson Tear Dream cultivation.
Its name was the Bloodletting Ritual.
For each disciple undergoing the ritual, the vital blood of two hundred virgin boys and girls was required.
This time, there were twenty-two Dream Faction disciples entering full Crimson Tear Dream. A total of four thousand four hundred children were needed, yet only a little over one thousand had been secured so far.
The Faction Master, the leader of the Dream Faction, decided to conduct the ritual in several rounds and first proceeded with the Bloodletting Ritual for five disciples.
After the ritual was successfully completed for two disciples and as it reached the third, disaster struck.
Out of nowhere, a group of martial artists burst in and began swinging their blades.
“Block them!”
No one knew what was happening, but at the Faction Master’s urgent command, the Dream Faction warriors hurriedly drew their swords and confronted the intruders.
However, it took no time at all for them to realize how futile that effort was.
A vivid crimson Force Energy pierced straight through the gathering, severing the Faction Master’s neck.
Along its path, the necks of six or seven Dream Faction warriors were taken as a bonus.
Only then did the Dream Faction warriors recognize the identity of the person standing at the very front of the intruders.
“V-Vice Cult Leader!”
A chilling silence descended, and all resistance ceased.
Only then did they also recognize those following behind the Vice Cult Leader.
“The Thirteen Bloods!”
Fear and dread swept through the gathering.
Because of that, resistance stopped in an instant, and the Vice Cult Leader was able to save over six hundred children.
Had it ended there, the number of dead Dream Faction warriors would have remained in the dozens.
However, upon discovering hundreds of children’s corpses lying about indifferently after having already had their vital blood drained, the Vice Cult Leader’s command erased that possibility.
“Kill every last one of them!”
That day, 197 Bright Cult warriors who had mastered Crimson Tear Dream were killed by the hands of the Vice Cult Leader and the Thirteen Bloods.
Realizing there was no path to survival, the Dream Faction warriors belatedly chose to resist, but their struggle collapsed futilely beneath the storm of blades and spears.
The Thirteen Bloods were as savage and brutal as their reputation suggested. In particular, the Vice Cult Leader’s actions at the forefront made it abundantly clear why he was called the Human Butcher.
His methods were so ferocious that it was impossible to believe he was facing fellow members of the Bright Cult.
The Bright Cult was thrown into complete turmoil.
This was not a rebellion; the Vice Cult Leader had stormed in without reason and slaughtered Bright Cult warriors who had been in the midst of cultivating their martial arts.
No matter how much the Bright Cult revered strength, this was something they could not simply accept and move past.
If they did, there would be no way of knowing when they too might be killed by the Vice Cult Leader for no reason at all.
An elders’ council was convened immediately.
All elders except Ghost Demon, who had departed for Golden Flower Manor, were summoned. This even included Iron Demon and Profound Demon, who had already been stripped of their qualifications and were confined to the infirmary.
By contrast, attendance by the Cult Leader and the Strategist was refused.
Behind the Curtain.
This institution, unique to the Bright Cult, was the sole mechanism designed to restrain the overwhelming authority of the Cult Leader.
That Behind the Curtain had been convened.
All Bright Cult warriors focused their gaze on the place where the elders’ council was being held.
The Thirteen Bloods, staring anxiously at the council hall, were no exception.
Once a decision was made there, not even the Cult Leader could stop it.
Therefore, if they were to move, it had to be before that decision was rendered.
“We must strike now.”
At Iron Shatter Blood’s words—the chief of the Thirteen Bloods—the Vice Cult Leader remained silent.
As the Thirteen Bloods grew uneasy at his immobility, Flashing Light Blood cautiously spoke to him.
“Iron Shatter Blood is right. The decision of the Behind the Curtain carries absolute authority over Bright Cult warriors. If they decide against you, Vice Cult Leader… we must strike before that decision is made.”
If they struck, victory was certain.
No matter that it was the elders’ council—considering the Vice Cult Leader’s power, their resistance would be meaningless.
And with the Thirteen Bloods lending their strength, even escape would not be permitted.
In other words, the elders could be annihilated completely.
Yet even so, the Vice Cult Leader did not budge.
Amid the growing unease of the Thirteen Bloods, a sudden, deep blare of a horn echoed out.
Bwooo… bwooo….
At that sound, the expressions of the Thirteen Bloods hardened.
“The Behind the Curtain… has ended.”
At Flashing Light Blood’s despairing words, Yul Han rose to his feet.
The tense Thirteen Bloods quickly understood why the Vice Cult Leader had stood as well.
They could sense numerous presences approaching.
Following the Vice Cult Leader at the front, the Thirteen Bloods saw the elders, led by Iron Demon, come into view.
The Vice Cult Leader addressed them.
“What is the matter?”
“Do you truly ask without knowing?”
At Iron Demon’s counterquestion, Yul Han replied.
“Yes. I ask because I do not know.”
“Haah… the Dream Faction—why did you do that?”
“The Dream Faction? Ah! It was martial arts training.”
At the Vice Cult Leader’s unexpected answer, confusion filled Iron Demon’s expression.
“What?”
“I said it was martial arts training. Why, is there a problem?”
“Th-That is…”
Unable to answer at once, Iron Demon turned back. Behind him were elders wearing expressions just as flustered as his own.
Honestly, they knew it was a ridiculous claim. But once the Vice Cult Leader himself asserted it had been martial arts training, there was no way to refute it.
Why?
Because this was the period of Unsealing Training, during which the cultivation of the Forbidden Demon Art was permitted.
During this time, no matter how bizarre the acts committed or what incidents occurred in the name of martial arts training, everything was tolerated.
In other words, killing children to extract their blood or abducting virgins to harvest pure yin energy—everything was allowed.
There was no regulation or rule forbidding the use of Bright Cult warriors themselves as sacrifices to refine martial arts.
Thus, as the elders stood there in confusion, unable to utter a word, Yul Han asked them.
“However… why are Iron Demon and Profound Demon together with you? You didn’t disobey my judgment and the Cult Leader’s orders and attend the elders’ council anyway, did you?”
The Vice Cult Leader’s question was cold and vicious.
If things continued in this direction, not only Iron Demon and Profound Demon, but all of the elders would be suspected of rebellion.
That was why the sound of dry swallowing could be heard from all around.
As I looked at the elders like that, whether intentionally or unconsciously, Yul Han roughly planted the crescent blade he was holding into the ground.
Thud.
At that simple action, everyone’s eyes turned toward the crescent blade in Yul Han’s hand.
Only then did the elders clearly recognize what the Vice Cult Leader was holding, and the blood drained from their faces.
‘A trap!’
Even if the Vice Cult Leader swung that crescent blade here, there was no one—and nothing—that could stop it.
Setting skill aside, the elders despaired at the fact that they had no justification either.
It was as if they had walked into a place meant for their own deaths.
Looking over those elders, Yul Han continued speaking.
“So there is no answer. Then I will ask again. Did you convene the elders’ council?”
“It, it was a consolation banquet.”
The one who abruptly spoke up was the Poison Demon. The Vice Cult Leader quietly looked at him.
“Consolation? Consolation for what, exactly?”
“For Iron Demon and Profound Demon… to console them over the loss of their positions as elders, we gathered briefly.”
At the Poison Demon’s answer, Yul Han’s gaze shifted to the Lord of the Ten Thousand Swords.
“Is that true?”
At the Vice Cult Leader’s question, the Lord of the Ten Thousand Swords glanced at the Poison Demon and the other elders, then nodded.
“Y-Yes. That is correct.”
At that answer, Yul Han stared at him intently for a moment, then nodded.
“If it were anyone else, I would doubt it. But since the Lord of the Ten Thousand Swords—whom I said I would trust and rely upon—says so, I will believe it.”
At those words, the Lord of the Ten Thousand Swords’ face turned deathly pale. Toward him, Yul Han’s voice was cast again.
“However, I can no longer trust you. To repay trust with betrayal… you have taught me many things, Lord of the Ten Thousand Swords. Thank you.”
Yul Han even lightly clasped his fists in salute, and the Lord of the Ten Thousand Swords’ face became so haggard it was painful to look at.
The Vice Cult Leader’s words carried meaning far beyond simply having been singled out.
Realizing how grave the matter was, the Lord of the Ten Thousand Swords’ body staggered.
After withdrawing his gaze from him, Yul Han swept his eyes over the elders and spoke.
“Very well. I have learned what I was curious about, and you have explained why you gathered, so leave. I am barely restraining myself from resuming martial arts training right now.”
In short, it meant: leave before I slaughter you all.
‘If we hold out here, we’ll die like dogs!’
Sensing it instinctively, the elders raised their clasped fists respectfully and fled as if escaping.
It was a sight utterly unbecoming of those who had convened the Behind the Curtain and approached with such resolve.
While the Cult Leader was quietly seated in his residence, polishing his sword, the Strategist came running in.
It was to report what had transpired at the Vice Cult Leader’s residence. After hearing everything through the Strategist, a smile formed at the corner of the Cult Leader’s lips.
“Good.”
Having said only that, the Cult Leader quietly placed the sword he had been polishing onto the sword stand.
At last, the tense, pre-explosive silence that had been hanging over the Cult Leader’s residence also loosened and dispersed.
Seeing the Cult Leader return to his usual self, the Strategist looked at him with fearful eyes.
The Vice Cult Leader’s rapidly increasing strength had drawn all attention away, but the Cult Leader himself was a powerhouse.
He was not a member of the Four Heavenly Forces—those said to divide and rule the world—for nothing.
Only then did the Strategist realize that this man had even been prepared, if necessary, to slaughter every single Bright Cult warrior to protect his one and only disciple.
That blind goodwill and consideration—which gave no thought whatsoever to reason, cause, or justification—was terrifying.
As the Strategist watched with eyes filled with fear and concern, the Cult Leader looked out the window at the elders retreating in disorder.
“Why, do you think?”
It was a question stripped of all explanation, but by sheer luck, I understood it.
“I believe the children weighed on his mind.”
“Why?”
It meant: why did he suddenly feel that way? Honestly, the Vice Cult Leader of the past was not someone who even cared about such things.
“I heard he met the Guardian of the Faith.”
“I also heard that fellow was dragged out of the Vice Cult Leader’s residence. So that’s not it.”
At the Cult Leader’s firm words, I nodded unconsciously. I too did not think that was the reason.
Even so, I had mentioned it because I could find no other explanation.
As my silence stretched on—
“Has he truly cast everything aside and returned?”
At the Cult Leader’s casually tossed words, I made a puzzled expression.
“Returned, you say?”
“Yul Han, as he was before that incident fifteen years ago.”
Han—Yul Han. The only one who called the Vice Cult Leader that was the Cult Leader himself. And that name had disappeared after the incident fifteen years ago.
Hearing him use that appellation again, I understood his meaning and summoned memories of the past.
The Vice Cult Leader from fifteen years ago…
“I see. If it were the Vice Cult Leader from that time, it would indeed be possible.”
“Yes. Otherwise, the elders could not have returned alive like that.”
At the Cult Leader’s words, I could only agree.
As I nodded, the Cult Leader asked me,
“That’s fortunate, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It is fortunate. Casting off painful memories is something to be celebrated.”
“Indeed. And we cannot simply let those who tried to spoil that be. That won’t do. I thought I wouldn’t need to use my sword.”
As he spoke, the Cult Leader extended his hand, and his beloved sword flew from the stand into his grasp.
“It seems I cannot let those two off easily.”
Realizing that the ‘two’ referred to Iron Demon and Profound Demon, I tried with all my might to dissuade him, but I could not stop the Cult Leader’s steps.
Flustered and at a loss for a moment, I suddenly began to run. My direction was toward the Vice Cult Leader’s residence, which was close at hand.