Hell's Blood Fortress was situated southeast of Pyeongwol Prefecture in Guizhou, along the Muxiang River.
Surrounded by mountains, the area was littered with mirror-like cinnabar, found deep underground.
From a distance, it looked like a massive fortress built amidst blood-red rocks. True to its name, it resembled a blood-soaked castle in the heart of hell.
Boom.
The tightly shut gates of Hell's Blood Fortress swung wide open.
Three hundred soldiers in black martial robes marched boldly into the fortress.
They were Bu Eunseol and the inspection agents of the Martial Soul Command, led by Myo Cheonwoo and Yoo Unryong.
Rumble.
Yoo Unryong, dressed in scholarly robes, led agents carrying chests and charged straight to the heart of Hell's Blood Fortress. Upon reaching a place marked “Poison Secret Hall,” warriors guarding it blocked his path.
“This place is off-limits to outsiders.”
“Outsiders, you say?” Muttering coldly, Yoo Unryong produced a token from his robes.
“We are the inspection team sent on the Martial Soul Command Lord’s orders.”
“Inspection team?”
“Step aside.” Pushing past the guards lightly, Yoo Unryong entered the Poison Secret Hall.
Surveying the personnel inside, he declared loudly, “Everyone, cease what you’re doing immediately!”
To the inspection agents carrying chests, he said, “Collect every book here. Not a single one left behind.”
“What is this nonsense!” Yo Gwang, the Poison Secret Hall Leader, shouted angrily. “Inspection team or not, why are you taking all our hall’s books?”
As he roared in fury, Yoo Unryong said coldly, “We are lawfully conducting an inspection under the Lord’s orders. Do not interfere.”
“What? A mere sect lackey dares…”
“Obstructing the inspection team’s work allows us to take immediate action, bypassing procedure.” Yoo Unryong spoke in a chilling voice.
“This is your final warning. Step aside quietly and don’t interfere.”
At the same time, a blade-like aura poured from him. The overwhelming wave of energy from Yoo Unryong, whom they’d thought a mere scholar, left Yo Gwang stunned.
“This guy…”
Step, step.
An elderly man, accompanied by dozens of warriors, entered the Poison Secret Hall. Though his demeanor was gentle, an aura like a venomous beast coiled behind him.
It was Jeok Yahon, the Vice Fortress Lord of Hell's Blood Fortress, the Poison Venerable.
“What’s going on here?” With a benevolent smile, Jeok Yahon approached Yoo Unryong. “Explain what you’re doing in a way this vice fortress lord can understand.”
Dark energy swirled in his hands. Jeok Yahon, a poison master who treated human lives like insects, was ready to unleash a deadly strike if Yoo Unryong’s response was unsatisfactory.
“The Vice fortress lord has arrived,” Bu Eunseol said, stepping forward and clasping his hands.
“Your disciple, Bu Eunseol, greets the Vice fortress lord.”
Bu Eunseol introduced himself not as the Martial Soul Command Lord but as a disciple. This implied respect for Jeok Yahon, regardless of status.
“I sent word to the sect in advance. Did you not hear?”
“I heard about the audit, but are you really going through with it?” Though Jeok Yahon had a kindly appearance, he was the most terrifying figure in Hell's Blood Fortress.
But Bu Eunseol, unfazed, wore a faint smile.
“Indeed.”
“I heard the underlings neglected some of the elixirs and poisons meant for the sect,” Jeok Yahon said, also smiling. “How much could they have pocketed? For my sake, let it slide this time.”
“I’d like to, but I cannot.”
“You cannot?”
Bu Eunseol said with a serious expression, “There’s information that those missing poisons are flowing to the authorities.”
“The authorities?”
“Exactly.”
Looking at Jeok Yahon, whose eyes widened, Bu Eunseol recalled a recent conversation with So Jamyung.
***
Inside the conference hall of Jamagak.
Only a dim lantern illuminated the room, where Bu Eunseol and So Jamyung sat across from each other.
“The officials who burned the Seongga Ironworks were indeed from the Eastern Division,” So Jamyung’s voice echoed softly. “And they’re the ones who purchased large quantities of elixirs and poisons.”
“So, this is all the work of the Eastern Division?”
“Well, it’s a bit strange,” So Jamyung said, stroking his chin with a troubled expression. “While tracking the flow of the large quantities of elixirs bought by the Eastern Division, I found it split into two streams.”
“Two streams? Where’s one headed?”
So Jamyung took a deep breath and said, “The Martial Alliance.”
Thud.
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
Sahyang, the mysterious assassin clan whose main base had never been exposed, known for crafting fearsome hidden weapons.
Could its true identity be the Martial Alliance?
“So, Sahyang is the Martial Alliance?”
“It’s not entirely impossible. No matter how secretive an assassin group is, hiding their base for so long is unlikely.”
“So… because Sahyang doesn’t exist, they could keep it hidden.”
“Exactly,” So Jamyung said, stroking his chin. “What’s certain is that the information you seek is somehow connected to the Martial Alliance.”
“The Martial Alliance.”
Crunch.
Bu Eunseol clenched his fists. Was that why he could never catch their tail?
“Then we start with the Martial Alliance.”
“Absolutely not,” So Jamyung said, shaking his head firmly. “If you, as Majeon’s successor, target the Martial Alliance, it could spark a full-scale war between the orthodox and demonic paths.”
He quickly continued, “The same goes for our Nine Deaths Squad. If we send spies there and get caught, it could lead to uncontrollable consequences.”
If investigating the Martial Alliance was exposed, and it was revealed that Majeon’s successor was behind it?
Bu Eunseol would be cornered with no way out.
“Then there’s only one way,” Bu Eunseol said, his eyes flashing.
If he couldn’t use his subordinates or the sect’s power, there was only one option.
He would have to investigate everything himself.
“Why not start with Hell's Blood Fortress?”
“Hell's Blood Fortress?”
“More than a third of the poisons flowing to the Eastern Division come from Hell's Blood Fortress.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes sparked with fire.
One of the Ten Demonic Clans, Hell's Blood Fortress, was colluding with the Eastern Division?
“Are you certain?”
“Of course. To uncover this information, over ten Nine Deaths Squad members scattered across the Central Plains lost their lives.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression grew grave.
Uncovering such information, manipulating the martial world’s undercurrents, required immense wealth and human sacrifice. Hadn’t the Affectionate Blossom Sect lost many agents over the Seongga Ironworks incident?
“Send thirty thousand taels as compensation to the families of the fallen members,” Bu Eunseol said in a low voice. “And that’s enough for now. Don’t dig any deeper.”
So Jamyung nodded.
Continuing such investigations could decimate the Nine Deaths Squad.
***
Snapping out of his recollection, a fierce glint flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“We must confirm whether Hell's Blood Fortress is colluding with the authorities to distribute poisons.”
“No way,” Jeok Yahon said, shaking his head firmly. “I’ll admit the underlings mismanaged some poisons meant for the sect. Honestly, it’s an old practice.”
Staring intently at Bu Eunseol, he said, “But our fortress has no connection with the authorities.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because if such a thing were happening, I would know.”
Jeok Yahon’s expression was confident.
He genuinely believed Hell's Blood Fortress was uninvolved in such matters.
“Then wait. The truth will be revealed soon,” Bu Eunseol said.
“You really intend to turn this fortress upside down?” Jeok Yahon’s expression and gaze changed instantly.
It was as if he’d torn off the kindly old man’s mask, revealing the face of an enraged reptile ready to devour its prey.
“If you search and find nothing?” A murderous glint burst from Jeok Yahon’s eyes. “Who will take responsibility?”
“I will take full responsibility,” Bu Eunseol said. Dozens of blades seemed to pour from Jeok Yahon’s narrowed eyes.
“How will you take responsibility? This vice fortress lord dislikes vague expressions.”
“Name what you want.”
“I can’t take the successor’s head,” Jeok Yahon said, his small eyes gleaming sharply, as if piercing Bu Eunseol’s face. “Instead, I’ll take one finger as a lesson for your reckless judgment.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyebrow twitched.
In other words, he was saying that to investigate Hell's Blood Fortress, Bu Eunseol, Majeon’s successor, must wager a finger.
“If you’re not confident, stop now,” Jeok Yahon said, his eyes flashing with a deadly serious expression. “I don’t want to make things messy either.”
If nothing was found, he truly intended to cut off Bu Eunseol’s finger without hesitation.
“Very well,” Bu Eunseol said.
“Are you serious?” Jeok Yahon’s cold gaze met Bu Eunseol’s, dark poisonous energy flowing from his back.
The black poison took the form of a demon opening its jaws to devour a human head. Despite the terrifying sight, Bu Eunseol nodded without hesitation.
“Would I have come here without such resolve?”
“Hoh,” Jeok Yahon exclaimed, his gaze fixed on Bu Eunseol’s fingers, as if contemplating which to cut.
“Fine,” he nodded, as if deciding.
“Go ahead and investigate.”
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