Blood Demon of the Past Life – Chapter 180

Chapter 180: The Secret of the Past Life Revealed （3）

The truth that Seo Mun-ho knew was clear.

A figure from the Demonic Cult had killed a woman from the Peng family.

Peng Mujeong, as her older brother, vowed revenge. Unable to find evidence, he framed Seo Mun-ho as the culprit to create a justification for war. In the beginning, the Peng family was also a victim. However, they killed an innocent person for their personal revenge, and that malice gave birth to a new evil: the Blood Demon Seo Mun-ho.

But a secret?

Was there room for another secret to be involved here?

There was no time to think.

Kwaang━

Kwarururururung.

Immediately, Moyeongcheon’s powerful blow landed.

As a silent signal to prove himself through results, Seo Mun-ho put aside his distracting thoughts and focused on the incoming attacks.

“Flash Split Cloud Sword.”

Papapap━

Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwang!

The swift sword engulfed his vision.

His eyes moved rapidly, capturing each surge of ‘killing intent’ from the rapidly slashing and stabbing attacks. Indeed, the Leader’s sword was different. Each attack was difficult to avoid, and even the slightest delay in reaction resulted in a burning sensation as if his skin was on fire.

It had just happened again.

Whiriririck.

He shifted his direction.

Just as he thought he had evaded the attack, similar to the Blood Demon Sword Technique, Second Style: Pursuit Kill, his shoulder was pierced.

Puck━

Blood splattered.

Without a groan, Seo Mun-ho watched his opponent’s movements.

“Is this all you’ve got!”

Kwakwakwakwak!

He reacted to the onslaught of attacks.

Not only Moyeongcheon but also numerous other martial artists remained. At this rate, he thought he might not even be able to defeat Moyeongcheon. In the end, there was no other way. His master had taught him that there was a forbidden realm in the Blood Demon Art that should never be crossed. From the moment he mentioned it, it seemed like his master wanted him to surpass it, but he didn’t force it because it wouldn’t be meaningful unless it was a conscious choice.

‘From now on, I relinquish my self-control.’

Immersion.

He plunged his consciousness into the abyss.

The wall of his unwavering will crumbled, and he embraced the true Blood Demon Art.

At that moment.

Flash.

Kwarurururururung.

He bent backward, dodging his opponent’s attack.

Then, with a resilient movement, he sprang forward and evaded all of Moyeongcheon’s subsequent attacks with simple movements. Blood splattered from various parts of his body. It didn’t matter. He had entered the realm of painlessness, and the blood he had absorbed with his sword began to churn, forming a massive energy.

“Blood Demon Sword Technique━.”

It was different from before.

The swirling magical power engulfed Moyeongcheon’s presence.

“First Style: Blade Kill.”

Kwaang━!

Kwakwakwakwakwak!

A powerful explosion erupted.

Although it was merely the first stage if the Blood Demon Sword Technique were to be categorized by stages, its tremendous destructive power painted Moyeongcheon’s face with astonishment. From then on, it was one-sided. Seo Mun-ho, with his blood-red eyes, continuously closed the distance, and no matter how hard Moyeongcheon tried to create space, it was impossible. Even when his body was cut, even when he bled, instead of grimacing in pain, Seo Mun-ho relentlessly pressed his attacks with an indifferent face, quickly cornering Moyeongcheon.

Moyeongcheon also fought with all his might.

However, with each fierce clash, he was being pushed back unilaterally.

“……What is this.”

“Is the Leader actually being pushed back?”

“Draw your swords! Assist the Leader and eliminate that villain!”

The situation had changed.

Far from being fair, as soon as they judged the situation to be unfavorable, they swarmed from all directions and attacked Seo Mun-ho. It was a meaningless struggle against the tide. The righteous faction members blocking his path were torn limb from limb with a few swings of his sword, and along with their terrible screams, blood erupted like fireworks from all directions.

He slashed, slashed, and slashed again.

The more the people’s faces were filled with terror, the faster and more destructive Seo Mun-ho’s movements became.

Moyeongcheon also realized it belatedly.

“Retreat! Retreat! That devil grows stronger as he absorbs blood!”

The reins had already been loosened.

Seo Mun-ho was no different from a runaway train that would not stop until he had killed every living being in this place.

Hook.

Puck━

A head flew off.

Who was that Clan Leader again?

He was a nameless figure.

After cutting down a few more so-called masters, he finally faced Moyeongcheon once again. By then, Moyeongcheon had prepared himself with all his might. As soon as he judged that he couldn’t defeat Seo Mun-ho without risking his life, he drew upon his Pre-Heaven Qi and unleashed a powerful blow on Seo Mun-ho.

The result.

Flash.

Puhwak━

Blood sprayed everywhere.

Moyeongcheon’s hands were severed.

The pillar of the righteous Murim.

It was the moment when Murim Alliance Leader Moyeongcheon finally collapsed.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Thud.

He collapsed.

His hands that fell to the floor, the burning pain in both wrists.

It was all too surreal.

Moyeongcheon looked up at Seo Mun-ho, who was approaching step by step, with a dazed expression as if he had lost his sense of reality.

“……Life is unpredictable. For me to be in this state, defeated by you.”

Swish.

He crouched in front of him.

He grabbed Moyeongcheon’s hair and stared into his eyes, faces close.

“Tell me. That secret.”

Around the two.

The surviving members of the righteous Murim couldn’t bring themselves to attack.

They knew it was pointless to attack anymore, given the pile of corpses and the river of blood surrounding Seo Mun-ho.

Perhaps because he sensed his impending death.

Moyeongcheon’s face contorted with a mixture of pain and laughter.

“Keuk, keukeukeuk. What an amusing situation. I fought you to help the Peng family, but that damn Peng Mujeong has already fled, hasn’t he? It’s better this way. I won’t have to keep that bastard’s secret anymore.”

Seo Mun-ho realized it belatedly.

Peng Mujeong.

He was nowhere to be seen.

While Seo Mun-ho was cornering Moyeongcheon, he had disappeared through the back door.

He would chase him soon.

But he had to hear the secret.

He had a conviction that he had to.

Moyeongcheon said with a trembling face,

“I’ll tell you the truth, as promised.”

At the same time.

A voice transmission pierced his ears.

『You, and the people, think that all this happened because of the evil deeds of a single member of the Demonic Cult. But the truth is different. There was never a member of the Demonic Cult from the beginning. The Peng family’s walls aren’t that easy to climb over.』

His eyes wavered.

No member of the Demonic Cult?

What did that even mean?

『Peng Mujeong’s younger sister was a beauty unparalleled even among the top beauties of the Central Plains Murim, let alone Hebei. And Peng Mujeong was a scum who harbored lustful desires for his own sister. One day, an incident occurred. Peng Mujeong raped his sister, and upon seeing him leave after satisfying his lust, his sister, weeping alone, stabbed herself in the heart and committed suicide. That is the truth of this incident. Peng Mujeong couldn’t reveal that it was a result of incest, so he created a ‘fictitious Demonic Cult member’ to express his rage.』

His heart pounded.

It felt like his thoughts had come to a halt.

He had never doubted the truth until now.

He had never expected another truth to be hidden beyond the already filthy truth.

『Do you understand now? The disaster you experienced was started by Peng Mujeong to protect his reputation. I guess this is what they mean by karma. The fact that the guy you thought was an ignorant fool had the potential to be reborn as a Blood Demon.』

Moyeongcheon chuckled.

Blood was draining from his body.

He knew he couldn’t survive.

“And I’m sorry, but.”

The reason he spoke through voice transmission.

It was to protect his reputation while simultaneously allowing for revenge against the escaped Peng Mujeong.

“I must die as a symbol of the righteous Murim. As the Murim Alliance Leader who fought against the Blood Demon Seo Mun-ho until the very end.”

Crack.

He bit his tongue.

There was no time to stop him.

Moyeongcheon foamed at the mouth.

His complexion turned pale.

The complex scene rearranged the puzzle once again, creating a new world.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Ping━

He returned to reality.

Not Moyeongcheon.

Lee Han-seong was in front of him.

As Lee Han-seong rushed in, as if resuming a paused video, Kang San instinctively blocked his attack.

『Memories of your past life seep into your body.』

『Intangible senses become clearer.』

『You acquire the Realm of Immersion.』

Clang━!

Kakakakakakang!

Moyeongcheon’s attack.

It wasn’t threatening.

Kang San, in his current state, couldn’t accept the memories of his past life.

‘From beginning to end, Seo Mun-ho was nothing but an innocent victim.’

The evil member of the Demonic Cult never existed.

Peng Mujeong had driven his sister to death and, to protect his reputation as a member of the righteous faction, had orchestrated a conspiracy by creating a fictitious villain. That’s why he was even angrier. He had to feign anger to avoid suspicion, to prevent anyone from questioning who had actually climbed the Peng family’s walls. By framing Seo Mun-ho as the culprit, he shifted all the blame for the righteous Murim’s anger onto Seo Mun-ho.

In the end.

It was all caused by a single villain.

Peng Mujeong.

The emotional shock that Seo Mun-ho must have felt resonated even in his present life, making his heart pound.

“Judgment Strike━!”

Lee Han-seong.

He attacked with all his might.

Kang San instinctively knew.

The scales had already tipped in one direction.

His opponent’s attacks appeared slow, and he knew how to defeat the being in front of him.

‘Realm of Immersion.’

His consciousness plunged in.

The Blood Demon Art surged.

Just as his opponent’s attack was about to pierce his body.

Hook.

Flash.

Puhwak!

“?!”

He dodged the attack.

And immediately slashed his opponent’s chest.

As blood splattered, he lunged at the stunned Lee Han-seong.

Kwaang━!

Papapapapapak!

It was overwhelming.

Lee Han-seong tried to block hastily, but if he blocked the right side, blood would splatter from the left, and if he defended the top, a burning pain would erupt from below. There was a significant difference in speed. Lee Han-seong’s expression, as cracks began to appear in his composure, showed that he sensed something had gone terribly wrong.

However.

That was all.

Before he could even attempt a counterattack.

“Blood Demon Sword Technique, Fifth Style: Annihilation.”

Flash.

Kwarururururururung.

He pinned his opponent down.

With the powerful blow, Lee Han-seong collapsed.

“Keuk━!”

He coughed up blood.

His pure white armor was stained with blood and torn to shreds, and one of his arms was severed.

His face turned pale.

It was over.

The severed arm signified not only the absence of a chance to win but also the inability to maintain his previous state even if he survived. Lee Han-seong’s eyes turned towards Kang San. His wavering gaze seemed to have settled on a decision.

At that moment.

“You can’t do that.”

Crack!

Thud.

His face was slammed to the ground.

Kang San’s hand stopped Lee Han-seong from stabbing himself with his sword.

As expected.

Just like Moyeongcheon’s suicide.

Lee Han-seong chose to end his own life.

Lee Han-seong, who had failed even in his suicide attempt, glared at Kang San with bloodshot eyes.

✦✦✦✦✦✦

The situation had concluded.

Lee Han-seong’s defeat.

Lee Han-seong, with a face contorted in rage, said,

“……Kill me. Kill me, you fucking bastard.”

It was all over.

There was no reason for him to live anymore.

Kang San, still pinning Lee Han-seong down, calmed his surging emotions and spoke.

“I’ll tell you about what will happen from now on. I will reveal your truth to the people. What kind of person Lee Han-seong is, and what you tried to do to me. I won’t drag you down to hell through death, but I will let you witness the people’s shocked faces as they learn the truth about the hero Lee Han-seong. Even the President won’t be able to protect you. I’ll target them as well.”

Moyeongcheon.

Lee Han-seong.

They stemmed from the same root.

Just as Moyeongcheon chose suicide, Lee Han-seong wished to live and die with the image he desired.

For him.

The truth was a forbidden realm he never wanted to face.

Perhaps after death, it wouldn’t matter, but while alive, it was a truth he never wanted to confront.

Kang San struck a nerve.

“So, if you want to change my mind, tell me everything you know. President Jang Beom-seok. What kind of person he is. How did the White Knight Lee Han-seong and the President end up in such a dirty relationship?”

He could sense his trembling emotions.

His desperate struggle to break free was met with Kang San’s brute force, allowing no movement.

He resigned himself.

Kang San was right.

Lee Han-seong wanted to die a hero.

“……Fine, I’ll tell you.”

The moment he crossed this line.

It was the end for Lee Han-seong.

Even the President wouldn’t protect him now.

But even so.

“Back when I was called a hero, someone came to me.”

What mattered to him was his reputation, more than his life.

“It wasn’t President Jang Beom-seok at the time, but Chief Secretary Kim Mu-hyeok.”

His words were calm.

Finally, a part of the truth was revealed.