134 - it is a Visit to the Namgung Family

“Why have you been placed under house arrest?”

At my question, Cheon Ryuyeon lowered his head, unable to hide his troubled expression.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know the exact circumstances either. To explain what I was able to find out….”

According to his report, the situation was as follows.

Even after I left, Namgung Yeonhee continued visiting the Blood Cult for some time.

Then, fifteen days ago, she left Namyang, saying it was time to return to the main family, and promised to come back to the Blood Cult ten days later.

However, even after the promised date had passed, she did not return.

Sensing that something was wrong, Cheon Ryuyeon sent people to investigate and discovered rumors that Namgung Yeonhee had been placed under house arrest by the Namgung Family.

All her outside activities had been cut off, and she had also been prevented from contacting anyone directly by letter.

“That is all.”

Cheon Ryuyeon had apparently tried quite hard, but he had been unable to uncover the deeper circumstances within the prestigious family.

‘Hmm.’

I took a moment to organize my thoughts.

It was not difficult to guess why the Namgung Family had confined Namgung Yeonhee.

According to Solo Warrior’s strategy guide, the bigwigs of the orthodox faction were narrow-minded old fogies who valued face and justification above all else.

If such people had learned that Namgung Yeonhee had been associating with the Blood Cult…

‘It must be because of me.’

However, I could not act on mere guesswork.

What had Namgung Yeonhee said at the main family?

Had she merely been forbidden from going out, or was she facing an even harsher punishment?

I also had to find out whether the Namgung Family was preparing something against the Blood Cult.

‘I’ll need accurate information for this.’

I thought of the person best suited for gathering information.

“Siyeon.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Go to the leader of the Hao Mun branch we met before and find out everything you can about Namgung Yeonhee and the Namgung Family’s movements.”

Siyeon immediately lowered her head and replied.

“Understood. If Master requires it, I will infiltrate the Namgung Family and bring Namgung Yeonhee here.”

“No. Just bring back information. Information only!”

I flinched and hurriedly drew a line.

Even if Namgung Yeonhee had been placed under house arrest because of me, I could not simply start by abducting her.

If I left her to her own devices, Siyeon really would infiltrate the Namgung Family and carry someone off.

***

The Hao Mun branch in Namyang.

Branch Leader Seohwa could not hide her tension when she saw the woman in black.

A cat mask.

She was presumed to be an agent of the Blood Cult.

Thanks to the information she had provided, Hao Mun had made quite a substantial profit, so Seohwa could not forget her.

“It is an honor to see you again. What brings you here this time?”

The woman in black got straight to the point without even taking a seat.

“I need information on Namgung Yeonhee of the Namgung Family.”

Seohwa’s gaze wavered slightly.

The fact that someone from the Blood Cult was interested in a direct descendant of the Namgung Family, a pillar of the orthodox faction, was itself a major piece of information.

However, Seohwa showed nothing and quickly recited only the facts Hao Mun had verified.

Under normal circumstances, this would have been expensive information, but Hao Mun had already received plenty from her, so this was hardly the time to bring up money.

“…Namgung Yeonhee. The Sword Flower has been confirmed to be under house arrest.”

“What else?”

“We also received information that she had some sort of conflict with the family elders, but….”

Seohwa trailed off, looking troubled.

“Exactly what was said between her and the family elders, and why they decided to place her under house arrest, are private matters within the family, so we were unable to find out.”

After hearing all the information she needed, Siyeon gave a brief nod and turned away.

***

‘Hmm.’

I decided to organize the information I had obtained through [Shared Vision].

The rumor that Namgung Yeonhee had been placed under house arrest was true.

Moreover, she had apparently clashed with the family elders.

I did not know exactly what had been said, but I could see the general picture.

‘So it really is because of me and the Blood Cult.’

A promising young member of a prestigious orthodox family had come into contact with the Blood Cult and had even received direct treatment from the Blood Lord.

There was no way the conservative elders of her family would simply let that pass.

Namgung Yeonhee had probably told them about the Blood Cult she had seen with her own eyes.

During that process, she must have clashed with the elders who had branded the Blood Cult an evil faction.

The problem was that, as a result, she had been unable to return even after the date she had promised.

She still had not finished her treatment.

To completely unblock her clogged meridians, she needed one more feeding from me, and only then would her S-rank potential be fully unlocked.

Above all else.

‘I can’t just leave someone imprisoned because of me!’

Of course, I had no intention of giving up on a potential servant whose favorability I had worked so hard to raise.

Whichever way I looked at it, the conclusion was the same: I had to bring Namgung Yeonhee back.

It was at that moment.

Ding!

The system’s objective window, which had been put on hold when I entered the sixth floor, appeared before my eyes.

[The objective of the second story will be revealed.]

[Make the Blood Cult’s renown resound among both the orthodox and demonic factions.]

I stared blankly at the words floating in the air for a moment.

The quest in Chapter 1 had been to imprint the Blood Cult’s name on the murim.

Now, I had to go a step further and make its renown resound among both the orthodox and demonic factions.

‘Hold on. But isn’t this an opportunity?’

The Namgung Family was the largest and most prestigious family representing the orthodox faction.

And now, Namgung Yeonhee, who had been placed under house arrest because of me, was being held there.

‘Does this mean I’m supposed to spread my renown among the orthodox through the Namgung Family?’

The objective presented by the system and the incident that had just occurred fit together naturally, like pieces of a puzzle.

‘They definitely won’t let her go quietly.’

They were people who believed that the Blood Cult was an evil Demonic Cult.

If I went to the Namgung Family myself, they might become wary of me—or, in the worst case, attack first.

But that did not mean I had any intention whatsoever of starting a bloody war against the orthodox faction of the murim.

That would turn me into a truly evil Blood Cult!

‘I just need to refrain from attacking first and formally demand Namgung Yeonhee’s treatment and return.’

Even if the other side proved somewhat stubborn, I could clear up their misunderstanding about the Blood Cult through dialogue.

If dialogue did not work…

I could simply show them the difference in our strength without killing anyone.

‘Good. That’s peaceful enough.’

But how was I supposed to spread my renown among the demonic faction?

I thought about it briefly, but it was not a problem I could answer right away.

I decided to think about the demonic faction later. For now, dealing with the Namgung Family came first.

I rose from my seat and slowly opened my mouth.

“Hmm. I’ve decided. I suppose I must go to the Namgung Family.”

“To the Namgung Family? You mean the Blood Lord will go personally…?”

Cheon Ryuyeon swallowed dryly, looking tense.

Meanwhile, Katarina, who had been standing guard at my side, answered as if it were only natural.

“At last, you intend to personally show the orthodox hypocrites the Blood Lord’s divine majesty! The Blood Lord Descends! Blood Rules the World!”

“……”

As expected, Katarina was completely lost in her role.

***

That afternoon.

A secluded annex of the Namgung Family estate.

Elite warriors of the family stood guard in front of the tightly closed door.

Namgung Yeonhee’s movements were currently completely restricted within the family.

She sat alone in the room with her legs crossed, her sword resting across her lap.

“Hoo….”

She habitually observed the flow of her qi.

It was true that her physical condition had improved dramatically after being treated by the Blood Lord’s bloodsucking, but one final wall still remained.

Normally, she should have returned to the Blood Cult on the promised date and finished her treatment, but…

‘It’s been a long time since the promised date passed.’

Namgung Yeonhee gazed into the air and recalled what had happened in the family some time ago.

By then, rumors had reached the Namgung Family that a group calling itself the Blood Cult had appeared in Namyang.

However, most people had simply assumed it was a mere heterodox group borrowing the name of the old Blood Cult.

It was at a gathering with the family elders that Namgung Yeonhee revealed she had personally met the Blood Lord and had even received treatment from her.

However.

“What did you say?”

“You received treatment from the Blood Cult?”

The elders were horrified by the news that the Blood Cult had been revived, and furious that she had come into contact with them and even received treatment.

The fact that her body had become healthier and stronger received no attention whatsoever.

The family elders raised their voices, insisting that they immediately report this to the Murim Alliance and crush the evil faction.

But Namgung Yeonhee could not agree with them.

Of course, she had not cast away every suspicion either.

Was the current Blood Lord truly the same being as the Blood Lord described in the records?

How much of the countless evil deeds recorded in the past was actually true?

There were still things she had not been able to confirm.

But that did not make the things she had seen and experienced firsthand false.

They gave food to the hungry without asking for anything in return.

They treated the sick instead of turning them away.

They rescued powerless commoners suffering at the hands of heterodox factions and bandits.

They forbade meaningless slaughter and taught others to cherish life.

And there was the Blood Lord, who was short, squishy, pale, and happily ate candied fruit.

‘…No, that isn’t important right now.’

In any case.

How could she possibly declare them evil?

“At least the ‘current’ Blood Cult I saw and experienced firsthand was by no means an evil faction. If anything, they were helping the people by caring for the poor and sick.”

Even under the elders’ rebuke, she refused to bend the truth of the Blood Cult she had witnessed with her own two eyes.

Because she believed that the orthodox faction’s chivalry lay not in an outward label, but in the actions they actually performed.

However, the price was harsh.

“How could the Sword Flower have lost all sense of reason? Have you truly been bewitched by the Blood Cult!”

“Stay quietly confined until you regain your senses.”

She was placed under house arrest, confined to this annex, and cut off from all contact with the outside world.

Namgung Yeonhee quietly gripped the hilt of the sword resting on her lap.

‘Has the Blood Lord… returned?’

Since she had broken the promise she had made, the Blood Lord might have been disappointed, thinking that she had gone back on her word.

It was while she was harboring such complicated feelings.

Crash—!

A sudden commotion broke out outside the annex.

‘What’s going on?’

Namgung Yeonhee quickly rose and flung open the closed window.

Then, she heard the urgent cries of the warriors standing guard outside.

“T-the Blood Cult has invaded!”

“The Blood Lord has appeared!!”

Shouts and hurried footsteps erupted one after another.

The entire Namgung Family had been thrown into an uproar.

Namgung Yeonhee’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘The Blood Lord, personally…?’