I was now a piece of paper. A pure white paper that was being brushed on over and over.
-Has to be makeup.
Short Sword giggled.
The reason she was so amused was simple. It was because of two ladies, and Sima Young stuck with me.
“Please stay still. Ehehe.”
“Phew. It is so crooked. Why are you moving your face like that?”
… look.
I am the sect leader of the Blood Sect.
I never thought I would become bruised with makeup.
-It is a new color. Our Wonhwi, you can get married.
Don’t be so sarcastic.
I know who would want something like this to happen. In my previous life, I had never seen a coronation ceremony for the sect leader of the Blood Sect, so this was the first time I knew of this tradition.
The priest who conducted the coronation would receive the makeup that brides got. My lips were red, and my face was white with dark shadow eyelids.
Between my eyebrows and my eyes was some red powder.
I still don’t know what was happening.
Do I really need to get makeup?
-The Blood Demon’s will should remember it properly, so why not try absorbing the memory?
The Blood Demon Sword asked me this.
Everything else in his memory was blurry except for his martial arts. Perhaps because of the large amount of resentment that he held, even the Blood Demon’s memory wasn’t normal.
-You said only the essentials were needed.
Was that what he meant?
The Blood Demon Sword clicked his tongue and said.
-The Blood Demon never wanted to be the sect leader.
‘What?’
What did he mean by saying that the man who established himself as the Blood Demon didn’t want to become one?
-Just like I said, the Blood Demon’s purpose was to live the life of his dreams alongside the wife that he loved as the last descendant of the Red Light Holy Sect.
The Red Light Holy Sect?
-What is that now?
Both Short Sword and I were curious.
The Red Light Holy Sect was a group that appeared long before the Blood Sect.
Unlike the Blood Sect, which valued its traditional center, I heard the other sect respected strength above all.
They had originally appeared to preach their teachings to the West instead of the Central Plains. But I heard that the people rejected their ideology as it was considered dangerous.
There were rumors that the previous heads of the Blood Sect originated from there. Yet some Blood Demons declared that it was just a rumor.
-That kind of thing is fine. This all came about when the first Blood Demon chose to honor his late wife by wearing her favorite red wedding dress and wearing nuptial makeup for holding the coronation ceremony.
Ah….
That was why even this dress was similar to a woman’s. Looking at it, it seemed like every tradition had its own story. After knowing about it now, I could no longer say anything.
-So don’t grumble, human.
This guy…
I thought he hated things because he had united with the will of the Blood Demon, but his innate nature was already shit.
But I could do nothing about it even after knowing this.
“It is done.”
The attendants rose from their seats with a satisfied look soon after. Sima Young was looking at me with a strange face.
Did I look so strange?
“Wow, putting on makeup like this could make it so strangely colorful and pretty.”
Should I take that as a compliment?
“Pretty.”
Sima Young smiled, reached out her hand to where I sat and cleared her throat.
“Hmm, Lady Jin, I want you to marry me.”
Why did she have to say it like that?
I almost burst into laughter at her attempt to sound like a man. I jumped up and hugged her.
“Ah!”
“I don’t know if I can get married since I look like this.”
“Tch. Just go along with the flow.”
Even as I spoke bluntly, Sima Young blushed and smiled at my hug. Someone then peeked through the open door and said.
“All the preparations are done….”
It was Song Jwa-baek.
When he saw Sima Young in my arms, his face flushed as he gritted his teeth.
“Now that it is done… do it in moderation and come out.”
I thought he would have ill feelings, but it didn’t seem like it. Seeing this, it was a situation where most would feel some bad feelings.
Sima Young looked at Son Jwa-baek and let out a question.
“I didn’t notice it. Is that why women like it?”
Song Jwa-baek’s face became sullen.
As I exited the room, all of the sect members had gathered. The atmosphere that was buzzing became silent as I made my appearance.
It was as if the atmosphere had become dignified.
Swish! Thud! Thud!
Then came the sound of flutes.
I walked down the path covered with red silk stretched out in front of me. On both sides of the path were lanterns that lit the path with more red silk decorations.
It felt like a path of blood.
After I took a few steps, a thud that resonated with the sound of drums filled the air. The melody of the sounds that spread everywhere felt more melancholic. Melancholic and grand.
-This is the song of the Soft and Scented Flower that the Blood Demon liked.
This, too, was in honor of his wife.
Who would have thought that the object of such fear actually held so much affection? This melody was excellent as well.
Walking down the red silken path, I saw a wide platform and a chair.
Next to the chair were several priests who held the crown. Baek Hye-hyang also stood there in formal clothes. The Venerable Dignitaries and other notable sect members were on both sides of the platform.
“Kulkulkul.”
Teacher Hae Ack-chun looked at me and laughed that unique laugh of his. On the other hand, the elders and Blood Stars were emotional as they watched me. Perhaps it was because they saw this ceremony being held again after 20 years.
The only person without a smile was Jang Ryong.
-Maybe we should have just made him leave.
I wondered if that should have been the case as well.
Noh Seong-gu, my Head of the Guards, said that Jang Ryong should finish with a bow of apology to his father’s ash tablet, so he was holding it in his hands.
His expression strongly resembled Han Baekha.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
As I walked up the podium, the 10,000 members of the sect fell to the ground.
The sight was quite shocking.
As I came along the silk path, the head priests standing on either side of me moved forward, their faces as emotional as the others.
As they arrived before me, the elders and Blood Stars knelt reverently on one knee and bowed their heads.
And then they shouted.
“We witness the Lord of the Blood Sect!”
As if reciting a verse of worship, all the sect members shouted aloud.
“We witness the Lord of the Blood Sect!!”
The voices of 10,000 sect members echoed everywhere, mixed with the sound of drums, giving me an odd feeling.
How could I describe this feeling?
-The feeling of being the Blood Demon?
That’s right.
It was quite emotional to see this coronation ceremony being held in front of so many people.
The fact that I would be their leader from now on was the complete opposite of my first life.
-Don’t be too immersed in thought and just enjoy it. This only happens once.
He was right.
Such a day would not come again.
Step!
As I approached the seat, Baek Hye-hyang looked at me strangely. I didn’t think it would be possible for her to sit in the seat that she had longed for.
-Why did you entrust the supervision of the ceremony to her?
Actually, a high priest was in charge of the sect’s events. After the war, however, the position remained vacant.
As a result, Baek Hye-hyang and Baek Ryeon-ha, who inherited the Blood Demon’s blood, were the only ones with the right to hold this ceremony. Since Baek Ryeon-ha was still unwell, Baek Hye-hyang naturally took over.
Baek Hye-hyang’s words rang in my ears.
[I will watch how you will lead the sect.]
[You will not be disappointed.]
She laughed at my words and shouted for everyone to hear.
“I will now begin the ceremony.”
All the sect members kneeling with their faces on the ground proceeded to stand. I then knelt down in front of Baek Hye-hyang.
The sound of drums stopped as she opened a book wrapped in blue silk.
A long sutra was written inside, and she was reciting it solemnly, followed by the sect members.
Since I always lived as a spy, this was the first time I experienced this unique Blood Sect ritual.
The chants were far removed from the Blood Sect’s teachings. Instead, they were about creating benefits for sentient beings and attaining enlightenment.
After finishing her recital of the scriptures, she shouted again.
“I will now proceed with the Blood Ceremony.”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Drums filled the air once more as six sect members delivered a large bowl of poison from under the stage. The moment I saw it, a chill ran down my spine.
The bowl was filled with something akin to water but had a dark, bloody color. It was the sacrifice for the ceremony and contained the blood of 10,000 sect members.
-Phew… can you drink that?
… I have to drink it.
This was the most important event of the ceremony.
The blood represented life.
The blood ritual was a sacred ritual in which the leader would drink a cup of blood from all the members, symbolically taking their lives into their hands.
Of course, I didn’t really understand why this was sacred. Baek Hye-hyang rolled up a single sleeve and placed the silver goblet on the deck.
She then passed a full glass of it to me with both hands.
“Phew.”
I inhaled and exhaled a few times as I accepted the goblet reverently. I stopped breathing and then inhaled the liquid down.
There was so much blood in it that it tasted fishy.
‘I feel like puking.’
I tried not to show it, but this was making me sick.
I could withstand pain well, but my stomach was a bit weak. Baek Hye-hyang then took back the empty goblet and handed her a silver sword atop a white cloth that a priest had brought.
“Blood!”
I cut my left palm with the silver sword and poured my blood into the drinking vessel.
My wounds regenerated quickly, so the blood would stop falling if I didn’t hurry. After a few drops, I covered my palm with a white cloth and returned the sword to Baek Hye-hyang.
“Distribute!”
At Baek Hye-hyang’s order, the nobles all approached, took the glasses beside them, and filled it with blood from the central pot.
Once they filled their glasses, the members also filled their cups with poisoned blood.
As if waiting, all the members stood with cups of poisoned blood.
It took about 30 minutes for everyone’s cups to be filled. As the cup was held in both hands by Baek Hye-hyang, everyone else did the same as she said.
“We become one in blood to embrace the new Blood Demon.”
As she drank the blood wine with both hands, the members did the same and emptied their cups.
-As I thought, a poisonous woman.
I agreed.
Baek Hye-hyang’s face didn’t change even though the disgusting taste. Instead, she drank it all and even licked her lips after.
Once everyone emptied their cups, the ritual was finally done.
“Hold your head, our Blood Demon.”
Baek Hye-hyang took the crown of the sect leader from the pedestal and stood before me as she placed the crown on my head.
‘Ahhh!’
My heart trembled as Baek Hye-hyang stepped aside and knelt.
From that point on, the priests, the dignitaries, the elders, and the Blood Stars all knelt down once more.
I slowly stepped ahead to my seat and sat.
And all of the sect members erupted into rapturous cheers.
“WOAHHHHH!!!!”
Once the ceremony had proceeded to some extent, the next event was the granting of positions.
This was a place where new positions were granted. It seemed like everyone was waiting for this more than the coronation ceremony.
The nobles, Blood Stars, and sect members all looked at me on my throne with eyes full of concern and anticipation.
“Left Guardian!”
Hearing my call, Ha Jong-il came forward.
In his hand was a scroll that held the changing positions which had been decided last night, and he would use it to declare it to the sect.
“From this moment, I will declare the new positions that are being distributed on behalf of the Blood Demon. First, we will announce the changes.”
Everyone was focused on this.
“First, for those warriors with titles.”
When this came out, the Blood Stars’ eyes shone.
They must have been expecting this. The original system of the Blood Sect had a system of six elders and twelve Blood Stars. This was changed due to how many died during the great war.
In the meantime, the Blood Sect had given these positions temporarily to them but had not made new titles.
“I will now begin to read. The First Elder’s position remains.”
Everyone probably already predicted this and didn’t react much. The best warrior of the sect needed to keep his position. It would be funny if it changed.
He continued his announcement.
“The Second Elder would also retain his position.”
Seo Kalma sighed in relief at this. Actually, if one purely looked at his skills, he could be considered a monster. Hae Ack-chun simply surpassed him. His position did not change since there wasn’t any advantage in placing teacher over him.
“I will raise Hae Ack-chun, the Fourth Elder, to that of the Third Elder.”
“Hehe, how disconcerting.”
Hae Ack-chun and knelt with a chuckle.
In the first place, my teacher wasn’t someone interested in positions. I am glad he wasn’t disappointed.
When the teacher returned to his place, he continued his announcement.
“The Fourth Elder is…”
Everyone became tense. The Blood Stars seemed to be dreaming of a promotion, while a few looked at Baek Hye-hyang.
Of course, those who were highly skilled were honored. If Baek Hye-hyang were to sit in such a position, it would be because Baek Ryeon-ha’s faction wouldn’t be strictly against me.
“Is left vacant.”
‘…!?’
Baek Hye-hyang’s face became stiff at hearing this. Clearly, everyone assumed that she would take this position. However, judging from her reaction, she didn’t look too disappointed. Perhaps she was thinking of the position of a wife instead.
On the other hand, those from Baek Ryeon-ha’s faction were smiling. Baek Hye-hyang at least seemed satisfied that she didn’t get that position.
I glanced at Baek Hye-hyang.
‘…. Hmmm.’
She was looking at me with rather cold eyes.
It seemed that she, too, was looking forward to becoming one of the Venerables. She felt out of place since I decided to leave it vacant.
Still, it wasn’t the end yet, and…
[So, in your eyes, I am not at the Venerable Dignitaries’ level yet.]
Look at this woman.
No turning back now. She then narrowed her eyes and told me.
[I couldn’t believe it, but you are ignoring my warning and offering the position of wife….]
It was then that the firm voice of the Left Guardian interrupted her.
“Baek Ryeon-ha will take the role of High Priest.”
‘….!?’
The position of the High Priest was one on par with the Elders.
“Ha!”
Hearing this, Baek Hye-hyang snorted as if she found it absurd.
On the other hand, Baek Ryeon-ha’s subordinates could not hide their joy. Baek Hye-hyang would not sit in an honorable position, and their leader was placed in a status equal to that of a Venerable Dignitary.
[Blood Demon, are you doing this to get both Sima Young and Lady Baek Hye-hyang as your wives?]
The First Elder frowned as I shook my head.
[Then are you saying that you don’t want to embrace Lady Baek Hye-hyang >]
He was concerned about this, and I could understand why.
I had worries too.
When the atmosphere between the two factions reached a fever pitch, the Left Guardian announced.
“The Sect Leader announces the creation of a new position in consideration of those who fell in the Great War 20 years ago as well as the sect’s current situation.”
Whisper!
“A new position?”
“What is that?”
Everyone was curious as the announcement was made.
“Baek Hye-hyang is appointed as the sub-sect leader.”
‘…!!!’
In an instant, the faces of both factions changed. Baek Hye-hyang looked at me with eyes that clearly showed she wasn’t expecting this.
