Blood Demon's Awakening

🌙 Midnight at the Ice Soul Palace - Blood Guard's Secret Mission

As the moon reached its zenith over the Ice Soul Palace, an eerie stillness settled over the ancient structure. The very air seemed to hold its breath, as if the palace itself was keeping secrets.

Blood Guard had noticed something during their conversations with the villagers—several mentions of Seol Hwa-rin's mysterious nighttime activities. Now, armed with that intelligence, he prepared for the most dangerous mission of their stay.

"I'm going to investigate those rumors about her secret meetings," Blood Guard whispered to Jin-ho in their guest quarters.

"Is that safe?"

"Nothing about this place is safe. But we need to know what we're really dealing with."

Jin-ho nodded gravely. The testimonies they'd gathered painted a disturbing picture of Seol Hwa-rin's transformation, but they needed concrete evidence.

『Be very careful. If she's truly lost her emotional balance like the Ice Soul Emperor, she'll be extremely dangerous』

The Thunder Demon King warned.

『And if she's working with Dark Shadow forces... this could be a trap』

The Blood Heaven Great Emperor added his own concern.

🕵️ The Art of Silent Surveillance

Blood Guard had not earned his reputation by accident. Years of intelligence gathering had taught him how to become one with shadows, how to read the subtle signs of breathing patterns, and how to detect conversations from impossible distances.

He slipped out of their quarters like a wraith, his footsteps making no sound on the ice-crystal floors. The palace corridors were lit by an ethereal blue glow that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves—another sign of the Ice Soul Emperor's lingering influence.

Following the servants' whispered directions from earlier, Blood Guard made his way toward the garden behind the main palace. According to the night guard's testimony, this was where Seol Hwa-rin held her mysterious meetings.

As he approached the designated area, Blood Guard employed a specialized technique taught only to the highest-level operatives of the Blood Flame Sect: Bloodline Sensing. By focusing his blood energy, he could detect the unique spiritual signatures of nearby individuals.

Two presences... no, three. One is definitely Seol Hwa-rin. The others...

Something was wrong. The other signatures felt... empty. Not human.

👤 Shadows Within Shadows

Positioning himself behind an ornate ice sculpture, Blood Guard had a clear view of a secluded pavilion. Seol Hwa-rin stood there, no longer wearing her innocent facade. Her posture was rigid, commanding, and her eyes held a coldness that would have made the Arctic winds seem warm.

Across from her stood two figures that defied easy description. They appeared human at first glance, but their outlines seemed to shift and blur, as if they existed somewhere between reality and shadow.

"Report," Seol Hwa-rin commanded, her voice carrying none of the sweet warmth she'd shown Jin-ho's group.

"The target is proceeding exactly as planned," replied one of the shadow figures. Its voice was familiar, yet distorted. "Jin-ho has collected significant information about the Ice Soul techniques."

Blood Guard's blood ran cold. He recognized that voice, even distorted as it was.

Eum Mu-geuk.

"Good," Seol Hwa-rin said with satisfaction. "How much longer do we need to maintain this charade?"

"Until he's gathered everything useful. The ancient documents, the village testimonies, any remaining traces of the Ice Soul Emperor's consciousness."

"And then?"

The second shadow figure spoke, its voice carrying an authority that made even Seol Hwa-rin straighten. "Then we proceed to Phase Two. The Thunder Constitution individual has already been isolated as planned."

Blood Guard felt his heart sink. Noe Jin-un... they're talking about Noe Jin-un.

🎭 The Perfect Performance Revealed

"I must admit," Seol Hwa-rin said with a cold smile, "playing the role of the traumatized girl was... tedious."

"Your performance was flawless," Eum Mu-geuk's distorted voice carried a note of approval. "Even I was almost convinced by your tears."

"Years of training in emotional manipulation have their uses," she replied dismissively. "Though I did enjoy the look of confusion on Jin-ho's face when I claimed to have a brother."

The shadow figures seemed to ripple with what might have been amusement.

"The Blood Flame Sect operatives suspect nothing?"

"They're competent, but predictable. They believe what they want to believe—that I'm simply an ambitious girl who's lost her way. They have no idea I completed my fourth awakening months ago."

Fourth awakening. Blood Guard nearly gasped aloud. According to everything they knew, reaching the fourth level of Ice Soul Arts required completely abandoning one's emotions. Seol Hwa-rin hadn't lost her emotional balance—she had deliberately destroyed it.

💀 The True Conspiracy Unveiled

"What about the underground facility?" the authoritative shadow asked.

"Still functional, though the seals are weakening as expected. Every time a special constitution individual awakens, the bindings loosen slightly."

"Excellent. The Supreme Great Demon God's return draws closer."

"There's something else," Seol Hwa-rin continued. "The Ice Soul Emperor's remnant consciousness has been trying to communicate with Jin-ho's group. She's attempting to warn them."

"Irrelevant. A few cryptic warnings from a fragmented spirit won't change the outcome."

"Should I eliminate the threat?"

"No. Let the dead whisper their warnings. It will only make our eventual victory more satisfying."

Blood Guard felt a chill that had nothing to do with the palace's temperature. They weren't just dealing with a power-hungry individual—this was a coordinated operation involving forces that had been planning for potentially centuries.

🌑 Dark Shadow Connections

"The Dark Shadow Society sends its regards," the authoritative figure continued. "Your cooperation has been noted and will be rewarded when the new order is established."

"And the Ice Soul Palace?"

"Will remain under your control, as promised. Though once the Supreme Great Demon God returns, concepts like 'palaces' and 'territories' will become... quaint."

"I understand. Power shared with a god is still more power than any mortal ruler has ever possessed."

"Precisely. Now, regarding the next phase..."

The figures began discussing specific details that made Blood Guard's blood freeze. Jin-ho wasn't just being used for information gathering—he was being prepared for something far worse. They spoke of rituals, of constitution fusion, of techniques that would make the Four-Way Split Divine Art seem like a child's game.

⚡ The Thunder Constitution Plot

"What of the Thunder Constitution individual?" Seol Hwa-rin asked.

"Noe Jin-un proceeds down his path of rage and isolation as expected. The confrontation with Jin Noe-mu at the Thunder Gate will provide the perfect opportunity for capture."

"And if he proves... resistant?"

"Then we'll use the Blood Constitution as leverage. Their bond may be broken, but Jin-ho's compassionate nature remains a weakness we can exploit."

Blood Guard had heard enough. More than enough. He began to carefully retreat, but froze as Seol Hwa-rin suddenly turned in his direction.

"Someone's there."

The shadow figures immediately became more solid, their forms taking on a threatening aspect.

"Impossible. This area is warded against intrusion."

"Not against Blood Flame techniques," Seol Hwa-rin said coldly. "Blood Guard, isn't it? Come out. I know you're there."

🏃 The Chase Begins

Blood Guard abandoned stealth for speed, bursting from his hiding place and sprinting toward the palace. Behind him, he could hear Seol Hwa-rin's voice, cold and commanding.

"Stop him. But don't kill him—we may need him as additional leverage."

Ice crystals began forming in the air around Blood Guard as Seol Hwa-rin unleashed her true power. These weren't the elegant, controlled ice techniques she'd displayed before—this was the raw, devastating force of someone who had completely mastered the Ice Soul Arts.

Crack!

An ice wall erupted from the ground in front of him. Blood Guard rolled to the side, his blood energy flaring as he enhanced his speed and reflexes.

Blood Flame Movement Art: Crimson Lightning!

He became a red blur, weaving between increasingly complex ice attacks as he raced through the palace corridors.

"Alert the others!" he shouted as he burst into their quarters. "We need to leave NOW!"

🚨 Emergency Evacuation

Jin-ho, Blood Flower, and Blood Path were instantly alert, years of training kicking in.

"What's happening?" Jin-ho demanded.

"No time to explain! Grab everything—we're compromised!"

Even as Blood Guard spoke, the temperature in their room began dropping rapidly. Frost started forming on the windows, and they could hear the sound of ice crackling through the palace walls.

"She's sealing the exits," Blood Flower realized. "We're trapped."

『I told you that woman was dangerous』

The Blood Heaven Great Emperor's mental voice carried grim satisfaction at being proven right.

『Now's not the time for 'I told you so'—help us think of a way out』

The Thunder Demon King retorted.

"The airship," Blood Guard gasped, still catching his breath from his sprint. "If we can reach the airship..."

"That's our only chance," Jin-ho agreed.

❄️ Seol Hwa-rin's True Power

As they prepared to make their escape, Seol Hwa-rin's voice echoed through the palace, carried by some ice-based technique that made it seem like she was speaking directly into their minds.

"Jin-ho... there's no need to run. I had hoped we could continue our... cooperation a bit longer. You've been such useful tools."

Her tone held no trace of the warmth or desperation she'd shown before. This was the voice of someone who had long ago traded humanity for power.

"The information you've gathered, the ancient techniques you've learned, the locations you've mapped—all of it will serve the greater purpose. You should feel honored to contribute to something so magnificent."

"We need to move," Blood Guard urged. "Every second we delay makes escape less likely."

As they rushed through the corridors, Jin-ho couldn't help but think about all the signs they'd missed, all the perfect moments when Seol Hwa-rin had guided their investigation in exactly the directions she'd wanted.

How long has she been playing us? From the very beginning?

🌪️ The Revelation's Impact

"What exactly did you overhear?" Jin-ho asked as they navigated through a service corridor that Blood Guard hoped would lead to an exterior exit.

"Everything," Blood Guard replied grimly. "She's working with Eum Mu-geuk and the Dark Shadow Society. This whole thing—the reunion, the palace tour, even our 'discoveries'—it's all been orchestrated."

"The documents we found?"

"Probably planted. Or at least, we were guided to find exactly what she wanted us to find."

Jin-ho felt sick. Not only had they been betrayed, but their entire understanding of the situation might be compromised.

『The village testimonies were real, though』

The Thunder Demon King pointed out.

『She couldn't control what the common people said, only how we interpreted it』

Small comfort, but it meant some of their intelligence was legitimate.

🎯 The True Target

"There's something else," Blood Guard continued as they reached what appeared to be a maintenance exit. "They're specifically targeting special constitution individuals. Jin-ho, Noe Jin-un... they have plans for both of you."

"What kind of plans?"

"The kind that involve rituals and constitution fusion. They want to recreate something worse than the Four-Way Split Divine Art."

The exit was frozen solid. Blood Guard began using blood energy to try to melt through the ice, but it was thick and reinforced with spiritual energy.

"They mentioned the Supreme Great Demon God's return," he added while working. "This isn't just about power or territory—they're trying to bring back the original threat."

Jin-ho's blood ran cold. If that was true, then everything—the tomb expeditions, the information gathering, even their current predicament—was part of a much larger plan spanning potentially decades or centuries.