Blood Demon's Awakening

⚡ Cold Eyes and Crackling Robes

The moment Jin-ho's feet touched the stone platform, he could feel the weight of thirty pairs of hostile eyes upon him. The Thunder Lightning Gate disciples stood in perfect formation, their blue and silver robes crackling with barely contained electrical energy. Unlike the Ice Soul Palace's servants who had at least maintained a facade of politeness, these cultivators made no attempt to hide their animosity.

"So this is the blood demon who stole Jin-woon's power," one of the younger disciples muttered, loud enough for Jin-ho to hear.

"I heard he watched Jin-woon die and did nothing to help," another added, sparks dancing between his fingers.

Jin-ho's jaw tightened, but he forced himself to remain calm. Getting angry now would only play into their hands.

『Ignore the whelps』 the Thunder Lightning King advised. 『They're just parroting what their masters told them. The real threats are the elders.』

🏛️ The Thunder Lightning Gate's Architecture

As Jin-ho and his Blood Flame Sect escorts walked forward, he took in his surroundings. The Thunder Lightning Gate was built into the mountainside itself, with towering spires that seemed to reach toward the storm clouds above. Lightning rods of various sizes crowned every building, creating a forest of metal that hummed with constant electrical discharge.

Unlike the pristine, artistic beauty of the Ice Soul Palace, everything here was functional and martial. The buildings were solid stone reinforced with metal, designed to withstand both lightning strikes and combat. Training grounds were carved directly into the rock faces, where disciples could practice their electrical techniques without fear of collateral damage.

"Impressive," Blood Scribe murmured. "Crude compared to the Ice Soul Palace, but much more practical for a combat sect."

"It's exactly what I'd expect from thunder cultivators," Blood Wolf replied. "All substance, no style."

👴 The First Confrontation

Before they could proceed further, an elderly man stepped forward from the group of disciples. His beard was pure white, but his eyes crackled with blue electricity that matched the storms overhead.

"I am Elder Lightning Striker, Third Elder of the Thunder Lightning Gate," he announced, his voice carrying the authority of decades. "And you... you are the blood demon who carries our stolen lightning."

Jin-ho met the elder's gaze steadily. "My name is Jin-ho Kang. I'm here seeking information about my friend's death."

"Friend?" Elder Lightning Striker's laugh was like thunder rolling across the mountains. "Jin-woon was our disciple, not yours. And now his power resides in an outsider, a practitioner of demonic arts. Do you think we would simply let this insult pass?"

『Careful』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor warned. 『This one is no pushover. Third Circle Thunder Cultivation, at least.』

『He's testing you』 the Thunder Lightning King added. 『They want to see how you'll react to provocation.』

⚡ A Display of Power

Elder Lightning Striker raised his hand, and lightning began to coil around his fingers like living serpents. "The power you carry belongs to the Thunder Lightning Gate. It should flow through the veins of a true lightning cultivator, not contaminate the blood of a demon."

The other disciples stepped back as the elder's power grew more intense. The air itself seemed to vibrate with electrical energy.

"Return what was stolen, and we might consider letting you leave with your lives," Elder Lightning Striker continued. "Refuse, and face the consequences."

Jin-ho felt the Thunder Lightning King stirring within him, eager to demonstrate that he was no mere thief. But Jin-ho held back, remembering the lessons he'd learned at the Ice Soul Palace about patience and strategy.

"I didn't steal anything," Jin-ho replied calmly. "Jin-woon's power came to me because he chose to save my life with his last breath. If you have a problem with that, maybe you should ask yourself why he was dying alone in the first place."

 😡 Touching a Nerve

Elder Lightning Striker's face darkened at Jin-ho's words. Several of the younger disciples shifted uncomfortably, and Jin-ho realized he'd struck a nerve.

"How dare you—" the elder began, but Jin-ho cut him off.

"How dare I what? Ask why none of you came to help him when he was being hunted? Ask why a loyal disciple had to run for his life from his own sect?"

The platform fell silent except for the constant rumble of thunder overhead. Jin-ho could see doubt creeping into some of the disciples' faces. They hadn't expected him to go on the offensive.

『Well played』 the Thunder Lightning King chuckled. 『Half of them are already wondering if their precious elders told them the whole truth.』

⚡ Blood Wolf's Strategic Support

Blood Wolf stepped slightly forward, his hand resting casually on his sword hilt. "My young master raises excellent questions. Perhaps you'd care to enlighten us about the circumstances of Disciple Jin-woon's death?"

"Or," Blood Guard added with deceptive mildness, "would you prefer we investigate those circumstances ourselves?"

Elder Lightning Striker's eyes flicked between the Blood Flame Sect members, calculating odds. Four against thirty should have been hopeless odds, but something about their confidence made him hesitate.

"You know nothing about our internal affairs," he said finally.

"Then explain them to us," Jin-ho challenged. "If Jin-woon's death was justified, you should have no trouble providing details."

 🌪️ A Disturbance in the Air

Before Elder Lightning Striker could respond, the air itself seemed to change. The constant background hum of electricity grew louder, more aggressive. Lightning began striking the mountain peaks with renewed intensity, and even the storm clouds seemed to swirl with greater violence.

The assembled disciples immediately dropped to one knee.

"Grand Elder approaches," someone whispered.

『Ah, here comes the real villain』 the Thunder Lightning King said with anticipation. 『Jin Noe-mu. The worm who orchestrated Jin-woon's murder.』

Jin-ho felt his hands clench into fists. After all this time, he was finally going to face the man responsible for his friend's death.

💀 The Architect of Betrayal

A figure appeared at the top of the main building's steps, moving with the deliberate pace of someone who knew all attention was focused on him. Jin Noe-mu was a tall, lean man with iron-gray hair and eyes that seemed to hold trapped lightning. His robes were more elaborate than the others, marked with golden thunder patterns that pulsed with their own inner light.

"So," Jin Noe-mu's voice carried clearly across the platform despite the distance, "the blood demon finally shows himself."

He began descending the steps, each footfall accompanied by a small spark of electricity that lit up the stone.

"I was wondering when you would come to claim what you think belongs to you."

『Look at him』 the Thunder Lightning King snarled. 『Sixty years of plotting and scheming, and he still thinks he deserves my power.』

『He's going to learn differently』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor replied grimly.

⚡ The Real Confrontation Begins

As Jin Noe-mu reached the platform level, Jin-ho could see the hatred burning in the Grand Elder's eyes. This wasn't just about sect politics or stolen power. This was personal.

"Grand Elder," Elder Lightning Striker bowed deeply. "The intruders were just about to explain their presence here."

"Oh, I know exactly why they're here," Jin Noe-mu said, his gaze never leaving Jin-ho's face. "The blood demon wants answers about poor Jin-woon's tragic death."

The way he said 'tragic' made it clear he considered Jin-woon's death anything but unfortunate.

"That's right," Jin-ho replied, matching the Grand Elder's cold stare. "I want to know why a loyal disciple had to die running from his own sect."

Jin Noe-mu smiled, and it was like watching lightning contained in human form.

"Loyal?" he laughed. "Is that what you think he was?"

 🎭 The Performance Begins

"Jin-woon was many things," Jin Noe-mu continued, beginning to circle around Jin-ho like a predator sizing up its prey. "Weak. Cowardly. Prone to making poor decisions. But loyal? That's debatable."

Jin-ho felt the Thunder Lightning King's rage building within him, but he forced himself to stay calm. This was exactly what Jin Noe-mu wanted—to provoke him into making a mistake.

"After all," the Grand Elder continued, "a truly loyal disciple wouldn't have fled when his sect needed him most. A loyal disciple wouldn't have abandoned his duties to run away with... undesirable companions."

The insult was clear, and several of the watching disciples smirked.

⚡ Jin-ho's Controlled Response

"And what exactly were those duties?" Jin-ho asked quietly. "To die on command? To sacrifice himself for someone else's ambition?"

Jin Noe-mu's smile faltered slightly. "Careful, boy. You're speaking of matters beyond your understanding."

"Then educate me," Jin-ho challenged. "Tell me about the Thunder Lightning Inheritance Law. Tell me about how you planned to steal Jin-woon's power for yourself."

The platform fell completely silent. Even the thunder seemed to pause.

『He knows』 Jin Noe-mu thought, and for the first time, uncertainty flickered across his features.

🌩️ The Challenge Issued

Jin Noe-mu's expression hardened, and when he spoke again, all pretense of civility was gone.

"You want answers, blood demon? Then you'll have to earn them the way we settle all disputes here—through combat."

He raised his hand, and lightning began to gather around it with frightening intensity.

"Face me in single combat, and I'll tell you everything you want to know about Jin-woon's... circumstances. Refuse, and you and your companions will leave these mountains as corpses."

The assembled disciples began to back away, recognizing the signs of an impending battle between true masters.

Jin-ho felt both demon gods stirring within him, their combined power making his blood sing with anticipation.

"I accept," he said simply.

Thunder crashed overhead as if the heavens themselves were announcing the coming battle.