Blood Demon's Awakening

⚡ An Unexpected Gesture

The aftermath of the courtyard battle still lingered in the air—scorch marks on stone, the acrid smell of ozone, and the whispered conversations of disciples who had witnessed Jin-ho's overwhelming demonstration of lightning mastery. It was in this charged atmosphere that Jin Nae-mu made his appearance.

The Grand Elder approached with measured steps, his weathered face bearing an expression of what might have been respect, though Jin-ho's newly sharpened instincts detected something else beneath the surface.

"Remarkable," Jin Nae-mu said, his voice carrying across the courtyard. "I haven't seen technique like that since... well, since Jin-woon's father was young."

『He's lying』 the Thunder King warned immediately. 『That technique is mine from three millennia ago. No human has wielded it in living memory.』

『Careful』 the Blood Heaven Emperor added. 『This one reeks of deception.』

But Jin Nae-mu continued as if he hadn't just revealed the depth of his knowledge—or lack thereof. "Such power deserves proper recognition. Perhaps you would honor us by participating in a memorial ceremony for our fallen disciple?"

🎭 The Gracious Offer

Elder Blue Cloud—Noe Cheong-woon—stepped forward, his expression carefully neutral. Jin-ho caught the subtle tension in the man's posture, the way his eyes flicked briefly toward Jin Nae-mu before settling on Jin-ho.

"A memorial ceremony?" Blood Scribe inquired, his scholarly instincts immediately engaged. "For Jin-woon?"

"Indeed," Jin Nae-mu replied, spreading his hands in what appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation. "The boy may have... made certain choices in his final days, but he was still a disciple of the Thunder Gate. He deserves to be remembered properly."

The words were perfectly chosen, reasonable and respectful, but Jin-ho felt the Thunder King's agitation spike within his consciousness.

『Hypocrite』 came the furious whisper. 『They speak of honoring him while his blood still stains their hands.』

Jin-ho studied Jin Nae-mu's face carefully. The man's expression was composed, almost grandfatherly, but there was something in his eyes—a calculating gleam that spoke of deeper purposes.

"That's... very generous of you," Jin-ho said slowly. "I would be honored to pay my respects to my friend."

📿 The Memorial Hall

The memorial hall stood at the heart of the Thunder Gate complex, a solemn structure built from dark stone that seemed to absorb the constant lightning strikes that characterized the sect's territory. Ancient inscriptions covered the walls, recording the names and deeds of disciples who had died in service to the sect over the centuries.

As they entered, Jin-ho noticed how the very air seemed heavy with accumulated grief and memory. Hundreds of memorial tablets lined the walls, each one representing a life cut short in pursuit of the sect's goals.

But it was the newest addition that drew his attention—a simple wooden tablet bearing Jin-woon's name, placed prominently at the front of the hall.

"We prepared a small display," Jin Nae-mu said, gesturing toward a table arranged before Jin-woon's tablet. "Some of his personal effects. We thought you might appreciate seeing them."

📜 Jin-woon's Belongings

The table held three items, each one a dagger to Jin-ho's heart.

The first was a sword—not the elegant weapon Jin-woon had carried in their final encounter, but something cruder, clearly handmade. The metal was imperfect, the balance slightly off, but the care that had gone into its creation was evident in every line.

"His first lightning sword," Noe Cheong-woon explained quietly. "He forged it himself when he was twelve years old. Spent three months on it, working in secret after his regular training."

Jin-ho's hand trembled as he reached toward it, remembering Jin-woon's excitement when he'd first shown it off—how proud he'd been of his imperfect creation.

The second item was a piece of parchment, yellowed with age but carefully preserved. It showed a crude drawing of two figures standing side by side, one with dark hair, one with lighter—Jin-ho and Jin-woon as children, captured in simple but heartfelt strokes.

"He drew this after your first meeting," Jin Nae-mu said, his voice soft with what sounded like genuine emotion. "Kept it in his room all these years."

But it was the third item that broke Jin-ho's composure entirely.

💌 The Letter of Hope

A letter, written in Jin-woon's careful handwriting, addressed to his parents. The ink was faded, but the words were still legible:

*"Dear Mother and Father,

I have been accepted into the Thunder Gate! I know you worried about my future, but I promise I will make you proud. The masters say I have great potential, and I've already made a wonderful friend named Jin-ho.

We're going to become the greatest martial artists in the world together! We'll protect people and make sure no one has to suffer like the villagers did during the drought last year.

I know the path of cultivation is dangerous, but I'm not afraid. With Jin-ho by my side, I feel like we can accomplish anything.

Your loving son, Jin-woon"*

😢 The Weight of Memory

Jin-ho's vision blurred as he read the letter. The naive optimism, the pure joy, the unshakeable faith in their friendship—it was everything he remembered about Jin-woon, everything that had made their bond so precious.

『The boy believed in you completely』 the Thunder King said, his mental voice unusually gentle. 『Even at the end, he never stopped believing.』

Memory flooded back unbidden—Jin-woon's last words echoing in his mind:

"Live... live for both of us, Jin-ho. Don't let my death be meaningless."

"He... he really believed we'd change the world together," Jin-ho whispered, his voice cracking despite his efforts to maintain composure.

"Yes," Jin Nae-mu said, stepping closer. "Right up until the end, he spoke of you. Even when he was running from our pursuit, he kept saying he needed to find you, to apologize for leaving you behind."

The words hit like physical blows. Jin-ho had known intellectually that Jin-woon died alone and afraid, but hearing it confirmed in such detail made the guilt surge fresh and overwhelming.

🎭 The Psychological Assault

Jin Nae-mu continued, his voice taking on an almost hypnotic quality. "He could have surrendered, you know. We would have been merciful. But he kept running, kept fighting, because he was convinced that if he could just reach you, everything would be all right."

Blood Wolf's hand moved almost imperceptibly toward his weapon, recognizing the psychological warfare being waged, but Jin-ho was too deep in his guilt to notice.

"If only he had been stronger," Jin Nae-mu mused. "If only he hadn't been so naive about the dangers of cultivation. If only..."

"If only I had been there to protect him," Jin-ho finished, the words torn from his heart.

"Exactly," Jin Nae-mu said, and there was no mistaking the satisfaction in his voice now. "If only his friend hadn't abandoned him when he needed help most."

『Enough!』 the Blood Heaven Emperor roared within Jin-ho's mind. 『This is manipulation! He's twisting your grief against you!』

But the Thunder King's response was different, filled with a cold, building rage: 『Let him continue. Let him reveal his true nature. And then... we make him pay.』

🔍 Noe Cheong-woon's Subtle Warning

As Jin-ho struggled with his emotions, Noe Cheong-woon stepped closer, ostensibly to offer comfort but actually to whisper a warning that only Jin-ho could hear.

"Don't let him see how much this affects you," the elder murmured. "This isn't about honoring Jin-woon. It's about breaking you."

The words cut through Jin-ho's emotional haze like a lightning bolt. He looked up to see Jin Nae-mu watching his reaction with poorly concealed anticipation, and suddenly the true purpose of this "memorial" became clear.

This wasn't about remembrance or respect. It was about psychological warfare, designed to leave him vulnerable and off-balance for whatever came next.

🎪 The Performance Continues

"Of course," Jin Nae-mu was saying, apparently oblivious to the whispered exchange, "we must also consider the practical matters. Jin-woon's death was a great loss to our sect, and there are those who feel... compensation is owed."

"Compensation?" Blood Guard asked sharply, his hand now openly resting on his weapon.

"Nothing crude, naturally," Jin Nae-mu replied with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "But Jin-woon carried certain techniques, certain knowledge that belonged to the Thunder Gate. Knowledge that, through his death, has passed to... others."

The implication was crystal clear, and Jin-ho felt both demon spirits stir within him, their anger beginning to synchronize with his own.

『He wants our techniques』 the Thunder King snarled. 『He thinks he can guilt you into giving them up.』

『Or force you to』 the Blood Heaven Emperor added grimly. 『This whole ceremony is a setup.』

⚔️ The Trap Revealed

As if summoned by Jin Nae-mu's words, more Thunder Gate disciples began filing into the memorial hall. They moved with the casual purpose of guards taking position, though they maintained the pretense of coming to pay their respects.

Blood Scribe's eyes swept the room, counting numbers and analyzing positions with professional efficiency. When he caught Jin-ho's eye, he gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head—the odds were not good.

"Perhaps," Jin Nae-mu continued, his voice taking on a harder edge, "we could discuss this matter more privately. After all, there are certain techniques that should remain within the Thunder Gate, regardless of how they were... acquired."

Jin-ho straightened, forcing his grief and guilt into a carefully controlled space within his mind. When he spoke, his voice was steady despite the turmoil he felt.

"Jin-woon gave me his techniques freely, in the moments before his death. They're mine by right of inheritance and friendship."

"Friendship?" Jin Nae-mu's mask began to slip, revealing the cold ambition beneath. "Is that what you call abandoning someone to die alone in the wilderness?"

The accusation hung in the air like a physical presence, and Jin-ho felt something shift within him. The guilt was still there, would probably always be there, but alongside it rose something else—a growing anger at this man's casual manipulation of sacred memories.

⚡ Two Spirits, One Purpose

For the first time since Jin-woon's death, Jin-ho felt the Thunder King and Blood Heaven Emperor's purposes align completely. Their anger fed his own, creating a feedback loop of righteous fury that began to manifest as actual power.

A faint red glow appeared around Jin-ho's clenched fists—blood energy mixing with electrical current in a combination that should have been impossible.

『Now you begin to understand』 the Blood Heaven Emperor said, his voice filled with dark satisfaction. 『True power comes not from guilt or grief, but from righteous anger.』

『Yes』 the Thunder King agreed. 『Let them see what they've awakened. Let them understand the price of disrespecting the dead.』

Jin Nae-mu's eyes widened as he sensed the change in Jin-ho's aura. This wasn't the broken, guilt-ridden young man he'd expected to manipulate. This was something far more dangerous.

🌩️ The Promise of Vengeance

"Jin-woon," Jin-ho said quietly, his voice carrying clearly through the memorial hall despite its low volume. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you. But I promise you this—I won't let your death be meaningless. And I won't let these people dishonor your memory."

The red glow around his hands intensified, and several of the Thunder Gate disciples stepped back involuntarily. Even Jin Nae-mu seemed to recognize that his psychological trap had backfired spectacularly.

"Now then," Jin-ho continued, raising his head to meet Jin Nae-mu's gaze directly. "Shall we discuss this 'compensation' you mentioned? Because I have some ideas of my own about what's owed."

The memorial hall fell silent except for the distant rumble of thunder outside. But now it wasn't clear whether the storm was natural or if something else entirely was building toward an explosive confrontation.

『Let the lightning judge them』 the Thunder King whispered.

『Let the blood flow』 the Blood Heaven Emperor added.

And for the first time since gaining his dual heritage, Jin-ho found himself in complete agreement with both demon spirits.

The memorial ceremony was about to become something very different from what Jin Nae-mu had planned.