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Translator: uly
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Completing the Subjugation of the Infected Ones
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In our Lang Clan, we almost never turned living clan members into jiangshi unless they volunteered.
As Geon-woo manipulated his jiangshi to lay the fainted demon assassin inside the stone coffin, Ilryeong spoke up.
"Didn't you say there were times when they turned wicked heretics or demon practitioners from the Evil Faction into living jiangshi?"
That was only possible during the era of the Orthodox-Evil Great War, or so I've heard.
"Then you've never made a living jiangshi before either?"
To be honest, ever since meeting my lord, I've been researching ways to create living jiangshi. But I haven't found a method yet.
"It couldn't be helped since there were no herbs or refining materials you needed here."
Not exactly. I found substitutes for most materials. That's how the current jiangshi were made. The problem was obtaining the special ingredient needed for living jiangshi.
"Special ingredient?"
Living jiangshi must retain vitality even after being turned into jiangshi. That requires not only secret refining techniques but also a special elixir.
"Elixir?"
Our clan founder possessed medical skills so advanced he was called a divine healer, allowing him to create such an elixir. But I hadn't fully mastered that secret art by the time our clan faced its bloodbath.
"So you've been racking your brains trying to figure it out somehow?"
Yes. But before killing Helparis, while facing various demons, I glimpsed a new possibility.
"A way to make living jiangshi?"
Yes.
"We did secure quite a few demon corpses during the Helparis subjugation. But I didn't have time for proper research back then. Looks like things are different now? So, what's this possibility?"
The blood of living demons seems to contain components similar to the elixir our founder created.
"Hmm? What does that mean? So you're saying we can make living jiangshi from demons without needing that special elixir?"
Of course it's not that simple. But with a few preparations and executing the grand technique, the possibility is definitely there.
"So it's not easy?"
But it's not as hopeless as before.
"Good. So what do we start with?"
Naturally, first we soak them alive in the drugs for jiangshi refining. During that process, my lord must use his Heavenly Brain Dividing Heart Subduing Spirit Art to suppress its soul and claim it.
"The previous jiangshi were corpses without souls, so suppressing their empty minds was straightforward. But this is a living target, so it'll be different?"
Once jiangshi refining begins and it's soaked in the drugs, it won't withstand my lord's subduing art anyway. That's what the Heavenly Brain Dividing Heart Subduing Spirit Art was originally made for.
"You're saying there's no risk of it backfiring on me?"
Absolutely not. How could anything overcome the Heavenly Brain Dividing Heart Subduing Spirit Art? Even demons can't endure the secret elixir for jiangshi refining, and even with a clear mind, they can't withstand my lord's profound art.
Ilryeong spoke with a confident expression and voice, making assurances he wouldn't normally make.
Geon-woo knew Ilryeong brimmed with pride in the Lang Clan, but also that he'd never show such confidence if there was any risk to Geon-woo.
Bound as Geon-woo's first jiangshi, Ilryeong had no reason to endanger him.
"Good. Then let's begin. The materials in the bag from before should be enough, right?"
Of course. I've always gathered jiangshi refining materials without fail.
"Alright, then… shall we start?"
Ilryeong led the jiangshi refining, but Geon-woo participated in the work as well.
This was at Ilryeong's urging, so Geon-woo could learn the process.
That's why Geon-woo had been assisting Ilryeong from the very first jiangshi refining.
* * *
They were performing the crucial task of creating a living jiangshi, but that didn't mean they could stop fighting the infected ones.
So once the basic processing of the demon assassin was done, Geon-woo resumed his attacks on the infected village.
The battles continued in hit-and-run guerrilla tactics each time.
After losing their one shaman, the infected grew extremely cautious.
The 2nd Shedding warriors, shamans, and chieftains no longer appeared on the palisades, sending only 1st Shedding ones charging out.
But for Geon-woo and his jiangshi, 1st Shedding ones attacking alone was just asking for massive losses.
Typically, over 200 1st Shedding creatures died in a single assault.
With provocations and battles twice a day—morning and afternoon—that meant at least 400 humanoid creatures perished daily.
Kraaaah! Salkera! Ttuka, salke!
In the end, the great chieftain of the infected couldn't endure it and made a decision.
The moment Geon-woo attacked the village again, the great chieftain led all the 2nd Shedding ones in an ambush.
They had hidden their presence on the battlefield beforehand using shamanic spells.
The great chieftain and his subordinates concealed themselves in fog that induced perceptual distortion through shamanic power.
But even their deliberate ambush couldn't escape Ilryeong's eyes.
Before the fight even started, Ilryeong had spotted the hidden great chieftain and his group.
He warned Geon-woo about it.
The result?
Bukedochira! Salkera! Jasaira!
Pachira! Pachitara!
When the great chieftain charged bravely out of the perceptual fog with all his 2nd Shedding ones, Geon-woo was already prepared to receive them.
Kwarrrrrung! Kwarung!
Katan! Katanasara!
Bukat! Matadora! Porada!
Geon-woo had formed a formation with Gungryeong and Sulryeong together—unlike usual—while awaiting the moment.
As the great chieftain and 2nd Shedding ones rushed toward Geon-woo and his jiangshi, the ground suddenly gave way beneath them.
Earth walls surged up everywhere, and in the midst of the collapsing floor, not a single infected escaped the trap.
Of course, Geon-woo and his eight jiangshi in the same space couldn't defy gravity either and were sucked down into the depths along with the great chieftain's group.
Kugrrrrrwak! Kugrrrrkaboom!
The hole collapsed again above the fallen Geon-woo's group and the great chieftain's, burying them in earth.
Geon-woo had demolished the upper wall to prevent other infected from following.
The drop was a staggering 300 meters.
"I figured it might come in handy someday, so carving it out bit by bit each time was a stroke of genius."
Geon-woo angled the wall to slow his descent and came to a safe stop dozens of meters above the bottom.
Meanwhile, the great chieftain's group somehow avoided fatal impact and reached the underground floor.
Shamans whipped up wind, and some summoned broad-leafed plants as cushions.
Warriors, shamans, and chieftains each found their own way to survive.
Magical lights pre-embedded in the walls illuminated their actions clearly, despite the depths.
"Not a single one turned into mincemeat, huh?"
Geon-woo clicked his tongue in disappointment after confirming it.
Even 1st Shedding ones would've had half of them combat-ineffective.
Ilryeong floated beside Geon-woo, unable to hide his own regret.
"Gungryeong and Sulryeong stay here to help. The rest, with me!"
Geon-woo was confident he could win a head-on fight against 2nd Shedding ones as long as he avoided the 1st Shedding swarm tactics.
For a while, there'd be no worries about the infected on the surface.
Geon-woo leaped down confidently with his jiangshi.
Kicking off the walls to descend, Geon-woo and his jiangshi faced thrown weapons from the 2nd Shedding infected warriors and chieftains, while shamans prepared spells.
Klang! Kkang! Kagang! Tudung!
But they couldn't harm Geon-woo and his jiangshi, who were already braced for the attacks.
Dodging or blocking thrown weapons and spells, Geon-woo and his jiangshi charged the infected.
"You're my opponent!"
Geon-woo naturally targeted the great chieftain.
In his hand was the one-handed sword the assassin demon had used in its second ambush.
Like the dagger, infusing it with energy triggered ultra-vibration.
Being larger than the dagger, it held more energy, allowing longer ultra-vibration duration.
Short bursts could apply the effect to dozens of slashes or thrusts.
Kagagagak!
Eotung! Tadu pitra!
Geon-woo's sword clashed with the great chieftain's greatsword, chipping part of it and startling the chieftain.
"You bastard, this is what they call gear advantage!"
Geon-woo shouted triumphantly at the wide-eyed, shocked great chieftain.
He relentlessly swung at the chieftain.
Kkang! Kagak! Kkangkkangkkang! Kagak!
Sometimes without ultra-vibration, other times with it.
Geon-woo's sword threatened the great chieftain dazzlingly.
The chieftain fell into a defensive position surprisingly quickly.
He couldn't keep up with Geon-woo's strength and speed.
Pushed back repeatedly, his weapons chipped frequently on clashes.
"You punks think you'd stand a chance if I couldn't just dodge the infection?"
Geon-woo sneered at the infected great chieftain.
Even decent demons evolved from 3rd Shedding were no match—let alone 2nd Shedding mutants that hadn't become demons, no matter the mutation.
Sujai jomae ira asalke ra!
Backed against the wall at last, the great chieftain wailed pitifully.
But Geon-woo attacked without hesitation.
"You think I don't know your infected kind are way more cunning than the rest? Among 2nd Shedding, only you infected can feign weakness. Just die, you bastard!"
Seruk!
Geon-woo decapitated the mutant great chieftain in one unhesitating stroke.
The ultra-vibrating blade severed the neck effortlessly.
"Gear advantage for the win! Nice."
Geon-woo shook the blood off his sword.
"My lord, are you alright?
Ilryeong approached him.
By then, all other 2nd Shedding infected were already dealt with.
"I took it easy a bit, and you already cleaned them up?"
"Sulryeong's help was huge. By precisely targeting only the infected with spells, the jiangshi fought freely."
"Come to think of it, you never used spells on the great chieftain?"
"You seemed to be enjoying yourself, so I deliberately held back."
"So that means you, Ilryeong, finely controlled Sulryeong's spells?"
"Who else but me could do that for you, my lord? Hohoho."
"You're saying in a roundabout way that cleaning up the great chieftain's rabble quickly was your achievement?"
….
"Not denying it, huh? Well, you did great work, so good job!"
"Thank you, my lord."
Though it was like 'Here's your praise!', Ilryeong bowed happily.
"Alright, you know you did well, so let's get to work now."
But it wasn't time to slack off, so Geon-woo refocused Ilryeong.
"Yes, my lord."
Understanding, Ilryeong replied and immediately got moving.
The task was absorbing the 2nd Shedding ones' energies using the jiangshi.
Some abilities from the dead creatures could benefit specific jiangshi.
So they needed to assign corpses accordingly for absorption.
Recalling the abilities of the 2nd Shedding ones they'd faced, Ilryeong distributed the corpses to the jiangshi.
For Sulryeong, he specifically selected shamans' corpses.
Once distribution ended, Ilryeong returned to Geon-woo and slyly gauged his mood.
"What're you looking at? That one's for you, so handle it."
Geon-woo cheerfully handed the great chieftain's corpse to Ilryeong.
Though in soul spirit form, Ilryeong shared jiangshi traits.
As a non-corporeal spirit body, he absorbed energy differently from the others.
"Soul stones and corpse grudge energies. You've got expensive tastes."
Geon-woo shook his head as Ilryeong sat cross-legged atop the great chieftain's head.
He didn't need soul stones now, but early on, Ilryeong had devoured plenty.
Later, he absorbed grudge energies to grow, rendering those corpses useless as all energy dispersed.
Given that, Ilryeong always eyed high-value corpses, prompting Geon-woo's grumbling.