Blood Medicine

"Big brother, don't..."

In the darkness, Luo Qingchen faintly heard his younger sister's trembling voice, thick with fear.

He opened his eyes.

His younger sister stood small before the bed in a gray dress, her face streaked with tears as she looked at him.

"Big brother, why did you cut off my head?"

His younger sister asked through her tears.

Luo Qingchen parted his lips, wanting to speak, but no words came. He watched as his younger sister's head suddenly tilted and fell from her neck.

The headless corpse stood before the bed, blood splashing across his face.

Scalding and sharp with pain.

Luo Qingchen jolted awake from his dream.

His younger sister's sobs and accusations still echoed clearly in his ears.

Outside the cave, night had fallen, and all was silent.

Only the night wind's wailing drifted through, like someone weeping and lamenting.

He slowly came to his senses, focused his gaze, and looked around.

Before him was a cave.

Stone chips, dirt, dead leaves, and patches of blood gone black were scattered across the ground. Weeds, moss, and fungi that had never seen the sun grew in the cracks.

The rocks in the walls varied in color and were covered in signs of weathering and flaking.

Three blood-soaked animal hides hung conspicuously on the rock wall near the entrance, swaying gently in the night breeze.

Judging by the bloodstains, the three hides had clearly been stripped off only recently.

Deep inside the cave, flames flickered, now bright, now dim.

A pungent stench that made him want to retch drifted over with clouds of smoke.

Farther in lay several more caves, spacious and deep, linked together to form a dark, sinister cavern complex.

The caves lay in the Black Prison Mountain Range, beneath the mountain where the Demon Controlling Sect was based.

The Demon Controlling Sect was a notorious cultivation sect in the Yu Kingdom—or rather, a thoroughly infamous one. Everyone in the sect cultivated with blood. Its disciples were known as "blood cultivators" or "demonic cultivators," and people regarded it as the most wicked and terrifying Demon Sect in the Yu Kingdom.

As for his current identity, he was a "Blood Medicine" of the Demon Controlling Sect.

It was said that every cultivation art of the Demon Controlling Sect—even alchemy and artifact refining—required blood as an aid.

Thus, everyone in the sect, from its elders to its inner and outer disciples, kept a Blood Medicine of their own.

Blood Medicines had to provide blood regularly. Sometimes, they had to give up their flesh and blood, or even their entire bodies.

Worse still, they might be made to give up their souls.

Whatever their masters needed, Blood Medicines had to surrender everything.

Luo Qingchen had become a Blood Medicine six days ago.

That night, Demonic Beasts ran amok, and all of Clear Water Town was engulfed in fire and bloodshed. Screams, desperate footsteps, and wails of despair came from every direction.

The corpses of the dead filled the streets and alleys.

That night, his family had also lain in pools of blood, their eyes closed forever.

The people from the Demon Controlling Sect had been the first to arrive.

And so he had been brought here and made the Blood Medicine of a disciple of the Demon Controlling Sect.

Perhaps because he had seen so many dead that night, his heart was unexpectedly calm as he looked at the three blood-soaked animal hides hanging on the wall by the entrance.

Maybe I'll be hanging there soon, too.

He thought to himself.

Just then, footsteps sounded from deep within the cave, approaching him.

Dead branches and stone chips crunched softly underfoot. In the stillness of the night, the sound was unusually clear.

He held his breath and stared toward the darkness.

The dim light revealed a sturdy figure. Before its features came into focus, a voice called out, "Junior Brother Luo, you're awake?"

Zhang Dashan emerged from the darkness, reeking of blood. He sat down in a corner beside Luo Qingchen, let out a long breath, then said, "I'm exhausted. It was my first time helping Master handle a corpse. Good thing I didn't make a mistake."

Luo Qingchen looked at the sturdy young man before him without saying a word.

Zhang Dashan studied his face. "What's wrong? Haven't you recovered yet?"

At his words, Luo Qingchen froze, then suddenly remembered something. He lowered his head and looked at his right wrist.

A scar had appeared there.

Six days ago, on his first night here, the Demon Controlling Sect disciple he called "Master" had cut his wrist with a dagger and taken a large bowl of blood to cultivate.

"Junior Brother Luo, you're still too weak."

Zhang Dashan rolled up his sleeve and held out his right wrist. Three scars marked it, one of them still fresh.

"Look at me. I've been cut more times than you. Just eat more meat, and you'll replenish yourself."

As he spoke, he pulled a piece of dried meat from his robes and handed it over, smiling warmly.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Luo Qingchen didn't refuse. He took the dried meat and began to chew.

He was indeed hungry, as if he had been hungry for a long time.

The dried meat had no flavor, and he had no idea what animal it came from, yet it tasted so sweet and delicious as he chewed.

Zhang Dashan watched him for a few moments, then suddenly asked, "Junior Brother Luo, I heard you personally killed your younger sister and cut off her head. Is that why Master took a liking to you and brought you here?"

Luo Qingchen paused at the question but didn't answer. He continued chewing the dried meat in silence.

Zhang Dashan smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "I was just asking. Those of us born to lives like cattle and horses at the bottom of society sometimes have to be ruthless to survive. I understand."

Then he sighed again. "If we had another choice, who'd want to come here and be a Blood Medicine? While we're alive, our bodies aren't our own. Our blood, flesh, and bones—they use whatever they want, and butcher us whenever they please. Even when we die, we can't be buried in peace. They either cut our bodies apart to make medicine or refine us into Corpse Slaves to do their bidding. What a miserable fate!"

Luo Qingchen fell silent for a moment, then asked, "I heard Blood Medicines can become disciples and enter the sect to cultivate?"

Zhang Dashan gave a bitter smile. "Junior Brother Luo, are you holding on to that hope, too?"

He shook his head and continued, "I'm not trying to discourage you, but Blood Medicines can indeed become disciples. And even before becoming disciples, they can receive cultivation arts. But succeeding in cultivation isn't easy. Out of a hundred Blood Medicines, maybe one or two will succeed. There might not even be a single one."

"Is it really that difficult?"

Luo Qingchen knitted his brows slightly.

Zhang Dashan sighed again. "It really is. Think about it: as Blood Medicines, we have to provide Master with blood for cultivation every few days. Even with meat and medicine to replenish us, our bodies can hardly take it. But cultivation requires a strong body. More importantly, all the cultivation arts of our Demon Controlling Sect consume blood. Do you think ordinary people like us have that much blood to spare? If we don't have enough blood and our bodies are weak, the cultivation art won't work. How are we supposed to cultivate?"

Luo Qingchen looked at the wound on his right wrist and remained silent.

"Of course, if you have a good cultivation talent, or enough money to buy blood-replenishing pills and food, or if you're lucky enough to get help from some senior, you still have a chance."

Zhang Dashan seemed afraid his words had extinguished the hope in Luo Qingchen's heart, so he added that last bit.

As the two spoke, a cold voice suddenly came from deep within the cave. "Junior Brother Luo, come in for a moment. Master wants you."

Luo Qingchen's heart leaped. He got up and walked farther inside.

Flames burned deep within the cave.

The yellow firelight illuminated the darkness and cast two figures of different heights onto the wall.

Second Senior Brother Yang Ming was short and thin. He was bent over, picking up firewood stacked in the corner. His face was hidden in shadow, indistinct.

He was the one who had just called Luo Qingchen inside.

The other figure wore a blue robe and sat motionless on a meditation cushion beside the fire, eyes closed.

He looked to be only in his thirties, yet his hair was entirely gray, making him seem rather old.

This man was their master, Tian Feng.

A large pot hung over the fire. The liquid inside bubbled and simmered, filling the entire cave with its pungent odor.

"Master."

Luo Qingchen stepped forward, lowered his head, and cupped his hands toward the man on the cushion, his voice respectful.

Tian Feng slowly opened his eyes and looked him over. In a hoarse voice, he said, "It seems you've recovered well. Come over. I need some more blood."

As he spoke, he picked up the dagger beside him.

Luo Qingchen didn't hesitate. Like a puppet devoid of emotion, he lowered his head and walked over, then knelt on the ground, held out his right hand, and rolled up his sleeve to expose his scarred wrist.

No Blood Medicine dared hesitate at a time like this.

The Blood Medicines who did hesitate were nothing but skins now.

Tian Feng said no more. He lightly drew the dagger across Luo Qingchen's wrist, cutting through skin and flesh.

Bright red blood immediately welled up.

Tian Feng set down the dagger, lifted a large bowl from the ground with one hand, and gripped Luo Qingchen's arm with the other. He pressed and released a pressure point with his thumb, and the blood began to gush out faster.

Luo Qingchen's arm trembled slightly, though he didn't know if it was from pain or fear.

Soon, the large bowl was full of blood.

Tian Feng released his arm, took out a bottle of medicine, and sprinkled some powder over the wound. Then he produced some bandages and wrapped them tightly around it.

"That's enough. Go."

After speaking, he tossed over a piece of meat about the size of a palm. "This is Ginseng Deer Meat. Eat it, then get some rest and recover as quickly as you can."

"Thank you, Master."

Suppressing the pain, Luo Qingchen picked up the Ginseng Deer Meat and rose to his feet.

But as soon as he stood, his vision spun. His body went limp, and he staggered to the side, leaning against the wall.

Yang Ming passed by with an armful of firewood without even glancing at him.

Tian Feng picked up the large bowl of blood, stood, and poured it into the pot. He didn't look at Luo Qingchen again, either.

Luo Qingchen silently braced himself against the wall, preparing to leave. Then he glanced at the figure by the fire and said, "Master, I'd like to go down the mountain tomorrow."

Tian Feng looked at him. "What for?"

Luo Qingchen replied respectfully, "Tomorrow is the seventh day since my family members died. This disciple would like to pay his respects."

Tian Feng furrowed his brows slightly. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then said coldly, "Remember to come back."

"Yes."

Luo Qingchen didn't bother him further. Bracing himself against the wall, he slowly walked out.

"Junior Brother Luo, are you all right?"

When he emerged, Zhang Dashan saw how pale he was and the bandage around his wrist. He immediately guessed what had happened, sighed, and said softly, "Master takes blood so often. I don't know how much longer we can last."

"Junior Brother Luo, get some rest. Master should be taking his medicinal bath soon. I have to go in and attend to him."

Zhang Dashan helped him into a corner, then hurried inside.

The cave outside fell quiet.

Luo Qingchen sat in the dark corner, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed as he breathed softly.

Pain pulsed through his wrist.

But there was no fear in his heart now.

He was looking at the two Blood Bars that had appeared inside his body, along with the text behind them.

[First Blood Bar: 70%]

[Second Blood Bar: 100%, Current Level: Ordinary Blood, Next Level: Gilded Blood]

Ordinary people had only one Blood Bar. Losing more than 30% of their blood put them at risk of shock; losing more than 40% or 50% put them at risk of death.

But even if he lost 100% of his blood, he still had a second Blood Bar that could replenish it instantly.

And it seemed that the second Blood Bar could be upgraded, too.

In the Demon Controlling Sect, all sorts of cultivation arts, breakthroughs, artifact refining, and alchemy required the freshest blood.

And at many critical moments, only one's own blood was of any use.

So this sect was perfectly suited to him.

However, he had to become a true disciple of the Demon Controlling Sect as soon as possible, rather than remain a Blood Medicine.

His head was still spinning.

But so that no one would notice, he didn't choose to replenish his blood right away.