35 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 35 Under the luminous ascent of the moon, casting its serene glow. With the sun that brightened the world retreating, the moon’s gentle blue light gradually enveloped the world in its subtle embrace. Among the places immersed in that moonlit world was a guest house of the Bi-Pung Trade Company. Moonlight, squeezing through the slightly open window, gently wrapped around Cheonhui, who sat cross-legged on the bed. It was then. Swoosh— Cheonhui’s closed eyes fluttered open. Perhaps because they opened abruptly, his eyes, infused with unrefined internal energy, shone more brilliantly than the descending moonlight. Then, his lips parted slowly. “You’ve been quiet for a while…” Unraveling from his cross-legged position, he rose from the bed. He half-opened his eyes and turned his head toward the foothills. The mountain shrouded in darkness was silent. Yet, he could distinctly see the presence concealed within that silence, a sinister and vile presence. He grabbed the sword lightly hanging by the side of the bed. “They’ve gathered of their own accord.” Not intending to conceal his actions, Cheonhui moved, directing his gaze and aura toward the presence aimed at him. The moment he lightly stepped forward. Tap. In an instant, the scenery shifted. The walls that had enclosed the room vanished from view, replaced by a moonlit mountain filled with trees and shrubs. Feeling the cool breeze against his cheek, he scanned his surroundings before advancing further. “…Tonight, the Bi-Pung Trade Company will be erased from existence.” “At your command!” At the roar of the shout, he hastened his steps. He saw figures shrouded in darkness. Dressed in pitch-black night attire, presumably to blend into the shadows, their numbers easily surpassed fifty. ‘Fifty? Sixty? About that many.’ Having quickly assessed their numbers, he— Swish— Appeared before them. “What are you doing here?” “...!” At the unexpected presence and words, the members of the Shadow Killers and the Killing Squad instinctively distanced themselves, encircling Cheonhui. ‘Well-trained bunch.’ Cheonhui cast his gaze over the encircling foes and paused at the Shadow Killer who was deftly masking his presence. The only one not wearing a mask. Though he tried to conceal it, the aura naturally emanating from his body couldn’t escape Cheonhui’s keen eyes. Realizing that this was the leader, he addressed him directly. “What is it that you’re doing?” “...” “Find it hard to speak?” He sneered at them. But they didn’t react, maintaining composure, as if unfazed by provocation. Yet, he knew. Those who appeared composed like this had little room in their hearts and quickly lost their calm. He suddenly looked at one of them. Among those who had encircled him, the closest one’s eyes were filled with tension and wariness as they watched him. He pointed at him with his finger. Startled by the sudden gesture, the person’s eyes briefly wavered. Splat, was the sound that erupted. In a fleeting instant, the man whose forehead was pierced with a plum blossom pattern could only show a bewildered expression, as if he didn’t understand what had occurred, before his head tilted backward. Thud. He collapsed backward. Silence descended abruptly. It was a different silence from moments before. The tense atmosphere had suddenly turned cold. Then came a voice. “So, it was you.” The presumed leader stepped forward. Cheonhui met eyes with the pair visible between the mask openings. “What’s this? You were just pretending to be mute? I almost thought you couldn’t talk.” A taunt, yet not a taunt. Even though the leader, Shadow Killer, was surprised by what had just happened, he remained composed. “Did you kill my men?” “Your men, you mean those guys?” Feigning confusion, Cheonhui added with a chuckle. “Oh, those bugs sneaking into the Bi-Pung Trade Company were yours too? If that’s the case, I did kill them all.” Shadow Killer’s eyebrows rose. The Killing Squad was his pride, a position granted by the leader of Baek Gwi-Seong’s west division. But “bugs”? Wounded pride showed in his fierce eyes. Yet, he didn’t act impulsively. The glimmer of energy he’d just glimpsed. That energy was no ordinary martial art. ‘Who is this guy?’ Noticing the outfit Cheonhui wore, Shadow Killer’s eyes shone. ‘Plum blossom? Mount Hua Sect! Then, could he be the Plum Blossom Swordmaster rumored to stay at Bi-Pung? No, no such person among the Plum Blossom Swordmasters. Perhaps the young monk in the annex?’ Having rapidly deduced Cheonhui’s identity, he spoke tentatively. “So, you’re a master of the Mount Hua Sect.” But it was a grave mistake. Cheonhui caught the hesitant words spat out by Shadow Killer and countered. “And you’re from Baek Gwi-Seong.” “...!” The words hit as a revelation, widening the eyes of the leader. “Seems so. I had a feeling.” “...Were you testing me?” “I was almost certain.” Cheonhui laughed softly as he spoke. His question had been certain from the start. From the moment the assassins had secretly infiltrated, he had already known. ‘Furthermore, the only ones likely to target the Bi-Pung Trade Company, which the Overlord claimed to be backing, are Baek Gwi-Seong.’ However, the unaware Shadow Killer was getting even more perplexed. ‘How did they know we came from Baek Gwi-Seong?’ A sudden thought crossed his mind. ‘Could it be the Mount Hua Sect had already noticed Baek Gwi-Seong’s involvement?’ Shadow Killer’s eyes deepened. It was as if a tangled skein was unraveling, clearing one mystery after another. He soon furrowed his brow and spoke. “So you anticipated our attack on the Bi-Pung Trade Company. That’s why you laid a trap anticipating our moves after the Overlord’s initial failure.” “A trap?” Cheonhui, caught off guard by Shadow Killer's misjudgment, displayed a look of disbelief. “What do you think you are for us to lay a trap?” “Feigning ignorance now?” Shadow Killer didn’t believe it. No, he had no intention of believing it. “So you’ve thoroughly prepared the Bi-Pung Trade Company for a possible assault.” Cheonhui shook his head in denial. ‘There’s no talking to him,’ thought Cheonhui, realizing the man was deeply mistaken—utterly convinced of his misconceptions. “Think whatever you like,” Cheonhui replied nonchalantly, not interested in further engagement. However, Shadow Killer interpreted his words as affirmation, his eyes narrowing with a sharp, lethal aura. “But right now, you and the Mount Hua Sect have made a grave mistake,” Shadow Killer said, spreading his arms wide as if signaling something. On that unspoken cue, the aura of the Killing Squad shifted dramatically. The air grew heavy as their murderous intent began to rise, spreading insidiously. Just like his subordinates, Shadow Killer exuded his ominous aura, continuing his speech. “You might have escaped safely had you fled, but you walked right into the tiger’s den.” Cheonhui barely reacted, unimpressed by such murderous intent. Instead, curious, he remarked, “For someone confident, you sure talk a lot.” As Cheonhui watched in amusement, wondering how Shadow Killer had restrained himself until now, moonlight cast an unexpected glow over the latter. His face wasn’t ordinary—his left cheek was scarred by burns, and he was bald. But these features soon faded from significance. His eyes were filled with a malevolent energy, and his twisted expression overshadowed his unfamiliar appearance. The eerie energy, mixed with the blue moonlight, spread a chilling aura into the air. Moments later, his lips parted. “Hide your soul within the kill.” As those words left his mouth— Swoosh! A dreadful killing intent engulfed the surrounding hills, and the figures of the Killing Squad gradually became indistinct. More accurately, the oppressive aura filling the hills masked their presence entirely. Soon, only Cheonhui and Shadow Killer remained where many had once stood. A thin smile played across Shadow Killer’s lips. Following that, his form began to blur and faded into the darkness. “Open your eyes wide and behold the true essence of the Killing Squad…” Even his voice dwindled to a whisper before disappearing entirely, leaving only silence. Cheonhui surveyed the area. The sixty members of the Killing Squad had vanished, and lastly, Shadow Killer had also disappeared. As if their encirclement moments ago were just a fleeting dream. But that was only how it appeared on the surface. In Cheonhui’s eyes, everything was plainly visible. Despite holding their breath, concealing their presence, and killing all signs, the beating of their hearts lingered. ‘How trivial.’ Relishing the sudden tranquility, Cheonhui recalled Shadow Killer’s parting words, unable to suppress a chuckle. “So, this is supposed to be the true form of the Killing Squad?” A laugh escaped with his words. He had never come across anyone worth noting who spoke of ‘true form’ or ‘true strength.’ Be it those who confronted him, ambushed him, the clans he had annihilated himself, or the schemers who plotted in shadows to usurp his place—none had been remarkable. And now, he felt the same way again. Even these people, assuming they had perfectly concealed their ambush, were no different. ‘All talk, no substance.’ “Sixty assassins, huh…” Scanning his surroundings once more, an idea seemed to spark within Cheonhui’s mind, prompting a nod to himself. “Perhaps it's time to try that.” His hand reached for his blade, one unstirred since his first appearance in Jianghu. Ssshh— He unsheathed the pristine blade, revealing it to the world.