36 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Episode 36 Whoosh― A chilly breeze swept through the rugged hills. In the tranquil forest, dense with underbrush and trees, stood a young man with a sword in hand. With each gust of wind, the intricate black and crimson martial robes he wore billowed, the red plum blossom patterns blending with the blue moonlight, casting a dreamlike hue. Swoosh― The young man, Chunhui, gingerly gripped the White Lotus Sword, unsheathed for the first time since embarking on his journey in the martial world. In that instant, the air around him quivered. No, it was the emotions of the assassins hidden in the shadows, surrounding him, rippling through the air. A keen sense of vigilance, sharp as a blade. A confident, intense killing intent. And the unease stemming from not knowing what might unfold next. The complex mixture of their positive and negative emotions was conveyed to him through the air. 'Yes, this is it.' Chunhui's eyes, holding the sword, curved into a smile. He relished this sensation. The cool, cold touch of the sword in his grip. And the tense, sharp atmosphere directed at him lifted his spirits, dulled by peace. But he soon wiped the smile from his face. He swiftly scanned his surroundings. 'Fifty-seven in total.' After identifying all the concealed presences of the assassins, he summoned his inner energy. The Plum Blossom Divine Art's internal energy, coiled tightly in his lower abdomen, manifested, creating a transparent flow that enveloped him. The tangible energy transferred to his hand, and soon touched the sword's blade. The beautiful blade reflecting the moonlight began to absorb an aura invisible to all but himself. Sss― His aura began to spread like smoke. “……!” The assassins, holding their breath while waiting for Chunhui to show an opening, stiffened. Eunsoo Chamsal was no exception. His face hardened subtly as he watched Chunhui's series of actions. He didn't know why. They were just watching, yet the pressure felt suffocating. It weighed down on them as if it were an inevitable truth. While they couldn't move a finger. Swoosh― Chunhui shifted his gaze, looking into the void. Into the pitch-black darkness, towards someone concealed. 'Could it be... is he seeing me?' Eunsoo Chamsal's eyes wavered. The ghostly stealth technique he was employing, known as Ghost Breath Manifestation, had elevated him from a mere assassin to a martial arts master, bringing him to his current status. Yet now, the Ghost Breath Manifestation was broken. By a mere young swordsman. ‘A dangerous one!’ He quickly transmitted a mental order to the assassins. 『Kill him.』 As his command reached them through telepathy, the atmosphere among the assassins changed drastically. Spread out in all directions, they suddenly projected a sharp aura, as if ready to attack. It was then. Swoosh― Chunhui lifted his sword pointing skyward. But he didn't swing it. He merely pointed in silence towards the sky swallowed by darkness, towards the serene, suspended moon. Yet, with that simple act, the atmosphere shifted. Chunhui's eyes flashed brilliantly. His black irises plunged into an abyss, devouring even the darkness. Swoosh― The sword cut through the air. Hwaaaah! A massive surge of energy shot toward the sky. At that moment, as a fierce storm of energy surged, the assassins grimaced. “……?!” They were dumbfounded. In the sky, countless sword-shaped images emerged, each radiating a blood-red light. The red glow spread around the swords, evoking the illusion of a plum blossom blooming in the void. Was it the unsettling presence of something that shouldn't exist in this world? The crimson sword silhouettes blended with the moonlight were hauntingly beautiful but eerie. “What do you think? Quite beautiful, isn't it?” Chunhui's voice slipped in. The assassins temporarily forgot to attack him, mesmerized by the sword images overhead. ‘What are you all doing? Get a grip!’ Eunsoo Chamsal, the first to regain his senses, hastily sent a mental communication to the assassins. 『You fools……!』 But his message failed to reach the assassins who were already entranced. Grit! Grinding his teeth, Eunsoo Chamsal could no longer hold back and shouted. “It's witchcraft. Snap out of it!” Whether it was the power-laden voice or not, the assassins' eyes regained clarity. Noticing the brief change, Eunsoo Chamsal sent them even stronger mental commands. 『Do not act recklessly!』 The once-frozen assassins nodded, returning to their original composed state. Watching them regain their steadiness, Eunsoo Chamsal completely concealed his presence once more. 『Attack when you see an opening.』 He earnestly advised each assassin through telepathy as he prepared to lead them in exploiting Chunhui's vulnerabilities. Just as he was about to move. “Witchcraft? Think as you like.” Chunhui spoke nonchalantly. Amused rather than concerned. The Hundred Ghosts Sect was known for dark arts, yet they accused him of sorcery, making the situation amusing. “Then what kind of sorcery is that sword image, do you think? An illusion? Or a dream? Or perhaps something else entirely?” His teasing tone prompted a reaction from the assassins. “In that case, I'll make it easy to find.” Watching them, he added to his words. “Look carefully.” With those words, he swung his sword downward. The Fifth Stance of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique. Falling Plum Rain of the Heavenly Blossom. Whooosh! The sword images floating in the sky descended. It was like a magnificent spectacle of blossoms raining from the night sky. Enchanting. But the outcome was horrific. In the blink of an eye, the first descending sword image reached the head of one of the assassins. Thud! Blood and brain matter splattered. “……!” The assassins nearby, drenched in sticky gore, widened their eyes in shock. Lifting their heads, they saw it. The sword images were plummeting to where they hid. Finally, they realized the number of sword images matched their own number. 'Our positions have been compromised!' In that instant, they sensed their impending doom. Terrified and without speaking, instinctively they braced themselves for escape. Their innate survival instinct, long forgotten during their time with the Assassin Corps, kicked in. The urge to live. Yet, the sword shadows had already reached the tops of their heads. Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! The sound, reminiscent of bursting watermelons, resonated simultaneously. Not a single scream was heard. All had perished instantly. Watching the bodies of those concealed in the darkness now exposed one by one, Chunhui spoke. "This will do quite nicely." He assessed the effectiveness of his technique, Falling Plum Rain of the Heavenly Blossom. A masterstroke of illusionary swordplay, Falling Plum Rain had created ethereal sword shadows, mercilessly taking lives. ‘Indeed, martial arts truly reveal their power when used to kill.’ Chunhui smiled with satisfaction. It was the first time he had wielded the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, not just Falling Plum Rain, for the purpose of killing. And he was pleased with the result. "Isn't that right?" he asked, glancing to the side. In that moment, the pitch-black darkness seemed to tremble, then split apart. “Ugh!” Out of the darkness stumbled Eunsoo Chamsal, his entire body bloodied. He clutched his chest, as if struggling to breathe, and collapsed to his knees. As Chunhui watched and spoke to him, Eunsoo Chamsal's back twitched. “Urgh―” Coughing up blood he had been holding in, he clasped his chest with a haggard look. ‘W-What was that just now…?’ His mind was in disarray. Was it because he had witnessed a fraction of swordplay far beyond his comprehension? His breath hitched in his throat. ‘Is there such an extensive martial technique? One that identifies and precisely strikes all positions of the hidden Assassin Corps…?’ He pondered over it again and again. But it was futile. There were two incomprehensible aspects in the swordplay that had just been displayed. Ultimately, he had only one way to find out. Lifting his eyes to Chunhui with a glare, he moved his lips. “Who… who are you?” Chunhui looked down at the pale-faced man and chuckled. "Didn't you just call me a Taoist from the Mount Hua Sect?" “No… That can’t be. You are no Taoist from Mount Hua.” Eunsoo Chamsal vehemently shook his head. How could a Taoist from Mount Hua exhibit such brutal swordsmanship and smile amidst the bodies? “No Taoist from Mount Hua could wield such merciless techniques…” “Believe what you want.” Chunhui replied nonchalantly. He didn’t care what Eunsoo Chamsal thought. For a moment, he nodded, eyeing Eunsoo Chamsal's sleeve with a grin. “What are you hesitating for?” “……!” Eunsoo Chamsal's eyes widened. It was as if Chunhui knew his every move, expressed by his expression and tone, prompting Eunsoo Chamsal to bite his lip. Swish! His sleeve fluttered. Immediately, he poured all his remaining internal energy, concentrating it around the blade at his side. Crackle― As lightning-like energy enveloped the blade. Whoosh! The knife shot forth like a bolt of lightning. Eunsoo Chamsal's eyes shone. What he had just unleashed was the Flying Thunder Blade, an invincible technique that had elevated him from an assassin to a sect leader in the Hundred Ghosts Sect. ‘No matter how skilled you are, at least some severe injuries are inevitable!’ As Eunsoo Chamsal confidently anticipated the strike. ‘Oh, an unusual way of manipulating energy.’ Chunhui watched the knife racing towards him, intrigued by the energy manipulation Eunsoo Chamsal displayed. ‘Splitting internal energy into two streams?’ It was a fascinating method. A smile spread across his face. ‘Even this guy knows a martial technique unfamiliar to me. How many more are there across the world?’ The thought thrilled him as he easily caught the incoming blade. Snap― Eunsoo Chamsal fell backwards, stunned. “……How, how did you catch the Flying Thunder Blade!” “Is that its name? Flying Thunder Blade?” Chunhui glanced at the now red-hot blade in his open palm, then at the gaping Eunsoo Chamsal. The blade glowed a fiery red, as if it had been heated repeatedly. “Ah, so the internal energy collides, then launches the blade in between.” Having discerned the energy manipulation of the Flying Thunder Blade, Chunhui injected his own energy into it. Crackle― Lightning crackled from the blade. “……!” Eunsoo Chamsal's eyes grew impossibly wide. A feat that took him a decade of dedication to achieve—a blade that emitted lightning. Yet, someone who barely knew the Flying Thunder Blade was recreating it, perfectly, on first sight. “You, you are…” “Like this?” Chunhui said, hurling the blade. Thunk! The blade, shooting like a flash, pierced through Eunsoo Chamsal’s head and buried itself in the ground. “This is… the Flying Thunder Blade…?” Mumbling in shock over the exceptional power of the Flying Thunder Blade, which was worlds apart from what he had known, darkness enveloped his vision. Soon, his soul departed his body. Thud― His lifeless shell crumpled to the ground. Chunhui, gazing at Eunsoo Chamsal’s corpse with interest, smiled. “Indeed, venturing out into the martial world is worth it.”