48 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 48 Slice! "Cough, urgh..." After cutting down yet another charging warrior, Haujin adjusted his grip on his sword, furrowing his brows. 'Are there still this many left?' He estimated having defeated at least several dozen adversaries by now. Yet, the number of warriors before him showed no signs of dwindling, causing his chest to tighten with frustration. Just then. "Well, now." A crisp voice echoed from above. "With such a commotion, I thought perhaps the Martial Alliance itself was under siege, but to be so overwhelmed by merely three people..." A middle-aged man with a noble presence stood at the entrance, silhouetted against the moon. "Master, Northern Branch!" Haujin's eyes slightly narrowed. 'Northern Branch? Then this must be the Sword Demon!' Upon hearing someone shout "Northern Branch," Haujin realized the identity of the middle-aged man. "Pathetic fools," the Sword Demon addressed the warriors, "You are no match for them." In an instant, the Sword Demon lightly tapped the ground. "…!" Haujin's pupils shook violently. It was as if the man's shadow stretched longer, closing a distance of five zhang in the blink of an eye. 'What a bizarre and astounding movement technique. Is it the Eccentric Step of the Fire Sword Sect?' Haujin's visage hardened slightly. The Sword Demon stood just within sword's reach, a mere step away. All of this had happened in a single breath. "Against only three, four squads of the Hundred Ghosts Fortress are in shambles... Even if this situation is resolved, the disgrace will linger on everyone's lips for ages." The Sword Demon's eyes narrowed sharply. "Since things have turned this way, I suppose I shall find some small solace by ripping you all to shreds right now." As soon as his words ended, whoosh, whoosh— Ten warriors appeared around Haujin, swinging their swords horizontally. Swoosh! Haujin quickly spun his body, evading the sharp blades and simultaneously launching a counterattack. Clang! Sparks flew around Haujin. Moments later, the attacking swordsmen leapt back. The Sword Demon showed a hint of surprise. "Amazing. Not even ten people have successfully fended off the combined assault of the Ghost Squad." Haujin bit his lips. A thin stream of blood trickled down his cheek, a consequence of being unable to completely evade the swift swords. Drip, drip. The Ghost Squad wasn't called one of the Hundred Ghosts due to mere reputation; indeed, all eight exhibited remarkable skill with their swords. 'Facing both the Ghost Squad and the Sword Demon alone is daunting...' "You must be the Sword Demon." An all-too-familiar voice resonated from nearby. "Senior?" Haujin turned to see the side profile of Hyundo, who had appeared like a ghost beside him. It was a visage he had never seen before. One consumed by wrath. "…An impressive aura indeed." For the first time, the Sword Demon's face hardened. The aura enveloping Hyundo as he charged was comparable to that he felt when facing the Lord of the Hundred Ghosts Fortress. "Ghost Squad." At his call, the Ghost Squad prepared to draw their swords at any moment. "Attack." In an instant, they dispersed. Whoosh—whoosh— Haujin quickly darted his gaze around. Their outfit sleeves flapped in the wind, sound trailing long after they moved; their lightness and speed were notable. Hyundo, too, watched them closely. Everything was crystal clear to him. Not only how the Ghost Squad moved, but also how they would wield their swords. Hyundo exploded with internal energy. Whir! As the fierce storm of energy swept over them, causing the Ghost Squad to flinch, Hyundo abruptly vanished. "…!" As Hyundo disappeared without a trace, the bewildered Ghost Squad heightened their senses. "Gah!" The leftmost Ghost Squad member quickly leaned back, hearing the wind cleave past his ear. Snip. His severed strands of hair fell to the ground. The sight of his abundant hair scattering on the ground sent chills through the Ghost Squad member's spine. 'An incredible swift sword!' In the fleeting moment, the sharp sword he glimpsed was obscured by its sheer speed. But that wasn't the end. Startled by a sound behind them, the 'swoosh' of another sword strike, he turned around. In that moment, the pure white sword captured his vision, and consciousness faded away. Slice! Hyundo, watching the Ghost Squad member's cleaved head, scanned the remaining squad with eyes colder than the harshest northern winter. "Finally, today I can avenge my young disciple." His words, spat with intense malice, were laced with an indescribable, deep-seated enmity. Facing such a formidable aura uncharacteristic of a monk, the Ghost Squad members trembled merely meeting Hyundo's gaze. Step. This time, Hyundo moved first. Appearing behind a Ghost Squad member, swung his sword, aiming for the neck. Clang! Someone intercepted the sword. With sharp eyes focused on Hyundo, the Sword Demon drew his blade instantly. "…You'll face me." The gleaming sword drawn with a resonant note glowed dangerously in the Sword Demon's hand. "They say the Plum Blossom Sword Technique of Mount Hua exudes the fragrance of blossoms..." The Sword Demon waved his hand. "I've always wanted to see it; this is perfect." At that moment, the sword energy emanated from his blade, forming a crescent shape as it shot toward Hyundo. Fwoosh! The Forbidden Sword Technique, Broken Sword Record, traditionally sealed by the Fire Sword Sect's leader for its danger, unfurled. Boom! Shockwaves erupted in all directions. The dust storm smothered the Hundred Ghosts Fortress, swallowing Haujin even as he attempted to keep it at bay. "Ugh!" Caught directly by the intense, crackling vortex, Haujin staggered back, narrowing his eyes. 'I have no place in that clash.' Watching Hyundo vent his ire at the Sword Demon, Haujin turned away. 'What I must do is…' Infusing his sword with the energy of the Heavenly River Sword Strength, Haujin aimed at the Ghost Squad. 'Defeating them!' His gaze grew steely. His sword then moved slowly, revealing the Thirty-Six Heavenly Swords. Third form, Celestial River's Starfall. Beautiful as a meteor shower, the sword technique descended upon the Ghost Squad. Step! However, the squad, showing their skill, evaded the elegant blow with practiced footwork, scattering out of reach. Haujin's sword shifted. Whoosh! Having anticipated their evasion, he reversed the trajectory of his sword with a twist. Fourth form, Celestial River's Overflow! Caught unaware by the upward strike of the Celestial River, one fleeing member of the Ghost Squad suddenly found his chest brutally split open. "Chilho!" The Ghost Squad members shouted in panic. But it was too late; the other man's chest lay exposed, bones visible, entrails spilling out. "How dare you take down Chilho...!" The eyes of the remaining Ghost Squad members flared with killing intent. Their swords pulsed with lethal energy as they unleashed their fierce techniques. Whoosh—whoosh— Their swordsmanship, befitting an elite few, was of impressive caliber. However, their opponent was Haujin, known as the Sword Dancer, a future master expected to be the foremost swordsman of the Zhongnan Sect. ‘I must conclude this quickly.’ Clutching his sword tightly, Haujin executed three sword forms in rapid succession. Celestial River's Torrent, Celestial River's Sweep, and finally, Celestial River's Stars. These powerful and lightning-fast strokes interlinked, cutting down his opponents. Just as Haujin's sword dance reached its peak. Splaash! "Ugh!" Amidst the spraying blood, the Sword Demon staggered, retreating. His condition was poor. His garments were shredded, revealing deep gashes underneath. "Is this the forbidden technique of the Fire Sword Sect that you sought at such cost?" The Sword Demon's scowl deepened. ‘He is meant to be my equal?' Recalling the words of his strategist, a trickle of sweat ran down the Sword Demon's temple. His palms, gripping his sword, were damp with sweat. The confidence he held upon entering had vanished, leaving his lips pressed into a thin line. ‘They spoke nonsense!’ His adversary was clearly superior. By several moves, at that. Step! Just then, Hyundo charged in once more. "Accept the price of your crimes." “Damn it!” Clenching his teeth, the Sword Demon infused his sword with inner power, unleashing a crescent-shaped blue sword wave, the Moonlight Wave. ‘Yet again with this peculiar attack...’ Hyundo paused mid-charge. The unique energy wave had been a constant obstacle, blocking his approach. Clang! Hyundo deflected the Moonlight Wave to the side, leaving a long mark on the ground. "...Damn!" The Sword Demon's expression turned grim. The number of close calls in this battle had been beyond counting. It was only thanks to the supreme skill of the Forbidden Sword Technique that he had barely managed to cling to life. But he had reached his limits. ‘Half of my inner power is depleted.’ This was the major flaw of the Moonlight Wave. While it was an amazing technique, it consumed inner power uncomparably to other sword techniques. ‘I have no choice. Though reserved for the White Death...’ The Sword Demon resolved to unleash his ultimate hidden technique. His inner power surged, enveloping him. His sword began to shimmer, the air around it painted in vivid hues. Amidst the disorienting scene, his sword moved. Flare, flare! Dozens of Moonlight Waves descended upon Hyundo as if to tear him apart. "I acknowledge your skill." As Hyundo seemed to freeze before the dozens of waves, the Sword Demon felt a glimmer of victory and smiled in satisfaction. ‘Is that the scent of... plum blossoms?’ The Sword Demon’s eyebrows quivered. A strong, vibrant aroma of plum blossoms teased his senses, ensnaring them. "The tricks are over." A dry voice struck his ears as the Moonlight Wave crumbled pathetically. "The Moonlight Wave..." The Sword Demon's eyebrows twitched violently. Along with it, numerous plum blossoms bloomed, completely enveloping him. "This... is impossible..." His expression, laced with disbelief, spread disbelief as his clothing blossomed with countless crimson stains. Thud— The Sword Demon crumpled to his knees. Looking down at the fallen adversary, Hyundo flexed the hand holding his sword. "Was the Fire Sword Sect's swordsmanship only this much?" Hyundo shook his head. "No. It is I, and the Mount Hua, who are strong." His gaze intensified. The swordsmanship of the Fire Sword Sect was exceptional. However, he stood significantly above the adversary, and the Plum Blossom Sword technique did not yield to the Fire Sword Sect’s techniques. This hard-won victory against the Sword Demon infused him with confidence. "White Death..." His eyes turned towards the direction of the Hundred Ghosts Fortress. With a quick burst of speed, he swiftly moved to the entrance, distorting the scenery around him for an instant before arriving. "Haujin?" Haujin had already arrived at the entrance. Evidence of a bloody battle was apparent as tattered clothing and bloodstains covered him, blending with dried streaks of blood on his cheek. "Can you manage with your injuries? If they’re severe, there’s no need to push yourself to follow." To this, Haujin shook his head and replied firmly. "I'm fine. I didn’t come here lightly either." Hearing this, Hyundo said nothing more. Having decided, there was little point in arguing with someone resolute. Instead, he stood beside Haujin, stepping forward toward the Hundred Ghosts Fortress together. * * * Tian Hui, the first to enter the fort, moved through a dark hallway. “Hiding still?” He suddenly spoke into the air. Tilting his chin upwards, he cast his gaze toward the roof, issuing a quiet warning. “This might be your last chance.” At that moment, those lying in wait for an ambush descended from above. Flare, flare! They poured down like rain, attempting to stab Tian Hui, but his hand moved first. Drawing a line through the air, five powerful strikes appeared, instantly cutting them down. Slash—! With a chilling sound, limbs and blood scattered in all directions. "They insist on being a nuisance." A path opened before Tian Hui. A path amidst the blood and bodies. The five fingers he wielded cleaved them, creating the path. The result of an almost divine technique. "Now, let’s see... over there?" He resumed his steps. Thud—thud— After Tian Hui had followed the path for about a quarter of an hour, he suddenly halted. Tap. At the end of the passage stood an ornate door, and on either side, like twin guardians, were two elderly men, standing silently. "Oh." Tian Hui's eyes glinted with interest. As he approached the door, swoosh— The two men, who had been staring straight ahead, lowered their gaze. Without a flicker of emotion, they tilted their heads, fixing their eyes on Tian Hui, and began to speak slowly. "You cannot pass here." "You cannot pass here." Their voices resonated in harmony, teasingly tickling Tian Hui's ears and making him smile crookedly. "Oh? That's fortunate." In an instant, the atmosphere around Tian Hui shifted. The air grew dense, and a distinct presence emanated from him. "…!" "…!" Startled by the change, the two men, who had stood like statues, suddenly clutched their swords and knives at their waists. "I was planning on killing you anyway." As soon as Tian Hui spoke, the men’s eyes flared with aggression. In a synchronized motion, they swung their sword and knife horizontally with full force. Whoosh! Their crossed weapons carried immense inner power. The attack descended toward Tian Hui's head. Boom! The hall shook violently. The sword and knife, embedded in the ground, had created deep cracks. The men, seeing the dents, sharpened their gaze. But Tian Hui stood leisurely, as before, seemingly untouched by the assault. "Who are you?" "Who are you?" Their voices overlaped, dripping with rage. "Me?" Having sidestepped their attack effortlessly, Tian Hui chuckled. "The one who will kill you both."