49 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

**Chapter 49** “He’s quite confident, isn’t he?” The figure known as the Black-White Ghost looked down at Cheonhui. Since they had set foot in the martial world, never had anyone dared to declare they would kill them. Who were they, after all? Now called the Black-White Ghosts, they were once known as the Yin-Yang Twin Demons, rulers of the martial world. Yet here was a mere youth boldly declaring he would end their lives—it was so absurd, they didn’t even know whether to laugh. Clank! Simultaneously, they gripped the weapons embedded in the ground and withdrew them. Shards of shattered stone scattered as the giant sword and knife returned to their hands, assuming the same stance as before. But the atmosphere changed. Sharp, heavy, and fierce. Cheonhui felt the overwhelming pressure slowly bearing down and a glint appeared in his eyes. ‘Impressive.’ The power emanating from the two old men was immense, among the strongest he'd encountered. ‘Similar to, or even surpassing, the elders?’ As Cheonhui gauged the formidable martial prowess of the duo, he drew his sword. The moment the White Lotus Sword gleamed into view— Hooong— The Black-White Ghosts targeted Cheonhui’s flanks. The crudely swung sword and knife generated a violent gust, aiming at the seemingly defenseless Cheonhui. “So hasty.” Cheonhui whispered, his eyes flashing. Clang! ‘What kind of sword is this!’ ‘What nonsense is this!’ The Black-White Ghosts were taken aback. Their techniques, the White Yin Ghost Blade and the Black Yang Killer Sword, though not their full strength, were enough to seize a life in a single strike for most masters. Yet, the moment their weapons clashed with Cheonhui’s sword, they were sent recoiling backward. Swiftly recovering their stance, the shocked Black-White Ghosts felt their trembling hands and their eyes steeled. It was an astonishing repulsion force. Yet, even more surprising was how quickly Cheonhui had manifested it. Certainly, they could also display such a force, but not as instantaneously as he had. ‘A master.’ ‘An expert…!’ Alerted, they instinctively channeled their internal energy. Black and white energy surged from their sword and knife. ‘Yin and Yang?’ Cheonhui's gaze piqued with interest. Though identical in appearance, the internal energy techniques they wielded were entirely opposites. Black and white, Yin and Yang. Observing the opposing forces imbue their weapons— Hooong— A black-and-white wind swirled around their sword and knife. It was a lightning-fast strike, significantly quicker than their previous two attacks. The blades reached Cheonhui’s vicinity, aiming for his vital points. Shaaack! Yet Cheonhui remained calm. He simply swung his sword towards the approaching threats. Boom! The air exploded. Once again, the sword and knife were repelled by Cheonhui’s blade. But this time, it didn’t end there. Following the repelled weapons, the Black-White Ghosts spun, executing a full rotation. Whirl— Adding to the power, internal energy, and rotational momentum, the sword and knife whipped around at dizzying speed, unleashing a flurry of slashes. Six fierce strikes, likened to the claws of a beast, tore through the air. Pop-pop-pop! Cheonhui silently observed as the six strikes erased any escape routes. Though he appeared stalemated, Cheonhui sensed a dissonance within their sword and knife techniques. ‘A sword and knife, one embodying Yin and the other Yang, yet they mirror each other so?’ Momentarily exploring their art, Cheonhui realized why they seemed so similar and let out a bemused chuckle. ‘I expected something great.’ He lifted his sword to receive their assault. Clang-clang-clang! Fast and weighty. But that was all. Boom! Cheonhui channeled even greater internal energy, neutralizing the assault in one strike. Strength in strength, force with force. This was how he battled. A formidable shockwave rippled through the structure, shaking it as if an earthquake had struck. “Urgh!” “Ghh!” The Black-White Ghosts staggered under the impact. Observing them clutching their chests, suppressing internal injuries, Cheonhui murmured, “Disappointing. I thought you had something remarkable. But it’s just one technique divided into two.” The Black-White Ghosts’ eyes widened. The fact that their internal martial technique had originally been one was known only to them and their master. How could he ascertain that from just a few exchanges? It seemed absurd. As they began to dismiss his words as either luck or a taunt, Cheonhui spoke again. “With Yin and Yang involved, it seems your technique was supposed to embody the profundities of Tai Chi.” At his probing words, the Black-White Ghosts clammed up. He had seen through it all. Originally, the martial art they were meant to master was the supreme secret art, the Hunwon Tai Chi Technique. However, due to their lacking aptitude, their master had divided the art into two separate techniques. The White Yin Force of Yin. The Black Yang Force of Yang. Yet now, their master deceased, only they knew this fact. Though the Black-White Ghosts remained silent, Cheonhui could tell from their reactions that his guesses were correct. “Not knowing what the original art truly is, I might as well finish this.” Cheonhui’s menacing words spread an imposing aura that wrapped around them, causing them to flinch and involuntarily step back. It was an intense aura unlike anything they experienced from their master or the White Demon—a dominion… Thud— “...!” “...!” Startled by the touch of the wall against their backs, the Black-White Ghosts regained focus and looked at each other. Words weren’t exchanged, yet they understood each other's feelings. It was the emotion they had sought to forget. Defeat. The humiliating memory from their defeat to the White Demon resurfaced, contorting their faces with fury. They were seething with rage. Not at Cheonhui but at being paralyzed, yet again, by fear at the mere thought of an opponent. Rumble— Fueled by their rage, the internal energy of the Black-White Ghosts erupted violently, so intense that the entire hall quaked, dislodging dust from the ceiling. Cheonhui raised his sword with an indifferent air. Boom! The Black-White Ghosts launched forward with powerful strides. Planting their feet with a resounding thud, they cut through the air like arrows. Their movements, despite their massive builds, were fluid and swift, showcasing the exceptional speed and agility that had contributed to their fearsome reputation in their younger days with the Hunyuan Step technique. Whizz— Closing the gap with Cheonhui, they swung their weapons simultaneously. Flames erupted from the sword, while an icy chill emanated from the knife. Harnessing yang energy to its extreme and yin energy to its utmost limit. Their combined attack exuded a fierce and heavy aura capable of overwhelming any adversary in one instant. Their steps, imbued with speed, coupled with the weighty sword and knife techniques, slashed through the air as though they would split the entire fortress, clashing with Cheonhui’s sword. Boom! The fortress shook violently. “Ugh!” “Gah!” The Black-White Ghosts stumbled backward, spitting blood. ‘Could that have been the Art of Sword Control?!’ ‘Impossible! At his age, mastering the Art of Sword Control is unthinkable!’ Both clutching their injured abdomens, came to the same incredulous realization. Sss— Lowering their heads to the floor, a shadow loomed in their gaze. Snapping their heads up urgently, they met Cheonhui’s eyes. His gaze was cold and indifferent, like staring into an abyss. As they faced his emotionless stare, Cheonhui inclined his body forward slightly. Flinch— ‘An attack?!’ ‘We must block it…!’ Regaining their composure, they tried to move to defend against Cheonhui’s presumed strike. But something was amiss. When they exerted strength, it seemed instead that power drained from their bodies. They began losing sensation altogether, as if drifting into an eternal nightmare. With that, they slowly realized it wasn’t Cheonhui’s body leaning—it was their perspective that had begun to tilt. Thud— The sound of two heads, eyes wide open, hitting the ground echoed, as fountains of blood erupted from their severed necks, spraying the walls and reaching the ceiling. Even as their bodies stood headless, still upright, as if caught in a moment of mournful defiance. Cheonhui walked past them. Despite the chaos, the door ahead remained stubbornly shut. As he placed a hand upon the door and pushed— Creak— Light seeped through the opening, illuminating the interior when— “So, the Black-White Ghosts have fallen?” A voice emanated from the gap. It was low and chilly. Cheonhui looked up. Underneath a brilliant pearl lay a resplendent throne where a man, clad entirely in white, lounged with a lazy yet commanding presence. “Impressive. Their combined power was unmatched here, save for by myself.” As he slowly approached, Cheonhui asked, “The White Specter?” Eventually finding himself at the foot of the steps. “…You’re younger than I expected.” The man on the throne gradually lowered his gaze. His eyes, as cunning as a serpent's, fixed upon Cheonhui who stood upon the stairs. “A Taoist from Huashan, was it?” The White Specter scrutinized Cheonhui skeptically, before narrowing his crimson lips with one raised eyebrow. “The disruption of my subordinates’ communication was the work of Huashan, then.” “At least you’re perceptive.” With Cheonhui’s remark, a knowing expression spread across the White Specter’s face, his eyes turning an icy white. “I've heard of your remarkable skills. But you’re still young. Surely you know who I am, and yet you come alone. Do you not value your li—” As he whispered, intensity building in his gaze, Cheonhui abruptly interrupted. “Are you always this long-winded?” Cheonhui, who had been silently listening until then, cut him off. It held no worth to Cheonhui, and it certainly wasn’t his reason for coming all this way. “Do you think I came all this way just to have a conversation with you?” With those words, Cheonhui unsheathed his sword. “Cut the chatter and fight.”