Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 21 Danya (3)
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Whoosh!
In an instant, the man closed in right before their noses, and the Oh Ha Three Masters cried out in alarm as they raised their swords.
Clang! Clang-clang-clang!
They swiftly drew out their sword energies to counter, but meanwhile...
Something's off. This guy's martial arts.
His gaze fell on the bandages scattered across the floor.
"Got time to look away?"
Whoosh! Whoooosh!
The man, who had somehow snatched up a broken iron bar, thrust wildly at their necks and chests.
The trio was quickly overwhelmed by the relentless spear strikes, forced to focus solely on defense.
Thud! Thud-thud!
The sheer power infused in the iron bar was tremendous; each block twisted their wrists sharply.
Such profound inner energy!
As the three masters fell into a defensive position, the other Oh Ha branch swordsmen joined in.
"Everyone, attack together!"
"Disciples, form the sword formation!"
"Hahaha!"
Amid the sharp clash of metal, pained shouts, and mocking laughter swirling about, Black Night began to rampage.
Craaack!
Five Hao Clan disciples were sent tumbling away by the spear strikes, crashing haphazardly into walls.
Boom!
A casual kick sent one of the three masters flying, tangling with seven disciples as they rolled across the floor.
We've mobilized over fifty men here, yet it's like he's strolling through an empty field.
A man traversing a realm without foes.
Is this the bearing of a supreme expert?
Shivering in awe, the lead Oh Ha swordsman never let his guard down.
No matter how skilled, even a master couldn't avoid every mistake.
Aiming for an opening and landing a fatal blow was their only chance.
Clang-clang-clang!
Whirling the iron bar like a pinwheel, he sent disciples flying with dull thuds.
"Haha. Is that all you've got?"
Krunch!
The iron bar pierced the floor, collapsing the boards with a rumble as three disciples were swallowed into the basement.
"Oops. This won't do anymore."
Discarding the ruined iron bar that couldn't withstand his power, he kicked up swords and sabers with his toes.
Tap-tap.
Grabbing the spinning weapons from midair, the man began moving in earnest.
Thwack! Thud-thud-thwack!
Though the melee was chaotic, he flowed like water, toppling disciples without pause.
"Not bad endurance."
He was like a tiger among sheep.
The silver lining? He only struck with sword flats and hilts, sparing lives.
If he'd gone all out, this place would be a bloodbath.
Gulp.
Terrified yet vigilant, the leader kept observing his foe.
An opportunity would come.
No, it had to.
If only to land one solid hit on this bastard rampaging in their Hao Clan branch.
As if heaven heard his desperate plea...
"You bastard! Your opponent's here!"
"We're invisible to you, huh?"
Judging ordinary methods futile, the three Oh Ha masters charged into the crumbling sword formation.
"You!"
Surrounding him on three sides and unleashing full power, deadly sword lights flashed within their combined assault formation.
Clang! Clang-clang-clang!
Even for the man, the all-out strikes from peak masters weren't easy to dismiss.
"Ho. Impressive."
The man who'd been striding freely now stood firm, clashing swords in a frenzy.
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
The four wove together in ceaseless swordplay, lights tangling wildly and spewing sparks.
Krraaack!
The floorboards buckled and splintered under their power-infused steps.
Now.
Spotting the foe wobble, the leader kicked off sharply and soared.
"Hah!"
Divine Sword Unity.
A single flash embodying his all, sword and body as one.
Sword raised like a bird of prey, he aimed for the man's back.
Got him clean!
The sword felt unusually light.
This one's a hit. The moment certainty dawned...
"Forgot the bandages?"
Krunch!
Mid-flight, his throat constricted, yanking him upward.
Boom!
He shot into the ceiling, then crashed down amid debris.
Thud.
"Guh... Hack."
What the hell?
What grabbed him?
That's when he spotted the worn bandage choking his neck.
I forgot about... this.
Struggling to rise amid rubble, he collapsed repeatedly.
"Urk!"
He spat blood.
His qi had abruptly cut off, inflicting minor internal injuries.
"Now for this side?"
The second master bellowed at the writhing bandages, limp like soaked thread.
"I'll slice these rags at once!"
"Yeah? Give it a try."
Thwung.
The second master slashed at the undulating bandage with bisecting force, only to yelp in shock.
The sword bounced off.
"It won't cut?"
A treasured sword specially issued by Hao Clan headquarters for his recent merits.
Sharp enough to slice paper atop the blade—yet it couldn't sever old bandages? Unbelievable.
"Heh. Why so surprised?"
Shing.
As the man raised his hand, scattered bandages writhed like living things, extending everywhere.
They snatched up fallen swords, then floated eerily in the air.
"My god."
People gaped at dozens of airborne swords wrapped in bandages.
Kiiiiing.
At his gesture, the blades turned toward them.
"This is just like..."
"The legendary sword control arts."
The overwhelming, surreal sight left Hao Clan disciples trembling.
"A monster like this..."
Thinking they could take him with full effort was wrong.
Despair etched their faces at the insurmountable gap.
Thud.
Some collapsed, legs giving out.
Seeing this, the man flashed his eerily glowing red eyes and cackled madly.
"Hahaha! That's the look!"
"Fear! Shiver in terror!"
"That's the only gaze you can send to the desert skies!"
"Despair, and despair more!"
"I am despair incarnate!"
Laughing like a maniac, he was utterly deranged.
Could there be a madman madder? What demon was this, reveling in human despair?
A hungering evil spirit, perhaps.
"Heh. Hahaha! Haha!"
Bending double in laughter, the airborne swords joined in, shrilling ominously.
Kiiiiing.
Kaaaaang.
Crushed by one lunatic and his bizarre spectacle, more disciples slumped.
"Ha. Perfect timing."
Ceasing his laughter, the man clutched his face, eyes gleaming.
"No need to hunt now. I can just ask you lot."
Clatter!
The floating swords aligned menacingly at intact foes.
"Heh. Shall I pick a few appetizers? Time for the real fun..."
It's over.
No escaping that demon's hand. Instinct screamed it.
"Hey, punk. Having fun?"
"Gasp!"
Disbelief flickered across the man's face for the first time.
Swoooosh!
A massive whoosh made writhing bandages clump into a wall before him.
Boom!
But only briefly.
With a roar, the bandages unraveled chaotically, shoving him back.
"Cough!"
His smug face twisted. His stark pale skin, contrasting his black garb, drained whiter.
"Little bro. Looking better?"
"Cough. My lord. Cough. Ah, my lord."
"Who's your lord? No, 'Your Supremacy'? Who're you calling that? Which clan's Supremacy barges into someone else's home to trash it?"
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Chu Un-hwi, appearing in a flash, kicked him relentlessly. The man curled up, shielding his head.
"Ack! Ack! Ack! Ack!"
The floating bandages bunched up, soon wrapping him like a cocoon.
They even seemed to tremble in fear.
"Hey, main body. Get this off."
"My lord, my bones. I got hit in the bones."
"That's why I hit you."
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
The man went limp like mush, bandages sagging too.
Tap-tap.
Dusting his robes, Chu Un-hwi bowed to the branch master amid the chaos.
"Branch Master. My apologies for today's incident."
"...I thank Dark Lord's aid."
"Words alone won't suffice."
Grinning, Chu Un-hwi yanked Danya's sideburn as he groaned on the floor.
"I'll extract proper compensation from him."
The brief but intense battle ended.
With only the branch master and Oh Ha Three Masters present, Danya's interrogation began.
Gulping nervously under glances, Danya was questioned by the branch master.
"Where are our disciples?"
Tamed swiftly, Danya replied.
"...All safe. Never intended to kill."
"I pray that's true. If any died, we couldn't stay idle. You'd pay dearly."
"Hmph. If you didn't stay idle..."
Wince.
Catching the glare, Danya quickly amended.
"...My deepest gratitude."
"Why attack our branch?"
"No choice. Wouldn't answer about my lord's whereabouts."
Chu Un-hwi nearby scowled.
"You could've waited. Why's the master of an assassin valley so restless?"
Danya protested aggrievedly.
"How could I wait after hearing my lord's in Infinite Fortress?!"
"He might be."
"Infinite Fortress means Murim Alliance! Alliance means one thing! Keeping the fun from me alone?!"
He hadn't voiced it, gauging reactions, but Chu Un-hwi guessed his thoughts.
This fool thought it was a Murim Alliance sabotage op and rushed in excitedly.
Explained ditching his assassins to come alone hastily.
Danya whined.
"Leaving without a word hurt, but excluding me from the fun? Unheard of! Righteous code's in the dirt. Even in harsh times, this is too much."
"Clear the misunderstanding first. I'm living quietly now. Never liked fights much."
"Pardon? Since when?"
"Starting now, you X bastard."
Smack.
Glared at by Chu Un-hwi as he whimpered from the head smack, Danya cowered.
The branch master and three masters watched the farce speechless.
Black Night, who'd fought like a hellspawn demon moments ago.
A desert powerhouse unmatched, wielding bizarre arts—yet cringing before Dark Lord? Hard to believe.
The branch master mouthed to the three masters. A transmission.
[Can you gauge Black Night's—Desert Assassin Valley Master's—martial prowess?]
[Difficult. Origins too esoteric.]
[I see.]
Bitter taste.
Even elite Oh Ha masters couldn't assess his power.
Never did weak arts sting so sharply.
Why create this gathering, though? For Upper One?
Rivers and lakes ran on power. Despite the stinging defeat, smart to withdraw gracefully from such a foe.
They should thank him for resolving it bloodlessly.
Compensation, huh.
Heart pounding at what mischief might unfold, Chu Un-hwi got to the point.
"Branch Master. Mind keeping him for a bit?"