Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Overwhelming Senses
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The four of them perked up their ears instinctively.
Han Ibi muttered,
"Did I hear that wrong?"
Woo-. Woooo-.
It sounded like sobbing, or maybe groaning...
No, they hadn't misheard.
Han Ibi and the others felt a chill run down their spines for some reason.
Then the eerie sound came again.
Woo-. Woooo-.
Like a beast's cry, or the wind howling...
Wang Qinglin said with a frightened look on her face,
"This is creepy... What is that sound...?"
Woo-. Woooo-.
That was when it happened.
With a soft sslruk, the lid of the coffin lying at the front slid open on its own.
Han Ibi's eyes widened as he thought,
'What the hell is this? This isn't a horror novel; it's a wuxia story...'
The four watched the open coffin lid in a state of high tension.
But nothing happened for a long while.
Han Ibi and the group just stood there awkwardly.
Finally, Wang Qinglin, who was growing more and more anxious, said to Han Ibi,
"Go check what it is."
Han Ibi jumped back.
"Wh-why me?"
"What if... what if that coffin is the entrance to some Great Light Hall or something?"
Oh ho.
There was a tiny bit of logic to that.
In wuxia novels, secret entrances like that popped up with decent frequency.
But... what if it wasn't?
Han Ibi said,
"I've never heard any weird stories like that. We should just watch for now."
Wang Qinglin turned to Mun Won-bi.
"Fearless Young Hero Mun. How about you go take a look, Young Hero Mun?"
"Ah, m-me? I... hmm..."
Mun Won-bi glanced at Baek Mi-hu, shooting her a pleading look.
But Baek Mi-hu ignored him.
She seemed just as frustrated with the situation as anyone.
Then Han Ibi spoke up.
"That's right. From ancient times, the Beggar Clan heroes have been famed for their boldness and courage. I've even heard they fear no ferocious dogs that could tear a man apart—not even when begging for food."
Mun Won-bi looked miserable.
But the soft-hearted Mun Won-bi couldn't refuse as bluntly as Han Ibi and shuffled forward hesitantly.
Han Ibi added,
"This might be a test of courage. If you know it's a courage test, it stops being one. That's probably why they didn't warn us ahead of time."
Wang Qinglin chimed in,
"Yeah, we're short on time anyway."
Mun Won-bi steeled his expression and said,
"Al-alright. I'll go check it out."
He slowly walked toward the wooden coffin three zhang away.
The sound of his footsteps brushing through the low bushes rang out as if right next to their ears.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
Seven paces to the coffin.
Six. Five...
That was when it happened.
With a sharp shuuuk, a human figure shot up.
It didn't bend at the waist—it rose straight up like a rigid log.
"Kyaaak!"
Wang Qinglin screamed and grabbed Han Ibi beside her.
As Han Ibi flustered at the soft, plush sensation...
Mun Won-bi also recoiled in horror, stumbling back three steps.
But the figure had its back to Han Ibi's group, so they couldn't see its face.
Even so, its silk-like robes were torn and ragged in places—it looked like it'd been through hell.
Mun Won-bi swallowed hard and mustered his courage.
"Ex-excuse me..."
No reaction from the figure atop the coffin.
"Ex-excuse me... May I ask a question...?"
Still silent.
Then Han Ibi shouted as if realizing something.
"Aha! I get it. You're from the Martial Alliance, aren't you? Playing these bizarre pranks... Whose idea was this? You think this helps?"
The figure remained silent.
Mun Won-bi seemed relieved at Han Ibi's words anyway.
He took two steps forward and said,
"If you're a senior from the Martial Alliance, you've had it rough..."
That was when it happened.
With a crack, the grotesque figure's head snapped toward Mun Won-bi.
One cheek rotted away, exposing clenched teeth in a gruesome snarl. One eyeball dangled precariously, threatening to fall.
Mun Won-bi jolted back in shock, retreating.
At the same time,
"Kyaaak!"
Wang Qinglin screamed even louder, clutching Han Ibi tighter.
"Ugh... W-Wang... Miss... Air... I can't... breathe..."
At his words, Wang Qinglin turned her head.
Their eyes met.
"Kyaaak! Kyaaak! Kyaaak!"
She shrieked even louder and instantly switched to Baek Mi-hu's arms.
'Tch. It wasn't that great, but still, this stings a bit.'
But that was just the beginning.
The grotesque figure suddenly leaped, flying straight at Mun Won-bi.
Its movements were quick but stiff and unnatural.
Baek Mi-hu yelled,
"That's a jiangshi!"
Mun Won-bi recoiled faster in surprise but tripped on a tree root and fell backward.
Baek Mi-hu shoved Wang Qinglin aside and lightness-skill leaped toward them.
"Watch out!"
She had already equipped her signature weapon, the sleeve dart launcher.
Clang.
A loud ring echoed.
Baek Mi-hu's sleeve dart had deflected the jiangshi's arm as it stabbed toward Mun Won-bi.
But...
Perhaps due to the corpse's rigor mortis.
Even her sturdy sleeve dart barely scratched the jiangshi's arm.
The jiangshi ignored Mun Won-bi and spun toward Baek Mi-hu.
Han Ibi looked at its nauseating face and thought,
'Ugh. Compared to the jiangshi from movies when I was a kid, this thing makes those look like pretty boys... Throw it in a zombie and ugly contest, it'd be a jackpot.'
The jiangshi pounced at Baek Mi-hu.
Its joints were stiff, just as the rumors said.
The jiangshi swung both arms at once.
Baek Mi-hu crossed her sleeve darts to block.
Han Ibi dashed forward.
Sensing the movement, the jiangshi whipped around, mouth gaping to bare its hideous fangs.
Surprisingly, Han Ibi charged like a soccer defender with a powerful tackle.
The jiangshi faltered, losing its timing.
Han Ibi kicked its leg, upsetting its balance.
The struck jiangshi toppled stiffly forward.
Han Ibi shouted,
"Anyone got a talisman?"
Then he saw Baek Mi-hu charging at the fallen jiangshi.
Her arms blurred like multiples as she unleashed six or seven strikes per breath, mangling its head with her sleeve darts.
No matter how tough the corpse's skin, it burst apart.
At least no blood sprayed—the blood had long dried.
The jiangshi's body went still once its head was smashed.
Han Ibi grinned awkwardly.
"I thought you needed a talisman or something."
Baek Mi-hu replied,
"No idea. First time seeing one myself. I heard the Demonic Cult does unspeakable things to corpses, but..."
Han Ibi helped the seated Mun Won-bi to his feet.
"You okay, Brother Mun?"
Mun Won-bi finally snapped out of it, smiling awkwardly.
"Y-yeah. Brother Jong."
He bowed to Baek Mi-hu.
"Thank you, Miss Baek."
That was when it happened.
Sslruk. Sslruk.
Sounds from multiple sources at once.
Han Ibi instinctively sensed nightmare approaching.
And that nightmare was now manifesting before his eyes.
"Kyaaak! Kyaaak! Kyaaak!"
Wang Qinglin provided the perfect soundtrack for the scene.
Yes...
The lids of four coffins had opened simultaneously right in front of them.
Mun Won-bi muttered,
"I-I don't need to check this time, right...?"
In that instant, Han Ibi drew the Mysterious Frost Blade and shouted to Baek Mi-hu,
"Follow me! Nothing beats your sleeve darts for fighting jiangshi right now."
Baek Mi-hu followed, though skeptical.
Without warning, jiangshi rose from each coffin.
One seemed to have been a woman in life.
Shieeeek.
With an unpleasant whoosh, the four jiangshi leaped out.
Han Ibi unleashed the Thundercloud Strike from the Ma Hyun Sword Art.
A fierce, lightning-swift sword technique—this was his first real combat use.
Exposing Song Myeong-cheon's arts was risky.
But everyone here was from different sects, so no issue.
The four jiangshi charged like they saw prey.
Han Ibi maxed his internal energy, slashing past them with the Mysterious Frost Blade.
It happened in a flash, like thunder-laden clouds.
The jiangshi froze instantly.
The blade's Frost Penetration property had rigidified them.
Stun effect: 5 seconds!
Baek Mi-hu charged the halted jiangshi, puzzled but swift.
She shredded them with her sleeve darts, just like before.
With movement paused, it was easy as pie.
Her motions were fox-like in agility...
By the time Han Ibi finished one, she'd taken out three.
Han Ibi grinned.
"Jiangshi must feel so wronged. Dead once, gotta die again..."
But Baek Mi-hu's grim face killed the joke.
Han Ibi followed her gaze backward.
He instantly understood.
Dozens of coffin lids were opening at once.
Wang Qinglin wailed despairingly,
"Wh-what now...?"
Shieeeek.
More jiangshi rose with that sickening sound.
No longer countable on fingers.
Grotesque corpses of all ages and sexes filled the space.
Mun Won-bi clutched his face.
"Ahh... Th-there's... too damn many."
Han Ibi yelled,
"Run for now!"
Wang Qinglin shrieked hysterically,
"What are you doing? Hurry, go!"
Baek Mi-hu pointed behind with a trembling voice.
"Look at that."
The group turned.
Black smoke billowed from the underbrush.
And scorching heat...
Dry wood and bushes blazed yellow, incinerating the eerie forest.
It would spread here in moments.
The fire blocked their retreat.
Han Ibi muttered as leaping jiangshi approached,
"Jiangshi ahead... fire demon belching black smoke behind..."
Hmm... Wait.
Fire demon?
If it's a fire demon...
A thought struck Han Ibi.
He opened the Mechanism Codex and activated Design Analysis.
Even amid the chaos, the eerie sound effects droned on.
Woo-. Woooo-.
Crackle crackle.
That was when it happened.
Wang Qinglin's voice was pure resignation.
"Me... dying in a place like this... Mom... I miss you..."
Suddenly, Han Ibi burst out laughing.
"Still, dying with beauties like you? The height of honor."
Wang Qinglin snapped,
"Y-you lunatic... You spout that nonsense now?!"
But Han Ibi seemed truly mad.
He strode forward and plucked two wildflowers blooming by the path, sniffing their scent.
(Continued in the next chapter)