Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Embroidered Uniform Guard
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Hyuncheon Daoist and I did not enter through the village's main gate. Instead, we slipped into a shabby building at the rear of the village. The Daoist led us deeper inside the abandoned structure and stopped in front of a well. When he lifted the well's cover, a ladder leading downward came into view. It was clearly man-made, so I turned to him.
"This is?"
"This village was probably once home to a noble bloodline. They must have built this underground passage as an escape route for emergencies. I stumbled upon it while scouting the village's layout—it's a secret tunnel."
"Where does the end of this underground passage lead?"
"To the estate of some scholarly family. Of course, it's now a den of these mad believers."
"......"
I could easily guess what had become of the noble family that dug this tunnel. They likely never got the chance to use it before being slaughtered by the mad believers. In any case, Hyuncheon Daoist and I descended the ladder, lit oil-soaked torches with flint, and began walking. The tunnel stretched on for about two li, and after some time, a ladder leading upward appeared.
Clunk.
We climbed up into a silent, ruined interior.
'Blood reeks heavily here.'
This was the well in the large kitchen on the outskirts of the estate. The horrific bloodstains and chunks of flesh splattered everywhere hinted at the massacre that had taken place. I searched for anything valuable and spotted a golden bird statue, which I slipped into my bundle.
"Now's not the time for looting. We need to hurry before the mad believers spot us."
"Can't I just knock out a couple if it's only one or two?"
"The demonic beasts' power is too great to risk it. We absolutely cannot be discovered until we execute the plan."
Swoosh!
Hyuncheon Daoist and I scanned our surroundings with our senses before exiting the kitchen. Throughout the estate, several mad believers lay dead with their heads smashed—likely felled by the Daoist the last time he used this passage. The clear marks of Wudang martial arts made me stare at him blankly, and he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"There were too many here. I had to clear them out to make it less troublesome next time."
"I didn't say anything."
Boom!
Spotting two mad believer men blocking the passage, Hyuncheon Daoist immediately unleashed a palm strike from afar, blowing their heads clean off without a word. His lack of hesitation suggested he had already concluded no innocents remained in the village. The sheer force of his palm, obliterating heads without a trace, spoke to his profound inner energy.
"Let's get out quickly. The stench of blood is overpowering."
"......"
As we exited the estate, we spotted two or three villagers who looked like mad believers wandering blankly with plows and large kitchen knives. We hid swiftly before they noticed us, but the sight made my heart race.
'What the hell are those bastards? Why are they carrying human heads?'
I finally understood what Hyuncheon Daoist meant by "madness." One clutched a little girl's head to his chest like a treasure, while another had a middle-aged man's severed head dangling from his belt by the hair—its eyes wide in terror. No sane person, no one from the outside world bound by ethics, could imagine such a scene.
Blood dripped from the heads with every step they took. The mad believers' vacant expressions as they hunted for prey were downright eerie.
Nausea welled up, but that was it. Having waded through plenty of slaughterfields myself, this wasn't enough to shake me. As I stared intently at the mad believers, Hyuncheon Daoist spoke.
"Those fools retain some reason but are fully brainwashed—conversation is impossible. They move solely on the command to kill outsiders. If we encounter them, eliminate without hesitation."
"Got it."
"For reference, they strangely feel no pain, so aim to sever limbs and heads first."
"......"
I made a stunned face. A renowned righteous sect master like Hyuncheon Daoist was casually suggesting dismemberment. But his sincerity convinced me this place truly was a living hell.
The village was fairly prosperous, with buildings clustered close and alleys snaking between them—ideal for sneaking past the mad believers. Occasionally, we'd spot lunatics crouched in the shadows devouring human flesh; we'd crush their skulls underfoot or cleave their heads into pieces with our swords if needed. Mad believers were said to shriek grotesquely upon spotting enemies.
The village was steeped in blood.
Swoosh!
"It's quite the ordeal."
I grumbled as I slipped into the second floor of a bookstore. It seemed safe from the mad believers' eyes for a moment. Hyuncheon Daoist followed with lightfoot skill, pulled a gourd from his robes, and offered it to me.
"It's rectified spirit water. Drink if you're struggling—it restores mental focus."
"I'm fine. Besides, the altar's coming into view now."
The altar lay about one li from this bookstore district. In the village center square stood a massive stone pillar altar, and at its base was a platform for human sacrifices. That's where the flute monster was said to appear.
'The mad believers' strength is insane. Even I could lose a limb if careless.'
They didn't employ martial arts—just screeched and swung limbs or weapons wildly. But their power was monstrous. Earlier, grabbing a mad believer's arm while smashing its head, I had to tense my muscles despite channeling my inner energy.
Each one had the raw strength of a thousand-pound hero!
Tearing a human body apart alive would be trivial for them.
Even experts couldn't afford to let them close in.
Hyuncheon Daoist glared sharply at the altar and said,
"Keep this in mind. If the demonic beast appears, don't fight—run. I doubt it's something humans can face."
"That's the plan."
Leaning against the wall to rest, I asked,
"If we fail to kill the monster today, what's your next move?"
"Hmm... I'd flee too, then leave it entirely to the authorities. Mobilizing all my influence should get the garrison moving."
"Then why not wait for that from the start? Why risk this?"
He replied bitterly.
"The garrison could raze the village. But not a single villager would survive."
"You believe killing just the flute monster will restore these people to normal?"
"Yes. They're victims. Tragic as this nightmare is, it's no reason for them to die. We must save as many lives as possible."
"......"
I fell silent.
'Isn't it the same?'
I'd witnessed the village's madness firsthand. They'd performed countless human sacrifices—parents killing children, siblings slaughtering each other, lovers devouring one another. Even if freed from the flute's control, could they ever live normal lives?
Living itself might become an even worse hell. Their current mindless subjugation could be happier.
But I didn't voice these thoughts to Hyuncheon Daoist. We were on the razor's edge of a perilous plan as it was. Arguing would only dull our focus.
Hyuncheon Daoist said,
"The sun will soon reach its zenith."
"Shouldn't we get closer?"
"Hmm... Let's approach to within thirty zhang of the altar."
"Right."
Flash!
We darted from rooftop to rooftop. Deeper in the village, more buildings provided cover for infiltration. Mad believers occasionally lunged from hiding with axes or swords, but we were beyond such threats. We subdued them one by one and pressed on.
Finally at thirty zhang, the altar loomed clearly below from our perch. I frowned at its shape.
"Ghastly... It's completely stained red."
"Demonic scum."
Hyuncheon Daoist shuddered anew. So many sacrifices had turned the originally white marble altar entirely crimson. Mad believers wandered dazedly around it, their numbers swelling. They were slowly gathering from across the village as noon approached.
I grew concerned.
"If only we could get closer."
"It'd be too risky."
As he said, this was our limit. One step outside, and we'd drown in the sea of mad believers. When the plan began, we'd have to attempt the assassination from here.
Then it happened.
Giiiing—
A bizarre sound echoed. Instantly, the gazes of the throng in the square fixed on one spot: the central altar.
Amid hundreds, thousands of eyes, our target finally appeared.
'That's the bastard.'
The flute monster!
Emerging from behind, it strode up the altar in brown robes cloaking its entire body—even most of its face and limbs, hiding its gender. It drew a black flute from its robes and began to play.
Kiiing—Giiiing—
"......"
The flute's tone struck me as eerie—not a melody, but a razor-thin whine scraping the ears. This sound wave turned and controlled humans into mad believers.
I sensed inner energy in it, but it was merely unpleasant to me now. As I scratched my ear, Hyuncheon Daoist whispered,
"It's a mind-subjugating sound art. Channel your inner energy to resist the illusion."
"Understood."
"It'll soon draw a blade for the sacrifice. That's when we move."
The contradiction: the moment it draws the blade is weaker than while playing.
That's when we'd strike—per Hyuncheon Daoist's experience. While the flute played, the gathered mad believers grew fiercer, faster, more savage. The sound controlled them while enhancing their ferocity and speed.
Hyuncheon Daoist and I poured immense focus into the monster's every move, our eyes blazing like they might explode.
Soon, several mad believers hauled up "sacrifices," who lay atop the altar like dead fish, staring blankly. Deeming them ready, the flute monster stopped playing, slowly drew a dagger from its robes, and approached.
'Now!'
Flash!
We launched from the rooftop like falling stars, lightfoot slicing the air, then springing skyward with coiled power. I landed first and stomped with full inner energy.
Kwarung!!
My stomping shattered the ground, shockwave hurling nearby mad believers away. As they toppled like dominoes, a path to the altar cleared—instantly sweeping away some fifty.
Hyuncheon Daoist sent a transmission:
[Thanks! I'll take its head for sure!]
He seemed genuinely grateful. Even at peak realm, piercing this horde was suicide; my world-best inner energy in that stomp gave us breathing room.
Splash.
His supreme lightfoot, Ultimate Cloud Soar, reached utmost perfection, gliding forward like a bullet. He closed thirty zhang and stood before the monster in under three seconds—just as it paused its blade and turned.
Simultaneously, Wudang's Hyuncheon Sword Qi—his ultimate technique—flashed toward its back like lightning. While I swept ten mad believers with Thundercloud Palm, I glimpsed the qi and widened my eyes.
It rippled.
Azure flames surged.
'Sword Flame!'
Hyuncheon Daoist had surpassed mere peak entry into Sword Flame realm.
A perfect ambush, Sword Flame slicing its back!
Even Iron Blood Sect elders couldn't dodge that. As I anticipated victory—
Shing.
Keeing—!
"......!!"
I witnessed the unbelievable.
Two black-clad men appeared beside the monster from nowhere, crossing blades in that instant to block Hyuncheon Daoist's Sword Flame.
"Urk."
"Impressive."
Caught off guard, even outnumbered 1v2, the two black-clad men retreated, blood trickling from their mouths. Only after three steps did they steady—one already shielding the monster behind him.
"What?!"
Hyuncheon Daoist cried in shock.
He held the advantage, but that wasn't the issue.
Two had blocked his full-power strike!
Meaning their skills far exceeded first-class. And their method of parrying Sword Flame was the legendary Combined Assault Technique.
Merging their energy and prowess to efficiently face far stronger foes—a supreme secret art passed only in prestigious houses.
The rightmost black-clad man wiped blood from his mouth—nosebleed indicating a wide gap with Hyuncheon Daoist—and spoke.
"You came after all, Hyuncheon Daoist. We got urgent orders—didn't expect a top-10 Wudang peak expert."
"Who are you bastards?"
The left one answered.
"We regret crossing paths like this. You won't leave here alive."
Grooooar—
Uwaaaaaah—!!
The mad believers I'd been scattering seized up in frenzy. The flute's effect had broken, leaving them limp like cut puppets, but the monster behind the black-clad men resumed playing. We'd have to fight enhanced hordes now!
Thousands of lunatics!
'Son of a bitch!!!'
I screamed inwardly.
I'd survive the maniacs easily, but the problem was ahead.
Kiririk...
Hiss...
An amorphous demonic beast rose, emitting incomprehensible shrieks.
Not just the two black-clad blockers—beasts slithered toward us. Towering two zhang, liquid-like horrors covered in hundreds of eyes and tentacles oozed malice. Darkness spread as they writhed.
"Damn it! Run!!"
I yelled at Hyuncheon Daoist like a scream. He bolted toward me without thought. The black-clad man sneered.
"We knew it was you, Hyuncheon Daoist—think we'd send only two?"
Swish!
Clang.
As we leaped to a high rooftop to regroup, black-clad foes appeared midair, slashing down—eight total, some wielding exotic weapons.
Their stances alone told me:
Elite warriors trained for years!
"You vile scum!!"
Hyuncheon Daoist's rage erupted.
His Sword Flame sprayed into the air like gale-force winds, decapitating two; a spiteful palm caved in another's chest.
Three slain in an instant, but three experts' joint assault stalled him. Astonishingly, those three matched him evenly.
Clang! Kang!
The scene shocked me into a daze.
'What... what the hell? Where did these experts come from?'
Unbelievable. Among the three facing Hyuncheon Daoist, one wielded Sword Qi—a peak expert anywhere, attacking with first-class allies.
"Kh."
"We'll kill you."
Two black-clad closed in on me. Unsure of their level, I glared fiercely and gripped my sword. One hurled an iron chain flail at my head; I drew my dagger and snagged the chain.
"What?"
Thud.
"Think I'm easy prey?!"
As he faltered, I lunged with a front kick, crushing the other's chest. I charged the flail-user again, unleashing sword strikes. Honestly, after so many beatings lately, I feared it might fail.
Boom.
"Aaaagh!!"
My worry was unfounded. He tried blocking head-on but exploded from the Thunder Spirit Qi on my blade. His torso shredded in a death scream. Second-class to first-class level, yet he crumbled instantly.
One-shot each!
With my two down, the three on Hyuncheon Daoist panicked.
"N-No."
"Who's that guy?"
I knew better than to grandstand here—martial artists' stupid flair could cost escape. Silently, I lunged wolf-like, barrage of strikes.
'Die, you bastards!'
Clang! Kang!
Metal clashed repeatedly. We two against their three, balance tipped our way. The black-clad, flustered by the upset, underperformed.
"Hah!"
Slice.
"Gahk."
Hyuncheon Daoist seized the chance, Sword Flame instantly slaying their weakest.
"Damn it..."
The Sword Qi peak expert, seeing doom, grabbed his subordinate and fled the rooftop.
Thud... Thud...
Then the beasts noticed us, lumbering with ponderous bodies. Hundreds of eyes and tentacles rolled, growing eerily agile—terrifying. Hyuncheon Daoist urged hastily,
"They speed up suddenly! Run!"
"Shit!!"
Screaming, we leaped from the roof with Hyuncheon Daoist. Boom—a six-story hall crumbled instantly to a beast's body slam. Riding the destruction wind, he rebounded midair and reached for me.
Tap.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three beasts pursued, smashing humans and buildings indiscriminately. We sprinted with every ounce of strength. Stray mad believers were pulverized tracelessly underfoot—true destruction demons.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
Terror unlike any I'd known churned vomit in my gut. I'd had bad feelings from the start, but not this twisted! Hyuncheon Daoist's claim that human power couldn't face these beasts made sense now.
Kwarung.
Another hall collapsed to a body slam.
Dust engulfed the village.
"Euk, urk, nooooo!!"
I wailed in death throes.
.......
My last memory: the merest instant, body torn apart by a beast's slam.
Pain never registered—consciousness vanished that swiftly.
That was my fourth death.
============================ Author's Note ============================
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