Chapter 174: I Think So Too
Demonic techniques are the path of the inhuman, seeking to defy the natural order. Over long years, those who walk this path, greedily devouring all things in their obsession, often give birth to demonic warriors—supreme experts feared in the martial arts world.
But even if the demonic path exhausts all its resources to produce multiple supreme experts, it is still an overwhelming task to contend with all the supreme experts of the martial world. Thus, the demonic path seeks another alternative to oppose them: a method to confront supreme experts with numbers. The demonic path turns its attention to Shaolin’s 108 Arhat Formation. The ancient demonic warrior of the Black Night Palace completed their own formation—the Dark Night True Prison Formation.
A large-scale formation combining the martial principles of Black Heaven Divine Technique with sinister sorcery. Two hundred in the inner formation, two hundred in the outer formation, and a reserve force of one hundred—five hundred personnel in total. The Prison Squad was an elite force trained intensively in this formation.
KOOOONG!
A suppressed roar, as if rising from deep within the earth. The tremors bursting from within the formation caused the fingers of the old man tuning the formation—the leader of the Prison Squad—to twitch. By all rights, the formation should have remained as silent as a still night, with none of these roars or tremors leaking out.
“Tighten the bindings further.”
At the leader’s command, the demonic energy of the demonic warriors maintaining the formation surged more than double its previous level. The lips of the sorcerers chanting demonic incantations moved even faster. The demonic energy composing the formation grew denser, its flow quicker. Yet, the faint noises and vibrations from the formation’s center showed no sign of stopping.
‘Could he have already deciphered the formation’s axis and the Gate of Life?’
KRUUUMBLE!
A tremor like an earthquake, followed by a thunderous explosion as if lightning had struck. Cracks spread through the darkness at the center, and from the gaps, purple light began to pierce through.
“How is this possible?!”
“What kind of trick is this?!”
As the old men gasped in shock, the purple light radiated a sacred glow, and demonic energy melted away before it. From within, a massive purple sword aura erupted, wrapped around the Sim-myeong Sword, shining like a star in the sky.
“KEHK!”
The revealed Sim-myeong Sword immediately descended, cleaving the nearest old man in two.
KWAAAANG!
As another roar echoed, Mu Hwi burst through the darkness below, swinging his formless sword and slaughtering the surrounding demonic warriors. With each flash of purple sword light, the demonic warriors around him fell in droves, blood spraying as they collapsed meaninglessly.
Severed heads and limbs flew wildly, countless droplets of blood spurting between them.
“The first layer has fallen! Deploy the second layer!”
The Dark Night True Prison Formation was designed with the assumption that it would break. The demonic path knew all too well the terrifying might of a supreme expert. The core of the formation was its ability to repair itself and re-capture even if broken or escaped from. It bought time and drained the supreme expert’s strength. Of course, each time required the sacrifice of the demonic warriors maintaining the formation—but compared to stopping a supreme expert, it was a cheap price.
WOOOONG!
The surrounding darkness began to reform around Mu Hwi, taking the shape of a hemisphere to imprison him once more. Mu Hwi, along with dozens of demonic warriors, was sealed back into the dark prison, and the reserve force waiting at the formation’s edges was deployed.
The purple light illuminating the darkness dimmed, and silence returned. Only the Prison Squad leader’s voice echoed across the plains.
“Change of plans. Maximize the formation’s output.”
KWANG!
But Mu Hwi shattered the darkness even faster than before. Of course, none of the demonic warriors trapped with him survived.
“Go ahead, trap me as much as you want. Let’s see how long you last.”
Mu Hwi’s laughter, infused with inner energy, reverberated deafeningly through the formation.
“Kuhk!”
“Raise your inner energy and cover your ears!”
Mu Hwi’s voice, infused with the inner energy of the Purple Sunset Divine Technique, was itself a lethal strike to the demonic warriors. Internal injuries were common, and some bled profusely from their ears.
KOOONG!
Mu Hwi stepped forward, swinging his formless sword wide left and right, continuing the sword technique. The demonic warriors charging at him like a pack of wolves were swept away without even a scream. At the same time, the Sim-myeong Sword soared high, striking the sorcerers maintaining the formation from the outside.
As Mu Hwi directly pierced a critical part of the formation, the Prison Squad leader’s eyes widened.
“How did he—?!”
But soon, his gaze turned icy.
“Frontlines, Squads 12 and 17, buy time with the Exploding Demonic Technique.”
At his command, the demonic warriors at the forefront unleashed the technique.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
They didn’t even attempt to approach Mu Hwi—they knew they’d die before taking a single step. The Exploding Demonic Technique, however, had a wide enough range to not require closing the distance.
Explosions erupted simultaneously from all directions. The demonic warriors paid no heed to their comrades being swept away in the blasts. Inflicting even the slightest wound on Mu Hwi was all that mattered.
The demonic technique reversed the flow of demonic energy in their dantians, turning their entire bodies into living bombs.
KWAKAKAKANG!
The demonic energy they had cultivated over a lifetime created a massive storm, their flesh torn into hundreds of large and small shrapnel pieces that rained down on Mu Hwi.
The explosion from fifty lives sacrificed at once was immense—enough to swallow a three-story building in an instant. The area where Mu Hwi stood was engulfed in a chain of explosions.
The aftermath of the Exploding Demonic Technique shook the entire formation. A crimson cloud rose from the blast site.
SWOOSH!
A sharp sound, as if the heavens were being torn apart, split the crimson cloud in two. From within, a massive purple sword aura lashed out like a whip, sweeping away the surrounding demonic warriors like fallen leaves.
Mu Hwi, revealed within the explosion, stood unharmed, pristine. His left hand was raised high, surrounded by countless swirling petals of the Plum Blossom Scattering Hand.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
As Mu Hwi swung his left hand downward, hundreds of petals surged toward the demonic warriors preparing another Exploding Demonic Technique.
Evening Flower Scattering Ripple (晩花揮漣).
SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!
The petals, shaped like the force of the Plum Blossom Scattering Hand, struck the chests of the demonic warriors. The energy seeped into their meridians, spreading throughout their bodies. They vomited blood in unison.
“Quickly, deploy the third layer—!”
The Prison Squad leader’s order was drowned out by Mu Hwi’s low mutter.
“Too slow.”
Though the formation writhed at the leader’s command, the air was already filled with blooming plum blossoms. The purple light permeating the area gradually thinned the formation’s darkness.
***
Simultaneous sword strikes from left and right.
Mu-hwa leaned back at the waist, dodging while moving both hands. With a flick of her wrists, she sliced through abdomen and waist in succession, then coiled her left hand like a snake to inject the force of the Plum Blossom Scattering Hand.
“Ugh!”
“Ghk!”
Having dealt with the two demonic warriors, Mu-hwa used the recoil to leap toward the carriage, extending her long leg like a crescent moon.
CRASH!
The carriage door, locked shut, shattered in an instant. The startled face of Im Su-ryeon appeared inside. Though haggard from the demonic warriors’ abuse, she still carried her usual calm demeanor.
“Lady Im!”
“Lady Mu-hwa!”
Mu-hwa untied the ropes binding Im Su-ryeon’s hands and asked, “Are you alright? Are you hurt?”
“…I’m fine,” Im Su-ryeon replied after taking a deep breath to steady herself. She then surveyed the situation outside the carriage.
“Musang, hidden weapons! Be careful!”
“Yes, Senior Disciple!”
Outside, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen were clashing with the demonic warriors who had abducted Im Su-ryeon. The swordsmen were outnumbered—black uniforms were far more visible than the Plum Blossom robes.
“Now that we’re here, you can relax, Lady Im.”
Mu-hwa puffed out her chest confidently, and Im Su-ryeon nodded. Though untrained in martial arts, she could see the Plum Blossom Swordsmen overwhelming the demonic warriors.
‘I heard these demonic warriors were elites, but the Plum Blossom Swordsmen are truly on another level.’
Im Su-ryeon felt reassured that the Cheonryu Merchant Group’s investment hadn’t been in vain.
As she sighed in relief, she glanced around and asked, “Where is the Plum Blossom Sword Lord?”
“The Senior Disciple is drawing attention near Shinwa. He’s probably fighting right about now.”
“I see.”
Im Su-ryeon suppressed her disappointment.
While Mu-hwa protected Im Su-ryeon, the remaining swordsmen finished off the demonic warriors. Once the situation was under control, Im Su-ryeon bowed to the swordsmen. Her movements were unhurried, exuding tranquility.
“Thank you, Hwasan Sect, for your assistance.”
“No need for thanks. We only did what was right,” replied Hyeon Baek.
“Lady Im, we must move immediately. As you know, this place is dangerous.”
“Of course. Please don’t worry about me—let’s proceed.”
Im Su-ryeon nodded, then added, “Come to think of it, while I was imprisoned, I overheard something.”
“What was it?”
“The Demon Eye Fiend left Shinwa to kill the Iron Fist Mountain King. I didn’t hear more details, but I thought you should know.”
“Hmm…”
Hyeon Baek pondered briefly, then looked up and asked, “What do you think?”
A voice came from seemingly nowhere—Munyeong’s.
“The Demon Eye Fiend’s whereabouts are currently unknown. We’ve already deployed assassins throughout Hunan—we’ll focus our search.”
At Munyeong’s words, Hyeon Baek nodded and turned to the swordsmen.
“Let’s regroup with the Sword Lord as quickly as possible.”
***
An old man walking across the plains sensed the thick scent of blood in the wind ahead. The grass trembled under the blood-tainted breeze, and as the sun set, darkness crept in, turning the surroundings bleak.
Squelch!
Puddles of blood dotted the ground, but the old man didn’t hesitate to stain his leather shoes. A few steps further, and corpses littered the ground as far as the eye could see. The battle had been so fierce that intact bodies were rare. What had once been a flat, expansive plain was now marred by craters and gashes, as if something had carved through the terrain.
“Hmm.”
Despite this, the old man walked leisurely, as if sightseeing. The number of corpses increased as he advanced, some piled so high they formed towers. Against this backdrop, he spotted a man sitting cross-legged.
The moment the old man’s gaze fell on him, Mu Hwi opened his eyes and looked back.
“Are you the Great Guardian?”
“I am.”
“You’re early. I heard it’d take a day.”
“I hurried when I heard my opponent was the Hwasan Sword Saint. Still, I’m late, it seems.”
The Great Guardian glanced around before looking back at Mu Hwi.
“You’ve killed the entire force, haven’t you?”
“I have.”
“Thoroughly exterminated. How ruthless. I’ve heard the rumors, but you’re hardly what I’d call a proper Taoist.”
Mu Hwi smirked.
“Is that so? I saw no need to spare demonic warriors.”
“Then why wait here? Did you wait for me?”
“Why ask when you already know?”
The Great Guardian tilted his head.
“Even if you broke the Dark Night True Prison Formation, you must’ve expended considerable energy. Are you that confident in your youth? Or do you consider me beneath you?”
“Hardly. Since the Palace Lord has kept you hidden all this time, you must be worth killing. That’s why I’m seizing the opportunity.”
Purple twilight flowed over Mu Hwi’s body. The light of the Purple Sunset Energy was divinely serene, yet the sharp killing intent made it feel darker.
The Great Guardian chuckled, glancing between the corpses and Mu Hwi.
“Hwasan Sword Saint… The title Sword Saint doesn’t suit you. Hwasan Sword Devil would be more fitting.”
Mu Hwi grinned.
“I think so too.”
The Purple Sunset Energy and the Great Guardian’s demonic energy clashed in the air. The shockwave alone made the piled corpses tremble as if resurrected.
