Chapter 546: That Palanquin is Mine Now

TL: FoodieMonster007

With every sway of the lanterns, a blade-like sword qi sliced through the night sky.

The four black-clad figures fought with lanterns in one hand and swords in the other. Even so, they held their own against the combined force of the Thirteen Evil Wolves and Bi Sayin.

SHWIIK! KWAANG!

Bi Sayin launched himself through the air to evade the incoming sword qi. A stone lantern behind him was split apart and crumbled to the ground.

SASASASASAK!

A relentless barrage of sword qi rained down upon Bi Sayin.

First Wolf, Second Wolf, and Third Wolf moved to intercept the assault.

PUNG! PEONG! PEONG!

Sword qi collided with sword qi, canceling each other out in mid-air.

Another wave of attacks was blocked by other members of the Thirteen Evil Wolves, who rotated their positions as if taking turns. The fiends persistently aimed only for Bi Sayin, while the Thirteen Evil Wolves defended him with perfect coordination.

This was a battle of four against fourteen. The only reason the lopsided fight was even possible was because of the fiends' inner arts. They were unleashing sword qi with an astonishing and relentless pace.

At first, Bi Sayin had assumed the fight would end quickly. He believed that using inner arts so recklessly would surely deplete their qi centers.

However, the fiends' inner arts showed no signs of running dry.

Their attacks were not the only tricky part. Whenever the Thirteen Evil Wolves tried to counterattack, the four black-clad figures would dodge the sword qi with bizarre movements. Their feet were slightly off the ground, so it was more like they were flying. Their gliding motion was a technique he had never seen before.

That wasn't all. The black and blue light that emanated from the lanterns carried a dark energy. It not only suppressed one's spirit but also slowed one's movements.

"Back!"

At Bi Sayin's command, the Thirteen Evil Wolves retreated another three jang. It might have looked like they were being pushed back by the fiends' momentum, but that was not the case.

It was a deliberate retreat orchestrated by Bi Sayin.

While fighting, Bi Sayin had been focusing on a single detail. He knew these fiends were not ordinary martial artists. The shadow-like cords connecting them to the palanquin were the reason they could perform such incredible movements and endlessly unleash sword qi.

Let's see how much longer they can get!

To find the answer, Bi Sayin had been continuously backing away. Surprisingly, the cords kept stretching even after they had completely left the grounds of the Thousand Flower Palace.

In any case, there was no harm in the cords getting longer. A longer cord presented more opportunities to cut it. Surely the inner arts being transmitted through them would diminish, not increase.

But as if to prove him wrong, an even fiercer and more powerful sword qi raged from the four black-clad figures.

Fortunately, the Thirteen Evil Wolves were the elite of the elite. They handled the situation skillfully without panicking, even though their opponents were attacking in a way that defied all common sense.

[First Wolf! We have to cut those!]

[I agree.]

[I'll cut the one on the far left! Have the others focus their attacks on the remaining three!]

[Yes, Young Alliance Chairman!]

Bi Sayin and the Thirteen Evil Wolves, who had been only dodging, launched a simultaneous counterattack.

SHWIK! SHWIK! SHWIK! SHWIK! SHWIK! SHWIK!

The Thirteen Evil Wolves unleashed sword qi in unison to provide cover. At that moment, Bi Sayin kicked off the ground and rushed toward the black-clad figure on the far left.

Bi Sayin used his movement arts to dodge the black-clad figure's sword qi and then thrust his own sword forward.

SHWIIK!

The black-clad figure slid away quickly, dodging the attack.

Having moved past him, Bi Sayin twisted his body and brought his sword down. His target was not the man, but the black cord connected to his body.

Just then, the black cord rippled like water and evaded the attack.

Bi Sayin relentlessly pursued the cord, while the black-clad figure fiercely attacked Bi Sayin. The other black-clad figures couldn't help him, as the Thirteen Evil Wolves were now pouring all their pent-up attacks on them.

"……"

Blood spurted from Bi Sayin's shoulder. He had thrown himself forward, ready for injury, and he had definitely reaped the reward.

CHWAAAK!

The cord of the leftmost black-clad figure was severed. It thrashed wildly like a sliced snake as black smoke spewed from the cut end.

Inside the smoke, Bi Sayin and the black-clad figure crossed paths.

SHWIIIIK!

PUAAAK!

Blood sprayed out from within the smoke. It was gushing from the black-clad figure's chest. With his cord cut, the man was no match for Bi Sayin.

As the black-clad figure collapsed and died, the lantern he was holding went out.

Having lost their comrade, the remaining three black-clad figures let out monstrous shrieks. A wail like a ghost's cry then echoed from the lanterns they held.

SWAAAAAAAAK!

The demonic energy created by the dark evil arts shot out from the lanterns and swept over them.

First Wolf shouted.

"Deploy the Ghost Destroying Formation!"

At his command, the Thirteen Evil Wolves gathered around Bi Sayin and deployed a sword formation. The powerful energy that unfolded from the completed formation blocked the incoming demonic energy.

As the spreading evil energy was blocked, the ghostly wail from the lanterns grew even more sorrowful.

Bi Sayin did not miss the opportunity that presented itself the moment their attack was thwarted.

Bi Sayin, First Wolf, Second Wolf, and Third Wolf, four men in total, launched themselves forward at the same time.

First Wolf kicked off the ground and rushed forward, aiming directly for the second black-clad figure. Second Wolf aimed for the black cord, and Third Wolf aimed for where he predicted the man would dodge.

The man dodged the Third Wolf, but Bi Sayin was waiting right where he moved.

SEOGEOK! PUAAAK!

He collapsed, blood spouting from his neck where his head had been severed. Drenched in blood, they launched themselves again. Having been together for so long, they understood each other with just a look. They had years of experience that could overcome limitless inner arts.

They did not let go of the advantage they had seized.

"The Thirteen Flying Swords!"

At First Wolf's cry, the Thirteen Evil Wolves simultaneously unleashed their sword qi. Thirteen strands of sword qi flew toward the third black-clad figure as fast as light.

The black-clad figure weaved through the sword qi as if performing acrobatics. It was a truly unbelievable and dazzling display of movement.

Just then, someone shouted.

"Over here, you bastard!"

When the third black-clad figure turned, First Wolf was already striking down the cord connected to him.

PAPAPAPA!

The severed cord spewed black smoke like blood and thrashed madly.

When the black-clad figure turned his head again, he saw twelve streams of sword qi reflected in his eyes, flying right at him. This time, he couldn't dodge.

PUKPUKPUKPUKPUKPUKPUKPUKPUK!

As the sword qi pierced his body all at once, the severed cord thrashed one last time. Then the light in the lantern he held also went out.

The fourth black-clad figure could not help him. He was locked in a confrontation of inner arts with Bi Sayin, who had rushed to block him.

The two men's palms were pressed against each other in mid-air.

SWAAAAAAK!

The black cord connecting the last black-clad figure to the palanquin swelled up. An immense amount of inner arts flowed into the black-clad figure's body, pushing Bi Sayin back.

Bi Sayin gritted his teeth and held on. His opponent's inner arts were tremendous.

Bi Sayin looked at First Wolf. Without a word, he knew what the look in his eyes meant.

This is it!

Without hesitation, First Wolf swung his sword and severed the black-clad figure's arm.

SEOGEOK!

"Uwaaack!"

Blood gushed from the severed arm. The Thirteen Evil Wolves rushed in and hacked him to pieces.

First Wolf looked down at the corpses strewn on the ground and said coldly.

"These bastards! Who did they think we were?"

And with that, the last of the lanterns went out.

Bi Sayin asked everyone.

"Are you all right?"

"We're fine."

Bone was visible on the shoulder of the Eleventh Wolf, who had been injured by sword qi.

"It's just a scratch."

"If that's 'just a scratch', then I can't even begin to complain," the Eleventh Wolf laughed awkwardly at Bi Sayin's words.

First Wolf treated Bi Sayin's shoulder, and the Twelfth Wolf treated the Eleventh Wolf's shoulder. Fortunately, neither of them used their sword with that arm.

Bi Sayin said to everyone, "There's a secret in the palanquin the cords were connected to."

No matter how much dark evil arts they displayed, the inner arts they used were real.

Could someone inside the palanquin have sent that much inner arts? That was impossible. The four black-clad figures had attacked by pouring out a literally infinite amount. This was not an amount a single person could produce.

Besides, isn't that palanquin over there fighting Geom Mugeuk right now?

Bi Sayin, who had been lost in thought for a moment, made a decision.

"We're not going to help the Young Cult Leader."

Bi Sayin said as he walked into the darkness.

"We will find the secret of that palanquin. It must be somewhere nearby."

The Thirteen Evil Wolves followed him quietly.

"Wager that palanquin."

At Geom Mugeuk's words, the laughter of the Queen of Darkness could be heard from inside the palanquin.

"A wager is only established when both sides have something to bet, isn't it?"

"That's right."

"The Young Cult Leader is about to die, so what can you possibly bet?"

"Why are you making such a fuss over one hit? It's natural to take a blow or two in a fight."

Geom Mugeuk was still relaxed.

"I'll bet my mouth. How about it? You'll never be bored with this mouth around."

"I'd probably get an ulcer instead."

Meeting leisure with leisure. A soft laugh seemed to come from the palanquin, and then a calm voice flowed out.

"Young Cult Leader."

After a brief pause, the Queen of Darkness added, "You've lost. You won't be able to save anyone today. Not even yourself."

As she finished speaking, the Brawling King stepped forward.

Geom Mugeuk spoke to the Faceless Warriors who had been shielding him.

"All of you, return to your positions."

However, none of the Faceless Warriors moved. They had judged that the Young Cult Leader was in a disadvantageous situation.

The one enraged by this sight was the Brawling King.

"You unpleasant things!"

Just looking at them was unpleasant, and now they were blocking his way.

"I'll send you all to hell!"

The Brawling King threw a punch toward the Faceless Warriors and Geom Mugeuk.

PAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAPA!

He had unleashed the Chaos Lightning Dance of the Revolving Wind Cloud Fist, imbued with the ultimate inner arts. Dozens of fists flew toward the Faceless Warriors.

The Faceless Warriors blocking Geom Mugeuk did not dodge. Instead, they unleashed the Evil Shadow Finger in unison.

SHUKSHUKSHUKSHUKSHUKSHUKSHUK!

However, their Evil Shadow Finger could not break through the Brawling King's Chaos Lightning Dance.

PAPAPAPAPAPAPAK.

The fist-shaped enhanced qi shattered the finger qi bullets and poured down on them.

The Faceless Warriors did not dodge, even at the very end. It was their will to protect the Young Cult Leader, even if it meant blocking with their bodies. Because their masks wore smiles, they looked truly insane.

KWANG! KWAANG! KWANG! KWAANG!

A series of ear-splitting explosions followed, and the ground shook.

The Faceless Warriors stared with astonished eyes at the scene unfolding before them. Under normal circumstances, their bodies should have been blown to pieces.

SEUUT! SEUSEUSEUT! SEUSEU! SEUSEUSEUSEUT!

The incoming fist-shaped enhanced qi was melting before their eyes. It was truly melting like ice.

Something had been erected in front of them. It was a single wall that blocked the terrifying attack.

This was the Impenetrable Demonic Wall of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

Before the eyes of the Faceless Warriors, all the fists unleashed by the Chaos Lightning Dance melted away.

"This damned Nine Calamities Demonic Art!"

Geom Mugeuk replied to the Brawling King's subdued words.

"I want to make bets and get along with you all, but you people keep making me put up walls."

The Faceless Warriors all performed a clasped hands greeting and bowed their heads, paying their respects to the Nine Calamities Demonic Art. Then they turned and looked at Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk smiled at them and said, "Thank you for protecting me."

The Faceless Warriors were moved. The Young Cult Leader had deployed the Impenetrable Demonic Wall for them, a technique he hadn't used even while taking a beating himself. They were even more thrilled that the martial art that saved their lives was the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

Now, their smiles would surely become even brighter when Geom Mugeuk visited the Valley of Evil to meet the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"Now, trust me and get up there."

Without hesitation, the Faceless Warriors leaped up onto the trees and walls. All the while, the eyes in the darkness facing them remained in their positions.

The Brawling King and the Queen of Darkness said nothing. They looked astonished by the power of the Impenetrable Demonic Wall. He had previously been forced to use the Dark Path Returning Art to dodge both the Great Annihilation Stance and the Human Destroying Stance. Now, seeing this Impenetrable Demonic Wall, they were overwhelmed by its majesty.

The calm voice of the Queen of Darkness came from the palanquin.

"I see now why the Nine Calamities Demonic Art is called the Greatest of All Time demonic art."

"Don't be scared. It's only at the seventh level. Let's have a proper round."

Geom Mugeuk provoked the Brawling King again. He hoped the man would fight against his Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

Just then, the cords stretching out from the palanquin began to thrash before going limp. The other cords did the same.

How could Geom Mugeuk not know what that meant?

"Looks like bad news for you."

As a faint smile formed on Geom Mugeuk's lips, the Queen of Darkness's voice turned cold.

"Then I suppose I must deliver some bad news to the Young Cult Leader as well."

As an unknown incantation began to flow from the palanquin, the surrounding air changed.

The Faceless Warriors, perched on the tree branches, all looked around. Something invisible began to gather from all directions. It was darkness. A darkness given life gathered like storm clouds. It was a visible darkness, a darkness within the darkness.

It was a sight that neither Geom Mugeuk nor the Faceless Warriors had ever seen before.

From the palanquin, the low, ear-tickling incantation continued. The eyes in the distant darkness all widened in excitement.

The gathered darkness formed a shape in the air above the palanquin. It was dark, yet transparent. Dark, yet shimmering. What the darkness created was the form of a woman. Within the darkness, a delicate light, like the tip of an artist's brush, flowed and formed her facial features.

The woman thus created floated in mid-air.

The Faceless Warriors, and the eyes in the darkness, all stared at the woman made of darkness.

Darkness was shining within the darkness.

"All life shall return to darkness!"

The voice of the Queen of Darkness came from the woman made of darkness. If her previous voice was soft and alluring, this one was deep and mysterious.

The moment her words ended.

SAAAAAAAAAA.

The woman descended into the Brawling King's body. And the Brawling King and the darkness merged into one. The woman's form appeared superimposed on the Brawling King's body like a transparent shadow. When the Brawling King raised his hand, the woman of darkness raised her hand as well. They were two, yet one. One, yet two.

This was the Queen of Darkness's unique ultimate technique, the Darkness Descending Art.

The Queen of Darkness had descended upon the Brawling King, who had already returned far stronger than before. He now exuded a momentum incomparably stronger than when he had absorbed the black energy earlier.

"It was a close match even when you fought me alone, so what will you do now? We're going to fight you as two."

Her voice flowing out while she was superimposed over the Brawling King was a truly bizarre sight.

Just then, a deep voice cut through the darkness.

"So are we."

Someone crossed the night sky with fluttering robes and landed beside Geom Mugeuk. A white mask that suited the darkness perfectly. It was none other than the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"You've come?"

"Am I late?"

"You're right on time."

At the appearance of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, the Faceless Warriors all performed a clasped hands greeting to show their respect. Joy and an incredibly deep loyalty could be felt in their eyes.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. The two eyes within the eyeholes of the mask were shining clearly.

"I even made a bet that the Smiling Demon wouldn't make it on time."

"I dislike dogs that bite people."

Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's words. He had always fought difficult battles with the Smiling Demon. And he had a premonition that today's battle would be more difficult than any he had fought with him before.

Nevertheless, he wasn't scared at all. Because he would be fighting alongside his Demon Supreme, with whom no words were needed.

"I've won the bet. That palanquin is mine now."

Merged with the Brawling King, the Queen of Darkness said softly.

"Nothing will change tonight."

A deep, beautiful darkness shimmered over the Brawling King's fierce face.

"We'll see about that. I happen to have a knack for changing things."

Geom Mugeuk walked forward, side-by-side with the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. As he walked, he drew the Black Demon Sword and let it hang. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon lightly flicked the blade with his finger.

"……"

A clear metallic sound rang out into the darkness.