931 Corpse Fire (1/2)
Wild Horse was already tired of killing, but he didn't want to stop. He could no longer find a suitable opponent. Repeatedly swinging his sword had become a way to kill time. This made him have the desire to speak.
His 'tongue,' however, was in someone else's mouth.
She was standing beside Wild Horse with a small lamp in her hand. In the dim light, corpses were scattered everywhere like the scene of destruction after a tornado. With her head held high, she looked quite excited and a bit proud. ”Dragon King, I know that you are here. Why not show up and have a fight to end the duel that you had with Wild Horse several years ago? This time, the two of you don't have to circle around…”
A swordsman appeared quietly and launched an attack from behind Wild Horse. He was fully confident in his swordsmanship, to the point that it almost reached the level of worship. With this strong belief, he had killed many people in the dark underground palace, so many that he thought that he could challenge Wild Horse.
Everyone who had died under Wild Horse's sword had thought the same way.
Wild Horse turned slightly, causing the sword in his hand to pierce his attacker's body. It was so simple and effortless that it was like an executioner killing a prisoner who had been tied up.
Wild Horse finally recalled this feeling. His childhood memory of his family being slaughtered came back to life, but he didn't feel sad at all, because he had become those golden roc killers. They had brandished their sabers skilfully and coldly, completely indifferent towards the fresh lives as if they were deities in heaven who could manipulate all living beings at will.
This was the Ceasing and Arising Swordsmanship, a sword technique that Wild Horse had comprehended. In the Waning Moon Sword Manual that Lotus had passed to him, he had noticed the words 'Ceasing and Arising.' The two words had appeared randomly throughout the obscure explanatory notes and were quite inconspicuous, but they impressed him a lot.
There was another corpse at her feet. ”There's only one true training method of the Death Sutra. Both you and Lotus are wrong.”
”Shameless Han Yuan, how dare you say the Master Commander's name.” In the darkness came Han Fen's angry voice.
Han Yuan laughed. ”Han Fen, the Dragon King has come with you, right? Everyone can call out everyone's name. That's what names are for. Lotus taught us the wrong swordsmanship, so she no longer deserves to be the Master Commander. Wild Horse is the only hope of Waning Moon Hall.”
”Wild Horse is a maniac. He wants to kill all the disciples of Waning Moon Hall.” Han Fen became even angrier.
Bursts of laughter rang out in the seemingly empty darkness. It was really funny to hear a disciple of the Waning Moon Hall call another one a 'maniac,' as they were usually the maniacs from an outsider's point of view.
”You misunderstand Wild Horse.” Han Yuan was happy to be Wild Horse's mouthpiece and explained in his stead, ”Wild Horse is eliminating the impure and retaining the pure. There are too many wastrels in Waning Moon Hall. For example, you are one such wastrel. Apart from being used as a stepping stone, what is the use of keeping you? Ten or fewer top swordsmen are more powerful than hundreds of ordinary disciples.”
”Nonsense.” In the face of someone even more unreasonable than herself, Han Fen appeared to fumble, unable to think of a proper reason with which to refute the other side.
”This is the rule of Waning Moon Hall. Han Fen, have you forgotten that you yourself have killed many fellow disciples to survive until now? Wild Horse didn't do this on a whim. He's the one who really understands the essence of Waning Moon Hall. As for Lotus, huh, she actually wants Waning Moon Hall to join in the struggle for hegemony. Does she think that she can gain the Dragon King's favor by doing so? What a ridiculous idea! She sees Waning Moon Hall as a tool to do whatever she wants, but she's wrong and Wild Horse's right.”
The more Han Yuan said, the more she became excited. As she glanced at the blurred figure in the dark, tears of happiness filled her eyes. She really adored this one-armed man.
Han Fen was rendered speechless. Han Yuan continued monologuing, but changed subjects. ”Dragon King, don't you want to see the real Death Sutra Swordsmanship? 'Death Sutra.' That's what you and Lotus call it, right? From now on, it will be called the 'Ceasing and Arising Swordsmanship.' Only Wild Horse has understood the essence of the Ceasing and Arising Swordsmanship. Since he has mastered it, what's the use of keeping those disciples around? Dragon King, show yourself. You'll see the truth when you die.”
The Dragon King didn't show up. Instead, a round of applause rang out in the darkness. ”Well said, well said. You really are Wild Horse's… It's hard to describe. By the way, what kind of 'sword' did Wild Horse use to teach you the so-called truth?”
Han Yuan's expression immediately changed. ”Old Man Mu? You haven't practiced the Ceasing and Arising Swordsmanship. You don't deserve to be here.”
”Alas, it's really a pity that I never had an opportunity to learn such a formidable technique. There's no greater pain in life than this. I'm really unfortunate. When I see these corpses on the ground, I feel even more unfortunate. They died so young and so fast, even faster than me. It's really unfair!”
”Attention, disciples of the Waning Moon Hall and the Essence Pavilion. Kill Old Man Mu and Han Fen right now. She also doesn't know the swordsmanship and doesn't deserve to die under Wild Horse's sword,” Han Yuan ordered coldly.
The disciples, who had been used as tools to improve Wild Horse's swordsmanship, still treated the order as if it were god's decree. As soon as Han Yuan's voice fell, a series of faint sounds came from the dark corner that was reminiscent of someone sighing.
Someone fell, but Old Man Mu's voice came from another direction. ”Wow, amazing. There's no need to see it. I know that the Ceasing and Arising Swordsmanship is amazing simply by hearing its name. Brother Wild Horse, you finally created a set of martial arts skills. The two years that you spent with me weren't a waste of time. Heh heh, you've finally gone through all sorts of ordeals. Now, you have both the swordsmanship and women. If you can share them with me, I can teach…”
Han Yuan acted, but as soon as she moved, she fell headfirst towards the ground. The lamp also fell to the ground and lit her clothes.
Wild Horse had killed her. Han Yuan understood Wild Horse's thoughts but couldn't understand his aversion to voices. He had had enough of the endless nagging. Everything could be expressed with the saber in his hand. What was the use of talking so much?
A more annoying voice, however, was still incessantly sounding out. ”Brother Wild Horse, there's no need to be so heartless. I was just joking. In fact, your woman and I were innocent. Honestly, if I remember clearly, then when I enjoyed myself at Waning Moon Hall, she hadn't been born yet. Ehh, could she be one of my daughters? Brother Wild Horse, you killed my daughter. Uh-huh … Good son-in-law, call me father-in-law and I'll forgive you…”
After the clothes were burnt away, the fire became a bit weak. When it ate through the skin and came into contact with the fat, it grew bigger and bigger, igniting the surrounding corpses.