Chapter 36: The Attack on the Pill Sect
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
Under the dense veil of night, the capital city of Shengjing shimmered with an unbroken stretch of lantern light. Meanwhile, high above the darkened Mount Ni, a massive flying sword broke through the layered clouds, speeding noisily towards Thousand Marks Mountain.
Three Hall Masters were channeling their spiritual power to command the sword, ensuring its high-speed flight. The roaring winds battered their ears, forcing the disciples aboard into a tense silence, their breaths held in uneasy anticipation of what was to come.
“Who attacked the Pill Sect?”
“We only received their distress transmission; we have no clue who the perpetrators are,” replied Wang Xin An, shaking his head with a furrowed brow. He glanced at Ji You, who idly brushed his hand over the three long swords strapped at his waist.
Ji You carried seven swords in total, yet he had only brought three on this mission. For every additional sword, the strain on his spiritual consciousness increased. Some battles demanded swift, decisive strikes, while others required prolonged endurance. Ji You’s daily training focused on strengthening his spiritual control so that he could balance both speed and longevity in combat.
As time passed, the darkness of the night thickened, bringing with it a chilling air, accompanied by an indescribable scent that hinted at foreboding. One disciple peered into the distance and noticed that Shengjing had disappeared far behind them; below their feet stretched an endless expanse of wilderness.
“Prepare to land! Steady yourselves!”
“Remember, use spiritual energy to hover three feet above the ground when descending!”
At the calm yet commanding voice of Steward Qin, the flying sword, propelled by spiritual energy, tilted sharply downward, descending into an eerie mountain forest shrouded in mist. The disciples swiftly leapt to the ground, and the sword struck the earth with a thunderous crash, leaving a deep crater in the soil as dust flew into the air.
But no one spared the sword a glance. Before them, the mountain path lay strewn with over a dozen overturned carriages, their contents—precious pills—scattered everywhere. Yet, no Pill Sect disciples were in sight. In the distance, mountain fog swirled ominously, shadows darting within its depths, their numbers dauntingly dense.
“Your task is to rescue the disciples of the Pill Sect! Do not linger in combat!”
“We know nothing about our enemy. Don’t let your guard down and lose your lives!”
The three Stewards barked these orders before ascending into the air, heading towards the battlefield. The disciples followed suit, charging forward against the howling wind. Ji You unsheathed his three swords and leapt into the mysterious forest.
Strangely, despite the forest’s oppressive aura of bloodlust, there was no sound of combat. The unnerving silence set everyone on edge. Suddenly, a ghastly face emerged from the shadows, freezing the disciples in place.
It was grotesquely twisted, its features withered like decaying wood. Where eyes should have been were only two hollow, black voids. As it appeared, countless shadows surged forward, revealing themselves.
Malignant Beings. The forest was overrun with them.
The disciples of the Office of Affairs, far more experienced than their outer court counterparts, reacted quickly, their expressions stiffening only momentarily before drawing their swords decisively. Yet the Malignant Beings proved ferociously resilient. They lunged at the disciples with unrelenting force, attempting to slam them to the ground.
A resonant sword chant split the air. Those already engaged saw a figure moving gracefully into the fray. Waves of sword qi surged forward, carving out a narrow path through the horde.
Sword qi, if infused with spiritual energy, would dull against the enemy. But when focused entirely within the sword’s hilt, the blade’s sharpness could be maximized to pierce through anything. However, this technique required exceptionally crafted swords, as ordinary blades would quickly break under the strain.
Thankfully, none of the swords gifted to Ji You by the girls were subpar.
“Who is that?!”
“Ji You…”
Suspended mid-air, the three Stewards were visibly astonished. Although they were aware of Ji You’s status as a Sword Cultivator and his unconventional approach to swordsmanship, witnessing it firsthand was nothing short of extraordinary.
But this was no time for amazement. Steward Qin waved his hand, immediately ordering the disciples to follow the path Ji You had created and press forward. Meanwhile, Lu Qing Qiu, Bai Ru Long, and Qian Yun Xiao, who had been trailing behind, swiftly made their own decisions upon seeing the scene.
[I must shield Ji You!]
Sharing the same intent, they instinctively closed ranks around him. Many of the outer court disciples had only heard of Ji You’s legendary “three-sword style,” unable to imagine the ferocity of his attacks until now. He left his enemies no opportunity to breathe.
A sharp clash of metal echoed. Ji You’s sword qi finally encountered an opponent it couldn’t cut through.
It was a Malignant Being with crimson eyes, its body tougher than the rest. The creature blocked Ji You’s sword edge and retaliated with its clawed hands, laced with malevolent qi, aiming straight for his chest.
This time, the disciples witnessed Ji You’s famed second sword in action. A sword gifted by Lou Si Yi, which floated freely in the air, responded to his will, piercing cleanly through the creature’s heart with a resonant hum. Ji You’s expression remained unshaken as he recalled the sword, glancing briefly at the charred, grotesque corpse on the ground.
[Unfortunate. This wasn’t the one that attacked us that night.]
Unlike this mindless brute, the creature he remembered could dodge and fight with strategy. Though the Malignant Beings were physically powerful, they lacked intelligence, driven only by bloodlust. Even when pierced through, they continued their mindless attacks, making them inferior to the barbaric tribes of the Northern Plains.
“Bai Ru Long, behind you!”
Qian Yun Xiao cried out in alarm as another wave of creatures surged forward, surrounding them. Ji You cast a sidelong glance, sending out his third sword with a flick of his sleeve. The blade cleaved through the night, severing the claws of one of the creatures, but it still stumbled into Bai Ru Long, writhing in an unnervingly suggestive manner.
Instructor Wang arrived, decapitating the creature with a single strike. “If you can’t kill them, retreat! Don’t leave your back exposed to these things!” he barked.
“Understood…” Bai Ru Long stammered, his face pale.
Wang turned back, only to find Ji You cutting deeper into the horde, his swords carving a bloody path. “Ji You, don’t go too far! Find the Pill Sect disciples and return!”
“There are festive lanterns to the north of the mountain!”
“What?” Wang looked confused. [Lanterns? At a time like this?]
“The north side has villagers!” Ji You explained, his swords dancing as he continued forward. “Wherever the lanterns are, there are households!”
Wang took a deep breath. “Your mission is to find the surviving disciples of the Pill Sect!”
“They’re dead already. If you don’t send help, I’ll be dead too!” Ji You roared, striking down another creature before pressing onward. His swords returned briefly to his side before he sent them forward again, clearing a path drenched in blood.
From his vantage, Ji You could see a small village to the north adorned with lanterns, their dim light swaying in the wind. In the nearest household, one lantern hung askew, its colors faded, but its presence was oddly comforting. His sharp vision even caught the silhouette of children playing inside.
[Surviving is hard, yet some persist against all odds.]
His heart trembled briefly. He steeled himself and struck, severing the head of a Malignant Being in his path. Yet, the momentary lapse left him exposed. A clawed hand raked his shoulder, blood spilling freely onto his white robe.
With his spiritual energy focused entirely on controlling his swords, he had none left to shield his body. The injury, inevitable, stung fiercely.
Even worse, the commotion below had drawn the attention of the villagers. Doors opened as curious onlookers peered out, and a small child even slipped past an adult’s legs, staring innocently up the slope.
“Close your doors! Take the child inside!” Ji You shouted.
The villager hesitated, seeing only the vague silhouette of a swordsman in the distance. Ji You’s voice rose in anger. “Get inside, now!” Only then did the villagers panic, rushing to retrieve the child and shutting their doors tightly.
Blood continued to seep from Ji You’s wound, staining his robe a deep crimson. Despite his injuries, the Malignant Beings seemed drawn to him, swarming his position. The more he killed, the more they came, their numbers growing by the second.
[Are they all female or something?!]
Gritting his teeth, he sent his swords flying once more, carving a semicircle around him before redirecting the horde towards Instructor Wang and the reinforcements.
Wang and the others arrived just in time, cutting into the creatures and forming a defensive line. Lu Qing Qiu and her group joined shortly after, pushing forward to shield Ji You.
“Where are the three Hall Masters? And the inner court disciples? Use fire techniques already!” Ji You demanded.
“They’re searching the mountain for the Pill Sect disciples,” Wang replied.
“Have they found anything?”
“No. Not even corpses. They must have been taken, but it wasn’t the work of these creatures,” Wang said grimly. “This attack is being orchestrated by someone.” He then paused, noticing Ji You slumping against a tree. “Why are you sitting down?”
“You handle this for now. I need a break…” Ji You muttered, his breath ragged.
“?” Wang looked at him, incredulous.