Chapter 134. The Pros and Cons of Variables

Because the surroundings were dark, the mud rising from the swamp felt taller. Even so, the Sword Saint acted cautiously. It was because the Alliance Leader had warned them repeatedly to be wary of the swamp before leaving. He had said that those who cast dark arts were beneath the swamp, and if one set foot inside, they could be dragged into the hall in an instant.

Chwaaak.

As the party stood their ground on the narrow patch of land and did not cross the swamp, the mud, as if impatient, churned violently as though trying to seize them.

Kwaaang.

Everyone held their position as the Alliance Leader had instructed. Though it was a very narrow ground for robust martial artists to stand upon, it was not a great problem. They carefully cut down the mud pillars that the Blood Sect members threw like a net. Making sure they would not splash onto the person beside them.

Except for just one person.

Pak. Paak. Pak.

A small blade made five holes in a towering mud pillar. Losing its strength, the mud froze in place, then toppled forward.

"Ah, damn it..."

Along with the Sword Saint's lament, a rain of mud poured down from the sky.

Chwaaaaak.

With nowhere to evade, everyone was soaked helplessly in black mud.

Even the composed Taoist Master Muso wiped at his eyes and rebuked.

"... No wonder you are called the Black Sky Demon."

"Is it that Taoists, with their peaceful hearts, also move so slowly? How could you not dodge that?"

As the Black Sky Demon acted frivolously with a clean face, the two Taoists cast him cold looks. They did not point out that it was not only the Taoists but also the third son of the Zhuge Clan, the Four Seasons Hall Lord, who was drenched in mud.

Muso gave up and lowered his sword.

Leaving the situation to the rampaging Black Sky Demon, he turned to look at the Hall Lord.

"Hall Lord, still nothing from the west gate? The fact that nothing is emerging makes me even more uneasy."

The Hall Lord, seemingly of the same thought, nodded with his mud-stained face.

"Yes. It is strange. According to the Alliance Leader's words, they should all have crossed over by now..."

As he was twirling the sand pouch at his waist, the Hall Lord suddenly fell silent. He stepped forward and swung the iron thread widely. A mud pillar approaching in the fierce wind bent greatly and toppled backward.

Kwaang.

The space where nothing had been visible now revealed a clear outline, soaked in mud. Seeing that, the Sword Saint furrowed his brow and asked.

"Has the entrance opened?"

No sooner was the question asked than something burst out through the dark outlines like a swarm of bees.

"It seems to be the Blood Sect members of the west gate that the Alliance Leader mentioned."

It was an unnecessary answer. The flying poisoned needles and throwing stars already revealed their identity.

A barrage of murderous attacks poured forth. At that, a martial artist of the Tang Clan, famed for poison and hidden weapons, twisted his face.

"They charge without a sound. No manners at all."

The Black Sky Demon, speaking without self-awareness, moved his hand.

Kwaaaang.

One of his flying daggers veered off course, deflecting the rain of needles. Then, circling back, it pierced through the back of a Blood Sect member who had raised a dagger against him.

Puuuk.

As one Blood Sect member collapsed, five more appeared behind him.

They were skilled in qinggong. Their motions were extremely swift.

Before anyone realized, more than half of them had already pressed forward, stepping between the rocks rising from the swamp, drawing close at hand.

While those who arrived first distracted the Black Sky Demon's gaze, others landed on the ground.

Kaang. Kang.

Yet, there was no real sense of tension.

"Keugh!"

The Sword Saint cut down the bodies of those who dropped at his side. Seeing the crimson sword-light flashing nearby, it seemed the ones rushing at Muso fared no differently.

"Is this all?"

The Tang Clan Head even had leisure to survey the surroundings. In a puzzled tone, he asked,

"It doesn't seem so dangerous here, so why did the Alliance Leader say the west gate was perilous?"

The Four Seasons Hall Lord could not know the answer. Yet, agreeing with the Tang Clan Head's doubt, he murmured as if voicing his own thought.

"Perhaps a variable arose at the west gate."

"A variable?"

"The Alliance Leader was worried that the Blue Blood Hall Lord might have returned there. Perhaps it is that he was absent."

The Hall Lord quietly added,

"The Alliance Leader cannot know everything about the Blood Sect."

The Tang Clan Head fell silent. Suddenly, the swamp had grown still.

The Hall Lord, sensing something amiss as well, turned his gaze. But he did not look to the swamp—he looked behind.

"... Do you perhaps hear that sound?"

"What sound?"

"It is like the sound of arrows brushing past, or perhaps a fierce wind. It was the sound heard at the boundary of the formation when the Alliance Leader departed, but now I hear the same sound from over there."

The Tang Clan Head strained his ears, but only the clash of battle nearby reached him and nothing else.

Yet the direction in which the Hall Lord had turned was disquieting. He was staring at the Night Pearl.

Beyond the boundary were the martial artists of the Zhuge Clan and Tang Hak.

Just as deep wrinkles formed on the Tang Clan Head's brow, the Black Sky Demon's shout was heard.

"Hall Lord! How much time remains?"

The Black Sky Demon, his hidden weapons all spent, frowned as he asked. The others also turned their eyes to the Hall Lord. He touched the sand at his waist before speaking. There was still sand left in the upper chamber.

"More than two quarters of an hour remain."

"Ah, time passes damnably slow."

The Black Sky Demon scowled.

"The Alliance Leader says this is the safest way, so I follow, but it is truly not to my taste."

"Grand Elder."

When the Black Sky Demon muttered carelessly, the Tang Clan Head softly called to him.

But the Hall Lord did not join their conversation.

The black water's surface was calm.

The Hall Lord placed his foot upon the soggy swamp and extended his senses.

"Hall Lord!"

Muso, noticing his strange act, cried out, but the Four Seasons Hall Lord only stepped deeper into the swamp.

The surface was still, yet beneath the mud, the flow of qi was noisier than ever. As if swarming insects were rushing about.

‘Forty-nine.’

There were forty-nine Blood Sect members hidden beneath the mud.

They were moving away. It was not a retreat. They were heading toward the open entrance.

The moment the Blood Sect members poured forth again at random—

Chwaaaak.

Mud pillars shot up from the swamp, crashing down upon the pouring Blood Sect members. Most evaded, but those caught were dragged into the swamp.

As the Alliance Leader had said, there were holes at the bottom of the swamp. At once, the presences of those hiding and those dragged down vanished together.

Zhuge In-hwi narrowed his eyes.

‘Why would it attack its own side?’

Finding it strange, Zhuge In-hwi watched the auras drawing near and furrowed his brow. Though they were closing in, they neither slowed their speed nor took a stance to attack. Rather, they quickened their pace, as though to pass straight through.

Realizing the situation, Zhuge In-hwi shouted to the martial artists standing behind him.

"Block the boundary so they cannot pass!"

Even as he shouted, the Blood Sect members swept past Zhuge In-hwi. And from the entrance, yet another swarm of Blood Sect members poured out. Zhuge In-hwi hastily swung the iron thread.

Chwaaaak.

The muddy ground split in the wind, collapsing upon the Blood Sect members heading for the land. But they seemed long accustomed to moving together; running as one body, they tore apart simultaneously.

The scattered foes landed on the ground like arrows raining from the sky.

Because the area was so narrow, the swordsmen could not even swing their blades widely, much less cast their sword energy.

The Black Sky Demon, unable to retrieve the hidden weapons he had lost to the swamp, had to block the enemies with shuriken.

They stood back to back, guarding the gate, but if even the smallest gap opened, the foes—like mayflies—could slip past in an instant.

The Four Seasons Hall Lord stepped into the mud, imitating the Blood Sect members, and raised pillars of earth with the wind. He blocked those who had just crossed the entrance from setting foot on the ground.

Yet half of the Blood Sect fought to enter the formation where the Alliance Leader had passed, while the other half charged toward the formation where the Night Pearl had been set.

Kwaaang.

Muso, who had hastily changed direction, blocked them.

"Damn it!"

Unable to unleash his temper as he pleased, Muso twisted his fierce face. He shouted to the Tang Clan Head beside him.

"Tang Clan Head! It seems the brats have tampered with the formation!"

"I have eyes as well. I can see where they're heading."

An anxious look showed on the Tang Clan Head's face.

The Alliance Leader had ordered them never to touch the formation, lest the rear be cut off.

The Blood Sect members from the east gate could change course, not gathering at the west gate but surging into their rear.

The Tang Clan Head's worry was not about his own retreat being blocked. Behind them was the Young Lord.

And those currently with the Young Lord were burdens. It was the Young Lord who had to protect them, and that unsettled the Tang Clan Head's heart.

The Tang Hak he knew was not someone who would flee according to circumstance, but one who would wait no matter what, ensuring the retreat was not cut off.

"If only he were the sort to run, I would not worry."

Just then, the Tai Chi Sword Saint furrowed his brow and shouted.

"The formation at the rear may have been disturbed, so Brother and Tang Clan Head, it would be best if you go. There's no guarantee those said to have come from the east gate will arrive here. The retreat may be cut off, so go ahead and break through the rear first!"

"For once, you speak sense. Follow after us as soon as the time is fulfilled—we will go on ahead!"

"I leave it to you, Sword Saint."

Unlike Tang Min, who spoke at length, the Tang Clan Head turned at once, not even waiting to finish his salute. Understanding the Tang Clan Head's state of mind, the Sword Saint did not rebuke the Black Sky Demon, but only nodded, allowing him to leave quickly.

Tang Min and the Tang Clan Head hurried across to the rear of the formation.

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