Chapter Twenty-Two: The Unique Pleasure of Drinking After Killing (Part Two)

Petal Moon stepped into the darkness so thick it felt nearly tangible, his robes fluttering in the night. Ever since South Wind Wave entered the Spirit Realm, Petal Moon had constantly shrouded himself in spiritual power, wary of being sensed or investigated by the famed South Wind Wave, who was said to merge with the wind itself. Yesterday, out on the grasslands, Petal Moon had distinctly felt South Wind Wave's probing gaze, but his protective aura had forced the other to retreat.

Tonight, Petal Moon was compelled to let his spiritual energy disperse, blending himself once more into the natural world. Only by doing so could he sense the shifting energies between heaven and earth, and thus locate the ruthless killer lurking in the shadows.

Zuo Hou walked alone down the pitch-black corridor. The heated argument from earlier still left him unsettled. Virtually all the envoys had demanded the Beast Sect dispatch its elite Beast Cavalry to join the battle, but this was something the Sect Leader would never permit. Faced with the others’ accusations and fury, Zuo Hou was powerless, left only to justify and deflect—yet all seemed so feeble and weak. Considering this might be humanity’s critical moment, Zuo Hou even began to doubt the Sect Leader’s decision.

The night was deep, the moonlight hazy. As a breeze swept by, Zuo Hou suddenly felt a chill, goosebumps rising on his back. He paused, staring at a shadow not far ahead, every sense on alert. The shadow was long and straight, radiating a murderous intent.

Zuo Hou raised his head, following the shadow’s direction, his breathing slowing, fists clenched tight. When the object finally came into view, his tense nerves relaxed—it was merely the silhouette of a tree branch.

He stood dazed for a moment, then hastened his pace toward his quarters. Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching him from the darkness, ready at any moment to strike with a fatal sword.

Seeing the lights still burning in his lodgings, and hearing the knights’ conversation in the adjacent room, Zuo Hou let out a long breath of relief. But then he frowned, wondering—why was he so frightened? The boy was just a youth, and with the Sixth Elder present, could he really overturn the heavens?

With this thought, Zuo Hou regained his composure and pushed open the door. The Sixth Elder sat unmoving at the desk, his heavy armor concealing a battle-hardened cultivator of great power and experience.

“Greetings, Sixth Elder,” Zuo Hou said, gently closing the door behind him. Suddenly, his peripheral vision caught a piece of broken wood at the door’s edge—the cut was smooth as glass.

A chilling murderous aura enveloped Zuo Hou. “Impossible!” he screamed inwardly. The Sixth Elder, whose strength rivaled a Demon King, could not possibly be killed so silently. Zuo Hou spun around, eyes on the elder.

The oil lamp before the Sixth Elder flickered and danced. He sat rigid at the desk, unmoving. The sturdy armor, once a symbol of safety, now filled Zuo Hou with dread, for he couldn’t tell if the person inside was still alive—or even if it was still the Sixth Elder.

“Sixth Elder…” The words died in Zuo Hou’s throat.

The armored elder slowly slumped forward onto the desk, and from behind him, a dark-haired youth appeared.

Liuyue Ming flashed Zuo Hou a wicked smile, pulling his sword from the Sixth Elder’s heart and straightening.

“How… can this be? How could you kill the Sixth Elder?” Zuo Hou stared at Liuyue Ming in disbelief, wanting to shout, but only daring to whisper. If this youth could slay the elder, any loud cry would only make him another victim of the sword.

“Was he strong?” Liuyue Ming stepped out from behind the elder. “Too bad he couldn’t evade my sword.”

Suddenly, a cracking sound echoed, followed by the rustle of shattering fragments. Within the heavy armor, the Sixth Elder’s body broke apart into countless shards of ice.

Zuo Hou’s eyes and mouth gaped wide, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

“You needn’t be so afraid. I’m not that powerful—I simply used the Frost Sword Technique against him,” Liuyue Ming raised his brows. “Have you heard of it? Seals every opponent in ice, shatters them with frost.”

As Liuyue Ming drew closer, Zuo Hou felt himself falling into an endless abyss, beneath which lay infinite murderous intent. He stammered, “Sword Sect… one of the three major sword arts… I know. Why… kill me…”

Liuyue Ming stopped in front of him, gazing at Zuo Hou’s bloodless, pallid face, and whispered, “Do I need a reason to kill you?” His right hand slowly lifted the sword, and in the moment before he struck, he seemed to ask both Zuo Hou and himself, “Does one need a reason to kill?”

With a ringing sound, the sword struck Zuo Hou’s left chest, but didn’t pierce through. Instead, it broke with a crisp crack—there was a heart-protecting mirror beneath.

“So you’re already at the end of your strength.” Zuo Hou’s face returned to normal, his legs steady. He’d already realized that, no matter how strong this youth, he couldn’t have killed the Sixth Elder utterly silently.

If the elder had been slain without a sound, then this youth must have suffered as well.

A fierce look entered Zuo Hou’s eyes. “No matter how strong you are, you’re still just a child—prepare to die!”

Liuyue Ming glanced at the faint golden glow on Zuo Hou’s right fist and cursed, “Idiot.” He dodged swiftly.

Seeing his attack drive Liuyue Ming back, Zuo Hou felt elated. He really was spent! Without hesitation, he launched a double-fisted strike at Liuyue Ming.

As Zuo Hou’s domineering, ferocious punch swept forward, Liuyue Ming’s face remained cold and expressionless. He swung his sword.

The blade seemed to pierce space, cleaving the air apart. A crescent-shaped wave broke through Zuo Hou’s fierce punch, instantly slicing toward him.

Zuo Hou ducked, narrowly avoiding it. Yet his scalp felt cold—a layer of skin was sliced off his head, blood streaming down his face in a terrifying display.

After Liuyue Ming unleashed this sword, his movements faltered for an instant, convincing Zuo Hou that he truly was spent. Ignoring his wound, Zuo Hou stomped forward, closing the distance.

His punch, now even more brutal and fierce, seemed to warp the space it traveled, reaching a blinding speed. “Die!” Zuo Hou shouted.

But he immediately sensed something amiss, for Liuyue Ming’s icy face showed a faint, almost imperceptible smile—this was a trap! Realization dawned, but it was too late. His all-out punch was unstoppable.

Liuyue Ming’s sword became a streak of white light, stabbing at Zuo Hou even faster.

Zuo Hou’s heart sank to the depths. This youth was far too strong, able to unleash such a strike even now. Though he’d shouted loudly, the battle burst forth in an instant—by the time others arrived, he’d likely already be cut in half.

He could almost see his body split, blood spraying, and closed his eyes in despair.

Yet the sword’s light was intercepted by a purer green glow.

Petal Moon’s right hand, two fingers lightly pinched Liuyue Ming’s blade. He raised his head and said, “You’ve succumbed to darkness.”

Liuyue Ming smiled at Petal Moon, replying, “All the world has fallen into darkness without realizing it. To call others devils is pointless. If I am a devil, what of it?”

Petal Moon sighed softly. “Why must you follow his path?”

“I’ve already closed my eyes. My purpose exists only in the darkness,” Liuyue Ming withdrew his sword, and seeing Petal Moon distracted, darted through the window to escape.

Outside, two screams echoed, followed by the knights’ curses and rebukes, the clash of weapons unsheathing.

Petal Moon and Zuo Hou rushed out. Two knights lay dead on the ground, throats sealed by a single sword stroke, and in the vast darkness, Liuyue Ming’s shadow was nowhere to be found.

“Why aren’t you chasing him?” Zuo Hou shouted at Petal Moon.

“It’s not that he doesn’t want to, but Liuyue Ming has already merged with the darkness; there’s no trace of his aura,” Jin Buhuan said, approaching.

Zuo Hou opened his mouth, then looked at the two bodies on the ground, ultimately choosing silence.

“Is he really that strong?” Jin Buhuan gazed into the night, sighing. “He’s only at the lower ranks of Demon General, yet the Sword Sect’s techniques are truly extraordinary.”

Petal Moon remained silent, observing the noisy crowd in solitary contemplation. He was still pondering Liuyue Ming’s words before departing. A night wind swept by, causing Petal Moon’s robes to flutter. Suddenly, his heart brightened, and he looked far into the darkness, where a shadow seemed to be fleeing rapidly.

So that’s it—Petal Moon realized a possibility and turned to leave.

PS: These chapters have a wonderful atmosphere. If you like them, please cast a recommendation vote...