Chapter v14c14

**The Heavenly Demons Seven**

Far away, a pair of eyes watched the confrontation. They had been fixed on the First Young Master since he entered the valley.

The eyes, sharp and predatory as a hawk’s, belonged to a man perched on the highest branch of a towering cedar tree, thirty zhang away from the epicenter of the clash. It was one of the few cedar trees in the Red Plum Valley, a stark contrast to the ubiquitous plum trees.

He stood tall and proud, his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the scene below. A strong wind buffeted the tree, but he stood firm, as if rooted to the ground. He wore a sleeveless black leather tunic that clung to his muscular frame, his body radiating a sharp, deadly aura. And on his back, he carried a strange, massive weapon, black as night.

“The Master has arrived.”

His lips, set in a grim line, parted, his voice flat and emotionless.

“Those who block his path shall die.”

His words were devoid of any trace of feeling, like the pronouncements of a machine.

“They deserve punishment. Shall we teach them a lesson?”

Another voice spoke from a lower branch. The speaker was toying with a whip, its tip adorned with a gleaming blade. The confrontation had not gone unnoticed. There were seven shadows in the tree, not just one.

“Would that be wise without the Master’s permission?”

One of the shadows asked, sounding more cautious than the others.

“If they’re skilled enough, they’ll survive. If not, they’ll die.”

They spoke of life and death with casual indifference, as if they held the power to decide the fate of others.

“What a waste of youth!”

A melodious voice, out of place among the grim figures, chimed in. There was a woman among them.

“Are you sure about this?”

A man in a tight-fitting black uniform, his arms crossed, nodded. He seemed to be the leader of the group.

“They dared to block the Master’s path. It is our duty to eliminate those who oppose him. The Master will approve.”

His loyalty was absolute. The others nodded in silent agreement.

The man drew a massive weapon from his back. It was a strange, curved blade, its shape resembling a giant, distorted “人” character. The blade was double-edged, sharp on both sides, except for the center, where he held it. It was a throwing weapon, a type of returning blade, designed to spin back to its owner after being thrown. He called it the Black Hawk Wing.

“Haa!”

He channeled his internal energy into the weapon.

His massive hand, rough and calloused, tightened around the blade, his knuckles turning white. The veins on his arm bulged, his muscles straining.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen the Black Wind Dance!”

One of his companions, a man wielding a spear, said, watching him with anticipation.

“Hah!”

He shouted, and the Black Hawk Wing soared into the air, spinning rapidly.

A deafening roar, a whirlwind of wind and energy, followed in its wake. It spun faster than a chariot wheel, a blur of black, cutting through the air.

As if on cue, the seven shadows vanished from the treetop.

The Black Hawk Wing hurtled towards its target, a deadly projectile, its sharp edges whistling like a cicada’s song.

“What’s that?”

Na Yerin was the first to react, her senses alert to the approaching danger. It was heading straight for Bi Ryu-yeon, who was still focused on the First Young Master, seemingly oblivious to the threat.

“Look out!”

But the projectile was faster than her words.

The giant, spinning blade sliced through the air, aiming to bisect Bi Ryu-yeon.

The ground exploded, dirt and pebbles flying, a deep gash appearing where the blade had struck.

“Aaaah!”

Yi Jin-seol screamed, her eyes wide with horror. She thought she had seen Bi Ryu-yeon being torn in half.

“He’s fine!”

Na Yerin was surprisingly calm. Bi Ryu-yeon’s body, split in two, dissolved into mist. There was no blood, no gore.

“An afterimage?”

Yi Jin-seol realized what had happened. Her skills weren’t good enough to track Bi Ryu-yeon’s movements.

Bi Ryu-yeon reappeared three zhang away from his original position.

The Black Hawk Wing, its momentum still strong, continued its destructive path, slicing through rocks and trees before its spin finally slowed.

Yi Jin-seol felt a chill run down her spine, watching the carnage.

She had never seen such a weapon or technique before. What kind of weapon could unleash such devastating power? She was both terrified and intrigued.

“What kind of weapon…”

But she didn’t get to finish her question.

The Black Hawk Wing, its energy depleted, circled in the air like a hawk, then turned towards the First Young Master. It was still dangerous, even in its weakened state.

A figure dashed past them, his movements as swift as an arrow. He leaped in front of the First Young Master, intercepting the Black Hawk Wing.

The blade spun towards him, but he caught it effortlessly, his body remaining still.

He stood firm, an unyielding wall.

“Who is he?”

But she didn’t have time to ask.

Another whistling sound, piercing the air, echoed through the valley. It was different from the previous sound, sharper, thinner, more precise.

“W-What’s that?!”

Yi Jin-seol flinched, as if the sound was directed at her. But she had nothing to worry about. The target was predetermined.

A spear, thrown with deadly accuracy, pierced the ground where Bi Ryu-yeon’s heart had been a moment ago. The spear’s momentum created a swirling vortex of air, disrupting Bi Ryu-yeon’s afterimage.

“Eek!”

Yi Jin-seol screamed again. She was still getting used to this. Her skills weren’t good enough to keep up with the rapid pace of the battle.

Bi Ryu-yeon’s afterimage dissolved into mist.

He reappeared a zhang away, lower this time.

Another spear, thrown with pinpoint accuracy, followed him.

But he was a step ahead, moving again before the spear could reach him.

Another spear, another near miss.

Yi Jin-seol watched, her heart pounding, her breath caught in her throat. It was like a deadly game of hide-and-seek. Every time a spear whistled through the air, she felt a jolt of fear, as if it were piercing her own heart. Her throat was dry, her body trembling. But her curiosity outweighed her fear, and she couldn’t tear her eyes away. She glanced at Na Yerin, whose hand she was clutching, but her eyes were calm and unreadable.

Bi Ryu-yeon moved like the wind, but the spears always found him, piercing the spot where his heart had been a moment ago. But he was always a step ahead, leaving only afterimages behind.

The spear thrower had incredible aim. Not many people could track Bi Ryu-yeon’s movements, which were said to be as slippery as a mudfish and as agile as a flying squirrel.

The deadly game of tag continued for five more rounds. And just when she thought it was over, another spear came flying.

“Look out!”

Na Yerin, who had been watching silently, finally spoke. The sound of this spear was different, louder, more powerful than the previous six.

Boom!

The spear exploded on impact, creating a shockwave that sent a gust of wind through the valley. Na Yerin and Yi Jin-seol’s clothes billowed around them.

Yi Jin-seol instinctively closed her eyes, but Na Yerin’s gaze remained fixed on Bi Ryu-yeon.

“Where did he go?”

Yi Jin-seol opened her eyes a moment later, looking around frantically. Bi Ryu-yeon was gone. She hadn’t been able to track his movements even when her eyes were open, so how could she find him now? But the last attack had been so powerful that she wouldn’t have been surprised if he had been vaporized.

A man landed beside the First Young Master. He was a handsome man in blue robes, and she didn’t like him. He was the spear thrower.

There was a large crater, at least a zhang in diameter, where the last spear had struck. It looked like a grave, and the sight filled her with dread.

“N-No way…”

She looked at Na Yerin, whose gaze was still fixed on the spot where Bi Ryu-yeon had disappeared. Her lips were pressed together in a thin line. Her silence was more terrifying than any words.

And then Na Yerin’s eyes, calm a moment ago, flashed with a bright light. The spear thrower’s eyes, on the other hand, hardened, his jaw clenched.

A figure landed on the spear shaft, light as a feather. It was Bi Ryu-yeon.

Seven spears, seven near misses. They formed the shape of the Big Dipper, embedded in the ground. It wasn’t intentional. It was a result of Bi Ryu-yeon’s movements, following the pattern of the seven stars.

The spears were done, but the attacks weren’t over.

“Again?”

Yi Jin-seol was exasperated. The attacks were relentless. Were they trying to kill him?

A strange, whirring sound, like air being ripped apart, filled the valley.

This time it was a whip, its tip adorned with a gleaming blade. It moved with blinding speed, cutting through the air, a blur of motion. It was difficult to predict its trajectory, its movements so swift and unpredictable. The blade at its tip flickered like a serpent’s tongue, spitting venom.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The whip lashed out, striking the air. Bi Ryu-yeon dodged each attack, his movements fluid and graceful, as if he knew where the whip would strike next.

But the whip was persistent, like a venomous snake, refusing to give up. It pursued him relentlessly, its movements unpredictable. He leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding another strike. The blade at the tip of the whip plunged into the ground. An ordinary whip would have been stuck, but this black whip was different.

The whip, embedded in the ground, thrashed violently, tearing up the earth. It was a terrifying display of power, unlike anything she had ever seen from a whip. A cloud of dust rose, obscuring Bi Ryu-yeon’s figure.

They finally saw the whip wielder. He was a cold-looking man in dark red robes, his eyes narrow and reptilian, sending a shiver down her spine.

The man’s right wrist was immobile. As the dust settled, they saw why. Bi Ryu-yeon’s foot was pinning the blade at the tip of the whip to the ground. The man tried to pull it free, but it wouldn’t budge. But Bi Ryu-yeon had to release his hold.

Another attack was coming.

“How many of them are there?”

There was no answer. He had to move, to avoid the deadly projectile that was hurtling towards his heart.

The whip wielder, freed from Bi Ryu-yeon’s restraint, joined the other two attackers.