Chapter Forty-Seven: Fallen Leaves in Silence

He suddenly reconsidered. What if this peculiar man was the one responsible for the corpses strewn across the ground? If he were to escape, the slaughter would only grow worse.

One life bought them a brief opening. He charged with his blade raised and struck with all his strength, never expecting the other man to borrow the force of the blow and slip away with it. His speed was like the wind; there was no way to catch him, so they had no choice but to let him go.

Yet in the blink of an eye, he had circled back. The sword in his hand showed no mercy, sweeping from throat to the fatal point of the heart, taking one life after another without hesitation, until only the two of them remained.

His face began to change. The corner of his mouth curled faintly, wearing what seemed almost like a malicious smile.

Even if they were soldiers, even if they had faced danger and the unknown prospect of death, they could not escape fear in the end.

They looked at each other and saw panic reflected in one another’s eyes. At times, death itself could feel like a release, a loosening of one’s grip on this world.

Staring into those horrifying eyes, they realized for the first time that living, too, could be a kind of torment.

Then he said something soft and simple, and it shattered them.

“Only one of you may leave. One of you can go back for help, or run for your life alone. If there is still any sense of loyalty between you, then the other can be released as well—freely, and without conditions.”

And in the end, they learned how extravagant such loyalty truly was.

A long spear crashed to the ground, rolled a few times, and came to rest beside Hao Tian.

Hao Yun lowered his head and walked toward Lin Kuang with heavy, measured steps.

“Don’t…” Hao Tian managed to force out, his voice so faint it was almost inaudible.

Hao Yun’s whole body shuddered, but his feet did not stop. He kept going.

Because of his physical limitations, Hao Yun’s cultivation could rise no further than the Innate realm. As for the humiliation he had suffered, who could ever forget that so easily?

He advanced in silence toward Lin Kuang. Seeing that half-smiling, almost mocking expression, Hao Yun clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his head bowed low.

“Move faster! If you’re going to crawl, then crawl. If not, don’t stand in my way!”

“Get lost.” Lin Kuang swept his arm aside and snapped the words out.

Hao Yun lowered his head even further. His fists tightened, then slowly loosened. In the next moment he dropped to both knees, planted his hands on the ground, and began to crawl forward, inch by inch, beneath Lin Kuang’s legs.

Seconds passed, then more seconds. The world around them was deathly quiet; even the fallen leaves seemed loud in the stillness.

To everyone’s surprise, Lin Kuang actually gave a bitter smile. His brow furrowed, and there was something in that expression that looked almost like envy.

Only when Hao Yun’s final step had dragged slowly across the ground and carried him clear from beneath those legs did he lower his head and rise again.

“Senior,” he said, turning back with rare deference, “may I ask whether you will let us leave now?”

Hao Yun stared fixedly at Lin Kuang, only to realize that he had not turned around. By the slanting light, he could make out the change in Hao Tian’s expression: a tense face finally loosening in relief.

At that moment, the violent pounding in his chest seemed to recede from Lin Kuang, as though a great mountain were slowly moving away.

“Hold it.” Lin Kuang suddenly called out just as Hao Yun crouched to check on Hao Tian.

“What now?” Hao Yun’s heart burned with anger, though his face revealed nothing as he turned back and asked, “What orders does Senior have?”

“There’s something strange in the surroundings,” Lin Kuang said quietly.

The sun had already sunk below the horizon. Night had taken control, and not even the faintest breeze could be felt. It was eerie beyond words.

The Inkless Sword slid slowly from its scabbard.

A low hum followed.

At once, wind stirred around Lin Kuang, gathering in circles about him.

With sharp enough eyes, one could see many fine particles falling from the Inkless Sword. They swirled around him, and little by little, the wind began to rise.

“So there’s a rat hiding nearby after all,” Lin Kuang said, his gaze blazing like fire.

The eerie wind and its ghostly rustle died at once.

Behind him, a figure emerged.