Chapter 104

Chapter 104: The Fiend From Forty Years Past

The moment Chang Xiang’s voice faded, a shua shua sound filled the air. Three figures shimmering with silver light swooped down like giant birds.

Both Lou Yun and the strange man opposite him froze. Neither expected uninvited guests at such a moment. They both turned their heads sharply to face the newcomers.

The three newcomers were dressed in robes that seemed woven from silver threads, the material clearly precious. Though it was a night lit only by faint starlight, the three silver robes glimmered brilliantly, eye-catching and radiant.

Upon landing, their eyes swept coldly over Lou Yun only once before fixing intently on the strange man.

In an instant, the expressions of all three men shifted several times. Clearly, they recognized the strange man’s true identity.

The smallest and thinnest among them, an old man around sixty, first shot a glance towards the companion on his right. That powerfully built man immediately darted to the strange man’s side.

Another man, short but stocky with a crimson face, moved slowly to stand in the middle of his companions.

In the blink of an eye, the three formed a semi-circular encirclement around the strange man.

At this moment, no expression touched the strange man’s face. Eyes ablaze with green light, he tilted his head upwards, exuding arrogance, violence, and utter contempt, as if those before him were beneath his notice.

Seeing this formation clearly aimed at the strange man, and his spiritual sense revealing he couldn’t pierce their cultivation, Lou Yun knew they were at least profound-level magical weapons masters. Since they were stepping forward, he happily retreated to the side, prepared to observe just what the four intended.

The thin, desiccated old man coughed dryly twice, his voice rasping sharply, "Esteemed comrade, judging by your appearance, perhaps you are the Left Ear Demon Wuchou, notorious throughout the Spirit Weapon Star forty years ago?"

At the name Wuchou, Lou Yun didn’t react, but the title Left Ear Demon caused a subtle shift in his expression!

As a child, Lou Yun recalled Lou Qian’s mother often used the Left Ear Demon to frighten the unruly Lou Qian to bed, saying this fiend specialized in tearing off people’s left ears, and that if she didn’t sleep, the Left Ear Demon would come for her ear. The vivid memory stuck. The next day, he secretly asked his father about it. His father had laughed heartily, assuring Lou Yun the Left Ear Demon had died long ago and wouldn’t return. Yet, today, right here, Lou Yun had encountered this monstrous fiend, supposedly dead for decades.

The strange man raised his head towards the sky, emitting a cold snort from his nostrils. Though he didn’t answer aloud, the acknowledgment was clear.

Wuchou’s arrogant demeanor caused the face of the old man in silver to tighten involuntarily. Yet, he visibly reined in his temper. "After vanishing for so long, we never imagined you’d appear here tonight, Esteemed Senior Wuchou. Might we inquire as to your purpose?"

Wuchou’s green eyes fixed balefully on the silver-robed elder, his face stern and murderous. "You lack the standing to meddle in my affairs!"

Hearing this, the old man shot a look at his two companions, his expression turning suddenly frosty. "Of course, our Silver Thread Sect has no right to impede the esteemed arrival of a senior such as yourself…"

Suddenly, his voice grew cutting and harsh. "However, last night, three of our sect’s Hall Masters were found slaughtered just beyond these woods. Each had lost their left ear. Such a distinctive method… it was your signature style, Senior, in days long past. Bound by our duties, we must conduct a thorough investigation."

Lou Yun hailed from the Gu Feng Nation and lacked extensive worldly experience, so he didn’t know of the Silver Thread Sect. But anyone dwelling near the Bei Xiong Nation knew its name. It could be considered the premier power of the Northern Continent, boasting tens of thousands of members and countless martial masters. Within the North, it operated without restrictions.

Wuchou only sneered coldly. "Spare me the weight of your Silver Thread Sect’s reputation. It holds no terror for me. I ask you: what rank do you hold in the Silver Thread Sect?"

The silver-robed old man smiled proudly. "I am Tao Heng, Chief Law Enforcer of the Silver Thread Sect’s Outer Hall!"

A faint tremor seemed to cross Wuchou’s face, though it remained impassive. He cast a glance at the two other men and asked again, "What of these two?"

Tao Heng replied coldly, "The one now by your side is Qian Lin, Hall Master of our Outer First Hall."

He then pointed to the squat, blood-faced man. "This is Zhao Jingang, Hall Master of our Outer Third Hall."

As Tao Heng made the introductions, Chang Xiang was whispering to Lou Yun: "Tao Heng is human level three stars. The other two are human level one star. Individually, neither matches Wuchou, but combining their strength, they could actually contend with him."

Lou Yun inwardly nodded. Thinking it over, on the Spirit Weapon Star, anyone surpassing the profound level magic weapons master stage could be considered masterful. The human level masters were truly exceptional. All four before him were human-level masters and above. Animosity hung thick; open conflict was imminent. He would get a valuable glimpse into true high-level combat!

Upon hearing the introductions, Wuchou’s eyes shot wide open. He shrieked sharply, "Good! Good! You are all qualified for me to send you off on your journeys!"

His words implied he viewed the trio before him as already dead, utterly dismissing them.

Tao Heng let out another cold snort. "Esteemed Senior, you seem to have deflected my earlier question. Was it you who slaughtered our three Hall Masters?"

In truth, Tao Heng held some standing, both in Bei Xiong Nation and across the Spirit Weapon Star. Moreover, the Silver Thread Sect’s rapid ascension over recent years had bolstered its formidable influence. Thus, though Wuchou was an infamous demon from decades past, Tao Heng felt little real fear. Besides, heavy reinforcements were coming up behind them.

Wuchou folded his arms across his chest, green light glittering deep within his eyes. His voice was dark and chilling, "Indeed. Not only were your so-called Hall Masters slain by me, but fourteen other lives nearby were also my work!"

Here, Wuchou suddenly tilted his head back and erupted in a burst of owl-like howling laughter. "But who could blame me? They not only dared to defy me, they coveted my Thirteen Demon Banners…"

The moment "Thirteen Demon Banners" left his lips, everyone present save Lou Yun visibly flinched. In unison, astonished cries escaped them: "What? The Thirteen Demon Banners?!"

A flash of extreme malevolence crossed Wuchou’s skull-like visage. Coldly, he hissed, "How now? Hearing of the Thirteen Demon Banners stirs your greed too? Yet, obtaining them is simple enough… You merely need to gift your own decrepit lives to this old man…"

Tao Heng’s expression darkened slightly at these words, but he ignored Wuchou’s taunts. Instead, his gaze shifted to Lou Yun. He’d noticed Lou Yun earlier, but focused primarily on the immediate threat of Wuchou. Observing Lou Yun now, motionless and expressionless throughout, speaking not a word, Tao Heng grew puzzled. The youth puzzled him. A hidden master? Yet Lou Yun emitted not a flicker of energy, nor was a magical weapon visibly manifested. An ordinary person? But what ordinary boy would stand so calmly amidst scattered corpses deep in the dead of night?

After a moment’s thought, Tao Heng eyed Lou Yun suspiciously. "Young fellow, who are you? Are you associated with this Left Ear Demon Wuchou?"

Lou Yun’s initial intent had been to kill Wuchou. The timely arrival of Tao Heng and his companions seemed fortuitous, offering him a reprieve. Subconsciously, he already saw them as allies. Thus, facing the question, Lou Yun clasped his hands politely. "I’ve never set eyes on this Wuchou before tonight. Like you, I saw the corpses in the woods and followed the trail here."

Tao Heng’s face, however, turned livid. He shouted furiously at Lou Yun, "Stop playing games! The Left Ear Demon Wuchou is famously vicious and cruel. If you had no connection to him, why would you still be breathing?"

At this, Zhao Jingang, Hall Master of the Outer Third Hall, bellowed angrily, "Chief Enforcer! Those three lost sect brothers! This kid is undoubtedly in on it! We can’t let him escape!"

Tao Heng’s and Zhao Jingang’s words instantly altered Lou Yun’s expression. He hadn’t anticipated such brutal obstinacy from Silver Thread Sect members. Anger blazed white-hot within him.

"Let him go"? That Wuchou hadn’t actually intended anything of the sort! They had already crossed blows three times! In that third move, Wuchou deliberately deployed poison! Without Lou Yun’s frantic cry about his ice crystal jade weapon, he’d likely be dead now!

But explanations were the last thing on Lou Yun’s mind now. He laughed coldly. "What proof do you have? Which one of you actually saw me slay your supposed Hall Masters? Even if you had witnessed it… what could you possibly do?"

These words were a naked provocation. However, Lou Yun couldn’t be blamed. Offering the head of their enemy had resulted only in baseless accusations. Having filth dumped on him unjustly – who wouldn’t resent it? Moreover, Lou Yun was like a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger; he cared nothing for who represented the Silver Thread Sect!

Wuchou, meanwhile, rolled his eyes wildly. He paid no attention to the argument brewing between Lou Yun and Tao Heng, instead assessing his own immediate problem.

Do not be misled by Wuchou’s savage disposition and gruesome appearance; his mind worked with razor precision. After crossing blows with Lou Yun thrice, he could gauge the young man’s strength – not negligible. Crucially, he’d employed poison! He’d expected Lou Yun to succumb instantly, yet the boy betrayed no sign of poisoning whatsoever. In other words, this damned whelp was immune!

Internally calculating, Wuchou reasoned: while the Silver Thread Sect held little terror for him personally, fighting three opponents simultaneously was still taxing. Now this young lad, whom the Silver Thread Sect inexplicably accused… couldn’t this brewing conflict be steered to include him too? Perhaps it offered a path of escape.

Wuchou slid his gaze across Tao Heng and company. Over preceding moments, their hands had hovered near hilts several times, yet they forcibly restrained themselves. Evidently, their reluctance to engage stemmed not from fear of him…. but rather, awaited imminent arrival of reinforcements….

At this realization, an almost undetectable, malicious grin flickered across Wuchou’s skull-like features. He spat icily at Lou Yun, "Tsk tsk… Youngster… If you and I hesitate any longer… disaster shall overtake us….."

His words died unfinished. Wuchou’s massive frame whipped around with serpent-like speed. Already, a scything palm chop lashed towards Qian Lin standing nearby!

Hearing the familiarity and false warmth Wuchou injected into his voice upon including him, Lou Yun inwardly cursed. This wretched fiend is clearly trying to drag me down with him!