Chapter 79: The Apparition (Part Two)

The Heavenly Thunder Sword School's swordsmanship takes lightning as its inspiration, seeking a transcendent mastery of the blade—swift as a flash, resounding as thunder. The complementary internal skill, the "Heavenly Thunder Heart Technique," when cultivated to its heights, infuses swordplay with an aura of thunder and lightning; sword energy thus imbued can slay monsters and exorcise evil with ease.

Of course, Yuan Zhixing had yet to truly master the Heavenly Thunder Heart Technique; his sword energy was far from innate, and he could not unleash its full power. Yet, the faint trace of lightning carried within his internal energy and swordplay still granted him a marked advantage against spirits and fiends.

The move he now wielded, "Spring Thunder on Flat Ground," was a mighty technique that required charging up and was difficult to execute in actual combat. But once unleashed, its power was immense.

Leaping from the rooftop, Yuan Zhixing's longsword struck true, slicing into the neck of "Lu Qi." With a thunderous crash, Lu Qi—who had been battering the house—was struck from behind by Yuan Zhixing’s blade, stumbling into the ruins with a crash. Yet, at that very instant, Yuan Zhixing's sword could bear the strain no longer and snapped in two with a sharp crack.

"Watch out!" Fang Yue shouted.

Lu Qi, having landed amid the rubble, suddenly sprang from the swirling dust and lunged at Yuan Zhixing with a howl. Startled, Yuan Zhixing hurriedly raised his broken sword to block. Lu Qi paid no heed to the weapon, forcing his body against the jagged blade, a gruesome grin on his face as he reached for Yuan Zhixing.

In panic, Yuan Zhixing raised his left arm in defense; Lu Qi seized it with a clawed hand, intent on tearing him apart. At that moment, Fang Yue leapt from the rooftop, hacking at Lu Qi from the side with his broadsword.

After a long rest, Fang Yue’s strength and internal energy had nearly recovered. With the force of his eighty-pound blade, he sent Lu Qi flying. Yet, as Yuan Zhixing’s arm was still gripped, he was dragged off balance.

Fang Yue lunged, delivering another blow to Lu Qi. Yuan Zhixing kicked at Lu Qi, using the moment to break free from his grasp, then swiftly used his lightness skill to leap onto the rooftop. His arm burned with pain; glancing down, he saw his sleeve had been corroded by Lu Qi’s touch, leaving a handprint-sized hole. The flesh beneath was charred black, as if seared by flame.

Uneasy, Yuan Zhixing quickly channeled his internal energy to expel the corrosive poison from his arm. Below, Lu Qi saw Yuan Zhixing escape to the rooftop and, in a rage, prepared to follow and drag him down. Injured by the thunder sword, all his hatred now focused on Yuan Zhixing.

Seeing Lu Qi’s relentless intent to pursue him, Yuan Zhixing’s face betrayed his panic; he bitterly regretted provoking this vengeful creature. Unarmed, he felt powerless to stop its approach. Yet before Lu Qi could leap up, Fang Yue struck again, sending him flying.

Though Lu Qi’s body had become as hard as iron, his weight remained unchanged, allowing Fang Yue to knock him away with ease. But no matter how many times Fang Yue struck, Lu Qi would simply rise and resume his furious assault on Yuan Zhixing.

Summoning his energy, Fang Yue leapt to the rooftop, agile as a tiger or leopard, landing beside Yuan Zhixing. Whenever Lu Qi attempted to jump up, Fang Yue would slash him down, driving him to further fits of rage and causing him to batter the house anew.

"Are you alright?" Fang Yue asked.

Yuan Zhixing had already forced out the poison from his arm. Hearing Fang Yue’s question, his face darkened with embarrassment; he had meant to outshine Fang Yue, yet now needed his help. Pale-faced, lips parted, he finally managed to say, "I’m fine."

"Good," Fang Yue sighed in relief, casting his gaze into the distance.

Qian Dagui was approaching, carrying a broadsword and several bundles of explosives.

Another house collapsed with a rumble as Lu Qi crashed through, clouds of dust billowing. Fang Yue and Yuan Zhixing, in silent accord, vaulted onto the roof of another house. Qian Dagui joined them, standing by their side and marveling at Lu Qi’s ferocity below.

"What kind of monster is that?" he exclaimed.

Fang Yue took the explosives from Qian Dagui. "Did you bring fire starters?"

"Of course," Qian Dagui replied, producing them from his coat.

After this ordeal, Qian Dagui now held Fang Yue in utmost respect. Fang Yue instructed him, "Stand guard up here. If it tries to jump up, use your blade to knock it down. The black miasma around it is poisonous and corrosive—don’t let it touch you."

"No problem," Qian Dagui assured him, patting his chest. Though Lu Qi was terrifying, Qian Dagui was no greenhorn; he’d clawed his way up from the bottom, knowing when to yield and when to risk it all.

Yuan Zhixing looked awkward and aggrieved. Proud by nature, it stung to be protected, especially since he was not yet out of the fight. Without consulting Fang Yue, he leapt down from the roof.

Lu Qi, not seeing Yuan Zhixing descend, kept on battering the house with stubborn persistence. Fang Yue frowned, broadsword and explosives in hand, and followed him down.

"Don’t worry," Yuan Zhixing said coldly, "I’m only looking for a weapon, not courting death. If you have a way to deal with it, go ahead—I’ll take care of myself." He picked up a wooden beam from the ruins and charged at Lu Qi, pinning him to the wall as the creature thrashed and roared.

Fang Yue glanced up at Qian Dagui, who shrugged and sat on the roof, content to watch. By now, they all realized that while this ghostly thing was troublesome, it wasn’t insurmountably dangerous if handled with care.

Soon, Lu Qi broke free—his strength far greater than Yuan Zhixing’s—and tried to seize the beam. Fang Yue stepped in, slashing Lu Qi aside, and Yuan Zhixing again pressed him to the wall with the beam.

No longer hesitating, Fang Yue lit the fuse of a bundle of explosives and hurled it at Lu Qi. "Back!" he shouted.

Having witnessed the power of these explosives before, Yuan Zhixing wisely retreated as Fang Yue threw them. With an earth-shaking blast, Lu Qi’s wails resounded through the smoke.

"It works," Fang Yue thought with delight, lunging forward to hack at Lu Qi as he stumbled from the smoke, sending him flying, while Yuan Zhixing pinned him once more with the wooden beam. Another bundle of explosives followed.

With a thunderous roar, the house wall collapsed, half the structure tumbling down in dust and smoke, burying Lu Qi beneath it. But this was nothing to such a monstrous creature; he quickly clawed his way free.

Though tattered and in pain, howling in misery, Lu Qi’s body remained unscathed. Fang Yue’s brow furrowed—did the explosives work or not? He hurled another bundle, and as Lu Qi desperately tried to brush burning embers from his clothes, realization struck Fang Yue like lightning.

"Fire! He fears fire!"