Sword Among Us c1-1268

by Black Swordsman Online

  Chapter 276 - Encounter!

  "Judging by the looks of it, he has already headed further inside without touching the items in the halls located at the forks."

  "Thank goodness he didn't, or else we would have come in vain."

  "True."

  When the sects reached a side hall located at the third fork after they came out of the square-shaped hall, the thirteen monks equipped with Silver-spiked Staffs spoke to each other loudly while they dealt with the Shadow Warrior and two Cloning Ninjas who appeared in the side hall.

  "But…"

  "If we haven't been killed by those bastards who stole our tribute box from us, the thirteen of us would not have ended up in this state. Even if we couldn't compare to that person, we wouldn't need to waste so much time on these ninjas."

  When they mentioned their encounter at the foot of Mount Song, half of them became filled with indignation and grief, while the other half fell silent!

  If they had retained the three tribute boxes, how would the thirteen staff-using monks be as they were right then? At least a few of them would have ended up on the Famous People Rank or Dragon Rank.

  "That bastard better pray that I won't run into him in the future! Killing him only once will not let me get rid of the hate in me!"

  There were not many side halls. They raced against time with hope that they could find more side halls so that they would not return empty-handed from their trip to the royal mausoleum.

  However, when they arrived at the next fork, they heard the sound of fighting ahead of them. The noise was followed by Ouyang Qing's anxious roars.

  "Retreat, we aren't his opponents! Don't engage him! We'll fight against him once the others arrive!"

  A few players were screaming in pain in the distance.

  A group of Wudang Sect disciples dressed in black and white Daoist robes retreated continuously from the fork. It seemed that they had encountered a powerful and terrifying enemy.

  The expressions of Shaolin Temple's thirteen staff-using monks changed.

  Even though the individual strength of each Wudang Sect disciple was not as great as any of the monks, their overall strength was pretty good, and their lightness skills were better than the monks'. If they lost and were forced to retreat so quickly, then did it mean that they had ran into Shadow Ninjas?!

  "Our brothers from Wudang Sect, don't worry! We're here!"

  The four sects could be said to be people who understood what was going on. They had formed an alliance to attack and defend together. When they saw that the Wudang Sect disciples were in danger, the thirteen staff-using monks lifted their Silver-spiked Staffs without hesitation and charged forward to provide support.

  Their footsteps were heavy, but they moved like the wind. They looked like Shaolin Temple warrior monks who had charged out of movies. They jumped high into the air and flew over the Wudang Sect disciples' heads. Their Silver-spiked Staffs brought with them a momentum that tore through the air, and they struck violently at the enemy who had been chasing after them...

  'Huh?!'

  What appeared before the thirteen staff-using monks' eyes was not a masked ninja dressed in black clothes and black pants nor was it the faint, illusory shadow belonging to Shadow Ninjas. They saw a ninja dressed head to toe in sparkling, golden armor. Even his head and legs were all decked in armor. He looked like a golden God of War.

  'What is this thing?!'

  "Careful! He's the Boss here! It's Ninja King!"

  It was only at that moment that Ouyang Qing noticed the thirteen staff-using monks hurrying over to support them. He first relaxed before he cried out in fear. "Don't get too close—"

  'It's too late!'

  The thirteen staff-using monks had thought that they were only facing a Shadow Ninja or Shadow Warrior when they engaged, and by the time they noticed what was going on, they could no longer stop themselves from moving forward.

  A cold glare shone under the golden ninja's helmet, and he came to a swift stop.

  Ninja King vanished from the spot. When he reappeared, he was in between two airborne staff-using monks leading the charge. He smiled coldly and struck the duo's abdomens with two heavy blows.

  Bang!

  The two monks flew left and right before crashing into the sturdy walls of the tunnel. The huge force damaged their organs, and they coughed up blood as they slid to the ground.

  "Save them!"

  Ouyang Qing knew Ninja King's damage very well. When he saw that Shaolin Temple's staff-using monks were injured, he reacted straightaway. A few Wudang Sect disciples hoisted up the injured and dejected Shaolin Temple's staff-using monks before they tapped against the ground and retreated without any hesitation.

  The eleven staff-using monks behind them had shock in their eyes.

  They knew their companions' strength the best out of everyone else. If Ninja King could injure two of their own with just one punch and make them lose the ability to fight, then his strength…

  'He's strong!'

  Clang! Clang!

  A dull thud rose, but the blow dealt no more damage than an ant trying to shake a tree. Ninja King did not even move under the Silver-spiked Staff's powerful offense.

  'No good!'

  The staff-using monk pulled back and made preparations to retreat, but Ninja King had already closed in on him like the wind.

  Bang!

  He rammed his knee into the monk cleanly and beautifully. The monk was thrown high into the air, where he crashed into the ceiling, forming a shallow pit with cracks stretching out in all directions. He then crashed into the ground in a limp bundle.

  Whoosh!

  Once again, Ouyang Qing served as a fireman. He charged out of his group, grabbed the monk, and prepared to run.

  "Hmph!"

  But he did not know that Ninja King had been paying attention to him for a while then.

  He left an afterimage at the spot where he stood and appeared directly in Ouyang Qing's path of retreat. His cold gaze shone through the holes of his golden helmet.

  Ouyang Qing felt chills go up his spine as if he was a prey which was targeted by a hunter. He even felt like someone who had been selected as the God of Death's next victim, and his movements slowed down.

  Thud!

  As expected, Ouyang Qing was sent flying to the wall by a sweeping kick from Ninja King. He coughed up blood while feeling as if all his bones were disconnected from each other. He could not get up even after a long time had passed.

  The monk in his arms was injured once more. He could not move as he watched Ninja King land near him and raise his right arm for a decisive and merciless strike!

  Clang!

  Just when Ninja King's knifehand strike was about to land on Ouyang Qing, the shrill sound of air being cut apart rose in the air!

  Ninja King moved.

  Cling!

  The piercing sound of metal clashing against metal rose into the air. Ninja King took half a step backwards and cast a glance at the tiny pit formed by an arrowhead with an indifferent expression. Then, a hint of anger appeared in his eyes.

  A group of people stood at the fork behind him.

  The girl in the lead lowered a golden Yellow Dragon Bow slowly. Clearly, she was the one who had fired the arrow at him.

  Ninja King growled and uttered some words in an alien language. Then, he appeared thirty-two feet away as if he had teleported. With a few shifts, he approached the players of Beautiful Robes Faction!

  "What the heck?!"

  "So fast!"

  "One Circle!"

  The group retreated quickly to reveal their own fireman—One Circle.

  His swollen body looked as if it had been decked in a dazzling black armor. He held a huge purple-red axe in his hands, and when anyone looked at him, he did not lose to Ninja King at all, regardless of the presence he exuded or his appearance.

  "Come on!"

  One Circle grinned and went up against him with boundless enthusiasm.

  Ninj
a King remained silent, but his gaze seemed to have turned even colder.

  Whoosh!

  At the moment they crossed weapons, the shadow One Circle produced from his axe missed, and he only managed to cut the afterimage.

  Thud! Thud!

  Ninja King appeared behind One Circle like a phantom.

  The golden fist crashed into the black body fortification when he directed his punch against One Circle's plump body. The armor began to scatter madly and became fainter at a fast pace.

  One Circle could not dispel the force completely, and he took a few huge steps backwards before crashing into a wall.

  "Damn it…"

  "Where did this crazy Boos come from?"

  The expressions of people from Beautiful Robes Faction changed drastically, and they questioned the heavily injured Wudang Sect disciples beside them.

  One of them looked over at them with anguish on his face. "We don't know either. He just suddenly dropped down from the ceiling. But you guys need to be careful, he might be a Moksha Realm Bossl!"

  The group said nothing, but their expressions changed again.

  When they looked at the battlefield again, they saw Ninja King having easily sent One Circle into a wall. Stones shattered and spilled all over the ground. One Circle looked like a punching bag who had been punched twice.

  He was angry from shame, and his face went red. While urging his qi to restore his armor, he roared and pounced at Ninja King again.

  "This is bad! One Circle's qi is about to be spent!" Phoenix Dances' expression changed. "Prepare to engage!"

  Whoosh!

  Little Jade reacted the fastest. She raised her arms and released a few arrows!

  With Yellow Dragon Bow's increase in speed and accuracy, all her arrows managed to land.

  Ding!

  Since he had been shot from such a close distance, Ninja King finally could not quite handle the harrassment from the arrows. He swept over the area with an enraged stare before he gave up on One Circle. Then, he moved like a huge bird and jumped high into the air to charge toward Beautiful Robes Faction.

  "Don't!" One Circle's face was pale. If even his armor could not withstand Ninja King's attack, then if that punch landed on his faction members, they would surely die.

  Before he could finish speaking, a blue figure shot out from behind the crowd like a bolt of lightning and crashed into Ninja King!

  Clang! Clang!

  Golden light erupted in the air and pierced everyone's eyes.

  Chapter 277 - Identity Seen Through

  A piercing light shone above the heads of the people from Beautiful Robes Faction! Within the great golden light, everyone saw Ninja King, who was dressed in golden armor, being sent out of the ball of light! He staggered, having lost his balance. He went skidding a few steps away before he managed to stop himself with a loud thud.

  When he raised his head, a solemn look was on his face.

  Whoosh!

  Happy was dressed in Yellow Dragon Archer Gear, and his robes fluttered when he landed in front of the people from Beautiful Robes Faction. His Silver Wolf Emperor Breaker Sword was pointed diagonally at the ground, and his expression was relaxed and calm.

  When the faction stared at him from behind, they felt dazed and absent-minded.

  Glutinous Rice and Phoenix Dances blinked. When they snapped out of the shock brought to them by the clash between the stranger and Ninja King, they sized him up and exchanged an incredulous gaze.

  'The equipment and that back… are so familiar…'

  The Three Lonely Wolves reacted quickly. Before the people exposed Happy's identity, they squeezed to the front from the back of the group and whispered into Phoenix Dances' ear. They also whispered into a few other people's ears. Everyone's eyes went wide in surprise, then they quietly retreated to the back. It was best if Happy was not exposed at that moment.

  '... I knew it, it's you.'

  Phoenix Dances' hands trembled while she held the Silver-spiked Staff. She stared at Happy's back, and the final hint of disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e remaining in her heart disappeared without a trace.

  She had thought that Happy had missed the very first large-scale faction operation, but to think that the brat had been nearby all the time! When she remembered the few times he had spoken up to lend them a helping hand, it always seemed to have been to give Beautiful Robes Faction a reminder. She could not help the surge of warmth that rose in her heart, and she suddenly felt that the hard work she had done since the start had not been for nothing.

  Glutinous Rice was incredibly excited. Once she was over her surprise, happiness bloomed on her face. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at Happy's side profile, and she badly wanted to rush up to observe him carefully and seriously so that she would know how he looked like. She would have certainly done so if not for Ninja King eyeing them hostilely from where he had landed on the ground.

  Compared to them, B.u.t.t Shaker, Tea Words, and the other male students were much calmer.

  "That brat sure came at the right time…"

  "At least no accidents happened."

  "Hmph, I knew it was him. Who else could have been so good as to be able to fight against so many ninjas alone…"

  The internal members of Beautiful Robes Faction rose into commotion.

  Across from them were the thirteen staff-using monks, Ouyang Qing, and the others, who had also noticed the mysterious man appear in the battlefield out of nowhere. All of them let loose huge sighs of relief.

  "Thank you for being generous and lending us a hand, brother!"

  "You're welcome," Happy said faintly. He looked around the tunnel, and his gaze paused for a moment on the Wudang Sect disciples' corpses. He sighed in his heart. 'I was still a little late.'

  Even though he had harbored the thought that it would be better if there was less competition for a time, when he thought of the difficulty of the second level of the royal mausoleum, he wanted to at least make sure that Wudang Sect, Shaolin Temple, and Emei Sect managed to retain their numbers.

  After deciding on that, he looked up at Ninja King.

  The Dragon Capture he executed just then had clearly made Ninja King uneasy, and he did not intend to act recklessly.

  It was the intelligence possessed by a high-level NPC.

  Happy took two steps forward and spoke in a voice that echoed in the whole tunnel. "Let me handle this."

  The people from Shaolin Temple and Wudang Sect were stunned for a moment before they swiftly understood what he meant. They nodded and retreated with their wounded so that a wider battlefield was created.

  "One Circle, retreat."

  Phoenix Dances tried hard to calm her surging heart and assumed a serious attitude before ordering One Circle to leave the battlefield.

  He might have been a little muddle-headed and confused, but the situation told him something very obvious: while his defense had indeed reached a state where he could stand supreme above others, when he faced Ninja King, who was two realms above him and whose attack speed was terrifying, he could not fight back at all. He would not last for long in a battle with him.

  One Circle was rather fond of the mysterious man who had blocked the disaster for Beautiful Robes Faction. Hence, even though he had declared that he wanted to take down Ninja King himself, One Circle did not find himself rejecting the idea too much.

  One Circle nodded and slowly moved himself sixty-five feet back. His purplish-red greataxe hung by his side while he stood in front of Shaolin Temple and Wudang Sect to serve as their guard.

  *****

  The battlefield was cleared of all people, and Happy's gaze landed on Ninja King again.

  The man had a balanced body figure. The golden armor that enveloped his body not only made him sturdier, but even more mysterious too. An intangible aura belonging to someone supreme spread out from his body. His cold gaze and every movement that caused clanging sounds made people not dare to underestimate him.

  It was Ninja King!

&nb
sp; However, Happy knew that it was just one of Ninja King's high-class clones. Its fighting power was very close to that of Ninja King himself, but it was still only at the peak of Life and Death Realm. It was one final step away from Moksha Realm.

  As the saying went, "One slight error might lead to a great discrepancy!"

  That sentence could be perfectly used for Ninja King.

  Life and Death Realm as well as Moksha Realm were a completely different concept.

  Forget the fact about strength, if Happy had been up against the real Ninja King, it would have been impossible for his Dragon Capture to even be deemed successful!

  It was also precisely because of Dragon Capture that the "Ninja King" at the peak of Life and Death Realm was bound to face a tragic end.

  *****

  A dreary atmosphere swiftly filled the tunnel!

  The people from the three sects stood on both sides of the tunnel with their gazes fixed on the back of the mysterious man and Ninja King, who stood across from him. Their hearts surged at the sight.

  They could not help but imagine just how intense the battle between the two would be!

  He brought out two medicinal pills from his Universe Bag and tossed them into his mouth. Then, he crushed them like beans before he suddenly moved before everyone's stunned gazes!

  Whoosh!

  Perhaps the saying "Staying as quiet as a mouse when idle, and moving like rabbit when attacking" was meant to describe situations like that.

  Ninja King was not slow, however. The moment Happy vanished from the spot, he moved as well. He took half a step forward and placed his hands over each other to move into the standard defensive pose perfect for counterattacks.

  Clang!

  Ninja King trembled a little, but he seized the pause Happy always had once his attack landed. A cold glare shone in his eyes, and he went to strike Happy's head by closing in at a speed that showed he was completely unaffected by Happy's attack.

  The wind roared!

  "Hmph!"

  Happy was prepared for it since a long time ago. He formed his left hand into the shape of a claw, and when Ninja King attacked him, he instantly delivered himself into Happy's hands. His strength was immediately dissolved, and Happy swung his Silver Wolf Emperor Breaker Sword horizontally without hesitation.