Chapter 9: The Sound of Despair
A slow, deliberate breath.
The assassin's fingers traced the smooth surface of the new flute, his lips curling into an amused smirk. The air around him changed. The playful arrogance from before—the ease with which he toyed with them—was gone.
Now, his aura was suffocating.
His gaze, once merely entertained, now held a sharp glint of intent.
Then, he raised the flute to his lips.
The first note pierced the air like a dagger.
A pulse of dark Qi erupted from the flute, heavier, deeper, and more sinister than before. The melody that followed wasn't just sound—it was a force, a living entity, slithering through the battlefield like an invisible predator.
Bai Ren barely had time to react.
WHOOSH!
A wave of suffocating Qi rushed toward him. He raised his sword instinctively, slashing downward to cut through the force—but it was futile. The impact sent him staggering backward, his feet dragging through the dirt.
Princess Wei, already struggling to maintain her Qi barrier, clenched her jaw. Her golden energy flared, pushing against the dark tide. But it was different this time.
This dark Qi wasn't just an attack—it was corrosive.
The moment her barrier met the sinister energy, it trembled. Cracks formed instantly.
Too strong.
Wei gasped, forcing more Qi into the barrier, but the resistance burned through her body. Her knees threatened to buckle.
The assassin didn't stop.
His fingers moved across the flute with unnatural speed, each note cutting into the air like a blade.
And then—
He moved.
Before Bai Ren could recover, the assassin was already in front of him.
Bai Ren's eyes widened—too fast!
A razor-sharp kick slammed into his ribs.
CRACK!
Bai Ren coughed violently, his vision blurring as pain exploded through his chest. He barely had time to register the force before—
THWACK!
The flute's blunt end struck his stomach. His body lurched forward, spittle flying from his lips. His knees buckled, his arms trembling as he tried to steady himself.
But the assassin wasn't done.
A sharp melody rang out, twisting the air itself.
A sudden, invisible force smashed into Bai Ren's back.
He was launched forward, skidding across the battlefield, his body rolling in the dirt before he came to a stop.
He groaned, his sword still clutched in his shaking hand, blood trailing from his lips.
What… kind of technique is this?
Princess Wei tried to move toward him, but—
SWOOSH!
A dark Qi tendril lashed toward her like a whip.
She barely raised her barrier in time. The golden energy cracked as the impact pushed her backward.
But the assassin was already shifting his stance, his flute pressed against his lips, his gaze locked on her.
He exhaled.
A single note, drawn out and deep.
The ground beneath her cracked.
Wei's eyes widened as a wave of invisible pressure crashed onto her. Her knees trembled, the force trying to crush her into the earth.
Damn it…!
Her golden Qi flared in defiance, pushing back, but it was weaker now. Her reserves were dwindling.
The assassin watched her struggle with a cold, calculating gaze. Then, with an almost lazy movement, he flicked his fingers across the flute.
A new melody.
Dark Qi swirled.
The sinister energy coiled in the air before launching forward—not as a wave, but as dozens of sharp, slicing tendrils.
Wei twisted her body, dodging the first few strikes, but—
SLASH!
A tendril cut through her thigh.
She bit back a scream, stumbling as warm blood soaked her robe.
Bai Ren, still struggling to his feet, saw the attack.
No.
His grip tightened on his sword.
He wouldn't let this continue.
He wouldn't lose here.
Ignoring the pain tearing through his body, Bai Ren lunged forward, his sword flashing toward the assassin's chest.
The assassin merely tilted his head, stepping aside with effortless grace. His footwork was flawless. Not a single wasted movement.
And then—
The flute spun.
THWACK!
The butt of the instrument slammed against Bai Ren's wrist.
A sharp crack echoed.
His sword slipped from his fingers.
Pain lanced up his arm, but before he could react—
A heavy knee struck his stomach.
BAM!
His body folded inward, his breath ripped from his lungs. His knees hit the ground, his vision swimming.
The assassin loomed over him, eyes cold. "Pathetic."
And then—
A final note.
A violent explosion of dark Qi erupted.
Bai Ren was sent flying once again, his body crashing into the ground like a broken doll. His breathing was ragged, his arms refusing to move.
He couldn't fight anymore.
Princess Wei saw him fall, and something inside her snapped.
Her golden Qi flared violently.
She ignored the pain in her leg, the exhaustion in her body. She wouldn't let him die.
With everything she had left, she threw herself forward, her barrier expanding in front of Bai Ren just as another wave of dark Qi surged toward them.
BOOM!
The impact shattered the ground.
Wei screamed.
Her barrier cracked—then collapsed.
The dark Qi crashed into her like a tidal wave, her body jerking violently as the sinister energy ripped through her.
She felt something inside her break.
Her vision faded.
The last thing she saw before the world turned black— Was Bai Ren's bloodied face, his eyes wide in shock as she fell, and Zhang Se fighting the other Mu brother in the distant.