Chapter 167: Night

Chapter 167: Night

~~~

The creatures first appeared around three hours ago. Their numbers have only grown since then.

There are not enough of them to completely surround them, but that is only because the perimeter of the temple walls is far larger than that of the building they protect. To compensate, the monsters have gathered in large groups in every cardinal direction. They are large blotted masses of dead and rotten flesh that can be smelled over a mile away.

The attack will likely begin once the night falls, something Liu Jin has already communicated to the others. All disciples with powerful long-range techniques have been stationed on the walls. The plan is to bombard the creatures as they advance. Unfortunately, though the walls go deep enough to protect them from subterranean attacks, they are far too large for them to man properly. With their small numbers, the disciples have to stand hundreds of yards away from each other to cover as much area as possible.

There is no way they can prevent them from being breached.

That is also part of the plan, Liu Jin reminds himself. The first wall will fall. A perfect defense is not necessary. Once the creatures threaten to overwhelm them, they will retreat to the temple and attack from there. The only thing that matters is that they have somewhat thinned the monsters numbers by then.

Breathe.

They have spent as much time as they could preparing and planning. The countermeasures are in place. There is no need for him to trouble himself. His Qi must remain completely calm. If the others notice any hint of nervousness from him, they might start panicking. Even now, despite how far apart they are, Liu Jin can feel their worries. The tension in the air is so thick it is suffocating.

Perhaps if he were someone like Xiao Nan, this would be the time when hed make some heroic speech to raise morale. However, any words he could say right now would surely sound fake.

Besides, they are all too far apart for his Qi to reach everyone.

Liu Jin ignores the urge to glance back to the temple. Lu Mei and Feng Hao, as well as other disciples who are too wounded to fight, are there. Fan Bingbing has been placed in charge of them, as shes the one who knows the most about the temples labyrinthine insides. If the creatures breach the temple, she is the one best qualified to guide them to safety.

That will have to be enough.

This is not the time to look back. Only forward.

A shudder runs through their foes as the last ray of sunlight banishes from the horizon, and theyre left under the moon and the stars.

Brother Qing! One of the disciples shouts as the creatures slowly start advancing.

I feel it, Liu Jin replies, using his Qi to make his voice reach the disciples closest to him. He is surprised by how calm he sounds. Hold.

B-but-

Hold! Liu Jin repeats. Pass the word. Both of you.

The disciples grimace but do as ordered. One by one, the disciples pass his words around the wall. Hopefully, they will reach everyone before someone starts attacking. They need to kill as many as possible, so they cannot waste their power on attacks that will not reach because the enemy is too far away.

Hold! Liu Jin repeats once more as the horde picks up speed. The closer the creatures get, the easier it becomes to make out their individual shapes. They are ugly and misshapen things. It is like someone took normal Spirit Beasts and mashed them against each other, then left them to decompose under the sun

Hold! He repeats as he feels the nervousness and eagerness in the disciples spike up. The enemy is close enough that he can hear their screeching.

Liu Jin takes a deep breath.

His eyes narrow.

His Qi stills.

Now!

It erupts.

The sky lights up as though the sun had never set. Roaring fires and screaming thunder rain down from the walls. The unsightly invaders screech as their flesh burns to cinders. Again and again, the disciples unleash their best attacks with maddened zeal. Hundreds of monsters die in an instant.

Hundreds more keep advancing.

The creatures march through the fires, not caring whether they live or die. Sheer numbers let them continue as though the attacks made not one difference. Liu Jin expected this, and he had done his best to make sure the others knew what to expect.

He still feels their fear rise. Knowing is one thing. Seeing it firsthand is another.

Do not falter! Liu Jin roars. The tension and nervousness inside him turn into a mighty roar. Blue lightning crackles all around his body. He brings it down, and it goes out roaring into the horde.

[Rumbling Thunder Gods Strike]

The lightning spreads through the monsters like the branches of a tree, electrifying countless of them. The scent of burning, rotten flesh rises in the air.

Do not fear! You have nothing to fear! Liu Jin shouts, trying to get his Qi to reach as many as possible. You fear because the enemy outnumbers us? You are Disciples of the Eternal Flame Clan! You are the best and brightest of the Crimson Cloud Empire! Numbers mean nothing! The enemy is outmatched!

Words he doesnt believe come from his lips with utter certainty. They are technically not lies, yet the flaws in his reasoning should be obvious to all.

They are not.

Liu Jins words rouse the disciples. They yell into the sky with renewed fervor as they continue attacking. Again and again, the night lights up with their power. Not even fifteen minutes have passed, yet hundreds of explosions have gone off since the battle started. Were their opponents mere Spirit Beasts, theyd have won already.

However, the dead dont tire.

Next! Liu Jin roars out as he sends the disciple to the other healers so they may stabilize him.

The night is just beginning.

~~~

Feng Haos body vibrates in quiet anticipation. His feet keep tapping against the floor. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot stop moving.

The room he and the other wounded (a qualifier that only barely applies to him) have been placed in is unreasonably big for how few of them there are. There are scarcely seven of them, yet the large hall looks more suited for seven hundred. It is located in the lower levels of the temple, and bright flames have been placed under the high ceiling to prevent them from being left in the darkness.

It makes it extremely easy to see all the tired and fearful faces around him, making him desperately wish to do something.

Would you stop moving for a second? A tired voice asks him. I can barely hear my thoughts with all your tapping.

Ah! I am sorry, Senior Sister, he quickly replies, turning to his Elder Brothers friend? Lover?

Feng Hao is not really sure, but she really doesnt look well.

Are you well? He asks her. Sister Mei does not have any physical injuries, but her tiredness is apparent to him in the unhealthy color of her skin and the way she keeps holding her forehead.

I will be. She narrows her eyes at him. Once you stop moving.

The hostile tone causes Feng Hao to draw back. He is not used to being talked to like that by a disciple.

I, he says, drawing himself to his full height, am still the Young Master of the Eternal Flame Clan.

Oh? She smiles a smile that, for some reason, reminds him of his mother. And why is the most esteemed Young Master hiding here with us instead of showing everyone his overwhelming might?

I-Thats!

Enough. Both of you.

Fan Bingbing looks at them with a decidedly unimpressed stare.

The Young Master is a child, she tells Sister Mei, but it is Feng Hao who flinches. You are taunting a child. Do you realize that?

Lu Mei frowns but refuses to back down from the staring contest. Fan Bingbing, however, does not care about it, and turns to Feng Hao next.

Young Master, it is natural to be nervous, but do not worry. Nothing shall happen here. Now, apologize to each other.

What? The two cry out simultaneously.

I am in charge of everyone here, which means I am in charge of you both, Fan Bingbing says. If I say you should apologize to each other, that means you should do it. Sister Lu, as I understand it, Brother Qing wanted you to keep the Young Master safe, didnt he?

Lu Mei looks away.

Fighting with him runs counter to his desires, doesnt it?" Fan Bingbing insists.

Lu Mei takes a deep breath and, without looking at Fan Bingbing, turns towards Feng Hao.

I regret my words, Young Master. The situation got the better of me.

No I was too impatient as well, Feng Hao replies automatically.

You are young. It is allowed for you to be impatient. A lady like myself should show more grace.

Lu Mei looks awkward for a few seconds as if shes not sure how to follow that up.

Finally, she decides to pat his head.

Flames spark.

The moment her hand makes contact with him, something flows from her to him. The fire inside him rises and sparks from his forehead, making Lu Mei immediately jerk her hand back.

What was that? She asks him. Demands him, really. Somehow, she does not sound as tired as before.

I dont know, Feng Hao replies. I just

He trails off and slowly turns his head towards one of the corridors.

I feel something down there, Feng Hao says, pointing towards the darkness.

It is calling to him.

~~~