Secret Sword, Iron Sword Across the River!
A murky-yellow Sword Aura tore through the mist, sweeping across every shadow.
The shadows were knocked to a halt.
—but that was all.
"Such power, no greater than an ant's..."
One shadow murmured, then suddenly vanished.
In the next instant, it appeared right before Gu Qingshan.
"Join us!"
the shadow roared.
It spread its arms and lunged to embrace Gu Qingshan.
Gu Qingshan thrust his sword with all his might.
Bang!
A muffled thud.
The shadow flew backward and landed among the others.
The murky-yellow Sword Aura lingered at the shadow's chest, blowing away the mist that covered its body.
Its true form was revealed—
a battered knight's corpse, black water streaming from its body, despair etched across its face.
The corpse stared at Gu Qingshan for a moment, then growled in a low voice:
"Even with such skill, you can't possibly stand against a power that drives people to despair. You'll end up just like us."
Gu Qingshan asked curiously, "What are you? How can you speak to me through this corpse?"
Holding the Earth Sword, he advanced into the dense crowd of shadows with practiced, nimble steps.
As he danced, women's voices began to chant in the void.
The drums beat on, lively and exuberant.
The corpse's voice suddenly changed—
"Help—help me!"
the corpse cried out desperately.
Then it grinned viciously again and said, "Guess what I am?"
Gu Qingshan's steps grew even more vigorous. He swung his long sword and said, "Guess whether I'll guess or not."
On one side stood a vicious monster; on the other, a carefree, merry dancer. The glaring mismatch between them conjured an absurd, dreamlike feeling.
The corpse let out a sinister laugh and made a gesture.
"Attack!"
Dark mist once more covered its body,