Mount Lao Daoist Sect, Luanchan Temple

The bustling hall immediately fell silent. Every diner turned to look, faint excitement in their eyes.

The Twin Fiends of Hejian!

The culprits behind the massacre of more than thirty people that those Thugs had just discussed had actually appeared here!

And from the Twin Fiends of Hejian's tone, they seemed to have a grudge against the mysterious Black Robe Stranger. Perhaps today they would witness the feuds and bloodshed of the martial world!

"It's actually the Twin Fiends of Hejian!"

"Brother, may I ask just who these Twin Fiends of Hejian are?"

"Heh heh, little brother, you've come to the right man. Others might not know, but the Twin Fiends of Hejian are twin brothers. The elder is Sun Boren, the younger Sun Buyi. Both brothers are Martial Masters of the True Force Realm. Together, they fear no one below the Grandmaster Realm. Born in the region of Cangwu Hejian, they call themselves the Twin Fiends of Hejian. Both are ruthless men, burning, killing, plundering, and ravaging their way through Cangwu Commandery, committing every evil imaginable. They are notorious bandits of Cangwu Commandery—even the Imperial Court has been unable to do anything about them."

"What? They're that vicious?!"

As everyone chattered away, the brothers Sun Boren and Sun Buyi strode straight toward the wooden table where the Black Robe Stranger sat.

The diners along their path all shrank back, keeping their distance. Only Chen Yan at the neighboring table, along with Facai, one man and one cat, ate and drank heartily as though no one else existed.

No, that was not quite right. It was not only Chen Yan. The Burly Monk and the Black Robe Stranger also showed no reaction whatsoever. All three focused on the food before them, not even sparing the "notorious" Twin Fiends of Hejian a glance.

Seeing that the three actually dared ignore them, a flash of anger passed through elder brother Sun Boren's eyes. But he had no time to deal with Chen Yan and the Burly Monk for now, instead walking up to the Black Robe Stranger's table.

When the Black Robe Stranger still dared to ignore him, he slammed the blade in his hand heavily onto the table with a bang. The tremendous force shook the dishes, soup, and wine all over the tabletop as he shouted harshly:

"I'm asking you a question!"

After speaking, he felt an itch in his ear and reached in to scratch it, though the ferocity on his face did not lessen.

Beside him, younger brother Sun Buyi wore an equally vicious expression. He licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with savagery.

Only then did the Black Robe Stranger seem to notice the Sun brothers. He slowly raised his head, and dark eyes hidden behind an evil ghost mask swept over them. A hoarse voice, rasping like a millstone, sounded through the hall:

"You've got the wrong person."

"Bullshit!"

Sun Boren cursed, feeling a slight sting at the corner of his eye. He raised a hand to rub it.

His younger brother Sun Buyi added coldly, "Even if you turned to ashes, my brother and I would recognize you. Outside Dangyang County that day, was it not you who took the opportunity to steal the treasure?"

Only then did everyone in the hall understand. So this black-robed man had stolen the treasure the Twin Fiends of Hejian took from Steward Li's exterminated household.

The Black Robe Stranger set down his wine jug, wiped his mouth, and said unhurriedly:

"I was wondering—weren't those possessions not yours to begin with?"

A fierce glint flashed through Sun Boren's eyes. With a clang, he drew his gold-ringed saber and pressed its sharp edge against the Black Robe Stranger's throat, roaring:

"Talk! Where did you put all the silver?! Don't force me to kill you with one slash!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Sun Boren felt his nose begin to itch again. This time, he could no longer suppress it.

"Achoo."

With the sneeze, something small and flat, with feelers, something that loved to stir in the darkness, fell onto the table.

"What is that?!"

Sun Boren jolted in alarm. Then, as if he had poked a hornet's nest, everyone in the hall suddenly heard a faint, strange sound.

Though subtle, it was exceptionally clear in the silent hall.

Almost simultaneously, everyone looked toward its source. They nearly jumped out of their skins at the sight.

The inner corner of Sun Buyi's eye bulged slightly. Then a feeler emerged from within. Next, his eyeball seemed ready to burst from its socket under the pressure. Two hooked insect legs clung to the bloodshot eyeball—and a cockroach actually crawled out of Sun Buyi's eye!

Sun Buyi's face was filled with terror. Pointing at Sun Boren's eyes, he was so frightened he could barely speak:

"Big Brother, you..."

"What about me?!"

Sun Boren frowned. His eyes itched unbearably, and he could not help raising a hand to rub them. Before his hand even touched them—

Bang.

Both eyeballs flew out at once.

Then countless cockroaches poured from Sun Buyi's eyes, nostrils, ears, and mouth like a pitch-black tide. They surged to the ceiling, then rolled back down.

Amid the buzzing of wings, they completely engulfed Sun Buyi!

The rustling sound of gnawing rang through the hall, accompanied by Sun Boren's screams of terror, pain, and despair:

"AAAAAAAHHH!!!"

"Big Brother!!!"

This sudden scene drained the color from everyone's faces. They all retreated several yards, avoiding it as though it were snakes and scorpions. When they looked at the Black Robe Stranger, there was a trace of fear in their eyes.

No one was a fool. It was obvious that the culprit behind Sun Boren's sudden bizarre and horrifying condition was the Black Robe Stranger before them.

Sun Buyi realized this as well. He seized the Black Robe Stranger by the collar and roared himself hoarse:

"Let my big brother go, now!!!"

Yet the Black Robe Stranger merely replied blandly:

"You should worry about yourself first."

"What?!"

Sun Buyi was startled. In an instant, he too felt his entire body itch unbearably.

Looking down, he saw more than a dozen lumps had risen beneath the flesh all over his body at some point. They were like countless rats scurrying through his flesh and blood, inching their way toward the top of his head.

"No... No!!!"

Sun Buyi cried out in terror and collapsed onto the floor.

But it was all futile. Scorpions with jet-black carapaces, six hooked legs, and venomous stingers at their tails crawled out through Sun Buyi's seven orifices. Like Sun Boren, countless scorpions became a black tide, instantly surrounding Sun Buyi layer upon layer, leaving only a bloated human silhouette.

"AAAH!!!"

Miserable screams and the rustling sounds of gnawing echoed through the hall, chilling everyone who heard them to the bone. Cold sweat beaded on their foreheads as they swallowed hard. The way they looked at the Black Robe Stranger was no longer mere fear—it was profound terror!

Just then, a loud and hearty cry of approval rang out abruptly.

"Good! Good! Good!"

The monk, as brawny as an iron tower, had suddenly risen to his feet. He laughed loudly and said:

"So you are a descendant of the Mount Lao Gu Sect. My apologies for failing to recognize you!"

The Black Robe Stranger's dark eyes turned toward the monk. The monk pressed his palms together and chanted:

"Fine wine and fine dishes pass through the gut; killing and arson are the Buddha of chaotic homes.

Amitabha. This humble disciple Yuantong of Luanchan Temple greets you, benefactor."