One Punch Shatters the Demon's Head

Yes, Han Zhiqi had already begun planning his escape. The Trainer's continued absence made him realize this wasn't a test, but that he had genuinely encountered a demon.

Han Zhiqi shook his head, scanned his surroundings, and picked up several sharp pieces of wood from the ground, clenching them in his palm.

This would be his final attack. After this, he would begin his flight.

Demons possessed infinite stamina and vitality. Without a Nichirin Blade, he couldn't possibly kill this thing, so he had to escape.

Han Zhiqi calmed himself, took a deep breath, and his eyes sharpened.

Snowflakes began to fall from the sky again. The pieces of wood in his hand were instantly encased in ice, transforming into slender ice cones.

"Phantom • Falling Snow."

This move was a new technique, blending two styles together. It utilized the agile footwork of "Phantom" and the freezing properties of "Falling Snow" in a combined assault.

Before Han Zhiqi could finish speaking, his figure flickered, vanishing from his spot. Countless afterimages filled the open space, all rushing towards the demon.

The demon desperately twisted its body, trying to stop Han Zhiqi's approach, but it was completely ineffective.

Seven or eight transparent figures surrounded the demon, and almost simultaneously, they plunged their ice cones into various joints of the demon's body, especially its lower limbs, like ankle and knee joints, all to immobilize it.

Having done all that, Han Zhiqi used the last bit of his strength to flee towards the mountain path. The demon's screams echoed behind him.

Why was he fleeing up the mountain instead of down? Wouldn't fleeing downhill be less strenuous?

It was less strenuous, but also more dangerous.

Han Zhiqi knew his physical condition well. Even if he ran, he wouldn't get very far. Once the demon broke free from the wooden sticks and ice cones, it would eventually catch up to him.

He didn't know the situation downhill, nor how far it was from here, nor if he could even reach it. Even if he did reach it, would anyone help him? And even if someone did help, could that person defeat the demon before him?

All these uncertainties compelled him not to flee downhill.

Fleeing uphill, though more tiring, had far fewer uncertainties. At the very least, the Trainer should be able to defeat the demon before him.

Furthermore, he had made preparations beforehand. The demon's several cries of pain should have reached the mountaintop, and perhaps the Trainer was already on his way to rescue him.

All he had to do was hold on until the Trainer arrived. If he didn't, it would only mean his destiny was to perish here.

Han Zhiqi dragged his exhausted body, staggering towards the summit.

At first, he could walk normally, but as he climbed higher, his legs began to ache and tremble, and his vision gradually blurred. In the end, he could only move slowly, barely supporting himself on the mountain rocks by the path.

He prayed in his heart that the demon was injured and would retreat.

But not long after, the demon's furious roar echoed from behind him. He could almost hear the sound of branches snapping as the demon leaped through the trees.

Han Zhiqi despaired, knowing he couldn't escape any longer. He stopped, sat down slowly, leaning against a round stone beside him.

Fine, this is where it ends.

Han Zhiqi looked forward with a wry smile. He couldn't tell if it was the darkness or his failing vision, but everything before him was pitch black.

That stingy woman really got me into trouble! Ah, what a shame, I can't go settle the score with her.

Thinking of Shinobu Kocho's pretty face, a wave of warmth flowed through Han Zhiqi's heart. Besides his sister, she was the only woman who made him feel warmth, who he wanted to approach and understand.

Han Zhiqi took out the pendant from the bandages on his chest and held it before his eyes. The azure pendant swayed from side to side, emitting a faint glow.

"Little Qi, don't come looking for me, and don't think about revenge. Just live well."

These were his sister's parting words.

He had been disoriented at the time, only dimly hearing this much. He had been determined to find his sister and kill Qi An, to avenge the villagers and his sister. He hadn't expected his new journey to end before it even began.

Han Zhiqi felt a deep sense of unwillingness.

A gust of foul wind swept by, and a dark figure descended from above, standing before Han Zhiqi with boundless rage.

It's finally here!

Is it finally over?

Han Zhiqi let out a cold smile, unhurriedly tucking the pendant back into his bandages. He stared directly at the demon before him, but his blurred vision could no longer discern its appearance.

The demon shrieked and swung its sharp claws towards Han Zhiqi's throat.

Suddenly, Han Zhiqi's eyes widened, veins bulging on his forehead. Facing the demon, he opened his mouth and let out a sharp roar.

"Qi... An!"

The two words burst from Han Zhiqi's throat, carrying endless rage and unwillingness.

The roar, uttered with Han Zhiqi's last ounce of strength, startled the demon so much that it leaped onto a nearby tree branch, thinking it was some deadly technique. After all, it had suffered greatly at the hands of this prey.

Han Zhiqi's voice echoed through the forest.

The demon crouched on the branch and waited for a moment. Discovering it was just a simple roar, it realized it had been tricked again.

Enraged, it let out a series of demonic cries, brandishing its claws and lunging at Han Zhiqi, determined to tear the prey before him to shreds this time.

"Stone Breathing: Second Form: Heavenward Smash." An ancient voice rang out from nowhere.

Han Zhiqi opened his eyes. Through the haze, he saw a burly figure appear before him. A dull thud, like the sound of a watermelon exploding.

In mid-air, the demon lunging at him had its entire head pulverized by a single punch.

Finally, they're here!

Looks like I bet right!

The person grabbed Han Zhiqi's arm and slung him over their back like a chicken, then walked towards the mountain peak with steady steps.

Han Zhiqi, lying on the Trainer's back, turned his head to look at the demon on the stone steps. It had lost its head and was flailing around on the ground like a headless fly. Soon after, it turned into a pile of dust and vanished.

As expected, so strong! Truly the master of the strongest Stone Hashira!

He didn't know how this person managed it. Wasn't it said that only a Nichirin Blade could kill a demon by severing its head? Or perhaps, crushing the demon's head also killed it?

"Are you still alive?" the aged voice sounded again.

"If you had been any later, you wouldn't have made it."

"For a greenhorn like you, still carrying old injuries, to last this long... that thing's wounds were your doing, weren't they."

"It's a shame I don't have a blade, or I wouldn't be in such a sorry state."

"Hmph, you've got some skill after all."

"How did you kill it just now? Wasn't it said that only a Nichirin Blade could kill it?"

"What the book told you was just the simplest, most practical method. In reality, what truly kills a demon is a type of mineral that absorbs sunlight, which is also one of the materials used to forge Nichirin Blades. This mineral can disrupt a demon's blood regeneration system. To kill a demon completely, there are two necessary conditions: first, sever the brain's control system, and second, destroy the blood regeneration system. Therefore, a Nichirin Blade isn't a prerequisite. Any weapon mixed with that mineral, as long as it can meet the two requirements above, can kill a demon."

Han Zhiqi suddenly understood. It seemed this old man had some kind of weapon on him, but just being able to crush a demon's head with brute physical strength alone was already incredible.

"Besides this method of slaying demons with brute force, there's another way to kill them: poison. Wisteria poison can destroy a demon's blood regeneration system from the inside. However, the dosage is difficult to control, and while it works on weaker demons, it's not very effective against powerful ones. It's also inconvenient to carry, so not many people use it."

That woman used poison.

That woman naturally referred to Shinobu Kocho.