Old Monster in the Village

It wasn't the entire village that belonged to the Ruthless Bloodline; like the Shaking Light Sacred Land in later generations, they had infiltrated and were living incognito.

They could hide anywhere, appearing as ordinary people, making it impossible for mortals to see through their disguises.

But why this village?

Zhang Huan was puzzled.

Seeing that these villagers didn't know the details, Zhang Huan didn't make things difficult for them. He simply asked about the background of the owner of the Divine Sense in the village.

His Spiritual Sense swept across the entire village. Most of those who hadn't come to the village entrance were the elderly, children, women, and the weak, who were being protected and hiding in their homes.

There was only one old man, standing openly in the courtyard. He seemed to have seen Zhang Huan and waved, his face kind and amiable, without a trace of hostility.

"Do you know who the old man in the third house south of the village is?"

Zhang Huan asked, helping the Village Chief up.

"That, that is."

The Village Chief stammered, unable to recall for a moment.

Having just saved these villagers, many of them gathered around when they heard Zhang Huan asking. They knew everything and said everything.

"Isn't that our village's Old Man Mu's house? How did Immortal Master know?"

"How can you imagine Immortal Master's methods, you bumpkin."

A middle-aged man with a somewhat honest appearance scratched his head in surprise.

Hearing this, the Village Chief suddenly realized and recalled the relevant memories.

"Immortal Master, that old man came to our village more than fifty years ago. We don't know his name. His family looks like they were carved from the same mold. He usually keeps to himself and doesn't interact much with people."

"That old man likes to carve wood alone quietly, so the villagers often call him Old Man Mu."

"He has a son. We heard his wife passed away early, and his son does business outside the village and rarely comes back. We've only met him a few times over the years. Both father and son have eccentric personalities and are taciturn."

The Village Chief described his impression of Old Man Mu from his arrival in the village until now.

"Not long ago, someone tried to arrange a marriage for him, wanting to set up his son, and it almost turned into a feud."

After listening, he had gained nothing. He only knew that the old man and his son belonged to the Ruthless Bloodline, but he couldn't find out anything else.

"You all, go back, gather your belongings, and run out of the village. Run as far as you can. You can come back when it's dark and there's still no movement."

"Immortal Master, do you have a grudge against this family? Did his disappointing son offend you?"

Sensing something was wrong, the Village Chief mustered his courage and spoke. Zhang Huan remained noncommittal.

"Although that old man is usually not likable, he's not inherently bad. He's already half-dead."

Tears wet his clothes as the Village Chief pleaded for Old Man Mu.

Having lived in the same village for half a lifetime, it was impossible not to have some feelings. He could sense that this Immortal Master was not an unreasonable person, otherwise, he wouldn't have saved the villagers just now.

"You have half an hour. If you stay in the village any longer, you'll face the consequences."

Zhang Huan glanced at them and said coldly, showing no mercy.

It wasn't that he was heartless. Based on what they had said earlier, the old man's son, who was often away, was likely the Saint King with the middle-aged appearance, and he had already been killed.

Only the old man was left, like a trapped beast in its lair, cornered. Any desperate counterattack was expected.

Their background was unknown, so he had to be cautious. If a battle were to break out, mortals would be like ants. He couldn't save them one by one, so it was better to evacuate them directly. That way, he could fight without any reservations once the masks were off.

"I've already told you what you need to know. Whether you live or die is up to you."

Zhang Huan brushed past the villagers and walked straight into the village. With every step, his footprints stirred the terrain, and golden Dao patterns sank into the ground, probing for any traps or formations.

The villagers looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Finally, the Village Chief reluctantly rallied them, and they hurried home to pack their things.

After a long time, having checked countless times, Zhang Huan stopped outside the courtyard where Old Man Mu was standing, having walked hundreds of steps.

"Young man, why don't you come in?"

The old man stood with his hands behind his back, a peaceful smile on his aged face.

As if he had known Zhang Huan was coming, he had already prepared hot tea and gestured leisurely.

One could see that most of his teeth had fallen out, his mouth was bare, and he looked incredibly old.

Upon closer inspection, a sharp glint still flashed in his cloudy eyes, revealing his vitality and spirit, as if hinting at the extraordinary hidden within his frail body.

"Peak Saint."

Zhang Huan waited, silently analyzing the other party's strength.

"This tea is rare in the world. Even a Holy Lord would covet it. It's brewed for you today. Wouldn't it be a pity not to have a sip?"

"I don't dare to come in. I'm afraid of falling into your trap and being ambushed by you."

Zhang Huan said calmly, not concealing the killing intent on his body at all, making his purpose for this visit clear.

"That's a real shame. I just wanted to invite you for a cup of hot tea and have a good talk."

"What is there to talk about between us? I killed your son, does that count?"

Zhang Huan said with a light laugh, his face relaxed, as if it were a trivial matter he didn't care about.

Old Man Mu trembled all over, his chest heaving, as if his deepest pride had been wounded. He glared at Zhang Huan through gritted teeth.

"I thought I could hold you off until I lured you in and tore you to shreds, but I still underestimated the pain of losing my son."

His fingertips dug into his flesh, drawing blood. The pleasant, natural expression he'd worn moments before vanished, replaced by pure ferocity and hatred.

"You deserve to die! I will make you pay for my son's life!"

"Your son was a murderer who committed countless evil deeds using the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art. Death is what he deserved, so why should anyone pay for him?" Zhang Huan retorted with a cold laugh. Didn't the Ruthless Bloodline kill enough people? Why don't they ever pay for their victims?

"Shut up! He was my son!" Old Man Mu roared at Zhang Huan like a wild beast, his eyes bloodshot and wild.

"A bunch of damned beasts! You forced my son to live in hiding, constantly fearing for his life, wasting his great talent and preventing him from reaching the Dao."

He twisted his face, his blood-stained hand covering his head as he let out a guttural cry.

"Tsk, as expected, you're all the same, none of you are any good," Zhang Huan cursed inwardly. Truly the Ruthless Bloodline, their moral compass is so peculiar. It's fine for others to be killed by your son, but your son cannot be killed by others. What kind of garbage is that? Utterly rotten.

"Now that he's dead, I have nothing left to live for. I'll risk this old life to avenge my son!"

His white hair began to fall out, and Old Man Mu suddenly looked a hundred years older. His face became withered and gaunt, like a dead tree, soaked in blood, turning him into a horrifying monster.

Zhang Huan let out a mocking snort, observing the scene without a ripple of emotion. The old man's life force flickered like a candle in the wind, yet his power was steadily increasing as he employed a secret technique that sacrificed his life. He was stalling for time under the guise of revenge. However, his cultivation was too low; Zhang Huan didn't believe he could pose a threat. The old man, originally a Saint, was now briefly crossing into the Saint King realm by sacrificing the essence of his lifelong cultivation.

"With your current strength, you can't kill me." Zhang Huan was confident that a mere Saint King couldn't break through his defenses. He urged the old man to reveal whatever trump cards he had.

"Heh, hehehehe..." Old Man Mu suddenly stopped his wailing, his sanity seemingly gone. He turned and laughed maniacally, his grin stretching to his earlobes. His eyes were hollow, his face terrifying.

"Do you think I would have let you in if I didn't have a plan?"