Shen Bai truly had not expected something so awkward to happen at such a critical moment.
It was like being caught doing something bad, hurriedly hiding under the bed, only to discover someone else was already under there.
Awkward. Extremely awkward.
It was not just Shen Bai. The figure opposite him seemed to feel the same way and, perhaps because it was so awkward, even waved at Shen Bai.
The instant that hand waved, it became even more awkward.
Shen Bai felt that at a time like this, he had to ease the awkwardness.
He made a gesture, asking if they should go down and take a look first.
The figure opposite him pondered slightly, then nodded.
The two of them vaulted down from the wall at the same time, though they kept plenty of distance between each other.
Shen Bai narrowed his eyes and carefully examined the figure ahead.
Judging by the height, the figure was around five feet three inches tall—not particularly tall.
As he considered the other party's identity, he walked toward the house ahead.
The layout of houses in Ascending Cloud County was ordinary enough that one glance revealed the location of the main hall.
The yamen had already taken away the corpse, but Shen Bai felt he might still find clues.
The black-clad person seemed to think much the same as Shen Bai and was also heading toward the main hall.
But there was only one main hall.
The distance between them gradually closed. When only several paces remained between them, both stopped.
At that moment, the black-clad person made a gesture, pointing at the house ahead and then at Shen Bai.
Shen Bai spread his hands, indicating that he could not understand.
They were not teammates, after all. It would have been stranger if he could understand at a time like this.
However, Shen Bai caught a strange fragrance drifting from the black-clad person.
For no reason, a phrase came to his mind. Brother, you smell so nice.
But this did not seem like the time to talk.
Seeing that Shen Bai did not understand, the black-clad person took the lead and went to the house. With practiced ease, the figure extended a finger and poked through the paper window.
Shen Bai had only ever seen this kind of scene on television. This was truly his first time experiencing it himself.
He pondered briefly, then went to another window several paces away. Copying the black-clad person, he poked a hole in the window and pressed his eye to it.
The room was pitch-black, but under the moonlight, he could make out something abnormal inside.
A figure was swaying endlessly around the room.
The figure wore black clothes.
With the help of the moonlight, Shen Bai saw the figure clearly.
A pale face, blood flowing from all seven orifices, eyes containing nothing but whites, and shuffling steps as it paced back and forth.
The black clothes were stained with blood. Looking carefully, they were actually burial garments.
"Five Hearts Facing Heaven, free and unfettered..."
"Money. I want to make money, lots of money..."
"With money comes freedom..."
Old Master Qian swayed about constantly. Wherever he went, blood from his seven orifices sprayed in all directions.
Shen Bai frowned slightly at the sight.
He was certain that Master Qian's corpse was in the yamen.
If it had suddenly vanished, the yamen men would definitely be searching everywhere. This place would have been the first to be searched.
There had been no sign of constables along the way, so the Master Qian before him was not the corpse from the yamen.
Shen Bai could not help thinking of the Old Daoist Priest, and his scalp instantly prickled.
This was the second time he had faced something strange and eerie head-on. Though he had experience from last time, it was still far too little.
This was not something one could grow used to after only one or two encounters.
Shen Bai gripped the Rusty Longsword tightly. Just as he was about to turn around, Master Qian inside the room moved.
Those eyes filled entirely with whites rolled, glancing toward Shen Bai's position.
Shen Bai was startled. He watched Master Qian's head suddenly fall off, only for Master Qian to catch it in his hand.
"Five Hearts Facing Heaven, the first heart..."
Master Qian hurled the head out. It flew toward Shen Bai, and Shen Bai could even see the face bleeding from all seven orifices.
In that critical instant, Shen Bai hurriedly retreated.
Bang!
The head smashed through the window and rolled around on the ground several times.
On the other side, Master Qian's body burst through the spot where the black-clad person stood.
The black-clad person reacted with equal speed. The small figure rolled across the ground and tumbled aside.
When the figure rose, a pair of short spikes was held in hand.
Waves of black qi coiled around the short spikes.
That black qi clearly isn't anything decent.
Shen Bai thought.
He did not continue thinking, because the head on the ground flew up and lunged at him.
Blood Sword Dance!
Without hesitation, Shen Bai thrust with his longsword.
The airflow within him circulated, his blood and qi surged through his entire body, and this sword strike actually carried the rumble of thunder.
Squelch!
The longsword pierced straight through Master Qian's head, and the head turned into a wisp of black smoke before vanishing.
On the other side, the black-clad person appeared somewhat hard-pressed against the headless body.
The black qi on the pair of short spikes left marks on the headless body. As though the black qi possessed corrosive power, it made waves of hissing sounds.
Whether in speed or strength, the headless body seemed immensely powerful. The black-clad person nimbly evaded it, while wounds steadily increased on the headless body instead.
Though the black-clad person appeared hard-pressed in this situation, victory was only a matter of time.
Of course Shen Bai would not let the black-clad person kill the headless body.
After dealing with the head just now, Shen Bai had not obtained any Killing Intent. He guessed that he still needed to deal with the body.
As for whether he had to do it personally to obtain Killing Intent, Shen Bai would not gamble on it. This was an opportunity that had not come easily.
Shen Bai considered it, then rapidly approached with the Rusty Longsword in hand.
The black-clad person, who had been fighting the headless body, immediately became alert and retreated with the short spikes raised.
In fact, wariness was perfectly normal under such circumstances.
Shen Bai did not waste words and unleashed Blood Sword Dance.
It was as though he was performing a sword dance, yet it carried an icy, piercing killing intent.
His blood and qi surged like thunder, his radiant righteous qi breaking demons as though entering uninhabited territory.
With one sword strike, the headless body suddenly stopped moving.
A line of blood emerged down the center of the headless body.
The next moment, the headless body split into two.
The two halves turned into black smoke and swiftly vanished.
You have obtained one wisp of Killing Intent
Shen Bai narrowed his eyes, thinking that it was indeed as he had expected.
Slaying strange and eerie entities allowed him to obtain Killing Intent.
However, Shen Bai did not dwell on it under the present circumstances.
Not far ahead, the black-clad person had already vaulted over the wall. Seemingly unwilling to say a single word to Shen Bai, the figure's retreating back looked somewhat hurried.
Shen Bai had seen a trace of fear in the black-clad person's eyes, and the source of that fear was himself.
He seems very afraid of me. Am I really that scary?
My swordsmanship is so full of righteous qi.
Shen Bai thought to himself and did not pursue the black-clad person.
There was no need.
On this trip, he had obtained Killing Intent and achieved his goal.
He was also hiding his identity now, so there was no need to create more trouble.
Moreover, the black-clad person was extremely fast and seemed to know an advanced movement technique.
Shen Bai knew no movement technique, only swordsmanship. Even if he wanted to chase, he could not catch up.
So he would not do such pointless work.
Of course, that was not the most important reason.
The most important thing was that while observing the room just now, Shen Bai seemed to have seen something very good.
Before you continue