A Narrow Encounter

The night wind brushed past, leaving a slight chill on his back.

If Lu Yibai had not been alert enough just now, those claws would already have pierced his chest!

Perhaps the cultivation of "Menstrual Pain" had made him more perceptive. Before this, he might already have been hit.

And it was obvious that the other side had directly intended to kill him!

That strike had been aimed at piercing through his back and straight through his heart!

You sneaky bastard!

Fine... Boss Lu's train of thought was peculiar once again.

But no matter what, people ultimately felt great terror in the face of death.

The situation was rather dire, and his mind was exceptionally focused.

Holding Lion Umbrella, he took two steps back and got a clear look at the short man's current appearance.

Nothing else about him had changed, but his hands were covered in pitch-black fur, with sharp gray claws extending from them.

Huh, gray nail fungus?

The short man slightly flexed his claws and said, "I didn't expect to run into a new Night Watchman. What a surprise."

Earlier, he had seen black mist swirling around Lu Yibai's hand. His mouth had watered, and greed had arisen in his heart.

That black mist was useless to powerful demons, but for him, it could still serve as a bit of nourishment.

This sort of black mist was generally connected to ghosts and spirits, but that did not mean ordinary people could not become tainted by it.

At first, he had truly thought Boss Lu was merely an ordinary person who had happened to pick up a bit of black mist.

But cautious by nature, he had still kept his guard up to some extent.

The awkward part was that Boss Lu had also been wary of him.

Now, both sides were in the same state: "I've looked into his eyes. He isn't one of us..."

His failed strike just now left him somewhat disappointed.

This was Crow City, one of the most terrifying places for demons!

Though rumors said that "Gentleman" had already gone to Magic City and taken over as the person in charge there, his lingering influence remained.

Besides, the demons had no idea whether "Night Cat" was still in Crow City.

Logically speaking, she should have been promoted alongside "Gentleman," but it was better not to take the risk.

That was why, during his sneak attack just now, this short and sinister demon had restrained the demonic power within his body and attacked solely with his claws.

Once demonic power spread, what if it was sensed by powerful Night Watchmen nearby?

Then wouldn't This Venerable One be totally screwed?

Unfortunately... he had missed.

This rookie was really alert!

Lu Yibai took a deep breath and tightened his right hand around Lion Umbrella.

This was the first real battle he had ever faced.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced behind the short demon. The little girl lay quietly in the corner by the wall, still unconscious.

Though he did not know what this demon intended to do, the fact that it had immediately tried to kill him upon learning he was a Night Watchman clearly meant nothing good.

Fortunately, Lion Umbrella's material was unknown, but it seemed pretty sturdy.

There were not many little light spots left in Lu Yibai's body. He had used up some more at the hospital earlier, leaving him at roughly half health.

His dead fish eyes widened slightly as he secretly poured all the few remaining light spots within him into Lion Umbrella.

The lion head in his palm radiated warmth. He was waiting for an opportunity!

When experts fought, they were always fast, accurate, and ruthless.

But what about trash-tier fighters?

Picture two groups of useless punks facing off outside a school, hurling insults at each other but refusing to actually fight for ages.

That was exactly the situation now.

The demon did not dare use its demonic power freely, while Lu Yibai lacked experience.

Both sides were looking for an opening, and the scene had fallen into an awkward stalemate.

The short demon glanced at the unconscious little girl lying on the ground. Remembering that he had a mission to complete, he could not afford to hesitate any longer.

He lunged at Lu Yibai with incredible speed.

His right claw shot straight toward Lu Yibai's shoulder. It was a feint.

He had discovered that Lion Umbrella was made of special material and could not be torn apart by his claws. So he intended to draw Lu Yibai into blocking his right claw, then use his left claw to stab straight into Lu Yibai's lower abdomen!

Riiip—

The sound of flesh tearing rang out.

The short demon was a little dumbfounded.

Just how weak was this Night Watchman?

His right claw had actually struck Lu Yibai directly in the shoulder!

Leaving behind a bloody gash!

Battles were often decided in an instant, and he had no time to hesitate.

Since you're this weak, you deserve to die!

His left claw immediately stabbed toward Lu Yibai's lower abdomen.

At that very instant, Lu Yibai moved!

The stabbing pain in his shoulder made him exceptionally clear-headed, while the smell of blood stimulated his olfactory nerves.

He had no combat experience.

The light spots in his body were also limited.

He did not even know how to find an opening.

But—so what?

The short demon's right claw had sunk into his shoulder, and its left claw stabbed into his lower abdomen in the same instant.

Lu Yibai had no intention of dodging.

He wanted to gamble that this demon still did not dare use demonic power for the moment, that it was still somewhat restrained.

This was his only chance.

So he simply wanted to see whose life was tougher!

Come on! Let's trade skills point-blank!

He let the short demon drive its claws into his body, but Lion Umbrella stabbed out at the same time!

Lion Umbrella carried every last little light spot in Lu Yibai's body. Combined with his enhanced arm strength, a faint red glow emerged from its tip!

It pierced directly into the short demon's chest!

Crack, crack—

The sound was incomparably pleasing to Lu Yibai's ears.

It was the sound of demon bones breaking.

Even now, the short demon's face was filled with disbelief.

What the fuck kind of tactic was this?

Did he not care about his life?

Both of its claws had pierced Lu Yibai's body, while Lion Umbrella had pierced straight through it as well!

When enemies met on a narrow path, the brave won!

A life for a life!

Feeling the pain in its chest, the short demon realized that if it did not activate its demonic power now, it would certainly die.

Just as it prepared for one final struggle, the red light on Lion Umbrella, which had pierced through it, flickered like scorching fire!

With a sizzle, flames flashed and burned a huge hole through it!

A section of its chest was simply gone!

It could not have been deader!

Using the last of his strength, Lu Yibai kicked it away.

At the same time, the claws embedded in his body were pulled out.

He staggered back several steps, then slowly slumped against the wall.

Blood streamed from his lower abdomen and shoulder.

After all these days of cultivation, he seemed to have grown somewhat accustomed to pain.

His tolerance was far stronger than before.

He raised his left hand and wiped the blood that had splattered across his face from his shoulder, muttering to himself,

"Hiss... it doesn't seem... to hurt that much!"

He lowered his head to look at the bloody holes in his body, then glanced at the little girl sleeping in the corner. Before losing consciousness, he thought:

Kid, stay asleep a little longer. If you wake up too early, Uncle might traumatize you for life.

Wouldn't want to scare the poor little girl into wetting herself!

(PS: First chapter of the new week. Please vote with recommendation tickets and help this book climb the new release rankings!)