Don't Worry, It Won't Hurt Much

Chen Bin had heard every word clearly before they even came through the door.

When he heard "Absorb Yang Energy" and "eat souls," his heart lurched. An invisible hand clamped around it, leaving him afraid to make a sound.

Then an image appeared before his eyes.

Two red dots and one blue dot were closing in on a small blue figure.

Was this a map?

Blue was him, and red was the enemy?

There was more than just a map. There were also prompts:

[Red-Clad Woman: Body Tempering Realm Fox Demon. Merit gained: +7.]

[Old Ghoul: Tiger Demon Ghost Servant. Merit gained: +8.]

[Bao Hong: Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist. Merit gained: +4.]

The names came first, but what did the numbers after Merit mean?

As Chen Bin pondered this, he heard the name of his immediate superior, Tian Jie.

His heart lurched. How could he not understand the whole story now?

Captain Tian Jie of the Demon Suppression Division had taken his money, but had never intended to let him live through the night.

He took bribes and sold people to demons as food?

The next thing he heard made Chen Bin unable to sit still.

If he didn't do something, he'd really end up at that Mountain Lord's place as food.

Chen Bin clutched his head and got up, putting on the appearance of a drunk. His steps were unsteady, his gaze unfocused.

He swayed as he glanced at the three of them, each with a Red Name hovering above their head.

In the end, Chen Bin's gaze settled on Bao Hong.

A hint of delight showed on his face as he stumbled over to put an arm around Bao Hong. His words came out slurred. "Brother, come on, let's keep drinking!"

The three of them were stunned when Chen Bin got up.

The Red-Clad Woman's eyes widened, confusion flooding her thoughts. Wait, I'd nearly drained him dry. I'd left him just one breath to keep his soul trapped.

The Old Ghoul furrowed his brow, displeasure in his eyes. This Red-Clad Woman—can't she be trusted?

Bao Hong was so shocked he couldn't speak. He cursed inwardly. I knew I couldn't trust a demon's lies.

As they watched Chen Bin approach, the three of them didn't know what to do. Their expressions seemed frozen in place.

While they were still stunned, Chen Bin had already passed the Old Ghoul and was heading for Bao Hong.

There was no time to think. The Red-Clad Woman had plenty of experience, and she moved to intercept him at once.

Something was wrong.

A sudden, ominous feeling welled up inside Bao Hong, though he couldn't tell what was wrong.

He stared intently as Chen Bin came closer. Suddenly, his gaze fell on the blade at Chen Bin's waist.

Earlier, when he'd escorted Chen Bin into the room, he'd personally placed the blade on the table.

Now it was hanging from Chen Bin's waist.

"Y—" Bao Hong had barely gotten the word out.

A crisp clang rang out, like a dragon's cry splitting the night sky.

The horizontal blade flashed free of its sheath, its black edge glinting coldly.

The Red-Clad Woman saw the blade, but it was already too late to dodge.

The blade was a streak of black lightning, at her forehead in an instant.

As she moved around the County Town, the Red-Clad Woman had to wear a [Demon Sealing Ornament] to suppress her demonic aura and avoid drawing attention.

At that moment, the flow of her demonic aura had nearly ground to a halt.

She had no time to cast Demonic Arts to protect herself. When the Demon Suppression Blade came slashing down, she was utterly defenseless.

Instinctively, she raised her claws to block it.

"Aaaagh..." The Red-Clad Woman let out a hoarse, agonized shriek that sent chills down the spine.

Red demonic aura spread across her body as blood sprayed from the cut, a crimson fountain.

The stench of Fox Blood filled the room, making the stomach turn.

Chen Bin held the blade in one hand. Red blade patterns lit up across its pitch-black surface, like flames burning—brighter than the demon blood sliding off its tip.

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The Demon Suppression Blade was pitch-black and gave off no light, but after absorbing the aura of demons and evil spirits, red blade patterns would appear.

The patterns could instantly drain the power around a demon or evil spirit's wound, preventing it from healing quickly.

In short: enchantment.

The Red-Clad Woman was split in two, from her face down.

One half of her body slid away from the cut, then her whole body crashed to the floor.

Freed from the suppression of her demonic aura, the beautiful woman's furry body burst through her dress. Her head split open, transforming into two halves of a fox's head, each the size of a basketball.

Red and white matter spread across the floor, leaving the room a gruesome mess.

Bao Hong gaped, his eyes bulging. Pointing at Chen Bin, he cried, "Body... Organ Tempering Realm?"

His voice brimmed with shock and terror.

[Killed Body Tempering Realm Fox Demon Red-Clad Woman. Merit +7. Remaining Merit: 7]

The corner of Chen Bin's mouth lifted. He gave a sneer and walked toward Bao Hong, one step at a time.

Cold killing intent shone in his eyes.

"Spare me!" Bao Hong's legs trembled. Then they gave way, and he dropped straight to his knees.

He frantically kowtowed to Chen Bin, his forehead slamming against the floor with a series of thuds.

"Don't worry. It won't hurt much." Chen Bin's voice was cold, devoid of feeling.

He swung his blade, the movement swift and clean.

[Killed Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist Bao Hong. Merit +4. Remaining Merit: 11]

Heads rolled and blood flowed.

The blood gushing from Bao Hong's neck sent his head flying into the air. With a plop, it rolled to Chen Bin's feet.

Chen Bin looked down and saw that the head's eyes had bulged almost out of their sockets!

Two were dead. One remained.

With no time to admire the fountain of blood, Chen Bin turned toward the Ghost Servant, who had bared its fangs and unsheathed its claws.

The Old Ghoul was already trembling with fear. Terror was written all over its stiff, corpse-like face.

"No..."

The heavy clouds of death gathered over the Old Ghoul, leaving him shivering and unable to move.

He was only a Ghost Servant, while this man had already reached the Organ Tempering Realm.

The Old Ghoul prostrated himself on the ground and begged in a trembling voice, "Lord Chen, spare me! I never harmed you. I was forced to come here!"

A flicker of disgust crossed Chen Bin's eyes. He kicked the head at his feet, sending Bao Hong's head rolling beneath the Old Ghoul's face.

Their eyes met. The Old Ghoul shrank back, his body shaking like a leaf.

"Chew its neck off. Then chew on that body behind you."

Chen Bin spoke coldly, not a shred of pity in his eyes.

When the Old Ghoul didn't move, Chen Bin smiled. "What, not fresh enough?"

The Old Ghoul looked up at Chen Bin, despair in his eyes. "I'll chew it! I'll do it. You have to let me go."

Chen Bin sheathed his blade, a faint smile on his face. "Don't worry. I never lie."

"Thank you, Master Chen."

The Old Ghoul's face was full of reverence. Cradling the head in both hands, he kowtowed to Chen Bin three times with thud, thud, thud, his forehead striking the floor with dull knocks.

After bowing, he slowly lifted his head. His eyes had turned as black as ink in his gaunt face.

Then he suddenly opened his mouth, packed with black fangs, and eagerly sank them into the neck that was still spurting blood.

His body trembled with ravenous longing. Fresh meat—the thing he'd craved for so long!

Chen Bin furrowed his brow and stared at the Old Ghoul.

Blood and gore kept spurting between the Old Ghoul's black, foul-smelling teeth as he ate with relish.

The way he held and gnawed on it really did look like someone chomping on a delicious roast chicken.

It should have been a disgusting sight, but Chen Bin didn't feel the slightest bit sick.

Come to think of it, he'd only arrived in this world today, and this was his first time killing anyone.

Yet when he recalled the way he'd swung the blade and hacked his victim down, the motion had been so smooth it was hard to believe it was his first time. It looked as though he'd practiced it countless times.

Before long—about a minute, give or take—the Old Ghoul was done.

"Master Chen, how's this?" the Old Ghoul asked.

He held up the head with both hands, its face smeared with blood. Wearing a fawning expression, he raised it high, like a man presenting a prized gift.