Corpse Fiend Appears

The more he thought about it, the more everything made sense.

Iron Calculation Immortal pondered for a moment, confirming his thoughts. He leaned close to Xu Bai and lowered his voice.

"If you're setting your sights on the boss, let me advise you—stop while you can. Otherwise, a bloody disaster will descend upon your head."

Xu Bai rested his chin on his hand and said with interest, "Go on."

They spoke very quietly, and with the surrounding clamor, only the two of them could hear.

"Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed. If you believe me, do as I say. If you don't, there's nothing I can do." Iron Calculation Immortal picked up his long banner. Seemingly somewhat guilty, he glanced around before hurrying away.

Xu Bai watched Iron Calculation Immortal's retreating back, lowered his hand, and gently spun the wine cup on the table.

He had come out of nowhere, then left behind a few equally cryptic words.

Yet Xu Bai had thought of several possibilities.

If Iron Calculation Immortal and Yun Xiang were together, then saying this to him now was undoubtedly like beating the grass to startle the snake.

It was also possible that Yun Xiang had used Iron Calculation Immortal to warn him.

If the two were not together, then Iron Calculation Immortal could only be called too green.

Though the inn was crowded, his attire was unusual. By rashly coming over to Xu Bai, he had drawn quite a few gazes—not to mention Yun Xiang's.

Wasn't that the behavior of an outright idiot?

If Xu Bai had been his teammate, he would already have been dragged into the pit.

Of course, there was one more possibility.

This fellow was using this chance to divert Yun Xiang's attention.

Iron Calculation Immortal had openly come over. Even knowing it would attract attention from those around him, he did not care.

His purpose was most likely to shift everyone's gaze and direct the matter toward Xu Bai.

No matter what, Iron Calculation Immortal was no simple man.

Ah, why not... find a way to kill them all? Xu Bai thought.

He truly only wanted to develop himself in Sheng County, quietly using his cheat to improve himself.

Even sitting here drinking was only for the progress bar.

If not for the progress bar, he would have slipped away long ago.

But now, it seemed this matter had come knocking.

I wonder if cutting the skin off her hand would work. Xu Bai thought of another method, then shook his head.

He had already persisted for so long. If cutting it off proved useless, would that not make all his efforts go to waste?

Progress bars were precious and hard to discover. At least, that was how it seemed in Sheng County.

Tilting his head back, Xu Bai drained the wine in his cup and continued staring at the Maple Leaf Tattoo on the back of Yun Xiang's hand.

I'll fill the progress bar first. If nothing happens, then fine. But if something does happen... don't blame me for being ruthless.

That was what he thought.

He truly was not looking for trouble. He merely wanted to fill the progress bar. But if trouble came knocking, he would not back down.

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was noon.

During that time, Yun Xiang went up to the second floor. She did not come back down until noon, then left the inn.

She had worn coarse cloth clothes when she went upstairs, and she wore the same clothes when she came down.

There was not the slightest hint of panic in her steps. She walked with composure.

Xu Bai's gaze remained fixed on Yun Xiang until she disappeared through the doorway. Only then did he withdraw it.

Sure enough, it was exactly as the waiter had said. She left every day at noon. The last time, he had not stayed at the inn until then, so he had not seen Yun Xiang leave.

Looking at the empty doorway, Xu Bai thought for a moment and did not follow her.

There was no need to provoke trouble. Building up the progress bar came first.

With that in mind, he called the waiter over to settle the bill. After leaving the inn, he headed home.

For the time that followed, he lived a life of traveling between two points every day.

He got up early and went to the inn, eating while staring at the Maple Leaf Tattoo.

Once Yun Xiang left the inn, he left as well.

The progress bar was rising. Though it rose slowly, everything remained calm and peaceful.

Over these past few days of drinking, he had not seen Iron Calculation Immortal again, as though the man had suddenly vanished.

That day, as usual, after Yun Xiang left, he walked out of the inn and continued wandering around nearby.

At noon, he went to eat again, yet still did not see Yun Xiang.

By evening, it was the same as always. He had not seen anyone.

Xu Bai settled his bill and returned home alone.

The progress bar was already ninety percent full. By his estimate, it would be completely done in another day or two.

Sitting on the bed, he watched as the oil lamp drove away the darkness.

He thought that once the progress bar was full, he would have to rely on the bookstore.

Besides, he had only explored half the county town. Perhaps he might stumble across something good.

As he thought this, sleepiness came over him.

He rose from the bed, intending to extinguish the oil lamp and go to sleep early so he could continue fleecing Welcoming Inn tomorrow.

But before he could reach the lamp, he caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye. Outside the window, a shadow seemed to flash past.

Xu Bai frowned slightly, picked up the Ghost-Head Saber beside the bed, and walked to the window.

It was dark outside, and he could not make out anything unusual.

The shadow from before seemed like an illusion and did not appear again.

But Xu Bai did not think so.

A lot had been happening lately, especially the matter of Yun Xiang, which had put him on guard.

Never underestimate the slightest rustle of wind or movement of grass. Sometimes, one moment of carelessness was all it took to lose one's life.

Who would be lurking outside his window in the middle of the night? Xu Bai held the Ghost-Head Saber in his hand, his gaze fixed on the window without moving.

The oil lamp flickered, and shadows swayed across the wall, creating a hair-raising atmosphere.

Just then, another shadow flashed past the window.

Xu Bai shoved the window open with a slap and swept his saber toward it.

Clang!

The sound of metal striking metal rang out, followed by a roar.

Xu Bai focused his eyes, and his pupils contracted slightly.

In the night stood a man in tattered clothes.

Cadaveric Spots covered the man from head to toe. His face had already begun to rot, with decaying flesh everywhere.

Xu Bai's strike had been blocked by the man.

The man's hand was like steel. The Ghost-Head Saber had only sunk halfway in.

"Corpse Fiend!"

Back at Welcoming Inn, those jianghu men who were now dead had talked about strange occurrences, so he roughly understood some of these bizarre things.

The thing before him was very likely a Corpse Fiend.

"Looks like the Extreme Life Sect really is stirring up trouble in Sheng County."

This familiar scene reminded him of the Red-Clothed Corpse from Fierce Tiger Stronghold.

Their forms were very similar, but this one was stronger.

The fact that it could catch the Ghost-Head Saber barehanded already put it far above the Red-Clothed Corpse.

But... strength was only relative.

So ugly. Xu Bai silently muttered. He pulled out the Ghost-Head Saber, and the Bone Severing Blade Technique followed like a shadow.

The Red-Clothed Corpse had at least been a woman. He could barely make do with that, but this Corpse Fiend truly could not be tolerated.

The Ghost-Head Saber swept sideways, slashing into the Corpse Fiend's neck.

The Corpse Fiend's defenses were high, but this strike, bolstered by True Qi, cut into its neck and sliced off half of it.

"Roar!"

A low growl sounded. The Corpse Fiend spread its hands and lunged at Xu Bai again.

Xu Bai retreated two steps, drew back the Ghost-Head Saber, then swung from right to left at the other half of the Corpse Fiend's neck.

With that strike, the Corpse Fiend's head fell straight off, rolling several times across the ground. Its body also collapsed, motionless.

Very weak. Was this a probe?

Xu Bai held the Ghost-Head Saber, looking like a ghostly specter against the backdrop of the night.