Slaying the Mad Demon

"I'll handle this brat!"

Zhang Yuying's longsword pointed straight at Gu Chang'an, a sinister chill flashing in her eyes. Then she barked sharply:

"What are you lot standing around for? Go after those people! Not one of them escapes!"

The few Firewood Gang thugs exchanged glances. Seeing her icy glare and murderous intent, none dared disobey. They quickly nodded, rushed out the door, and gave chase to Liu Wei and the others.

Inside the room, only Gu Chang'an and Zhang Yuying remained.

Amidst the swirling dust, the atmosphere instantly froze.

Gu Chang'an watched her coldly. Suddenly, he took a step forward, his aura surging. The long saber at his waist stirred with momentum, gales whipping in all directions.

"Fighting me... and you still dare to be distracted?"

"Accept death!"

His roar crashed like thunder, and the next instant, he struck!

Blade Light surged forth, as if mountains crumbled. One slash descended like ten thousand bolts of lightning striking the earth—fierce, domineering, overwhelming!

—Mountain Shattering Saber Technique, Second Form: Spine Break!

The Blade Light, like a mountain, tore down from an oblique angle, straight for Zhang Yuying's neck!

Zhang Yuying's expression shifted slightly. With a sharp cry, she swept her longsword, turning defense into offense.

Clang—!!

Metal clashed, sparks flew. Her form was forced back three steps, the green bricks beneath her feet cracking into pieces!

"Good brat!" Zhang Yuying dropped to one knee, lifting her gaze in fury, a cold smile tinged with surprise: "So young, yet with such saber skill... Are you truly Ninth Grade?!"

Gu Chang'an didn't answer. His eyes were like lightning as he pressed forward step by step.

Zhang Yuying flipped to her feet, her longsword tracing an arc. She spun, turning her sword into a storm—her sword stance soft yet firm, sinister and elusive, like a serpent's dance!

As she forced Gu Chang'an back, she spoke, her tone suddenly softening:

"With talent like yours, your future is boundless. Why toil for the court, letting them use you like a dog? Join us, the Firewood Gang. We have money and power—why be a miserable constable?"

"Work toward great things together. One day, the jianghu will know our names. How about it?"

Gu Chang'an gave a cold laugh, his steps steady. Each footfall seemed to crush the void itself, the intent of Mountain Shattering Saber already settled within him.

"The Firewood Gang?"

"You lot refine pills from human lives, treat people like grass—and you dare speak of 'working toward great things'?"

"Do you know how many innocent souls' blood is in those Blood Pills?"

"If I joined you—how would that make me any different from a pig or a dog?"

Zhang Yuying's eyes twitched violently, her chill surging!

"How dare you!!"

She roared, her sword light exploding. She stamped the ground, her figure suddenly accelerating!

The longsword pierced through the air, turning into a silver flash aimed straight at Gu Chang'an's brow—she had unleashed her secret technique: "Plum Blossom Breaking Snow"!

This strike was fast, vicious, precise—nearly impossible to counter!

Yet Gu Chang'an's heart remained utterly still. His gaze only grew colder. He abruptly twisted his wrist, slanting his saber to meet it, carving a tricky reverse arc!

Clang!!

Saber and sword clashed again. Shockwaves scattered in all directions as their forms flashed past each other!

Pain shot through Gu Chang'an's left shoulder, but he forcibly steadied himself. With a reverse swing, he slashed out fiercely, the wind exploding!

Zhang Yuying hadn't yet regained her footing when the saber momentum reached her chest!

She sidestepped just in time, but her clothes were torn by the saber qi, a bloody gash opening across her chest!

Her face changed drastically. Staring at Gu Chang'an, for the first time, a sliver of fear surfaced in her heart—

This youth wasn't just terrifyingly talented and physically strong—his killing intent was absolute, his saber technique pure!

Zhang Yuying's heart pounded wildly. The longsword in her hand trembled unsteadily for a moment.

"No... if this keeps up, I'll really die under this brat's blade!"

An indescribable dread coiled around her heart like a venomous snake.

She gritted her teeth fiercely, flipped her wrist, and pulled a black cloth bundle from her waist.

With a pop, a dark red pill, faintly pulsing, rolled into her palm—

A Blood Pill.

Before the pill even entered her mouth, the air was thick with a strong metallic stench and an eerie bloody aura, as if countless wronged souls were howling and whispering.

Zhang Yuying didn't hesitate. She shoved the pill into her mouth and swallowed it in one gulp!

Instantly, her face flushed crimson. Her Blood Vessels surged wildly, and her bones emitted a strange crack-crack sound, as if a mountain flood of power had exploded inside her!

She threw her head back and let out an inhuman shriek of laughter. Her black hair flew upward, her eyes bloodshot, her pupils contracted to pinpricks.

"Hahaha—hahahaha!!!"

Her aura exploded violently!

Gu Chang'an focused his gaze—

[Zhang Yuying: Physique 360]

His expression shook violently, a towering wave crashing through his heart: "A sudden surge to 360... Is the Blood Pill's effect this terrifying?!"

"No, her aura... it's chaotic! She can't control it at all!"

Zhang Yuying's face twisted in that moment, laughing while drool dripped from her lips, her voice rising and falling erratically: "I... I'm so strong, so strong hahaha! I'll skin you alive, refine your bones into pills, haha—hahaha!!!"

Boom!!

She took a single step, the ground splitting apart, her form turning into a red blur as she lunged forward!

Gu Chang'an had no time to think, immediately bracing his saber to block!

Bang!!

The two forces collided. Gu Chang'an felt a monstrous power crash down like a mountain flood, his arm going numb as he was blasted back several steps, two deep grooves carved into the brick beneath his feet.

"This woman's gone mad—she's no longer human, she's a Mad Demon!"

"But still, she's gotten so much stronger..."

Zhang Yuying charged again with wild laughter, her longsword like lightning, stabbing seven times in rapid succession. Each strike was like a viper spitting venom, the Sword Intent vicious and venomous, speed pushed to the extreme, like a storm closing in!

Gu Chang'an hurriedly raised his saber to block, shifting left and right, forcibly unleashing the third form of Mountain Shattering Saber Technique, Falling Peak, sweeping out a rotating ring of saber Qi to halt her assault!

Clang-clang-clang—!

The clash of blade and sword rang out without end, sparks flying everywhere!

Zhang Yuying suddenly halted mid-motion, her mouth splitting into a grin, revealing stark white teeth: "Hahaha... You're scared? You're scared, aren't you? Haha, hurry up and fall!!"

"I want to see you with your arms and legs broken! That'll look great! Hahahaha—!"

Laughing, she lunged again, her sword momentum like a raging tide, killing intent like a tsunami!

Gu Chang'an growled low: "Scared of you? You Mad Demon, you're not worthy!"

His form suddenly dropped, and the fifth form of Mountain Shattering Saber Technique, Mountain Severing Slash, erupted with full force!

A flash of mad delight flickered in Zhang Yuying's eyes, and she charged straight in without retreat or evasion!

"I want to see if that saber of yours can kill me!"

Boom—!!

Blade and sword met head-on!

A deafening roar shook the heavens, dust and sand shooting skyward as both were sent flying apart!

Gu Chang'an tumbled to the ground, landing on one knee, gasping. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Zhang Yuying was drenched in blood and grime, her long hair soaked through, plastered to her face like a ghastly specter.

A diagonal saber wound across her chest cut deep enough to reveal bone, nearly splitting her from shoulder to abdomen, flesh turned outward, White Bones faintly visible.

Yet she did not fall. Instead, she threw her head back and laughed wildly, blood mixed with broken teeth spilling from her lips, grotesque and horrifying.

"Hahaha... Is that all you've got? Not enough!—Come again!!"

She roared, stomped the ground, and once more burst forward in a violent charge, Sword Qi swirling like Wind Sweeps Clouds, rampaging chaotically.

Gu Chang'an knelt on one knee, leaning on his saber as he gasped, cold sweat pouring from his brow like rain.

"She's about to break..." Gu Chang'an mused inwardly. "That Blood Pill... it comes at a cost."

The next instant, Zhang Yuying's body suddenly stiffened, her foot catching as she stumbled, nearly falling flat.

Her eyes bulged wide, pupils contracting sharply, blood cracking across her face, skin pulsing.

"Ah... My head... My head... It hurts... Aaah!!!"

She screamed hysterically, as if ten thousand needles were stabbing into her brain.

Then she swung her sword wildly, her strength immense but utterly without form. The blade scraped across the ground, sending stone chips flying, and a massive gash was instantly carved into the wall.

Gu Chang'an's killing intent condensed sharply. His long saber gave a faint tremor, letting out a resonant ring.

He hesitated no longer. His form flickered, ghosting through the storm of Sword Shadows—

"Sever!"

A cold gleam pierced the air, turning into a silent bolt of lightning, slicing diagonally past Zhang Yuying's neck.

Time seemed to freeze for half a breath.

Zhang Yuying's eyes flew wide, blood frothing from her throat as her hands flailed wildly in the air.

But the next instant, blood gushed like a fountain—her head was severed by a sharp blade, rolling to the ground with a faint, lingering smirk still on her lips.

Her body stood for two breaths, then crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and the still-warm murderous intent.

Gu Chang'an sheathed his blade, standing in the pool of blood. He was silent for a long time before finally letting out a soft sigh:

"This Blood Pill... is ultimately the path of evil..."