Killing Again, Encountering Demons

"Fine. I agree."

Gu Chang'an spoke these words in a low voice, his head drooping slightly, as if completely resigned.

Zhang Qiang sneered, about to say "Smart move," when in that instant—

A cold gleam flashed!

The cleaver broke the wind, slashing straight at Zhang Qiang's face!

This sudden strike was so fast its trajectory was nearly invisible. Gu Chang'an, like a crouching tiger that had been biding its time, exploded into action!

—Iron Cutting Saber Technique!

Zhang Qiang's pupils shrank to pinpricks. He jerked his head aside on pure instinct; the blade grazed past his ear, shearing off a lock of hair and leaving a trail of blood!

"Damn it! You dare fight back?"

Zhang Qiang roared, springing backward as he drew his own blade!

But—

The second strike was already at his chest!

This blow was fiercer and crueler than the first, the momentum of his body surging forward, chasing the retreat in that very instant, its force like a flood!

Zhang Qiang barely managed to raise his saber in a block. A deafening clang rang out, his arm shuddered, his tiger's-mouth split—Gu Chang'an's single strike had numbed his entire arm!

"Kill him!"

Zhang San roared, his blade aimed straight at Gu Chang'an's back.

Though Gu Chang'an had little combat experience, his past life's rationality and this month's grueling training made his reactions lightning-fast!

He slid his left foot, sinking his whole body low, and reversed his cleaver in an upward sweep, carving out a bizarre arc!

Ptoo!

Zhang San had charged too fast. The blade tore open his belly, blood splattering as he staggered backward!

Li Si bellowed and lunged from the side, his saber swinging down at Gu Chang'an's head!

Gu Chang'an hurriedly blocked, but the force was immense—

Bang!

He was knocked back two steps, the grass underfoot churning up in a mess!

Zhang Qiang had already steadied himself. His fury turned to a cold laugh. "You dog really dare to make a move—I'll fucking kill you!!"

The three quickly separated, forming an encirclement, blades all drawn!

Facing a three-way pincer, Gu Chang'an's nerves were taut. His Physique of 42 was pushed to its absolute limit!

He suddenly stomped forward, his body shooting like an arrow—

"You—!" The terror in Zhang San's eyes hadn't even fully formed before Gu Chang'an's blade fell, Blade Light like the moon, its edge tearing through the air!

Ptoo!

This time, there was no block—

Zhang San took the strike to the chest. He was cleaved to the ground, blood staining the yellow earth, his eyes still wide open. He twitched twice in unwillingness, then went still.

"Zhang San!!" Li Si howled, his eyes bloodshot!

Zhang Qiang, however, was calmer. He barked, "Don't get distracted! He's trained—both of you, together!"

Li Si, blinded by rage, swung his saber like a gale, but he had lost his composure.

Gu Chang'an sidestepped the blow, borrowed the momentum, and drove an elbow into the vital point under Li Si's armpit. Then, in one smooth motion, he sent his blade forward, sinking it into Li Si's ribs—

Ptoo!

Li Si roared and crashed to the ground, his saber clattering away. Blood streamed down his face, and he couldn't even struggle.

Two men down. Only Zhang Qiang remained.

Shock and fury warred on his face. He cursed under his breath:

"You're insane—do you know what you've done? I'm from the Firewood Gang. Kill me, and you won't live either!"

Gu Chang'an's face was drenched in blood, but his eyes were cold as iron.

"You wanted money. I gave it. You wanted a life. I'll give you that too—just not mine."

"Arrogant brat, go to hell!"

Zhang Qiang roared and charged, Blade Wind like a storm, his full strength poured into the strike!

This was the desperate, life-staking blow of a veteran street thug!

Gu Chang'an's pupils contracted sharply. Taking it head-on was far from wise.

He shifted his feet lightly—three inches left, half a step right—his body slipping through the attack like a fish through waves, narrowly dodging Zhang Qiang's onslaught!

Iron Cutting Saber Technique: Flow Breaker!

Ptoo!

A single slash struck Zhang Qiang's right wrist!

Zhang Qiang screamed. The firewood knife flew from his hand, blood gushing from his wrist like a spring.

He tried to fight back, but Gu Chang'an coldly swung a horizontal slash.

Crack—

The leg tendon snapped. Zhang Qiang collapsed to his knees, face in the dirt, mouth and nose full of soil.

"You... you can't kill me. I'm from the Firewood Gang. There are people behind me—"

Gu Chang'an was unmoved. The blade rested against his neck.

"Remember what you said just now?"

"For ten li in every direction... no one comes."

"So if you die—no one will know."

The blade fell. Blood splattered like ink.

Zhang Qiang's head rolled into the grass, eyes still open, as if he couldn't believe he was dead.

Gu Chang'an let out a long breath. His back was soaked with sweat, arms trembling slightly, utterly exhausted.

Three corpses lay sprawled at his feet. The grass was stained dark red with blood, the stench thick enough to choke a man.

He looked at the scene without a moment's hesitation, bent down, and searched Zhang Qiang and the others for their firewood knives and money pouches.

A quick sweep yielded two silver ingots, heavy and cold, glinting in the light.

"Ten taels each... two ingots, twenty thousand copper coins."

Gu Chang'an's lips curled into a satisfied smile.

This haul—a bloody profit.

But just as he turned to leave, a chilling aura quietly emerged, flooding his heart like a tide.

Squeak—

In the nearby woods, the grass parted as if something had pushed it aside. A bizarre figure slowly stepped out.

Gu Chang'an felt as if he'd fallen into an ice pit.

That wasn't a human.

It was about half a man's height, pitch-black like ink. Its skin was cracked and fissured, as if scorched by fire. It resembled a cat, but its limbs were terrifyingly long—

Elbow joints bent backward. Sharp bone spurs jutted from the ends of its limbs. Its steps were silent, yet carried a suffocating pressure.

Its head was flat, ears long and sharp as blades. A pair of blood-red pupils gleamed like poisoned jewels in the night.

And its mouth—split from ear to ear—was filled with serrated fangs, clamped onto Zhang San's neck, yanking hard!

Crunch!

The head separated from the torso. The sound of tearing flesh and bone was piercing.

The demon chewed, letting out low, grinding sounds of consumption, filled with unspeakable bestiality and greed.

[Unknown Demon: Physique Unknown]

[Note: This demon cannot be fought head-on. Host, please flee quickly...]

Gu Chang'an only glanced at it before his vision went dark, his heart pounding like thunder, his body pierced by ice needles.

This demon—something that could crush him.

"Don't move... if I move, it'll see me..."

He suppressed his terror, retreating slowly like a stone.

He didn't dare walk fast. He didn't dare breathe.

Luckily, the demon seemed immersed in its feast of blood and flesh—chewing, swallowing, tearing, gulping...

It even used its claws to rip open Li Si's chest, pulled out the heart, and savored it like licking syrup.

Gu Chang'an's cold sweat poured. His face was pale. The only thought in his mind was:

"Don't make a sound. Don't let it notice me..."

He knew—even one breath too heavy, and he'd die in pieces.

Finally, after retreating behind a small mound, he spun around and bolted!

His steps were frantic. Grass and trees blurred past on both sides. The wind howled in his ears.

He strained to keep his steps light, but his lungs burned like fire, his legs heavy as lead.

"This world... is too dangerous!"

"I just killed a few people, their bodies not even cold yet, and it already attracted a demon—"

"Lay low... better to just lay low!"

He ran for several li, until he was far from that forest and the chilling aura had completely faded. Then he collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air.

His whole body trembled with cold. Sweat and blood mixed together, as if he'd barely crawled back from hell.

He stared at the dark woodland in the distance, a trace of fear in his eyes...