"Oh? Such a thing happened?!" After hearing the proprietress's story, the man was curious that Ye Chen had survived being stabbed, but also furious that Ye Chen had "insulted" his wife.
He crouched down, and this time Ye Chen got a clear look at his face—green-faced and fanged, with eyes like lanterns. His features were so terrifying, utterly unlike those of an ordinary human, that Ye Chen froze in fright and didn't dare move.
While Ye Chen was dazed, the man snatched the kitchen knife from his hand. By the time Ye Chen came to his senses, he saw the man bringing the knife down on him again.
"Don't!" Ye Chen cried out in despair, but the man ignored him completely. He raised the knife and brought it down, splitting Ye Chen's head open. Ye Chen immediately fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Hmph. You survived one chop. Let's see if another one does the trick." The man stood up and went over to the proprietress. "Sweetheart, don't be scared. He's dead."
As he spoke, the man half-crouched and embraced the proprietress. She smiled and leaned against his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his neck. She gently closed her eyes, as if she were the happiest woman in the world.
But before long, the proprietress's scream shattered the silence in the kitchen. She let go of the monster's neck and pointed behind him with her right index finger.
The man stared at the proprietress in confusion, not knowing what she had seen to frighten her so. He turned around, and the sight before him threw him into momentary panic.
Ye Chen had stood up again. He looked at the man and the proprietress innocently, but to her, he looked just like a vengeful ghost who had returned to claim their lives.