Continuous Assassinations

The River Demon was covered in slime, its scales dark green. Its palms and soles bore sharp claws, with white webbing between its fingers.

The River Demon before him stood about five feet three inches tall. Its build was not particularly strong; compared to Lu Shaolin, it even seemed somewhat scrawny.

It looked rather like the Kappa from the island nation tales of Lu Shaolin's previous life.

The River Demon walked over to the pheasant and was about to grab it when Lu Shaolin tugged the rope, pulling the pheasant onto the bank.

The River Demon froze, then stepped onto the shore in a single stride. Its claws shot out as it grabbed for the pheasant again.

Lu Shaolin tugged the rope once more, and the pheasant slipped away from beneath the River Demon's claws again.

Enraged, the River Demon let out a hoarse roar and chased after the pheasant once more.

Lu Shaolin pulled twice in quick succession, drawing the pheasant to within three meters of the pit. Then he set down his spear and picked up the fishing net.

The instant the River Demon reached out to seize the pheasant, Lu Shaolin rose to his feet and flung out the fishing net. It landed squarely over the River Demon's head, trapping it!

Caught in the net, the River Demon roared loudly and stretched out its claws, ready to tear the net apart.

By then, Lu Shaolin had already picked up his spear. He sprang forward in a hopping step, both arms exploding with force as he unleashed Skybreak. With a whoosh, the spear plunged into the River Demon's roaring mouth!

The River Demon's green eyes flew wide as it stared at Lu Shaolin. Green blood flowed from its mouth. It let out two gurgling sounds before collapsing onto the sand!

Lu Shaolin pulled out his spear, and blood sprayed forth!

The power of his perfected spear technique showed itself fully at that moment. Even in the dim light, his strike had been incomparably precise!

Not wasting any time, Lu Shaolin hurried forward and touched one of the River Demon's claws.

The system's voice rang out in his mind: "Obtained 1 Source Point."

Hearing the system's voice, Lu Shaolin let out a long breath. He had feared that killing River Demons would not grant Source Points. If that had happened, all this effort would have been for nothing.

After resting briefly, Lu Shaolin tossed the River Demon's corpse into the pit. He took the other pheasant to the riverbank, gutted it, and began fishing for River Demons again.

With nothing else to do, Lu Shaolin summoned the System Panel:

Name: Lu Shaolin

Source Points: 1.8

Martial Realm: None

Cultivation Method: Reckless Bull Force (Beginner)

Martial Skills: Three Absolutes Spear (Perfected), Eight Extremes Fist (Minor Mastery), Mad Demon Staff Technique (Not Initiated).

The plus signs after Reckless Bull Force and Mad Demon Staff Technique had turned white on the panel. They could now be clicked!

However, Lu Shaolin had no intention of clicking them now. If he was going to upgrade anything, it would certainly be Reckless Bull Force—but upgrading it would definitely consume a great deal. This was not home, and there was no food here to replenish himself with.

It would not be too late to click it after returning home!

With that thought, Lu Shaolin put away the System Panel and continued staring at the river's surface.

This time, he waited much longer before the river finally stirred!

Two River Demons poked their heads out of the water.

Lu Shaolin frowned. He had not expected to lure out two of them!

Both River Demons charged toward the pheasant, even shoving each other along the way.

Just as they were about to grab the pheasant, Lu Shaolin repeated his old trick and pulled the rope.

He drew the two River Demons to within three meters of the pit again. Lu Shaolin abruptly rose and cast the fishing net, trapping them both.

Before they could break free, Lu Shaolin dashed over in an instant.

His spear swept sideways!

Bang! Bang! The two River Demons were swept to the ground!

Then his right arm exploded with force, and he thrust swiftly, piercing the right-hand River Demon through the eye. The spearhead drove deep into its skull!

By then, the River Demon on the left had already torn apart the fishing net. It struggled to its feet, its claws slashing toward Lu Shaolin!

Lu Shaolin thrust his spear again, striking the River Demon in the chest.

The River Demon's scales truly had formidable defensive power. The spearhead penetrated only an inch before stopping.

The pained River Demon roared, swatted the spearhead aside with one claw, and charged at Lu Shaolin.

Borrowing the force of the River Demon's blow, Lu Shaolin spun and swept his spear. It struck the River Demon's legs and knocked it down once more.

Lu Shaolin then sprang forward, driving his spear downward. With a puff, it pierced into the River Demon's gaping mouth.

After twitching a few times, the River Demon stopped breathing completely.

Lu Shaolin did not delay either. He hurriedly touched the two River Demons in turn and obtained two Source Points.

Looking at the 3.8 Source Points displayed on the panel, Lu Shaolin smiled in satisfaction.

Then he lowered his head and saw the huge hole in the fishing net. The smile on his face instantly vanished.

This fishing net was a weapon for killing River Demons, yet it had been ruined just like that. A single net cost three mace of silver!

It should still be usable after some mending.

Lu Shaolin packed the rope and fishing net into the burlap sack, then kicked the two River Demon corpses into the sand pit. Using both hands, he buried the bodies.

Once the corpses were buried, Lu Shaolin carried the sack and headed straight for the nearby fishing village.

He did not dare stay outside for the night, lest he truly encounter some powerful Evil Spirits and lose his life.

In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he had run into the fishing village.

Every household's doors were tightly shut, and the entire village was deathly quiet!

Lu Shaolin looked around and chose a household on the left.

With a running charge, he kicked off the wall and vaulted into the courtyard.

Looking up, he saw a cowshed in the yard. The large water buffalo inside gave him a curious glance, then lowered its head and went back to sleep.

Lu Shaolin walked toward the cowshed and saw that it was piled high with dry straw.

He entered the cowshed, found a spot farther inside, lay down atop the straw, and closed his eyes.

At the first glimmer of dawn the next day, Lu Shaolin opened his eyes.

Before the homeowner had risen, he climbed over the courtyard wall and headed for the county town.

By the time he reached the county town, it was fully light and the city gates had already opened.

After entering the city, he found a mutton paomo shop and immediately ordered three bowls.

When the shopkeeper brought over the three bowls of mutton paomo, Lu Shaolin picked up his chopsticks and began wolfing them down.

After finishing all three bowls, Lu Shaolin leaned back and let out a satisfied breath!

After resting briefly, he summoned the System Panel.

Looking at the plus sign after Reckless Bull Force, he willed it to activate. The plus sign blurred, and Reckless Bull Force changed from Beginner to the First Layer! One Source Point was consumed.

The panel now displayed:

Name: Lu Shaolin

Source Points: 2.8

Martial Realm: Early Skin Tempering

Cultivation Method: Reckless Bull Force (First Layer)

Martial Skills: Three Absolutes Spear (Perfected), Eight Extremes Fist (Minor Mastery), Mad Demon Staff Technique (Not Initiated).

His Martial Realm was finally no longer "None"!

Unlike martial skills, upgrading a cultivation method did not send memories flooding into his mind. But Lu Shaolin could feel his body beginning to change!

The muscles on his body were growing larger!

As his muscles grew, Lu Shaolin's strength increased as well.

The food he had just eaten was rapidly consumed. Though he had been full moments ago, Lu Shaolin felt hungry again!

Lu Shaolin opened his mouth and told the waiter to bring him another five bowls of mutton paomo.

The waiter's eyes widened. Only after confirming it several times did he have the kitchen start cooking.

Seeing that the plus sign after Reckless Bull Force on the System Panel was still white, Lu Shaolin decided to go all in and clicked it again!

That single click instantly became too much for Lu Shaolin to bear!

His stomach, which had merely been somewhat hungry, began to ache sharply.

With his face twisted in pain, Lu Shaolin shouted at the waiter, "Waiter! Please hurry!"