Black Night Bells, Life-Claiming Fiend

Black Night Bells, Life-Claiming Fiend

Southside Old Street, Zhengqing Gang, noon.

Xie Qing locked himself alone in the attic, dismissed all his subordinates, and released a paper bird bearing a message.

Before long, a pitch-black figure appeared behind him, silent as a ghost.

Xie Qing suddenly turned his head and saw a figure in a ghost mask that seemed both weeping and smiling, standing in the attic.

"Any news?" A hoarse voice came from beneath the ghost mask.

Though Xie Qing could not see Yu Chen's expression, he could sense in that voice the air of a bloodthirsty beast catching the scent of prey.

Swallowing hard, Xie Qing did not dare keep him in suspense. He handed Yu Chen a slip of paper and said, "Senior, Xiao Zihua's assets have all been confiscated. He could not have gone far after breaking out of prison. It just so happened that our planted man in the Blackwater Gang discovered that the gang had given Xiao Zihua a small courtyard eighty li south of the city, one the authorities have yet to uncover. I sent someone to take a look, and sure enough, he's there!"

After saying that, he pointed to the note. "The address is written here."

Yu Chen took the slip, glanced at it, nodded, and left.

His figure vanished into the wind and snow.

Only Xie Qing remained, letting out a long breath.

—For some reason, facing Yu Chen this time had filled him with pressure unlike anything he had ever felt before!

It was like seeing terrifying undercurrents surging beneath a calm sea.

Eighty li south of Weishui City.

Far from the official road, within a quiet stretch of woods, stood a modest courtyard.

Though the place was remote, it had been built with considerable elegance.

Gray bricks, green tiles, vines winding along the outer walls. Green plants grew in the courtyard, where a four-cornered pavilion stood with a stone table and several small stools inside. An unknown tree had been planted in one corner, its bare branches covering more than half the courtyard.

At that moment, a middle-aged man of about forty, wrapped in a thick quilted robe, sat on a stone stool and anxiously watched the direction beyond the courtyard.

These past few days, Xiao Zihua had been frantic, like an ant on a hot pan.

After the matter involving the Ji Family's Three Brothers came to light, their uncle, Ji Sixth Lord of the Blackwater Gang, had found him and asked him to manipulate things from within to clear the three of their crimes.

After some discussion, the Blackwater Gang sent experts to replace the physical evidence at the Linshui Street constabulary office, swapping beams for pillars, and successfully got the Ji Family's Three Brothers released.

Xiao Zihua had therefore received a large sum of benefits as well.

—This secluded courtyard was one of them.

But unexpectedly, that very night, the window paper was pierced, exposing a whole pile of shady dealings.

—Someone had infiltrated his home and reported every bribe he had accepted over the years to the Inspection Bureau.

Later, the Inspection Bureau came overnight, ransacked his home, took him away, and threw him into prison for investigation.

Fortunately, Xiao Zihua had people in that prison. After some maneuvering, he broke out and fled Weishui overnight, hiding in this remote courtyard.

But even after escaping, he could not rest easy.

By then, his home had been confiscated and all his property seized. Other than a little loose silver he had carried on him, he had no travel funds at all.

Even if he wanted to run, he could not get very far.

Thus, Xiao Zihua could only pin his hopes on Ji Sixth Lord of the Blackwater Gang, hoping he would raise some funds so Xiao Zihua could flee Weishui's territory before discussing what came next.

But more than two days had passed since he sent the message, without so much as a reply. Xiao Zihua grew more anxious by the moment, more and more unable to contain himself!

The sky gradually darkened.

The howling wind and snow became fierce and urgent.

Yet on the narrow goat-track leading to the outside world, there was not the slightest trace of anyone coming.

Xiao Zihua's heart slowly sank.

He felt that he had probably been abandoned.

The Blackwater Gang pursued profit above all else. Now that he had lost his position as Weishui's chief constable, he naturally had no value left to exploit.

"Ji Sixth... and the Blackwater Gang's chief..."

Xiao Zihua's face darkened. He ground his teeth, looking beneath the dim oil lamp like a beast with bloodshot eyes.

Ding-ling-ling—

All of a sudden, Xiao Zihua heard the sound of ringing bells. Even amid the howling wind and snow, it was exceptionally crisp!

He froze.

Could the Blackwater Gang have received my message and finally sent someone?

At that thought, Xiao Zihua's heart could not help growing hot!

Ding-ling-ling—

The bells rang again.

Yet Xiao Zihua discovered in horror that as the ringing echoed beside his ears, his mind seemed to grow weary, and sleepiness washed over him.

In that instant, he bit through his tongue to keep himself awake.

Xiao Zihua's heart jolted, and an ominous premonition rose within him.

He grabbed the long saber in the room, assumed a stance, and became alert!

Though he had held a high position and had not fought for a long time, he had once studied under Yu Tiesheng, Weishui's foremost grandmaster. The foundation of his hardened muscles and bones remained!

An ordinary petty thief would still be no match for him!

Creak—

A harsh sound of wood scraping rang out as the tightly shut door was pushed open.

Wind and snow, biting cold, and the blackness of night surged into the room together, making Xiao Zihua shudder violently!

Then he saw it.

Within the pitch-black night, an even blacker figure stepped through the wind, snow, and darkness into the room.

He wore a long black robe and a ghost mask that seemed both weeping and smiling. When he walked, he made no sound, unlike any living person.

At that moment, Xiao Zihua's mind exploded!

This outfit... looked familiar?

Oh, damn!

Xiao Zihua slapped his thigh!

Black clothes, black robe!

Ghost mask!

Wasn't this exactly like the Head-Taking Fiend, the one rumored so wildly to have taken the Ji Family's Three Brothers' heads?!

When the Ji Family's Three Brothers died, Xiao Zihua had already been taken away by the Inspection Bureau, so he had not personally seen their corpses.

But the matter had spread throughout all of Weishui. Even while in prison, Xiao Zihua had naturally heard the jailers bring it up several times.

At the time, he had thought it was complete nonsense.

What Head-Taking Fiend?

Most likely, it had been an enemy gang of the Blackwater Gang fishing in troubled waters and creating that bloody massacre!

Weishui's Chief Constable Xiao did not believe in ghosts or gods!

Only when that figure truly appeared before him did realization finally dawn on him!

It was real!

The Head-Taking Ghost entered the room without seeming hurried. He looked around and inspected the room, saying nothing.

The atmosphere was stiflingly oppressive.

Xiao Zihua could even hear his own heart pounding in his chest!

"Who are you? Stop playing tricks and pretending to be a ghost!" Holding his saber, he drew a deep breath and asked coldly.

There was no response.

"Not talking?"

Xiao Zihua's gaze turned cold. His left foot stepped forward, and he charged ahead in a single stride, bringing down his gleaming saber in a head-splitting chop!

The icy blade tore through the air without mercy!

But just as the blade was about to strike Ghost-Faced Man's forehead, Xiao Zihua suddenly saw Ghost-Faced Man move. So fast that afterimages trailed behind him, he caught the blade barehanded and gripped the gleaming saber!

Bang!

It was as if the saber had struck the trunk of a century-old tree. With a dull thud, Xiao Zihua's blade could advance no farther!

The former chief constable of Weishui underwent a drastic change in expression!

A body like gold and iron, unharmed by blades! This was an Innate Body!

Damn it! Since when had Weishui gained another Innate Grandmaster?

Xiao Zihua screamed inwardly, but his hands did not slow in the slightest as he tried to pull back his saber and retreat!

But in that instant, he froze.

That hand clamped around the blade like iron pincers and squeezed!

Accompanied by the piercing screech of twisting steel, Ghost-Faced Man actually crushed the long saber into a curl with his bare hand!

Xiao Zihua was horrified. Knowing he was absolutely no match, he threw down the saber, sprang with both legs, shot out through the door, and fled into the night!

Run!

He had to run!

This was absolutely not an opponent he could defeat!

In an instant, there was no other thought left in Xiao Zihua's mind!

Yet after launching himself out the door, Xiao Zihua discovered in horror that Ghost-Faced Man, who had just been at the doorway, was somehow already standing at the courtyard gate, cutting off his path!

He moved!

With just one step, he crossed the wind and snow and lunged before Xiao Zihua!

He grabbed Xiao Zihua by the shoulder and threw him!

Bang!

The former chief constable of Weishui slammed heavily into the wall like a rag doll, making a dull crashing sound!

Broken!

His bones were broken!

Dazed beyond all sense by the throw, Xiao Zihua clearly felt that his leg bone had already broken in that terrifying fall!

Then, just as he recovered from the spinning world around him, he saw the ghost mask close against his face.

Like an evil ghost come to claim his life.

"Don't be in such a hurry. The night is still long."

A hoarse, cold voice emerged from beneath that mask of weeping and laughter.

"—We'll take our time."

Brothers, I have to work overtime at the construction site today, so there'll only be one update. I'll return to the usual two updates tomorrow (.︿.)

(End of Chapter)