“Damn it! If that old fox hadn’t taken my natal treasure, how could I have fallen to this state and been cornered by petty scum like you!”
The giant wolf spoke in human tongue, spat out another mouthful of blood, and saw sword light flashing above its head. It knew escape was no longer possible.
“So it was you who killed my son?” The wolf glared at Lu Zheng. Though phrased as a question, its enormous wolf eyes were already filled with certainty.
“Pay for my son’s life!”
“Watch out! Lu Zheng, retreat!” Qi Fengyun’s eyes sharpened. He formed a hand seal, and the sword pellet flashed again, stabbing straight down.
But it was too late. The giant wolf opened its maw and condensed its final demonic power into a blade of light less than one chi long. The blade was already locked onto Lu Zheng’s aura.
From sky to earth, it arrived in an instant!
“Die!”
“Shoo!”
The blade flashed and vanished. A trace of regret mixed with relief flickered in the wolf’s eyes.
Then…
A beam of light burst from Lu Zheng’s chest. The blade halted within that radiance, its momentum stalled, its lock weakening.
In just one breath, the blade of light, formed from every last drop of Leng Li’s demonic power, dissolved into nothing.
Leng Li: 〣(oΔo)〣
“Impossible!” Leng Li cried out in shock. He stared hard and saw Lu Zheng holding a mirror. The light had shot from its surface.
“What kind of treasure is that?”
Before he could finish the sentence, Qi Fengyun’s three-chi sword light pierced straight through the wolf’s head.
The next moment, Leng Li’s soul left his body and floated in mid-air. Swept by sword qi, his true spirit was already on the verge of collapse.
It did not scatter instantly only because he refused to die with regrets.
Lu Zheng looked expressionless. He aimed the mirror at Leng Li and gave a cold chuckle. “The Great Jing Empire is a dangerous place. Be more careful in your next life.”
“You!”
With only that single word, Leng Li could hold on no longer. His soul dispersed.
“Buzz!”
A full six hundred and eighty strands of destiny light poured into the jade seal in his mind, refilling the nearly depleted seal.
With the destiny light accounted for and Leng Li dead, Lu Zheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. He flipped his hand and stored the precious mirror back in the gourd.
From killing Leng Jian on Wild Wolf Mountain, through two battles along the way, the affair at Lone Jade Mountain, everything was finally settled today.
Surely there wouldn’t be another secret son of Leng Li coming for revenge?
If a novel dragged this plot out any longer, it would be cancelled!
…
“Not bad. I thought you were about to report to the City God Temple this time.”
Qi Fengyun descended, looking Lu Zheng up and down with considerable surprise.
Lu Zheng: ?_?
I nearly died, and you’re completely unfazed!
Seeing Lu Zheng speechless, Qi Fengyun gave a small laugh and waved his hand.
Lu Zheng then noticed a faint sword mark flickering on his left shoulder. In a flash, it slipped into Qi Fengyun’s sleeve.
When did he place that on me? I didn’t notice at all!
Realising it was Qi Fengyun’s protective sword seal, Lu Zheng quickly cupped his fists and bowed. “Many thanks for your protection, senior!”
Qi Fengyun waved it off. “It wasn’t needed, so there’s nothing to thank me for. White Cloud Temple prepared well for you.”
He assumed the precious mirror had been given to Lu Zheng by an elder of White Cloud Temple for protection.
After all, dissolving Leng Li’s final strike in a single breath was something even he could not do. Such a treasure had to come from White Cloud Temple’s vault or the collection of some ancient monster.
Qi Fengyun never considered that Lu Zheng might have obtained it himself.
“Heh heh!” Lu Zheng grinned but offered no explanation.
After confirming Leng Li’s death, Chu Jin and the other three also descended.
Chu Jin smiled and gave Lu Zheng a thumbs-up. He hadn’t expected the mirror to be that powerful.
The elder who had unleashed the spiritual storm earlier reached into the wolf’s mouth and retrieved a huge fang. “Only a few spiritual herbs inside, plus some mundane gold and silver.”
Qi Fengyun shook his head. “Escaping a joint siege from three forces was already impressive. Did you think he could keep anything valuable?”
He turned to Lu Zheng. “You provided the intelligence this time and rendered great service. We’ll take the wolf back first. Chu Jin will bring you your share. Is there any part you’re particularly interested in?”
Lu Zheng hurriedly waved his hands. “No need, no need. If you gentlemen hadn’t acted, I wouldn’t even know how I died. Besides, I didn’t lift a finger in the fight. How could I take spoils?”
Qi Fengyun shook his head. “Nonsense. Merit must be rewarded. Just tell me what you want.”
Lu Zheng blinked. “My cooking skills are pretty decent. If possible, I’d love a larger share of the wolf meat.”
Qi Fengyun couldn’t help laughing and pointed at him. “You…”
As a thousand-year great demon, every part of Leng Li’s body was treasure. While wolf meat contained plenty of essence, it paled in comparison to the bones and blood.
Lu Zheng’s modesty greatly pleased Qi Fengyun.
With a grand wave, he declared, “You’ll have plenty of wolf meat, and a share of everything else too.”
“Then thank you very much, senior.” Lu Zheng cupped his hands in gratitude.
The group calmed the terrified driver, gave him the gold and silver from Leng Li’s fang space, and sent him back on his own.
Then they all rose into the air and flew west.
Halfway, Lu Zheng left the group and flew home, arriving just as the neighbouring Liu family was having dinner.
…
“Lu-lang!”
Seeing Lu Zheng return, Liu Qingyan happily rushed to greet him. Liu Qingquan fetched a chair for him, and Ao Qian added chopsticks and a bowl.
“Thank you!”
Pulled by Liu Qingyan, Lu Zheng first greeted Old Liu and his wife, then sat down at the table with a wide smile.
“Constable Liu said you went to help deal with the wolf plague at Tushan Market. You’ve been gone two whole days. Did something hold you up?” Liu Qingyan placed a piece of fish in his bowl and asked softly.
Lu Zheng ate the fish with rice, praised how good it was first, then nodded under Madam Liu’s pleased gaze. “Yes, these past two days have been quite eventful. I got a lot done.”
“What kind of things?” Liu Qingquan couldn’t help asking from the side.
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow. “We no longer need to worry about Lone Jade Mountain.”
“What?”
Not only the Liu sisters, but even Old Liu and his wife were shocked.
“Didn’t the Anomaly Bureau say they were going to deal with Lone Jade Mountain?” Liu Qingyan asked. “Has it already been destroyed? But why did they need you?”
Lu Zheng nodded and recounted how Chu Jin had warned him, how he discovered clues about Leng Li while passing through Tushan Market, called in reinforcements, went to Wanfu County, flushed Leng Li out, and finally killed him.
Everyone was stunned. Who would have thought that in just two days away, Lu Zheng had indirectly taken down a thousand-year great demon?
And the key point was…
“Brother-in-law asked for wolf meat?” Liu Qingquan swallowed hard.
Ao Qian looked at her. “Didn’t you once say wolf meat hotpot was delicious?”
Liu Qingquan nodded repeatedly, exchanged a glance with Ao Qian, and they both turned back together. “Brother-in-law!”
