The Golden Radiance Curse not only delivered a true qi attack but also carried a trace of soul-shocking power.
Leng Jian, already gravely wounded and with his soul at its weakest, had never anticipated Lu Zheng possessing a technique that could target the soul. Caught off guard, he was struck directly.
“Ah!”
A scream erupted as Leng Jian felt a golden orb of light appear in his mind, releasing searing heat that scorched his soul and true spirit.
Now was the moment!
Lu Zheng seized the chance, closing in and raising his hand lightly. “Supreme Infinity, Three Purities Comm—”
Leng Jian’s eyes flashed with blood-red light, his gaze sharp as he endured the tearing pain in his mind, revealing a ferocious grin. “You’ve fallen for it!”
He channelled all his true qi, swinging his curved blade. With a wolf’s howl, a black wolf phantom lunged forward, claws and fangs bared, roaring.
At the same time, the black wind converged, enveloping all directions to form a cage of howling gales, sharp as blades, pressing toward Lu Zheng.
“What!” Lu Zheng’s eyes widened in alarm, raising his sabre to his chest. He barely blocked the curved blade, but countless black winds closed in, twisting his body. In an instant, he was torn apart by the black wind, blood raining down.
“Little brat…”
“—and, Bind!”
“Wha?!” Leng Jian’s body stiffened, his mind reeling. “Illusion!”
“Roar!”
Tiger roars echoed as the embroidered spring sabre sliced into his neck.
“Break!”
Leng Jian roared, demonic qi tearing through his meridians. Though it worsened his injuries, he broke free of the Binding Curse’s restraint, lunging forward to avoid decapitation.
Yet the strike cut deep, severing a portion of his neck’s flesh and bone, blood gushing out.
Using demonic power to seal the wound and enduring the agony of torn meridians, Leng Jian suppressed his blood qi, stabilised his injuries, and fled at full speed.
This time, he couldn’t even muster a threat, fearing he’d spit blood if he opened his mouth.
“Wolf demon, how long has it been since you fought a life-and-death battle? Or have you never? So arrogant as to reveal your own weaknesses?”
Lu Zheng sneered from behind, closing in swiftly.
By late morning, Lu Zheng emerged refreshed from a forest, finding a large rock by the roadside of a rural path to rest on.
As for Leng Jian?
Most of him had been cleaned and stored in the double-door freezer of Lu Zheng’s new home. His pelt, teeth, claws, and other parts were preliminarily processed and set aside. Even his blood was collected in large basins mixed with water, awaiting coagulation.
In short, Lu Zheng wasted nothing he could salvage. A demon of centuries was no easy kill, and even if defeated, one couldn’t consume it so casually.
After handling Leng Jian, Lu Zheng felt a surge of satisfaction as his qi fortune light in the jade seal returned to triple digits. He even took time to bathe and change before crossing back to the ancient world, emerging from the forest.
“Wolf hotpot tonight?” Lu Zheng rubbed his chin. “Wolf should be similar to dog, right? I’ll check later for other recipes.”
“But first, where am I?” Just as he thought this, he saw a few peddlers with carrying poles approaching the path’s end.
Lu Zheng stood and walked toward them.
Upon seeing him, the peddlers froze, some grabbing their poles, others seizing small axes, their expressions wary.
“Hm?” Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, waving a greeting. “No need to panic, friends. I’m no villain. I wandered into the forest last night and only came out this morning.”
But the peddlers didn’t lower their guard; they grew even more vigilant, gripping their poles tighter, ready to strike.
What a joke! A lone scholar, not staying at an inn but entering a forest at night? Is that normal?
Fine, suppose it is. A frail scholar wandering the forest all night, yet looking as fresh as if he’d just left a brothel? Is that normal?
If not a villain, then a demon!
The peddlers were ready to flee.
Lu Zheng, unaware of their thoughts, figured his clean, scholarly appearance and friendly smile should put them at ease. Why these expressions?
“Friends, I’m truly no villain,” Lu Zheng said, spreading his hands helplessly.
“Whether you’re a villain or not, stay away,” the boldest peddler shouted. “Go back to your forest. We’re poor folk, no money, and our flesh isn’t tasty!”
Lu Zheng: (||๐_๐)
Fine. He reached into his robe, pulling out a banknote under their wary, fearful gazes, waving it. “One guan of Great Jing banknotes. Whoever tells me the nearest county’s name and location gets it,” Lu Zheng announced loudly.
The boldest peddler rushed forward, grinning. “Sir, this is Yangxia Town. The nearest county is Wanfu County. Follow the path we came from to the main road, head east for fifteen li, cross the Baiyang River, then ten more li to the county.”
Lu Zheng chuckled. “Not scared anymore?”
“If you were a villain or demon, would you bother with banknotes?” The peddler beamed. “You’re clearly a noble young master from a scholarly family!”
“Well said. Here’s your reward!” Lu Zheng laughed.
Taking the banknote, the peddler, under pressure from the others, agreed to share. They thanked Lu Zheng, gathered their goods, and continued their journey.
Lu Zheng turned toward the path, muttering, “Wanfu County?”
Wasn’t that Qingyan’s hometown?
The Huangfu matriarch was still held captive by a yellow weasel. Should he rescue her while here? But where was the Huangfu family?
If he couldn’t find them, he could ask. But who? Probably a demon would know where the Huangfu family was. Right, wasn’t there a landmark, Wild Wolf Mountain? Everyone in Wanfu County should know it.
First, head to Wanfu County, find Wild Wolf Mountain’s location, then grab one of Leng Jian’s lackeys near the mountain to get the Huangfu address.
Wait! Wild Wolf Mountain!
Damn it! I forgot to raid his lair!
Lu Zheng jolted in shock. How could he overlook this?
Leng Jian was the only formidable figure on Wild Wolf Mountain. Now dead, the mountain was ownerless. After a century or two of tyranny in Wanfu County, Leng Jian must have amassed some treasures.
Lu Zheng’s eyes gleamed. He cast the Divine Travel Technique, his figure flickering, vanishing into the distance.
