A staggering figure fled rapidly through the forest.

It was Wang Cangyun.

His usual majestic air was gone, replaced by a pathetic-looking state.

The illegitimate son of the Wei family lay on his back. The boy clung tightly to Wang Cangyun’s shoulders as he was jostled about, his chest soaked with something warm and wet—it was Wang Cangyun’s blood.

A gruesome wound gaped open on Wang Cangyun’s back, revealing white bone beneath. Fresh blood gushed out ceaselessly.

The boy cried, tears and blood mingling on his pale face. "Uncle Yun! Leave me behind! I can’t drag you down!"

The tears were his, but the blood was Wang Cangyun’s.

Wang Cangyun didn’t slow his pace. His tone was resolute as he shook his head. "Young Master! This old official was entrusted with a task, and I must see it through!"

Grief washed over the boy. "But—!"

Wang Cangyun was panting, his breathing ragged. The wound was clearly taking its toll on the Commander. Yet, he refused to abandon the boy, instead gritting his teeth and shaking his head. "Don’t overthink it! Even if this old official were willing to, we might not be able to escape this place! This place... is cursed!"

SQUELCH—SQUELCH—SQUELCH—

Wang Cangyun heard a strange noise from behind, growing closer and closer. The "monster" was clearly in hot pursuit.

’Is it the trail of blood?’

’Or the scent?’

’Or the tracks I’m leaving in the forest?’

Several possibilities flashed through Wang Cangyun’s mind. But no matter how the monster was tracking him in the pitch-black darkness, carrying the boy while injured left him with no opportunity to cover his tracks, let alone eliminate the smell of blood. It was pointless to even think about it.

The gentle burble of flowing water came from up ahead.

Remembering the "man-eating river," Wang Cangyun’s face paled slightly. He never would have thought that after being chased all over the forest, he would end up back in this direction.

"Huh?"

Just then, Wang Cangyun’s gaze sharpened. Ten paces away, at the base of a conspicuous tree, he inadvertently glimpsed a tall, sturdy figure like a tiger or a bear vaguely outlined amidst a careless pile of branches. The figure was squatting there looking aggrieved. Through the gaps in the branches, a pair of bright, murderous eyes shone as brilliantly as fireflies in the night. The sight made the fleeing Wang Cangyun’s eyes widen in recognition.

He dashed toward the hollow of the tree, because in those eyes, Wang Cangyun read an expression of pleasant surprise.

’As expected of the Zheng Family bloodline,’ Wang Cangyun thought. ’Younger Brother Zheng must be hiding here because he knows of the tragedy that befell the village. Yet, there isn’t a trace of fear in his eyes. His breathing is concealed and steady, like a prowling cheetah waiting for the right moment to strike back!’

’The Fierce Tiger generals of the Zheng Family are all dragons among men!’

As if grasping at the last straw in his despair, Wang Cangyun raised his saber and charged toward General Zheng’s brother. His flagging spirit surged once more as he roared, "Younger Brother Zheng! I never expected to find you still in the village! Join me, and together we will slay that demonic monster!"

...

"Shit! It’s you, Treasure King!"

Zheng Xiu really felt like cursing someone’s mother right now.

’Didn’t you already leave?’

’What are you doing running back here?’

’And why of all places did you have to run this way?’

’Fine, run this way if you must, but can’t you just pretend you didn’t see anything?’

Having blurted it out, he knew he could no longer hide. Master Zheng violently threw off the branches camouflaging him and shot to his feet.

BOOM!

Zheng Xiu used too much force. The giant tree behind him let out a loud noise and shuddered, sending leaves rustling down.

Amidst the falling leaves, Master Zheng’s figure appeared both towering and transcendent.

Under the enhancement of his super [Appearance], it was as if he were covered in a halo that lit up the dark night.

’Treasure King?’

’Who’s he calling?’

Wang Cangyun was momentarily stunned, but then he recalled Zheng Xiu’s strength and hope kindled in his heart. "Younger Brother Zheng, if we join forces, we can definitely slay that monster!"

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

In the dark night, trees fell one after another, as if a herd of giant bears was rampaging through the forest.

The grating sound of metal being dragged grew closer. Zheng Xiu made a split-second decision and drew his long saber.

Wang Cangyun had the illegitimate son hide behind a tree, then prepared to face the enemy alongside General Zheng’s brother.

"Younger Brother Zheng, I swear to Heaven! If I, Wang Cangyun, do not die today, I will definitely become your sworn brother in the future—"

"Treasure King, there’s no need for more words!"

Zheng Xiu cut off Wang Cangyun’s extremely inauspicious line. His nostrils flared, and following the scent of blood, he noticed the wound on Wang Cangyun’s back.

After a moment’s thought, Zheng Xiu made his decision.

’That night in the village house, the Late-night Butcher did indeed snap my neck with a CRACK and send me back to reality.’

’But that was then, and this is now!’

’I’ve already maxed out my [Zheng Shan] alt account. If the Late-night Butcher is so badass that even a max-level alt is completely helpless, then this Baili Village Ghostly Realm is simply unbeatable. In that case, Master Zheng will just open his eyes, get out of this prison, and go home to continue being a master. No regrets.’

Zheng Xiu raised his hand and slapped a dose of [Golden Wound Medicine] onto Wang Cangyun’s back. The latter felt the pain on his back lessen as the bleeding stopped. ’General Zheng’s brother really knows a thing or two,’ he thought, his confidence growing.

The Treasure King had no idea that Zheng Xiu was secretly shearing all the wool off him.

Although he didn’t know who this "Treasure King" was, the phrase "no need for more words" combined with Zheng Xiu’s act of applying medicine moved Wang Cangyun even more.

"Great kindness needs no words of thanks. I will remember this in my heart!"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

CREAK! CREAK! CREAK!

Trees fell one after another. Heavy footsteps and the sound of a heavy metal object being dragged echoed from within the forest.

It was not far away.

Zheng Xiu rolled his eyes, but he had already raised his saber and stood beside Wang Cangyun.

"Don’t look into its eyes," Zheng Xiu warned.

Wang Cangyun nodded, a look of lingering fear on his face. He had clearly already made that mistake.

"Hoh hoh hoh!"

The monster chasing Wang Cangyun, the one he spoke of, looked cumbersome but was actually extremely fast.

Just as Zheng Xiu and the Treasure King took their stances, a tall figure appeared thirty paces away.

CRASH!

The figure raised its hand. A fierce wind howled through the forest, and several trees toppled in response, crashing down toward the two men.

The gale whipped up fallen leaves and sand, blowing their hair back wildly.

The two easily dodged and took up positions on either side.

Zheng Xiu looked up. When he saw the true face of the "Late-night Butcher" again, even though he was mentally prepared, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of "holy shit" the moment it appeared.

Within the ravaged forest stood a terrifying figure nearly three meters tall. It was barefoot and clad in tattered rags. Its face was wrapped in linen stained with dried blood, revealing only two bloodshot red eyes. In its right hand, it dragged a massive Horse-Cutting Saber. The heavy, metallic scraping was the sound of that saber being dragged across the ground.

"Scouting!"

A pair of Dice appeared between his brows. Without a second word, Zheng Xiu used [Scouting].

His "Minor Blessing" [Destiny] gave Zheng Xiu the confidence of a safety net for his roll. At this critical moment, the dice didn’t fail him; he rolled a critical hit.

[You are Cunning and Deceitful!]

[Thirty!]

[Scouting: Great Success!]

[The enemy’s figure brings you immense pressure.]

[But you suppress your fear and observe calmly, noticing several familiar saber marks on its chest, stained with fresh blood.]

[You know the distribution of these wounds like the back of your hand, because they are from "Coiling Dragon Eighteen Slashes: Sudden Arrival".]

[You are excited. In the midst of despair, you seem to see a glimmer of hope.]

[Because since the enemy is injured and bleeding, it means it is also Human, and all Humans have weaknesses.]

’Excited, my ass.’

Master Zheng looked woodenly at the murderous-looking Treasure King and said, "You attacked first?"

Wang Cangyun met his gaze with a look that seemed to say: ’What do you think?’

Given Wang Cangyun’s tendency to draw his saber and start chopping at the first sight of a suspicious character, the Late-night Butcher was clearly not just "suspicious," but "vicious." It was perfectly reasonable for Wang Cangyun to have struck first.

Wang Cangyun roared, "I’m injured, so I’ll strike first to pin it down! Younger Brother Zheng, you support me from the side!"

With that, Wang Cangyun charged forward ferociously. He went high, high, high, high, high, feinting with a Flying Dragon in the Sky, then immediately went low, low, low, low, low, using Double Dragon Water-taking to attack the lower body.

Though cursing inwardly, Master Zheng’s alt account was now max level, giving him a bit more confidence. He pressed down with his foot.

STOMP!

Zheng Xiu shot out like a spring. As he ran at full speed, the light and shadows around him warped. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of the Late-night Butcher.

Entry!

Coiling Dragon Eighteen Slashes!

The Late-night Butcher let out a strange "hoh hoh" laugh, raising its Horse-Cutting Saber to chop down at Zheng Xiu.

Wang Cangyun roared and actually moved sideways to block the blow for Zheng Xiu.

In that intersecting instant, his saber flashed. Zheng Xiu struck with his full power. His Muscle Strength, as high as thirty, gave him the force of a thousand jun. As easily as slicing a melon, he cleaved through the Late-night Butcher’s right hand and the Horse-Cutting Saber in a single blow.

PSH!

A fountain of blood erupted from the Late-night Butcher’s gory right shoulder!

"Hoh hoh hoh!"

Its right hand was severed, but the Late-night Butcher seemed to feel no pain at all. It let out a strange laugh, grabbed Wang Cangyun with its left hand, and threw him at Zheng Xiu.

Zheng Xiu was still in mid-air. Even a max-level alt couldn’t defy Heaven. He was instantly sent flying by his teammate, Treasure King.

CRACK!

The impact sent them flying thirty paces away until they slammed into a tree. The sound of a bone breaking came from Zheng Xiu’s back as Treasure King landed on top of him.

"Younger Brother Zheng, are you alright?"

Treasure King grunted and groaned, enduring the pain as he struggled to get up.

Zheng Xiu tasted blood in his throat, but the pain was so-so, not a big deal. He pushed Commander Wang off and stood up again.

"That monster is Human after all! Now that it has no saber, it’s just fish on a chopping block! Hahaha—"

Wang Cangyun laughed heartily.

Just then, Zheng Xiu stared into the distance in astonishment. He reached out and poked the laughing Treasure King.

"Old Wang, stop laughing for a second. Let me ask you, do you have some secret ultimate technique for the Coiling Dragon Eighteen Slashes? Something like a nineteenth slash that combines all eighteen moves into one?"

The treasured Old Wang froze and sucked in a cold breath. "Hiss! I... have never thought of such a thing!"

"Then run!"

Master Zheng screamed "Holy shit!" and took off running without another thought.

Thirty paces away, the blood spewing from the severed right arm of the Late-night Butcher began to writhe like a living thing. It extended long tendrils that connected with the severed arm on the ground.

In an instant, the massive Horse-Cutting Saber and the severed arm recombined amidst the writhing flesh and blood, transforming into a three-meter-long "Horse-Cutting Saber Arm."

Seeing this, even Wang Cangyun, who had weathered countless life-and-death battles, felt his scalp tingle with utter horror.

"It,"

is not Human at all!