Several disciples drew their swords and flew toward the two of them.

Xie Shuci’s “Chuuni” spirit burned fiercely, thinking that even a powerful demon with two hundred years of cultivation had been cut down by him with just one strike, so what were these young disciples worth? Wasn’t it just a matter of a glance from him?

“Hey—take this!” Xie Shuci followed the same routine, channeling his spiritual energy to envelop the sword, and a transparent halo floated around the blade. With a thrusting motion, he traced a fierce arc in the air.

But these disciples were not interested in playing along. They dodged his attack and went straight over Xie Shuci’s head, aiming their swords directly at the horse and the demon behind them.

Xie Shuci’s heart skipped a beat. Damn, that flying and scaling walls move was so damn cool!

After realizing what was happening, Xie Shuci shouted loudly, “Quick, Immortal crane, run!”

The small white horse understood his meaning and dashed for its life with the unconscious silly dog on its back before the disciples could land.

The disciples tried to chase after them, but Xie Shuci randomly swung his sword, accidentally slashing one disciple’s shoulder.

“Hiss—”

Seeing the fresh blood staining the green robe from the disciple’s shoulder, Xie Shuci grimaced and his hand holding the sword trembled involuntarily. He instinctively said, “Sorry, sorry, it was unintentional!”

The disciple frowned, “Xie Shuci, you are courting death!”

But the Daoist in the green robe said, “Don’t bother with him, go after them!”

The disciple clenched his teeth, covered his shoulder, and cast a fierce glance at Xie Shuci.

“No, no one can go!” Xie Shuci tightly grasped the sword in his hand and, along with Xie An, blocked the disciples’ path. The immortal crane ran exceptionally fast and disappeared into the long street in an instant.

“Stand back a bit, be careful not to get accidentally injured by me.” Xie Shuci whispered to Xie An.

Xie An pursed his lips but didn’t make a move.

Seeing Xie Shuci blocking their way, the disciples seemed hesitant, their bodies tense, and their gazes sharp, watchfully looking in their direction.

Whether it was Xie Shuci’s misconception or not, he always felt that their eyes passed over him and were fixed on Xie An behind him.

Xie Shuci turned his head and glanced at Xie An. The latter stood calmly behind him, seemingly like a weak and powerless little waste who couldn’t withstand a single blow.

Shaking off the unnecessary thoughts in his mind, Xie Shuci said to the Daoist in the green robe who approached, “Senior Daoist, I captured the demon. Isn’t it a breach of decorum for you to openly snatch it?”

The gaze of the Daoist in the green robe swept over Xie Shuci and briefly lingered on Xie An before speaking.

This person was skilled in the Xiaoyao Sword Art. Even if he wasn’t a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect, he must have had some significant connection to it. Regardless of the situation, it was not something that their small Li family sect could afford to offend. Moreover, the Xiaoyao Sword Art was different from others. Even ordinary people who couldn’t gather spiritual energy could learn it and wield its formidable power. Having witnessed this person single-handedly repel a two-hundred-year-old demon, the Daoist in the green robe wasn’t sure if he and his disciples were a match for him.

However, this inner core was of utmost importance to the Li family, and he was determined not to give up easily.

“Young Master Xie, in the world of cultivation, the weak are preyed upon by the strong. I have no intention of making an enemy of you, but this inner core is crucial for the Li family. So I have to offend you,” the Daoist in the green robe said with clasped fists.

After speaking, he signaled his disciples behind him to quietly flank and pursue the two.

Xie Shuci’s cultivation level was nothing to be afraid of, and the blind man by his side, despite his proficient swordsmanship, was no different from a disabled person without a sword. So the Daoist in the green robe didn’t want to harm them and make enemies for the Li family.

The disciple nodded and stealthily moved toward the darkness, while Xie Shuci remained oblivious to their movements.

Xie Shuci nonchalantly lifted his chin and slung the sword over his shoulder. “What a coincidence, I also must obtain this inner core. Unless you step over my dead body, no one will be able to pass.”

One disciple couldn’t help but chuckle. “Who gave you the courage to say such words?”

“Liang Jingru,” Xie Shuci replied. [1]

“Who?”

“None of your damn business.”

At that moment, Xie An turned his head and looked toward the shadow. Immediately, he grasped Xie Shuci’s hand that held the sword and swung it towards the shadow. A pained scream resonated as a disciple in a green robe rolled out from the corner, a deep wound carved across his chest by the sword’s momentum.

“What the hell?” Xie Shuci was startled. Before he could recover his senses, he felt several sharp sword auras closing in on him.

In the next moment, Xie An, in the same posture, enveloped Xie Shuci’s hand holding the sword. With a reverse grip, he thrust the sword behind him. Xie Shuci’s body was moved by him, and the clashing of sword blades in mid-air produced a piercing sound. Xie Shuci was in a state of bewilderment as Xie An firmly grasped his waist with one hand, while controlling his body and the long sword with the other, forcing the enemy to retreat step by step.

“Be careful!”

“Don’t harm anyone!”

The other disciples were not as composed as the Daoist in the green robe. Seeing their comrade injured, one after another, they drew their swords, filled with righteous indignation. The Daoist in the green robe, concerned about Xie An’s identity, didn’t dare to act rashly and could only watch from the sidelines.

“Xie An?”

Xie Shuci looked at him dazedly. The ordinary sword in Xie An’s hand moved with the agility of a water snake, its sword shadows passing before his eyes too quickly for him to see.

Xie An remained composed, occasionally tilting his ear to discern the direction of the enemy’s attacks, paying no heed to what Xie Shuci said in his embrace.

“Damn, you’re so cool!” Xie Shuci exclaimed. 

Using sound to locate the enemy is so cool! I want to learn this skill too!

Is Little Blind really that skilled with a sword? No wonder these disciples are so wary of him.

After repelling a few disciples, Xie An slid his finger into Xie Shuci’s palm and pulled the sword from his hand. He then tossed it into the air, and the sword’s radiance flashed before everyone’s eyes. With a “clang,” the sword’s tip embedded itself into the ground, and a wave of residual sword energy kicked up dust. The previously intact pavement cracked apart on both sides from the position of the sword, leaving a fissure that spanned the entire street.

Xie An held the hilt of the sword in one hand and looked calmly at the people ahead, his expression indifferent and composed. The fissure divided the battlefield into two areas, with him and Xie Shuci standing on one side.

“Don’t act rashly,” the Daoist in the green robe cautioned the others, his face growing grim.

The white-clad youth stood behind the fissure with the sword in hand, brandishing it horizontally as if telling everyone that anyone who crossed that line would face the sword’s judgment.

Seeing everyone hesitating to approach Xie An, Xie Shuci, pretending to be a tiger, leaned against him, crossed his arms in an arrogant manner, and wore an expression of “This is my little brother.” He arrogantly declared, “If you have the guts, try crossing this line. I don’t even need to make a move to deal with you. With a single command of mine, Little Blind can make you lose your heads!”

Xie An, “…”

Xie Shuci was basking in his self-importance, but little did he know that Xie An sidestepped, avoiding him. Xie Shuci suddenly lost his support and stumbled back a couple of steps, nearly falling over.

Everyone, “…”

Xie Shuci’s attempt at showing off failed. He grabbed Xie An’s shoulder to stabilize himself and coughed a few times, trying to save face. He said with a serious expression, “In any case, if you want to take something from my hands, Little Blind would be the first one you would face!”

Xie Shuci patted Xie An’s shoulder, but the latter pursed his lips and dodged away.

“Ah-“

At the same time, a man’s scream erupted from the backyard of the inn.

Everyone was startled, and a few quick-thinking disciples rushed inside. Roars of a beast followed from the backyard.

“Is it the demon?” The Daoist in the green robe turned pale with shock and hurriedly ran into the inn without looking back.

The sudden turn of events left Xie Shuci stunned. He recognized the man’s voice—it was the innkeeper, Chen Cai.

“This is bad…” Xie Shuci muttered with a pale face. Wasn’t the silly dog taken away by the immortal crane? How could it appear here?

He didn’t have time to think about Xie An beside him and quickly followed inside.

After everyone left, Xie An stood in the empty street, his hand gripping the sword hilt. The veins on the back of his hand suddenly bulged, and an uncontrollable aura of resentment surged out from his body. The temperature around him instantly froze, and two green birds flew past the sky, seemingly sensing the dense and surging aura below. They chirped anxiously and flew away as if escaping for their lives.

At that moment, the pure white-robed youth under the moonlight made a move. He slowly raised his head, his pupils pitch black, and an overwhelming sense of killing intent churned within him. It was evident that he was struggling to restrain himself, as the killing intent and unparalleled resentment enveloped his body, forming a mass of black mist intertwined with threads of bloody red. Inside, various wicked desires rolled and surged, as if ready to erupt at any moment.

In the next instant, a sword light flew into the sky, slashing down and beheading the two startled birds fleeing in panic.

—It turned out that controlling the urge to kill is really difficult.

Thinking this, the youth’s lips curved into a cold and beautiful smile.

This was probably the first time in his life that he had suppressed his urge to kill.

Under normal circumstances, he would have ensured that none of the people present would even leave behind an intact corpse.

But…

The youth’s expression turned solemn.

Why was he doing this?

A person who sought enlightenment through slaughter but avoided killing—wasn’t that laughable?

When Xie Shuci arrived, he saw a four-legged beast with jet-black fur standing in the courtyard. 

Its body was still covered in wounds, and a thin layer of spiritual energy formed a fragile membrane around it. Due to the insufficient supply of gathered spiritual power, the membrane appeared and disappeared intermittently, as if on the verge of disappearing. Even Xie Shuci could tell that it was in a weakened state.

However, the others only stood there with raised swords, hesitating to approach.

“Please…”

A faint voice came from the courtyard, and Xie Shuci leaned to the side, quietly looking over. He saw a figure lying near the feet of the four-legged beast, covered in bloody flesh.

The person’s body was wrapped in fresh blood, as if soaked in it, causing Xie Shuci to gasp and hold his breath.

Why is this damn world like this?

Through the vague clothing and figure of the person, Xie Shuci recognized him as the innkeeper.

“I deserve to die… but my son, Ah Dong… he’s innocent…”

“Please… save him…”

At this moment, Xie Shuci also understood. This dog wasn’t dumb at all! It had deceived Xie Shuci, not convinced by his words. It simply wanted to use Xie Shuci to enter the town and seek revenge against Chen Cai. After all, it was severely injured, and if the Li family’s reinforcements arrived, it might not have another chance for revenge.

“I was wrong… I truly realize my mistake…”

Chen Cai pleaded desperately, gasping for his last breath.

The beast looked at the crawling figure by its feet, with a trace of pity in its eyes.

It didn’t respond to the dying human’s plea. It wanted to avenge its fallen tribe. But it had an innate fondness for humans and had never imagined that one day it would have human blood on its hands.

Realized his mistake? So what?

After the person on the ground fell silent, the beast glanced in the direction of Xie Shuci. Gradually, its bestial form began to fade, forming a beautiful silver river in the air, resembling a flowing galaxy. It slowly approached Xie Shuci and eventually transformed into an ordinary-sized dog in his arms.

“Woof…” The dog let out a low whimper in his embrace, and its warm blood instantly soaked Xie Shuci’s hands. It weakly opened its eyes, struggling to do so, but tried to convey something to Xie Shuci with its gaze.

Xie Shuci hugged it helplessly, and in that moment, he was almost in sync with its soul, understanding the message it was trying to convey. His eyes suddenly became moist, and he clenched his teeth as he picked up the silly dog, turning his head and rushing towards the main hall.

“Chase…” one disciple snapped back to his senses and said.

Before he could finish his words, a long sword flew out from the darkness, steadily inserting itself in the entrance of the main hall, silently blocking them all behind Xie Shuci.

“Xie An… the innkeeper is dead.”

Seeing the arrival of the person, Xie Shuci’s confused emotions seemed to find an outlet, and he involuntarily choked up.

Xie An stood in the middle of the main hall, the dim candlelight casting shadows on his face. His entire body was concealed in darkness, only half of his profile indistinct. No one knew what he was thinking.

Holding the blood-drenched demon dog in his arms, Xie Shuci rushed up to the attic and pushed open the door of Ah Dong’s room.

Listening to the footsteps fade away, Xie An slowly raised his head.

The resentment and killing intent that had enveloped him had all dissipated.

—Xie Shuci, being so timid, is probably going to cry again.

---

[1] Liang Jingru, also known as Fish Leong, is a Malaysian Chinese singer and songwriter. She is known for her sentimental and melodious ballads. Xie Shuci’s mention of her name in this context is likely a humorous response, implying that it was an irrelevant and nonsensical remark.