Chapter Eighty-Six: Hatred Etched in Bone

I slept straight through to the next morning. Although there were a few times during the night when the pain didn’t wake me, I fell back asleep almost immediately. At dawn, I was jolted awake by the ringing of my phone. Annoyed, I checked it, only to find a message from the Ghost King in our group chat: “The tokens always come together with the Ghost King’s card. Please don’t take the wrong one.”

My heart skipped a beat—damn it, hadn’t I taken the wrong thing? I took out the box and examined it again; sure enough, the Ghost King’s card wasn’t inside. Helpless, I lay back on the bed. It seemed this trip had been for nothing. After two days of running around and nearly dying, all I’d managed to get was a necklace.

There were still more than twenty days left before the game ended, so there was no rush. I’d just take my time. Since staying in this city was useless now, the three of us ate breakfast and set off for home.

The road was the same as when we came, and I was already tired of the scenery. Before long, I drifted off to sleep. This time, I had a dream unlike any I’d had before: I stood alone atop the city walls, gazing down at thousands of troops. The scene shifted, and I found myself on a brutal battlefield, severed limbs and anguished cries echoing in my ears. Then it changed again—I was once more facing a vast army alone. My robe, once pure white, was stained red with blood, but I still gripped Snowblade tightly in my hand.

Suddenly, a jolt from the road woke me from my dream. I looked around, realizing the car was still moving along, and Li Zijian was quietly meditating. Only I sat to the side, breathing heavily.

We had already passed that village we’d seen on the way here. Strangely, all the villagers had disappeared. It was broad daylight; it made no sense that not a single soul was in sight.

Old Li remarked with confusion, “Why is this village so desolate? Something’s not right…”

As I too wondered, I happened to spot someone in black darting quickly across a rooftop to the left. I immediately asked Old Li to stop the car and jumped out to give chase.

I didn’t know if this was the right thing to do, but I never regret anything I choose to do. The figure moved fast, but I followed in his direction.

The village wasn’t large, and before long I arrived at a courtyard. I saw the man in black slip inside, and I followed. Once in the yard, I sensed several presences in the house, but with my current abilities, I couldn’t discern their exact levels.

Peering through the window, I saw several tied-up villagers—men and women, young and old. Just then, another masked figure in black stepped out of the house. He froze for a moment upon seeing me, then hurried back inside, presumably to report.

I stayed where I was, waiting for them to come out. Soon, three of them emerged, the leader a tall man radiating the strongest energy.

“Get lost,” he barked upon seeing me. My temper flared; I drew my blade, ready for a fight.

But just as I was about to charge, someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind. I turned to see Li Zijian and Old Li had arrived.

“Brother Yao, you’re going to fight without me? That’s not cool,” Li Zijian said, pulling his knuckle-duster from his ring.

I glanced at Old Li, who also had a ring. He smiled at me and drew out two large axes—heavy weapons, both identical and powerfully intimidating, much like the legendary Mountain-Splitting Axes.

Without another word, I lunged at the weakest of the three opponents. Old Li took on the leader.

My adversary was of average height and build, wielding a longsword. I’d noticed that swords were common these days, but true masters were rare.

I drew my saber and slashed at his face. He was too slow to dodge and had to block the blow head-on. Our first exchange ended in a stalemate—neither of us injured.

I unleashed the Winged Shadow Blade Technique. He couldn’t keep up, forced to defend in panic. I realized his cultivation was the lowest among the three, likely only at the first rank of Spirit Leaf.

My saber danced like a butterfly in the air. By the fourth form, he was covered in wounds—mostly superficial, but enough to sap his strength.

I was exhilarated now, blending the Eight Extremities Fist with the Winged Shadow Blade Technique, quickly landing heavy blows. I struck his chest with a precise punch, followed by a slash that cut his throat. He fell without resistance.

After picking up his ring, I hurried to help the others. Old Li’s twin axes were a sight to behold—each swing roared through the air with power. The leader held up for a few exchanges, but as Old Li’s strength mounted, he began to falter.

Li Zijian, meanwhile, was having a tougher time. His opponent was his equal in cultivation and clearly well-trained, wielding a sharp weapon that kept Li Zijian on the defensive.

I dashed over and, with a single strike, chopped into the man’s shoulder. He cried out in pain, giving Li Zijian the chance to drive his fist spike straight into the man’s throat.

At the same time, Old Li defeated the leader, who now sat on the ground, begging for mercy.

I hurried over, blade at his throat. “Why are you harming the villagers here?” I demanded.

He had removed his mask, revealing a young face. “We’re disciples of the Seven-Colored Sect nearby. Our sect master ordered us to destroy this place. When the villagers refused, we… we were told to kill them…”

The Seven-Colored Sect again. My hatred for this group had only grown; their practice of killing for experience disgusted me.

I didn’t hesitate—I slit his throat. Then I pointed at the villagers in the house and told Li Zijian, “Go untie them.”

He nodded and ran inside. Old Li and I returned to the car to wait.

Sitting in the car, I brooded over the countless crimes of the Seven-Colored Sect. I swore to myself that from now on, I would show no mercy—whenever I saw one, I would kill one.

After a while, Li Zijian returned, face full of anger. He climbed in and complained, “Brother Yao, the villagers here are unbelievably stupid. I don’t even want to talk about it.”

“What happened? Why are you so mad?” I asked, tilting my head.

“When I untied them, they all said it was our fault—they said we brought disaster here and wanted to kill us too. They called us the real scourge…”

Hearing this, I could only laugh helplessly.