Chapter 26: I'm Not a Bad Person Either

The mass of flesh writhing on the floor melted into blood as if exposed to sulfuric acid, shrinking steadily until only twenty or thirty pounds remained, still squirming and struggling. The entity realized what was devouring it, but it was too late.

“If I die, others will come for you! I am the weakest—when the others arrive, you won’t even have a place to run!” A mouth formed in the blood and flesh, voicing its defiant protest.

It had never expected that its target this time would be an awakened one, equipped with means to counter it. Its direct combat strength wasn’t particularly impressive, but it was troublesome, and, most importantly, extremely difficult to kill. Even when facing other awakened ones, it always had a good chance to escape, even if it couldn’t win.

But Gu Changqing was its complete nemesis; escape was impossible. Its power was to control and consume flesh and blood, but now it was being devoured instead. Those strange, alien bloodstreams had infiltrated its flesh, corroding and dissolving it further.

“Are you threatening me?” Gu Changqing glanced down at the puddle of blood and flesh, a mocking smile at his lips, then turned and strode toward the kitchen.

He opened a cabinet and began rummaging—he remembered seeing it before.

“Spare me, we can cooperate! No, I can help you!” the entity pleaded rapidly.

“Found it!” Gu Changqing pulled out a pot and a gas-fired blowtorch.

An eye formed on the mass of flesh, trembling with terror as it saw Gu Changqing approach with the pot and blowtorch. The horror was palpable, as if a vulnerable girl faced a violent criminal.

“No… We have no grievances! Killing me does you no good…”

“So, what’s the deep blue liquid in the bottle?” Gu Changqing said, scooping the mass of flesh into the pot without hesitation.

“No, I don’t know… I was only told to retrieve that item, I don’t know what it is…” The flesh clung tightly to Gu Changqing’s arm, letting out a scream that sounded like a frightened girl.

Nothing terrified it more than being shoved into a pot and roasted with a blowtorch. Well, perhaps being cooked in a pressure cooker was worse.

The flesh wrapped around Gu Changqing’s arm melted rapidly.

Gu Changqing shook his arm, flinging off the blood: “You know nothing—so what use are you?”

He pressed the trigger on the blowtorch, unleashing a tongue of flame.

“What organization are you from?” Gu Changqing asked casually.

“The Earth Alliance—I’m from the Earth Alliance… I’m the weakest among them. If you kill me, others will come. Spare me, I can help you!”

“Who else is in the Earth Alliance?”

“I… can’t tell you. Please put away the torch… and that ghostly thing inside me, I’m being dissolved…”

---

“Can’t tell, huh…” Gu Changqing set the blowtorch aside and looked down with a gentle smile.

“Don’t be nervous—I’m only joking. I’m not so cruel as to do something so heartless!”

“But the best way you can help me… is to become one with me.”

“You…” The mass of flesh began to writhe and struggle frantically, but soon melted completely into a puddle of blood.

A blood serpent, now twice its previous size, flew back into Gu Changqing’s palm. On its forehead, a human face appeared, straining to break free—the only face among them.

At the same time, a stream of pure blood energy surged into his body, transforming into a thread of spiritual energy.

Controlling the blood serpent earlier had used up all his spiritual energy, but now it was fully restored—and more besides.

If he were practicing by orthodox methods, it would take over half a month of day and night cultivation to achieve such growth.

Such rapid progress—almost irresistible.

Gu Changqing grinned, his smile bright.

“More coming… What luck!”

“That’s truly something to look forward to!”

But what excited him even more now was something else.

That world!

He had grown much stronger since returning this time, and now it was time to settle old scores.

A gentleman’s revenge should not be delayed even a day.

He’d been back for more than four days; the Yu family by the distant river likely wouldn’t be guarding the place.

Time flowed similarly on both sides—it was evening there as well… even if something unexpected happened, escape would be easy.

And he could further strengthen himself before the Earth Alliance sent more agents.

Gu Changqing glanced around the room, noticing the scattered bones on the floor. He didn’t bother to clean up.

He checked his phone for missed calls, intending to contact the precinct. Just then, his door was hammered loudly.

Gu Changqing tilted his head, walked over, and opened the door. Outside stood a burly man with a dragon tattooed across his shoulder, pointing angrily at Gu Changqing’s nose.

“Are you fucking crazy? It’s the middle of the night—why are you banging on the floor?”

Earlier, Gu Changqing had smashed someone’s head against the floor, making even the floorboards tremble—not just once.

---

Gu Changqing smiled amicably, then, lightning-fast, grabbed the man’s finger and snapped it.

“Aah—!” The man clutched his finger, shrieking in pain.

Gu Changqing patted the man’s face, still smiling. “I don’t like anyone pointing at me. I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll let it slide.”

“Consider yourself lucky!”

He closed the door and leisurely headed downstairs.

He scrolled through his call history, finding the number from earlier in the day—it was from a colleague in Squad Three.

Captain Cao had contacted Gu Changqing through this person previously.

“Ah Quan? You really didn’t give Captain Cao any face today; he seemed pretty angry…” The voice came instantly, accompanied by music—either a bar or a nightclub.

“Tomorrow, tell the chief at the precinct that something’s come up—I’ll be back in a few days. Also, have someone clean my place!” Gu Changqing cut him off.

“And just now, someone in my building assaulted a police officer—about thirty years old, six feet tall, round face, dragon tattoo on his shoulder, index finger broken. Find him and bring him in for questioning!”

He hung up.

Moments later, Gu Changqing arrived at another residence.

He slung a backpack over his shoulder, tucked a pistol at his waist, and took along two brocade pouches he’d picked up from the Yu family disciples. They held only some broken silver and gold leaves—not much of value.

As for the rifle—there was no need to take it now.

He took a sip of juice and, with a thought, vanished from the room.

His vision blurred, and he found himself on a riverbank, the sound of water flowing nearby.

A few wolves drank from the river not far off. Startled by Gu Changqing’s sudden appearance, they lowered their bodies and prepared to attack.

Sensing that Gu Changqing was not to be trifled with, the wolves slowly retreated, then darted into the forest.

“Had fun chasing me last time, didn’t you? I didn’t bother anyone, yet you all wanted to kill me…” Gu Changqing glanced at the moon in the sky, laughing contentedly.

He then oriented himself and disappeared into the woods.