Chapter 40 - Monster
The city gate was deathly silent.
Ye Beizhi tossed aside the remaining hilt of the blade and passed through the city gate.
Pitter, patter.
A coolness spread across Ye Beizhi’s face as he looked up. The dark clouds overwhelmed the sunny sky, and large raindrops rushed to meet their demise.
The storm had arrived.
Inside the Changfeng Escort Agency.
"Hm?" The phoenix-eyed man touched his forehead and looked at the sky. "It’s raining?"
Sprawled before him, was a man who had both his forearms and half a leg chopped off. Guo Xiaoliu was lying in a pool of his blood, unconscious from the blood loss and torture.
"Damn it… It’s raining already, and you still won't talk!" The phoenix-eyed man stepped on the open wound on Guo Xiaoliu’s leg.
"Ahhhhhh!" Guo Xiaoliu screamed, jolted awake by the pain.
His eyes flew wide open, bloodshot and almost popping out of his skull.
"If… If you have… have the guts… then just kill me…" Guo Xiaoliu’s voice was weak, the prolonged bleeding making it hard for him to remain conscious.
"I have a report, my lord" An Imperial Guardian ran in from the front hall, looking anxious.
The phoenix-eyed man spat on Guo Xiaoliu and turned to the Imperial Guardian. "What is it? Speak quickly!"
The two of them leaned against the wall separating them from the front hall. The phoenix-eyed man could vaguely hear the sounds of fighting filtering through. He frowned in confusion and asked, "What’s happening out there?"
"Someone is trying to break in!" the Imperial Guardian reported urgently, fear evident in his eyes.
"Who dares to try and break in? There must be nearly a hundred people out there. Who could possibly break in?" the phoenix-eyed man asked skeptically.
"It’s that—"
Boom!
A fist shattered the wall and smashed through the temple of the fearful Imperial Guardian!
As if in slow motion, the Imperial Guardian's skull exploded right before the phoenix-eyed man's horrified gaze!
An eyeball was blasted out!
Bone fragments erupted like shrapnel!
Blood, teeth, and grey matter rained everywhere!
The phoenix-eyed man watched as an eyeball connected to brain matter stared at him, unblinking, as it flew across the courtyard.
From the other side of the shattered wall, a voice drifted over.
"I heard… you are looking for me."
***
Wei Nanshan still thought the resources dispatched for this mission were excessive. There were more than a hundred Imperial Guardians, ten Captains, and even three Vice Chief Commanders. This force could easily wipe out an entire mountain bandit stronghold.
Right now, nearly twenty Imperial Guardians were guarding the entrance with Wei Nanshan.
Wei Nanshan nudged the other person standing with him outside the door and asked, "Hey bro, do you know what we’re actually here for?"
The person glanced at Wei Nanshan and said, "Didn’t the higher-ups say it clearly? We're here to capture the imperial fugitive!"
"Hey." Wei Nanshan looked at him disdainfully and replied, "Bro, do you really believe that? Look up there. That’s just an escort agency! Do you think a mere escort agency needs so many of us?"
Seeing his partner considering the issue, Wei Nanshan leaned in proudly and continued, "Think about it. In the past, when we raided the homes of wealthy merchants or nobles, we only brought a dozen or so people, not even seeing a Lieutenant. But this time? Three Vice Commanders! Is there anyone higher than that? There is only the Commander left."
"But this time, they said we're here to capture an imperial fugitive, right?" The Imperial Guardian argued.
"Hmph… imperial fugitive," Wei Nanshan said with a knowing expression, "Think about it. What kind of imperial fugitive could an escort agency protect? Didn’t you hear from the brothers inside? The head of the agency, someone called the Iron Spear Suppressor of Shu, was supposedly the most powerful, but even he has been taken down by Captain Yao… The Vice Commanders haven’t even made a move yet. How formidable could the fugitive here be?"
His partner stroked his chin and nodded unconsciously, "What you're saying seems to make sense. But… then what are we doing with so many people here?"
"Uhhh" Wei Nanshan rubbed his nose and somewhat awkwardly coughed, "Ahem… I don’t know either."
The Imperial Guardian suddenly grabbed Wei Nanshan. "Hey look, is someone still coming here? It can't be."
Wei Nanshan looked over in confusion and saw that someone was walking straight towards them. Although he appeared to be walking, his speed was not slow. In no time, the bloodstains on his face were clearly visible.
"Hey! Who are you?! The Imperial Guardians are conducting an investigation. Unrelated persons, leave quickly!" shouted Wei Nanshan. He straightened his stance while pointing his sheathed weapon at the man.
"I am… Ye Beizhi."
"Ye Beizhi? That name sounds familiar…"
Wei Nanshan turned to look at the Imperial Guardian he was with, hoping to get an answer.
"I think I've heard it somewhere before too." The Imperial Guardian also stroked his chin, thinking.
"Hey! You’re—"
Wei Nanshan turned back around and saw the man, Ye Beizhi, standing face to face with him. Almost drawing his blade in fright, he yelped, "Damn! How did you move so fast!"
"Have we met before? Your name sounds so familiar—"
"I… I remember now!" The Imperial Guardian suddenly exclaimed.
Wei Nanshan turned around and scolded, "If you remembered, then you remember… Why are you shouting? You scared me half to death!"
"H-he is the, the," the Imperial Guardian stuttered, unable to finish his sentence.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Wei Nanshan asked in confusion.
A voice sounded in Wei Nanshan’s ear.
"I am the one you are looking for."
"The person we are looking for? What are you talking about?" Wei Nanshan turned around and asked with a puzzled expression.
Without any warning, Wei Nanshan suddenly drew his blade and swung it at Ye Beizhi!
Ye Beizhi took a step back, and the blade missed his nose by a hair’s breadth.
Having missed the first strike, Wei Nanshan immediately stepped forward and swung a horizontal slash at Ye Beizhi’s waist. This strike was powerful and aimed to split Ye Beizhi in half!
The other Imperial Guardian also came to his senses, drawing his blade and jumping in to deliver an overhead slash at Ye Beizhi.
Seeing the blade coming towards him, Ye Beizhi crouched down and with a clenched right fist, struck heavily at the airborne Imperial Guardian like a charging tiger!
Bam!
The Imperial Guardian was sent flying back faster than when he attacked. He slammed hard into the wall, lifeless. However, at this moment, Wei Nanshan’s horizontal slash was about to strike Ye Beizhi!
Wei Nanshan shouted, "Die!"
Ye Beizhi caught the two-handed sword of the Imperial Guardian he had punched and executed a horizontal slash!
It was a sudden counterattack!
Wei Nanshan felt as if time slowed down. First, he saw his blade-holding hand fly into the air. Then his blood spurted out, followed by his intestines. Finally, he felt himself flying through the air, and noticed his lower body was still rooted to the ground.
He had never seen a sword move so fast.
In the moment before darkness engulfed him, he suddenly realized why so many people had been sent. It turned out they were not after an imperial fugitive, but… a monster.
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