Chapter Five: Taking a Life

“What are you trying to do?!” Bai Lian finally realized that something was amiss. This girl, gifted in both cultivation and slaying zombies, was utterly at a loss when confronted with living people. All she could do was glare furiously.

“Heh heh, little lady, since you can fancy this pretty boy, why not consider me instead? I’m famous throughout the martial world—far better than this weakling. If you come with me, I guarantee you’ll live in luxury amidst this chaos!” The man rubbed his hands together, leering at Bai Lian.

Even the most sheltered young girl would understand what was happening at this point, let alone Bai Lian, who prized her reputation above all. Her expression darkened, and she reached for her sword.

But the man was not to be underestimated. Perhaps years of farm labor had given him unusual strength. The moment Bai Lian moved, he lunged, arms wide, trying to seize her.

“Sigh…” Yue Qi finally couldn’t bear to watch any longer. He had intended to let Bai Lian suffer a little hardship, to let this naive girl learn of the world’s dangers, but if he didn’t act now, she might harbor resentment against him forever.

At the very instant the man tried to grab Bai Lian, Yue Qi intervened! For girls like Bai Lian, their bodily purity was worth more than life itself; if violated by a stranger, she might well end her own life immediately.

There was no time for spells. Yue Qi’s sword was still sheathed; he simply swung it at the man!

A rush of wind whistled as the sword struck directly at the man's forehead. Never mind his slight build—Yue Qi’s strength was formidable. The man had barely reacted before the sword, still sheathed, crashed against his skull.

“You brat, you’re courting death!” The man reeled, dazed, but quickly recovered. The scrawny man beside him stepped forward, warily eyeing Yue Qi. Bai Lian had retreated behind Yue Qi. She’d been about to draw her sword, but seeing the man charge, her legs inexplicably weakened…

“If you don’t want to die, get lost!” Yue Qi said coldly. Even he felt a little disbelief at his own words—since when had he become so ruthless? If only there were a mirror, he would surely see how imposing he looked now…

“Hahaha…” The man threw back his head and laughed. “You want me dead? Why? Because of you two mongrels?! Brat, if you hadn’t ambushed me, you think you could have hit me? Wait till I catch you—I’ll cut off your hands and feet and feed you to those things!” His face twisted with ferocity.

“You…!” Bai Lian behind him was already furious. She’d lived in privileged seclusion for years; never had she heard such vile words—‘mongrels,’ ‘old man’—she wished she could plug her ears!

“B-boss, maybe let’s forget it. We have a long way to go, why waste energy here… When we get to those immortals’ places, the fairy maidens will surely be prettier than this one!” the scrawny man quavered.

“What do you know…” The man smacked the scrawny one’s head. “Have you ever seen a woman this beautiful? Those so-called immortals aren’t much better. If this little lady falls into our hands… heh, we’ll be satisfied for sure! The world isn’t what it used to be—the strong make the law! The authorities themselves have turned into those things; who’s left to control me? When I capture her, don’t say I forgot you!”

The man leered at Bai Lian again. “Don’t be afraid, little lady, I’d never feed you to those things. Stay with me, and if you die, it’ll be in my bed. Judging by your wanton look, you must be starving for it already. What does that pretty boy offer? Come with us. I’ll take you to the immortals—maybe they’ll keep you for your beauty, ha ha…”

Bai Lian’s lips trembled with fury. If Yue Qi hadn’t been standing before her, she’d have drawn her sword and fought. Yet she saw clearly: this man wasn’t reckless but a trained fighter, deliberately provoking her and Yue Qi to make his move easier.

She sneaked a glance at Yue Qi—he was calm as ever, expressionless, seemingly unmoved by their words. It made Bai Lian feel both glad and anxious. Glad he wasn’t blindly provoked into conflict; anxious that he seemed so indifferent while she was being humiliated… Was he not taking her seriously at all? She pouted involuntarily.

“So you won’t leave, will you?” Yue Qi looked at the two men with serene indifference, utterly unperturbed. The gap between cultivators and ordinary people was more than a chasm—even the greatest mortal could not threaten a cultivator.

“You really want to die!” The man was angry, but Yue Qi’s composure seemed to intimidate him; he dared not advance.

Yue Qi stood in place, watching the man with amusement. He wasn’t sure why Bai Lian hadn’t drawn her sword to kill this foul-mouthed brute, but Yue Qi felt no obligation to spare him. Zombies had once been human, and he had slain several, even two cultivators among them. He wouldn’t spare this survivor just for being human.

“Go on! That brat’s just bluffing. Let’s kill him together—then the little lady behind him will be ours…” The man urged his scrawny companion, who hesitated at first, but after glancing at Bai Lian, seemed to steel himself and advanced with his boss.

Yue Qi shook his head—these two were stubborn to the end. He closed his eyes softly and murmured a spell. A tiny flame appeared atop his fingertip, hovering in midair…

“Ah?! Boss… he, he… they really are immortals! Immortals, please forgive my offense—I was blind!” The scrawny man saw Yue Qi’s display, his legs went weak, and he dropped to his knees, kowtowing repeatedly.

The other man’s face shifted between pale and flushed as he stared at the flame, thoughts whirling.

But just then, the man seemed to make up his mind, shouting, “It’s just a trick! Watch me deal with him!” He drew a sharp dagger from his sleeve and lunged at Yue Qi’s chest.

“Courting death!” Yue Qi shook his head. For him, ordinary humans posed less threat than zombies; their strength or agility could never compare.

Murmuring another spell, Yue Qi opened his eyes. Where the man approached, the ground turned muddy, something in the muck roiling ceaselessly. Caught unprepared, the man slipped and fell face-first into the mire.

This was the Earth Command from the Five Elements Arts. Yue Qi’s talent was modest, but he’d mastered these arts thoroughly—he could recite the spells backward. Since someone now “required” it, he’d display his power; he wouldn’t stand being called a pretty boy any longer.

Yue Qi picked up his sword. With a ringing cry, the blade flashed from its sheath! Yue Qi was no benevolent soul; he moved to behead the man.

“No!” Bai Lian cried out in alarm behind him.

“Immortal! Immortal! I was wrong! I was blind, I’m utterly depraved—please don’t kill me, I beg you! I’ll change, I swear!” The man, caked in mud, knelt and pleaded with Yue Qi. He’d meant to put up a fight, but after witnessing Yue Qi’s actions, resistance vanished—he knelt, begging for his life.

Yue Qi paused only briefly, then brought the sword down, severing the man’s head without hesitation, his eyes cold and merciless.

The scrawny companion was terrified out of his wits. Yue Qi moved to kill him as well, but Bai Lian grabbed his arm and held him back…

“Sigh…” Seeing Bai Lian’s gesture, Yue Qi shook his head. Girls were always soft-hearted—even after such insult, her compassion remained.

Thinking it over, this scrawny fellow likely had little hope of survival; he’d made it this far only with his boss’s help. Alone in the wilderness, even if he avoided zombies, he’d starve. He posed no real threat to them now…

“Go!” Yue Qi said. The man hurriedly banged his head on the ground, then staggered away, desperate to flee from this “grim reaper.” The pool of blood on the ground reeked of death.

“Let’s go, or the zombies will be drawn here…” Yue Qi said coolly. Without a glance at the still-stunned Bai Lian, he headed toward Yue Family Village alone.

“He…” Bai Lian looked at Yue Qi with a complex expression, then followed after him, step by step.