Chapter 59: The Fire Centipede Unleashes Its Power! Watch Your Back in Your Next Life!

The legend of the Head-Cutting Demon spread faster than they imagined.

Before dawn even broke, this terrifying title spread like a plague from the Ding family mansion to the entire Changjie Street.

Some even suspected the Head-Cutting Demon still lurked within the mansion.

The Ding family’s servants and maids were thrown into utter chaos.

They didn’t care about wages or luggage— they bolted for the exit like madmen.

Afraid they might be the next to lose their heads.

“Captain, shouldn’t we… go back first…?”

A young guard member hunched his shoulders, his voice trembling.

“Yeah, it’s too dark at night—we probably won’t find anything anyway…”

“Better save our energy for tomorrow…”

“The Head-Cutting Demon’s strength might already exceed what we can handle…”

Others chimed in, their faces pale, eyes darting nervously.

They were scared too!

The Head-Cutting Demon could strike in plain sight, slaying two waves in succession— what if he was hiding in the shadows right now, watching them…?

Aside from their leader, Wei Cheng, a Hua Jing expert, they were all An Jing cultivators.

Maintaining order within Fucheng was fine in normal times, but facing a monster like the Head-Cutting Demon…

They’d become the next batch of victims.

“Don’t panic!”

Wei Cheng cleared his throat, suppressing his own rising unease, and snapped at his men to quiet down.

His face grim, he scanned them all, then said in a low, steady voice:

“Before I came here, I already sent someone to fetch Lin Tao.”

“We’ll wait until he inspects the scene before we withdraw.”

“Otherwise, with such a massive bloodbath, we won’t be able to answer for it tomorrow when the higher-ups ask.”

Hearing this, the guards calmed somewhat.

“Lin Tao? The famous blade-for-hire Lin Tao from Fucheng?”

“That Lin Tao really has some skill—he’s well-known among Fucheng’s blade-for-hires. Rumor says his cultivation has reached the peak of Hua Jing, and his swift sword is razor-sharp!”

“I’ve heard that even some Bao Dan experts hire him!”

“No wonder the captain has such influence—he can summon him even this late at night!”

Just as the men were chattering, a figure, escorted by a guard, walked calmly through the courtyard toward them.

He wore a blue training suit, his frame lean, his face cold and stern, eyes sharp as a hawk’s, paired with a prominent hooked nose—his entire presence radiated a piercing edge.

This man was none other than the famed Fucheng blade-for-hire, Lin Tao.

“Brother Lin, I’m truly sorry to drag you out so late.”

Wei Cheng hurried forward, bowing apologetically: “This bloodbath…”

Lin Tao waved a hand slightly. “No need for apologies. Our friendship requires no words.”

Then, under Wei Cheng’s guidance, he went to examine the scene.

Seeing the headless corpses, Lin Tao’s expression didn’t show the same shock as Wei Cheng’s, but his brow gradually tightened.

Lin Tao knelt down and carefully inspected each corpse.

His movements were light, his gaze heavy—sometimes flipping open the severed necks, sometimes leaning close to study the smooth, clean cuts.

After about an incense stick’s time…

Lin Tao slowly rose beside the bodies, his expression heavy with concern.

“What do you think, Brother Lin? Any leads?”

Wei Cheng hurried over, lowering his voice.

Blade-for-hires like Lin Tao dealt daily with Fucheng’s criminals—they understood swordplay, blade techniques, and killers’ habits far better than any official.

“Brother Wei, the killer’s blade technique… I recognize it.”

Lin Tao’s face darkened. “It resembles the blade style of Huang Laoliu from the Yunling Six Demons—brutal, venomous.”

“The Yunling Six Demons?!”

“Aren’t they already absorbed by the Seven Kill Sect?”

“Wasn’t their Black Lao Wu just slain recently by Tianqing Sect’s true disciple Wen Yueyao?”

“How dare they cause trouble in Fucheng?!”

The guards exchanged startled glances, murmuring among themselves.

The Yunling Six Demons were infamous throughout Yunling Prefecture—each a lawless killer with countless blood debts.

If Huang Laoliu was truly behind this, it made sense.

“I only said the killer’s blade style resembles Huang Laoliu’s…”

Lin Tao frowned deeply, hesitating, his voice dropping lower:

“I once briefly clashed with Huang Laoliu—I know his strength well.”

“But I feel today’s killer’s blade technique is even more refined than Huang Laoliu’s.”

“Of course, Huang Laoliu might have improved further.”

Hearing this, Wei Cheng and the others fell silent for a moment, whispered among themselves, then decided to pin the crime on Huang Laoliu.

“Brother Lin, thank you. We’ll handle the rest.”

Wei Cheng bowed in gratitude.

Lin Tao shook his head slightly, saying nothing more.

He cast one final glance at the corpses, at the mirror-smooth cuts, his eyes flickering with deep unease.

If this bloodbath wasn’t Huang Laoliu’s work…

Then Fucheng had welcomed a far more terrifying presence.

Peace would not return.

The next morning, early.

Morning light streamed through the window lattice, dispelling the night’s chill.

Liu Qingshi sat at the table, holding a bowl of freshly brewed herbal decoction, frowning slightly as he sipped slowly.

Zhao Gang, ignoring his minor injuries, practiced fist techniques in the courtyard—the muffled thuds of punches and kicks only deepened the silence within the room.

“Liu Brother, something huge has happened!”

Su Chen burst through the courtyard gate, followed closely by Su Yan, equally hurried.

He carried several packets of medicinal herbs but didn’t set them down—upon entering, he lowered his voice and let out a stifled cry.

“What happened?”

Liu Qingshi set down the decoction, looking up at him, eyes flickering with surprise.

Su Chen strode over, took a deep breath, and whispered the night’s rumors in detail.

He spoke quickly, occasionally gesturing—as if without motion, he couldn’t convey the horror.

Su Yan listened quietly beside him, occasionally nodding to add details.

After about a cup of tea’s time, Liu Qingshi’s calm finally shattered into shock.

“The Kanglin Three Wolves and Ding Shan and his wife were all killed… the Head-Cutting Demon…”

He repeated Su Chen’s words softly, brow furrowed.

When the Fucheng guards came questioning last night, he’d sensed something terrible had happened—but he hadn’t imagined such a horrific bloodbath.

He had personally faced the Three Wolves—their combined strength forced him to avoid their sharp edges.

To slay them all, plus Ding Shan and his wife…

“Liu Brother, it’s absolutely true.”

Su Chen leaned closer, whispering: “Rumors say it was Huang Laoliu of the Yunling Six Demons!”

Su Yan shook her head helplessly, interjecting:

“There’s also a rumor going around that we Su family hired someone to do it.”

Her tone carried a mix of exasperation and bitter amusement.

Whether this rumor was good or bad, no one could say.

Hearing this, Liu Qingshi chuckled. “Hah! I never knew the Su family had such deep resources.”

Su Chen smiled wryly. “Liu Brother, don’t joke—we’d love to hire someone, but we can’t even afford it.”

He paused, his expression complex—relief mixed with resignation:

“Still, this rumor isn’t entirely bad.”

“Families who once looked down on us as fallen nobility are now treating us with courtesy this morning.”

“Our trade routes won’t be halted for now.”

Liu Qingshi fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

He picked up the now-cold decoction, sipped it, and spoke with a tone of weary insight:

“Misfortune carries fortune within it…”

And the architect of all this, Jiang Ye,

was leisurely feeding the Fire Centipede.

He watched the fire centipede slowly devour a Hu Xin herb stained with his own blood, nodding silently.

Sssss~~~

The instant the entire Hu Xin herb vanished into its belly, Jiang Ye’s spirit trembled violently.

A strange connection, like an invisible thread, quietly formed between him and the tiny creature.

He could faintly discern vague emotions from its hiss.

“You want more?”

He spoke tentatively, his voice calm, eyes fixed on the creature’s reaction.

Sssss~~~

This time, the fire centipede did not immediately open its jaws, but emitted a soft chirp.

“You want to eat it with the leaves of Tian Kui herb?”

Jiang Ye thoughtfully pulled out several Tian Kui leaves, wrapped the Hu Xin herb inside, forming a small “leaf bundle.”

Sssss~~~

The fire centipede let out an excited hiss, snapped at the bundle, and devoured it greedily, its tiny body wriggling with obvious satisfaction.

Jiang Ye watched its behavior, a flicker of approval passing through his aged eyes.

Good. The secret method recorded in the Yu Du Jing truly works.

Seven days later, nightfall.

Moonlight spilled like water over the blood-red Tian Kui herb field.

A fire centipede nearly a foot long had just emerged from the soil, preparing to climb the nearest Tian Kui plant.

Suddenly, a crimson shadow shot out like lightning from the shadows.

It was Jiang Ye’s own fire centipede.

Though half the size of the other, it opened its two pairs of fearsome mandibles and bit down hard—snapping the rival centipede cleanly in half with a single bite!

Sssss!!

It raised its head and emitted a sharp, warning hiss.

The sound echoed through the silent night air, radiating an unchallengeable dominance.

The other fire centipedes lurking beneath the soil, about to emerge, instantly retreated, never daring to show themselves again.

At that moment, a distant, aged voice called out:

“Xiao Huo, come back!”

Sssss~~~

The fire centipede, moments ago strutting in triumph, instantly subdued its aggression, flicked its tail, and scurried like a obedient puppy toward the voice.

It crawled to Jiang Ye’s feet, lifted its head, and chirped softly—as if begging for praise.

Jiang Ye looked down at it and gave a slight nod.

“Good. With this little one, I won’t need to patrol the herb garden myself anymore.”

After seven days of secret feeding, a firm spiritual bond had finally formed between him and the fire centipede.

He named it—Xiao Huo.

Unfortunately, fire centipedes lack the instinct to cannibalize their own kind; the ones it killed in the herb field were only useful for brewing poison wine.

“If I’m to command Xiao Huo in battle, I must first train it to bite humans.”

Jiang Ye gazed at Xiao Huo at his feet, pondering silently.

Who should he let it practice on?

Fang Ming’s venomous gaze flashed suddenly in his mind.

Lately, Chen Lili had been visiting him frequently...

Though they only chatted about sect gossip, Fang Ming had treated Jiang Ye like a romantic rival, his eyes filled with terrifying malice.

Jiang Ye had also heard the boy had been inquiring about his origins within the sect...

“I hope he learns his lesson in his next life—don’t be a sycophant again.”

Jiang Ye sneered inwardly.

The next day, dawn had just broken.

Jiang Ye sat in his wooden hut, eyes closed, cultivating tranquility, when hurried footsteps sounded outside, followed by Lu Ming’s panicked cry:

“Master Jiang! Disaster! Fang Ming was bitten to death by a fire centipede!”