Chapter 101: Sweeping Away the Remnants, a Delayed Reward

Beyond the city, deep in the mountains, squads of Tian Di Alliance disciples moved through the woods, hacking through thorns as they struggled forward.

“Old Brother Li, how many beast creatures do you think the Ghost Ming Sect has raised?”

Zhang Yang and Li Rui walked behind a group of disciples.

The path they took was relatively flat.

Because the thorns ahead had all been cut down by those in front.

Now that you’re deputy helmsman, you ought to enjoy a little comfort.

Li Rui smiled faintly: “These beasts, tamed by the Ghost Ming Sect, now have freedom—they’ll surely harbor hatred toward humans. Better to kill them all.”

The Ghost Ming Sect’s people had been slaughtered by and large.

The survivors posed little real threat.

Humans, at least, couldn’t hide in the mountains forever.

But these beasts that fled into the deep mountains? That’s a headache.

The day before yesterday.

A small village under Qinghe’s jurisdiction was attacked by beasts descending from the mountains—over a dozen people died.

The impact was extremely grave.

The county magistrate flew into a rage.

He then summoned experts from the Tian Di Alliance and the Blood Tiger Gang to help suppress them.

Li Rui thought Dao Xiong didn’t seem the type to be so enthusiastic—behind the scenes, Magistrate Zhang must have promised him plenty of benefits, or he’d never have been so eager.

He’s just a deputy helmsman.

Even if he’s growing older, he still has to do his duty; slacking off only ruins his reputation and makes it hard to answer to Dao Xiong.

That’s what it means to hold a position and fulfill its responsibilities.

Of course, effort must be shown—but how much? That’s an art.

Take Li Rui and Zhang Yang, for instance.

Today they’d walked half the day through the mountains, covering only seven or eight li—not much, but not little either.

They’d be glad to just wander the hills, loaf around, and call it a day—enough to satisfy the order.

After all, the magistrate’s promised rewards had all gone to Dao Xiong; they had no motivation to work hard.

Zhang Yang chatted idly:

“That kid Liu Tong went to Huaqing Sect—he still remembered to write me a letter. Guess I didn’t raise him for nothing.”

He grinned broadly.

Having a brother-in-law who’s a Huaqing Sect disciple? Definitely worth bragging about.

Li Rui chuckled: “Liu Tong’s a genuine, heartfelt kid. Very good.”

Complimented by Li Rui, Zhang Yang grew even more proud.

He was forty now; barring miracles, breaking into Liujin was impossible.

He knew his own limits.

He still trained in martial arts, but he’d grown more focused on building influence—Liu Tong’s entry into Huaqing Sect ensured his family’s prosperity for another three or five decades.

Zhang Yang glanced at Li Rui.

His older brother Li still showed no sign of wanting to marry or take concubines.

“Most elderly men without children adopt sons. I heard Old Brother Li has a young servant in his household—used to be his disciple. Probably that’s it.”

Zhang Yang mused to himself.

He wasn’t some legendary figure who could live for centuries; ordinary people had to plan for their afterlife.

As the two talked—

In the undergrowth, a pair of vertical pupils, yellow and black, blinked between the trees.

Dusk.

Just as Li Rui and Zhang Yang were preparing to call it a day.

Suddenly!

A cry rang out from afar.

“Beast! It’s a beast!”

“What a huge lizard!”

“Run!”

Screams kept coming. Li Rui and Zhang Yang exchanged glances.

Zhang Yang spat to the side, muttering a curse about bad luck.

They’d actually run into a beast.

Both drew their weapons in unison and rushed toward the cries.

Half a candle’s time later.

Li Rui and Zhang Yang arrived to find a massive lizard charging wildly; many Tian Di Alliance disciples lay groaning on the ground.

“Wretched beast!”

Zhang Yang roared, raising his blade and charging in.

Li Rui’s eyes flickered with surprise.

“That’s the Nine-Horned Silver Lizard!”

The Nine-Horned Silver Lizard wasn’t rare—there were surely more than one in the deep mountains. But he recognized it by the terrifying scar on its white belly—the very scar he’d carved that night.

“Could it have gained some kind of cultivation?”

Otherwise, with the injuries it suffered that night, it should have died instantly.

Clearly.

This encounter with the beast wasn’t coincidence.

The Nine-Horned Silver Lizard had likely been lying in wait all along, waiting to exact revenge.

“Then kill it again.”

Li Rui drew his blade and advanced, shouting: “Cut its belly!”

Zhang Yang, locked in combat with the lizard, perked up instantly.

He’d been struggling to pierce its iron-hard scales—Li Rui had just shown him the way.

=9+ Shu _ Ba

“Die!”

Zhang Yang laughed loudly, shifting his angle and slashing fiercely at the lizard’s belly.

Beasts had low intelligence; they acted mostly on instinct, unless turned into ghost-beasts.

Under Li Rui and Zhang Yang’s pincer attack,

the Nine-Horned Silver Lizard quickly showed signs of weakness.

It sensed danger and tried to flee—but it was too late.

Li Rui had already blocked its escape route.

Waiting for the moment.

As Zhang Yang’s blow forced the lizard to recoil, Li Rui slid forward.

Hmm.

A real slide.

His long blade sliced from tail to head, opening a massive gash across the lizard’s belly.

Good thing he moved fast.

Otherwise, beast blood would’ve splattered all over him.

Groans echoed through the forest.

This time, luck wasn’t on its side—the Nine-Horned Silver Lizard, like a cornered beast, made its final struggle. In barely a dozen breaths, it crashed heavily to the ground.

Soon, it lay still.

“Dead?”

Zhang Yang stepped forward, prodding the corpse with his blade tip.

Only after confirming it was truly dead did he exhale in relief.

“Damn, that thing was hard to kill.”

Beasts usually had thick hides and tough flesh; though they lacked technique, their raw power overwhelmed most martial masters.

Had Li Rui not revealed its weakness and they hadn’t attacked from both sides, they’d have spent far longer on it.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yang turned to Li Rui: “Old Brother Li, your knowledge is vast—I’m truly impressed.”

That’s why you listen to the elders.

It’s all wisdom.

Li Rui waved his hand.

He’d simply read enough books in Tianyi Hall to know this.

The ancients weren’t wrong—books hold golden houses.

Just as he was about to speak—

A line of small characters appeared before his eyes.

【Congratulations, host! Achievement completed: Famous in the Jianghu — Initial Plot — Slaying Demons and Exterminating Evils.】

【In this world, demons and monsters commit evil deeds and bring chaos to humanity. As a young hero wandering the Jianghu, you must slay demons and exterminate evils to uphold justice. You have slain one demonic beast and protected the peace of this region — a meritorious deed.】

【Completing the quest: Slaying Demons and Exterminating Evils. Reward calculation in progress.】

【Quest rating: B.】

【Obtained 30 Achievement Points!】

【Achievement points reached 100. Reward acquisition in progress.】

【Slaying demons and exterminating evils requires more than brute strength alone — true qi must be applied to achieve invincibility.】

【Obtained the Nine Mystical Spirit Sky Map!】

【Young hero, begin your perfect journey through the Jianghu!】

【Name: Li Rui】

【Age: 7】

【Talent: Martial Bone, Exceptional Comprehension, Spirit Eye】

【Technique: White Ape’s Cloak Blade, Nine Mystical Spirit Sky Map】

【Achievements: 0/100】

(End of Chapter)