Chapter 39: Barehanded Suppression of the Ape Demon

The straw-cloaked ape demon took off its conical hat, its sparse black fur looking somewhat aged.

Its stature was short, but its head was rather large; as its lips peeled back, two tusks were revealed: "Decent bladework, pity the blade itself is lacking."

The young, tall ape demon dropped to one knee, took out a strip-shaped object tightly wrapped in silk, and carefully peeled back the silk to reveal a slender ceremonial blade.

The scabbard was perfectly straight, entirely ink-black, glossy and lustrous, with gilt patterns running along it.

It extended both hands and reverently lifted it up.

The straw-cloaked old ape's withered claw-like fingers gripped the hilt tightly, drew out the blade gleaming with a dark sheen, and examined it with a hint of affection.

Perhaps it was no coincidence.

Shen Yi noticed that the higher these demons' cultivation, the more they liked to imitate humans.

The Yellow-Skins travel in sedan chairs, yet still only wallow in the cravings of mouth and belly, their minds set on eating people, and they name themselves whatever casual nickname suits their own appearance.

These ape demons, however, insist on wearing human clothes, pick themselves a pleasant-sounding name from a book—something like Tongtian—and even demand to sleep with the most tender of women.

As for Old Mother Green-Scale, she has even started doing her hair and makeup, planning to abduct the finest craftsmen to forge the most beautiful and lavish jewelry.

"The name of this blade of mine is…" Yuan Tongtian held his breath, eyes blazing, preparing to give the other a proper account of this treasured blade's origins.

Shen Yi gathered his thoughts, then swung his blade and hacked at the tall ape demon kneeling on one knee.

Before a fight you still insist on kowtowing first—what kind of habit is that?

Crimson baleful aura wrapped around the blade as it hacked toward the ape demon's neck with tremendous force.

Since the Golden Yang Eight Treasures Mystic Body reached completion, Shen Yi had found that his strength was like a vast, surging river, flowing on and on, far surpassing before.

The two demons clearly hadn't expected him to strike suddenly.

The young, tall one even froze for an instant before hastily reaching out to block.

And it was precisely this brief hesitation that allowed the blade to slice through its cervical vertebrae as though cutting tofu.

The head, eyes staring blankly, rolled to Yuan Tongtian's feet.

Holding the ceremonial blade, its nostrils flaring rapidly, it suddenly shrieked: "Absurd! Absurd! A boorish country bumpkin with no manners!"

Even it, before eating, would first wipe its hands with a damp cloth, bathe once every three days, and burn incense once every five.

Let alone the great matter of killing a man—one must first declare one's house and lineage, explain the reason, why I must kill you, and how I shall defeat you.

How could… how could one do the deed so crudely, so inelegantly?

Amid the shriek, Yuan Tongtian's wiry frame suddenly leapt up, the dark blade in its hand slashing out again and again—steady and vicious, displaying solid fundamentals from the very first strike.

A frigid blade aura burst forth, and the small thatched shelter exploded apart.

Even with its mind in turmoil, the trajectory of Yuan Tongtian's dark blade remained methodical and unfathomably clever—clearly a beginner-realm blade art also cultivated to completion.

It had not only learned to do things like a human, it had even practiced martial arts.

"No manners—you deserve to die!"

"Killing my kin—you deserve to die!"

"Die for me!"

Yuan Tongtian's hunched frame howled as it pressed forward step by step, two extremely long arms flailing wildly, each slash faster than the last.

Under such a ferocious assault, Shen Yi's expression didn't change, and he still managed to keep his steps orderly, though in his heart he felt a touch of helplessness.

This old ape was clearly no ordinary demon—it must have received someone's guidance. The blade art it used seemed tailor-made for its arms, and that ceremonial blade was certainly no common item.

The official blade in his own hand was worth no more than seven taels and two qian, and he still had to deduct the workshop's kickback…

He hadn't noticed before, but now, facing an opponent also at beginner-realm completion whose martial arts matched his own, the gap in weapons immediately became obvious.

If he kept clinging to the notion of taking the opponent down unscathed, he would likely pay an even greater price.

Thinking of this, Shen Yi's gaze went calm, and he spotted an opening and slashed out in one stroke.

The gap between their weapons was greater than he had imagined.

With just one clash at full strength, the official blade was actually cut clean through, the blade-edge sent flying.

Fortunately, having anticipated this, he went with the momentum and discarded the hilt; instead of retreating, he advanced, forcibly closing the distance between them, and his long, powerful five fingers suddenly clenched into a fist.

The whole point was to trade injury for injury!

Yuan Tongtian saw through his intention, and not only showed no fear, but actually bared a vicious grin.

Only it knew just how sharp the treasured blade it had carried on its person for years truly was.

Trade injury for injury? What life do you have left to throw another strike?

The next instant, the dark blade hacked viciously toward Shen Yi's shoulder!

There was no imagined separation of flesh and blood, no wet slicing sound of cutting meat.

Bang—

As the sound of metal striking metal rang out.

Both sides were stunned for a moment.

Yuan Tongtian gripped the long blade in disbelief, and no matter how hard it strained, the dark-gleaming blade-edge could not press down a single fraction.

"…"

It raised its head, and in Shen Yi's eyes it caught the same trace of astonishment.

So…

What are you so surprised about? What were you dodging just now? Who are you putting on that act of counterattacking even if you take a hit for?

The instant it came back to its senses, Yuan Tongtian's face was seized by five long, powerful fingers, and under the pouring of tremendous force, its entire body was slammed violently toward the ground!

It felt as though all its viscera were about to be shaken to pieces.

That force absolutely did not belong to the beginner realm—it was the realm it had long dreamed of.

How could a body-tempering martial cultivator comparable to the Jade Liquid Realm bring himself to be so shameless as to launch a sneak attack before fighting?

Before Yuan Tongtian could figure it out, a descending fist smashed half its eye socket to pieces.

Blood filled his nostrils. It opened its mouth with a "heh-heh," the thick sweetness in its throat spilling out uncontrollably.

The whoosh of fists came at his ears, like the whispers of death-claiming underworld messengers.

In the distance.

Butcher Zhang threw another punch.

He and Skinny Toutong trained under the same master; they knew each other's moves intimately, and for the moment neither could gain the upper hand.

But this punch landed with surprising effect, slamming hard into the bridge of his opponent's nose.

Skinny Toutong clamped his hand over his mouth and nose, his face twisted in agony. Ignoring the nosebleed seeping between his fingers, he stared toward the distance with horrified eyes.

"How old are you, still pulling that trick? Trying to trick me into turning around? Today I'm going to cut down this beast who's disgraced our sect!"

Butcher Zhang raised his fist, about to strike again, when he saw that mangy head still staring fixedly behind him.

He gritted his teeth and turned to look.

Then a chill seeped down his back.

He saw dozens of young men standing dumbly, their hands loosely gripping spears and strongbows.

At the very front, Shen Yi held down the old ape, smashing his fist down with cold indifference. The back of his hand was smeared with red and white, thick as paste, dripping and splattering down.

With every punch, the ape demon's legs trembled.

Until there was no more movement at all.

He slowly stood up, let out a long breath of hot air, and his pitch-black eyes swept back toward them.

The instant that gaze swept over them, the constables and soldiers went weak in the knees and collapsed to the ground in a heap, without even the strength to beg for mercy.

"How long has it even been…"

Butcher Zhang swallowed. He hadn't even warmed up yet, and it was already over on that side?

Two great demons of the Initial Realm—how had they died without even the slightest sound?

He turned to look at Skinny Toutong.

Only to see the man scrambling and rolling away twenty zhang in the blink of an eye, looking nothing like a martial artist, more like a startled rabbit.

Wondering if anyone's still reading…

Got some things to do today, need to head out. Just one update today, I'll make it up later—just letting the readers who are following know.

New author is still too green, but I'll work hard to write better.

Writing for full attendance pay after the launch, let's go!

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(End of chapter)