[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces":3,"chapter-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-52":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon of a Thousand Faces",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2269698,4431,"Chapter 52: Sisters","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-52",52,"\u003Cp>In the cave, former friends, even siblings, began cruelly tearing each other apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dagger and claws collided, faintly ringing like metal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slender demon and the agile leopard-woman assassin crashed together—and the smaller assassin, despite her size, seized the advantage in raw power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The furious brute strength came from boiling blood; Talia’s exceptional racial Tianfu  granted her explosive power and strength unfitting for an assassin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twin poisoned daggers spun like dual blades, one fast, one slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the acceleration Tianfu , she displayed astonishingly precise control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blocking and countering were the foundation of dual blades; shifting rhythm was the prerequisite for lethal strikes, accumulating wounds while also accumulating poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon, at a disadvantage in direct combat, was stunned by the growing number of new wounds on her body, yet still dared to boast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impressive, impressive, Big Sis—you’ve grown far stronger than before. I thought my current self would be stronger, but how long can you last? A minute? Thirty seconds?!” Haiya spoke the plain truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talia’s two powerful racial Tianfu  were both extremely draining, extremely brief in duration, and carried severe aftereffects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lightning Phantom Dance (Bronze) could even induce bullet-time sensory acceleration, but after the power faded, it left the user sluggish and mentally scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bloodlust Rampage (Silver) granted berserk strength and boosted all attributes, but the exhaustion aftereffect was nearly equivalent to a battlefield death sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Haiya’s memory, the assassin Talia had only ever unleashed this one burst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either live, or die—classic assassin, classic creed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the frenzied demon simply abandoned defense, relying on her regeneration and vitality to endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She believed Talia couldn’t last long, that she’d soon weaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was the past Talia—the Talia of her memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crack.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A syringe plunged directly into Talia’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The specially formulated “mixed venom” surged through her veins, instantly stimulating her heart into frantic, blood-pumping spasms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh.” She gasped heavily, her body visibly swelling, “Rampage” intensified with the boiling blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, the paralyzing venom completely dulled her fatigue and pain, while the activated heart granted enhanced endurance and explosive power—good children shouldn’t try this; any normal person would drop dead instantly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, parts of Talia’s flesh, under the activation of her Zhiyenengli , began to turn ethereal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shadow particles replenished her body, granting greater resilience and stamina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shadow Poison Spike?!” Haiya was startled—this was exceedingly rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rare and potent third-tier assassin advancement, skilled in enhancing oneself and weakening opponents through venom, using shadow power to boost overall capability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its signature semi-elemental (shadow) body greatly extended the duration of poison and rampage effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the advancement required venom mastery, toxin-resistance training, and shadow Tianfu —a progression far too demanding to be common.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like many seasoned Qiangzhe , Talia used her Zhiyenengli  to compensate for the weaknesses of her racial Tianfu .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Physical hardware (evolved race and racial Tianfu ) and software (profession, soul abilities) complemented each other, forming a superior combat system and logic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Talia! You’re using Black Deceit Spike’s power? How can you still have the face to become a police officer?!” This rare advancement belonged exclusively to a notorious assassin organization in the western continent, infamous for orchestrating terror events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps child-killing wasn’t Talia’s darkest past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What matters isn’t whether power itself is good or evil—it’s who holds the knife and who it stabs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in rampage, Talia spoke steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her semi-elemental body granted her greater control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah, you’re always right, always correct… it’s disgusting! You’re a filthy killer, yet you keep lecturing us with grand morals, saying—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dina, it’s not too late. People like us still have a future. Our power can still be used for the right purpose.” She recognized her sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her earlier hesitation and confusion vanished; now Talia pleaded sincerely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had realized it—just as Li En said—her power was hard-won, and still held value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too late! It’s always too late!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deranged Haiya no longer cared for blades or poison; she merely lowered her head and wildly swung her claws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m a monster, a man-eater—how can I turn back? Why should I turn back?!” One claw, then another, forcing Talia to retreat step by step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aaaaaaah!” Haiya grew more unhinged; her claws swelled, twisted, and her strength became uncontrollable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, even Talia’s rampaged, blade-wielding arm suffered a greater physical disparity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her right hand was shattered by the brute force, the daggers flying from her grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Talia, flung directly by Haiya’s blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Smack!” She slammed hard into the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman rolled far across the ground, while Haiya, gasping heavily, stared at her with unblinking eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A silver-armored knight stepped forward, sword raised before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En had arrived; the holy sword blazed with radiant holy light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He silently raised his blade—this time, he was certain he could slay the evil Horned Adept.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li En.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his arm was seized by the woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to see the leopard-woman’s pleading eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let it go? No—she wouldn’t do that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know her…” Li En’s voice was bitter; he had seen through everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes… she’s my sister. My best sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talia stood up, twisted her wrist with a “crack,” forcing the broken bone back into place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She took a deep breath, picked up her twin daggers again, stepped past Li En, and walked silently toward her waiting opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li En sighed helplessly; since she didn’t want him to interfere, he could only watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his sword remained gripped in his hand—he was always a bastard who prioritized results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout this, Haiya remained standing silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t flee, didn’t attack, not even a single beastly roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not Dina,” she said slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dina… I’m sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assassins still chose to kill each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trade wounds for wounds, blood for blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daggers and claws exchanged blows; both sides grew more wounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female assassin became a shadow, leaping across the battlefield; the beast-fused Horned Adept swelled and regenerated, trading flesh for her opponent’s wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fatigue accumulated, blood accumulated—in this civil war of former assassin partners, both displayed behavior far from “assassin-like.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This battle didn’t last long—or rather, this style of combat could never last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When both reached their limits, locked gazes, and mutually agreed to unleash their final strike, the survivor emerged naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rampaged leopard-woman entered rampage once more; she and her twin blades became streaking meteors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ferocious horned beast answered with a roar and a lunge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time halted—did these bloodless kin truly intend to kill each other?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aaaaaaah!” Haiya’s rampaged claws were about to strike Talia’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the lethal poisoned dagger pierced Haiya’s heart first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, shadow and poison flooded the demon’s body—the infamous Deceit Spike ability erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She, the assassin Dina, Horned Adept Haiya, might soon die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she could still crush her sister’s skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, the clenched fist softened into fingers gently caressing Talia’s cheek, wiping away her tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haiya Dina collapsed to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to Heke, Haiya’s regeneration was clearly far weaker… had she not eaten enough?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her body visibly turned to black ash—perhaps this was the fate of those who borrowed beastly power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dina…” Talia knelt on the ground, tears uncontrollably falling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tears landed on Haiya’s cheek; the monster seemed to regain a sliver of reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not Dina. I’m… Ben. Big Sis… thank you for letting me go. Sorry… for making you do this painful thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The monster, before death, returned to human form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Foolish Dina. How could a sister ever mistake her sister?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Foolish sister. The one calling others fools is the real fool.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This—perhaps the ugliest smile—was also the most unforgettable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ashes scattered; only the weeping sister remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weeping lasted only a moment; the female assassin rose again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When all fell silent, Li En stepped first through the cave entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go. It's time to end this and make these bastards pay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1305,"2026-06-19T21:45:41.002Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2122360a219c141d799bb542886a2e58926abdcd83f2edeb46871d7d7f271dd3","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-53","the-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-chapter-51",362,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-of-a-thousand-faces-cover.jpg"]