[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-roaring-dragon":3,"chapter-the-roaring-dragon-the-roaring-dragon-chapter-20":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Roaring Dragon",{"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},2281876,4463,"Chapter 20","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>The Sanhe Building was bustling with activity, while the buildings behind it presented an entirely different scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Autumn sunlight fell upon the tiles and bricks; several laborers bustled about in the water room, while the residence of the proprietor remained silent and still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan followed the brief sound he had heard earlier, advancing deeper into the courtyard, soon arriving outside a small yard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard had white walls and blue tiles, separate from the Sanhe Building, yet the voice of the medicine boy had come from within—and a faint scent of blood drifted out too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bloodstink was faint, nearly imperceptible amid the drizzle, but Xie Jinhuan was certain it was human blood, mixed with other nauseating odors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan frowned, slipping silently into the yard, and saw it was not a dwelling but a small apothecary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the eaves lay numerous empty crates, and unidentified herbs hung to dry; in the side rooms he glimpsed mortar and pestle, small scales, and other medicinal tools—but no one was in sight. The scent of blood seeped from beneath the main door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan pressed against the wall, creeping slowly toward the building. At the window, he heard a faint chewing sound—like a beast gnawing on meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crunch… crunch…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan frowned, hand on the Tian Gang Jian, sliding along the wall until he reached the door, peering through the crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was evidently an accounting chamber, furnished with a desk and bookshelves; several large chests stood against the wall, each filled with rows of small black vials—undoubtedly sealed doses of Dengxian Powder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside the chests lay a corpse, dressed as a private secretary, his skull shattered, brains spilled across the floor, his body gnawed into ragged fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The medicine boy who had run in earlier had his throat torn open, blood gushing, his body dragged to the corner of the room by a shadowy figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure, hair disheveled, wore a brocade robe caked in blood, crouching with its back to the door, gnawing on the boy’s hand, emitting revolting gulps:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gurgle… glug…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan, startled by the sight of a man devouring a man, frowned—he realized the situation had surpassed his expectations—and began to retreat silently to alert Yang Dabiao and the others. But suddenly, a whistling sound came from behind:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whish~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan frowned, glancing sideways at the courtyard wall—and saw a cold, elegant silhouette land atop it, peering in with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shhh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan immediately raised his index finger, signaling with his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo had come searching for Xie Jinhuan after catching the faint scent of blood; upon seeing the scene, she instantly suppressed her breath and questioned him with her gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the figure crouched inside possessed extraordinary perception—like a stray dog, it lifted its head, sniffed the air, then pushed off the ground with both hands and turned toward the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when it turned did Xie Jinhuan realize in shock: its face was grotesquely distorted, its nose reduced to two vertical slits, cheekbones protruding and covered in inch-long yellow hairs, eyes blood-red with no whites, its mouth stained crimson and lined with canine teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its hands, planted on the ground, were twisted and swollen, resembling monkey limbs—no longer resembling human hands at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuck…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan had assumed the man had gone mad from cultivation mishaps and resorted to cannibalism; now he realized this thing was nearly transforming into a demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having known since childhood the terror of demonic creatures, Xie Jinhuan dared not slacken his vigilance—he instantly retreated at full speed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Move!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a thunderous crash erupted from within the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disheveled demon-man kicked off the ground with both legs like a frog, moving without form yet with terrifying force—solid earth cracked beneath his feet, leaving two depressions, and he shattered the window in an instant, lunging straight for the courtyard wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo, still observing, was caught off guard by the grotesque creature bursting from the window—her hair stood on end, her sword flashed from its scabbard, unleashing a brilliant streak of lightning as she slashed toward its neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Linghu Qingmo was already injured; the demon’s strength was inhuman—it seized the lightning-laced sword with its claws, unharmed, and with brute force shoved her off-balance, sending her stumbling backward into the corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the monstrous, unidentifiable demon, Linghu Qingmo’s spirit reeled—she immediately sought to abandon her sword and escape—but at that instant, a sharp whistling came from the side!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whish—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the demon lunged, Xie Jinhuan had already charged at full speed, nearly flying through the air to collide beside Linghu Qingmo, grabbing her waist and darting past the demon in a blur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disheveled demon lunged forward and missed, crashing into baskets of drying herbs, sliding over a zhang away before slamming into the courtyard wall and finally halting—yet it immediately rolled over, rose on all fours, eyes blazing red, emitting a low, guttural roar:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Howl—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon moved with astonishing speed; Xie Jinhuan had barely landed with Linghu Qingmo when its bloodied maw was already upon them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan reacted with uncanny speed, bracing the Tian Gang Jian with both hands, his entire body trembling as he rooted his feet to the ground in the posture of “P’an Dragon Across the Ridge!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon showed no will, yet its impact was unimaginable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo had felt its force—she expected Xie Jinhuan to be knocked over, and as she landed, she braced his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to her shock, the demon’s full-force charge struck the Tian Gang Jian—and Xie Jinhuan stood like a statue of iron, the floor tiles beneath him cracking, his stance unmoved, not even his arms trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The recoil sent the demon flying backward, crashing to the ground as if it had slammed into a city wall!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo, awed by this display of invincible strength, had no time to marvel—she steadied her stance, formed a lightning seal, and her arm glowed with emerald light as she slammed it into the ground:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shake!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, a muffled thunderclap echoed through the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thick, twisted bolts of lightning burst from her sleeves, tearing through the earth and striking the demon’s feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon’s face, monstrous as a beast, stiffened—but only for an instant. It rolled over, rose, clawing and biting, lunging again at Xie Jinhuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xie Jinhuan was no fool standing still—he had already stepped forward after the “P’an Dragon” impact, driving a devastating elbow strike to the center of its chest:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elbow strike, heavy as a siege ram, slammed into the demon’s chest—the bloodied brocade robe exploded, its ribs instantly shattered and caved in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon, just risen, was transformed into a cannonball—flying straight backward through a shower of debris, smashing through the main room’s wall, shattering tables, chairs, and chests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any normal human struck thus would either die instantly or be left with shattered organs, unable to rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the demon’s body was extraordinarily resilient—it rolled once inside the room, then rose swiftly on all fours, lunging again with a low, guttural roar:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Howl—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo’s Palm Thunder had struck the demon with no effect; seeing the demon still standing, she seized the moment to unleash her ultimate technique while Xie Jinhuan had pushed it back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xie Jinhuan’s explosive power surpassed even the demon’s—he had already slid his feet apart as he flung the demon backward, his left hand sweeping across the thirty-six-section Tian Gang Jian, his body coiled like a drawn bow, true qi condensed to its absolute limit:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hss~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The qi-concentrating sound vanished in an instant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the demon burst from the doorway, Xie Jinhuan moved with the Jian, unleashing a deafening roar through the courtyard:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tian Gang Jian, wrapped in boundless cutting force, carved a vortex through the shredded fabric—a peerless whirlwind!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon, devoid of reason, faced the strike that could shatter cities and shake mountains—yet showed no fear, charging straight into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But fearlessness did not mean invincibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the Tian Gang Jian struck the demon’s chest, its muscular pectorals caved and burst open, a basin-sized hole exploding through its back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The residual qi blast shattered the rear building—walls and bookshelves splintered, the back wall ruptured with a gaping hole—the fearless demon’s charge halted abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle-rustle…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan, having landed the blow, instantly flew back to stand before Linghu Qingmo, shielding her behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo had barely finished chanting her “Five Thunder Exorcism Spell” when she realized Xie Jinhuan had already dismantled the demon in one fluid sequence—her eyes widened in shock!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But out of caution, she still formed the seals with both hands and slammed them into the ground:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zzzt—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, emerald light surged from her palms, forming two streams of emerald-white lightning that tore across the ground, converging beneath the demon’s feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom-boom-boom…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A string of thunderclaps erupted in the courtyard, like a string of firecrackers, the yard flashing bright then dark with each blast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon, its chest and spine utterly shattered, burst into flames and ash—its brocade robe turned to dust, its body blackened in an instant, collapsing stiffly backward, its expression still twisted like a demonic specter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the muffled thump, the courtyard fell deathly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff… huff…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo breathed lightly, cautiously watching the charred corpse—only when it showed no further movement did she quietly exhale in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan knew a bit of lightning arts too, though he used them mostly for bedroom amusement; now his ears rang from the blasts, and despite his envy, he muttered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s already dead. Was all that extra effort really necessary to beat the corpse?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo straightened, her expression serious as she replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Martial artists can’t kill ghosts. Who knows what dark, evil things might be hidden on its body?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan had no rebuttal—he stepped forward to examine it closely:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened to this man?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo hadn’t seen clearly; now she inspected him briefly, noting the brocade robe—he was clearly human before—her brow furrowed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He must have come into contact with something unholy, corrupted and transformed into this. Only an autopsy can reveal the full truth. Were you injured?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Jinhuan had indeed been startled by the monstrous thing—but in terms of combat, it hadn’t been truly dangerous. He now brushed off his bloodied sleeve:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A mere minor demon. Not worth mentioning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linghu Qingmo opened her mouth, unsure how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the two could exchange more than a few words, whistling sounds rose above the buildings:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish… swish…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qing and Yang Dabiao, already on standby outside, had rushed over at the sound and now landed on the roof, their expressions shifting slightly as they took in the scene in the courtyard:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Linghu, what’s happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There may be a demonic entity lurking here. Notify the government office and the Prince’s guards to come. Keep watch on the surroundings—don’t let the demonic entity escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Qing immediately obeyed and began patrolling the perimeter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Dabiao pulled a signal flare from his waist and aimed it skyward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shh~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flare shot straight into the deep sky, its trailing flame visible across the entire city…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1864,"2026-06-20T01:38:11.747Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","747d126eb6747345f90d5e8eb6a566a1bf5a0e71a8cbafef0f3d17024888bb92","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-21","the-roaring-dragon-chapter-19",252,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-roaring-dragon-cover.jpg"]