Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

The incomparably sharp blade came to an abrupt halt, just three inches from her brow.

SHRRIIIP—

The aftershock of the attack radiated outward, sending a wall of water dozens of feet high erupting from the river below.

The Zombie Queen paid it no mind. Her bewitching, soul-stealing eyes stared intently at Jiang Mu, as if she had just discovered a priceless treasure.

"Strange... You have a very special aura about you."

"This aura... it can actually loosen the Demon-Binding Rope on me?"

In truth, she could have killed him as easily as crushing an ant back when he first trespassed on White Deer Peak.

The reason she had stayed her hand—and even had this Clone pursue him—was not for revenge, but to confirm that feeling.

Years ago, she had tried to steal a divine artifact from the Jing Country, but had the terrible misfortune of running into that Great Demon, Jiang Chaoxi.

That bastard had no honor. He slapped this Demon-Binding Rope on her, trapping her on White Deer Peak.

He said he’d set her free once he was done with his business.

And what happened?

Jiang Chaoxi was obliterated by the Celestial Dao, leaving not even ash behind.

When she learned of the bastard’s death, she’d thrown her head back and roared with laughter, absolutely ecstatic. But once the laughter died down, she was dumbstruck.

He was dead, which meant she was doomed to be trapped on White Deer Peak forever!

Fortunately, she had managed to swipe the Yellow Springs Jade Coffin from Jing Country back then.

By using the jade coffin to slowly build her Cultivation Level, she could wear away at her bonds like dripping water on stone. If she just ground it out for three or five hundred years, she’d eventually break free.

Through countless days and nights, her hatred for Jiang Chaoxi grew higher than the heavens and deeper than the sea.

She dreamed of nothing but regaining her freedom.

Then she would go and dig up Jiang Chaoxi’s grave!

Even grinding his bones to dust wouldn’t be enough to quell the hatred in her heart.

Even if the man left no corpse, she would still go to his grave every day to spit on it. And if she was in a particularly good mood, she’d douse it with a stream of hot piss.

Unfortunately, that Great Demon had no interest in women, leaving behind no descendants or disciples.

Otherwise, she would have wiped out his entire bloodline to appease her hatred!

And now, Jiang Mu’s appearance gave her hope of breaking out of her prison centuries ahead of schedule.

’The heavens are truly on my side!’

’Jiang Chaoxi, you just wait. The moment I break free...’

’I’ll dig up your grave!’

As these thoughts raced through her mind, Ji Hongyuan reined in her killing intent. A smile that could bewitch all creation bloomed on her gorgeous, demonic face.

She extended the tip of her tongue, lightly tracing her red lips. Her eyes turned sultry.

"Little one, how about we make a deal?"

"I adore that aura of yours. If you’ll just be a good boy and let me take a little taste, I can give you an incredibly powerful Magical Treasure in return."

"Don’t worry, you won’t die. You’ll just feel a little... drained."

"Alternatively, I could protect you for a time. This place is brimming with demonic energy, after all. With your meager Fourth Realm Cultivation Level, I doubt you’ll make it out of here alive, you know."

’A taste?’

A chill ran down Jiang Mu’s spine, and goosebumps erupted across his skin.

’This damn zombie is completely shameless.’

’Damn it, she’s just a walking piece of slutty flesh!’

"Sorry, but I don’t make deals with Demon Fiends!"

Jiang Mu scoffed. "Besides, you’re just a mere Tier Five Clone. Who are you to talk about protecting me?"

"Hmph... You arrogant little brat."

A cold, mocking light flashed in Ji Hongyuan’s eyes. "You’ve killed a few pathetic little demons, and now you think you’re invincible?"

"Remember my name—Ji. Hong. Yuan."

"When you’ve thought things through, you can call my name. I believe that day will come."

With that, she gave Jiang Mu a wink with her strange, dark-golden eyes.

She lightly relaxed her fingers.

Driven by inertia, the blade swung down!

But Ji Hongyuan’s body was sliced in two as if it were a sheet of paper. It then dissolved into countless specks of pink dust that scattered on the wind, vanishing completely.

"Ji Hongyuan?"

Jiang Mu’s brow furrowed as he fully released his Divine Sense, scanning the area.

He breathed a sigh of relief only after confirming the woman’s aura had vanished completely.

’Looks like her Clone really couldn’t last long. Otherwise, knowing that demoness, even if she didn’t kill me, she would have dragged me back to study at her leisure.’

’But...’

’What is this aura I have that can break her seal?’

’The orthodox Star Position aura?’

’Or the Demon Slot?’

Jiang Mu shook his head, pushing the questions aside for now.

With Ji Hongyuan’s departure, the Corpse Qi afflicting Zhang Daxie and his brother dissipated, and the two men slowly stirred awake.

"Hall Master... just now, what was..."

Zhang Daxie asked, rubbing his throbbing head with a look of confusion.

"It was nothing. Just a wild zombie. I chased it off."

Jiang Mu gave them a dismissive answer and urged them to get moving.

The brothers were long accustomed to their Hall Master’s inscrutable methods. Relieved, they quickly got to their feet and straightened their clothes.

They were only surprised to hear he’d "chased it off" rather than "killed" it.

’I can’t believe he didn’t kill that zombie,’ they thought. ’The Hall Master must be tired and not at his best.’

...

After traveling several more miles, the trio finally saw the silhouette of Xiahe Town.

However, before they could enter, they came face to face with a funeral procession.

There were no suona horns, no mourning staves.

There was only the flutter of paper money, swirling down in the cold night wind like a sky full of snow.

Stranger still, there was no coffin in the procession.

There were only two bearers carrying a red-lacquered box.

At the rear of the procession, a woman with disheveled hair was weeping hysterically, desperately trying to lunge forward while being held back by several strong men.

"What’s going on?"

Zhang Xiaokui reached out to stop the guide at the head of the line to ask.

However, the guide didn’t react at all, simply continuing forward with mechanical steps and walking right into him.

Zhang Xiaokui frowned and gave the man a push.

The man felt unnaturally light, his skin dry and coarse to the touch.

He took a closer look, and his pupils shrank.

This wasn’t a person at all.