Chapter 192 - 114: Call Me Daddy
A torrent of bloody Evil Qi surged through his meridians and into his saber.
The once-gleaming blade turned crimson, as if freshly dredged from a pool of blood. An overwhelming wave of Evil Qi erupted toward the heavens!
But that wasn’t enough!
Shadow Number Two returned.
He was empowered by the orthodox Star Position of the Earth Concealing Star!
BOOM!
A vast and pure stellar might, which seemed to breathe in unison with heaven and earth, erupted skyward.
"Orthodox?!"
Yang Tianci’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. "How is that possible?!"
The "bloodline suppression" Yang Tianci had been so confident in instantly vanished without a trace.
Instead, he was overwhelmed by Jiang Mu’s more ferocious and substantial Star Power, causing the energy within his own body to falter.
The others were also aghast.
They never expected two orthodox Star Officials to appear here.
"First strike!"
Jiang Mu gave him no chance to speak, letting out a fierce roar.
His saber, imbued with three layers of power, reduced the complex to the simple as he brought down a pure, brutally violent Heaven-Breaking Slash!
CLANG—!!
The edge of the saber slammed viciously against the steel ribs of the fan.
Yang Tianci felt a colossal force surge up his arm. The flesh between his thumb and forefinger tore open instantly, splattering blood.
The saber’s momentum carried it forward, crashing heavily into his chest.
BANG!
A dazzling barrier of golden light flared to life once more.
The Protective Talisman on his body had activated on its own.
Yang Tianci grunted and staggered back several steps, his eyes filled with horror.
"Second strike!"
Jiang Mu used the recoil to twist his body, spinning like a top to build momentum for another sweeping slash!
This strike was faster, and even more vicious!
The bloody Saber Aura formed a crimson crescent several yards long, tearing through the air with a piercing shriek.
Yang Tianci hastily raised his folding fan to parry.
Saber and fan clashed once more!
With a CRACK, hairline fractures appeared on the fan’s ribs.
The golden light around Yang Tianci’s body flashed again.
His second Protective Talisman activated on its own, absorbing the force of the blow.
Even so, he was knocked off his feet and sent flying backward, a searing, numbing pain shooting through his left arm, which he could barely feel.
Fear finally showed in Yang Tianci’s eyes.
’How is he so strong?!’
Only then did he realize the man before him was far stronger than he could have ever imagined.
’I was completely overconfident.’
’The trump cards I took such pride in are so useless against this madman!’
And now, his Protective Talismans were completely destroyed.
’Why is this happening?’
𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Yang Tianci was bewildered and confused as the urge to retreat grew uncontrollably in his mind.
"One last strike."
Giving him no chance to breathe, Jiang Mu gripped his saber with both hands and slashed again.
His Qi and Blood burned like a furnace.
Blood River True Qi condensed into a crimson glow on the blade’s edge, and the surrounding air seemed to boil from the sheer Evil Qi.
"Wait! I surren—"
Yang Tianci shrieked in terror, trying to surrender.
But Jiang Mu’s saber had already fallen.
BOOM—!!
The Magical Treasure Folding Fan was bent completely out of shape by the blow and sent flying from his grasp.
The crimson saber light continued unabated.
Without the protection of his talismans, Yang Tianci’s Protective Gang Qi shattered like an eggshell.
A sickening crunch of breaking bone followed.
Yang Tianci’s right leg was bent backward at an unnatural angle. A shard of gleaming white bone pierced through his flesh and trousers, exposed to the air as blood gushed out.
"AHHH—!!"
Yang Tianci fell to the ground, screaming in agony.
He clutched his mangled leg, his body convulsing as tears and snot streamed down his face.
Jiang Mu sheathed his saber, his robes rustling.
He slowly walked over to Yang Tianci, who was writhing on the ground in pain. Looking down on him, Jiang Mu said nonchalantly,
"I’ve successfully fulfilled my promise. One broken leg within three strikes."
Silence.
A deathly silence.
Tang Guixin and the surrounding Demon Slayer Envoys stared with their mouths agape, completely dumbfounded by the scene.
’So brutal!’
From the first strike to the last, it had all happened in the blink of an eye.
The young master from the Inner Guard—who just moments before had been so imperious, armed with an orthodox Star Position and a Magical Treasure—had been crippled by Jiang Mu’s three strikes like a ragdoll, completely unable to fight back.
’Just what kind of monster is this guy?’
Yang Tianci’s cronies were all frozen in place, their faces ashen. Their saber-wielding hands trembled, and their eyes were filled with terror as they looked at Jiang Mu.
They were used to running roughshod over others with Yang Tianci; they had never encountered someone so domineering and ruthless.
Not one of them had the courage to step forward and protect their master.
Yang Tianci gritted his teeth, glaring venomously at Jiang Mu as he rasped,
"You bastard Jiang! You dare break my leg... My father is—AHHH!!"
His threat was cut off by an even more piercing scream.
Jiang Mu had planted the tip of his boot on Yang Tianci’s shattered kneecap and was grinding it nonchalantly.
"A little reminder for Master Yang here."
Jiang Mu said coolly, "You promised in front of everyone just now. If you couldn’t break my leg in three strikes, you would call me ’father.’ Therefore, I am now your father."
"A man of his word can’t take it back. I trust Master Yang won’t be the sort of petty person to break his promise, right?"
"You... you..."
Yang Tianci trembled with such rage that he couldn’t catch his breath. His eyes rolled back in his head, and he fainted.
’Hm?’
’Is he pretending to be unconscious just to avoid calling me father?’
Jiang Mu stomped on his leg a couple more times, but the man didn’t stir.
’Looks like he’s really out.’
"Such poor mental fortitude."
Jiang Mu sneered, his face a mask of disdain.
Tang Guixin hurried to Jiang Mu’s side and placed a hand on his, afraid he might draw his saber again. She urged him in a low voice,
"Lord Jiang, please listen to me. Beating up Yang Tianci is one thing; it’s a conflict between hot-blooded youths. Even breaking his leg can be smoothed over, as long as he’s still alive."
"But if you actually kill him, everything changes."
She glanced at the unconscious Yang Tianci, her expression grim.
"He is, after all, the only son of the Deputy Commander of the Capital City’s Inner Guard. If he dies by your hand, you’ll have made a mortal enemy of the entire Inner Guard."
"I know you’re powerful and proud, but we Demon Slayer Envoys are still officials. Sometimes, you have to think before you act."
Tang Guixin spoke from the heart.
Though she also loathed the spoiled brat, she valued a rare talent like Jiang Mu far more.
The boy’s talent was extraordinary, but his temper was just as fierce. He was like an unsheathed blade, and it would be a terrible shame for him to ruin himself over a piece of trash.
She didn’t want to see Jiang Mu throw away his bright future on a moment’s impulse.
Seeing the genuine concern in her eyes, the ferocity in Jiang Mu’s heart subsided slightly. He smiled. "Don’t worry, Lord Tang. I know what I’m doing."
Just as he finished speaking, something strange happened.
The milky-white morning mist lingering in the forest suddenly began to churn, as if a drop of ink had fallen into it.
The horses grew restless, snorting and stamping their hooves.
In the blink of an eye, the mist turned from white to red, transforming into a crimson fog that swept over them.
Jiang Mu sensed something was wrong and placed his hand on the hilt of his saber.
Before anyone could react, one of Yang Tianci’s cronies on the perimeter let out a bloodcurdling scream.
A monstrous tentacle, coalesced from the mist itself, wrapped around his waist and dragged him deep into the fog.
Terrified by the sight, everyone stumbled back.
"What was that?"
Zhu Chang asked, his voice trembling.
Tang Guixin stared at the swirling crimson fog. A sudden realization seemed to strike her, and her face went deathly pale as she cried out in shock,
"It’s a Fog Demon!!"