Chapter 196 - 115: Zombie Queen
The killer was connected to the Court.
I wanted revenge, but my husband refused.
At that time, the Celestial Blade Sect was in a very precarious position, on the verge of collapse. He didn’t dare have any conflict with the Court, terrified of bringing a cataclysmic disaster upon the Sect.
So, in a fit of anger, I left the Celestial Blade Sect, cut all ties with it, and abandoned my husband and my one-month-old daughter to join the Demon-slaying Bureau.
Later, with the help of the Water Director, I finally avenged my son after many years, killing his murderer with my own hands. But..."
Tang Guixin wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.
"But after I got my revenge, I didn’t know what to do anymore. I didn’t know how to go back.
My husband had taken a new wife, my daughter wouldn’t acknowledge me, and there was no place for me there anymore.
On top of that, I am deeply indebted to the Water Director—I owe her my life. I also have many friends here, so I figured dying of old age here wouldn’t be so bad..."
Listening to Tang Guixin’s story, Jiang Mu felt a great deal of sympathy.
As a mother driven mad by hatred, abandoning everything to avenge her son was, in a way, understandable.
And her daughter, having grown up without her mother’s presence, couldn’t be blamed for not being close to her.
As for her husband, it was hard not to see things from his perspective. After all, the very survival of his Sect rested on his shoulders. His son’s death must have been agonizing, yet he had to rationally suppress his hatred to protect everyone else.
’This is the helplessness of those who walk the martial path, I suppose.’
Jiang Mu fell silent for a moment, then untied the long saber from his waist and presented it to Tang Guixin.
"Aunt Tang, can you recognize this saber?"
Tang Guixin took the long saber, a bit puzzled, and examined it closely.
Because the saber had been repeatedly infused and refined by Jiang Mu’s Demonic Qi and Blood River True Qi, its appearance and aura had changed considerably, becoming more reserved and profound. As a result, Tang Guixin didn’t recognize it at first glance.
It wasn’t until she saw the unique, hidden saber insignia of the Celestial Blade Sect on the hilt that she exclaimed in surprise:
"This is... the Blood Mad Saber forged by my father-in-law!?"
Jiang Mu nodded.
"I got it from a Demon. I’ve been using it ever since; it suits me well."
Tang Guixin gently stroked the blade, filled with emotion.
"My father-in-law poured his heart and soul into forging this saber, hoping to present it to a certain great personage, but unfortunately, that personage looked down on it. Afterward, my father-in-law treasured it, keeping it safe. He regretted to his dying day that it never had a chance to drink blood and make a name for itself.
After he passed away, my husband, fearing this baleful saber would bring disaster to the Celestial Blade Sect, threw it away. I never expected that after all this time, it would end up in your hands."
Tang Guixin handed the saber back to Jiang Mu, her gaze softening as she looked at him.
"Xiaojiang, it seems you have a strong affinity with our Celestial Blade Sect, and with me."
Jiang Mu took the saber and asked tentatively,
"Aunt Tang, since this saber is a treasure of the Celestial Blade Sect, if your husband finds out... he won’t ask for it back, will he?"
Tang Guixin saw through his little scheme and smiled.
"Don’t worry. Since he was the one who abandoned it, he wouldn’t have the face to ask for it back. And I won’t ask you for it either.
However, speaking of which, this Blood Mad Saber is extremely special. There is a Saber Skill designed specifically for it, called the ’Blood Sea Mad Saber,’ which has always been kept within the Celestial Blade Sect.
Once this mission is over, I’ll swallow my pride and make a trip back to the Celestial Blade Sect to get the Saber Manual for you. I imagine my husband will still honor our past connection, at least that much."
’There’s a matching Saber Skill?’
Jiang Mu was instantly overjoyed. "Then thank you, Aunt Tang!"
The two chatted for a while longer. Over on the other side, Zhu Chang, Ming Cuicui, and the others had nearly finished processing the Demon corpses inside the cave.
They had rendered three large barrels of refined, dark-brown corpse oil and made over thirty torches wrapped in oilcloth.
The torches soaked in Demon corpse oil burned faster than normal ones, lasting only for about half an hour each.
However, by using so many torches in rotation, they could definitely last until they were safely down the mountain, as long as they weren’t unlucky enough to run into the Tier Eight Great Demon’s true body along the way.
Once all the preparations were complete, the group waited patiently for a while until the protective barrier at the cave entrance finally dissipated as its energy ran out.
The scarlet blood mist instantly surged in like a tide.
"Light the torches!"
Tang Guixin ordered.
WHOOSH!
Everyone immediately lit their torches.
Including the three unconscious injured from Yan City, there were now thirty-two people in total.
Tang Guixin divided everyone into six groups, with five people sharing one torch and taking turns to conserve the corpse oil.
As the two strongest, she and Jiang Mu each carried a torch and scouted ahead.
As the torches were lit, a strange, acrid smell filled the air.
Just as expected, the blood mist, which had been roiling toward them menacingly, seemed to meet its bane. Upon encountering the smoke, it swiftly recoiled to both sides, forming a safe corridor.
"It’s working!"
Seeing this, the group finally let out a collective sigh of relief.
However, not long after they had exited the cave, suddenly, a sharp, ear-piercing shriek, like the cry of a vengeful spirit, exploded without warning from deep within the mountain forest!
"AAAAAAHHHH—!!"
The sound seemed to possess a terrifying penetrating power, piercing directly into everyone’s eardrums and deep into their very souls.
PFFT!
Except for Jiang Mu and Tang Guixin, everyone else felt a sharp pain in their eardrums, their minds buzzed, and their Qi and Blood roiled violently.
Many of them spat out a mouthful of blood, their faces turning deathly pale as they swayed on their feet.
It took a long while before everyone managed to calm themselves.
Seeing Tang Guixin’s extremely grim expression, Jiang Mu asked, "Was that the sound of the Demon that released this blood mist?"
But Tang Guixin shook her head, her voice trembling.
"No... That’s not a Demon."
"That’s the shriek of a zombie!"
"A zombie?"
Jiang Mu was immediately reminded of the Tier Five zombie the He family had encountered.
"Yes."
Tang Guixin said, "And judging from this pressure, it’s at least a Tier Nine, or even a Tier Ten!"
"This is... the Zombie Queen!!"