Ji Qing ran faster and faster. Passing by a blacksmith shop on the street, he stopped and vaulted inside to pick out a handy saber. He had no silver left on him, but he still had a jade pendant that hadn't been confiscated by the jailers. It was worth some silver. He placed the jade pendant on the blacksmith's table as payment for the saber. With the weapon in hand, Ji Qing's courage swelled.
Soon, Ji Qing arrived at the Ji Residence. The estate was eerily quiet in the dead of night.
*WHOOSH...*
A gentle breeze brushed past, causing Ji Qing to frown. "Is this... the smell of blood?" Where would the smell of blood come from in the Ji Residence?
Without hesitation, Ji Qing leaped over the wall and into the Ji Residence. The moment his feet touched the ground, the metallic stench of blood grew overpowering. He saw bodies scattered across the courtyard—guards, maids, and other servants. Every corpse had met a gruesome end, the skin on their faces forcibly peeled off.
"Painted Skin Demon!" Ji Qing seethed with fury.
Previously, the Painted Skin Demon had been extremely "restrained," perhaps fearing exposure or preferring a slow, steady approach without targeting the people in the Ji Residence. But now? The Painted Skin Demon had clearly revealed its true colors, ruthlessly slaughtering the members of the Ji Residence. Was this the Painted Skin Demon's revenge against him? After all, one of its avatars had been killed. Given a Demon Monster's treacherous and cruel nature, massacring the entire Ji Residence in retaliation was entirely plausible.
"Ah..." Suddenly, a miserable shriek echoed from the backyard.
Ji Qing immediately sprinted toward the sound. Along the way, he passed far too many corpses. The entire Ji Residence had already become a purgatory on earth.
Ji Qing hurried toward his father's room. The door was wide open, and the faint silhouette of a maid stood inside. However, this maid was holding Master Ji's heart in her hands, fresh blood dripping from her fingers. The scene was bizarre and terrifying.
*CLANG.*
Ji Qing drew his saber in an instant. "Demon Monster, pay with your life!"
Striking out of pure hatred, Ji Qing unleashed the Thirteen Paths of Swift Saber on pure instinct. A dazzling blade light flashed, and the sharp saber instantly cleaved through the maid's neck.
*SQUELCH.*
Blood splattered. The head rolled onto the ground.
*THUD.*
The maid's headless corpse collapsed alongside it.
"Killed a Painted Skin Demon avatar. Gained one Source Point."
As expected, this maid was also an avatar of the Painted Skin Demon. This particular avatar didn't seem to possess high combat power. With Ji Qing's current strength, he could casually dispatch an avatar like this.
The maid's severed hands still clutched a heart. Ji Qing rushed to the bedside, only to see his father—face deathly pale, with a bloody hole in his chest.
"Father, I'm too late..."
Master Ji wasn't completely dead yet. His eyes were wide open as he stared at Ji Qing. "Qing... Qing, I misunderstood you. There really are Demon Monsters in the estate... I won't survive this. Quick... quickly go save Yao..."
After uttering his final words, Master Ji's head slumped. He breathed his last.
"Yao..." Ji Qing only had this one younger sister. He instantly bolted toward Ji Yao's room.
Before he even reached her door, Ji Qing spotted an old woman who worked in the estate. A bizarre smile was plastered across her face as she gnawed on a crimson heart.
"Die!" Ji Qing naturally knew that this old woman was definitely another Painted Skin Demon avatar.
*SQUELCH.*
The old woman was cleaved in half by Ji Qing's saber.
"Killed a Painted Skin Demon avatar. Gained one Source Point."
Ji Qing had now obtained two Source Points.
*SWISH.*
Just as Ji Qing was sprinting, a vicious blade light slashed out from the corner. Ji Qing raised his saber to block.
*BANG.*
Ji Qing felt a tremendous force transmit through his blade. Unable to hold his ground, he was forced back five steps before he could dissipate the momentum and come to a halt.
"Huh? Uncle Jiang?" Ji Qing saw that his attacker was Jiang Dakui, formerly the number one expert among the Martial Artist guards of the Ji Residence. "No, you're a Painted Skin Demon avatar!"
Ji Qing immediately realized the truth. It was impossible for Jiang Dakui to attack him; only the Painted Skin Demon would do such a thing.
"Ji Qing, you only started practicing martial arts a few months ago. I didn't expect you to already become a Third-class Martial Artist of the Martial World with such impressive strength. Tsk, tsk. If I peel your skin off, I'll have another powerful avatar!" Jiang Dakui licked the fresh blood off his fingers, his appearance growing faintly malevolent.
Ji Qing's heart sank. He roughly guessed the Painted Skin Demon's ability. As long as it peeled off a person's skin, the Painted Skin Demon could use it as an avatar. The former Yunniang, the maid, the old woman, and the others—including Jiang Dakui standing before him—must have all been skinned by the Painted Skin Demon to become its avatars.
The combat power of a Painted Skin Demon avatar was actually dependent on the original strength of the person before they died. If they were strong in life, they would be equally formidable as a Painted Skin Demon avatar.
Ji Qing knew exactly how strong Jiang Dakui was. The man had fought and killed in the Martial World for twenty to thirty years. His strength was exceptional even among Third-class Martial Artists. From that single exchange just now, Ji Qing was keenly aware that with his current strength, he was likely no match for Jiang Dakui.
However, he had two Source Points and could elevate his strength at any time. Now that Ji Qing was locked in a life-or-death struggle, his Saber Technique realm was of paramount importance.
"Upgrade the Thirteen Paths of Swift Saber!"
"Thirteen Paths of Swift Saber at Small Success!"
"Continue."
"Thirteen Paths of Swift Saber at Great Success!"
Ji Qing consumed two Source Points, directly elevating the Thirteen Paths of Swift Saber to Great Success!
Great Success in the Thirteen Paths of Swift Saber was essentially the highest realm of this Saber Technique. A flurry of images surfaced in Ji Qing's mind. It felt as if he had been diligently practicing the Thirteen Paths of Swift Saber every single day. He couldn't tell if it had been eight years, ten years, or perhaps twenty. Day after day of relentless practice had turned this Saber Technique into pure instinct. He could execute it flawlessly even with his eyes closed.
*SWISH.*
Ji Qing made his move. He slashed his saber toward Jiang Dakui.
*BANG.*
Jiang Dakui simultaneously raised his saber to block. The two long sabers clashed, and Inner Power erupted. Jiang Dakui's Inner Power was slightly stronger, but the impact was negligible. On the other hand, Ji Qing's Saber Technique realm was vastly superior!
*SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH.*
Ji Qing unleashed slash after slash. The Thirteen Paths of Saber Techniques flowed effortlessly from his hands, each strike faster than the last. The mercury-like fluidity of his attacks left Jiang Dakui breathless. This was the Thirteen Paths of Swift Saber—its core essence was "swiftness." The offensive was endless and unrelenting; fail to block, and death was the only outcome!
*SLASH.*
A prolonged defense must eventually fail! Ji Qing's saber swiped cleanly across Jiang Dakui's neck.
Jiang Dakui touched his throat, his expression twisting into horror, malevolence, and... fury! "You've ruined another of my avatars. Ji Qing, I want you dead..."
Jiang Dakui collapsed onto the ground. Although he was an avatar of the Painted Skin Demon, he was still a creature of flesh and blood. Getting his throat slit meant certain death!
Ji Qing didn't break his stride, charging straight into Ji Yao's room.
"Ji Yao?" Ji Qing didn't see her anywhere in the room. His heart plummeted. Had Ji Yao been murdered too?
Right at that moment, Ji Qing heard faint whimpering coming from under the bed. He dropped to the floor and peeked underneath to find Ji Yao hiding there.
"Brother... Granny Rong is dead, and Xiaowan is dead too... I'm scared..." Seeing Ji Qing—her own flesh and blood—Ji Yao couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears.
She crawled out from under the bed. Although covered in dirt and dust, it was a blessing that she remained uninjured.
Ji Qing pulled Ji Yao into a hug, his voice heavy. "Yao, it's okay now."
"Brother, there really are demons. I saw the demon peeling skin off..." Saying this, Ji Yao's entire body trembled violently, clearly recalling that horrifying scene. She now firmly believed that a demon was lurking in the Ji Residence.
"Don't be afraid. I've already killed the Painted Skin Demon."
Ji Qing knew that the Painted Skin Demon had numerous avatars. Therefore, keeping Ji Yao close, he scoured the entire Ji Residence to hunt down the remaining ones. In the end, he killed three more Painted Skin Demon avatars, accumulating a total of four Source Points.
After eliminating all the avatars, Ji Qing's heart weighed heavy in his chest. Everyone in the Ji Residence was dead. Out of over a hundred people in the estate, no one had been spared except for him and Ji Yao.
"Hurry, apprehend the fugitive Ji Qing! If he resists, kill him on sight!"
At this moment, a chaotic flurry of footsteps echoed from outside the Ji Residence. The constables from the Government Office had arrived. Since Ji Qing was currently a "fugitive," the constables were obligated to bring him to justice.
Looking around the ruined Ji Residence, Ji Qing realized there was nothing left for him to linger for. Furthermore, he couldn't possibly just sit there and wait to be captured.
"Let's go!" Ji Qing immediately slipped out the back door of the Ji Residence without making a sound.
But just as he left, he abruptly turned around. A raging fire had been ignited inside the Ji Residence at some unknown point.
"The Painted Skin Demon still has an avatar?" Ji Qing's eyes grew cold. However, the blazing inferno had already caught, and billowing thick smoke was gradually swallowing the entire Ji Residence. The fire was unstoppable.
"Quick, put out the fire..." Faced with the sudden blaze, the constables scrambled in a frantic panic.
Ji Qing didn't dally any longer, decisively turning his back and walking away.
"The Painted Skin Demon merely lost a few avatars; its true body is still alive. No matter where it hides, even if I have to chase it to the ends of the earth, I will make sure it dies..." Ji Qing's heart was as cold as ice. The Painted Skin Demon had ruined his family, slaughtering nearly his entire household. Such a profound blood feud would never be forgotten for all eternity!
The next day, the Liang City County Magistrate's Office issued an arrest warrant.
"On the eighth day of the seventh month in the tenth year of Yongchang, the Liang City fugitive Ji Qing murdered his father and mother, violating all human morality. He massacred the entire Ji Residence, an act intolerable by the laws of heaven! This unfilial villain's crimes are unforgivable! Ji Qing is hereby stripped of his scholarly honors and is wanted across the realm. Anyone who provides clues or captures Ji Qing shall be rewarded with one thousand taels of silver..."
The arrest warrant detailed Ji Qing's physical features and the crimes he supposedly committed. Clearly, the Government had pinned the horrific massacre of the Ji Residence squarely on his head.
The moment this warrant was issued, the entire realm was shocked! The Great Shang ruled the world through the principle of filial piety. Committing patricide and matricide was an act of such utter treason that it marked the first case of its kind in the Great Shang in three hundred years!