Shen Bai truly hadn't expected something so awkward to happen at such a critical moment.
It was like getting caught doing something wrong, scrambling to hide under the bed, only to discover someone else was already there.
Awkward. Extremely awkward.
It wasn't just Shen Bai; the figure across from him seemed to feel the same way. Perhaps out of sheer awkwardness, they even gave Shen Bai a little wave.
That wave made the moment even more uncomfortable.
Shen Bai felt he had to do something to ease the tension.
He gestured, as if to ask, 'Should we go down and take a look?'
The figure opposite them contemplated for a moment before nodding.
The two of them vaulted off the wall in unspoken agreement, keeping a wide berth between them.
Shen Bai narrowed his eyes, carefully sizing up the figure before him.
Based on their height, they were about 1.6 meters tall—not very tall at all.
He wondered about the other person's identity as he walked toward the house ahead.
The layout of houses in Shengyun County was standard, so it only took a single glance to identify the main building.
The Government Office had already removed the body, but Shen Bai thought he might still find some clues.
The person in black had a similar idea and was also heading for the main house.
But there was only one main building.
The distance between them gradually shrank. When only a few paces separated them, they both stopped.
Just then, the person in black gestured, pointing at the house ahead and then at Shen Bai.
Shen Bai held out his hands, indicating he didn't understand.
They weren't teammates, after all. It would have been stranger if he had understood.
However, Shen Bai caught a strange, fragrant scent wafting from the person in black.
The thought, 'Bro, you smell good,' inexplicably crossed Shen Bai's mind.
But this didn't seem like the time or place for conversation.
Seeing that Shen Bai didn't understand, the person in black took the lead, walked to the front of the house, and skillfully poked a finger through the paper window.
Shen Bai had only ever seen scenes like this in television dramas; this was his first time experiencing it firsthand.
He thought for a moment, then moved a few paces away to another window. Copying the person in black, he poked a hole in the paper and pressed his eye against it.
The room was pitch-black, but the moonlight revealed something amiss inside.
A human figure was swaying back and forth inside.
The figure was dressed in black.
By the light of the moon, Shen Bai got a clear look at the figure.
It had a pallid face, with blood streaming from its eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth. Its eyes were rolled back, showing only the whites, and it stumbled back and forth with unsteady steps.
Its black clothes were stained with blood, and a closer look revealed they were burial shrouds.
"Five Hearts Facing Heaven, free and unrestrained..."
"Money... I need to make money, lots of money..."
"With money comes freedom..."
Master Qian swayed unceasingly. With every move, blood from his facial orifices splattered everywhere.
Seeing this, Shen Bai's brow furrowed slightly.
He was certain that Master Qian's body was at the Government Office.
If it had suddenly vanished, the Government Office would have launched a search, and this would have been the first place they looked.
He hadn't seen any sign of constables on his way here, which meant the Master Qian before him was not the same corpse from the Government Office.
Shen Bai couldn't help but think of the old Daoist, and his scalp prickled with fear.
This was only his second time facing one of these abominations. Despite his previous experience, it was far from enough.
You don't just get used to these things after one or two encounters.
Shen Bai tightened his grip on his Rusted Longsword. Just as he was about to turn away, he saw Master Qian stir inside the room.
Its entirely white eyes swiveled, locking onto Shen Bai's position.
Shen Bai flinched. He watched as Master Qian's head suddenly dropped off his shoulders, only to be caught in his own hand.
"Five Hearts Facing Heaven... the first heart..."
Master Qian threw the head. It flew toward Shen Bai, who could clearly see the blood-streaked face and its seven leaking orifices.
At this moment of crisis, Shen Bai hastily retreated.
BANG!
The head smashed through the window and rolled several times across the ground.
Meanwhile, Master Qian's body lunged through the window where the person in black had been.
The person in black reacted with extreme speed, their small frame dropping into a roll and tumbling aside.
As they rose, they held a pair of short spikes in their hands.
Wisps of black qi swirled around the spikes.
'That black qi... it's clearly nothing good,' Shen Bai thought.
He had no time for further thought, because the head on the ground suddenly flew up and shot toward him.
Blood Sword Dance!
Without hesitation, Shen Bai thrust forward with his Longsword.
The Qi in his body surged, and a torrent of energy and blood flooded his veins. The thrust was so powerful it produced a thunderous boom.
SCHLICK!
The Longsword ran Master Qian's head clean through. The head dissolved into a wisp of black smoke and vanished.
On the other side, the person in black seemed hard-pressed against the headless body.
The black qi from their spikes left marks on the headless body, hissing and sizzling as if it were corrosive.
The headless body possessed incredible Speed and power, but the person in black dodged with impressive Agility, and the number of wounds on the body was steadily increasing.
Although the person in black seemed to be on the defensive, their victory was only a matter of time.
Of course, Shen Bai wasn't about to let the person in black kill the headless body.
He hadn't gained any Evil Qi from destroying the head, so he surmised he needed to eliminate the body as well.
As for whether he had to be the one to land the final blow to gain the Evil Qi, Shen Bai wasn't willing to take that chance. This was a rare opportunity.
After a moment's thought, Shen Bai gripped his Rusted Longsword and charged forward.
The person in black, who had been fighting the headless body, immediately grew wary. They raised their spikes and backed away.
In a situation like this, caution was only natural.
Shen Bai wasted no words, unleashing his Blood Sword Dance.
His movements were like a dance, yet they carried a piercing killing intent.
His Qi and blood roared like thunder, and a brilliant, righteous energy—a perfect Anti-Demon force—cut through the creature as if it weren't there.
With a single strike, the headless body froze.
A thin red line appeared down the middle of its torso.
The next moment, the headless body split in two.
The two halves dissolved into black smoke and quickly vanished.
[You have acquired one wisp of Evil Qi]
Shen Bai narrowed his eyes. 'Just as I thought.'
'Slaying these abominations grants me Evil Qi.'
However, given the current circumstances, Shen Bai didn't dwell on it.
Not far ahead, the person in black had already vaulted back over the wall. They clearly had no intention of speaking with Shen Bai, and their retreating figure looked somewhat panicked.
Shen Bai had seen a flicker of fear in their eyes, and he was the source of it.
'They seemed really scared of me. Am I that terrifying?'
'But my Swordsmanship is so righteous.'
Shen Bai thought to himself but didn't give chase.
There was no need.
He had obtained the Evil Qi, accomplishing his goal for the trip.
Besides, his identity was Hidden; there was no reason to invite more trouble.
Furthermore, the person in black was extremely fast. They seemed to possess an advanced Body Technique.
Shen Bai knew no Body Technique, only Swordsmanship. He wouldn't be able to catch them even if he tried.
So Shen Bai wouldn't waste his energy on such a fruitless effort.
Of course, those weren't the main reasons.
The most important reason was that while he was observing the room earlier, Shen Bai thought he had spotted something very interesting.