Way of the Devil - Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Trade (1)

Only half of the cauldron remained. The other half seemed to have been somehow melted; black liquid metal spilled from it onto the floor, then condensed into solid form.

"This is a pill cauldron forged with intense heat. Ordinary fire certainly can’t possibly melt it down like this," Xu Chui whispered as he neared.

Walking away from the cauldron, he began to examine the scene in the room. The articles of clothing sprawled across the floor had to be the remains of the ghosts. What puzzled him was that not a single trace of Yin Qi remained on them.

Lu Sheng stood in front of the corpse, focusing his attention on it for a while. Then he quickly extended his hand towards the corpse’s shut mouth, intending to pry it open. Something seemed to be in the corpse’s mouth.

"Who’s that!" Xu Chui pulled out his sword instantly, looking in the direction of the voice.
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The woman’s face looked normal; it was neither pretty nor ugly. Wrinkle lines could be seen at the corners of her eyes, as if she was nothing more than an ordinary woman.

The short sword was razor-sharp and its blade was like a piece of silver silk. Just pinching it on its blade with one’s bare hands would send shudders down the spine and give goose bumps.

Moreover, he detected a faint, almost imperceptible scent on her.

"I’m Zhuo Wenyu. If I’m not wrong, you must be the third-in-command in Crimson Whale Sect—External Head, Lu Sheng?"

"Crimson Whale Sect has slaughtered so many of our people. If we don’t investigate clearly, wouldn’t it be foolish of us, Scarlet Tower?" The woman chuckled, her voice sinister.

"I’m different from the rest," Zhuo Wenyu replied casually. "The moment I heard that havoc broke out here, I rushed here as soon as I could. A pity I was still a little too late. But now it seems I’m not that late after all. Any later and I would have missed even Brother Lu."

"There’s no real need for the two of us to fight to the death. All I’ve come for is this body. I want the object in its mouth," Zhuo Wenyu explained composedly. "As for Brother Lu, I’m sure you don’t wish to fight with me and lose many of your men either, do you? Not that you’re afraid. But there’s really no need."
Lu Sheng instantly got her drift.

In such a context, there was no real need for them to fight to the death. Zhuo Wenyu’s meaning was clear as daylight, which was to be perfunctory and delay things as long as possible instead of really drawing blood. After all, regardless of which of them emerged the victor in the end, such a victory would be hollow. Only a victory achieved by the faction behind them would be genuine.

"I want to check what it is you want first, and whether or not it’s of use to me," he added after some thought.

Lu Sheng pulled out his saber and gently pried open the corpse’s mouth with its tip.

With the sound of ripping cloth, an opening was slowly cut across the corpse’s mouth. Black liquid gushed out from within, accompanied by a heavy, foul stench.

Soon, the black liquid was drained from the mouth, revealing an inky black disc-shaped metallic object.

"That’s what you want?" He asked.

"No need. Take it yourselves. We’ll go," Lu Sheng frowned. The stench was simply unbearable. Since he detected no presence of Yin Qi, he glanced at Xu Chui and quickly headed for the exit.

She stood still in the room, not bothered in the slightest by the stench of the black liquid. In fact, a look of enjoyment appeared on her face.

But Zhuo Wenyu still did not budge. She continued staring at the courtyard outside the door.

She was clearly the only person in the room. Zhuo Wenyu’s lips did not move an inch. Yet the voice rang out, audibly clear, carrying with it a sinister, demonic aura.

"Zhen Family has got no time for us now. The war between them and Scarlet District is getting more and more intense. Now’s the time to profit from the panic," the voice whispered.

"What signal?"

"Creak…"

Zhuo Wenyu paused mid-sentence and lifted her head. Instantly, she was stunned.

"I’ve changed my mind," Lu Sheng grinned, pulling out the two gigantic butcher knives with backhand grips. "That thing. I want it now.

His mountainous stature, together with the two giant sabers, obstructed every square inch of the exit. An intense murderous intent immediately flooded all corners of the bedroom.

"Never would I have thought that there’d really be someone in this world who would court death intentionally for no reason…"

Before she could finish her sentence, Zhuo Wenyu’s pupils shrank as she saw an enormous blade, broad as a signboard, come slapping towards her on her left faster than she could react.

"BOOM!!"

Only now did Lu Sheng’s figure appear at the side of the spot where Zhuo Wenyu previously stood. His speed was too fast. Or rather, his short-range explosive power was off the charts.

"Ouch…!" Zhuo Wenyu stood up with great difficulty. Blood and wounds covered her broken body. Her elbow had been fractured and her leg twisted and twitched. She was also losing massive amounts of blood. Yet, astonishingly, none of these affected her mobility.

"How’s it possible…"

"Your strength… it’s actually…" blood foamed at Zhuo Wenyu’s mouth. She had been too careless. To the extent that she was hit at such close quarters and thus gravely wounded so early in the fight.

"SWISH!"

She appeared in the other end of the room. A faint green hue rapidly emerged on her skin all over her body. Her fingernails grew longer and sharper. Thick scales appeared on the back of her arms, which hung limply by her sides. Her pupils turned as black as night.

"BOOM!!!"

This time, Lu Sheng had attacked with both sabers.

"BOOM BOOM!!!"

"DONG!"

"You really can take blows," Lu Sheng walked over and grabbed her neck, lifted her up and shook her in the air. "In order not to damage any goods on you, I’ve been using slaps. I didn’t expect that it’d take three slaps before immobilizing you."

"I’m just an ordinary mortal. Why don’t you tell me what you are? What’s this Spirit Demon-Possessed Body stuff about?" Lu Sheng’s interest was aroused by his first encounter with a mutant like Zhuo Wenyu.