Chapter 54: A Single Slash

As the water’s surface rippled once more, the first thing he saw was a pair of pale feet slowly rising from the depths, followed by calves, thighs, and finally a back, until the water fiend lay sprawled atop the river. Its head, however, remained submerged.

Chu Xiong felt a tightening in his chest, an urge to strike before it was too late. As a novice in the Qi Sea realm, the longer he hesitated, the less courage he had to act. The Dragon Staff in his hand began to glow yellow, and earthen spiritual energy condensed around him, forming armor upon his body.

“Creature of evil, face your death!”

With a thunderous shout, Chu Xiong raised his Dragon Staff high. A streak of dark golden light shot forth, crashing onto the water fiend’s body.

He dared not enter the river, nor even touch its surface.

The blow landed, but the water fiend gave no reaction. Chu Xiong’s heart swelled with hope. “Could it be that this monster has not yet awakened?”

But in the next instant, the water exploded, and a pale silhouette stood before him.

This water fiend was not the bloated, grotesque form he had expected. Its aged face was deeply wrinkled, yet its frame was thin and sinewy. Eyes tightly shut, its fingernails curved like blades. Long hair, like waterweeds, hung down to its waist, and not a stitch of clothing covered its body.

A chill seeped into Chu Xiong’s bones, spreading through him, and he shivered uncontrollably.

“Damn it, this thing is draining my Yang energy.” He bit his tongue, spat out a mouthful of blood, and swung the Dragon Staff in a blur, clashing fiercely with the water fiend.

The creature’s hair whipped about as it deftly dodged, and the light from its claws left marks upon Chu Xiong’s earthen armor.

The water fiend grew swifter with every attack, forcing Chu Xiong onto the defensive, leaving him with no chance to retaliate.

Suddenly, the creature broke away from the fight, darting toward several other wagons.

“We’re doomed!” Chu Xiong cried, but it was already too late. The fiend’s long claws sliced through ropes as easily as cutting tofu.

With a casual slap, it sent every coffin tumbling into the river, intent on summoning its entire brood.

Chu Xiong leapt into the air, his staff whistling as it swung toward the fiend. At that moment, the creature opened its lids, revealing cold, lifeless eyes.

It snatched at him, and Chu Xiong was disarmed.

The water fiend pressed its assault, recognizing that while the group was numerous, only Chu Xiong posed any real threat.

Chu Xiong had no choice but to fight hand-to-hand, and the battle between Qi Sea cultivators shook the ancient stone bridge until it was unrecognizable.

The coffins in the river burst open, and five water ghosts crawled onto the shore, hungry for sustenance, eager to replenish their power.

The five ghosts surged toward the guards. Most of the dozen guards crumbled at the first contact, legs weakened by terror even before the fight began. When the water ghosts charged, the quickest runners were already heading for the town.

Only three or four guards remained, huddled together in desperate resistance. The majority who fled were quickly slain, a few lying on the ground clinging to life.

Just then, Li Shui arrived with the men of the Department of Tranquility. He surveyed the chaos, realizing he could not intervene in the battle between Qi Sea cultivators, and could only pray that the head guard could hold out a little longer.

He drew his blade and attacked the water ghosts. The rest of his subordinates rallied behind him, rushing into the fray. Seeing reinforcements, the water ghosts howled in fury, their attacks ferocious.

Li Shui wielded the Seven Star Blade Technique from the martial academy, and with his seventh-stage vein-opening cultivation, he handled two water ghosts with ease. The Department of Tranquility managed two more, leaving one for the guards.

The battlefield was quickly divided, and the fighting began in earnest.

Li Shui’s long blade danced, gold spiritual energy sharpening its edge, forcing the seventh- and eighth-stage water ghosts to defend desperately.

Meanwhile, the corner of his eye caught sight of Chu Xiong, still barely holding on. Inwardly, Li Shui began to pray:

“Sixth brother, hurry up, or your third brother might die young today.”

Whether his prayer was answered or he was hallucinating, he heard thunder—rolling closer and closer.

He realized the strongest force beneath his master from his own sect had arrived.

“Such wickedness!”

A booming cry thundered alongside the sound of lightning, and a figure wreathed in crackling energy leapt high.

Executioner, drawn.

“I want you to aid my cultivation!”

Er Lang Splits the Mountain.

A silver-white blade descended from the heavens, carrying the force of a collapsing sky, and struck the water fiend’s neck.

The powerful blade sliced diagonally from the neck to the hip, and with a downward press of Ling Chi’s left hand, the fiend was cleaved in two.

The sudden, decisive strike left everyone stunned.

Chu Xiong felt it most keenly; he knew that even three of him could not withstand such a blow.

“Third brother, did I arrive in time?” Ling Chi moved without pause, lightning flashing, and dispatched two water ghosts as easily as chopping vegetables.

Without stopping, he charged toward the last three.

“If you’d come any later, you’d have to burn paper offerings for your third brother,” Li Shui replied, thoroughly shaken by the sight of that blade. With danger passed, he nearly collapsed to the ground.

As he finished speaking, Ling Chi’s blade fell, slaying the final water ghost.

“I raced here like a thunderbolt and barely made it in time. You owe me a feast at the Fortune Pavilion,” Ling Chi said, sheathing his blade as he savored the thunder pearl’s feedback of spiritual energy.

Five vein-opening water ghosts and one powerful water fiend—he’d gained over four hundred strands of thunder spiritual energy.

“Of course, wherever you want to eat, we’ll go,” Li Shui replied, stepping forward with a smile and patting Ling Chi’s shoulder.

“Thanks, Sixth brother.”

“We’re family, no need for such formality.” Ling Chi punched Li Shui’s chest, nearly knocking the wind out of him.

After the battle, the scene was a mess. The guards tended to their fallen comrades, while the Department of Tranquility burned the water ghost corpses.

“Keep the two halves of the water fiend. When Master arrives, let him have a look,” Li Shui instructed.

Ling Chi examined the fiend as well. Besides its long nails, it seemed no different from an ordinary person.

Li Shui and Chu Xiong explained the creature’s origins.

“You mean when it was pulled from the water, it didn’t resist, letting the fishermen seal it in a coffin?” Ling Chi asked, puzzled.

“Those fishermen are still alive, and they don’t seem possessed. Prefect He even rewarded them handsomely,” Chu Xiong quickly explained. The young man before him appeared refined and upright, but when fighting, he was vicious beyond measure.

“That’s odd. No reaction when retrieved, but halfway here, once exposed to water, it suddenly possessed Qi Sea cultivation. Unbelievable.” Ling Chi glanced at Li Shui.

“We’ll wait for Master’s arrival before drawing conclusions.”

Li Shui went to organize the townsfolk, leaving Ling Chi and Chu Xiong to guard the water fiend.

“Does your guard agency take any job, no matter how filthy? Escorting such evil cargo on the official road—are you hoping my Department of Tranquility will clean up after you?” Ling Chi’s tone grew cold.

Every nation has its laws, and every trade its rules. Hauling Yin cargo should never be done along the official road; it's a principle of the guard trade, lest any mishap endanger innocent lives along the way.

Fengli Guard Agency knew full well they were escorting a water fiend, yet not only did they use the official road, they even planned to enter the city.

Cold sweat poured down Chu Xiong’s brow. He knew he had handled the matter poorly. At the time, torrential rain was falling, and knowing the fiend couldn’t touch water, he’d hastily sought shelter.