Chapter 44: Deep-Seated Hatred

At that very moment.

The large black serpent coiled around the pistol flicked its tongue menacingly, already slithering onto the warehouse roof. The other smaller snakes had all arrived. The instant I bent one knee, I barked, *”Kill them!”* The black serpent plummeted from the air, and as I leapt high to catch the Black Star pistol mid-air, I dashed forward, the dark muzzle aimed squarely at Meng Liuchuan, just a meter away.

Meng Liuchuan stared down the barrel, a bead of sweat trickling down his face. *”Xiao Qi, you bastard, you actually brought a gun. How can we, practitioners of the Mystic Arts, resort to firearms in a duel?”* I spat back, *”Spare me your righteousness. If you don’t release her, I’ll shoot you dead.”*

Meng Liuchuan smirked. *”Do you really think a mere gun can kill me?”* As we spoke, the two ninjas beside him had smeared some kind of fragrant substance on themselves, repelling the scorpions and snakes so they couldn’t approach within a meter.

Shaking his head in disappointment, Meng Liuchuan sneered, *”Is this all you’ve got? Ordinary venomous insects from nature? What kind of threat is that? If you had brought a couple of brain-eating worms—the kings of the insect world—maybe I’d be a little afraid.”*

His serpentine eyes pinned me to the wall. My last trump cards—the pistol and the venomous creatures—had been played. Steadying my resolve, I thought, *”This gun can kill instantly. Are you really unkillable?”*

I took two steps forward, grabbing Meng Liuchuan’s collar. *”Let’s see how tough your skull is. Can a bullet pierce it?”* A flicker of fear flashed in his eyes. *”Kill me, and you’ll spend decades in prison.”* From upstairs, Yang Pao shouted, *”Master Abe, what now?”*

Clenching his teeth, Meng Liuchuan growled, *”Rip the woman’s clothes off. Let’s see what he does.”* He had me cornered. Just then, Little Rascal seemed to sense my desperation. He charged to the doorway, barking wildly at Yang Pao.

Yang Pao stared at the small black dog, trembling. *”My god… a dog like this really exists?”* He collapsed to his knees, clutching his head as if in agony.

Meng Liuchuan cursed, *”Useless beast!”* He glanced at his two ninjas, now entangled in swarms of venomous insects, their feet buried under layers of dead snakes, temporarily immobilized.

I dragged Meng Liuchuan toward the second floor. He chuckled as we walked. *”Xiao-san, you’re too sentimental. That’s why you’ll always lose. If you hardened your heart, you wouldn’t have fallen into my hands.”*

I smashed the pistol grip against his face. *”Shut the hell up!”*

Yang Pao had collapsed, foaming at the mouth from Little Rascal’s barks. Ji Qianqian was petrified. Xie Lingyu materialized, swiftly untying her bonds. Meng Liuchuan sighed. *”So, you have a ghostly strategist advising you.”*

Ji Qianqian, bewildered by the chaos—guns, venomous creatures, a monstrous beast—scooped up her daughter Xiaoxiao in panic. *”Xiao Qi… are you still the man I knew? What kind of person are you?”*

*”I’m still me.”* The words died on my lips as I watched her helplessly. Ji Qianqian, clutching Xiaoxiao, hurried downstairs. *Thump-thump-thump…* Her heartbeat was frantic. One arm cradled her child, the other pressed against her chest, her face twisted in pain…

I watched as Ji Qianqian—disillusioned, terrified, humiliated—descended the stairs, her figure slipping further from my grasp…

Xie Lingyu sighed softly. *”What is love, that it drives mortals to life and death?”* Suddenly, she shouted, *”Xiao Qi, watch out—!”*

The two ninjas, having slaughtered the remaining venomous insects, seized the moment of my distraction. Twin daggers hurtled toward me—one aimed at the gun in my hand, the other at my throat. Hearing Xie Lingyu’s warning, I dodged instinctively. The blades embedded themselves in the wall.

Meng Liuchuan seized the chance, flipping over the railing and landing below. Chanting an incantation, he summoned the two ninjas to his side as guards.

Ji Qianqian, still descending the stairs, let out a pained cry before collapsing forward. She twisted at the last second, her back slamming against the ground, Xiaoxiao landing on top of her. The shock woke the child, who burst into wails.

A trickle of black blood escaped Ji Qianqian’s lips. Xie Lingyu, witnessing the turn of events, roared in fury. *”You vile Eastern rogue! You’ve crossed every line!”*

I sprinted down. Ji Qianqian’s face was deathly pale, her breath gone, her eyes barely open.

She smiled weakly. *”Finally… I’m dying in your arms after all. Xiao Qi… you couldn’t escape it…”*

Memories flickered in her eyes—the twilight rendezvous, the moonlit willow branches—now eclipsed by eternal separation. Our meeting had been chance. I’d only ever known her endless smiles, never suspecting the sorrow she buried so deep.

Cradling her, tears streaming, I whispered, *”I won’t let you die. If you live, I won’t let death take you.”* Her limp hand brushed Xiaoxiao’s cheek. *”He’s… your father…”*

Xiaoxiao sobbed, *”No! He’s not! I want Mommy!”*

Ji Qianqian’s eyes closed heavily…

Xie Lingyu cried out, *”She’s not dead yet! Meng Liuchuan’s Yin energy struck her heart. Move aside—I’ll place this necklace of ghost-tear pearls around her neck to anchor her soul. There’s still a way to save her!”*

The seven ghost-tear pearls, left by Bai Yu, pulsed with spiritual energy. Alongside them hung small black stones, strung together on a red thread. As the necklace settled on Ji Qianqian’s neck, her chilling body ceased its decline.

Meng Liuchuan, watching my torment with cruel amusement, stiffened in shock. *”Such a treasure… I never expected this.”*

*”Woof! Woof!”* Little Rascal barked at him. Meng Liuchuan snapped, *”Kill it.”* The ninjas hurled daggers. The dog yelped as one blade grazed its leg, forcing it to limp behind a broken crate, powerless to help.

Yang Pao stumbled downstairs, clutching his head. *”Damn… almost died. Thank you, Master Abe. I’ll serve you faithfully from now on.”* Glancing at Ji Qianqian’s body, he sighed. *”What a waste of a beauty.”*

Meng Liuchuan sneered, *”Once the Pig Demon Immortal goes to Japan, I’ll arrange everything. But first—revenge.”*

Yang Pao nodded eagerly. *”At your command.”* Stepping in front of Meng Liuchuan, he pointed at my gun. *”Master, let me block the bullets for you.”*

Xie Lingyu supported Ji Qianqian. *”Xiao Qi, don’t falter. Do what must be done.”*

Seizing the moment, I drew the jade ruler.

*”Amitabha! This monk has arrived!”* A motorcycle roared into the warehouse, skidding to a halt. A man in a black trench coat and sunglasses dismounted—Jie Se.

Yang Pao scoffed. *”Trying too hard, wearing shades at night.”*

Jie Se studied Meng Liuchuan and his ninjas, then my grief-stricken face. *”Seems I’m late.”*

Yang Pao grinned. *”Just in time—to die by my hand.”*

Jie Se snarled, *”Beast! Your arrogance ends now!”*

Meng Liuchuan flicked two fingers. The ninjas lunged. Simultaneously, Yang Pao charged me.

Knowing bullets wouldn’t stop him, I raised the jade ruler, three demon-slaying talismans clenched in my hand. Channeling energy, I aimed for Yang Pao’s face.

Jie Se backflipped twice, shouting, *”You Japanese—what business do you have in our land?”* The ninjas remained silent, their sharp eyes locked on his vital points. One misstep, and he’d be dead.

Meng Liuchuan circled toward Xie Lingyu, leering. *”Exquisite. A top-tier female ghost. Come with me—I’ll provide premium spirit stones and herbs for your cultivation.”*

Xie Lingyu, shielding Ji Qianqian, glared. *”Your ancestors wouldn’t dare speak to me like this. Scram, unless you want me to act.”*

Meng Liuchuan smirked. *”Empty boasts. My lineage fears only one man—certainly not some spirit-bound ghost. Why waste time with this weakling? Join me.”*

Xie Lingyu’s eyes blazed. *”Begone!”* The force of her shout shattered the two grotesque guardian spirits shielding Meng Liuchuan into pools of black blood.

Yang Pao dodged my talismans, closing in. *”Let’s see who dies today! I, Yang Pao, have ruled these woods for centuries. A mere butcher doesn’t scare me!”*

Despite his bravado, his voice quivered. His lineage—a wild boar father, a domestic sow mother—had cursed him with an instinctive terror of butchers.

If Zhang Dagan arrived with his legendary blade, Yang Pao’s fate would be sealed…

Gripping the jade ruler, I murmured, *”Seal. Imprint. Great Hand Seal!”* A surge of blue light erupted, forming a radiant sigil. I marveled—I’d never succeeded before.

Warmth flowed from the jade ruler into my palm, empowering the seal. The glow intensified, pulsing with lethal potential…

The battle was far from over.