11: Chapter 11: Warrior

Just as Hu Ba finished complaining, he heard footsteps.

They were rushing over from the other end of the alley.

Hu Ba's ears twitched as he raised his head to look at the newcomer.

Then he froze.

The next second, a wild and joyous smile appeared on Hu Ba's face.

"Oh?"

He threw the boy in his hand onto the ground and stared intently at Qin Mo among the newcomers.

That brat who made him eat virgin eggs during the day!

"I searched for half a day without finding you and was even wondering if I'd have to go rummaging through every household."

Hu Ba licked his lips, the ferocity in his eyes almost overflowing.

"I didn't expect you to deliver yourself right to my doorstep!"

Qin Mo's grip on the firewood chopper tightened.

Hu Ba merely took a step forward, yet Qin Mo felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him.

What was this oppressive feeling rushing straight at his face?

"Qin Mo, step back."

Qin Yin's voice came from behind.

Qin Mo didn't move.

"No, I want to protect you, Sis."

Before he could finish speaking, Hu Ba moved.

His figure dragged out a blurred afterimage in the moonlight, a speed so fast it didn't seem human at all.

Qin Mo only had time to raise his firewood chopper when a fishy, foul wind already rushed toward his face.

Hu Ba's face was already pressed right in front of him.

That face was smiling, the corners of his mouth split all the way to his ears, revealing a full set of teeth.

"Little brat, weren't you quite something during the day?"

Hu Ba's voice was sharp and piercing.

He swung a claw downward, his five fingers tearing through the air.

Qin Mo desperately raised his firewood chopper to block.

"Clang—!"

The sharp claws left three deep scratches on the firewood chopper, sending sparks flying everywhere.

The web of Qin Mo's thumb split open, and the blade flew directly out of his hand.

"Make me eat virgin eggs? Go to hell!"

Hu Ba tilted his head with a sinister grin and swung his claw down once more, aiming straight for Qin Mo's head.

Right at that moment, a golden light burst forth from behind Qin Mo.

That pale golden radiance cut through the night, carrying an aura that made evil and malevolent entities instinctively tremble, and struck squarely in Hu Ba's chest!

Hu Ba lowered his head and saw the huge hollow cavity in his chest.

He opened and closed his mouth as blood continuously gushed out.

Without even getting a chance to utter his last words, he collapsed onto the ground just like that.

Hu Ba's glowing eyes stared straight at Qin Yin, who was holding a talisman behind Qin Mo, and remained wide open until his death.

He couldn't figure out no matter what why a woman right before his eyes who was clearly not a martial artist could instantly one-shot him.

How could that be possible?

Shouldn't it be him who had seventeen ways to kill these mortals?

Hu Ba was dead.

Qin Mo slumped against the base of the wall, panting heavily.

His eyes remained fixed on Hu Ba's hands.

"Sis, this guy's fingers are even harder than a firewood chopper."

Qin Yin lowered her gaze to look at Qin Mo's nicked firewood chopper.

The three deep scratches on the blade were shocking to the eye; they were left by Hu Ba's claw just moments ago.

"This fellow is a martial artist."

There was certainty in Qin Yin's voice.

Qin Mo was stunned for a moment.

He knew what the two words "martial artist" implied.

Any martial artist, even placed in the county town, would be at the level of a chief constable.

How could such a person run off to their poor fishing village and end up dying right here?

Both Qin Yin and Qin Mo fell silent.

A martial artist was actually killed just like that by a talisman bestowed by Lord Qinling?

Just how strong must Lord Qinling be?

"With Lord Qinling here, Qin Family Village will definitely be fine."

Qin Mo's eyes flickered with reverence.

"Yeah, there are still two left."

Qin Yin clenched the final talisman in her hand.

...

In the night, that streak of golden light was seen by many people.

At the other end of the village west.

Hu Gu also saw that golden light.

Just as she was stuffing the second child into the burlap sack, she saw that golden light flare up in a nearby alley.

Her entire body froze in place, her pupils contracting abruptly.

Hu Ba's aura was gone!

Hu Gu's complexion turned paler inch by inch.

Her strength was similar to Hu Ba's; if whatever was over there could kill Hu Ba...

wouldn't it be able to kill her too?

Why would such a thing exist in this village?

Hu Gu slowly stepped back.

She didn't dare approach that place at all.

Beside the mule cart at the village entrance, Hu Fu's hand trembled violently.

He abruptly turned his head to look at the light in the village that had suddenly flared up and quickly dissipated.

That was the direction Hu Ba had headed toward.

Immediately afterward, he sensed Hu Ba's vital blood rapidly weakening until his aura vanished entirely.

Hu Ba was dead.

Hu Fu's brow furrowed.

How could this village possibly have something capable of killing Hu Ba?

He withdrew his gaze and looked back at the bulging burlap sack behind him.

The sack contained six children, enough for him to report back.

He pondered whether or not he should head toward the direction where the golden light had shone.

His strength was greater than both Hu Ba's and Hu Gu's.

That golden light could deal with Hu Ba, but it might not necessarily deal with him.

After pondering for a moment, Hu Fu's eyes turned cold, and carrying the sack on his back, he rushed toward the direction where the golden light had previously flared.

...

In the western alley, more and more people gathered.

The villagers awakened by the Mind-Clearing Talisman held torches, gripping fish spears and firewood choppers as they gathered around in twos and threes.

"Qin Mo, how are you?"

Seeing Qin Mo slumped against the base of the wall, several villagers hurriedly stepped forward and helped him up.

"I'm fine."

Qin Mo waved his hand.

"Where are those three traveling merchants selling goods? Many children in the village are missing!"

A middle-aged man rushed over carrying a rusted fish spear, looking around anxiously.

"One of them is right over there."

Qin Mo pursed his lips toward the side.

Everyone followed his gaze and only then noticed the corpse in the corner of the wall.

It was Hu Ba.

The villagers drew in a sharp breath.

"Did you guys kill this?"

A villager asked.

"I killed him using a talisman given by Lord Qinling. These three traveling merchants came here for the children in the village."

"If Lord Qinling hadn't entered my dreams to wake me up, all the children in the village would probably have been abducted by these three traveling merchants."

Qin Yin stood to the side holding her blade and said.

"Then there are still two left. We absolutely cannot let them run away with the children!"

"That's right! My child is missing!"

"We must find them!"

"Hurry up and split up!"

The villagers chimed in all at once.

Right at that moment.

"Boom—!"

A loud crash came from overhead.

Shattered stones and rubble flew everywhere!

Everyone instinctively looked up.

On the neighboring rooftop, a dark figure had appeared at some unknown time.

It was none other than Hu Fu.

Under the moonlight, that face which was still plastered with smiles during the day was now chillingly cold.

He stood on the edge of the eaves, looking down condescendingly at the group of villagers holding fish spears and torches, his gaze lingering for a fraction of a second on Hu Ba's corpse.

Then the corners of his mouth twitched.

"You killed my man?"

His voice wasn't loud, yet it drilled clearly into everyone's ears.

"Then you must pay the price!"

The next instant, he moved.

He still stood on the rooftop, but with a wave of his hand, he directly blasted down a palm strike!

That gale of palm wind carried an astonishing force of vital blood, descending from the sky like a boulder weighing thousands of cats, heading straight for the most crowded spot in the crowd.

Standing there were the villagers who had just run over, Qin Mo whom the villagers had helped up, and Qin Yin.

"Ah—!"

The villagers let out terrified shrieks.

Qin Mo's pupils abruptly contracted.

He saw that palm wind drawing closer and closer to him, and saw the faces of the villagers beside him turn as pale as paper under the firelight.

It was too fast.

There was simply no way to dodge it!

This fellow was even stronger than Hu Ba!