Stranger Danger

“You want to meet Slaughterer that badly? fine. I’ll fulfill your wish.”

Ye Qing shook his head with a sigh.

“What are you talking about?” Ye Qing’s calm demeanor irritated Earth Walker greatly. For whatever reason, he felt like something bad was about to happen.

“You want to meet Slaughterer, don’t you? I’ll send you to the underworld right now.” Ye Qing grinned. “Don’t worry. I promise it won’t take long.”

“You killed Slaughterer?! You deserve death!”

The bad premonition entrenched in Earth Walker’s heart immediately grew stronger when he heard this. Unwilling to wait any longer, he abruptly tightened his grip and attempted to flatten Ye Qing like a pancake.

However, the blood quickly drained away from his face. It was because he felt like an ordinary human trying to crush a boulder with his bare hands. No matter how hard he squeezed, he was unable to harm Ye Qing even a little.

“No need to take it easy on me. I can take it,” Ye Qing suggested after noticing Earth Walker’s ugly expression.

“You are courting death!”

The provocation sent Earth Walker into a flying rage. The green flames on his head were brighter and a couple inches taller than before. First, he opened his mouth and sucked in a deep breath, swallowing both air and flame into his stomach. Then, he fired a pair of green fire snakes from his eyes straight at Ye Qing.

The fire snakes had a pair of horns on its head and three legs near its abdomen. Their entire body was wreathed in green flames that screeched and wailed like the voices of hell itself.

“Yaksa Magia: Phosphorescent Snake”

In ancient times, there existed a Stranger called the Phosphorescent Snake. It had horns on its head and legs on its stomach. He was covered in calamitous flames, and it spread plague and disaster wherever it went. Countless humans and animals died as a result. As if that wasn’t enough, its flames utterly destroyed the souls of any creature it killed and denied their reincarnation.

Legend had it that the Phosphorescent Snake was the Yaksas’ guardian beast. Specifically, they were bred and passed down within the Earth Yaksas.

“Yaksa Magia: Phosphorescent Snake” mimicked the power of a true Phosphorescent Snake. It could be used to attack one’s mind and body. The physical wounds left behind by the magia was difficult to heal, and the flesh was greatly weakened compared to before. It was nothing compared to the mental damage, however. Worst case scenario, the victim’s mind would be destroyed, and they would never be able to enter the cycle of reincarnation.

“Yaksa Magia: Phosphorescent Snake” was without a doubt a deadly, evil Magia. It was also one of the Yaksas’ strongest Magias.

Earth Walker didn’t just want to wither Ye Qing’s body. He also wanted to annihilate his mind and grant him true death!

However, Earth Walker’s expectations were defied yet again. While the Phosphorescent Snakes were flying toward Ye Qing’s face, the young man let out a huge yawn. A mad gale blew, and the Phosphorescent Snakes were sucked into his mouth faster than they could react.

“Burp…”

Earth Walker could only stare with a stupefied expression as Ye Qing burped and smacked his lips a little. He then asked expectantly, “It’s surprisingly tasty. Do you have more?”

Do you think that my snakes are dinner or something? Would you like me to sprinkle some cumin on them?!

Despite the inane thought flashing through his mind, Earth Walker’s incredulity was quickly replaced by overwhelming fear. Unfortunately, it was too late.

“It would be impolite not to reciprocate such a wonderful meal. You gave me heat, so I’ll return you some warmth. This is how the world becomes a better place, don’t you agree?”

Earth Walker was in the middle of executing Earth Escape when suddenly, Ye Qing’s ridiculing voice entered his ears. When he looked, he saw a wisp of purple flame flying out of the young man’s mouth.

The wisp was so tiny it was barely larger than a sapling. But despite its weak and frail appearance, its light was the brightest and hottest he had ever seen. It reminded him of the sun hanging high up in the nine heavens, vast and unstoppable.

The next moment, he felt himself burning up like a kindling. The heat was such that his body charred and crumbled into ash in just the span of seconds. Not even his Yin God was able to escape before it disintegrated into nothing.

During the final moments of his life, Earth Walker suddenly recalled Ye Qing’s words, “If you already know that I’m a fake, then why did you still approach me? Are you stupid or suicidal?”

The young man wasn’t boasting after all. If anything, he was the one who failed to see Mount Tai!

……

Earth Walker was dead. He was so dead even the pile of cremated ash was quickly scattered by the wind, leaving nothing behind.

“What a pity…” Ye Qing mused while shaking his head. Earth Walker was strong and smart. However, he had made two fatal mistakes. One, he got close to him. Two, he underestimated his strength and trump card.

More accurately, he wasn’t expecting the Purple Sun Trueflame at all.

Earth Walker’s body wasn’t particularly strong. The source of his strength came from his unique powers as an Earth Yaksa such as his snake Magia and his green flakes. However, the green flame was, in essence, a yin-type flame, and it was completely countered by his Purple Sun Trueflame, a supreme flame of yang. Before the Purple Sun Trueflame, his Magia and flames were like mice before a cat; snakes before a hawk. Forget resisting, they could not unleash even a sliver of their full strength. That was why Earth Walker had died with a whimper.

If it wasn’t for the Purple Sun Trueflame, it would have taken Ye Qing a lot more effort to kill him. The guy was a Half-Step Grandmaster. Moreover, there was a chance Earth Walker might have escaped if he set his mind to it.

After all, he did not know how to use Earth Escape.

In short, Earth Walker was unlucky.

“I should find Giggle.”

Earlier, he had given Giggle both Nanke and the Annon Sutra[1] so it could draw Dream Master and Dancer away. Without Nanke, it would be impossible to split up the group, and without the Annon Sutra, it would be impossible to hide Nanke’s presence, hence. It would then reunite with him after the deed was done.

Giggle might be lacking in the offensive department, but its ability to run and hide was indubitably first class. If it did not wish to be seen or caught, then not even Ye Qing would be able to find it. That was why he did not hesitate to entrust Nanke and the Annon Sutra to it. He was confident that Dream Master would not be able to lay a hand on it.

That said, the battle with Earth Walker had ended even faster than he had anticipated. It was practically effortless considering how the Purple Sun Trueflame had snuffed out the warrior like nothing. So, he decided to go to Giggle instead. Once they met up, he would find a new way to kill Dream Master and Dancer and wrap up this hunt.

Ye Qing had left his energy on Giggle, so all he needed to do was to follow the trail. He dashed across the city like a ghost.

The thick fog and the Endless Wall might be a nightmare to others, but it could not impede Ye Qing in the slightest. He quickly arrived at a group of buildings.

The buildings were dilapidated and half-buried in sand, but they were still incredibly tall and stretched seemingly endlessly toward the horizon. Clearly, he was at the center of the ancient city. He could almost imagine its former glory even as he walked through them.

Unfortunately, there was nothing that could stand against the endless march of time. Eventually, all things would crumble into dust.

“Hahaha…”

It was at this moment Ye Qing heard a peal of giggles behind him. When he looked, he saw the little guy standing on a rooftop, carrying a porcelain bottle on its head, and carrying Nanke and the Annon Sutra in its arms, giggling.

Clearly, Giggle had sensed his arrival and decided to show itself.

Giggle leaped off the building and landed in front of Ye Qing. Then, it handed the Annon Sutra and Nanke back to Ye Qing.

“Thanks.”

Ye Qing accepted the two items and thanked Giggle sincerely. The little guy immediately burst into another peal of happy giggles.

“Now, only Dream Master and Dancer are left.”

Ye Qing gave Giggle a headpat while wondering how he should tackle his two remaining pursuers. Dancer was not an issue, but Dream Master was a different story. Not only did they share the same cultivation level, Dream Master’s arts were bizarre and unpredictable. Killing the man would definitely not be as easy as killing Slaughterer or Earth Walker.

Assuming he failed to kill Dream Master after springing his trap, it would be him who was in trouble. Therefore, he needed to come up with a foolproof plan.

1. Holy shit talk about trust. I don’t think even Brother Frog and Wawa got such a treatment, though… I guess they did? There were times in the raw where I wonder why Ye Qing didn’t put in a greater effort to hide the Annon Sutra in front of those two. ☜