Xue Ling was awoken by a peculiar smell.
The low-ceilinged side room was dim, and messy, not looking like it was inhabited.
On the only somewhat tidy table, an incense burner was lit, its choking smoke making it hard to open one’s eyes, and there was a faint, foul stench that made him want to vomit.
A familiar yet strange impulse rose from his lower abdomen.
This incense was not clean.
Xue Ling stumbled and knocked over the incense burner, the sharp shattering sound piercing his ears, and a flood of jumbled memories rushed in.
After a long daze, Xue Ling had no choice but to accept the reality before him.
He had Transmigrated.
He, a half-baked Daoist priest, had finally landed a big job, enough to eat well, but in the blink of an eye, he was swept to this place.
He had become a corpse collector for the Qingyang County Yamen.
This was a barbaric era where gods had fallen and Yao Beasts ran rampant.
The original owner was a street hooligan who sold his family’s belongings and bribed his way into the Yamen, becoming the head of the corpse collectors—a dirty job with a low rank, but at least it gave him a official status, ensuring he would never worry about food and clothing again.
How did he suddenly die?
The more he thought, the more his head throbbed, and his eyelids twitched. Xue Ling wiped his hand across his head and found it covered in blood. It was from the back of his head!
“Which bastard laid a hand on me?”
He tripped and nearly fell, then bent down to look.
It was a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl.
Her face was streaked with tears, and when she saw Xue Ling, she trembled as if she had seen a man-eating Yama King, clutching a broken chair leg like a lifesaver, which also had blood on it.
Case closed in seconds; both the murder weapon and the culprit were found.
“It was you…”
As soon as Xue Ling spoke, the girl shivered.
Some fragmented, unspeakable images flashed before his eyes.
The original owner had ill intentions, using aphrodisiac incense on such a young girl.
He deserved to die for it.
However, the original owner committed the evil deed, and he was the one who suffered the consequences—his impending feast was gone, and his head was cracked open. Who could he complain to?
The lingering aphrodisiac incense in the room was still at work, making Xue Ling feel disheveled and enraged, so frustrated he wanted to hit someone!
He closed his eyes helplessly, his head throbbing. His vision blurred, and then two lines of small text suddenly appeared.
【Cultivation Technique: Vajra Fist (Elementary)】
【Lifespan: Twenty years】
【Points: Zero】
He rubbed his eyes hard, but the text didn't disappear. What was this?
A Golden Finger! Or a System?
“What is this thing! And what are points?”
Only twenty years of Lifespan left?
Xue Ling hastily searched his memories.
All he found were explicit scenes of naked bodies; the original owner’s two kidneys were so depleted they were just empty shells.
Scenes of practicing boxing or martial arts were pitifully few.
Internal depletion and external weakness, no wonder he only had twenty years left to live.
Vajra Fist was learned from Detective Zhang at the Yamen. It could strengthen bones and muscles, and defeat enemies with brute force.
In this world, Yao Beasts devoured people wantonly and without restraint, and the common people lived in dire straits. Without martial arts to protect them, no one dared to walk outside after dark.
The Demon Suppression Division in the capital, in conjunction with local Yamen offices, drove away and suppressed Yao Beasts everywhere. The Vajra Fist was one of their martial arts Cultivation Techniques.
The original owner, through constant scheming and flattery of superiors while oppressing subordinates, secured his position, then began committing all sorts of evil deeds, even daring to harm such a young girl!
It was a complete mess!
Xue Ling was vexed, but facing an innocent young girl, anything he, the ‘perpetrator,’ said would be inappropriate.
“You should leave.”
Xue Ling ran off with his legs splayed; the aphrodisiac incense was too potent. If he didn't leave now, he would truly embarrass himself greatly.
Unexpectedly, the girl, who had just been sobbing and resisting, suddenly pounced on him, clinging to Xue Ling’s thigh and begging for mercy.
“Sir! Sir! Wuwu… Spare my life, I… Chun Rou is willing to serve you, Sir!”
As she spoke, she tried to pull at Xue Ling, her sharp cries piercing his heart with pain.
Xue Ling, quick-witted, pressed down on his belt, “I’m not that kind of person, oh dear, let go! If you don’t leave, I will!”
His trousers almost came off because of her pulling.
That was a close call!
He quickly identified the direction and rushed out the door, the crying girl behind him like a monstrous flood.
He had heard of honey traps before, but how could the little girl who was fighting for her life just now suddenly be so proactive?
“It must be a trap! Such a young child, and that dog-like bastard could lay his hands on her, truly an animal…”
As soon as he stepped out, a foul stench assailed him.
The small courtyard was filled with body parts, a thick layer of dark blood covering the ground, wet and sticky, climbing up his feet and onto his body.
The smell of blood mixed with the stench of corpses drilled straight into his brain!
In the middle of the body parts, a yellow-furred fox Yao Beast was devouring, its muscles bulging and solid, as strong as a calf.
It stood upright, twice as tall as Xue Ling, its sharp fangs capable of breaking bones, with blood and rotten flesh at the corners of its mouth. “Who are you calling an animal?”
The walls were high and the courtyard deep; under the moonlight, a huge shadow enveloped Xue Ling.
A chill shot up his spine to his scalp, Xue Ling’s throat tightened, and his pupils dilated to their limit.
Behind it, there was a small fox demon, burying its head in a corpse’s abdominal cavity, gnawing on internal organs, and beside it was a child, unconscious or dead.
Corpses, Yao Beasts, Yamen… A flash of insight struck Xue Ling’s mind. He remembered why the original owner wanted to get into the Yamen!
He had colluded with demons!
By working at the Yamen and collecting corpses, he would secretly deliver them to the demons, then pilfer money from the corpses and the scene, and then bribe his superiors.
He profited from both the demons and the Yamen, unnoticed, thriving in his position.
Today was the day for delivering corpses!
Fearing there wouldn't be enough corpses for the fox demon to eat, the original owner even brought live ones!
Chun Rou was abducted, and the original owner, driven by lust, dragged her over to force himself upon her!
No wonder the girl inside was scared; there was something even more life-threatening outside!
Run!
But as soon as he lifted his leg, Xue Ling was sent flying backward by a claw from the fox demon!
“Bang!”
He tumbled and fell into the side room, his chest throbbing with pain. He couldn’t help but spit out a mouthful of blood!
Chun Rou screamed in terror, “Ah! The man-eating Yao Beast is here! Don’t eat me! Sir, spare my life! Sir, spare my life!”
“Hush… Don’t make noise. If you don’t want to die, shut up.” Xue Ling gasped in pain.
She trembled, covered her mouth, curled up her limbs, and hid under the table.
It was all the original owner’s fault for being brainless and useless, only remembering absurd things. He hadn’t looked closely and had taken a hit for nothing.
Now, everything was clear. His martial arts were insufficient, so he could only stabilize the situation first.
Xue Ling suppressed the anger in his heart, gritted his teeth, and climbed up, his mouth twitching as he forced a smile and faced the yellow-furred fox demon.
“Oh, brother, your strength is formidable, even greater than before! That little beast inside was tasteless and disappointing! I already killed it!”
Xue Ling suppressed his fear, played on his charlatan instincts, and pushed the fox demon outside, “Elder brother, I see a dark Qi lingering around your face; I’m afraid you will suffer a bloody disaster today…”
The touch was warm!
Good heavens, the fox was so big! How many people had it eaten!
The fox demon snorted, glancing at Xue Ling from the corner of its eye: “Those who dared to play smart in front of me are all dead.”
It waved its claw, directly tearing off the low roof, and strode into the room.
His bluster didn't fool it!
“Wait!”
As soon as he spoke, Xue Ling regretted it. Confronting it head-on with just an Elementary Vajra Fist, he was no match for the fox demon.
The fox demon glared, its killing intent surging, and lifted Xue Ling, “I give you an inch, and you think you’re someone important!”
“The one inside is still breathing, and you said you killed it? You’re tired of living if you dare to fool me!”
“Don’t tell me you still have a lingering conscience? What a joke!”
The fox demon raised its leg and delivered a kick to the chest. Xue Ling was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing directly into the low stone wall.
“Hoo…” His internal organs shifted, and Xue Ling’s vision went black from the pain.
There's no making peace; I have to fight for my life!
The fox demon charged, stomping heavily, making blood splatter.
The moonlight, like water, made its jagged fangs and face appear even more ferocious and terrifying.
Chun Rou’s face was distorted from crying. She didn’t understand why Xue Ling had suddenly turned against the fox demon, but she knew she wouldn't survive either.
Her crying was annoying.
“Hiss…” Xue Ling recovered, impatiently chasing her away, “I’ve already knocked down the courtyard wall for you, why aren’t you running!”
“Ah? Yes!” Chun Rou scurried, crawling on all fours, then stopped and asked Xue Ling, “Then you…”
The girl’s large eyes, just washed by hot tears, were clear and distinct, bright and innocent. Xue Ling’s heart trembled at the sight, feeling a bit ashamed of himself.
This fox demon was vicious and brutal. He had just regretted speaking out and causing trouble, having no means of self-preservation.
The strong prey on the weak; no matter where, the so-called way of survival is equally despicable.
Xue Ling thought of the original owner’s conduct, cheating and swindling in his previous life. To live again, and continue like this for another twenty years… What was the difference from being a living dead man?
Chun Rou used all her strength to pull Xue Ling up.
“Get lost! Why do you care about me?” Xue Ling, hunched over, pushed Chun Rou away.
The fox demon was chasing him!
Strike first!
Xue Ling delivered a flying kick to the groin, then ducked and rolled behind the fox demon, punching its lumbar spine hard!
Copper head, iron bones, tofu waist.
With one punch, his wrist went numb from the impact, but the fox demon was unharmed.
“Tsk! Overestimating yourself!” The fox demon bared its fangs and bit, spraying Xue Ling’s face with saliva mixed with blood foam!
In a panic, Xue Ling lunged into the pile of corpses, grabbed the greedy little fox demon, and held it in front of him as a hostage, “Don’t move!”
The little fox demon suddenly startled, wailing mournfully!
“Put down my child!” The fox demon froze, not daring to move rashly, staring intently at Xue Ling, its teeth almost sparking.
“Don’t come any closer, or I’ll throw it to its death!”
The little fox demon struggled fiercely, almost falling to the ground. Xue Ling grabbed its tail and lifted it up from below!
Unexpectedly, with Xue Ling’s lift and shake, its slender tail couldn't bear the force and broke off at the root!
“Ow!” The little fox demon bled profusely, its breath weak, clearly not going to survive.
The fox demon swayed, its eyes bloodshot: “I will devour you alive!”
It’s over, it’s over! The life-saving charm he just got was useless. They were all man-eating scourges, so he might as well just throw it to its death!
Xue Ling threw it forcefully, diverting the fox demon.
The fox demon wailed and sobbed, cradling the little fox demon’s corpse, the fur on its back bristling like steel needles, its eyes venomous: “I will have your life!”
Xue Ling sighed inwardly: My life is forfeit!
Fortunately, the young girl had escaped.
The fox demon charged like a madman, and Xue Ling ran for his life. His back was almost pierced by it when suddenly, the small text before his eyes changed!
【Cultivation Technique: Vajra Fist (Elementary)】
【Lifespan: Twenty years】
【Points: Five】
The points increased? Why?
【Current Cultivation Technique can be advanced. Requires consumption of Lifespan and five points. Do you wish to exchange?】
Elementary Vajra Fist, after advancing, would be Intermediate?
Xue Ling held his breath until his lungs almost burst, “Exchange! Exchange it, fiercely!”