Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy-Chapter 398 - 360: Another... Bronze Ring_2

"Go." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

With a long breath, the vibrant energy infused into the void, and a rare splendor suddenly lit up the eyes of the birds flapping their wings.

Qi Xiu waved his hand lightly. Instantly, millions of birds, resembling a massive cloud, dispersed high into the sky, flying in every direction toward the Evernight Ancient City.

「...」

"Old man, if you don’t start behaving, I’ll chop off your other leg too!"

On the vast Loess Plateau, Wei, renowned for his incredible speed, now hobbled on wooden crutches, his face pale. What were once legs that could vanish in a puff of smoke were now sadly reduced to just one. The other leg had been cleanly severed, and blood still oozed from the wound.

The one who had just spoken was a youth with blood-red hair, a disturbingly handsome face, and eyes covered by a black cloth band. Currently, he was holding a severed leg, large patches of bone showing, while his other hand wielded a short dagger, slicing off pieces and putting them into his mouth.

"PTOOEY! Damn it, the flesh is really tough."

Spitting out a mouthful of mushy meat, the red-haired youth gazed thoughtfully at Wei, his eyes lingering on the old man’s two arms.

A chilling cold shot down Wei’s spine. He knew the Demonic Cultivator was entertaining evil thoughts again and lamented inwardly. Greed blinds the heart, oh how it blinds the heart! If I hadn’t been greedy for that fortune in gold, how could I have ever stumbled upon such a calamitous fiend? Oh, heavens, is it possible that I, Wei, who lived a carefree life, am destined to perish here today?

Though his heart was filled with sorrow, Wei dared not slow his pace in the slightest. After all, the man behind him, reeking of malevolent energy, was an absolute madman who would amputate limbs on a whim—the very epitome of insanity. If Wei were to slow down even a little, he feared the knife would swiftly descend.

"Hey, old man, we’ve been walking for so long. Why haven’t we arrived yet?" the sinister youth asked, approaching Wei from behind. His tone was deceptively casual, yet to Wei’s ears, it felt like a knife gouging into his flesh.

His heart pounding with terror, Wei trembled as he replied, "Please forgive me, sir. The Evernight Ancient Kingdom does not usually reveal itself. Only on the night of a full moon can one enter the city. It’s already approaching the Hour of Xu; the moon will rise very soon."

Each word tumbled out rapidly. After just two sentences, Wei’s entire back was soaked with sweat. This sinister youth was not only cruel but also dangerously unpredictable. Ever since Wei had been captured, the man had been trailing him, sometimes close, sometimes far, his voice drifting indeterminately. It felt like a sharp blade hanging over Wei’s head, ready to fall at any moment. Though it couldn’t physically harm him from a distance, it kept him in a constant state of nerve-wracking suspense, with no peace of mind.

"Is that so? Well, all right then." The sinister youth’s voice, tinged with a hint of resignation, disappeared once more.

Wei was grumbling inwardly. Damn it, where did this lunatic pop out from? Are all the garrison soldiers in Qin Long blind? How can they not see such a prominent Demonic Cultivator?

Suddenly, a cold, piercing sharpness pressed against the center of his back, and that lifeless voice unexpectedly rang in his ear. "You must be cursing me."

Every one of the millions of hairs on Wei’s body stood on end. In his extreme fear, Wei nearly rolled his eyes back and fainted. He then frantically shook his head, "No, no! Even if I had the courage of the heavens, I wouldn’t dare curse you, sir!"

"Is that so?" The sharp point of the dagger slowly pierced Wei’s skin. Streams of crimson blood trickled down his flesh. Feeling the acute pain, Wei instinctively wanted to pull away, but his rational mind told him that any attempt to escape would result in even more terrifying torture.

Gritting his teeth, he endured the dagger twisting within his flesh. This continued for several agonizing minutes before the sinister youth finally, slowly, withdrew the blade. "Alright, I believe you now."

Gasping in relief, Wei didn’t even dare to check the wound on his back. He could only silently feel the blood continuously trickling down his skin, soaking through his clothes, then flowing down his thighs and into his shoes. He left bloody footprints with every step.

As the night grew darker, the cold light of the moon finally revealed itself in the Sky Dome. Feeling the moonlight wash over him, Wei’s dry, cracked lips quivered slightly. For the first time in many years, he found the moonlight breathtakingly beautiful.

Beneath the moonlight, the hidden Evernight Ancient Kingdom reemerged.

"Is this... the Evernight Ancient Kingdom?" Staring at the grand ancient city that had appeared out of thin air, as if a glorious era had returned, the sinister youth’s mouth curved into a chilling smile.

Hearing the hint of excitement in the man’s voice behind him, Wei silently clenched his hands, his heartbeat accelerating.

"You did well. Let’s go, we’re ready to enter the city." The sinister youth patted Wei’s shoulder, and his words made the already pale-faced man turn even more ghastly.

"My lord, I..."

"Hmm? What is it?" The man’s fair, slender hand rested on Wei’s left shoulder, his tone conveying concern as he softly inquired, "Speak your mind. I won’t make things difficult for you."

’Won’t make things difficult for me’? He’ll just kill me straight away, right? Having grasped the sinister man’s nature, Wei, despite his extreme reluctance, had no choice but to swallow his grievances. Entering the Evernight Ancient Kingdom could mean death, but refusing this man before me would lead to immediate death. Compared to that, it’s better to live even a little while longer.

"To be able to accompany you, sir, is this old one’s good fortune. What more could I possibly say?" Wei forced a smile more piteous than tears, choosing his words with extreme care, terrified that if he misspoke by even a single syllable, the crazed youth might stab him without a second thought.