Chapter 103: The Corpse Execution Needles
Hạ Ẩn was furious and was about to give chase when suddenly a sharp pain shot through his shoulder. Tần Mục had used the sword scabbard to recall the Thiếu Bảo Sword. Although the power of that strike was not strong, the Thiếu Bảo Sword was too sharp. It pierced through his shoulder blade, leaving a large hole in his shoulder!
Hạ Ẩn endured the pain, took out various sizes of jade bottles, first applied a hemostatic wound medicine, then applied medicine to treat broken bones and regenerate them, and then applied medicine to regenerate flesh. But the intense pain was unbearable.
Behind him, a flying corpse was grabbing wound medicine from a medicine jar and applying it to the neck of a flying corpse that Tần Mục had decapitated. Then it picked up the head and placed it on the neck that had been smeared with medicine.
That flying corpse's head wobbled, making cracking sounds, but its head had been put on backwards, facing behind it.
The flying corpse that was "treating" him seemed oblivious, walking over to the flying corpse that had been split in two, piecing its body together and smearing it with the foul-smelling ointment.
These flying corpses, even if decapitated or split in half, would not "die." As long as the Corpse Immortal Sect's ointment was applied and the severed limbs reattached, they could still jump around lively. Truly a wonder.
The Corpse Immortal Sect was accustomed to manipulating corpses, and indeed had its unique merits.
Suddenly, sounds of breaking through the air came, and one by one, disciples of the Corpse Immortal Sect quickly arrived beside Hạ Ẩn. One female disciple asked in surprise: "Senior Brother Hạ Ẩn, you're injured? Is that kid very strong?"
"Not strong."
Hạ Ẩn's face was ashen, and he gritted his teeth: "He's at most at the Ngũ Diệu realm, but his cultivation is not bad, and his movement technique is very strange. He's proficient in sword control and spells. He has a precious sword, and the scabbard can automatically retrieve the flying sword. Moreover, this sword is extremely sharp—my flying corpses simply can't block it! His injuries are also not light, so he shouldn't have fled far now!"
The many Corpse Immortal Sect disciples were startled. The female disciple said: "If he's proficient in sword control and spells, then he certainly doesn't have much skill in combat techniques. Let's chase after him, capture him, and hand him over to the Sect Master for judgment!"
More than ten Corpse Immortal Sect disciples quickly departed.
Hạ Ẩn stood up and was about to go over as well when suddenly another figure flew over. When Hạ Ẩn saw this person's face, he was startled and quickly bowed, saying: "Uncle Master Kiều!"
That Uncle Master Kiều frowned and said: "The kid who killed the Sect Master's son hasn't been caught yet, and instead you've been injured by him. Hạ Ẩn, you're becoming more and more capable."
Hạ Ẩn felt ashamed and said: "Uncle Master Kiều, the Sect Master..."
"The Sect Master already knows about this matter and is extremely furious. But right now he's still stabilizing the situation and quelling the chaos in the city."
Uncle Master Kiều said: "The Diên Khang National Preceptor has suffered a heavy blow. Heroes across the land are taking the opportunity to rise up, executing the evil party to rectify the court. Our Corpse Immortal Sect has a just cause this time—first we eliminate the National Preceptor's wings, then occupy Đê Giang County. Đê Giang County will be the Corpse Immortal Sect's power base. The foundation must be firmly established, and the National Preceptor's remaining party must be wiped out completely! Although the Sect Master is heartbroken, he still puts the overall situation first."
Hạ Ẩn acknowledged and said: "Please, Uncle Master Kiều, follow those junior brothers and sisters. Although that person is young, he has a sharp sword that can transform into a fish-dragon..."
Uncle Master Kiều was surprised: "A sharp sword that transforms into a fish-dragon? What exactly is its shape? Tell me in detail!"
Hạ Ẩn described the Thiếu Bảo Sword and the strange scabbard. Uncle Master Kiều's heart shook violently, and he blurted out: "This is the ceremonial sword of a first-rank official of the court—one of the finest treasures under heaven! Even our Corpse Immortal Sect doesn't have such a powerful treasure! How could such a heavy treasure appear on this young man? Could he be the offspring of some first-rank official in the court?"
His eyes flickered, and he smiled: "This sword is extraordinary. Heaven is indeed granting our sect great prosperity by sending us a first-rank ceremonial sword! I'll go seize this sword!" With that, he vanished in a flash.
Hạ Ẩn frowned, thinking to himself: "A first-rank official's ceremonial sword? This is a treasure symbolizing court status and identity. How could a first-rank official hand over his court sword to his offspring? Uncle Master Kiều's consideration is somewhat careless... I should quickly report this matter to the Sect Master!"
He hurried toward Đê Giang County.
Uncle Master Kiều followed the trail left by Tần Mục and the Corpse Immortal Sect disciples. Suddenly, he frowned slightly as he saw the first corpse—the corpse of a Corpse Immortal Sect disciple.
This disciple had a thin line of blood at his throat, with no other wounds. There was no blood nearby either. Judging from the wound, it seemed a sword tip had been drawn across the throat, severing the two major blood vessels.
From the angle of the sword strike, this disciple should have been flying on yellow talisman paper, ambushed from behind. Before he could react, the sword had already sliced across his throat.
But strangely, there was no blood nearby.
Uncle Master Kiều frowned. This could only mean that this disciple did not die here but had flown for a while in the air before being dropped.
His blood had already drained completely in the air.
What did this mean?
It meant that the young man who killed him had been standing right behind him!
This disciple should have been stepping on yellow talisman paper, hurrying forward to search for Tần Mục's trail. Meanwhile, that young man had silently appeared behind him, sliced his throat with one sword stroke, then pressed his body against the disciple's back, controlling his sword box. Yellow talisman paper continuously flew out from the sword box, spreading forward.
At the same time, this young man controlled the corpse of the Corpse Immortal Sect disciple to keep walking forward, making it look as if he were still alive, keeping pace with the other Corpse Immortal Sect disciples.
"This is corpse-controlling technique!"
Uncle Master Kiều's expression changed slightly: "This young man also knows corpse control! The disciples of our sect are in danger! But come to think of it, among the first-rank officials of the Diên Khang court, there doesn't seem to be anyone proficient in corpse control. What is this young man's background? Where did he learn the art of corpse control?"
It was now deep in the night, almost the third watch. Although there was moonlight, visibility was poor and limited.
Uncle Master Kiều could imagine that Tần Mục was surely taking advantage of the darkness, controlling the corpse of the Corpse Immortal Sect disciple. When he approached other Corpse Immortal Sect disciples, they would inevitably be caught off guard. By the time they could see clearly, it would already be too late to dodge his sword!
Under heaven, aside from the Corpse Immortal Sect, there were other evil sects and demonic cults that practiced corpse control, but their techniques differed.
The Corpse Immortal Sect could be said to be the foremost expert in the art of corpse control and corpse nurturing, though its reputation was not particularly good.
Judging from Tần Mục's corpse-controlling technique, it was also extremely remarkable. Being able to kill a Corpse Immortal Sect disciple and then control his corpse to make it appear as if he were still alive, so that other Corpse Immortal Sect disciples could not detect any flaw—this kind of corpse control was extremely rare.
"Somewhat like the Thiên Ma Sect's Great Corpse Control Art..."
Uncle Master Kiều continued chasing forward. Before long, he saw the second corpse, then the third, the fourth...
His eyelids twitched. He saw the seventh corpse. This corpse had no skin—the skin had been peeled off—but there was no blood. Despite being skinned, not a single drop of blood had flowed out.
Uncle Master Kiều's face changed drastically, and he let out a turbid breath: "Tạo Hóa Thiên Ma Công! This young man is a disciple of the Thiên Ma Sect!"
The corpse could no longer be identified as anyone. In other words, Tần Mục might now be any one of the pursuing disciples!
A fierce light flashed in Uncle Master Kiều's eyes. He continued the pursuit. Before long, he encountered several Corpse Immortal Sect disciples. These people had gathered in a circle, cautiously scanning their surroundings. When they saw him arrive, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
One disciple called out: "Uncle Master Kiều..."
Uncle Master Kiều flicked his fingers repeatedly. Thin needles as fine as ox hair shot out like lightning, piercing into the glabellas of these disciples!
Their eyes immediately became dull, their souls rapidly dissolved, and foam bubbled from their mouths.
These needles were Uncle Master Kiều's spiritual weapon, called the Corpse Execution Needles. Once struck, the soul would dissolve, turning the victim into a walking corpse with a body but no soul. Even a great immortal could not save them!
One female disciple stammered: "Uncle Master Kiều, why..."
Uncle Master Kiều moved swiftly, inspecting the bodies of these Corpse Immortal Sect disciples, and frowned slightly.
He did not find Tần Mục!
If Tần Mục had used the Thiên Ma Sect's Tạo Hóa Thiên Ma Công to peel skin and transform into the appearance of a Corpse Immortal Sect disciple, there should have been a red line on the skin. But none of these disciples had a red line!
This meant Tần Mục was not among them!
"Damn, I fell for it. I killed the wrong people."
Uncle Master Kiều's eyelids twitched. He looked at these Corpse Immortal Sect disciples and silently calculated: "If I leave their corpses behind, the Sect Master and the other old ghosts might detect something. It's safer to destroy the evidence."
He flicked his fingernails, and the powder hidden within flew out, landing on these people. The Corpse Immortal Sect disciples' flesh immediately dissolved, even their bones and clothes were melted away, turning into pools of pus.
Uncle Master Kiều breathed a sigh of relief, squinted his eyes, and scanned the surroundings. He found no trace of Tần Mục. Suddenly his body shook, and countless red dots flowed out from under his robe—tens of thousands of corpse beetles.
These corpse beetles spread their wings and flew off in all directions. The moon was setting in the west, and the east was turning pale. The swarm of red corpse beetles flew through the air like fireflies wandering the wilderness before sunrise.
"A first-rank official's ceremonial sword would be more than enough to serve as the sect's founding treasure."
Uncle Master Kiều looked up at the morning glow in the east and murmured: "The Sect Master has been sitting in that position for too long. It's time for him to move his butt..."
Đại Khư, Tàn Lão Village.
"Muội, time to get up and eat. Why are you still sleeping?"
Just after Tư Bà Bà said this, she froze. Tần Mục had left the village a few days ago. During these days, every time she cooked, she would make an extra portion, then call for Tần Mục to come eat, forgetting each time that Tần Mục had already left the village.
Tư Bà Bà sighed, silently finished her breakfast alone, tossed the pots and bowls aside without washing them, and sat at the table lost in thought.
Suddenly, the little old woman stood up, tiptoed into the room, tidied up a bit, slung a basket over her arm, and tiptoed out of the house on her bound feet, heading out of the village.
At the village entrance, Dược Sư and the Village Chief were still drinking tea, relaxed and at ease.
Tư Bà Bà ignored the two of them, carrying her basket as she walked out.
"Old woman Tư, aren't you going to say a word about leaving the village?" the Village Chief said leisurely.