Chapter 55: Let's Play Again

“Look! What’s that?”

Everyone turned in the direction indicated by the speaker’s outstretched finger.

A figure shrouded in a chilling, sinister aura, with disheveled gray-white hair obscuring its face, leapt nimbly from beam to beam, and within moments landed atop the dueling platform.

It crouched beside Xiang Yingtian, uttering strange, guttural sounds from its throat.

A look of doting affection appeared on Xiang Yingtian’s face as he reached out and patted the head of the Phantom Demon.

The sight before them sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

None of them had expected Xiang Yingtian to be so intimate with the Phantom Demon.

“Good child,” Xiang Yingtian murmured softly, before turning a cold, sinister gaze on Yun Zhonghe. His voice was icy as he commanded, “Kill him. Drain every drop of his blood.”

From beneath the Phantom Demon’s veil of tangled hair, its eyes locked onto Yun Zhonghe, and it let out a low growl.

A shiver ran down Yun Zhonghe’s spine, as if he’d been targeted by a savage beast; a wave of frigid, oppressive energy surged toward him.

He gripped the hilt of his blade tightly, channeling his inner strength until the encroaching dread finally ebbed from his heart.

In the blink of an eye, the Phantom Demon’s form blurred into a shadow.

A heartbeat later, it appeared directly in front of Yun Zhonghe.

Eyes widening in alarm, Yun Zhonghe cried, “So fast!”

Even as he spoke, his body acted on instinct, dodging aside.

The demon’s sharp, elongated nails whooshed through the air, grazing Yun Zhonghe’s skin and making it sting.

In that instant, Yun Zhonghe twisted his wrist and swept his long blade at the creature’s head.

But the Phantom Demon was preternaturally agile; before the blade could fall, it had already evaded.

Knowing this strike would not land, Yun Zhonghe used the demon’s dodge to his advantage, pushing off with the tip of his foot and darting away like a swallow in flight.

Off to the side, Fu Hongxue called out a warning: “Brother Yun, be careful! Don’t let that demon wound you, or you’ll become a monster like him—not human, not ghost.”

Yun Zhonghe halted abruptly, nodding in acknowledgement of Fu Hongxue’s warning.

Then, with a powerful stomp, he charged at the Phantom Demon even faster.

His blade swept out, the arc of steel cutting through the air.

From behind its curtain of hair, the demon’s eyes flashed crimson. Though robbed of intelligence, it still felt provoked by Yun Zhonghe’s attack.

With a roar, it opened its mouth, releasing a shockwave of sound.

To Yun Zhonghe’s astonishment, his blade’s radiant arc melted into nothingness beneath the force of that roar.

“I knew Yun Zhonghe was just showing off,” someone sneered.

“With his skills, how could he possibly be a match for the Phantom Demon?”

“Yun Zhonghe, are you up to this or not?”

Their jeers rang out as they watched Yun Zhonghe’s offensive crumble so easily.

Fu Hongxue’s face darkened. He swept his gaze over the mocking crowd and said coldly, “Anyone who utters another word—dies.”

The murderous intent in his eyes silenced them instantly; not one dared make another sound.

Their attention returned to the stage, where Yun Zhonghe was being battered and humiliated by the Phantom Demon. Inwardly, they wished: Don’t let that bastard Yun Zhonghe off the hook—tear him apart, finish him!

Bang!

A tremendous crash drew their eyes. The Phantom Demon had slammed its fist into the ground, its immense power sending cracks racing across the platform like a spider’s web.

Yun Zhonghe was hurled into the air by the shockwave.

The Phantom Demon seized its chance, moving like lightning to strike at Yun Zhonghe.

Suspended in midair, Yun Zhonghe had nothing to brace against, nowhere to dodge.

At the critical moment, he could only grit his teeth and cross his arms before his chest, bracing for the blow.

Bang!

He crashed to the ground like a falling star, smashing a crater into the earth.

Dust billowed everywhere.

When it finally settled, the platform was reduced to ruins.

Fu Hongxue brushed the dust from his shoulders, eyes darting as he searched for Yun Zhonghe.

But there was no sign of him anywhere. Just as Fu Hongxue’s heart sank, Xiang Yingtian’s mocking voice rang out: “Is that all you can do? Pathetic.”

“You truly are my good child.”

He beamed as he patted the Phantom Demon’s head, and the demon pressed its head into his palm, basking in the praise.

Seeing Yun Zhonghe apparently dead at the Phantom Demon’s hand, the crowd broke into smiles.

“That villain Yun Zhonghe is finally dead!”

“Heaven may forgive the sins of fate, but not those we bring upon ourselves.”

“Don’t get too smug, Xiang Yingtian. Your turn will come soon enough. You and your monster can go to hell together—at least you’ll have company.”

With Yun Zhonghe gone, their hatred turned once again to Xiang Yingtian.

Yet Xiang Yingtian remained perfectly calm in the face of their threats, sneering: “If I wish to leave, not even Master Hong can stop me!”

The old master, Hong Qigong, bristled at such arrogance and prepared to put an end to Xiang Yingtian once and for all.

“Arrogant fool!” Fu Hongxue barked, voice thunderous.

Hong Qigong froze mid-step, thinking, Let the younger generation settle their own scores.

He drew back, settling in to watch events unfold.

“Today I will kill you, to cleanse my master’s name!” Fu Hongxue vowed, voice thick with anger.

But Xiang Yingtian met his threat with utter fearlessness: “Very well. I’ll send you and that old fool to join your father in the grave.”

Fu Hongxue could no longer be bothered to argue with such a beast in human form; he gathered his inner strength, ready to strike.

Just as the two were about to clash, a soft laugh rang out, making them pause.

“Xiang Yingtian, you’re celebrating a bit too soon.”

Both men snapped their heads towards the voice.

A blur passed before their eyes, and suddenly a figure with a long blade appeared before them, smiling.

Who else could it be but Yun Zhonghe?

“Brother Yun!” Fu Hongxue exclaimed joyfully. Though he’d known Yun Zhonghe’s skills were formidable, he’d still felt anxious. But seeing Yun Zhonghe standing there, radiating vitality and utterly unscathed, he realized his fears had been in vain.

For Xiang Yingtian, however, Yun Zhonghe’s survival was anything but good news.

“How are you not dead?!” Xiang Yingtian’s voice trembled with terror.

“People always say good men die young while the wicked live forever. As a notorious villain, how could I possibly die so easily?” Yun Zhonghe replied, his words meant for everyone present.

He scanned the crowd, noting their misery—each face twisted as if swallowing a dead fly.

When his gaze found Ah Zi, the corners of his lips softened into a gentle smile.

“Scoundrel!” Ah Zi murmured through tears of relief, her worry finally easing.

The Phantom Demon’s earlier assault had terrified her.

From now on, I must train diligently and never be a burden to Yun Lang again, she vowed silently, watching his figure.

Just then, Yun Zhonghe’s gaze shifted to the Phantom Demon beside Xiang Yingtian.

“That was just a warm-up. Care to play with me again?”