Chapter Thirteen: Turning the Tables

Not far away, the footsteps of those pursuing them could already be faintly heard.

So fast!

“Wait here,” Chu Jie spoke softly, wiping the blood from his face.

“Be careful.” Just two words, but Qi Wei’s tears broke forth like a flood.

Chu Jie glanced back, picked Qi Wei up, and set her in the corner of the wall, covering her with a tattered straw mat. “Don’t move. Wait for me to come back!”

He strode out of the thatched hut, and under the cover of night, Chu Jie darted to a tree like a bat.

The pursuers had already arrived below.

“They can’t have gotten far; this place isn’t big at all!”

Bang! Chu Jie dropped like a meteor, striking the man’s head, smashing it into his chest before it exploded.

The wind howled, rain poured, and the endless ink-black night seemed to devour everything.

Suddenly, lightning slashed across the heavens, exposing Chu Jie clearly to all. His fierce and radiant presence stood in stark contrast to his earlier wretched state.

Now, without Qi Wei slowing him down, Chu Jie—fueled by rage—resembled a furious lion, his eyes flashing with cold, deadly light as he surveyed the crowd.

The rain poured down in torrents, the temperature plummeted, and the atmosphere felt even more sinister and terrifying.

This truly was the Dark City; even hell could scarcely compare.

Ding-dong—a huge raindrop struck the sword of one of the underlings, who shuddered in fright.

Chu Jie was instantly behind him, his left hand clamped around the man’s neck, his right hand pressed against the man’s right chest for a moment, then his fingers, like iron pincers, dug in. With a crack, three ribs snapped. The broken bones, still attached to sinew, were pulled from his flesh and driven through his throat.

The scene shifted from silence to chaos; everyone knew Chu Jie had nearly recovered, but tempted by the bounty, none wished to retreat. Chu Jie seized the sword from the fallen man, let out a long howl, and stabbed at another underling.

Chu Jie’s fighting spirit soared! His long hair whipped about him, like a demon dragon reborn!

The underling was also of the fifth tier physique—he might have withstood one strike. But Chu Jie feinted with the sword, aiming low; the underling ducked, only for his head to be seized in Chu Jie’s other hand. With a squeeze, his skull was crushed, brain matter splattering everywhere.

Chu Jie kicked the corpse aside, sending it crashing into another would-be assassin. Two more underlings closed in from behind. As Chu Jie turned, one’s blade swept past his cheek, but so nimble was Chu Jie that not even a strand of hair was cut.

He crouched, fist clenched, channeling all his spiritual energy into his forearm, a faint red glow emanating. “Die!”

The punch landed with a force of over a thousand pounds, smashing both men in the chest. Their hearts burst instantly, blood spewing from their mouths onto Chu Jie’s face.

At this moment, everyone understood that Chu Jie’s body had recovered well. Remembering how he once crippled Wang Kun, a sixth-tier master, with one punch while only at the fifth tier, the sheer ferocity and hatred made none dare approach. They all retreated in panic.

“He... he’s recovered!” one underling screamed in terror.

The rest trembled like leaves in the wind, faces pale as gold, fleeing to the rear.

Chu Jie’s gaze shifted, seeing the retreating underlings. His murderous intent surged—he gave chase.

The battle instantly reversed!

Chu Jie, bathed in blood, hunted the herd like a fiend in the night.

Those who fled too slowly were stomped down, their necks snapped under Chu Jie’s foot, all without the use of his hands. Thunder roared, and under the lightning, Chu Jie looked every bit a vampire.

“Ah!” “Demon!” The crowd screamed in horror, fleeing in terror, but Chu Jie’s wrath was unstoppable—none would escape.

Chu Jie’s charge was like a wild stallion, unrestrained, his sixth-tier physique pushing his agility to the limit. In a blink, he had cornered the group against a wall.

There was no way out now; only by killing Chu Jie could they hope to live. The desperate will to survive drove the assassins mad—Chu Jie knew this was dangerous, for a cornered beast fights fiercest.

Five assassins lined up, glaring fiercely, each channeling spiritual energy to their sword tips. Five finely crafted steel blades transformed into five streaks of blue light, slashing toward Chu Jie. As they reached him, the five split apart, surrounding him in the center.

When rivals meet on a narrow path, the brave prevail!

The five spun their swords, golden shields seeming to form around each, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Chu Jie gripped his sword with both hands, attacking and defending. With a sweep of his arms, the force shattered two men’s defensive techniques, sending their swords flying far away.

Disarmed, the two cried out in alarm. Chu Jie’s left foot shot out, his toe locking onto one man’s throat. On the other side, his sword gleamed like a spirit snake, lashing at another’s chest.

Sword energy tore through the black night; neither man even had time to scream before collapsing.

The remaining three rapidly changed formation, attacking from the front, the flank, and the rear.

Though reduced in number, their formation was several times stronger, targeting the weakest points of the body.

Chu Jie cursed their shamelessness, one hand protecting himself below, the other threw away his sword and grabbed the blade of the man before him. Blood instantly welled up from his hand, but the blade snapped in his grip and was driven into the man’s chest. He twisted the man’s neck, wielding him as a weapon to sweep around.

The other two swung their swords, slicing Chu Jie’s body, dividing it into three parts.

The remaining two advanced together. Chu Jie mimicked his earlier move, throwing away his sword, grabbing each of their blades, but instead of breaking them, he slid his hands along to their wrists.

He twisted their arms with a crack of bone; both screamed as an arm was broken, leaving them immobilized. Chu Jie’s fingers moved like a spider, grabbing their collarbones. His fingers pierced deep like silver hooks, and he flung the two aside, their collarbones left in his hands.

The rain intensified, washing the bones in his hands to a pale white. Chu Jie let out a long roar, picked up the broken sword, and rushed the crowd.

Murderous intent blazed in Chu Jie’s eyes.

Sword energy tore through the downpour, sweeping ripples across the air, slicing through four or five men.

Chu Jie’s gaze burned with fighting spirit, his posture upright and unyielding.

Though his body was slashed and bleeding, Chu Jie still slaughtered like a god of war!

The rain poured in sheets, drops as large as beans pelting the earth.

They had already left the Nine Insect District; the bystanders watched coldly, faces indifferent.

Rain streamed down Chu Jie’s hair. Ahead, just over ten men remained. Chu Jie let out a furious howl, his body surging with force, streams of energy swirling around him. With a single sword sweep, he tore through the dark, rainy night!

A torrential rain!

Blood-soaked pursuit!

Chu Jie’s hand was steady, his face splattered with blood.

“Don’t come any closer… don’t come any closer!” The last remaining underling retreated in panic, terror etched on his face.

Seeing Chu Jie approach with the blood-dripping sword, he dropped to his knees, “Master Chu, don’t kill me… please don’t kill me…”

Chu Jie’s face was cold as frost; a blast of sword energy shot forth, blowing the man’s head apart. Only then did Chu Jie turn away.

He returned to the thatched hut, his eyes instantly bloodshot.

The hut was now a ruin; no matter how Chu Jie searched, Qi Wei was nowhere to be found.

It was a diversion! Qi Tianba had sent men to secretly abduct Qi Wei!

Chu Jie’s eyes filled with blood, fists clenched, his long hair streaming in the rain.

Though he had not known Qi Wei long, she had always treated him as a friend…

Qi Wei was in danger; Chu Jie could not stand by.

“Damn it!” Chu Jie gritted his teeth, grabbed his sword, and rushed forward.

He had never had a friend in his life, so he could not watch Qi Wei die!

Puh!

Just two steps forward, Chu Jie coughed up a mouthful of blood…

Ninth-tier physique! The Minor Tribulation…! Chu Jie cursed, pain flooding his body like knives scraping bone, making it hard to even walk steadily.

He ought to find a quiet place and wait out this Minor Tribulation, but delay would mean greater danger for Qi Wei.

A fierce glint flashed in Chu Jie’s eyes. He desperately summoned spiritual power to resist the agony, wiped blood from his face, and pushed onward through the storm.

The pain reddened his vision; though he stood in the pouring rain, cold sweat trickled constantly from his brow. The “Cycle Scroll” within him spun furiously, helping him barely endure the torment.

Earlier, carrying Qi Wei, Chu Jie had fled dozens of miles, fighting from sunset into night. His anxiety was overwhelming, but the Minor Tribulation lingered, slowing him greatly.

His body was flushed crimson, emitting waves of energy, as if burning alive.

The combined urgency and pain nearly made Chu Jie faint.

Rain poured down, the outskirts of Dark City lay silent, thunder thick as wrists exploded across the sky. Amid a cluster of tents, the occasional wail echoed…

Despite his rapid progress, it was two hours before Chu Jie reached Qi Tianba’s stronghold.