Chapter 103

Chapter 103: Tearing Off the Left Ear

Lou Yun left Granny Bai Cao’s thatched hut and immediately pushed his movement technique to its limits, streaking directly northward.

Although Lou Yun had resolved to temporarily set aside matters concerning his family and Zuo Mingyang’s group, a lingering concern remained heavy on his heart. Truly letting go proved impossible. Driven by this, he pushed his speed to the maximum, hoping to swiftly obtain the Qi Cai Xue Lian, deliver it to Granny Bai Cao for medicine refinement, and rush back to Gu Feng Nation without delay.

Throughout the journey, Lou Yun only stopped to replenish his spiritual energy when it was completely exhausted; all other time was consumed by relentless travel.

The journey was arduous. Yet, because he persistently trained while on the move, his cultivation progressed far more effectively under these demanding conditions than it did during peaceful meditation. Without him even noticing, his movement technique and overall strength gradually improved.

After a full month of this continuous, high-speed journey, the border of Bei Xiong Nation finally appeared on the distant horizon. This speed far exceeded Granny Bai Cao’s initial estimate. Even Lou Yun hadn’t anticipated such swiftness. Of course, this remarkable pace wasn’t solely due to his relentless effort; his proficiency in the "Wind Play Decision" movement technique had also grown increasingly refined and rapid. He couldn’t truly shrink the earth or traverse a thousand miles in a step, but racing against the wind? He could win more than half of the time!

After pressing on for another day, night fell, and Lou Yun’s spiritual energy was nearly depleted. He slowed his pace and let out a long sigh of relief, proceeding slowly along the official road. He had become accustomed to this state: even while walking, he could absorb spiritual energy relatively quickly.

He had previously resorted to using spiritual crystals to absorb energy, but considering that method was exorbitantly expensive – enough to bankrupt him eventually, even with substantial wealth – he had temporarily abandoned it.

As he walked, Lou Yun remained vigilant, scanning his surroundings. Nighttime brought the increased risk of highwaymen, and he had encountered quite a few on this journey. While unafraid, he found them bothersome. After numerous encounters, he preferred to avoid confrontation, dodging or circumventing them whenever possible.

He had walked for a while when, suddenly, his keen eyes spotted a dark, bulky object dangling about ten or so yards away on a large tree, swaying back and forth in the wind.

A thought crossed Lou Yun’s mind. He released his spiritual sense but detected no trace of energy fluctuations. Chang Xiang also remained silent, offering no warning. This likely meant it wasn’t a living creature.

As he drew closer and took a proper look, Lou Yun’s brow furrowed slightly. Hanging from the tree was the corpse of an old man who appeared to be around fifty – tall and lean, with a hawk-like nose and a broad mouth.

A thin, tough cord, like steel wire, was tightly cinched around his neck, suspending him in midair from a horizontal branch high in the treetop.

The old man’s eyes bulged grotesquely from their sockets; his blood-red tongue lolled out of his gaping mouth. His hands were stiffly curved, and his face was twisted into a horrifyingly frightful shape.

Observing this brutal scene, it wasn’t hard to imagine that the old man had endured excruciating agony before he died.

Though fearless, seeing a corpse perished in such horrific fashion deep at night in this desolate wilderness unsettled Lou Yun.

Looking once more, Lou Yun noticed something stark: the hanged man’s left ear was missing. The wound was still freshly bloody, the ragged edges starkly visible – it had clearly been torn off violently not long ago.

Lou Yun’s eyes sharpened. He quickly scanned the area and spotted a trail trodden into the grass to his right: messy, chaotic footsteps leading further in.

Despite consistently reminding himself not to meddle in others’ affairs lest it delay Wan Huier’s treatment, the sheer brutality of this scene convinced Lou Yun the perpetrator couldn’t be righteous. Letting it go probably meant more victims. After a moment’s hesitation, he followed the trail deeper into the grass.

After walking roughly a couple of dozen yards, another shocking sight met him: Two burly men, clad entirely in black, lay dead flat on the ground.

Their internal organs flowed out along the ground. The potent stench of blood wafted on the night breeze, assaulting Lou Yun’s nose, making him nauseous.

Lou Yun fought down the rising gorge and studied the corpses intently. Sure enough, both men’s left ears were also missing.

Lou Yun couldn’t immediately ascertain how they died. After careful consideration, however, he deduced that they had probably attacked and killed each other. Their magical weapons had vanished upon their deaths.

Now, Lou Yun’s resolve to uncover this murderer solidified. He pressed onward.

What he encountered next stunned him further. About every fifty or sixty yards ahead, he stumbled upon another corpse, or sometimes two. Tracing the grim path, he counted a total of fourteen bodies. The methods of death varied – some strangled, others dismembered – yet every single corpse bore the same mutilation: their left ears had been violently torn off.

Lou Yun wasn’t overly familiar with renowned figures across Spirit Weapon Star. He couldn’t recall any specific expert known for ripping off left ears.

Regardless, the sheer atrocity of this chain of deaths pushed Lou Yun’s anger to its absolute peak. Even if there was enmity, killing an opponent should be the end. There was no need to further mutilate their bodies, denying them peace even in death.

But who could it be? And where had the perpetrator fled?

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Chang Xiang’s warning abruptly sounded in his consciousness: “Stop thinking. They’re here. Ahead of you, about one kilometer away! Approaching fast! Strength is human-level five-star magical weapons master! You’re not his match!”

Lou Yun clenched his jaw. “Even if I’m no match, I’ll still confront them!”

Simultaneously, he patted Xiao Huo perched on his shoulder. “Xiao Huo, if I lose the fight, burn them to ashes with your fire!”

Lou Yun seldom relied on Xiao Huo’s power unless absolutely desperate. But this case was different. Besides facing Wu Shaopin last time, this marked only the second instance where Lou Yun felt an overwhelming, fierce desire to kill someone.

Since the other party was already rushing toward him, Lou Yun saw no need to go meet them. Instead, he found a suitable spot for battle and stood straight, waiting.

True enough, in a blink, a voice as icy and haunting as if from the underworld itself echoed from afar: "Hehe! Someone else has come to meet their death! What a delight! Kid, you’re doomed today!"

The voice had barely faded when a figure appeared before Lou Yun: portly and towering.

The figure wore a loose, grayish-black robe. Across their chest hung a string of ears still wet with blood. This confirmed they were the murderer who had slain the previous fourteen victims.

The person looked grotesquely deformed. A massive body supported a skull-sized head. That head was skeletal, skin clinging barely to bone, crowned with fiery red hair spilling over both shoulders. A pair of cold, glowing green eyes locked onto Lou Yun.

Lou Yun had seen terrifying sights before—the beastmen of Chiyan Mountain ranked among them. Yet, this apparition surpassed even those horrors. Its nightmarish, twisted form evoked an evil spirit, sending chills down the spine.

Terror aside, not a shred of actual fear stirred within Lou Yun.

Suddenly, without any visible movement, the figure seemed propelled by some unseen force, drifting slowly towards Lou Yun.

Such a bizarre movement startled Lou Yun, forcing a single step backward. After all, this opponent was a human-level five-star magical weapons master—the strongest foe Lou Yun had encountered since beginning his journey!

The freak’s rigid, wooden-like face shifted slightly. Its voice, devoid of all warmth, issued slowly like ice grinding: "You don’t seem ordinary. Yet there’s no trace of spiritual energy or a magical weapon within you? Tch… I lack the interest to kill you. End yourself now. Spare me the effort."

Lou Yun let out a cold laugh. "You monster of neither man nor ghost! You think you scare me?" His expression turning frigid, he demanded sharply, "Was it you? Those fourteen lives murdered on the way here?"

The skeletal face remained utterly emotionless and stiff. After a prolonged silence, it finally spoke again, every word measured and slow: "For answers… first survive three moves against me."

Not even the faintest twitch of a facial muscle accompanied the words; only the lips moved minutely.

Lou Yun already knew the killer from the grotesque trophy. Yet, curiosity about the freak’s true strength kept him silent.

Silence returned. The freak made no discernible movement, yet somehow began encircling Lou Yun, ascending and descending erratically like a ghastly phantom. Its rigid body and alien head amplified its terror.

Chang Xiang’s warning rang out urgently, “Be careful! That movement skill is sinister! He’s reached a level where he flies without a magical weapon!”

Nodding inwardly, Lou Yun gripped the Dream Emperor Sword, ready.

With no warning, the freak struck, lashing a palm towards Lou Yun.

The single move drew twin grunts of surprise from both Lou Yun and Chang Xiang. A magical weapons master, attacking without their magical weapon? Using his body itself as the weapon? Lou Yun had never met another beyond himself who wielded their body like a magical weapon like this.

The palm move was elusive, seemingly weightless. Yet it shifted abruptly within a foot of Lou Yun, aiming simultaneously at his head, torso, and legs.

That softly drifting strike felt like a vast fishing net falling from all sides, trapping Lou Yun, leaving him momentarily directionless.

Lou Yun refused submission. His right hand thrust the Dream Emperor Sword: the attack Sword Piercing Cloud Shadows striking out! At the same moment, his left fist clenched as he unleashed the explosive force of Sky Thunder Explosion!

Sword plunged to one side, fist hammered the other. Both attacks carried explosive secondary force. Two deafening booms — “Boom! Boom!” — shattered the closing palm attack.

Witnessing this, the freak also emitted a surprised grunt. Clearly, he too recognized Lou Yun’s capability to wield his own body as a magical weapon for weapon techniques.

Few warriors on the Spirit Weapon Star ever used their bodies to execute weapon techniques. Magical or common weapons amplified force profoundly — channeling weapon spirit power transformed from one’s vital energy — whereas the body inherently lacked this capacity. (Though Lou Yun was the exception; his body had undergone rigorous, unique refinement.)

Interest flared visibly in the freak’s eyes. Without utterance, its palms snapped open then slammed shut together. A wild gale erupted, tearing through the air with mountain-splitting force, surging violently toward Lou Yun.

The style and power of this second strike differed utterly from the first, yet the destructive impact multiplied several times over.

Lou Yun dared not block head-on this time. Whirling swiftly, he leveraged his own movement art. His body became as a fragile leaf caught in the attack’s wind, buffeted high. Swaying several times within the torrent, he was tossed back over thirty feet before landing securely.

Another grunt escaped the freak, this time clearly shocked. Lou Yun’s exceptional movement technique exceeded expectations — high-level mobility was another skill lacking in most magical weapons masters!

Seeing both initial strikes fail to fell Lou Yun, the freak seemed agitated. It tilted its skull-like head towards the sky and loosed a piercing, inhuman shriek. Then another palm strike surged forward.

Though grotesque, its power paled before the first two attacks. Sensing this, Lou Yun sheathed the Dream Emperor Sword, meeting the attack with fists clenched. Sky Thunder Explosion boomed from both hands, blasting the strike away.

Simultaneously, a faint fragrance reached Lou Yun’s nose. Immediately, dizziness struck. He swayed unsteadily, caught off guard.

What had happened?

“You’ve been poisoned!” Chang Xiang declared coldly.

Lou Yun understood instantly. That was why the blow lacked force! The fiend had laced its attack with toxin. Blocking it meant he unconsciously inhaled the poison. Having never faced poison before, he’d neglected any defense.

But poisoned he might be — fearlessly, Lou Yun clapped a hand over his mouth. Under this cover he slipped something cold beneath his lips. With practiced secrecy he slid the ice crystal jade weapon onto his tongue. An icy chill surged through him. His body trembled violently once, but clarity returned instantly. The poison was neutralized.

Oblivious, the freak gave a cruel laugh, preparing to stride forward. Lou Yun played the poisoned role beautifully, pretending to stumble heavily, propping himself weakly with the Dream Emperor Sword. Its blade plunged into the earth; Lou leaned against it, feigning crippling weakness. Deeper strategy sparked within him: deceive the foe, lure them closer, then strike an exposed vulnerability.

It was then Chang Xiang’s icy tone cut through his thoughts like frost: “Someone else approaches!”