Chapter 33: Let’s Play a Game

Gu Changhuai had still been planning to reason with Shi Ying, to figure out exactly how he couldn’t protect the formation, when Shi Ying flung a long-handled axe hammer at him. “Die!”

This was a bit unsportsmanlike.

Gu Changhuai’s eyes shifted, and he casually placed his hand on the hilt of his saber.

He prepared to crack Shi Ying’s skull open.

But in the instant the axe hammer neared, a sudden push from beside him forced him back a few steps, dodging the incoming strike.

Gu Changhuai: “?”

He gripped the saber that was about to be drawn and turned to look at Pei Tianyi. Pei Tianyi had shaken off his earlier daze, his expression now resolute. He said to Gu Changhuai, “Let me handle this!”

With that, he immediately summoned his longsword and met Shi Ying’s killing blow head-on.

Fine.

You take it.

Gu Changhuai released his hold on the saber hilt and calmly crossed his arms to watch from the sidelines.

He wanted to see what would happen.

In a breath’s time, Pei Tianyi and Shi Ying had already exchanged several moves. Pei Tianyi’s cultivation was inferior to Shi Ying’s, so he struggled to block the attacks, but his swordsmanship was versatile and agile, and his footwork was exceptional.

Shi Ying didn’t dare injure Pei Tianyi easily. He mostly dodged Pei Tianyi’s offensives and repeatedly tried to veer off toward Gu Changhuai on the side, only to be intercepted by Pei Tianyi each time.

After several exchanges, Shi Ying grew annoyed. “Little Young Master! Why are you protecting this traitor? The Lady has paved such a long path for you—do you really intend to break her heart for an outsider?”

Pei Tianyi retorted, “Who is your Little Young Master! This young master is the young disciple of the Xinnan Immortal Sect, a proper sword cultivator! My Dao is this sword—it’s the righteous path!” He gathered all his spiritual energy into his sword and thrust suddenly at Shi Ying. “Not consorting with the likes of you, whose crimes fill the heavens!”

The full-force strike pierced Shi Ying’s abdomen, thoroughly enraging him. His eyes turned vicious as he said, “Then don’t blame me for being impolite, Little Young Master!”

No longer holding back, he knocked away the incoming longsword with a swing of his hammer and sent Pei Tianyi flying back.

Pei Tianyi stumbled uncontrollably for several steps before he could steady himself, immediately spitting out a mouthful of blood. He barely managed to stabilize his stance, his brows still proud and his gaze unwavering. “Fighting for the Dao—what’s there to fear in death!”

As he spoke, spiritual energy surged wildly around him, as if he was ready to fight Shi Ying to the death, showing no fear of his superior strength.

What a spirited young man.

Gu Changhuai lowered his gaze and smiled.

At that moment, Pei Tianyi had steeled himself for death. He mobilized all the spiritual energy around him and within his body, preparing for a final stand.

Gu Changhuai was merely a lowly attendant on Supreme Peak—his cultivation was probably only at Foundation Establishment at best. Now, having sneaked into the Demon Clan’s Zhuangzi Manor at mortal risk and gotten dragged into this mess to save him—how could he stand by and watch Shi Ying harm Gu Changhuai!

But the next moment, a hand landed on his shoulder. Before Pei Tianyi could react, Gu Changhuai lightly flung him aside.

“It’s not your turn to die.” Gu Changhuai stepped forward leisurely, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. Without looking back, he waved casually at Pei Tianyi. “Go on, play in the dirt out back.”

Pei Tianyi hadn’t yet recovered when he saw Gu Changhuai’s figure flash like a ghost. In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind Shi Ying.

Sensing the dangerously oppressive aura closing in, Shi Ying became alert at once. But before he could move, a sharp pain exploded in the back of his knees with a crisp “crack.” His legs buckled uncontrollably, forcing him to kneel.

The silent appearance and irresistible force sent chills down Shi Ying’s spine. He opened his mouth to shout, but a spell sealed it shut. He tried to resist, but an overwhelming pressure pinned him to the ground, immobile.

In that instant, he realized this was an inescapable crisis. His eyes widened, his body trembling slightly from fear.

“Shh—” Gu Changhuai said softly. “Be quiet.”

Silence fell around them.

This sudden reversal left Pei Tianyi stunned in place, utterly shocked. The scene before him was more like a one-sided massacre.

The person he thought needed protection wasn’t weak at all. In fact, his strength far exceeded expectations—impossible to gauge.

A smile played at Gu Changhuai’s lips. In the quiet corridor, his low voice rang out. “Unfortunately, I’m in a bad mood today.” He spoke softly, his tone playful. “From now on, let’s play a game.”

With that, Shattered Shadow appeared on his slender, pale fingers and gently rested on Shi Ying’s head. An eerie, icy, terrifying aura instantly enveloped the area.

“I’ll count to three.” He lowered his eyes, amusement lingering at their corners but none in their depths. “Think carefully about how to keep your head.”

His voice was languid.

He began counting.

“One.”

Shi Ying struggled to escape. The axe hammer that had fallen nearby wrapped in demonic energy tried to counterattack, but Gu Changhuai crushed it underfoot.

“Two.”

Shi Ying’s chest heaved as he gasped for breath, seemingly trying to call for help.

Gu Changhuai smiled faintly. “Three.”

As the word fell, the hand on Shi Ying’s head twisted sharply. With a “crack,” his neck separated from his body, blood spraying everywhere.

The headless corpse toppled with a thud, lifeless. A wisp of divine sense shot out from the dantian in the torso, fleeing at top speed in a desperate bid for survival.

Gu Changhuai didn’t even move, merely lifting his eyelids. His gaze fell coolly on the fleeing sense.

A strand of demonic energy appeared abruptly, wrapping around it at terrifying speed and shredding it completely.

He cut the grass at the root.

Now that was more like it.

Gu Changhuai nodded in satisfaction, his expression returning to normal. He glanced down at the bloody head in his hand, shaking his head with regret. “…Looks like you lost.”

His life had come to an end.

As soon as he spoke, his eyes grew indifferent. With a slight squeeze of his fingers, the head burst like an overripe fruit with a “bang.”

Silver armor stained with blood was indeed the most striking sight. Gu Changhuai stared at his bloodied fingers, his lips curving up as his mood improved. He unhurriedly used demonic energy to clean the blood from Shattered Shadow.

At the same time, demonic energy surged from his body, sweeping through the surroundings with practiced ease. In moments, it erased all traces of blood left by Shi Ying.

Destroying the corpse and eliminating evidence.

In no time, the corridor returned to its original state.

Everything was as if nothing had happened.

After handling everything, Gu Changhuai stored Shattered Shadow and resumed his harmless demeanor, walking gracefully toward Pei Tianyi.

Seeing the other’s dazed stare, Gu Changhuai waved a hand in front of his eyes. “Wake up.”

Why was this kid spacing out?

Hearing the voice snapped Pei Tianyi out of his trance. In his shock, he instinctively stepped back.

Though cultivators in the Cultivation World often saw blood while slaying demons and upholding justice, he had never witnessed such a brutal scene—casually ripping off a great demon’s head and crushing it…

His pupils contracted as he stared at Gu Changhuai, stammering, “You… you’re… are you really… from the Demon Clan… You lied to me! You deceived the Immortal Venerable, you you you…”

When his eyes met Gu Changhuai’s, he couldn’t speak anymore.

Gu Changhuai raised a brow. “What are you afraid of?” He smiled warmly. “I don’t eat people.” His tone was gentle and composed, laced with a faint amusement.

Yet it sent shivers down Pei Tianyi’s spine.

Gu Changhuai had used that very tone to effortlessly decapitate Shi Ying—leaving him no room to resist!

“Hurry up and go. Don’t dawdle,” Gu Changhuai urged patiently. Any more delay, and they might not escape.

Pei Tianyi shook his head vigorously. “No, no.” He whispered, “I have to go back for my dad.”

As he spoke, his eyes kept watching Gu Changhuai’s expression. But with the mask on, he could only see Gu Changhuai’s eyes.

The owner of those eyes showed no emotion, glancing indifferently at him. “Come on, give me a reason why you have to go back.” Though he asked, Gu Changhuai was already pondering in his mind—troublesome. Should he knock the kid out and carry him?

“My dad… he has a death wish. I have to take him with me,” Pei Tianyi said, lips pressed tight. “He’s always preferred to shatter like jade rather than tile. If I really leave, with no worries holding him back, I’m afraid…”

The unspoken implication made Gu Changhuai think of four words immediately.

Mutual destruction.

The Enforcement Elder intended mutual destruction with Lady Mengying.

Their youthful feelings couldn’t be faked, but her actions contradicted his Dao. Unable to betray his path or abandon the sect, and unwilling to strike ruthlessly, he could only choose mutual destruction to honor their past vows of love.

Realizing this, Gu Changhuai fell silent.

Pei Tianyi truly was the Enforcement Elder’s flesh and blood—their mindsets matched perfectly… Was mutual destruction some trendy way to die?

Moreover, the puppet in the crystal coffin probably wouldn’t hold out until Pei Tianyi turned back to find the Enforcement Elder.

As if to confirm Gu Changhuai’s thoughts, the rose thorns that had been quietly coiled on the roofs, walls, and planted in the garden suddenly stirred to life.

Shouts from maids echoed from all directions: “Little Young Master! Where are you, Little Young Master!”

“Little Young Master—”

The entire Zhuangzi Manor came alive in an instant. Han Ya suddenly perched on Gu Changhuai’s shoulder, reporting urgently, “Bad news! Lady Mengying is coming!”

Gu Changhuai: “!”

“Run!” He decisively grabbed Pei Tianyi and bolted toward the exit. “Your dad stayed behind for your safety—you can’t go back now.”

Pei Tianyi hesitated. “But…”

He had no chance to finish. Gu Changhuai had already brought him to the barrier’s exit. With a flick of his hand, he hurled Pei Tianyi into the air. “Catch him!”

Pei Tianyi: “…”

For that instant, he felt weightless, the wind rushing past and blanking his mind.

At the same time, the barrier tore open a gap.

Outside, Jin Shuang stood on his flying sword. Seeing Pei Tianyi flung into the air, his heart skipped. Who tossed a person like trash…? But his hands moved swiftly, throwing out the Immortal Binding Lock to snag Pei Tianyi and yank him outside the barrier.

Suddenly, a woman’s furious shout rang through the air: “Stop! Let go of my Yi’er!” At the same time, a thornless rose vine materialized from the other side, wrapping around Pei Tianyi’s waist.

Lady Mengying, who had appeared abruptly, controlled the vine with a face full of rage, yanking fiercely to drag him back inside the barrier.

Gu Changhuai: “!”

Oh no!

Now, there was no escaping.