Outside the city, Su Min felt a deep sense of satisfaction. She had spent every last tael of that hundred-plus silver in one go, a cathartic release of pent-up indulgence. Blowing through what would be a fortune for most people left her feeling exhilarated.
"Money scattered will return again."
For her now, wealth wasn't a priority. Of course, she hadn't splurged mindlessly. She had stocked up on clothing, food, and seasonings.
The system-gifted robes were surprisingly practical. Toss them into her ring, and they would emerge clean. They even adjusted to her height and figure automatically. She had once wondered if the ring had been designed by some lecherous old sage.
She had also bought daily necessities and a small ceremonial cauldron, perfect as an alchemy furnace. Before, she had been using a crude clay pot, which was inefficient and laborious. This new one would serve her until she reached Qi Refining. After that, once artifact blueprints were unlocked, she could craft a proper furnace.
"Everything's stored in the ring, and no one noticed."
Glancing discreetly at the ring, she remained cautious. She'd never seen anything like it in this world. The gourds in her bamboo hut were just for show.
"Once I'm farther from the city, I can speed up. Hm?"
Just as she was about to accelerate, her brow twitched. In the city, she had felt as if someone was watching her but dismissed it, thinking her disguise sufficient. Now, outside the walls, that gaze persisted. Instantly, a thread of killing intent coiled in her chest.
"Dog Emperor's men? Persistent bastards."
Before she could react, a rustling sound rose from the brush, followed by a clamor. A group of ragged figures emerged, wielding rusted cleavers.
"..."
Su Min's lips twitched at the sight. She had been prepared for a serious fight, ready to leave no survivors, and yet, what appeared before her were merely a few pathetic human traffickers.
"Sorry, little lady," one of them said with a wicked grin. "We're short on cash. Selling you off should keep us fed for half a year."
"Let's see if you even live to spend that money."
"!!!"
Hearing Su Min's chilly retort, the leader's face darkened. Roaring, he charged forward, brandishing his rusty blade, his bloodshot eyes gleaming with viciousness. Even before he reached her, Su Min caught a whiff of a stomach-turning stench. It wasn't just body odor but a foul, instinctively repulsive smell.
"Taking advantage of the frozen river in winter to escape south... looks like they've eaten more than a few people along the way."
"You—"
The leader only managed half a sentence before the world spun violently around him. In his final moments, he saw a headless body collapse to the ground.
"Is that... my body?"
That was his last thought.
Gulp...
The slower bandits froze in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief. They had seen it clearly. An almost weightless shadow had flashed past, and their leader's head was gone.
"G-Ghost... In broad daylight, a ghost?!"
Instantly, the survivors remembered the horrors they had witnessed in the graveyards during their flight from the north. Back then, it had been the same. A ghostly shadow appeared, and one of their comrades died.
Not only that, but the ghost had picked up the corpse and drunkenly sucked out its blood. If dawn hadn't been near and they hadn't fled fast enough, none of them would have survived. Since that day, they refused to venture out at night. But now, even under the bright sun...
"No spooky stories today. None of you are getting away."
Su Min couldn't care less what they thought. People who had already thrown away their humanity were better off gone. Eliminating them was a mercy to the world. In a flash, her figure moved, and one by one, the rest of the thugs fell to the ground.
"Let's just toss them into the forest nearby. The wolves will make short work of them within a day."
This was one of the main mountain passes, so leaving corpses here wasn't ideal. She casually dragged them to a nearby ravine. The bloody scent would soon draw countless carnivores. In this chaotic era, a few deaths were nothing unusual, especially when it came to vagabonds like these. No one would care.
"This world... it's safer to stay deep in the mountains after all."
Dusting off her hands, Su Min quickly left the scene. The world was unstable now, and she knew it would only get worse. That Demon Empress's cultivation was unimaginably high, not someone she could confront at her current level.
Moreover, she still lacked any real mastery of slaughter techniques. For now, it was better to avoid unnecessary risks. However—
"Ugh."
Just as she arrived back at her bamboo hut, a wave of dizziness hit her. She staggered and almost fell.
"It's not enough... I still need more. Is this the insight of the Path of Slaughter? Those few thugs weren't sufficient..."
Touching her cheek, Su Min wasn't alarmed. It felt just like when she had previously comprehended two martial arts techniques. Observing heaven's Dao through the passage of time, gaining enlightenment through action and emotion—this path granted not only martial skills but unique powers.
Clearly, she had triggered the Path of Slaughter just now. But the incident hadn't been enough for a full breakthrough.
"No rush. There will be opportunities later."
After some thought, Su Min settled her mind. Since she had already started down this path, there was no reason to turn back. However, she needed to tread carefully. She recalled a particular game mechanic—Blood Frenzy.
In the game, achieving Blood Frenzy required indiscriminate slaughter. The effect boosted cultivation speed and granted special attack properties, but the ultimate downside was the loss of rationality.
In the game, that didn't matter, since the player still controlled the character. But here, losing control could be fatal.
"Kill to protect life. Cut through karmic ties, not through innocent people. Only this way can I remain myself."
Calming herself, Su Min brewed a pot of awakening tea. Yet before she could even take a sip, hurried footsteps echoed from outside.
"Milady! The chieftain has an urgent matter to ask you."