Entering the villa's grand hall, Zhang Yuanqing's eyes darted around before he sprinted up the stairs to the second floor.
He stopped at the top of the staircase. At the far end of the corridor, a door stood firmly shut.
A burly, towering man in a black vest stood guard outside the room, his muscles bulging and his face fierce, resembling a thug or bodyguard from a movie.
The villa was eerily silent, with no one else present except the muscular man guarding the door.
Wang Qian's sister must be inside. Xiahou Tianyuan brought her here by force. Tsk, if I had her with me, caught red-handed, I could call Fu Qingyang immediately.
He peeked around the corner to observe the second-floor layout. A security camera was positioned directly across from the room the muscular man was guarding.
If I were Xiahou Tianyuan, I'd have someone monitoring that camera 24/7. Any sign of trouble, and reinforcements would arrive instantly. Zhang Yuanqing quietly withdrew his head.
As his Night Roaming time ended, he leaned against the stairwell wall, recovering his strength while pondering his next move.
Faced with the current situation, Zhang Yuanqing had two options:
1. Leave silently, then notify Fu Qingyang to send someone to rescue the "hostage."
2. Eliminate the robbers and take Wang Qian's sister with him.
The first option seemed safer, but it would inevitably expose his involvement once the Official Walkers intervened. Xiahou Tianyuan would realize that the great Primordial Heavenly Venerable had thwarted his plans.
In the past, Zhang Yuanqing wouldn't have worried. He had Merit Points to spare and plenty of trump cards. But after seeing what happened to Wang Qian's sister, he had to consider whether the ruthless Xiahou Tianyuan might investigate his identity and target his family.
"Accidents" and "sudden deaths" were methods that bypassed due process and justice.
And he hadn't yet devised a foolproof plan to assassinate Xiahou Tianyuan.
By comparison, the second option seemed more reliable, provided he could act swiftly and decisively without revealing his identity. Xiahou Tianyuan would immediately suspect the Palace of Ceasing Slaughter, not the great Primordial Heavenly Venerable.
Zhang Yuanqing carefully weighed the feasibility of the second option.
"Xiahou Tianyuan wouldn't assign a Saint Stage expert to guard an ordinary person. Walkers of that caliber don't do manual labor. At most, they'd station a Level 3 Walker here. The Xiahou Family is a 'Scholar' clan, rich in magical artifacts. There's bound to be someone among them wielding at least one artifact.
"The muscular man in the black vest guarding the entrance feels like a Fire Master—his aura is deep and potent. The others outside have weaker auras, so he's likely the strongest."
After weighing his options, Zhang Yuanqing decided to take the risk. He would swiftly eliminate the three guards outside, then take down the muscular man at the entrance before Xiahou Tianyuan's reinforcements arrived.
A Level 3 Fire Master wielding an artifact would be a formidable opponent, a true challenge for him.
If all else fails, I'll use the Red Veil. But I'll have to destroy the evidence, Zhang Yuanqing muttered to himself. After all, she's the mother of my child.
He chose to rescue her alone, not for Wang Qian's sake, but partly to vent his anger and retaliate against the Xiahou Family, and partly for Little Goofball.
Having raised her son as my Spectral Servant should repay the favor, he thought.
With his plan clear, Zhang Yuanqing opened his Inventory and retrieved the Disguise Ring.
He had already thoroughly understood the Ring's functions and limitations. After putting it on, he could mentally visualize someone's face and transform into their likeness.
The limitations were that he couldn't change gender or become more handsome than his original appearance.
[ Note: Do you really not know what you look like? ]
That was the gist of it.
Zhang Yuanqing slipped on the Ring and mentally visualized Xiahou Tianyuan's face. After a few seconds, his features rippled like water, and when the distortions subsided, he had transformed into Xiahou Tianyuan.
Entering Night Roaming State, he quietly descended the stairs.
In the Rear Courtyard, three middle-aged men sat around a round table, basking in the late spring sun. They were drinking beer, eating snacks, and chatting idly.
"Speaking of which, that woman's quite a looker," the potbellied man facing the living room said, gently patting his stomach. He grinned suggestively at his companions. "Brothers, fancy some fun? Young Master Tianyuan's just using her as leverage. As long as she doesn't die, he won't care what we do with her."
His two companions didn't take the bait. One continued eating grilled meat, while the other sipped his beer.
"Sure, why not?" one replied. "Call Young Master Tianyuan and ask. If he doesn't mind, we'll go inside and have our way with her."
The pot-bellied middle-aged man chuckled awkwardly. "I was just bored, looking for some entertainment."
His expression suddenly froze as his gaze fixed on the living room. On the thick carpet near the entrance, a pair of brand-new red dancing shoes rose and fell in unison.
The scene was both eerie and terrifying.
The pot-bellied man's pupils constricted as he urgently warned, "Behind you! Behind you!"
The two other middle-aged men stiffened and whirled around.
While their attention was drawn to the red dancing shoes, Zhang Yuanqing appeared behind the pot-bellied man. He clamped his left hand over the man's mouth and, with his right hand wielding the Blade of Bloodlust, made a swift, precise cut across the carotid artery.
Hearing muffled whimpers, the two other men immediately turned back. They saw the pot-bellied man's face contorted in terror, a fountain of blood erupting from his neck, and the young man's profile splattered with crimson.
"Young Master Tianyuan?" Their faces paled.
In their shock and confusion, they wasted precious seconds. Zhang Yuanqing swung his blade, aiming for the left-hand man's chest.
The man instinctively reached out to grab the blade, but his hand closed on empty air. The Yanagiba shattered like a mirage.
Illusion.
The next instant, a cold dread washed over his back as blood gushed forth.
"Night... Nightwalker?" he spat out the words in fury and resignation, slowly collapsing to the ground.
Meanwhile, the last kidnapper was about to react when he saw the eerie Red Dancing Shoes charging toward him with a clack-clack-clack.
He instinctively threw a punch, but with a sickening crack, the bones in his wrist pierced through his skin, leaving his fist dangling uselessly from the joint.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The Red Dancing Shoes stomped repeatedly and with brutal force on the kidnapper's chest.
The middle-aged kidnapper flew backward, never to rise again.
The entire sequence lasted less than ten seconds.
Zhang Yuanqing stepped forward and plunged the Blade of Bloodlust into the last kidnapper's chest, allowing the Seductive Demon's weapon to feast on his lifeblood.
As he gripped the hilt, a surge of scalding, overwhelming power flooded his body.
The lingering fatigue from his Night Roaming vanished completely, leaving him in a state surpassing even his peak physical condition.
The Seductive Demon's passive ability: Bloodlust.
Wielding the Blade of Bloodlust, Zhang Yuanqing strode boldly into the living room. The moment his foot touched the plush carpet, a swift flash of fire erupted near the doorway, blasting his head apart.
But it was merely an illusion.
The muscular man in a black vest, now wearing red fingerless gloves, threw a punch that missed its mark, his expression momentarily stunned.
At that moment, the real Zhang Yuanqing materialized behind the muscular man like a ghost, plunging a dagger into his back.
The Nightwalker's attack was silent and impossible to anticipate. But the instant the blade pierced skin and sank into muscle, the Fire Master reacted with astonishing speed, throwing himself forward.
The muscular man in a black vest rolled to his feet, raising an eyebrow. "You're not Young Master Tianyuan. Who are you?"
At least I broke through his defenses, Zhang Yuanqing thought. He'll keep bleeding. Ignoring the man's words, he closed the living room door, then activated Concealment, waiting for his moment.
Simultaneously, he quietly retrieved the Heavenly Toad Censer, kicked it under the sofa, and issued the kill order to the Red Dancing Shoes.
Tap-tap-tap. The Red Dancing Shoes moved with nimble steps, charging toward the muscular man. Zhang Yuanqing seized the opportunity to flank him from the left, attempting to corner the Fire Master with the shoes.
Given enough time, he could have replicated his success in the underground garage, killing Ou Xiangrong. But not every battle offered such ideal conditions.
"Hmph!"
The muscular man in a black vest snorted coldly. Flames erupted from his gauntlet-clad fists as he swung a fiery punch at the Red Dancing Shoes.
He quickly experienced the frustration his fallen comrade had felt. The flames and fist passed right through the attacking shoes, followed by two sharp thuds and searing pain in his chest.
The massive kick momentarily stopped Zhang Yuanqing's heart, sending him staggering backward.
An opening!
Zhang Yuanqing crouched low, darting toward his enemy like a cheetah. Just then, he saw the muscular man in a black vest plant his heel, steadying himself, and slam his fists together against his chest.
Boom!
Like a high-explosive grenade detonating, a searing blast of heat and shockwaves swept through the vast living room. Carpets, sofas, and wooden cabinets ignited, erupting in towering flames.
Zhang Yuanqing was hurled backward by the explosion, his body wracked with pain that nearly made him faint. His hair curled, his clothes caught fire, and crimson, blood-tinged burns seared his face.
The muscular man in the black vest paled, seemingly suffering from the explosion's backlash. He lunged forward ferociously, his back muscles bulging as he drew back his right fist.
Crack! The air seemed to tear apart.
Half-dazed, Zhang Yuanqing couldn't dodge. He made the only correct move, reaching into the Void to grasp a gleaming golden pearl.
The next instant, the brutal fist slammed into his face.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Muffled blows echoed in Zhang Yuanqing's ears, each punch landing with increasing force on his face and chest.
He seemed to have forgotten how to fight back, staggering backward under the relentless assault. Even his retreating steps were heavy, as if he were carrying a mountain on his shoulders.
An earthy-yellow aura enveloped Zhang Yuanqing, rippling in concentric circles. The force of the Fire Master's punch pierced the defense of the "Steadfast" gem, slamming into his body. The pain was excruciating, but he endured.
Tap-tap-tap!
The Red Dancing Shoes rushed to rescue their useless Master, their heavy kicks slamming into the Fire Master's waist.
Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Yuanqing immediately retracted the gem, drew his blade, and thrust forward, aiming for the Fire Master's abdomen.
At that moment, the muscular man in the black vest burst into flames and vanished before Zhang Yuanqing's eyes.
A split second later, he reappeared in the flames a short distance behind Zhang Yuanqing.
Fire Walk!
The muscular man in the black vest materialized and immediately hurled a blazing fireball.
Sensing the searing Flame Wind closing in, Zhang Yuanqing dove forward at top speed, the fireball scorching past his head before slamming into the nearby wall with a deafening boom, leaving a massive charred crater.
He had barely hit the ground, still unable to enter Night Roaming State, when a second and third fireball came crashing down in quick succession.
Zhang Yuanqing rolled sideways, narrowly dodging the first fireball, but the second struck his waist. His clothes instantly ignited, and searing pain engulfed him.
Thump-thump!
Two more flying kicks bought him another precious moment to breathe. Zhang Yuanqing's tumbling form vanished into the shadows.
The muscular man in the black vest sidestepped a direct stomp, then felt a sudden chill above him. Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed the Nightwalker disguised as Young Master Tianyuan silently materializing to his left, swinging his blade in a horizontal arc.
"Hmph, ghostly tricks!"
This time, he didn't meet the attack head-on. Instead, he flicked his finger, sending a line of fire that easily pierced the ambushing Nightwalker, causing it to dissolve into a bubble and vanish.
But just then, darkness engulfed the muscular man in the black vest, blinding him.
His heart jolted. Acting decisively, he slammed his fists together against his chest, unleashing a terrifying burst of flames and a shockwave.
Boom!
The shockwave shattered the television, overturned the potted plants, and ignited the living room in a roaring inferno.
The muscular man in the black vest, relieved to have evaded the ambush, breathed a sigh of relief. His vision returned, and the chill above his head vanished.
Suddenly, an itchy tickle crawled up his throat, forcing him into a violent coughing fit. The more he coughed, the more intense the itch became. He doubled over, his face flushed crimson, and collapsed onto the floor, his limbs numb and paralyzed.
Seizing the opportunity, the Red Dancing Shoes launched a frenzied assault, stomping relentlessly on the muscular man in the black vest.
At the top of the staircase leading to the second floor, Zhang Yuanqing watched the scene unfold calmly. Beside him stood the teary-eyed, plump infant, its tiny hand tugging at its Master's pant leg while the other pointed accusingly at the black-vested man, protesting how terrified he had been.
Just moments ago, Little Goofball had perched atop the Fire Master's head, its vision hijacked by Zhang Yuanqing.
The purpose was to force the muscular man in a black vest to use his "explosion" technique again. Zhang Yuanqing had keenly observed earlier that this was a double-edged sword, harming the user as much as the enemy.
All of this was a setup for the "poisoning." The moment he stabbed the man in the back, Zhang Yuanqing had conceived his strategy:
Use the Red Dancing Shoes and Blade of Bloodlust to wear down the enemy. Finish the battle with the Heavenly Toad Censer as his ultimate move.
The Heavenly Toad Censer's poison vaporized continuously. Theoretically, a single inhalation should be enough to poison someone. However, the initial dose was weak enough for ordinary people to tolerate, requiring prolonged exposure for the poison to accumulate.
But if the target's physical condition was severely compromised—weakened and with a suppressed immune system—the poison would take effect much faster.
Thus, Zhang Yuanqing devised a plan:
Use the Red Dancing Shoes' relentless pursuit and the Blade of Bloodlust's bleeding effect to exhaust the enemy. End the battle with the Heavenly Toad Censer.
His bold use of the Heavenly Toad Censer wasn't a gamble; he was confident his immunity would surpass the Fire Master's. The Nightwalker's formidable vitality and regenerative abilities were his trump card.
Fire Masters don't possess such passive skills.
Seeing the Fire Master finally still under the relentless stomping of the Red Dancing Shoes, Zhang Yuanqing remained cautious. He hurled the Yanagiba like a throwing knife, driving its sharp blade deep into the Fire Master's abdomen. Only then did he feel secure enough to stop. Wasting no time, he retrieved the Heavenly Toad Censer from beneath the overturned sofa, storing the bronze-based, ebony-bodied artifact back into his Inventory.
Next, he systematically retrieved the Blade of Bloodlust, the Red Dancing Shoes, and the pair of gauntlets from the Fire Master's hands.
By now, the flames had begun to spread rapidly, threatening to engulf the entire living room.
Seizing the moment, Zhang Yuanqing rushed upstairs, leaped high, and smashed the security camera with a single punch.
Thump, thump, thump. He sprinted down the elm-floored corridor, quickly reaching the bedroom door. Suddenly, his pupils constricted violently as he stared fixedly at the edge of the door.
A phone lay silently there, its screen lit, maintaining an active call.
The caller—Xiahou Tianyuan!