Chapter Twenty-Five: Taking Risks

Shen Chang’an leaped out of the cave, his feet barely touching the ground before he spun back with force. In his hands, two kitchen knives flew out in quick succession.

He was no longer the same as when he had first entered this book-bound world. Back then, he could only rely on his spiritual power to enhance his body and strength, his use of that power shallow and rudimentary. But after more than a month traveling with the old Taoist, a journey that saw them slay demons, banish ghosts, and subdue all manner of monsters, Shen Chang’an’s grasp of spiritual power had reached new depths.

Under the old Taoist’s guidance, he learned to wield his power with finesse, no longer limited to brute force. As the master had once said, even without a hatchet, Shen Chang’an could now split wood with ease using just his spiritual strength. Now, channeling power into the twin blades, he sent the kitchen knives hurtling forth at blinding speed. In a blink, they struck their mark—the monster that had just burst from the cave, a mountain fiend, was pierced through the arm.

A guttural howl split the air. The mountain fiend’s eyes blazed with savage fury; instead of retreating, it lunged forward, swinging a fist straight for Shen Chang’an’s skull!

The creature’s limbs were long and swift, far quicker than Shen Chang’an had anticipated. Even after taking two knives, it showed no sign of hesitation. By the time he thought to dodge, it was too late. He could only raise his arms in a feeble attempt to block.

A crushing impact sent him hurtling backward, his arm bending at an unnatural angle, pain twisting his features. He could feel it clearly—his arm bone might well be broken.

“Damn it...” Shen Chang’an cursed under his breath, his expression grim. If he’d had talismans at hand, a few seals to suppress evil would have kept the fiend at bay; with a demon-slaying talisman, two strokes would have ended this monster’s life. But now, he was wounded and on the defensive.

The fiend pressed its advantage, giving him no respite. Shen Chang’an had lost the upper hand; if he tried to stand his ground, he knew he would not last.

He had no choice but to keep moving, weaving away to avoid being crushed.

The mountain fiend, enraged by its wounds, attacked with wild abandon. Trees shattered under its blows, earth flew in great clumps, and chaos reigned throughout the forest. Though not as fast as the fiend, Shen Chang’an’s smaller frame allowed him to slip through the trees, which now hampered the monster’s massive body.

Normally, at its speed, the creature would have caught its prey with ease. Yet Shen Chang’an was no ordinary quarry; he moved quickly, and with the Jade Dragon talisman heightening his senses, he always seemed to shift direction just before the fiend could grab him.

The mountain fiend was faster than Shen Chang’an, but too bulky to match him in agility, unable to seize him amidst the trees. Yet if this continued, the fiend would soon uproot every tree, leaving Shen Chang’an with nowhere to hide.

They circled each other for a while. Shen Chang’an realized this stalemate could not last. He might hold out, but Sun Qiqi—still dangling in the cave—might not. If she hung there much longer, her arms would be ruined.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Chang’an abruptly halted. The fiend charged at him without hesitation, swinging its fist.

Shen Chang’an bent backward at the last moment, just dodging the blow. At the same instant, he seized the fiend’s arm with both hands.

The monster roared, about to smash him to the ground. But Shen Chang’an, prepared, acted as the beast’s arm moved. He plunged a kitchen knife into its flesh and, with a swift jerk, severed a thick tendon.

The fiend’s strength faltered as its tendon snapped. Shen Chang’an braced his body with spiritual power and let himself be slammed to the ground.

Coughing up blood, his face pale, Shen Chang’an’s eyes glimmered with satisfaction.

He’d done it.

Both kitchen knives still jutted from the monster’s wrist, but now, with the tendon severed, that hand was useless.

The fiend flexed its wrist, seemingly unable to comprehend why it could no longer muster any strength. Shen Chang’an no longer feared it; he charged forward.

Sensing his approach, the fiend tried to strike back, but with its right arm crippled, it could do nothing as Shen Chang’an darted to its right. Forced to turn and reach with its left hand, the monster forgot that this arm still bore a blade.

Repeating his earlier tactic, Shen Chang’an narrowly dodged the attack, then leapt up, stomping down on the knife lodged in the fiend’s left arm.

Caught off guard, the creature’s arm was driven into the ground by the force of Shen Chang’an’s foot, the knife pinning it down with a surge of spiritual energy.

Shen Chang’an immediately leapt away, giving the beast no chance to counter.

Now, one of the fiend’s hands was ruined, the other nailed to the earth. Unless Shen Chang’an approached, the monster could not reach him.

But the brute was not entirely witless. After a few failed attempts to move its right arm, it bent down, trying to pull the knife out with its teeth. The blade was small compared to its gaping maw, but after several tries, it managed to grip the handle and wrench it free.

Turning in rage, its eyes fixed on the one who had wounded it.

It saw Shen Chang’an, blood dripping from his hand, drawing something on a broad leaf.

Seeing the beast turn, Shen Chang’an flashed a fierce grin and tossed the leaf. It caught the wind and ignited.

A talisman to banish evil!

The fiend’s massive body froze, a terrible pressure bearing down, as though it were mired in a quagmire. Even the slightest movement required all its strength.

Already badly wounded, it now struggled in vain.

Shen Chang’an slowly drew the hatchet from his waist and strode toward the monster. As it tried to muster one last attack, he stamped his foot on its head.

“May your journey... be swift.”

With a resounding crack, the hatchet struck the fiend’s neck. With reckless force and spiritual power, the blade shattered, but the creature’s head rolled to the ground.

Only then did Shen Chang’an exhale, collapsing in exhaustion, his breath ragged and heavy.