Chapter 354 - 351: Returning with the Demon Corpse
Chapter 354: Chapter 351: Returning with the Demon Corpse
’A fight with no holds barred!’
After the fierce battle, Fang Han felt a tide of exhaustion wash over him. More than half of his Inner Qi was spent, and his arms were sore and numb from clashing head-on with the Shadow Leopard multiple times.
But his spirits were soaring. This wasn’t just a life-and-death struggle; it was a comprehensive test of his current strength.
His Inner Qi Cultivation at the Middle Stage of Fourth Grade provided a powerful foundation and lasting combat endurance.
Great Success in the Nine Swords of Sky Splitting endowed him with an unstoppable Power of Attack.
Mastery of Wind and Cloud Escape granted him terrifying speed and agility, allowing him to dominate others of the same rank.
And the Spirit Smelling Technique, which he had just advanced to Great Success, provided enormous help in tracking and perception.
It was the combination of these abilities that allowed him to single-handedly slay this ferocious Shadow Leopard, a beast whose strength approached the Upper Three Grades and had forced five Demon Hunters to retreat in failure.
’What a formidable body.’
Fang Han crouched down and carefully examined the Shadow Leopard’s corpse.
The power behind each sword wound on the corpse would have severely injured, if not killed, a human Martial Artist of the same level.
And yet, many of these blows had only resulted in light injuries on the Shadow Leopard—a testament to its formidable defense.
He reached out and touched the Shadow Leopard’s fur, which had lost its luster but was still incredibly tough. Feeling the steel-like muscles and bones beneath, his anticipation for the Xuanwu True Skill grew even more fervent.
If he could practice the Xuanwu True Skill to the Entry Level, he would possess defense and physical strength comparable to or even greater than this Shadow Leopard’s.
Combined with his Swordsmanship and Body Technique, his strength would surely skyrocket.
’I wonder how much it weighs?’
Fang Han leaned down, gripping the Shadow Leopard by its forelimb shoulder blades and its rear haunches.
He immediately felt the weight sink into his hands. It was far heavier than an ordinary horse or ox, probably no less than three thousand catties.
However, for a Martial Artist like him, now at the Middle Stage of Fourth Grade, this bit of weight was naturally nothing.
He took a deep breath, sinking into his stance as the muscles in his arms bulged. Beneath his azure robes, his body seemed to hold the power of mountains.
"Up!"
With a low shout, he steadily hoisted the colossal carcass, weighing over three thousand catties, onto his shoulders.
The fur where he gripped it was tough as iron, its flesh and bone dense and heavy. The smell of blood mixed with a beast’s unique, gamey stench assaulted his nose.
The solid rock and earth beneath his feet sank slightly from the sudden weight, leaving two shallow depressions.
Carrying such a colossal weight, even with Fang Han’s current cultivation and physique, he still felt the strain.
He adjusted his posture to stabilize his center of gravity, then strode forward.
He wasn’t using the essence of his Wind and Cloud Escape Body Technique for sprinting. Instead, he integrated it into his gait, making each step steady and powerful.
This eased the crushing weight on his shoulders while ensuring his pace wasn’t too slow.
His figure moved through the ravaged forest, heading out of Black Cloud Ridge.
...
Over an hour later, the dusty gray outline of Liangshui City’s walls appeared at the edge of his vision.
It was evening, and the winter sun, carrying a hint of warmth, lazily shone upon the city walls.
In previous years at this time, the city gate would have been bustling with people coming and going—people on outings, people going to burn incense—it was extremely lively.
This year, however, there was almost no one at the city gate. The few people he did see were all hurrying along.
The reason, naturally, was the Demon Beast that had been wreaking havoc outside the city for the past month, the one that had even forced the Demon Hunting Team from the Commandery City to retreat in failure.
It was in this atmosphere that Fang Han’s figure, carrying the massive beast’s corpse, came into view, gradually growing clearer as he approached from a distance.
At first, the soldiers on watch on the city wall only noticed a moving black dot.
As the black dot drew nearer and its outline became visible, a soldier’s eyes gradually widened. He unconsciously tightened his grip on his spear, his mouth hanging slightly open, unable to make a sound.
Then, the pedestrians near the city gate also saw the sight.
A peddler passing by the city gate dropped his shoulder pole with a CLACK, and the mountain goods in his baskets tumbled all over the ground.
But he was completely oblivious, staring blankly at the approaching figure.
A woman carrying a basket, who had been discussing the recent Demon Beast rumors in a low voice with her companion, abruptly fell silent, her finger trembling as she pointed outside the city.
An old man squatting in a corner, sunning himself, suddenly snapped his squinted eyes open. The reflection of the colossal creature’s silhouette appeared in his cloudy eyes, and the long-stemmed pipe in his hand fell to his feet with a CLINK.
A silence spread out from the city gate like ripples on water.
Everyone stopped what they were doing. The sounds of conversation, vendors’ cries, and rattling wheels all vanished in that eerie moment.
Countless gazes converged on the young man in the azure robes... and on the beast’s corpse on his shoulder, whose ferocity and weight could be felt even from a distance.
’What is that?’
’A leopard? But where in the world could there be such a massive leopard?’
Its dark, almost black fur, faintly gleaming even while covered in blood and dirt, still emanated a ferocious, heart-stopping aura, so similar to the beast described in the rumors.
"Is... is that the thing?!"
"It’s Young Master Fang, Young Master Han... Did he slay that menace?"
"And he carried it back! My heavens, it’s huge..."
"The Commandery City Demon Hunting Team was helpless against it, but Young Master Han actually killed it!"
...
The low murmurs of discussion were at first suppressed, then erupted like a flood breaking through a dam.
Astonishment, shock, joy, disbelief... all sorts of emotions surged through the crowd.
The gloom that had hung over Liangshui City for days, weighing on people’s hearts and making them afraid to leave the city, seemed to be torn open and then swiftly dispelled by the visual impact of this one man and one corpse.
Awestruck gazes fell upon Fang Han. His azure robes, stained with a bit of dust and blood, seemed to shimmer with a special light in everyone’s eyes.
Worry turned to relief, and fear transformed into admiration.
As if it had grown wings, the news spread like wildfire from the city gate to every corner of the city.
"The Shadow Leopard is dead! Young Master Han killed it single-handedly!"
"I saw it with my own eyes! It was huge, like a small mountain!"
Gasps and exclamations of praise intertwined, quickly merging into an irrepressible torrent.
Along the streets, windows were thrown open and doors were pulled aside.
More people surged into the streets, standing on their tiptoes and craning their necks, just to get a glimpse of the legendary beast’s corpse and the young man who had slain it.
Carrying the Demon Beast’s corpse, Fang Han passed through the excited crowd, heading toward the Fang Mansion within the city.
Some fast-running Fang Family servants or well-wishers had already rushed the news back to the Fang Mansion.
...
「Fang Mansion.」
Fang Lingyuan was discussing some clan affairs for after the New Year’s festival with several clan elders. Although he maintained a calm expression, a lingering trace of worry clouded his features.
’Fang Han went to hunt the Shadow Leopard. I don’t know if he’ll succeed, or if he’ll run into danger.’
Suddenly, the sound of hurried and disorderly footsteps approached, accompanied by an irrepressibly excited shout that shattered the tranquility of the study.
"Patriarch, joyous news! Incredible news!"
A Steward practically stumbled into the courtyard. He paid no mind to etiquette and shouted from outside the door, his voice cracking with excitement.
"Young Master Han is back, carrying the corpse of a Demon Beast! He’s on his way now!"
"Fang Han... is back, carrying the Shadow Leopard’s corpse?!"
Inside the study, Fang Lingyuan shot to his feet.
The clan elders were even more startled, jumping to their feet and staring at each other. They all saw the extreme shock and subsequent surge of joy in each other’s eyes.
"Did you see clearly? Was it really the Shadow Leopard? Was the Shadow Leopard really killed?"
"It’s absolutely true! Many people saw it! The Demon Beast is terrifyingly large, it’s the Shadow Leopard, no doubt! Young Master Han is carrying it to the mansion right now!"
The Steward spoke incoherently, his face flushed with excitement.
Fang Lingyuan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning emotions in his chest, but his slightly trembling fingers betrayed his inner agitation.
He strode out of the study and into the courtyard.
The clan elders hurried after him.
Before long, the clamor of voices from outside the mansion gates grew even louder.
Fang Lingyuan led his people out to greet him at the gates, only to see the familiar figure in azure robes striding steadily toward them from the end of the long street.
The colossal object on his shoulder exuded a heavy, oppressive visual presence, even from a distance.
When Fang Han reached the mansion gates and gently set the Shadow Leopard’s corpse down from his shoulder, the ground seemed to tremble slightly.
Seeing the ferocious beast up close, even in death, its residual violent aura and immense size still made the onlooking Fang Clan Members and the crowd that had gathered gasp. This was immediately followed by even more fervent cheers and praise.
"It really is the Shadow Leopard that was causing all the trouble!"
"Young Master Han is mighty!"
Fang Lingyuan’s gaze swept quickly over the Shadow Leopard’s corpse before immediately landing on Fang Han.
His azure robes were stained with dust, the cuffs were torn, and his face showed a trace of fatigue from the fierce battle, but his eyes were still clear and calm. He was not seriously injured.
His anxious heart was finally put at ease.
He walked forward and clapped Fang Han heavily on the shoulder, saying everything without a word.
In his eyes, besides relief, there was an indescribable pride.
The surrounding Fang Clan Members, old and young alike, now looked at Fang Han with gazes full of sincere awe and pride.
The ferocious beast that had forced even the elites of the Commandery City Demon Suppression Bureau to retreat in failure had been slain, single-handedly, by their very own prodigy!
This level of strength was enough to make all of the Fang Family share in the glory.
...
「Liangshui City Government Office, a room in the rear courtyard.」
The place had been temporarily converted into quarters for the injured. The air was thick with the smell of medicine, and the five members of the Demon Hunting Team were recuperating here in a gloomy atmosphere.
Tie Zhan was propped up against the headboard, his chest wrapped in thick bandages. His face was pale from blood loss, and he was meditating with his eyes closed, trying to ease the dull pain in his internal organs.
Qing Man’s arm was in a sling, and there was a shallow claw mark on her face.
Shi Feng’s injuries were extremely severe. He lay motionless on the bed, letting out suppressed moans from time to time.
Yan Ling sat in a corner, silently wiping his twin swords, his gaze somewhat unfocused.
Night Owl was still unconscious, his breathing faint.
The shadow of failure hung over everyone.
As Demon Hunters of the Demon Suppression Bureau, failing a Demon Hunt and getting seriously injured was a great humiliation.
What worried them even more was that the enraged Shadow Leopard could come down from the mountains to retaliate at any moment. When that happened, many people in the villages and towns around Liangshui City would surely die.
And yet, at this moment, they were powerless to fight again.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the room. A constable rushed in and said,
"Your Excellencies, news has just arrived. That Shadow Leopard has been slain by Fang Han, the Celestial Pride True Inheritance of the Qingxuan Sect."