Volume One: Autumn Festival Chapter Twenty: Then Should I Resist?

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Jiang Wang certainly heard someone knocking at the door, but he was too lazy to move as he lay on the rattan chair.

Unexpectedly, the one knocking climbed over the wall and came straight in.

“It’s him!” Miss Shu put on a fierce expression.

Jiang Wang angrily retorted, “I had hoped much from you, even pulling you into the flowerbed to create the perfect chance, but in the end, it was all for naught. And now you dare to show up before me!”

He had even acted out such a splendid performance.

Just thinking about it made him furious.

Ning Shisi was baffled.

What did this mean?

“Had hopes”?

“Created the perfect chance”?

“But it was all misplaced”?

He hesitated and glanced at Miss Shu, quietly pulling her aside to whisper, “Junior sister, could it be that this man has designs on you? Even so, you can’t call him a monster. Did he do something improper to you?”

At that thought, Ning Shisi’s anger flared.

If that were true, this man was even more detestable than any monster!

Miss Shu froze on the spot.

Before she could explain, Ning Shisi, caught in his own assumptions, drew his sword and pointed it at Jiang Wang. “What a lecherous scoundrel, daring to pester my junior sister! Calling you a monster is an insult to monsters themselves. Draw your sword!”

Though Jiang Wang was confused, seeing Ning Shisi’s blade thrust toward him, a smile broke across his face. “Miss Shu, I misunderstood you. So you came to deliver a gift to me.”

He showed no intention of dodging, even leaning forward slightly, as if inviting the sword to come faster.

But Ning Shisi, seeing this, promptly withdrew his blade.

“My intention was merely to teach you a lesson, but you want to frame me? Such malicious schemes,” he said.

Of course, he couldn’t kill casually, especially here in the Marquis’s residence. Fighting to the death would be a grave offense. If it attracted the attention of the town’s garrison, he would face imprisonment. He didn’t want to rely on influence, and any delay in his task of seeking immortality could be disastrous.

Jiang Wang grew anxious. What was going on?

He pushed himself up from the rattan chair, lamenting their foolishness: “I’m a monster, and I pester your junior sister—how could I bear that? The sword is drawn; there’s no way to sheath it now. If you’re a man, come cut me down!”

Ning Shisi took a cautious step back. “Don’t come any closer!”

Jiang Wang grumbled, “Since it’s come to this, I must take the initiative.”

He stepped forward.

Ning Shisi stepped back.

Jiang Wang found the scene strange and looked at Miss Shu. “Hey, can we be professional here? You say I’m a monster and brought a helper to kill me, right? But look at this atmosphere—does it feel right?”

Miss Shu finally snapped out of it, puzzled. “Why did you act as if you were expecting this? What scheme do you have?”

Jiang Wang sighed, rubbing his forehead. “I have no scheme. You came to kill me; I’m just standing here letting you do it. It’s that simple. Hard to understand? If you really think there’s a problem, should I resist?”

He lazily picked up the Longye Blade and swung it a couple of times. “I’m ready. Come on.”

Ning Shisi was shocked. “Are you crazy?”

Jiang Wang said flatly, “You’re really sharp to notice.”

Ning Shisi turned to Miss Shu. “Junior sister, I think you’re mistaken. How could he be a monster? He’s just ill. If he pestered you, maybe he was only unwell. We can’t bully the sick. Look at his pale face, sweating profusely. Should we find a doctor for him?”

Miss Shu was speechless.

Weren’t they here to kill a monster?

Why was this scene so bizarre now?

Was Jiang Wang really a monster?

She was at a loss.

Just then, the main gate of the Marquis’s residence was pushed open from outside.

Shan Qiyu walked in front.

Behind him was Tao Tianshi, holding a bronze mirror.

Next came Captain Zhou, leading some constables.

They all paused when they saw Jiang Wang holding a knife, facing Miss Shu and the sword-wielding stranger.

Shan Qiyu was the first to react and quickly approached Jiang Wang, looking cautiously at Ning Shisi and Miss Shu. “Young lord, are you alright?”

Jiang Wang replied helplessly, “I wish I weren’t.”

Shan Qiyu was puzzled.

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Jiang Wang tossed the knife to him and looked at Tao Tianshi. “I suddenly want you to read my fortune…”

As he spoke, he wondered whether this was good luck or misfortune.

How was this fate to be unraveled?

Tao Tianshi looked glum, eyes downcast. “I’m not in the mood right now. We’ll talk later.”

Captain Zhou found the atmosphere strange but was more concerned about the monster problem. He looked at the bronze mirror Tao Tianshi held and said to Jiang Wang, “Young lord, the monster is trapped inside this mirror. Tao Tianshi is unwilling to cooperate fully, and we don’t want the situation to escalate. If you can handle it, that would be best.”

Tao Tianshi showed no reaction.

He didn’t believe Jiang Wang could solve the monster.

“Give me the bronze mirror, and everyone stand back.”

Jiang Wang steadied himself. Miss Shu was unreliable, but at least there was a monster here.

Captain Zhou took the mirror from Tao Tianshi, a little apologetic, and handed it to Jiang Wang.

A talisman was pasted on the mirror, likely to suppress the monster.

Tao Tianshi warned, “Young friend, be careful. If the talisman is removed, the monster will escape. I can’t guarantee we’ll be able to suppress it again. Why risk your life? Who will be responsible if something happens?”

He still didn’t understand what Jiang Wang intended to do.

Monsters were not easy to deal with.

If Jiang Wang lost his life over this, Tao Tianshi would have no standing in Huncheng.

Originally, Tao Tianshi had only wanted to buy time, so when Shan Qiyu arrived, he hadn’t refused outright.

Who would have expected Jiang Wang to be serious?

Seeing Jiang Wang’s hand reaching for the talisman, Tao Tianshi became anxious and said again, “Young friend, don’t act recklessly! It’s really dangerous!”

Jiang Wang smiled, “Thanks for your good wishes.”

Tao Tianshi was stunned.

Could a normal person really say something like that?

He darted toward Jiang Wang.

But Jiang Wang was quick. With a ripping sound, the talisman was torn away.

Tao Tianshi collapsed on the ground, thinking it was over.

Shan Qiyu was ready to rescue his lord at any moment.

Though they suspected the young lord was strong, the situation still worried them.

The officials from the garrison were calm.

They knew the young lord had defeated Cai Tanggu and assumed that dealing with a mere monster would be effortless.

Jiang Wang held the bronze mirror, anticipating what would come next.

The surrounding exotic flowers and plants began to sway.

A breeze stirred.

The bronze mirror trembled.

Suddenly, a tinkling, bell-like laughter sounded.

A terrifying face appeared inside the mirror.

The image was chilling.

Jiang Wang was startled.

He nearly threw the mirror away.

He forced himself to remain calm.

Not enough excitement—bring on more.

Ha!

The monster inside the mirror froze.

A human?

Spitting at me?

It was furious.

Barred teeth and claws, it lunged out from the mirror.

A green aura instantly enveloped Jiang Wang.

The suffocating sensation was intense.

Here it comes!

Jiang Wang clenched his fist.

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He punched the green aura, shattering it instantly.

The monster was dumbfounded.

Before it could react, Jiang Wang seized the back of its neck.

It struggled wildly.

Screaming incoherently.

Jiang Wang slapped it hard.

The monster wilted.

Its demonic life was already dull.

Perhaps in all history, there was no other demon slapped by a human like this.

“How is this possible?!” Tao Tianshi stared in disbelief.

He had put great effort into capturing this monster, nearly losing his life.

Why was Jiang Wang handling it like a game?

The young lord was truly formidable.

Captain Zhou and the others from the garrison all thought the same.

Shan Qiyu breathed a sigh of relief.

His guess was correct: the young lord was indeed a cultivator.

For monsters like this, even powerful warriors would struggle.

They would rather face demons like Nuoyong or Aoyin, at least those could be fought and touched.

While Shan Qiyu was thinking this, Jiang Wang suddenly beckoned him over.

When Shan Qiyu approached, Jiang Wang pressed his palm against his head.

Feeling the scorching energy, though not as intense as when rubbing Xiao Yu’s head, it was effective.

Shan Qiyu was amazed.

Fourth-level warriors could contend with enlightened cultivators because by this stage, their bodies were honed to perfection, allowing them to condense true qi through breathing.

This was rare and precious.

But Shan Qiyu clearly felt a faint condensation of true qi forming, though not yet complete—already a foundation.

This was something he himself might never achieve in his lifetime.

Jiang Wang observed Shan Qiyu and felt somewhat disappointed.

Because the other had not broken through his realm.

Perhaps Shan Qiyu’s realm was already higher than Xiao Yu’s, and Jiang Wang’s power only affected lower-level warriors?

Such hopes were dashed.

He had hoped to raise the entire Black Flame Army’s realms in one fell swoop.

Waving Shan Qiyu away, Jiang Wang refocused on the monster.

“Don’t be so down, cheer up!” Jiang Wang slapped the monster again and even shoved it back into the bronze mirror.

A warrior can be killed but not humiliated!

The bronze mirror was the monster’s life vessel; as long as it remained inside, any injuries would instantly heal.

But when the monster tried to create illusions and attack Jiang Wang,

An extremely scorching energy suddenly surged into the mirror.

The monster screamed plaintively.

Just as it thought death was near, the scorching energy withdrew.

Jiang Wang smiled. “You’re a demon with backbone. If you kill me, you’ll be free. A beautiful world awaits you. Don’t give up; try hard again. Maybe next time you’ll succeed.”

The monster was furious.

Just as it prepared to strike, the scorching energy attacked again.

This cycle repeated.

The monster was terrified.

Though I’m a demon, you are no human!

Why is my demonic life so miserable?

I just want to quietly stay inside this mirror, yet I’m inexplicably trapped by a man, tortured day and night.

Finally seeing daylight, only to suffer such humiliation again.

Is there any demon more pitiful than me in the world?