Forge a path to success.

Chapter 46 The Sound of the Wind (First Update)
Bai Mei stubbed out his cigarette, feeling agitated.

His father's task came too suddenly. Two days ago he said he'd have it completed within a month, and the next day he changed his mind and said he needed it within two days. "Catching" a daughter isn't kidnapping; intelligence, a clean background, and a good birth are basic requirements, plus there are specific requirements for her birth date. Girls born on a full moon night—where are they so easy to find? Luckily, there are plenty of gossipy women with children, otherwise he might be the one getting slapped this time. This body is good enough for him; he doesn't want to change it.

"Brother White Eyebrows, we've tied up so many these past few days, when are we going to kill a few?" the henchman said with a grin.

"Kill your mother! Is this another kidnapping?" White Eyebrows cursed. "This is the last one. We'll have our fun after this."

The four henchmen grinned maliciously, all eyeing their "harvest" from the past few days. The girls were all locked up in the club's underground, and only one could be chosen by the parents to be their "daughter." The girls who weren't chosen would naturally be theirs to deal with; a dozen or so men could probably take turns playing with them all night, and the thought filled them with anticipation.

Bai Mei revealed a black jade token, engraved with a crescent moon. When the token was illuminated, it emitted wisps of black smoke, transforming into a phantom door. Bai Mei led his followers through the misty door, and in the blink of an eye, they were transported from the club's underground to a cramped, filthy alleyway. The entire street was crammed with gray old buildings; overhead, one could see a dense network of cables and clothes hanging haphazardly, creating an oppressive and nauseating atmosphere.

Bai Mei spat out some phlegm and, together with the four of them, walked halfway around the side road. The side entrance of Bangxing Building was on the left side of the alley, and Ya Zi and her daughter Mei Zi were standing inside. The woman's face was pale, and her hands were tightly gripping her daughter's shoulders. The little girl was in a little pain from her mother's grip, but she didn't seem too uneasy.

Bai Mei, finding no trace of her ghostly husband or father around, felt much happier. That's what you call being pragmatic! Did they think they'd live longer if they had to trouble the old men to beat her up before taking her away? He beckoned with his finger, and Ya Zi bit her lip until it bled. "Please don't hurt me..."

She tried to say something, but Bai Mei reached out and grabbed the little girl. Ya Zi pleaded, grabbing his hand, her eyes filled with tears: "Brother Bai Mei, I beg you..."

Bai Mei stared at her expressionlessly: "What's going on?"

The henchmen spat disdainfully a few times and went to the crossroads to keep watch. Bai Mei grabbed the woman by the neck. Ya Zi trembled like a dead dog, afraid to utter a sound. Her daughter seemed frightened, crying out from behind, "Mommy! Put down my mommy!" Her cries were like a death knell, agonizingly urgent…

A terrifying rage flashed across Bai Mei's face as he lifted the woman high into the air!
He suddenly heard the sound of wind, so light and so fast, like a paper cutter slicing through newly printed paper. The wind blew from the end of the path to the alley entrance. He instinctively turned his head and saw the man in the green coat on the main road slowly sheathing his knife, four heads spinning as they fell to the ground.

The headless corpse gushed blood like a pillar!
The four corpses convulsed as they fell, blood gushing onto the walls and floor. A mournful wind howled, mingling with the cries of young children. The little girl closed her eyes at the sound of the wind and was embraced by her weeping mother. After landing, Yako ran away with her daughter in her arms. Shirai couldn't stop her, for his arm fell to the ground along with the heads.

Bai Mei covered his neck with his only remaining hand, blood gushing out from between his fingers. At first it was bright red, then it turned into a foul-smelling black like oil. Finally, the grip of his single hand could no longer be suppressed, and blood flew up like a ring blade, staining the dirty wall black.

In the pool of blood outside the alley, Chu Hengkong silently wiped the blood from his blade. In that instant, he fell from the top floor of the building, unleashing three deadly strikes. One severed Bai Mei's arm, another his throat, and the final headed all four men at once. His speed was so fast that no one could see his figure or the blade marks; only the sound of blood splattering in the wind remained after it was all over!

Behind Chu Hengkong, Bai Mei's head twisted 180 degrees along the slash mark, held together by only a thin layer of skin. On that inverted face, dozens of black veins bulged menacingly, and a beastly roar burst from its mouth.

"Tentacle bastard, I'll kill you!!!"

Blood burst forth from Bai Mei's body, the black blood tearing his form apart and transforming him into a grotesque, canine-like creature. One of his forepaws was a sharp slicing knife, while the other was a gigantic, pale white bone club. A long, thin, blood-red tail, like a snake, sprouted from his back, its tip tipped with bone spikes resembling a scorpion's sting. It was as if the bodies of several wild beasts had been violently severed and stitched together in the ugliest way imaginable.

This was Bai Mei's true form, a monstrous creature lurking beneath human skin. Enraged, he raised his claw-like blade, a massive blade as long as a normal person, and slashed at Chu Hengkong!

—Most of the subordinates of the illegitimate son of the new moon are "The Fallen," monsters in human skin. Their physical strength is considerable, and their survivability is exceptionally high; their true forms resemble alien beasts. Once the battle begins, remember to carefully observe their appearance to avoid being caught in danger due to changes in their physical form.

Ji Qiufeng's instructions flashed through his mind, and Chu Hengkong drew his sword again, slashing upwards without turning his head. His sword was not a special relic, but just an ordinary single-edged sword, yet it firmly blocked Bai Mei's claw blade.

Undeterred, Bai Mei intensified his claw strikes, sparks illuminating the night. Their attacks clashed three times; Bai Mei, despite his weapon advantage, failed to gain the upper hand and couldn't even force Chu Hengkong to turn around. The man's back conveyed a silent contempt, a scathing disdain that encompassed both strength and very existence.

Enraged to the point of madness, Bai Mei changed its attack from a slash to a horizontal swing of its claws, while simultaneously unleashing a powerful bone hammer with its right arm, aiming to smash its enemy into mincemeat. This time, Chu Hengkong lowered his blade and slashed upwards at the tip of the claw, deflecting the giant claw. He then turned and gripped his sword in a reverse grip, unleashing his fist at the approaching bone hammer. The moment the bone hammer collided head-on with his fist, the immense impact shattered the glass throughout the entire street!

It was a visually stunning scene. The man throwing the punch was only tall, but the mutated White Eyebrows was five meters long, and his right arm, a bone hammer, was much thicker than an ordinary tree trunk, enough to smash a vehicle into scrap metal. Yet, the monster's hammer not only failed to budge the man's fist, but was also forced back inch by inch. Unimaginable force erupted from Chu Hengkong's body, and his punch cracked the pale, bony shell.

At that moment, a crimson trail curved across the sky, and the scorpion-like tail beside Bai Mei swept out, aiming for Chu Hengkong's side. A wicked smug gleamed in his eyes. The claw blade had temporarily paralyzed him, but he still had the tail stinger to use. This was not a duel between humans; monsters had their own methods to win.

But Bai Mei's smugness was overshadowed by astonishment. The silver whip arrived first, binding its tail tightly like a noose. It was Chu Hengkong's tentacle!
He was completely wrong. Possessing similarly alien limbs, that supposedly clever sneak attack was nothing more than child's play to Chu Hengkong. Chu Hengkong lowered his stance, shifting his weight, and forcefully pulled back his left arm, whipping Bai Mei's scorpion tail backward. This move immediately disrupted Bai Mei's balance; the monstrous canine body involuntarily straightened its legs, unable to retaliate. Chu Hengkong's right hand flashed, and with a swift, sideways movement, he severed the scorpion-like tail at its root!

"ah----!!!"

This blow truly dealt a severe blow to White Eyebrow, and his pitiful screams roused the surrounding residents from their dreams. Trembling, they drew back their curtains and saw two dark figures flash across the shattered glass-strewn road. The monster with the severed tail fled in panic, and the man with the knife gave chase.

White Eyebrows was truly panicked. Ever since he was "reincarnated" by Maivia, he had possessed an immortal body, had grown accustomed to the thrill of bullying men and women, and had bid farewell to the pain of bitter battles with enemies. However, at this moment, those dusty memories resurfaced. He recalled the footsteps of the pursuers behind him when he robbed someone on the street, and the seemingly useless yet incredibly heavy blows of police batons. Those vivid memories awakened his fear.

Bai Mei leaped into the air, using the outer edges of buildings to jump repeatedly, attempting to escape back to the club via the rooftops. He had to go back, back to the protection of his family; only in the club could he find a chance to survive… But upon leaping, he was met with a gleaming blade; Chu Hengkong was far faster. The man thrust his knife down with one hand, the blade piercing Bai Mei's face, pinning the beast-like fallen man to the ground! Bai Mei knew he couldn't escape. He had to change tactics, disassembling his giant claws and bone hammer into dozens of sharp teeth, which he controlled with black blood, thrusting them repeatedly at Chu Hengkong. Chu Hengkong silently swung his knife, offering no defense, only meeting the blows head-on. His blade was incredibly fast, each strike as powerful and heavy as splitting a mountain; each strike was bound to shatter Bai Mei's fangs, and each strike would surely cause Bai Mei to cry out in pain.

Bai Mei felt utterly cold, his heart pounding as if it would stop. As his anger subsided, fear began to creep in, for Chu Hengkong had no reason to act this way. The assassin was faster and stronger; he could have easily dodged and counterattacked. But he didn't. He disdained any dodging, only relentless attacks. It was the assassin's silent declaration: he would utterly crush Bai Mei's strengths, utterly shatter his unreasonable, tyrannical violence with overwhelming power.

"You have no grudge against me, why resort to such deadly force!" White-browed exclaimed in shock and rage. "When have I ever offended you? Damn it, when have I ever offended you?!"

Chu Hengkong's eyes burned with icy fury. He spoke for the first time in the battle, like a death knell announcing the end.

"Remember the grudges of the dead!"

Bai Mei's eyes widened. He truly saw it, the illusory figure under the broken streetlight. A little girl in white and a black dog, their faces bruised and bloodied, their eyes filled with stubborn, resentful eyes like nails!

"Don't fucking lie to me! It's impossible! It's impossible!!"

Bai Mei screamed in agony, his fear reaching its peak at that moment. He stared blankly at the ghost not far away, letting Chu Hengkong slash his flesh with his sword.

Suddenly, he roared madly, and all the flying fangs fell, while new fangs sprouted from his wounded body. His dying flesh had regenerated, sharp fangs growing densely on Bai Mei's skin. His entire body opened up like a flower, transforming into a hideous, monstrous maw. He lunged at Chu Hengkong, biting down with his transformed maw.

That was a desperate and ferocious counterattack from a wild beast on the verge of death. It seized the opportunity when the distance between them narrowed and was about to bite off Chu Hengkong's head with its mutated body!
Chu Hengkong silently raised his sword, gripping the hilt with both his tentacles and his hand. He took a step forward, the force of which was as powerful as a mountain-shaking impact. The power of all the joints in his body merged perfectly in this step, and the sword slashed down at the monster's gaping maw, cutting through the black blood with a bright, gleaming blade.

This was an extremely ferocious slash, the sound of the blade like the cry of a hawk. The white-browed man's bite was merely the ferocity of a wild beast, but Chu Hengkong's strike was human brutality, a sword technique created purely for killing, its very act destined to sever life the moment it was drawn. The giant maw formed by the white-browed man was cleaved in two diagonally, revealing a rotten black heart deep within the mangled body. Chu Hengkong lunged forward, his descending blade thrusting out like a spear, pinning the black heart utterly to the wall!
In an instant, black blood splattered all over the ground, and the flesh and blood of the white-browed man fell into his own blood. He could no longer regenerate or change, for the corrupted heart was the life core of the fallen, the source of that eerie black blood.

White-browed's face was also cleaved, the remaining half filled with resentment and disbelief. His lips moved, uttering a final curse.

"The Maivia family... will not... let you go..."

“You’re wrong,” Chu Hengkong said coldly. “I will not let your family off the hook.”

He stomped on the monster's face, crushed it, then sheathed his sword and stepped into the light. He knew everyone on the street was watching him, but he didn't care, only smiling at the girl in front of the building.

"It's alright," Chu Hengkong said softly. "Go home and get some sleep."

"Thank you, Detective!"

Tina bowed, tears streaming down her face, and carried the puppy into the building. Chu Hengkong reached out with his tentacles and pulled a token from the pool of black blood on the ground.

The reason for choosing Bai Mei as the entry point in this operation was because previous attempts to investigate him had yielded no results, leading to suspicions that he possessed a secret means of entry and exit. Chu Hengkong wiped the bloodstains from the token, placed it on the Silver Eye Book, and quickly understood its purpose. He had made the right gamble.

He tossed the token behind him, and his gloved hand caught it firmly.

"It's about transmitting relics, giving them light."

Ji Huaisu was also present, of course. She was responsible for protecting the mother and daughter who were being used as bait; otherwise, this reckless plan would never have been approved by everyone. She tried shining her light shield on the token, and black mist immediately appeared, transforming into a door leading into the club's interior.

"Are you ready?"

"No problem." Chu Hengkong shook the blood off his knife. "Let's begin."

The two walked through the fog gate and entered the club.

The assassination operation officially began with the death of Whitebrow, the eldest son of the Maivia family.

　(Two more chapters will be released at 8:30 PM. Thanks to the third Silver Alliance Earthbound Spirit in this book!)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)