On the fourth night of keeping watch outside the Gong Manor, at the third quarter of the eighth hour, a ghostly figure rushed from the long street to the wall outside the Gong Manor. After waiting quietly beneath the courtyard wall for a moment, the ghostly figure flipped over and entered the courtyard.
In the alley, Meng Rui and Tu Jinxiong exchanged glances. Meng Rui’s eyes were deep and sharp: “He’s finally here.”
The ghostly figure landed outside the Gong Manor’s study. Gong Sihai was inside. His emerald green pupils blinked several times, staring fixedly at Gong Sihai. An irrepressible mad fury surged up in his heart: It’s him, he’s the one who killed my father to death!
He revealed his sharp green fingers and grabbed toward Gong Sihai from behind.
Suddenly, two ropes flew in from outside the study window. The ropes bound his two hands, one left and one right. He let out a fierce cry, emitting a roar unlike that of a human. Gong Sihai retreated in shock, his face terrified, and demanded: “Who are you!”
“The one who will kill you—” He yanked with monstrous strength on both hands. The two constables lying in ambush outside the window were pulled flying. The ropes loosened, and he lunged at Gong Sihai again.
Gong Sihai was no easy target either. Years of living on the knife’s edge had trained him in superior martial arts. He executed an ape’s stretch, passing under the attacker’s armpit, then turned and punched toward his opponent’s kidney. If this punch landed, the opponent would certainly go limp all over, with no ability to fight back.
With a bang, although Gong Sihai succeeded, the attacker merely swayed slightly. His fists swung again toward Gong Sihai’s face. Gong Sihai was both shocked and furious. His movements slowed by half a beat—he couldn’t dodge.
He cried out in alarm.
Suddenly a black shadow flew out from level ground, blocking Gong Sihai’s front. Sharp edges flashed, forcing the attacker back three steps.
His green eyes flickered with uncertainty as he looked toward the person who had suddenly appeared.
Meng Rui’s Death God curved blade stood planted in the ground. He gazed at the young man not far away who possessed a pair of strange green eyes and said slowly: “You’re Mao Tou, aren’t you?”
The young man was startled and said awkwardly: “How do you know?”
The green eyes seemed to surge with a kind of vital life force. Meng Rui looked at them, actually becoming somewhat entranced. He steadied his mind and said: “I not only know you’re called Mao Tou, but I also know your father was called Mao Desheng. You’re killing Gong Sihai to avenge your father.”
“His name is Gong Sihai?” Mao Tou’s green eyes flickered. “Yes, killing him is to avenge Father! Back then he beat Father to death, then drove Mother and me out of Jinxia County. Mother contracted a serious illness in grief and indignation and quickly died too—he’s the one who destroyed my family!”
“The person who drove you out of Jinxia County was Chen Shi.”
Mao Tou paused: “Yes.”
“So when you saw Chen Shi again, you killed him.” Meng Rui’s voice was heavy.
“His death wasn’t worth mourning. It’s just a pity I didn’t get him to reveal who ordered him.” Mao Tou said hatefully. Meng Rui nodded: “You didn’t recognize Gong Sihai?”
“When I was very young, I saw Gong Sihai once, but Father didn’t tell me his name or say which manor he served in. Later Father died, and Mother died before she could say anything. I could only rely on that single memory, firmly remembering the enemy’s face.” Mao Tou’s entire face gradually turned green, and his hair also turned green.
Meng Rui stared in astonishment at the transforming Mao Tou: “After killing Chen Shi, you still didn’t know your enemy’s identity, so based on scattered clues like wealthy households and fondness for pet birds, you searched household by household for your enemy.”
“Yes.”
“Father served in the West District. There aren’t many wealthy households in the West District, so I searched them one by one.”
Meng Rui sighed inwardly: Several of the victimized bird owners were all in the West District—this clue he had failed to notice. He had been careless.
“Eight years—these words, this grudge pressed on my heart, nearly driving me mad.” Two demonic flames ignited in Mao Tou’s green eyes. His entire body became even greener. “Fortunately, today I can finally speak freely. What satisfaction!”
“Gong Sihai! Eight years ago you caused my father’s liver and bones to shatter inch by inch. Tonight I’ll split your belly and dig out your heart to offer as sacrifice to my father’s spirit in heaven!” Mao Tou roared again. Gong Sihai covered his ears, unable to hide the terror in his eyes.
“Mao Tou is coming!” Mao Tou spread his hands apart. The protruding, sharp green fingers were like ten daggers, clawing toward Meng Rui who blocked his path. Meng Rui dodged sideways, using his Death God blade’s scabbard to deflect the wildly lunging Mao Tou. His expression was somber: “Mao Tou, I know your suffering, but you cannot kill him. Hand him over to me. I’ll make sure Gong Sihai gets the ending he deserves.”
“Enough talk!” Mao Tou swung both hands, creating successive wind-breaking sounds, showing how sharp his finger blades were.
Meng Rui received three moves but had already seen through everything. Although Mao Tou’s offensive was like swift wind and lightning, it completely lacked technique, relying only on speed and ferocity. He sank the scabbard down at just the right moment, pressing down on Mao Tou’s left hand, then twisted. Mao Tou leaped back in pain, his expression incredulous as he stared at Meng Rui.
“Impossible! Why can’t I defeat you—why?!” Mao Tou’s features twisted savagely. His eyes were vicious, as if enduring tremendous agony. Soon, his hair’s deep green color intensified. Meng Rui’s heart jolted: Could Mao Tou control his body’s transformation! What kind of terrifying demonic power was this, and how had Mao Tou obtained such power?
Even amid fierce battle, Meng Rui was perplexed and troubled.
Mao Tou’s green eyes also turned deep green. He took a step forward, emanating a suffocating, ice-cold killing intent. Meng Rui couldn’t help but recall An’wa’s description: It was as if it could catch me at any moment and devour me whole.
Meng Rui also felt the suppression of this aura. He held “Death God” horizontally before him, his voice growing colder bit by bit: “Mao Tou, I don’t want to be your enemy.”
Mao Tou no longer showed any expression. At this moment, he more resembled an ancient primordial beast. He stretched his neck and roared furiously, his entire person rushing toward Meng Rui with overwhelming pressure—in the snap of a finger, Meng Rui’s eyes closed slightly, a trace of moisture at their corners. A snap of the finger later, Meng Rui opened his eyes and drew his blade. Mao Tou seemed to see a faint black moon fly from the scabbard. In an instant, the black moon transformed into a sharp edge that could sever all things. Mao Tou fell from midair.
Mixed with ink-green fresh blood spurted out. Yet Mao Tou smiled as if liberated, struggling to say: “What a truly fast blade!”
With one stroke Meng Rui had slain his opponent. He understood clearly—besides death, nothing could stop the enraged Mao Tou any longer.
“Don’t worry. I promised you I would make the guilty receive their due punishment.” Meng Rui seemed to be making a promise to Mao Tou. Mao Tou smiled at him, green blood spurting out mouthful by mouthful. Gong Sihai hid in the distance, his face long since drained of color.
Shadows moved outside the door. Tu Jinxiong, Qiu Dadan, and the others had arrived.
Mao Tou suddenly grabbed Meng Rui’s leg. Meng Rui was startled and slowly crouched down. Mao Tou leaned closer and said: “You’re a good person. I have a secret to tell you—it’s this.”
Mao Tou suddenly pierced through his own chest, pulling out an apricot pit-sized green stone from inside. He said: “Take it. The secret is within!”
Mao Tou suddenly released his hand. Tu Jinxiong and the others rushed in. Meng Rui hesitated slightly, then tucked the green stone into his bosom.
“This vast mortal world has long since become an infinite illusory prison! Death is perhaps—the best liberation.”
Mao Tou’s head tilted to the side. He died. A moment later, his full head of green hair actually turned back to black, though his green eyes and green fingers didn’t change back. Tu Jinxiong looked at Mao Tou, clicking his tongue in wonder.
I will keep my promise. Meng Rui silently vowed in his heart.
After gathering all the evidence of Mao Desheng’s death eight years ago, Meng Rui sent Gong Sihai to prison. What awaited Gong Sihai would be punishment as red as blood.