Chapter 193 - 9: Gaining Sentience, Making a Move, Chaotic Burial Mound

Chapter 193: Chapter 9: Gaining Sentience, Making a Move, Chaotic Burial Mound

He began to use his current Identity as an unofficial member of the Demon Slayer Department, along with the good relationship he had established with Cong Bo, to discreetly investigate Lü Song and White Bone Mountain’s base of operations in Yu Huo County.

The Demon Slayer Department’s intelligence network was indeed far more efficient than him running around like a headless chicken.

Not two days later, a detailed file on Lü Song landed in Chen Ye’s hands.

The file detailed Lü Song’s recent movements, his residence, and even some of his personal habits.

It turned out that White Bone Mountain had a small contact point in the eastern part of Yu Huo County Town, disguised as a coffin shop.

Lü Song and his few martial brothers usually lived in the backyard of that coffin shop.

After suffering a major loss at Fengman Building, the tall, thin senior brother who had been put in ten days of confinement by Cong Bo had slipped away from Yu Huo County the very day he was released, not daring to stay any longer.

The remaining senior brother had also become much more low-key.

Only Lü Song, it seemed, still refused to give up.

According to the intel, he had been secretly inquiring about Chen Ye for the past few days, seemingly plotting some kind of revenge.

"Courting death."

Chen Ye stared at the file in his hands, a cold, murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

’Since you insist on seeking your own demise, don’t blame me for being ruthless.’

He committed the contents of the file to memory, then burned it to ashes, leaving no trace behind.

Next was to wait for the right opportunity.

An opportunity to kill in a single strike and leave no loose ends.

Chen Ye was very patient, like a Hunter waiting for his prey to reveal a weakness.

And so, he waited for three days.

On this day, Chen Ye finally received a message from a Demon Slayer Department informant.

Lü Song had left the coffin shop alone, acting furtively as he headed out of the city.

Judging by his direction, his destination seemed to be the infamous Chaotic Burial Mound on the outskirts of the city.

’The chance has come!’

Chen Ye’s gaze sharpened instantly.

He had immediately guessed Lü Song’s purpose.

’The bastard must have run out of the bone ash he uses to get high, so he’s going to the Chaotic Burial Mound to restock.’

A place like the Chaotic Burial Mound outside the city—desolate and steeped in Yin Qi—was the perfect spot for a murder and to dispose of the body.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Chen Ye changed into clothes suited for movement, wrapped his long saber in black cloth, and silently left the inn.

...

「Dusk.」

On the dirt road leading to the Chaotic Burial Mound, Lü Song walked alone, carrying a dim yellow lantern and quickening his pace.

His face was pale, and his eyes held a barely suppressed resentment and impatience.

The public humiliation at Fengman Building that day, having his arm twisted and broken by Chen Ye like a pretzel, was a disgrace he would never forget for the rest of his life.

For the past few days, he had thought of nothing but how to get his revenge.

Unfortunately, Chen Ye had hooked up with Cong Bo of the Demon Slayer Department. Even though the Demon Slayer Department had been in decline in recent years, Lü Song still didn’t dare to make a move inside the city.

And his senior brother was a coward, scared out of his wits by Cong Bo, and had long since fled.

On his own, he was no match for that bastard surnamed Chen.

"Damn it! Once I refine this stronger Yin Fiend Bone Powder, I’ll make sure you can’t live, but can’t die either!"

Lü Song cursed under his breath, grinding his teeth, completely unaware that not far behind him, a black figure was silently following him from the shadows of the woods.

Chen Ye watched the oblivious back in front of him, his eyes ice-cold.

However, Chen Ye didn’t rush to make his move. They weren’t far enough from the city gates yet. He had to wait for a foolproof location.

And so, with one in front and one behind, they soon arrived at the Chaotic Burial Mound.

Within the Chaotic Burial Mound, Yin winds howled and Ghost Qi hung thick in the air.

Lopsided burial mounds were everywhere, some of which had collapsed, exposing the ghastly white bones within.

The air was filled with the foul stench of rotting corpses and the metallic smell of earth, enough to make one retch.

Lü Song was clearly very familiar with this place.

Carrying his lantern, he expertly navigated his way deep into a section of the graveyard, finally stopping before a relatively fresh-looking burial mound.

He set down the lantern, pulled a small iron shovel from his robes, and prepared to start digging up the grave.

But just as he bent over and dug the first shovelful of dirt...

A bone-chilling killing intent erupted from behind him without any warning!

SHINK!

A vicious gleam of a blade, like a flash of lightning in the dark, shot forward with a shriek that tore through the air, aimed straight for the vital spot on his back!

The strike was fast, precise, and ruthless!

It was Chen Ye’s fatal blow, one he had been building up for a long time!

However, as expected of a disciple from one of the Evil Sects, Lü Song’s vigilance was far greater than that of an ordinary person.

The instant the blade was about to touch him, the hair on his body stood on end. An intense sense of crisis made him react without thinking, executing a clumsy "donkey’s roll" on the ground and flinging himself wretchedly to the side!

SQUELCH!

Although he had managed to avoid a fatal blow with all his might, the deadly blade still left a gash on his back so deep the bone was visible.

Fresh blood instantly stained his clothes red.

"Ah!"

Lü Song cried out in pain, scrambling to his feet as he looked back in utter horror.

Under the Moonlight, he saw a man dressed entirely in black, his face covered by a black cloth, revealing only a pair of ice-cold eyes. The man was holding a long saber, standing silently where Lü Song had just been.

"It’s... it’s you!"

Even though the man’s face was covered, Lü Song would recognize those eyes, that killing intent, even if he were reduced to ashes!

’It’s that man, Chen!’

’How could he be here?!’

A bone-chilling cold shot up from the soles of Lü Song’s feet straight to the top of his skull!

He couldn’t understand how his movements had been exposed!

But now was not the time to ponder such things.

Because Lü Song knew that since his opponent had appeared here, it certainly wasn’t for a friendly chat to catch up.

’He’s here... to kill me and leave no witness!’

’Run!’

’Otherwise, I’ll definitely die today!’

As soon as the thought surfaced, Lü Song turned and fled deeper into the Chaotic Burial Mound.

"Trying to run?" Chen Ye chuckled. "Do you think you can get away?"