With the Blade

Of course, that applies to regular monsters.

This monster, however, is clearly different. It can sustain itself indefinitely on its own, which means this battle might turn into a protracted war.

No, it might not even be a drawn-out fight.

Simply because this monster stitches more than just its wounds; it stitches more flesh onto itself.

These are the bodies of ordinary people who were just killed by the monster, now all stitched into its wounds. With this fresh flesh added, the teacup-headed monster visibly expanded twice in size, growing from over three zhang tall to more than five zhang.

The silver needles, which had been like thrown spears, were now replaced by smaller but sharper scalpels.

Clearly, after the recent stitching, this monster had grown significantly stronger. These slender, fast blades, smaller than the throwing spears yet more nimble, proved difficult for the Commanders to block—just because these blades were so sharp, they even seemed to possess the ability to cut through the Evil Qi. Those Commanders who relied on Evil Qi for their attacks found themselves countered by this move.

Moreover, these slender fast blades are even more numerous than those silver needles earlier.

"Shh——"

Finally, someone was cut by the scalpel, but the fluid that oozed from the wound was not red blood, but some kind of dark brown, rancid liquid.

Those blades were obviously poisoned.

It was at this moment that the shield-bearing man, who had been coughing blood, finally arrived. Though he was still coughing non-stop, he slammed his shield onto the rooftop beneath him—the rooftop naturally collapsed, crushing half of the family hiding inside. However, this new surge of Evil Qi infused him, adding a sickly flush to his complexion.

"Hah!"

The man raised his shield once more, and the other Commanders retreated behind him, while the thin projectiles flying at them were again guided by a vortex of Evil Qi, all hitting the solid shield.

The thick shield could only block the piercing and cutting, but the massive impact remained. However, the more fierce the impact, the more manic the man’s expression became.

And in the man’s other hand, at some unknown point, appeared an inconspicuous short sword.

"I’ll kill your whole family ahhhhh!"

With a loud roar from the man, the unremarkable short sword flew from his hand. The massive force was not just from the man himself, but also compounded by all the impact the thick shield had absorbed.

With such tremendous force, the inconspicuous short sword instantly turned into a streak of light.

"Boom——"

When the short sword hit the massive monster, it did not make the sound of piercing flesh but rather a dull thud, like a catapult stone striking a city gate. The Evil Qi enveloping the short sword erupted violently, blowing away half of the monster’s body in a spray of blood.

Such a wound could not be mended with just two arms, and as the monster drove its remaining fifteen arms to stitch up, the Commanders finally saw their chance for victory.

However, at this rare opportunity, a sword light fluttered in.

"Buzz——"

Under the moonlit glow of the sword light, the already severely injured colossal monster was instantly cut in two.

Then countless crescent sword lights fell from the sky, scattering on the two halves of the monster’s body, slicing it into countless pieces.

Having been finely chopped into mince, it was naturally dead beyond redemption.

"It’s Sword Master Qingyue! Sword Master Qingyue is here!"

The people affected by the disaster immediately cheered, completely shedding their previous aversion and resistance to the Commanders. From their enthusiastic response to the person descending from the sky, it was as if they were greeting a beloved family member.

Sword Master Qingyue had recently risen to fame as a Master of Weapons. The title "Master of Weapons" naturally distinguished them from the Commanders—they who wield swords are called Sword Masters, those with blades known as Blade Masters, the spear wielders as Spear Masters, with the names further specified by adding the weapon or person’s name in front.

Unlike the court-recruited Commanders, these Masters of Weapons were often skilled martial artists from among the common folk. Whenever monsters caused chaos, these Masters would emerge to fight—yet they refused the court’s summons, citing disdain for associating with bandits.

Coming from common stock already endeared them to the populace. Not being summoned by the court further convinced people that these Masters of Weapons were truly righteous.

Especially as these Masters often possess tremendous skills, monsters that the Commanders struggle against are dispatched in just a few moves by these Masters—showing an immediate contrast in their fighting abilities.

Just like now.

"Bah!"

The shield-wielding man spat on the ground.

"If it wasn’t for me striking that monster first, you punk wouldn’t have..."

"So it’s Brother Shan Bing!"

Upon hearing this rebuke, Sword Master Qingyue, encircled by people in the distance, finally turned back.

Waving his hand, signaling the crowd to make a path, Sword Master Qingyue stepped through the throng to approach the Commanders.

"Since it’s Brother Shan Bing’s team, I feel a bit embarrassed... Have I stolen your job?"

Do you also know?

The Commanders were suddenly glaring intensely, especially the shield-bearer called Shan Bing, who stared intently at Sword Master Qingyue in front of him.

Looking at the other party’s moon-white robes, they were spotlessly clean, in stark contrast to the Commanders in their black and red uniforms, already ragged and dirty from fighting. Feeling the people’s gazes around them, Shan Bing realized this brat wore such attire on purpose to outshine them.

Especially that line "stolen your job"...

So we’re just working, while you are rescuing people from distress?

But after taking a deep breath, Shan Bing ultimately did not act out.

It’s not that he didn’t want to fight, but he couldn’t. He had just come out of battle; killer intent filled his mind, so how could he possibly endure such passive-aggression at close range—yet the problem is regardless, he must endure. He knew he faced Sword Master Qingyue, ranked seventy-third in the Hundred Weapons Chart.

Seventy-third might seem unassuming, but it already places him among the southern Chen’s top one hundred experts. Shan Bing, with his so-called "Unbreakable Iron Wall" strength, was only ranked eighty-fourth. How could eighty-four beat seventy-three?

"You... good."

Sooner or later, I’ll kill you.

Clenching his teeth, Shan Bing ultimately suppressed his killer instinct and did not act on the spot.

Picking up the short sword he had thrown, Shan Bing eventually left with his team. Meanwhile, on the other side of Jiankang City, a pig-headed monster with a cleaver in its face was also under siege. Fortunately, judging from the distant cries, the Commander team led by Jiang Wenyuan, ranked ninety-second in the Hundred Weapons Chart, ultimately completed the hunt without being upstaged by the civilian Masters.

But just this much.

No cheers, no applause, for Commanders, it’s simply work, and in the eyes of the people, it’s what they’re supposed to do. They are destined to enjoy none of the glory bestowed upon the civilian Masters.

"Maybe I should remove this uniform and become a Master myself."

Shan Bing thought suddenly.

But clearly, that isn’t possible. Not only would the government not let him go, but the Commander team wouldn’t allow his departure. If he dared to cast aside his official garb, Eunuch Cao, ranking first in the Hundred Weapons Chart, secluded deep within the imperial palace, would surely come and peel off his skin personally.