Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

The crowd of itinerant cultivators was completely dumbfounded.

’This isn’t how it’s supposed to go!’

Even if Chen Da Chui failed to seize the Star Position, it was because he wasn’t skilled enough.

But he was a Fourth Realm cultivator, after all. How could he not even take a single strike from that kid?

The gap in their combat strength was just too absurd.

A sense of dread crept into the onlookers’ hearts, and the greed in their eyes was quickly replaced by fear.

"Cough, cough..."

Chen Da Chui struggled to his feet. The arrogance and conceit from moments before were gone, and as he looked at Jiang Mu, a trace of terror flickered in his eyes.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said through gritted teeth,

"Fine! You’re impressive, I’ll give you that! I admit defeat this time. The mountains don’t move and the rivers run long. Our paths will cross again!"

After spitting out his threat, he snatched his hammer from the ground, turned, and sprinted toward a small alley to his left.

’The rule of the martial world: if you can’t win, you run.’

’As long as I’m fast enough, I can brag my way back from the humiliation I suffered today.’

"I knew you’d run that way."

Jiang Mu snorted.

With a flicker of his will, his figure vanished in an instant.

He reappeared at the Demon Shadow anchor point he had already placed at the alley’s entrance.

Perfectly blocking Chen Da Chui’s escape route.

Chen Da Chui, who was sprinting head-down, saw only a blur before his eyes. When he made out the familiar, cold face, his heart seized with horror.

At the same time, the brilliant gleam of a blade was already rushing toward his face!

"Impossible!!"

Chen Da Chui’s eyes looked ready to split from their sockets. He hastily raised his giant hammer to block.

But he was half a step too late.

PFFT!

The blade flashed across his neck. A head flew into the air, its expression frozen in a moment of terror.

The headless body stood stiffly for a moment.

Then, with a THUD, it collapsed to the ground.

Jiang Mu flicked the blood from his blade’s tip. His gaze swept over the surroundings, his voice icy.

"You openly attack a Court official on the street, and when you lose, you think you can just run away? Do you really think Hu State is your personal property, where you can come and go as you please?"

The cultivators who had been watching were all horrified.

’He’s a Slaughter Deity!’

A few figures had already slipped away, faster than rabbits.

The rest didn’t dare to linger. Some even gave Jiang Mu a cupped-fist salute from a distance before scurrying away.

But one person slowly emerged from the shadows.

It was an old man.

He was about sixty years old, dressed in a long gray robe, with a figure as lean as bamboo.

Yet as he stood there, he was like an ancient sword with its edge concealed, exuding a sharpness and vitality that defied his age.

A Fourth Realm Cultivation Level.

Jiang Mu’s brow furrowed slightly. He chuckled, "I still underestimated the lure of a Star Position. There are always fools who aren’t afraid to die."

The old man’s expression was calm as he said lightly,

"You’re mistaken, Lord Jiang. When you went to seize your Star Position, didn’t others see it as an ant trying to shake a tree, or an egg smashing against a rock? But in the end, you succeeded."

He paused, his voice desolate.

"The Great Dao is like a clear sky, but I alone cannot emerge.

"I’ve lived for over sixty years. I began Martial Arts at eight and entered the path of cultivation at twelve. For a time, I believed I was a chosen son of heaven, destined to one day reach the summit.

"But this journey has wasted half my life, and to this day, I’m merely a pseudo-Star Official. It seems this is all my life will amount to."

Jiang Mu said, "So you’re here to risk your life? Then make your move. Since you dared to step forward, you must be confident."

But the old man shook his head.

"Before, I did indeed want to take a gamble and seize your Star Position. But not anymore."

"Why?"

"Because I can’t."

The old man said frankly, "After seeing that last strike, I knew that even if I staked my old life on it, I would be no match for you."

Jiang Mu was speechless. "Then what did you come out for? To wax poetic about your life with me?"

"I wish to ask for your help with a matter, Lord Jiang."

The old man said, cupping his fists.

Jiang Mu really wanted to retort.

’Are all these martial world wanderers out of their minds? One moment you want to kill me and take my treasure, the next you want my help?’

’What are they thinking?’

The old man ignored Jiang Mu’s expression and continued on his own,

"Twenty years ago, my only son, my daughter-in-law, and my grandson, who had just turned three, were all murdered in a single night.

"For these past twenty years, I have trained day and night, even resorting to Forbidden Skills that shorten my lifespan, all in the hope of one day killing my enemy with my own hands.

"Unfortunately... that enemy is hidden too well. To this day, I have not succeeded.

"Therefore, I wish to implore Lord Jiang to take action. I believe you are the only one who can help me. Of course, I will not let you work for free."

Jiang Mu said coldly, "Is your enemy a Demon?"

The old man shook his head. "No, a human."

Jiang Mu sheathed his blade and said irritably,

"I am an official of the Demon-slaying Bureau. I exclusively slay Demon Fiends. Don’t bother me with your martial world grudges."

He walked over to Chen Da Chui’s corpse, squatted down, and expertly began to loot the body.

’Looting bodies is a good habit.’

The old man watched him and said in a grave voice,

"I can offer you information on an ’Orthodox Celestial Spirit Star’ as payment. In addition, I will present you with a superior Martial Arts manual."

Jiang Mu’s hands, which were looting the corpse, froze.

He looked up and stared at the old man. "You know who has an Orthodox Celestial Spirit Star?"

"I do."

The old man nodded. "And this person’s Cultivation Level is not high. He’s at the bottom among cultivators at the Fifth Realm or above. He’s just very well-hidden. If he were to be discovered, a powerful peak Fourth Realm cultivator with the right Secret Skills could kill him."

Jiang Mu sneered.

"If he’s so easy to kill and the reward is so great, and if you were truly seeking revenge, the masters filling these streets would have been fighting over the chance. Why would you need to wait until now?"

The old man said earnestly,

"Over the years, I have indeed observed many people in secret, but none met the requirements.

"It was not until I saw you in action just now, Lord Jiang, that I was certain. In this world, only you can help me get my revenge."