The semicircular archway was kicked open by Ren Yuanhao, sending dust billowing back, and a foul odor, like a maggot clinging to bone, assailed him.
What met his eyes was Ouyang Rui, curled in a corner, barely clothed and trembling. In her hands, she clutched something, her disheveled hair matted with blood. The cut on her neck was unnervingly clean – it was Zhou Qingfang's head!
Ouyang Rui's pupils were unfocused. The moment the door burst open, she merely glanced at him before her gaze returned, undisturbed, to the void.
"Ouyang Rui!"
Ren Yuanhao understood what had happened. It was like a thunderclap in his mind, but to preserve Ouyang Rui's last shred of dignity, he first took off his windbreaker and draped it over her.
It was then he noticed the brother and sister pair, writhing on the blood-soaked carpet. This perverse act seemed to awaken a dormant, frenzied power within them, a power known as Blood Frenzy!
Zhou Qingfang's headless corpse was bound to a chair, her blood forming a bizarre totem on the floor, like a mad sacrifice.
The siblings paid no heed to the newcomer, engrossed in their primal desires like wild beasts. Only death could end their frenzy.
"Brutes."
Ren Yuanhao's voice deepened, becoming as guttural as a beast's. Anger was no longer sufficient to describe his inner turmoil.
At this moment, the siblings seemed to sense someone had broken in. The brother, Jiang Li, suddenly pushed off the ground, his agitated blood qi propelling him to a speed that even Ren Yuanhao could barely track. When he reappeared, he was wearing his windbreaker.
"Ren Yuanhao, it's you again." Jiang Li's entire demeanor had transformed. His hand, as he lit a cigarette, trembled violently. "You don't know the rules of Yun Jin City. Trash and dogs are not allowed in."
"Save the nonsense. I'll ask you only one question: Ouyang Rui, did you, you bastard, defile her!" Ren Yuanhao drew the dagger left to him by Cheng Li. His internal energy surged, his robes billowed, and dust swirled.
"Why don't you ask her? Ask her what her old man's technique was like. Virgin blood is the purest thing in the world. Unfortunately, she's just a wilted flower now. If you want her, I can throw her to you."
Jiang Li threw his head back and laughed, completely oblivious to Ren Yuanhao's surging internal energy.
"Good. Is there anyone else who saw this?" Ren Yuanhao's voice was deep as water.
"What do you mean, trash?"
"If anyone else saw this, please call them out. It saves me the trouble of finding them one by one." Ren Yuanhao tossed the short dagger, its cold edge flashing like lightning. His voice lowered again, carrying the might of thunder: "None of you will leave this place alive."
"How arrogant! Let's see if you have the life for it!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Jiang Li grabbed a bronze lampstand and hurled it at Ren Yuanhao. The force behind it was no less than Ren Yuanhao's own. The wind from the lampstand, its three legs like a black tiger's claws, struck with the posture of a deadly pounce. If hit, the consequences would be dire.
The lampstand, trailing a fierce wind, suddenly lunged forward. Ren Yuanhao leaned back, executing a perfect backflip. His leg, mid-air, kicked the front of the lampstand, instantly altering its trajectory. It pierced the flat ceiling panel, gouging out a large hole.
"Brother, this toy looks interesting. Let me take off one of his legs!"
Jiang Ling'er, her limbs splayed on the ground like a hunting leopard in motion, kicked up dust that swirled like eddies. It was unclear if her skin was flushed red due to the Blood Frenzy or if it was coated in viscous blood. The moment she closed in on Ren Yuanhao, her long dagger, with its pointed tip, lunged directly for his leg.
The blood-stained blade was undoubtedly the murder weapon that had slain Zhou Qingfang. Ren Yuanhao watched as the girl, who had moments before appeared innocent and naive, instantly transformed into something more terrifying and bloodthirsty than a demon. His anger ignited. Without regard for her gender, he leaped forward, striking back with his arm, grabbing her by her once silken hair.
But fueled by the Blood Frenzy, Jiang Ling'er, far from being discouraged by her missed strike, slashed the blade across her own head. Her long hair was instantly severed. Ren Yuanhao, completely taken aback by a woman's disregard for her own hair, failed to check his momentum. He stumbled back. Before he could regain his footing, he felt a chill on his spine as another fierce gust of energy lunged for his back!
"Yes, come at me together if you dare! What do I have to fear!"
Ren Yuanhao furiously activated his Flying Dragon Cloud-Searching Hand, kicking the attacking Jiang Li in the chest. Then, with a move like the Star Sucking Great Method, he yanked the lunging Jiang Ling'er towards him, his fingers pressing down on the crown of her head, forcing her down with immense pressure!
"Kneel! Look closely, can't you see? That woman is your Sister Rui! Is that innocent face of yours only meant to deceive those who are sincere towards you!"
Under Ren Yuanhao's furious internal energy, Jiang Ling'er felt her knees, crashing into the solid ground, shatter. Yet, the more pain she endured, the more ferocious her expression became.
"That kind of fickle woman doesn't deserve to be my Sister Rui!"
"Doesn't deserve it? Fine, tell me, how did Aunt Zhou anger you, you monster! Killing is one thing, but you're so young, and you severed her head! What are you? Human, or a monster!"
Ren Yuanhao channeled his energy again, his raging internal force pinning Jiang Ling'er, rendering her immobile.
"I haven't killed anyone. I want to kill, do you know? The moment a knife pierces human skin, it's like you're making a tear in a taut piece of paper. Blood will immediately gush from that tear. And if you're fast enough, pulling the knife out the moment you stab it, the blood won't flow down the skin, but will spray out from the tear like a volcanic eruption. It feels so good!"
Ren Yuanhao suddenly froze. Jiang Ling'er, feeling the pressure ease, twisted her head and reached out, slashing at Ren Yuanhao's leg!
Fortunately, Ren Yuanhao's momentary daze passed. His right hand met the blade, slapping it away. The knife flew, embedding itself in the stone wall.
"I, Ren Yuanhao, have never seen a monster like you! Since you've admitted it, go to the other side and atone to Aunt Zhou!"
Ren Yuanhao tightened his fingers, his internal energy flowing into them. Just as he was about to crush her skull, he smelled urine. A puddle of urine was slowly spreading from beneath Jiang Ling'er.
"Monsters are afraid too? That's right, you are monsters. And I am the monster that stands above you!"