I was considered quite fortunate; I had managed to dodge quickly.
My arm was merely grazed by the residual force of the zombie's limb.
If the zombie had landed a direct blow on my arm, my limb would surely have been ruined.
It's possible my life itself would have been in danger.
At this moment, after examining me, Master prepared to reset my dislocated shoulder.
My fingers had dislocated before, and resetting them had been very painful.
My shoulder would likely be even more agonizing.
Gritting my teeth, I said to Master,
"Let's do it, Master!"
Master grunted.
He felt my arm with his hand, pulling my arm with one hand.
He gave it a gentle shake, and then with a sudden tug.
For a moment, I felt a sharp pain shoot through my arm.
"Ah!"
I couldn't help but cry out.
With my other hand, I pressed against the ground, digging my fingers into the earth.
Cold sweat beaded on my forehead, and my body trembled uncontrollably.
The pain was truly excruciating, piercing and bone-chilling.
After tugging my arm, Master shook his hand again.
I didn't see how he did it.
But then I heard a "crack" sound, and my previously numb arm regained sensation.
The swollen feeling also subsided considerably.
Most importantly, I could move it.
"Xiao Qin, try moving it now."
I attempted to move my arm.
Although it still ached, I could now move it.
I was amazed and thrilled.
"Master, it's better!"
"Good, it's good that it's better!
If you hadn't managed to stab out one of that zombie's eyes with your sword earlier,
releasing a significant amount of its corpse qi, I would have had to exert more effort."
Master smiled, his words filled with praise for me.
I chuckled a few times.
In truth, I had just gotten lucky, a sneak attack.
If I had to face this Black Fiend Elder Zombie in a one-on-one fight, ten of me wouldn't stand a chance.
"Master, the zombie is immobilized by you. What do we do with it now?"
I stood up and looked at the zombie pinned to the ground.
Though it couldn't move, it occasionally let out a low "woo woo" growl.
Master glanced at the zombie and then said,
"This thing is now like fish on a chopping board.
Although it has bronze skin and iron bones,
as long as we further weaken its corpse qi,
we can sever its head with a single sword strike.
A headless zombie is merely a corpse.
Then, we'll find some wood to burn it, and that will be the end of it."
Hearing Master's words, I nodded, feeling more relaxed.
Master picked up the peach wood sword from the ground, preparing to deal with the Black Fiend Zombie.
I held my peach wood sword and followed behind Master,
intending to learn from his experience.
As the zombie watched us approach step by step, its pair of blood-red eyes flickered constantly.
Its "woo woo woo" sounds grew louder.
It was struggling, its corpse qi continuously emitting outward.
It wanted to break free from the talisman stuck to its forehead.
However, it was always just short of succeeding.
Master let out a cold smile:
"Evil creature, your time of death has come."
With that, Master raised the peach wood sword in his hand.
He plunged it directly into the zombie's posterior.
Master's strike was precise.
The zombie was immediately anally violated.
"Woo woo woo…"
A series of low growls arose, and the zombie struggled even more fiercely.
Waves of black corpse qi began to leak out continuously…
Everything was proceeding as planned.
As the corpse qi continued to leak, the black hairs on the zombie's body fell off one by one.
The Black Fiend Zombie, originally possessing bronze skin and iron bones with extremely hardened skin,
began to soften and decay as its corpse qi diminished.
Just as success was within reach,
a change occurred.
Suddenly, a "woo woo woo" sound echoed from the surrounding forest.
As soon as this sound appeared, Master and I both turned our heads sharply to look around.
This sound was eerily similar to the Black Fiend Zombie's growls; it was also the roar of a zombie.
"Master, are there other zombies around here?"
I asked in surprise.
Master was also quite shocked, looking out into the dark forest.
Then, several more "woo woo" low growls came from the forest.
These sounds continued to come.
Master's expression turned grim:
"Xiao Qin, be prepared.
It seems there is more than one zombie in this mountain.
These must be corpses bitten and reanimated by this elder zombie."
Although I already had a suspicion,
my expression still turned grim upon hearing Master's words.
In front of us, the immobilized zombie continued its "woo woo woo" cries and low growls.
As its corpse qi was constantly leaking, its face and the backs of its hands began to rot.
Black blood flowed out, foul-smelling and terrifying…
Master now drew his peach wood sword.
He said to me,
"Xiao Qin, you sever this zombie's head."
"Yes!"
I replied crisply.
Master could have easily cleaved off the zombie's head with a casual swing.
But at this moment, he asked me to do it.
It was clear he wanted to bestow the merit upon me.
My accumulated Yin longevity was still not much, so I didn't refuse.
Raising the peach wood sword, I looked at the now decaying zombie and, without hesitation,
channeled my true qi, converting it into Daoist magical energy.
I condensed it onto the peach wood sword and swung.
With a "crack" sound.
The peach wood sword acted like a steel blade, severing the zombie's neck with a single stroke.
Black blood spurted out with a "sizzling" sound.
The zombie's head rolled away like a ball, its low growl abruptly silenced.
Looking at the decapitated zombie, I took a long breath.
This was the first time I had killed a zombie.
I couldn't say I felt exhilaration, but there was a sense of accomplishment.
Master, however, looked solemn.
Because the "woo woo woo" growls continued to echo from all around.
This clearly indicated that it wasn't just one or two, but a whole pack…