The Butcher's Sacred Art
1093 Words
Night had fallen, and the inn grew quiet with the decline in business.
Qin Tian sat alone on the back porch, gazing at the starry sky, lost in thought.
The events of the day would undoubtedly repeat themselves. To avoid future beatings, he had to become stronger. Without strength, he would never hold his head high.
The arduous cultivation methods of the Tianyuan Continent were not for him. His only chance to break through was to slay beasts.
Beasts, like humans, were ranked by levels. The fiery fowl he killed today was a mere zero-rank creature, easy prey. But first-rank and higher beasts were beyond his ability to defeat.
While beasts below fifth rank relied solely on brute force, their savagery was terrifying. Beasts of fifth rank and higher, having developed crystal cores, were even more formidable—capable of crushing mountains and splitting stones with ease.
Qin Tian was only a second-rank warrior. Facing even a first-rank beast posed mortal danger. A single first-rank beast could effortlessly tear apart three second-rank warriors.
The Kunlun Mountains were a haven for beasts and the ideal place for leveling up. But entering them now was out of the question. Even the lower-level beasts in the outskirts could easily kill him. Venturing deeper would mean certain death.
He quickly dismissed the idea of entering the Kunlun Mountains.
But how else could he advance without slaying beasts? While he had tried killing common creatures like chickens, ducks, and fish for experience, their numbers were limited. At most, a few kills a day would yield a handful of experience points. He would never reach third rank at such a pace.
"Even a small mosquito is meat," he mused. "If only I could kill thousands—no, tens of thousands—each day."
Where could he find so many chickens, ducks, and fish? Only a slaughterhouse would have such a supply.
"Slaughterhouse?" Qin Tian’s eyes lit up as he suddenly exclaimed, "I've got it!"
"Young master, what’s making you so happy?" Meng Lei, catching sight of his excitement, approached curiously.
"Fatty, is there a slaughterhouse in Qinghe City?"
He needed to confirm its existence before celebrating too soon.
"Yes! There's one in the eastern part of the city. But why do you ask?"
"Of course it’s useful!" Qin Tian chuckled, already hatching a plan. If the slaughterhouse needed free labor, he would be there in a heartbeat.
After finishing dinner and tidying up the inn, Qin Tian’s exhausting day came to an end. His body ached, almost as if his bones were falling apart. Were it not for his relentless training in the past, he would have collapsed long ago.
Shopkeeper Zhang Dafeng had made him do everything today, seemingly intent on working him to death. But by nightfall, he grudgingly admitted Qin Tian’s endurance was remarkable. Despite his recent illness, he had managed to survive the day. Tomorrow, he decided, he would pile on even more tasks.
Labor was free, after all. Why not squeeze every ounce of use from it?
Qin Tian had been relegated to the Furong Inn by his family. Other than meals, he earned nothing—not a single copper coin. Survival was his only reward, and any dream of growth was laughably out of reach.
Why had they cast him down so ruthlessly? What had he done? Peeped on someone’s wife? Or been caught impotent?
The thought crossed his mind: could someone fear him that much?
Ridiculous. Who would fear a weakling?
Qin Tian shook his head. His father, Qin Xiangtian, was second only to the patriarch in strength, having reached the Spirit Gathering Realm—a top-tier expert in Qinghe City. He wouldn’t be worried about his son.
Enough! There was no point in dwelling on it now. His priority was clear.
"Fatty, take me to the slaughterhouse."
Although Meng Lei had mentioned its location, Qinghe City was vast. Qin Tian had no idea where exactly to find it, and his memory held no clues. Better to let Meng Lei lead the way.
Without question, Meng Lei complied. In his heart, whatever the young master wished to do was of great importance. His role was to follow orders without asking questions.
The journey through Qinghe City took half an hour. Its stone-paved streets, blue-tiled roofs, and ancient charm reminded Qin Tian of the China of old dynasties, straight out of a television drama.
At last, they reached the slaughterhouse on the city’s eastern edge.
Under the bright glow of lanterns, the place was alive with the chaotic cries of animals awaiting their fate.
Excitement surged through Qin Tian as he beheld the blood troughs and cages. Every creature represented experience points, qi power, and vitality. The path to strength lay before him.
The slaughterhouse was short on labor, with only three workers struggling to keep up. When Qin Tian offered to help for free, they readily agreed.
Butchery wasn’t a desirable trade. It involved endless killing and left one drenched in blood—an unsettling profession that few wanted.
Yet to Qin Tian, the butcher’s blade was sacred.
The first duck fell under his knife.
"Ten experience points, three qi points, zero vitality points…"
Next came a rooster.
"Ten experience points, three qi points, zero vitality points…"
A rabbit followed.
The system alerts echoed in his mind without pause.
All night, his knife worked tirelessly. The workers stared in amazement.
This frail-looking youth slaughtered beasts like a man possessed, as if avenging a blood feud. One cut, one kill—without a flicker of hesitation.
Who in their right mind would pity or blink while farming monsters for experience?
Qin Tian wished for a hundred hands to slay thousands at once. The flood of experience made his heart race.
By dawn, every animal was dead, and Qin Tian’s body was drenched in blood. His appearance was monstrous, as though he had risen from a pool of gore.
Holding a cleaver, he stood like a demon incarnate.
The system chimed one last time:
"Congratulations, player Qin Tian, on leveling up. Current level: 3."
The sound was heavenly. Qin Tian’s joy surged. In one night, he had broken through to third rank. Even the genius Xiao Rufeng had taken three months to achieve this!
Now, he could dare to dream of returning to the Qin family in triumph.
Revenge wouldn’t wait ten years—Qin Tian wasn’t that patient.
He would rise swiftly. His enemies would bow before him.
Stinking of blood and victory, he laughed. The river beckoned to wash it all away.
- Writer
