The Moonlit Straight Blade
1043 Words
The jagged broken cane pierced the monster's brain, erasing all life within it. Yet its momentum still carried it forward.
Its massive body fell like a cannonball, smashing Lin Qiye to the ground.
After all, Lin Qiye had killed the monster purely thanks to his extraordinary dynamic vision and the seraphic might. His own physical strength hadn't increased. This creature weighed at least two hundred kilograms, far beyond what he could have handled alone.
Moreover, after unleashing the seraphic power, his body felt drained, powerless, even a bit dizzy.
But then, the second monster, hidden in the shadows, moved.
The hunter, long concealed, revealed its grotesque fangs. Its limbs propelled it rapidly across flickering streetlights, shadows swaying like phantoms, its crimson tongue writhing unnaturally.
Lin Qiye could see its every move—but now he had no time to dodge. The fangs seemed to grow larger by the second as it closed in!
When the monster was just two meters away, Lin Qiye's pupils suddenly contracted.
Within his perception, something faster than the monster was approaching.
A person? A real human being.
Whoosh—!
A blur crossed his vision as a figure fell from the night sky, landing solidly on the ground. The wind from his landing lifted his dark red cloak, revealing the side of a middle-aged man's face.
Not handsome, not ugly—an ordinary man the type one might overlook on the street.
Yet his eyes burned with murderous intent, sharp as drawn blades.
He crouched low, eyes fixed on the monster barely a meter away, right hand steady on the hilt of the sword on his back.
*Ssshh—!*
A crisp sound from the sheath, and a pale blue blade gleamed in the dim moonlight, cutting silently toward the monster.
A straight blade, plain and unadorned.
The sword clashed with the monster's claw, sparks flying.
"Raaah!" Zhao Kongcheng roared, muscles tensed, stepping forward fiercely.
Even the bear-sized monster was forced backward several steps.
Lin Qiye stared in disbelief. He had fought this creature himself, knowing its terrifying strength. And this man was forcing it back?
Who exactly was he?
Zhao Kongcheng pressed forward, moving with a peculiar rhythm, almost like a parasite clinging to the monster. His straight blade slashed repeatedly, leaving deep, vicious marks across its body.
The monster shrieked, eyes full of venom, lifting its spear-like forelimbs to strike.
But two streaks of sword light flashed—the claws were severed instantly.
Before the monster could scream, Zhao Kongcheng's eyes glinted coldly. His blade struck the monster's neck with lightning speed.
The pale blue edge cut through flesh effortlessly, and in the next moment, the monster's head was hurled into the air…
Rolling to the ground with a *thud*.
*Clack—!*
The sword returned to its sheath. The dark red cloak was smeared with blood, but its color masked the gore unless observed carefully.
Without a glance at the corpse, Zhao Kongcheng pulled out a cigarette, lit it, inhaled deeply, and spoke into his walkie-talkie:
"The two escaped ghost-faced monsters neutralized. Logistics, clean up the battlefield."
He tucked the walkie-talkie away and walked to Lin Qiye, who had just regained his footing.
The two simply stared at each other—night, blood, and silence around them.
After a long pause, Zhao Kongcheng finally spoke:
"Was I cool just now?"
Lin Qiye: …
He studied the man for a moment, then replied faintly:
"Cool."
"Good." Zhao Kongcheng grinned. "Want to be as cool as me?"
"No."
"…Why?"
"Easy to die." Lin Qiye answered earnestly.
Zhao Kongcheng was momentarily speechless. "But you just saw it—your supernatural power is something ordinary people dream of. Don't you want to be a superhero like in the movies?"
"No."
"…Because it's easy to die?"
"Yes."
Rubbing his eyes, Zhao Kongcheng realized this boy was not easy to deal with—yet dragged into this mess, and with such incredible power…
"Alright, this isn't the place to talk. Let's go somewhere else and chat properly." He paused, then said: "By the way, I'm Zhao Kongcheng. I'm not a bad guy."
"Lin Qiye." The boy blinked and nodded obediently. "I trust you. Wait here—I'll get my backpack. My study materials are still inside."
"…Go ahead." Zhao Kongcheng waved reluctantly and sat on the roadside, feeling a bit frustrated.
If this were an ordinary person, they'd have been shaken to the core. Yet this boy thought to fetch his study materials… and even refused him?
Damn, he had used all his moves! Those slashes had been perfect!
While lost in thought, Zhao Kongcheng suddenly realized something—half a second too late—and quickly scanned the surroundings.
Where was the boy?
Frozen for over ten seconds, he finally realized:
"Damn, the kid actually ran off?!"
---
"Brother, why are you home so late today?"
Yang Jin asked, noticing Lin Qiye's exhausted face. "Where's your cane?"
Lin Qiye changed into slippers, forcing a smile.
"Had a little incident on the way, lost it."
He wrapped the black ribbon back around his temple to hide the wound, choosing to discard the broken cane rather than worry his family.
"No problem. Can get another one… Everything settled?"
"Mm, settled."
Little Blackie trotted over from the balcony, nudging Lin Qiye's leg, then lay down, exposing its belly.
Lin Qiye crouched, rubbing its stomach as he asked:
"Aunt hasn't returned?"
"Mom's on night shift, back tomorrow morning."
"Alright. Homework done?"
"Almost."
"Middle school already gives this much homework… insane." Lin Qiye chuckled. "If tired, don't finish it. Tell me if the teacher scolds you, I'll handle it."
Yang Jin smiled faintly.
"I'll finish soon."
Lin Qiye nodded.
"I'm tired, I'll sleep. You finish, then sleep too."
"Okay."
He dragged his weary body to his room. Just as he was about to close the door, Yang Jin's voice came again.
"Brother… really nothing wrong?"
"Nothing. Sleep early… Milk's in the fridge. Heat it up if you wake early."
"Got it, brother."
"Good night."
"Good night."
The door closed softly. Outside, Yang Jin held Little Blackie, silently watching Lin Qiye's room.
He gently stroked its head.
"You feel it too?"
"Woof!"
He looked at the dim moonlight, murmuring:
"There's… the smell of blood on him."
- Writer
