# 10
**Chapter 10 – Straight Blade Under the Moon**
The sharp, broken rod pierced the monster’s brain, erasing all signs of life, but even so, the momentum of its leap remained.
Its massive body crashed down like a cannonball, slamming the rod-wielding Lin Qiye to the ground.
In the end, Lin Qiye had killed this monster purely through his freakish dynamic vision and the might of the Seraph; his own strength hadn’t increased at all. This thing weighed at least two hundred kilograms, and with his physique there was no way he could shove it off in time.
Worse, after forcibly unleashing the Seraph’s power, Lin Qiye felt hollowed out—every muscle limp, head spinning.
Right then, the second monster—hiding till now—moved.
The hunter that had lurked in the shadows finally bared its hideous fangs!
It sprinted, limbs blurring beneath the flickering street-lamps, its shadow writhing like a ghostly flame, a scarlet tongue whipping through the air.
Lin Qiye could track every motion, but he couldn’t dodge; he could only watch the forest of teeth rush closer—
Two metres away—
Lin Qiye’s pupils shrank.
Within his perception, something faster than the monster was closing in!
A… person?
An actual human.
Whoosh—!
A blur dropped from the night sky, boots thudding squarely on the asphalt. The gust of arrival snapped a dark-red cloak upward, revealing the profile of a middle-aged man.
Not handsome, not ugly—just the sort of uncle you’d pass on any sidewalk and instantly forget.
Yet the killing intent blazing in his eyes glinted like naked steel.
He crouched, gaze locked on the monster a metre away, right hand closing on the hilt behind his back.
“Shing—!”
A clear ring left the scabbard; pale-blue blade caught the dull moonlight, sliced the stagnant air, and swept forward without a sound.
A plain, unadorned Straight Blade.
It carved a crescent, met the monster’s claws in a burst of sparks.
Zhao Kongcheng snarled, muscles knotting as he stamped half a step forward!
The bear-sized beast was forced back several paces!
Lin Qiye stared in disbelief; he’d fought this thing and knew its terrifying strength—yet this man had driven it back?
Who was he?
Pressing the advantage, Zhao Kongcheng slid in with a peculiar footwork, clinging like a shadow, the Straight Blade hacking again and again, leaving savage cuts across the monster’s hide.
The creature shrieked, eyes venomous, spear-like fore-limbs stabbing at the hated human.
Two flashes—and those limbs fell severed.
Before the scream ended, Zhao Kongcheng’s eyes iced over; the Straight Blade whipped toward the beast’s neck.
Pale steel parted flesh like paper.
The head tumbled high…
and rolled across the ground.
“Clack—!”
Blade back in sheath. The dark-red cloak was soaked in blood, but the colour hid it well.
Zhao Kongcheng never glanced at the corpse. He fished out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep drag, then keyed a walkie-talkie.
“Both fleeing Ghost-Face corpses eliminated. Send cleanup.”
He pocketed the radio and walked to Lin Qiye, who had just crawled free.
Under the night, beside a pool of blood, the two men studied each other in silence…
Finally Zhao Kongcheng cracked.
“Was I cool just now?”
Lin Qiye: …
He looked into the man’s eyes—he was dead serious—and muttered, “Cool.”
“Damn right.” Zhao Kongcheng grinned. “Wanna be cool like me?”
“No.”
“…” The corner of his mouth twitched. “Why not?”
“Dies too easily.”
Lin Qiye’s tone was flat earnest.
Zhao Kongcheng was speechless. “But you saw it—you’ve got supernatural power most people only dream of. Don’t you want to be a superhero, like in the movies?”
“No.”
“…Because you’d die?”
“Yep.”
Zhao Kongcheng rubbed his temples. This kid was tough nuts, yet he’d stumbled into the mess and possessed terrifying power…
“Look, we can’t talk here. Let’s move. Oh, I’m Zhao Kongcheng. Not a bad guy.”
“Lin Qiye.” He blinked, nodded obediently. “I trust you. Wait here; I’ll grab my bag—my study notes are inside.”
“…Go, go.” Zhao Kongcheng waved helplessly and parked himself on the curb, depressed.
Any normal person would be shell-shocked, yet this brat still cared about homework…
And he’d straight-up rejected him?
Damn, I pulled out every stop! Those slashes were pure swagger!
I don’t even fight that hard sparring the captain…
Speaking of which, hope the captain’s okay—Ghost-Face King is no joke…
Zhao Kongcheng sat roadside, cigarette dangling, lost in thought.
Wait…
Huh?
Something’s off.
He snapped back, scanned the empty street—
The kid was gone.
Zhao Kongcheng stood frozen, mouth agape.
“The little bastard ran?!”
…
“Bro, why so late?”
Yang Jin eyed the exhausted Lin Qiye. “Where’s your Guide Cane?”
Lin Qiye toed off his shoes, forcing a smile. “Little accident on the way—lost it.”
To hide the gash at his temple he retied the black silk; the cane was broken anyway, and bringing it home would only scare them.
“No biggie, we’ll get another… Problem solved?”
“Mm, solved.”
Little Black Puff trotted from the balcony, nuzzled Lin Qiye’s calf, then flopped belly-up.
Lin Qiye knelt to rub the dog’s tummy. “Auntie not back?”
“Night shift—won’t be home till morning.”
“Alright. Homework?”
“Almost done.”
“Middle-schoolers buried in homework—ridiculous.” He straightened. “If you’re beat, leave it. Teacher yells, tell me—I’ll argue.”
Yang Jin smiled. “Nearly finished.”
Lin Qiye nodded. “I’m wrecked—hitting the sack. You sleep early too.”
“’Kay.”
He dragged himself to his room; as the door swung shut Yang Jin called softly,
“Bro… you sure you’re okay?”
“All good. Night… Oh, milk’s in the fridge; heat it if you’re up early.”
“Got it. Night.”
“Night.”
The door clicked shut. Outside, Yang Jin hugged Black Puff, staring at Lin Qiye’s room.
He stroked the dog’s head. “You smelled it too?”
“Woof!”
Beyond the window the moonlight was pale.
“On him…” Yang Jin murmured, “there’s the scent of blood.”