The blade pierced through the thick ballistic vest, through tender flesh, and finally emerged from the soldier captain’s back…
Ferna’s smile, filling his entire vision, was the last thing he ever saw. Heart pierced, he collapsed to the ground, hatred etched on his face.
“I expected more. Disappointing.”
Ferna flicked the blood from her blade and sheathed it. She turned toward the banquet hall—where the main course awaited…
“Let’s hope that little boy surprises me.”
Ferna strode toward the hall, anticipation simmering…
Inside the hall she’d set her sights on, carnage reigned. Once-pristine floors were now cratered with massive handprints, each filled with mangled flesh. The stench of blood assaulted the nostrils of the survivors, turning stomachs.
The Martial Monk and his four colossal golden hands advanced like an unbroken wall, pressing deeper into the hall. Anyone attempting to flee was crushed into pulp. The crowd had no choice but to retreat inward—but with every step the Martial Monk took, their space shrank. Bodies pressed against bodies until escape became impossible.
**BOOM!**
Another thunderous slam. Dozens of lives erased by magic’s brutal force…
Only a handful remained alive…
“You’re the last ones,” the Martial Monk declared, a relieved smile spreading across his face as he faced the figures standing at the main table. “Once I send you to the afterlife, my task is complete.”
“What do you want?” Ouyang Long asked, voice steady.
“What do I want? I’m paid to eliminate threats. Simple as that.”
“Paid? You were hired?”
“Naturally. The Ouyang Clan and I hold no blood feud. Who’d recklessly provoke one of the kingdom’s great houses?”
“Then why accept this job?”
“My patron offered a price I couldn’t refuse. And my duty ends here. The rest is none of my concern.”
“You have accomplices.”
Ouyang Long seized the crucial detail.
“Alone, wiping out the Ouyang Clan would be difficult. But worry not, Ouyang Long—everyone outside is already dead. Slaughtered by my allies.”
“.........”
In that instant, Ouyang Long didn’t think of his own fate. Only his daughters—Ouyang Shi and Ouyang Feng. As long as they lived, the Ouyang Clan could rise again. Especially with Ouyang Shi favored by Zokilia. With careful maneuvering, Zokilia’s influence alone could ensure the clan’s survival!
“I’ll pay you ten times the price. Leave now.”
“Heh. You amuse me, sir.”
A smirk curled the Martial Monk’s lips at Ouyang Long’s offer.
“But I honor contracts. I won’t betray my employer.”
“One hundred times.”
“.......”
Without hesitation, Ouyang Long multiplied his offer tenfold. The Martial Monk fell silent. Just as hope flickered in Ouyang Long’s eyes—
“**HEH HEH HEH HEH—HAHAHAHA!**” The Martial Monk erupted into wild laughter. “Intel called you a ruthless leader. Now I see it firsthand. You’d sacrifice anything to live.”
“Of course. Life is precious. I understand that well.”
“Pity. You still die.”
“Hmph? Not even a hundredfold price moves you? Then I—”
“Ouyang Long. Give up. You won’t sway me.”
“Why?”
Ouyang Long remained calm, seeking answers. He believed everyone had a price—anyone could be bought if the offer matched their worth.
“Because I crave screams more than gold!!!”
The four golden hands surged toward Ouyang Long!
**BOOM!**
A deafening explosion ripped through the banquet hall’s wall. All heads snapped toward the smoke and debris—
A small figure leapt from the dust. Ouyang Ge!
He shot the Martial Monk a venomous glare, landed lightly, and vanished back into the smoke.
“An interesting interruption.”
The golden hands dissolved into shimmering particles. The Martial Monk spread them like liquid mercury, scouring the hall for the hidden boy.
Watching the golden tide flow toward him, Ouyang Ge knew: *One chance. Only one.*
The young boy burst from the smoke, charging straight at the Martial Monk!
“Ah. There you are.”
Unfazed, the Martial Monk pivoted to face the oncoming assault.
“**DIE!**”
Ouyang Ge cocked his arm and drove his dagger with all his strength toward the monk’s chest!
***CLANG!***
The dagger’s tip halted an inch from the Martial Monk’s right eye—blocked!
“Tch!”
Knowing the moment was lost, Ouyang Ge yanked back his blade and rolled aside.
“Young master, we’ve never met. How did you know… that split-second opening?”
Golden particles swirled back to the monk’s side, but Ouyang Ge’s strike had revealed a truth: *His weakness was known.*
“........”
Silent, Ouyang Ge shifted his dagger to a reverse grip and drew the pistol holstered at his waist.
“That toy won’t harm me, child.”
“We’ll see.”
Ouyang Ge’s voice held no emotion.
“Try it then.”
The golden particles coalesced into one massive fist!
***CRUNCH!***
The fist slammed into where Ouyang Ge had stood, shattering the stone floor into a crater!
Ouyang Ge had already leapt away, anticipating the blow. But the Martial Monk adjusted instantly—the fist morphed into smaller hands, lashing out from multiple angles!
“Phase One: Scatter his golden sand.”
Muttering under his breath, Ouyang Ge darted through the hall. The pursuing hands smashed tables and chairs, each impact scattering golden specks across the debris.
Soon, the entire hall glittered with them.
“Phase Two: Trap the sand with a magnet.”
Ouyang Ge pulled a disc-shaped device from his pack, pressed a hidden button, and hurled it aside.
Every golden speck surged toward the disc!
“Huh? What is—”
The Martial Monk’s eyes narrowed as he felt his metallic particles slipping from his control.
“A homemade electromagnet! I know your power!”
Ouyang Ge lunged from the smoke, pistol firing at the monk’s vital points!
“Arrogant brat! I’ll crush you!!!”
The Martial Monk’s calm shattered. He roared, and a tsunami of golden energy surged toward Ouyang Ge!
“Phase Three: Kill the Martial Monk!”
Bullets struck the golden barrier, shattering it into stray particles—all instantly sucked toward the disc on the floor.
Gunfire echoed. The golden aura around the monk dwindled… until only enough remained for a single small hand.
“**YOU LITTLE BASTARD!!!**”
“The arrogance. The blindness. That’s why you lose. I won’t die by your hand again—not after last time!”
“Who *are* you?!”
Ouyang Ge moved like he knew every flaw, every rhythm of the monk’s power. His entire strategy hinged on that knowledge—a mystery that gnawed at the Martial Monk.
“I’m your death!”
The black dagger was blocked again—but it didn’t matter.
—Ouyang Ge was inside his guard!
“**KNEEL!**”
Pinched fingers struck a precise point on the monk’s thigh.
Paralyzing numbness shot through the man’s leg. He crashed to his knees.
“I’ll never forget what you did to my sister!!!”
Ouyang Ge released the dagger’s hilt and drove a fist into the monk’s jaw!
“I don’t care about the others. But *you* die!”
Dazed by the blow, the monk’s control over his golden energy faltered. His grip on the dagger loosened. Ouyang Ge seized the falling blade and plunged it into the monk’s heart!
“For my sister’s sacrifice then. For her safety now. For her happiness tomorrow—you *die*!!!”
The black blade sank deep into the man’s chest.
“Ghk…”
The monk’s trembling hand grasped Ouyang Ge’s arm. A hollow sound escaped his lips…
Ouyang Ge wrenched the blade free. Blood sprayed across the boy’s face and clothes.
“It’s over…”
He stared at the monk’s disbelieving face.
Yes. Over. The nightmare haunting Ouyang Ge across lifetimes—ended.
—*Was it truly over?*
