Chapter 81: The Night of Slaying Every Ghost
Outside the village, two large green ogres, as tall as the red ogre, led a dozen or so smaller goblins—each only half the height of a normal person—thundering into the village.
“Sir, it’s that house! At dusk, I saw two young humans move in!”
One ugly goblin, clutching a wooden stick, hopped up to the two green ogres and shouted in a grating voice.
The next second, one of the green ogres kicked it away, sending it sprawling several meters before landing groaning on the ground, unable to rise.
“I saw it myself! No need for your report!”
“Minions, follow me! Kill and feast!”
With a ferocious roar, the two enormous blue-green ogres charged ahead, leading the goblins straight toward the only house with its lights still on.
As they neared the house, one ogre raised its massive wooden club high—its weapon clearly inferior to the red ogre’s.
“Ha ha ha! Smash this house to pieces!” The ogre laughed wildly, ready to bring the club down.
Suddenly, a clear shout rang out from a young girl.
“Die!”
A slender figure leapt from the window, and a flash of azure blade sliced through the air.
Swoosh!
The ogre’s raised blue-green giant arm fell limp, no longer under its control, sliding to the ground as it shrieked in agony.
The girl, swift as the wind, leapt up, and as she rose, slashed again.
The cold blade swept unhindered across the ogre’s neck, silencing its cries.
The ogre’s massive head toppled to the earth.
The girl in the black kimono landed gracefully, her beautiful features now twisted in ferocity, her gaze icy and sharp.
Her adoptive parents, murdered by monsters, had left her with a deep hatred for all “inhuman” beings.
Behind her, the headless giant body collapsed.
The severed ogre’s face shifted from confusion to terror, but it was not human; even at this moment, it managed to speak.
“How is this possible...”
In the next instant, a sword tip, wreathed in black flame, pierced its forehead, extinguishing its consciousness.
“Trash should keep silent.”
Zhou Yan flicked his right hand, casting aside the flaming head from his blade, and slowly stepped out to stand beside the girl.
[You have slain "Blue Ogre," gaining 198 Spirit.]
Tch, nearly lost the kill to this girl.
“Oboro, well done.”
He looked at Oboro, who gripped her blade and glared furiously at the remaining goblins, recalling her heroic battle just moments ago.
That demon blade, forged from “demonic power,” was indeed as the girl had claimed: slicing through the tough body of the blue ogre was as effortless as a hot knife through butter.
Moreover, her strength and speed were now far beyond what she had shown during the daytime fight against the red ogre.
Oboro’s physical prowess already outmatched a strong adult man by half, and now she displayed nearly triple that strength.
‘If this is the effect, then this truly is peerless swordsmanship.’
He wondered if such demonic power existed in reality, and began calculating whether he could glean the secrets of the Oboro style from her.
Though its techniques were less refined than those of the Southern Bright Sword, the ability to dramatically enhance physical abilities was invaluable.
After all, the essence of combat always boils down to strength and speed.
While he mused, Oboro had already darted forth, a blur in the terrified eyes of the goblins.
Now, not only was she stronger and faster than before, but her demonic blade was a bane to monsters, cutting down ogres as if wielding a divine weapon.
The moon broke free from the clouds, its pure white light spilling across the small village.
Beneath the moonlit sky, the beautiful girl transformed into a merciless slayer, wielding her demon blade in a bloody massacre.
She seemed a princess from legend, master of the demon blade.
Zhou Yan stood aside, words lingering on his tongue.
He wanted to say, “Oboro, save the last strike for me,” but felt it would be beneath his dignity.
Instead, he simply followed closely, seizing the chance when Oboro cleaved the remaining giant ogre at the waist, and plunged his sword into its skull, ensuring the monster’s consciousness was ended by his hand.
[You have slain "Blue Ogre," gaining 198 Spirit.]
[You obtained "Rune Factor: Sharpness."]
Excellent, another reward.
Zhou Yan nodded in satisfaction.
As for the remaining goblins, he slew one to confirm it was a mere zero-tier weakling, granting only a small amount of Spirit, and decided to leave the rest for Oboro to vent her hatred.
Soon, all the night-raiding jail ogres were slaughtered by the fierce Oboro; even the goblins who tried to flee were hunted down and eliminated.
A mass of pale blue light drifted from the corpses, converging and absorbed by the shining rune on the back of Oboro’s right hand, then transferred by some unknown means into her blade, restoring the blade’s faded glow to its dazzling brilliance.
Her black kimono was stained with blood, lending her a cold, striking beauty.
Oboro raised her sword to gaze at it for a moment, then sheathed it and slowly walked back to Zhou Yan’s side. “Lord Yan, you’re not hurt, are you?”
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” Zhou Yan noticed her earlier action. “I saw you looking at your blade—was there a problem?”
Oboro nodded. “This blade is weak; it can’t withstand much more demonic power.”
“Looks like we’ll need to find you a better sword,” Zhou Yan smiled gently.
Oboro shook her head shyly. “Good swords are expensive. We don’t have much money... we can’t afford one.”
“Haha, seems even heroes are stymied by a single coin,” Zhou Yan laughed, shrugging as he turned toward the house.
“No, I didn’t mean to imply you were poor, Lord!”
Oboro hurried after him.
*
Late at night, Zhou Yan quietly opened his eyes and turned his head.
On the bedding two feet away, the girl in the black kimono lay curled with her back to him, her shoulders trembling as she gave soft, muffled sobs.
Zhou Yan sat up, and the movement caught Oboro’s attention; startled, she froze and quickly pretended to be asleep.
He shook his head helplessly and spoke gently, “Oboro, you’re thinking of your adoptive parents, aren’t you?”
Oboro heard his words and, knowing he understood her situation, sat up on the bedding. “Yes... Every time I close my eyes, I remember this morning in the tea house, seeing my father and mother...”
Tears welled in her bright eyes, and she could not finish her sentence.
Zhou Yan watched the girl sobbing with her head bowed and sighed softly.
Back on Earth, he’d been single since birth, and after crossing worlds, at most had some fleeting flirtations with the Luo sisters—never learning how to comfort a girl.
Give him a sword and he was skilled in battle, but faced with a crying girl, he was at a loss.
As he hesitated, the girl lifted her head, eyes blurred with tears, and looked at Zhou Yan.
“Lord Yan, may I... sleep with you?”
“Ah?”
*