Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 127 Taking Office, Bounty Hunter!
This is a face covered in wrinkles, resembling that of a dried-up old woman.

Its eyes were cloudy and greedy, blood and bone fragments hung from the corners of its mouth, and foul-smelling saliva dripped down its chin.

In that instant, countless memories flooded into Chen Ye's mind.

This is a world where cultivators roam everywhere. Qi cultivation, body tempering, and sword cultivation are the mainstream schools. In addition, there are also bizarre and unorthodox techniques. Therefore, it can be said to be a world where all kinds of methods flourish.

But at the same time, this world is also so dangerous. In the wilderness, where there are no powerful cultivators or incense offerings or divine protection, demons and ghosts roam freely and evil spirits abound.

Besides, I've heard that there are extremely terrifying beings in those remote mountains, but those are far removed from my current situation, because my current location is just an insignificant corner of this vast world.

As for his predecessor, he was a naive young man who had practiced kung fu in the countryside for several years and thought he was quite good. So he came to the county town, received a mission from the Demon Slayer Bureau, and fantasized about becoming famous overnight.

His task was to come to this dilapidated temple, which was a dozen miles from the city and adjacent to the official road, and kill the newly established green-haired zombie.

Although this green-haired zombie is the lowest-ranking demon, it is incredibly strong and impervious to swords and spears.

Although its predecessor was reckless, it wasn't too stupid; it knew that it would be difficult to deal with it on its own.

So he teamed up with two other bounty hunters to come.

At first, everything went smoothly, and they successfully surrounded the green-haired zombie.

But just as they were about to close the net, the monster suddenly became ferocious, and its originally slow movements became as swift as the wind.

One of his teammates was knocked away on the spot, and his fate is unknown.

The other one, at the most crucial moment, suddenly pushed the original owner towards the green-haired zombie, then turned and fled in panic.

The original owner was slapped unconscious, and when she woke up, she was replaced by Chen Ye.

As for why the green-haired zombie didn't kill him, it's because this kind of demon loves fresh, warm blood, so it went to enjoy the unlucky guy who was knocked away first...

As for himself, he was left for the next meal.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Ye had figured out the cause and effect and his current predicament.

It can be said that this was the most dangerous of all the crossings, because we faced the threat of death from the very beginning.

However, Chen Ye did not panic. Instead, he calmly assessed his own strength.

This body follows the most common Qi cultivation method in the world, and has completed the most basic foundation building, with a trace of internal Qi within its body.

In addition to this, he also practiced swordsmanship, but his skills were even more mediocre and utterly unprofessional.

With such limited strength, you dare to come and kill demons?
It has to be said, the original owner of this body had a really big heart.

He mentally complained, and at the same time, Chen Ye's gaze swept across the ground, noticing that his personal sword was lying quietly in a corner seven or eight steps away.

Chen Ye knew that it would be the key to his life or death. Although he didn't know if he could return to the main world if he died in this world, Chen Ye dared not gamble, nor could he afford to.

Moreover, even if he could return to the main world, he would have wasted a precious opportunity, because through his memories, Chen Ye discovered that this world was exactly what he needed, a world with a large number of cultivation methods, and even a world that ordinary people could access.

He still doesn't quite understand the principle behind the Ark of the Other Shore's traversal. It would be such a pity if he couldn't return after leaving.

Moreover, Chen Ye discovered that as the quality of the sacrificial spirit orbs increased, although he was unable to bring his profession into the new world, his honed combat instincts and intuitive reactions became increasingly clear.

Especially at this moment, Chen Ye felt that his mind was clearer than ever before. The structure of the entire dilapidated temple and every piece of broken stone on the ground were forming a clear three-dimensional picture in his mind.

This feeling is like having your brain overclocked, which is quite intoxicating.

At the same time, Chen Ye took a deep breath and then grinned at the green-haired zombie.

"Hey buddy, your table manners are awful. Didn't your mother teach you that?"

"Roar!"

His response was a shrill, ear-piercing roar.

The green-haired zombie kicked off with both legs, cracking the stone slab instantly. Then, its body transformed into a green cannonball and charged fiercely towards Chen Ye!

The speed was so great that it brought with it a foul, fishy stench within the temple.

Chen Ye remained calm and composed, his right hand already quietly grasping a stone the size of his palm.

Just as the green-haired zombie lunged forward, he flicked his wrist, and the rock whistled as it smashed towards the zombie's face.

This attack was of no consequence to the green-haired zombie; it easily dodged it by simply tilting its head slightly.

But what Chen Ye needed was this brief moment of respite.

As he threw the stone, Chen Ye darted out like a cat, then nimbly rolled, aiming straight for the sword that had fallen to the ground.

"hiss--!"

Realizing it had been tricked, the green-haired zombie let out a sharp screech, its claws leaving a trail of afterimages as it viciously clawed at Chen Ye's back.

A malevolent wind swept behind him, and the shadow of death loomed over him in an instant.

Chen Ye remained completely calm, his composure terrifying.

His left hand pressed precisely on the ground, he stopped abruptly and rolled to the side, his right hand firmly gripping the cold hilt of the knife.

It feels slightly heavy in the hand, with an excellent texture.

It's now!

Draw your sword, turn around, and slash!

All the movements were performed in one go, flowing smoothly, as if they had been rehearsed a thousand times.

This is a fighting instinct etched deep within the soul!

The blade is long and slender, with a width of just over an inch. It is shaped like a sword, but it is single-edged.

Although the scabbard was worn and old, the blade was as bright as a pool of water, and its edge gleamed with a chilling light under the moonlight.

laugh!
A dazzling flash of light suddenly illuminated the dim temple.

Immediately afterwards, a stream of black blood spurted out!

The green-haired zombie let out a miserable howl that sounded inhuman, and staggered back several steps.

Looking at its old woman-like face, there was a deep knife mark that cut diagonally from the left corner of its eye to the right corner of its mouth. Its left eyeball had been completely ripped open, and black blood was gushing out.

Having landed a successful blow, Chen Ye dared not be careless in the slightest.

He was breathing heavily; his body was far weaker than he had imagined, and even a single explosive movement caused his lungs to burn.

Then Chen Ye slightly bent his knees, gripped his sword with both hands, and assumed a standard defensive stance, his eyes fixed on the furious monster opposite him.

"Roar--!"

The severely injured green-haired zombie went completely mad. Ignoring the excruciating pain on its face, its remaining single eye flashed with a crazed light as it roared and pounced again.

It's faster and more powerful than before!

In that split second, Chen Ye subconsciously mobilized the faint internal energy within his dantian.

In an instant, a strange feeling welled up in my heart.

The world before him seemed to be slowed down; the green-haired zombie's ghostly movements became slow and clear in his eyes, full of flaws.

Then Chen Ye slightly shifted his feet and moved to the side, dodging the monster's frontal attack.

At the same time, he poured all of his faint internal energy into the blade.

hum!
The long sword in his hand emitted a slight hum, and a faint yet extremely refined glimmer of light appeared on the tip of the blade.

Although the light was weak, it contained a sharp energy that could cut through everything.

With a flick of his wrist, Chen Ye sent the longsword flying upwards along the momentum of the green-haired zombie, tracing a graceful arc.

There was no earth-shattering collision, only a soft thud.

Immediately, a head covered in green hair shot into the sky, tumbling in the air, its face still bearing the lingering look of madness and ferocity.

Then, the headless body of the green-haired zombie lunged forward two more steps due to inertia before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

Then, foul-smelling black blood gushed out like a fountain from the severed neck.

Chen Ye had anticipated this, and he dodged away, afraid of being splashed by the strange blood.

After all, who knows if this thing is poisonous?

At this moment, the dilapidated temple returned to calm.

Chen Ye leaned on his knife, panting heavily, his chest heaving violently.

He only relaxed after confirming that the monster was completely dead.

Just then, a familiar semi-transparent panel quietly appeared in front of me.

[Starting work...]

[Job Successful]

[Occupation: Bounty Hunter Lv1 (A swordsman who roams between towns and wilderness, making a living by slaying demons and monsters. Their swords are both for wealth and for the way.)]

[Talent: Bloodlust Vision - When the host's life is threatened or their body is injured, their mind will be highly focused, dynamic vision will be greatly enhanced, and the flow of time in their senses will slow down. The more severe the injury, the stronger the effect.]

Looking at the talent on the panel, Chen Ye seemed to understand something. No wonder the green-haired zombie's movements seemed so slow to him when they were on the verge of life and death; it turned out that this talent had been triggered unintentionally.

Moreover, this talent is practically tailor-made for a comeback from a desperate situation.

Although the side effects are significant, it can definitely save your life in a critical moment.

Chen Ye was very satisfied with this new talent, and then his gaze fell on another part of the professional panel.

[Method: Golden Toad Swallowing Qi Method (lv1)]

Chen Ye's heart skipped a beat; this was the first time he had ever seen a cultivation method on the panel.

Although he knew from his memory that the Golden Toad Swallowing Qi Technique, which sounded very imposing, was actually a very common Qi cultivation method, Chen Ye was still quite excited.

Because this represents a brand new beginning.

However, now was not the time to study this. Chen Ye suppressed his excitement and glanced outside the temple.

It was already afternoon, and although the sun had not yet set, it was quite dark outside because of the dense forest.

Chen Ye's heart sank. He knew he didn't have much time and had to get back to the city as soon as possible.

Otherwise, it will be troublesome once it gets dark.

You should know that the nights in this world are far more terrifying than the days.

Physical demons like the green-haired zombie are relatively easy to deal with, but the most dangerous are those intangible and formless evil spirits.

Once you're entangled with them, you won't even know how you died.

Having made up his mind, Chen Ye didn't delay any longer. He first carefully wrapped the green-haired zombie's head in a rag, and then hung it around his waist.

This is crucial for claiming the bounty; losing it would mean all your hard work was for nothing.

Then Chen Ye came to the pile of mangled remains, which had been gnawed beyond recognition, and sighed softly.

Although they were just strangers who met by chance, it is quite poignant that someone who was fighting side by side with you just moments ago has become a pool of blood and flesh on the ground in the blink of an eye.

Then another face appeared in Chen Ye's mind.

The guy who pushed himself towards the green-haired zombie at the crucial moment and then ran away had a slightly cold look in his eyes.

Actually, there's nothing wrong with him escaping; if it were you, you would have to escape too. But the problem is that you can't use others as stepping stones, using their lives to create opportunities for your own escape.

Chen Ye silently made a mental note of this debt, planning to settle it with him when he returned to the city.

Chen Ye then quickly searched through the man's scattered clothes, but found nothing useful except a few talismans that were soaked in blood and had lost their effectiveness.

Clearly, the deceased man practiced the talismanic arts during his lifetime.

"Brother, don't blame me for not collecting your remains. There's just no time left. Besides, you're already in this state, so there's not much point in collecting them anyway." Chen Ye muttered, then picked up his knife and left the dilapidated temple. After getting his bearings, he ran towards the county town.

Along the official road, wild grasses grew in abundance.

The dense forests on both sides resembled silent behemoths in the twilight, and the occasional sharp, piercing cries of unidentified birds sent chills down one's spine.

The road was deserted.

In this world, unless a caravan is overseen by a powerful cultivator, no one dares to travel at this late hour.

After all, the wilderness is extremely dangerous for ordinary people, let alone the wilderness after nightfall.

Chen Ye walked quickly, not daring to stop for even a moment.

Just as he was rushing on his way, a figure appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the official road ahead.

It was a donkey, and standing next to it was a young woman dressed in a plain dress.

The donkey seemed stubborn, standing in the middle of the road, refusing to move an inch no matter how the young woman pulled and kicked it.

The young woman's eyes reddened with anxiety, tears welling up in them; she looked so pitiful.

Upon seeing Chen Ye approach, she felt as if she had seen a savior and immediately asked for help in a soft and melodious voice: "Brave man, could you help me? This beast is acting strangely and just won't leave. It's getting dark soon, and I'm really scared."

Chen Ye didn't stop walking at all, and didn't even lift his eyelids. He walked right past the young woman and the donkey and then quickly left.

Are you kidding me?
Suddenly, a delicate and pitiful beauty appeared in this desolate place.
Even a fool could tell there was something wrong with this plot.

This young woman, in particular, exudes a sinister aura.

Chen Ye dared not linger any longer.

"Hero! Hero, please wait!"

The shouts from behind were choked with sobs and grew increasingly anxious.

Chen Ye ignored him and ran even faster.

Seeing him walk away without looking back, the young woman who was crying in the middle of the official road suddenly froze on her face, and then her pitiful expression turned into a cold resentment.

The next moment, she and the donkey next to her twisted and merged into a strange creature with a human head and a donkey body, with black smoke billowing from its mouth.

It let out a reluctant screech in the direction Chen Ye had left, and then vanished in a flash.

Finally, just as the last glimmer of light on the horizon was about to be swallowed by darkness, the outline of a rammed earth city wall appeared in Chen Ye's field of vision.

We've arrived in Yuhuo County.

At the city gate, several soldiers in leather armor were checking everyone entering the city, each holding a faintly glowing talisman.

This is to prevent demons and evil spirits from transforming into human form and infiltrating the city.

When it was Chen Ye's turn, a soldier's gaze fell on the blood-stained cloth bag at his waist, and he frowned.

What's in the bag?

“The head of a demon.” Chen Ye said succinctly, “Just beheaded it from a ruined temple outside the city. Go back to the Demon Slayer Division to complete the mission.”

Upon hearing this, the soldier's wariness instantly turned into solemn respect.

He looked Chen Ye up and down and saw that although his clothes were tattered and he had bloodstains on his body, his eyes were calm and he showed no sign of panic, so he nodded.

"You've worked hard, go inside."

As he spoke, he voluntarily stepped aside to make way for him.

Chen Ye nodded and then stepped into the city.

As soon as he entered the city, a sense of human warmth washed over him, dispelling the chill he had carried from the wilderness.

Yuhuo County is not a prosperous place, and most of the shops on both sides of the street have already closed. There are few pedestrians on the street, making it seem rather deserted.

This is not surprising. Given its remote location and the fact that it is surrounded by demons and ghosts, it is already quite remarkable that it has managed to maintain the current situation.

Chen Ye didn't wander around; he headed straight for the Demon Slayer Division in his memory.

The Demon Slayer Division is located next to the county government office. It is an independent courtyard with two white lanterns hanging at the entrance, emitting a faint glow in the night.

He took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The courtyard was brightly lit, and a dozen or so men dressed in various styles of tight-fitting clothes were gathered in twos and threes. Some were wiping their weapons, while others were talking loudly.

Chen Ye's appearance instantly silenced the courtyard.

All eyes turned to him.

After a moment of silence, a burly man who was drinking suddenly stood up, pointed at Chen Ye, and looked like he had seen a ghost.

"You...you weren't dead?"

"Who said I'm dead?" Chen Ye retorted, his tone icy.

The burly man was taken aback by his question, and then stammered, "It was...it was Gong Chen who said it. He came back alone this afternoon and said that you encountered some tough guys. You and another brother were killed by the green-haired zombie. Only he was clever and managed to escape by risking his life."

Someone nearby immediately chimed in, "That's right, he also said that the green-haired zombie is very fierce and advised us not to go to the western part of the city recently."

"Yes, I even said at the time that it's normal for a newbie to fail on their first mission."

The crowd chimed in, their voices revealing little regret, but rather a numb acceptance of the situation.

After all, people in their line of work are risking their lives to make a living, so death is a normal occurrence.

Chen Ye listened to the crowd's discussion, his face expressionless, but his heart was ice-cold.

What a quick wit! What a desperate escape!

He didn't refute it, but instead took off the cloth bag that was still seeping black blood from his waist and casually threw it on the stone table in the center of the courtyard.

There was a dull thud.

The cloth bundle was unwrapped, and a hideous, green-haired head rolled out, its single remaining eye wide open, looking somewhat comical.

But those present were all seasoned veterans who had risked their lives, and each of them possessed a keen eye for danger.

Therefore, they saw through the trick at a glance and couldn't help but gasp.

(End of this chapter)