A heretical cultivator in Bureau 749, I'm the fiercest at pulling out tendons and skinning peop

Upon hearing Ji Zuodao's words, Xiang Yun's face darkened. Without saying a word, he swiftly removed the heavy, dark iron spear from his back.

With a flick of the spear tip, it pointed diagonally at the ground, creating a whooshing sound.

He took a step forward, his back ramrod straight, his gaze sharp as a knife as he scrutinized Ji Zuodao's face, and said in a deep voice:

"Xiang Yun, Xiliang Branch!"

Please advise!

With his stance and imposing presence, he truly embodied the spirit of a duel in ancient times.

Many investigators around nodded in agreement.

It has to be a Little Tyrant, that's what matters!

At a time like this, he still registered his name first; that shows he's an upright man.

Ji Zuodao didn't move, but raised an eyebrow and looked Xiang Yun up and down. His gaze was not like that of someone looking at an opponent, but rather like that of someone looking at some rare object.

"A one-on-one duel?"

He pondered the two words for a moment and chuckled.

"You've surrounded me, and now you want to fight me one-on-one? Are you serious?"

He took a small step forward, getting closer to Xiang Yun, and could almost see the veins on the other's forehead throbbing slightly from tension.

"Seriously, Brother Xiang," Ji Zuodao said, his tone revealing genuine curiosity, "Are all the branches of your Xiliang branch... this upright?"

"Right?" Xiang Yun's brows furrowed, the tip of his spear firmly pointed at Ji Zuodao's heart, not moving an inch. "What do you mean?"

"It means—"

Ji Zuodao drew out the last syllable, and the slight puzzlement on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an almost malicious, gossipy smile.

Almost simultaneously, the seemingly ordinary muddy ground beneath Xiang Yun's feet—which was even stained with the blood of demonic beasts—

"boom!!!"

Without warning, it suddenly exploded!

Countless thick, jet-black tendons, as thick as a thumb, erupted wildly from the ground like venomous snakes that had been lurking for a long time!

With a speed far exceeding visual perception, it ruthlessly stabbed at Xiang Yun's lower body, waist, abdomen, arms, and even neck from all directions!

The silence was utterly shattered!

The sound of things breaking through the ground was so dense it sent chills down my spine!

"What?!"

Xiang Yun's pupils shrank suddenly, and the hairs on his body stood on end!

All his attention and energy were focused on Ji Zuodao just a moment ago, guarding against any possible attack from any angle.

But to his utter surprise, the attack came from beneath his feet!

From this land they had just trampled, dismembered, and considered absolutely safe!

Too fast! Too close! Too tricky!

This is a complete blind spot in thinking!

"Drink it—!"

Having been through countless battles, Xiang Yun's instincts, honed by the life-or-death situation, ignited a furious roar.

His spiritual energy erupted wildly as he tried to break free and retreat, while his spear transformed into a black curtain, impenetrable and protecting his entire body.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Sizzle—!

Several rapid clangs of metal clashing and the muffled thud of a weapon piercing flesh rang out almost simultaneously!

Sparks flew everywhere!

Xiang Yun's reaction was undeniably quick, and his marksmanship was undeniably superb.

Most of the large black tendons aimed at vital points were narrowly deflected or slashed away by him.

But these tendons are too numerous! Too agile! As if they possess a life of their own, if one strike misses, they immediately twist and change direction, launching another attack!

Moreover, their power is astonishing!

"Well!"

Xiang Yun groaned as a large tendon pierced through his left calf, drawing a trail of blood. The intense pain made him momentarily freeze.

In that brief moment of stagnation—

Swish!Swish!Swish!

At least three or four large tendons, like a bone-deep infection, precisely wrapped around his right wrist, elbow, and shoulder where he was holding the gun!

An overwhelming force suddenly came, twisting and pulling fiercely!

"Let go!"

Ji Zuodao's smiling voice seemed to echo in my ears.

"Clang—!"

The black-patterned spear that had accompanied Xiang Yun in battle for many years and was considered half his life was released from his hand, flying in an arc through the air before plunging into the mud not far away with a "thud," its end still vibrating and humming.

Xiang Yun himself was tightly bound to his right arm by those large tendons, and was stuck in an extremely awkward position, unable to move.

His left leg was injured, his right arm was restrained, and his weapon was thrown from his hand.

The outcome is decided.

From the moment the black veins bulged out to the moment Xiang Yun was disarmed and subdued, the entire process took only seven or eight breaths.

In the blink of an eye, swift as a rabbit and a falcon.

The valley was deathly silent.

All the investigators stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, at Xiang Yun, who was held in place like a bound rice dumpling by several strange black tendons.

Let's take another look at Ji Zuodao, who is calm and composed.

My mind is a little slow to process this.

Is this over?

The Little Conqueror of Xiliang, his weapon gone in a single encounter? And he was taken into custody?

"you--!"

Xiang Yun snapped out of his shock and frustration, veins bulging on his neck, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Ji Zuodao, snarling through gritted teeth:

"You attacked me from behind!"

His voice trembled noticeably with anger and shame.

"A sneak attack?"

Ji Zuodao seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. He even took two steps forward, walked up to Xiang Yun who was being restrained, bent down, and his handsome face was almost close to Xiang Yun's eyes. His face was full of smiles, but his eyes were as cold as knives.

"Brother Xiang, Uncle Xiang, Hero Xiang."

He spoke slowly and deliberately, his tone thick with sarcasm.

"Where do you think this is? A fighting ring? With a referee, waiting for the gong to sound, and everyone bowing and saying 'please'?"

"Or do you think we're filming a martial arts movie? Do we have to wait for the other person to get into position, finish their lines, and then you yell 'Take this!' before it even starts?"

He straightened up, took a half step back, and looked around at the investigators who were still in shock. His voice rose, echoing clearly in the valley:

"I admit, Brother Xiang, your combat strength is quite good, your spiritual power is abundant, and your spear technique is ruthless. If you really fight, an ordinary Spirit Palace Realm cultivator probably wouldn't be able to defeat you in ten rounds."

"but--"

He changed the subject, extending his index finger and gently tapping his temple.

"Your combat experience, and all those preconceived notions in your head..."

"He's not even as good as my dog."

Doggo cooperated by barking once.

"You're so beautiful."

Ji Zuodao put away his smile, looked at Xiang Yun, and at everyone around him. His tone became calm, but it carried an inexplicable sense of oppression.

"You guys are all too upright."

"It's ridiculous, it's pathetic, it's... that he's about to die and doesn't even know how he died."

He took a step forward, and the thick black tendons binding Xiang Yun slowly loosened as if they were alive.

Xiang Yun staggered a step, steadied himself, clutched his bleeding calf, his face ashen, but for a moment he couldn't utter a rebuttal.

"You think I attacked you by surprise, that I lacked sportsmanship, and that my victory was dishonorable?"

Ji Zuodao chuckled and pointed to the mess of demon corpses scattered all around him.

"Look at these ingredients, and then look at yourselves."

"Who are we? Investigators from Bureau 749! What kind of work do we do? We risk our lives, fighting all sorts of monsters and shady characters!"

"Who are our opponents? Are they chivalrous knights who follow the rules of the martial world? Or are they an ancient army that waits for us to get into position before charging in?"

"Neither!"

His voice suddenly turned stern, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping across every face.

"Our opponents are ruthless demons who devour people without spitting out bones! They are vicious ghosts who kill without shedding blood! They are evil cultivators who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals! They are the ferocious beasts guarding the rare treasures in the secret realm, ready to fight you to the death if you dare touch them!"

"With them, you expect fairness? Justice? Chivalry?"

"Are you still breastfeeding?!"

Ji Zuodao exhaled a breath of stale air, his tone softening slightly, but the weight of his words increased:

"Listen up, guys and girls."

"Talking about fairness, justice, benevolence, and morality... that's only after you've completely trampled your enemy underfoot, stripped them naked, and made sure they can never jump up again—"

"Things I should be thinking about!"

"Not now!"

"Instead of a life-or-death battlefield!"

"The battle has only one damn objective—to kill the enemy in the fastest, easiest, and safest way possible! To survive!"

"Any means that achieves this goal is a good means!"

"Ambush? Trap? Poisoning? Surround? Deception? Fraud?"

"Which bureau regulation states that it's prohibited?"

"You're investigators, not martial arts performers on a theatrical stage! Don't bring the 'orthodox methods' you learned in martial arts tournaments into this real, life-or-death arena!"

People will die.

"And those who die are often idiots like you who are too upright."

After saying that, Ji Zuodao stopped looking at Xiang Yun and the investigators around him with their various expressions.

He clapped his hands, as if brushing off some non-existent dust, and returned to his lazy demeanor.

That concludes my explanation.

Whether you listen or not is your business.

"Now……"

His gaze swept across the entire area once more, finally settling on the black-patterned spear stuck in the ground, and a familiar, wicked, and smoky smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Anyone else want to accompany me for a walk to digest my food?"