If I, a death row inmate, am not to become a demon, am I to become a member of the Imperial Guard?

The firelight illuminated Zhou Yang's face.

A wave of heat swept over him, carrying the smell of burnt wood. He stepped over a corpse, his boots stained with warm blood.

Disciples of the Earthly Fiends Sect and agents of the Eastern Depot were locked in a fierce battle. Swords clashed, and shouts shook the heavens. No one noticed the man emerging from the fire. The blood and ash on his body served as perfect cover.

Zhou Yang remembered the layout of the headquarters. In the backyard, there was a separate two-story building. That was where the sect leader, Zhao Kun, lived.

He dodged the incoming blade and slashed the man's throat with a backhand. Without looking at the result, he continued walking towards the backyard. His steps were quick, without the slightest hesitation.

The front yard was hell, but the back yard was quiet. Only the crackling of the flames could be heard.

The door to the small building was ajar.

Zhou Yang pushed open the door and went inside.

Zhao Kun was sitting in a chair, slowly and methodically wiping a sword. The blade reflected the candlelight, making it very bright. He saw Zhou Yang, but his hand didn't stop.

"You actually dared to come." Zhao Kun's voice was cold, with a hint of condescending scrutiny.

"To collect debts," Zhou Yang replied.

Zhao Kun smiled. He put down his sword and stood up. He was very tall and burly, standing there like an iron tower.

"You? That Imperial Guard who was treated like a dog in prison?" Zhao Kun shook his head. "Did that bitch Qin Shuang send you here to die?"

Zhou Yang didn't speak. His hand was already on the hilt of the knife.

"Fine." Zhao Kun's eyes turned fierce. "Killing you will surely make that bitch very sad. I can go and comfort her then."

Before he finished speaking, he drew his sword.

Without warning, the sword flashed like a venomous snake's tongue, aimed straight for Zhou Yang's throat.

Soon. With the sound of the wind.

In Zhao Kun's eyes, this sword strike was bound to hit. The young man's reaction simply couldn't keep up with his speed.

However, the flash of the blade is faster than the flash of the sword.

Zhou Yang's knife seemed to have been waiting there all along. He simply raised his hand, drew the knife, and swung it horizontally.

There were no fancy moves. Just a simple touch.

clang!

A crisp sound.

Zhao Kun's sword broke. The break was as smooth as a mirror. He hadn't even seen how Zhou Yang's knife had been drawn.

Zhao Kun's pupils contracted sharply. He saw a thin line of blood emerging from his neck.

He lowered his head in disbelief.

"you……"

He tried to say something, but could only gurgle. His strength was rapidly draining from his body. His burly frame swayed, and he fell straight backward.

With a loud crash, the wooden chair was crushed to pieces by his weight.

Just as Zhao Kun collapsed, a voice rang in Zhou Yang's head.

It was devoid of emotion, like a cold machine reciting aloud.

[Heinous crimes, execution determined. Reward: 15 years of lifespan.]

Fifteen characters.

Like a thunderbolt, it struck directly into the depths of Zhou Yang's soul.

His body jolted violently.

The next moment, an indescribable warm current exploded from his heart. It instantly surged to his limbs and bones, flowing through every meridian and every corner.

This feeling is so strange.

Like a traveler nearly dying in the desert, plunging headlong into the boundless sea. Or like a dying, withered tree welcoming the most violent spring rain.

He could even feel every strand of his hair stretching and every cell in his body rejoicing.

The feeling of exhaustion and weakness that came with the previous burn-through lifespan was completely washed away by a great flood. In its place was an unprecedented fullness and abundance.

To his even greater surprise, the true energy in his dantian, which had been nearly depleted due to the forced activation of his cultivation technique, seemed to have its floodgates opened instantly. It surged wildly and solidified! In just a few breaths, it became several times thicker than before!

An invisible barrier shattered with a crack.

His cultivation level broke through a minor bottleneck.

Zhou Yang gripped the knife, standing still, feeling the surging power within his body. This power was so real, so overwhelming. He even felt that he could punch right through this small building.

He took a deep breath, and the pent-up frustration in his chest vanished.

To be alive. It's good.

Zhou Yang, panting, felt an exhilarating sensation. He crouched down and began searching Zhao Kun's body. This wasn't disrespect; it was the proper procedure. Spoils of war were rightfully the victor's.

Silver, gold leaves, and several silver notes of considerable value. He expertly stuffed them all into his pocket.

Then, his fingers touched something cold and hard in the hidden pocket at Zhao Kun's waist.

He took the thing out.

It was a black iron token, about the size of a palm, with a ferocious ghost head carved on it, lifelike. Below the ghost head was an ancient-looking character "煞" (sha).

Earthly Fiends Sect, Core Token.

With this, he could nominally mobilize the entire power of the Earthly Fiends Sect. Of course, that was contingent on those people acknowledging him.

But this thing is worth far more than that. Perhaps it can be exchanged for a large sum of money from one of its regular customers.

Zhou Yang carefully put the token away from his body. There was nothing else noteworthy on Zhao Kun. He stood up, preparing to leave.

Just then.

Suddenly, a series of rapid footsteps came from outside.

It wasn't the chaotic, disorganized gait of the Earthly Fiends Sect. Nor was it the footsteps of ordinary martial artists.

It was a uniform sound of footsteps, accompanied by the scraping of metal armor plates and the clanging of scabbards.

Zhou Yang's expression changed.

People from the Eastern Depot!

He rushed to the window immediately, but instead of pulling back the curtains right away, he looked out through the gap.

Flames shot into the sky, illuminating the entire courtyard as bright as day.

The courtyard was packed with people.

They were dressed in matching flying fish robes, with embroidered spring knives at their waists. Each of them was expressionless, their eyes like those of wolves.

It forms a perfect fan shape, completely surrounding this small two-story building.

The leader was a pale-faced, beardless eunuch. He also carried a brocade dagger, but its scabbard and hilt were gold and inlaid with jewels.

A strange smile played on the eunuch's lips. He didn't look anywhere else; his gaze pierced through the window, fixed intently on Zhou Yang's location.

It was as if he had known all along that Zhou Yang was here.

Zhou Yang's heart sank.

Is this a trap? Or did the people from the Eastern Depot just happen to arrive by chance?

"Thieves inside, surrender!"

The eunuch's voice was shrill and piercing, like fingernails scraping against an iron plate, and it carried exceptionally clearly in the noisy fire.

"Our factory manager has something to ask you."

The eunuch's voice was like a poisoned awl.

It pierced Zhou Yang's ear.

Zhou Yang did not move.

His gaze passed over the window and landed on that person.

The eunuch held a knife in his hand.

The scabbard was made of gold, and the hilt was inlaid with jewels.

The firelight danced on the gem, reflecting a pale and eerie face.

Zhou Yang didn't recognize the face. But he recognized the clothes.

The Eastern Depot.

He's a person of considerable standing.

Trouble is brewing.

"The factory manager?" Zhou Yang asked.

His voice was soft, even somewhat languid.

"Are the people from the Eastern Depot now meddling in the internal affairs of the Earthly Fiends Sect?"

He wanted to stall for time. His mind was racing with calculations.

It's thirty steps from this room to the entrance of the gunpowder depot.

How far could he run from ignition to explosion?

Fifty steps?

not enough.

The eunuch laughed.

The smile looked like it was painted on her face.

"You thief, you certainly have a sharp tongue."

"Our factory manager only wants to ask you a few questions."

"After you've asked the questions, you'll have a good time."

The eunuch didn't say "death." There's something fishy about that.

He wants to live.

Zhou Yang understood the situation.

He cannot be taken away.

Once he's imprisoned in the Eastern Depot's prison, even a god can't save him.

He slowly stood up.

The chair dragged on the floor with a screeching sound.

"it is good."

Zhou Yang said, "I'll go with you."

He raised his hand, as if surrendering.

But his eyes were observing his surroundings.

The roof beams were burning, making a crackling sound.

The tiles could fall off at any moment.

Just as the eunuch relaxed his guard...

Zhou Yang moved.

He didn't rush towards the eunuch.

Instead, he kicked the already crumbling wall next to him.

"boom!"

The adobe bricks and stones collapsed with a crash.

It kicked up a cloud of choking smoke.

Smoke and dust instantly enveloped the entire courtyard.

The eunuch's expression changed.

He let out a sharp shriek and his figure moved like a ghost through the smoke and dust, heading straight for Zhou Yang.

But Zhou Yang's target was never him.

Taking advantage of the billowing smoke and dust, Zhou Yang turned and ran.

Instead of running out of the yard, he rushed towards the gunpowder depot.

He remembered the entrance. A bluestone slab.

Thirty steps, twenty steps, ten steps!

A strong wind swept in from behind.

The eunuch was incredibly fast.

The blade sliced ​​through the air with a sharp screech.

Zhou Yang felt a chill run down his spine.

Without thinking, he lunged forward.

"Sizzle!"

The blade grazed his back.

His clothes were torn, and a bloodstain appeared.

It hurts like it's on fire.

Zhou Yang didn't care about any of that.

He landed and rolled, ending up right next to the bluestone slab.

He reached out and used all his strength to lift the stone slab.

The dark entrance is like a mouth leading to hell.

Without hesitation, he pulled out a tinderbox from his pocket.

I blew it bright, then threw it in.

After doing all this, he didn't even look at the result.

They crawled to the side using both their hands and feet.

He wanted to be as far away as possible.

Behind them, the eunuch's figure reappeared.

He saw the hole and the firecracker that had been thrown in.

His expression changed for the first time.

It was no longer a sinister smile, but horror.

"You're insane!"

That's too late.

The flame had just entered the cave entrance when it touched the saltpeter that filled the room.

The whole world first fell into a deathly silence.

No sound.

There is no light.

Even the wind has stopped.

Utter silence.

Zhou Yang felt his heart skip a beat.

then.

light.

A pure white light that defies description.

It gushed forth from the ground.

It devoured everything.

It devoured the fire, the smoke, the courtyard wall, and even the horrified eunuch.

Then came the sound.

It wasn't a loud rumble.

It was the collapse of the sky and the sinking of the earth, the thunderous roar, the terrifying resonance of countless giant drums being struck simultaneously.

A visible shockwave spread outwards from the Earthly Fiend Sect's headquarters!

Zhou Yang felt as if he had been slapped hard by an invisible giant hand.

He was lifted into the air uncontrollably.

In the air, he was like a leaf caught in a gale.

He saw the houses beneath his feet crumble like paper, then be consumed by flames.

He saw the ground collapse, forming a huge, burning crater.

I can't hear anything in my ears.

There was only a continuous, sharp buzzing sound.

"Bang!"

He fell heavily into an alleyway in the distance.

My chest is in excruciating pain, like it's about to fall apart.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood, which was mixed with black tobacco ash.

He struggled, leaned against the wall, and looked back.

That place is no longer the headquarters of the Earthly Fiends Sect.

That was hell.

A hell of flames, smoke, and ruins.

The towering flames turned half of the night sky over the capital city red.

Thick black smoke billowed upwards, like a ferocious dragon.

Chaos has broken out in the south of the city.

Complete chaos.

Countless people were awakened from their sleep.

They screamed and cried as they ran out of their homes.

I don't know what happened, I only know that disaster is imminent.

The agents of the Eastern Depot and the remnants of the Earthly Fiends Sect were also stunned by the sudden explosion.

They were fighting each other, but were thrown into chaos by an even greater catastrophe.

It's become impossible to tell who the enemy is and who are our own people.

Only chaos. Endless chaos.

Zhou Yang was panting heavily.

His face was blackened by the smoke, and a few strands of his hair were singed.

He looked at his masterpiece.

There was not a trace of joy in my heart.

There was only a kind of exhaustion from surviving a catastrophe.

He paid the price with his lifespan, his energy, and almost lost his life.

All of this is simply for survival.

In order to change the way of life with Qin Shuang.

He leaned against the wall and stood up unsteadily.

I have to go.

While no one knows he did it, let's take advantage of the fact that no one knows it's him.

He mingled among the panicked crowd, like an ordinary refugee.

He remembered the place he had arranged to meet Qin Shuang.

Under the old locust tree three miles south of the city.

That was their escape route.

He walked against the flow of people towards the city outskirts.

There were people all around.

Crying for their parents, searching for relatives, carrying their belongings.

No one noticed this insignificant little man.

He lowered his head, coughed, and walked away from the sea of ​​fire step by step.

It took about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

He saw the old locust tree.

Under the tree, there was an inconspicuous horse-drawn carriage.

The driver huddled in the seat, trembling like a leaf.

Zhou Yang walked to the car and knocked on the door.

The car door was opened a crack.

Qin Shuang's face appeared in the gap.

Her face was full of anxiety and worry.

When she saw Zhou Yang's appearance, her pupils suddenly contracted.

"you……"

She only said one word.

Zhou Yang smiled at her.

He knew he must look terrible when he smiled.

"Get in the car, let's go."

He said in a hoarse voice.

Qin Shuang didn't ask any more questions.

She reached out and pulled Zhou Yang up.

Inside the carriage, Dr. Liu was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he huddled in a corner.

"Hurry up!" Qin Shuang shouted to the coachman.

The coachman, as if waking from a dream, raised his whip and lashed it hard across the horse's back.

The carriage suddenly surged forward and merged into the fleeing traffic.

Zhou Yang leaned against the carriage and closed his eyes.

My whole body aches.

The wound on my back is burning.

But he sensed it.

Qin Shuang's hand gently touched his arm.

It was very light, with a slight tremor.

"Dr. Liu, take a look at him." Qin Shuang's voice was a little tense.

Dr. Liu, trembling, leaned closer and unbuttoned Zhou Yang's clothes.

He gasped when he saw the deep, bone-revealing knife wound.

Zhou Yang didn't say anything.

He simply turned his head and looked out the window.

Outside the car window, the firelight was still so bright.

The clouds on the horizon were stained blood red.

This fire will destroy many clues.

Burn down the Earthly Fiend Sect, burn down the Eastern Depot's pursuit.

He will also burn everything he owns in the capital.

From then on, the journey through the martial world was long and arduous.

He and Qin Shuang both became fugitives.

The carriage jolted and swayed, carrying them into the unknown darkness.

Zhou Yang's eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

Before he completely lost consciousness, the last thing he thought of was...

Gunpowder is indeed more useful than a knife.