35. The Duel of Swordsmen

Chen Shang’s words put the Midnight Headsman instantly on alert.
“You’ve investigated me?”
Every criminal has their own motives. Yet to this day, no one knows why the Midnight Headsman kills with such flamboyant, ostentatious methods, again and again.
“No, it’s not something one could learn just by investigating…” Chen Shang sighed, shaking his head.
“That year, the tragedy that shocked the whole Kunlun District ended up sealed off by the combined forces of all the major sects.”
The Midnight Headsman was stunned, then rasped, “How do you know about that incident?”
Chen Shang only smiled. “Rather than worry about the answer to that, you’d better pay attention to your own situation.”
The Midnight Headsman seemed to realize something and quickly turned his head.
At some unknown point, a drenched girl had appeared behind him, swinging a mechanical katana toward him.
A murderous aura radiated from her, visible to the naked eye. Her whole face was shrouded in malevolent shadow, revealing only two bloodshot eyes glaring at him with terrifying intensity.
“Shlick—!”
The Midnight Headsman barely had time to react; his not-so-thick neck was sliced clean through by the icy blade.
His head thudded to the ground, followed by his body, as foul, black blood spurted from his neck.
“Wow! That was fierce.” Chen Shang clapped his hands in admiration.
Having decapitated him in one stroke, Chiyo Asougi flicked the blood off her blade, then shot Chen Shang a resentful look.
Chen Shang showed no surprise, strolling over to Chiyo and sizing her up.
“Do you always swim with your clothes on?”
“—” Chiyo bit her lip, unable to speak, her expression cold and sullen.
The situation had been urgent; she hadn’t thought twice before plunging into the river, racing toward the fireworks.
Because of this, she was now soaked through. Her translucent blouse clung to her body, revealing hints of flesh beneath. Her tangled hair was dripping water from the ends.
Seeing her aggrieved look, Chen Shang refrained from teasing her further, getting straight to the point. “How many days have you been following me?”
Chiyo raised an eyebrow, her lips moving as if to respond, but she said nothing, unwilling to admit it.
“Actually, you’ve been tailing me since the first day of the autumn break, haven’t you?” Chen Shang leaned in, smiling.
“You… you knew?” Chiyo whispered.
“Of course. You didn’t really think our meeting this morning was accidental, did you?”
Chen Shang took off his jacket and tossed it to her.
“Careful, you’ll catch cold.”
Chiyo silently took the jacket, hesitated, then put it on.
For some reason, Chiyo felt something was amiss.
She’d rushed here, anxious to save Chen Shang, but he seemed perfectly safe, not even bothering to thank her.
Moreover, though the black-clad man exuded a heavy aura of crime, his strength seemed oddly lacking—he’d been killed by a single blow.
Chen Shang sighed deeply, squatting beside the severed head, lamenting,
“When did I become such a sinner… To think you’ve shadowed me for three whole days.”
After a moment’s thought, Chen Shang looked at Chiyo with earnestness.
“Am I that handsome?”
“Tch…” Chiyo clenched her teeth, so furious she felt she might draw her blade and strike.

“You really are a crude, despicable fellow.”
“That’s the kind of assessment I’d expect from you.” Chen Shang picked up the Midnight Headsman’s severed head and tossed it toward his body.
Immediately, he called out, “Stop pretending. Get up.”
No sooner had he spoken than the headless, bleeding body of the Midnight Headsman slowly rose from the ground, then picked up its own head.
“What’s going on?” Chiyo cried out in shock, instantly drawing her katana from her waist.
The Midnight Headsman reattached his head, adjusting it slightly. The bloodline at his neck closed rapidly, visibly healing.
“Let me introduce you,” Chen Shang said to Chiyo, “this skull-masked man is the mastermind behind tonight’s corpse fireworks—his alias is the Midnight Headsman. He’s a notorious felon responsible for multiple murders in the Kunlun District, and possesses an immortal body. Your blade didn’t kill him.”
“That’s the Midnight Headsman?” Chiyo had clearly heard of him.
The Midnight Headsman glared at Chen Shang with clouded eyes, speaking in a low voice, “You know the secret in my body?”
“Yes, and there’s much more I know.” Chen Shang snapped his fingers and asked,
“So, have you made up your mind? Will you cooperate with me?”
“You cannot be allowed to live!” the Midnight Headsman growled, rushing forward with his sword.
Chen Shang frowned, quickly retreating behind Chiyo and whispering,
“Chiyo, I’m counting on you.”
“You…” Realizing she was being used, Chiyo’s anger almost choked her.
The Midnight Headsman was already attacking, forcing Chiyo to grip her mechanical katana and face him.
Though the Midnight Headsman wielded an ordinary double-edged sword, Chiyo could see from his stance that he was a seasoned swordsman.
—His strength is anything but simple.
Chiyo’s fighting spirit ignited; the fervor of a combatant took hold of her heart.
The distance between them closed rapidly, soon only three feet remained.
Chiyo pressed a button on her katana’s hilt. Five blue flames burst from the spine of the blade, propelling it forward.
This katana had been custom-made for her by a renowned craftsman in Arakawa District, commissioned through family connections, using top-grade alloy.
Clang—!
The Midnight Headsman raised his sword to block; the blades collided with a shrill sound.
As expected, a notch appeared in the Headsman’s blade, and he instinctively stepped back.
“Die!” Chiyo swung again, aiming for his face.
But the Midnight Headsman seemed unaware of the disparity in weapon quality, raising his sword to block once more.
Chiyo sneered, increasing the power of the flames, and brought her blade down hard on his chest.
Bang—!
The blades met again, another notch appeared in the Headsman’s sword.
But this time, after the clash, Chiyo winced in pain. She felt as though she were wrestling a giant of mythic strength; her katana was wrenched uncontrollably from her grasp, sent flying.
“Such brute force…” Chiyo’s hands trembled, the web between thumb and forefinger split and bleeding.
In their exchange, the Midnight Headsman had used no technique, just a plain swing.
In other words, he had disarmed Chiyo—whose strength was rated at five points—purely through raw physical power.

The Midnight Headsman’s gaze was icy, showing no sign of mercy. He gripped his battered sword, preparing to strike at Chiyo’s head.
Rat-tat-tat—!
Seeing this, Chen Shang quickly raised his light crossbow, firing three shots at the Midnight Headsman.
The Headsman didn’t even attempt to dodge, continuing his attack.
But the three yellow energy bolts struck him, crackling with tiny arcs of electricity.
The Midnight Headsman’s body spasmed, his movements halted.
Ordinary energy bolts might leave wounds, but he would quickly heal. So Chen Shang had switched to “paralysis rounds,” intending to slow him down.
Seizing the moment, Chiyo clenched her fist and punched him in the abdomen.
“Ugh—!” The Midnight Headsman coughed painfully, retreating two steps clutching his stomach.
With the enemy momentarily repelled, Chiyo retrieved her katana and resumed her kendo stance.
Just as the two were about to resume their battle, Chen Shang quickly made a stopping gesture.
“That’s enough, let’s leave it at that!”
Then he turned to the Midnight Headsman, speaking seriously, “I want to ask you one last thing.”
“What is it?” The Headsman’s tone was impatient.
Chen Shang replied calmly,
“You don’t seriously believe that, killing at your current rate of once every few months, you could ever wipe out the three major sects and achieve your revenge, do you?”
At these words, the Midnight Headsman stopped, sword in hand, and asked, “What do you mean?”
“Before your crime tonight, two tourists saw you coming out of the Daoist temple,” Chen Shang said, snapping his fingers with a smile.
“Tomorrow morning, all of Kunlun District will know the Midnight Headsman has been hiding among the Daoists.”
“Are you telling the truth?” The Headsman’s brows furrowed, suspicion mingling with fear.
“Not only that, but the Daoists, to clear their name, will spare no effort investigating you.” Chen Shang rummaged in his pocket as if searching for something.
“My guess is, within two weeks they’ll uncover your identity. And your pathetic revenge plot will be buried along with your foolishness.”
His words stunned the Midnight Headsman, though he still harbored doubts. “How do you know so much? Who are you?”
“Who I am doesn’t matter. What’s important is that both I and this lovely lady beside me are willing to help you.” Chen Shang pulled a card with a phone number from his pocket and tossed it to the Midnight Headsman.
“If you agree to cooperate, you can call me anytime.”
“Hey, when did I ever…” Chiyo felt she’d been unwittingly dragged onto a pirate ship. But before she could finish, Chen Shang covered her mouth.
The Midnight Headsman hesitated, staring at the card, lost in thought.
Though Chen Shang’s words had no evidence, his calm demeanor made it hard to believe he was lying.
While the Midnight Headsman pondered, shouts echoed from nearby.
“Quick, see what’s happened!”
Not far off, a group of Confucian disciples in white robes hurried toward the scene.
The Midnight Headsman leapt back warily, vanishing into the night.