Chapter 17: Beheading At Midnight. I Shall Return.
In the simulated world, Su Mu was killed by the Five Thunder technique not long after he transformed into the Bloodfiend skeleton.
He neither had the time nor opportunity to feel his new body out.
When he was fighting Qingxu and Wuwei, he was running on feral instincts.
Su Mu carefully recalled the scene and summed up the few major abilities of the Bloodfiend skeleton.
First of all, the skeleton’s bones were extremely hard. He was as fast as the wind, and his attacks were swift and ruthless.
From a physical point of view, the Bloodfiend skeleton already had the basic attributes of a first-rate warrior.
Even so, this was the least impressive aspect. Its other abilities were downright superhuman.
For example, the Bloodfiend skeleton could meld into the shadows and remain completely elusive.
This ability was not just a form of invisibility.
Instead, his very presence would vanish from the material world!
This ability, coupled with his extreme speed, meant that he could come and go without a trace. It was extremely terrifying!
In addition, his entire body could be disassembled to act as separate parties.
Finally, he forced Qingxu and Wuwei to their deaths.
He could also control the bones of others!
In fact, when Su Mu was just freshly awoken, he had subconsciously used this ability on Wuwei.
When Su Mu’s bone palm touched Wuwei Zi’s face…
He had extended a bone spike from his palm and stabbed it into Wuwei’s face.
At the same time, he forced Wuwei’s skull to expand, causing his head to become extremely deformed.
In the early stages of mastery, this ability could only be used when it touched the target.
However, Su Mu was learning rapidly, and Qingxu was giving him too much pressure.
In his struggle, he was forced to learn quickly. He learned to control his bones through space.
That was why Qingxu’s hands were injured, and his casting was interrupted.
Qingxu even remarked that geniuses existed among demons.
…
To sum it up, besides the basic attributes, Su Mu had currently mastered three special abilities of the skeleton.
He could hide in the dark, he could control his bones, and he could control the bones of others.
Su Mu believed that there were more abilities for him to discover, but it would be for another time.
All in all, Su Mu’s strength had far exceeded that of a first-rate warrior after transforming into the Bloodfiend skeleton.
Su Mu should be able to kill an average first-rate warrior with a single blow!
However, Su Mu could not let his guard down just yet.
Just like how he had this system, far more dangerous beings wandered out there!
“Beyond the first-rate warriors, there were the postliminary realm and the innate realm.
“I must safeguard my secrets, or I’ll definitely get killed!
“Also, Qingxu was no slouch himself. I wonder what level he is among the Qi practitioners.”
There were martial artists and Qi practitioners in this world.
These two paths each had their own advantages and strengths.
Su Mu knew very little about Qi practitioners.
However, Qingxu’s Thunder was terrifying!
It had left a very deep impression on him.
If Qingxu’s strength was only in the middle of the Qi practitioners, then Su Mu would have to be more careful when he encountered Qi practitioners in the future!
Fortunately, there seemed to be very few Qi practitioners in this world.
He did not know when he would encounter one of those.
Now, he should think about how to escape.
To be more precise, bringing Xu Congwu’s family away.
With Su Mu’s abilities, it would be very easy for him to leave this death cell.
However, it would be difficult to save Xu Congwu, along with his wife and daughter!
He had to plan it properly.
…
Just as Su Mu was thinking about how to save Xu Congwu’s family, he heard footsteps.
In the darkness, three jailers slowly walked over.
The man in the lead placed a sumptuous meal in front of the cell and said coldly, “Su Mu, this is your last meal. After you’re done, you can go on your way.”
Su Mu glanced at the food and understood.
A bowl of white rice, a large piece of braised meat, half a fat chicken, half a plate of peanuts, and even a pot of warm wine.
This meal could be considered sumptuous even in a restaurant, let alone in this death prison.
It was clear what this meant.
It was the end of the road!
The commotion outside the cell door woke Xu Congwu up.
When he saw the meal, Xu Congwu’s eyes widened, and he looked extremely pained.
He propped up his heavily injured body and crawled to the prison door. He reached out and grabbed the jailer’s trousers, begging, “Don’t kill him, kill me, kill me! Please, I beg you, don’t kill him!”
…
“Get lost! Why don’t you take a look at yourself? Would you even live long enough to be beheaded?!”
The jailer kicked Xu Congwu away and spat in disgust.
Normally, the execution would take place at noon.
That was the time when Yang Qi was the most intense.
It could suppress Yin Qi and evil Qi, preventing the birth of ghosts and evil spirits.
It was a very unusual time for one to be beheaded in the middle of the night.
Needless to say, some son of an official had committed a crime and wanted to find a scapegoat.
It was the ideal hour to mask things behind smoke and mirrors.
As for why he chose Su Mu and not Xu Congwu, the reason was simple.
First of all, Xu Congwu was rather highly-ranked, and many people knew him.
Secondly, his age and figure didn’t match that young master.
The risk of forcefully impersonating his corpse as that young master’s was huge.
Not only was Su Mu’s age and figure more suitable, but his parents were both dead and he had no relatives.
Who knew him?
Who would remember him?
If he died, he died.
Such a person was the best scapegoat.
…
While Xu Congwu groaned in pain, Su Mu silently brought in the last meal.
“Braised chicken and meat from Fuji Restaurant. Good stuff!
“Uncle Xu, come! Have a taste.”
Su Mu laughed as he tore off a chicken leg and gave it to Xu Congwu.
However, Xu Congwu was not in the mood to eat. He said with guilt and regret, “I promised big brother that I would take good care of you and your mother. How… How did it end up like this?
“If I didn’t bring you into the Jinyiwei and force you up the ranks to stay close to me, this wouldn’t have happened.
“It’s all my fault…
“I… I’m sorry, big brother!”
Xu Congwu mumbled to himself in a trembling voice, deeply guilty.
Seeing this, Su Mu helplessly sighed.
He knew that it was useless to persuade him, so he simply ate the roasted chicken in big mouthfuls.
After a while, half of the roast chicken was in his stomach.
Su Mu smacked his lips, still dissatisfied.
Thus, he drizzled some braised meat soup on the rice and finished the entire night’s rice in three to five mouthfuls.
After he finished eating, Su Mu walked forward and patted Xu Congwu, comforting him, “Uncle Xu, don’t worry. I’ll be fine.
“By the way, you should hurry up and eat the remaining braised meat and the pot of warm wine.
“I’ll be back soon. Don’t wait for me to come back. I haven’t finished eating yet.”
Xu Congwu and the three jailers outside the cell door were stunned.
Come back?
After a beheading!
The leader of the jailers broke out in laughter.
“Come back? To what, haunt this cell?!
“Open the door and take him away!”
…
The cell door opened, and Su Mu, who was shackled, was carried out.
Before he left, Su Mu turned back and smiled at Xu Congwu.
“Uncle Xu, hurry up and eat. Don’t wait for me to come back and not finish eating. That won’t be good.”
After saying that, the three jailers escorted away Su Mu, gradually blending into the darkness.