Chapter Thirteen: The Sacrifice (Part One)

Originally, Xu Kang had intended to create a chilling atmosphere as a prelude before making his presence known, believing this would yield a better effect. However, seeing that an innocent maid was about to die miserably as a result of his actions, he couldn't bear it and had no choice but to intervene.

To control the scene, he donned the guise of an "Evil God" and, as soon as he spoke, threatened to kill the entire Grand General’s Mansion, hoping to intimidate He Jin. Unfortunately, he failed.

He Jin, though a blockhead who owed his position as Grand General to his sister, Empress He, was, at heart, a butcher with no shortage of courage. After his initial panic faded, he quickly regained his composure, gripped his sword tightly, and with a vigilant expression, scanned everyone around him.

“Who was it just now pretending to be a ghost? Show yourself immediately! If I find you, don’t blame me for exterminating your whole clan!”

Seeing the murderous look on He Jin’s face, everyone around fell to their knees, bowing their heads to the ground, crying out “We are wronged!” and “Spare us, Grand General!” The scene left Xu Kang dumbstruck.

“Damn, with just a word he makes everyone kneel. Being a Grand General is truly imposing. I wonder if I’ll ever reach this level someday…”

As soon as this thought crossed his mind, he quickly shook his head.

“No, no, being a Grand General isn’t my ambition. I don’t want to be a mere man of arms; I want to be a scholar of legendary renown, unrivaled beneath the heavens. So, right now, I have to strip a layer of fat off this blockhead He Jin!”

With this thought, Xu Kang’s mind became exceptionally clear. Fixing his gaze on the wary He Jin, he pinched his nose again and let out an eerie laugh.

“Kekekekeke… Pretending to be a ghost? I am a true deity—no need for pretense! He Jin, why are you not kneeling before me—ah, damn!”

Before he finished speaking, He Jin had already swung his sword toward the source of the voice. Startled, Xu Kang let out a yelp and dodged with an ungainly roll, barely escaping the blow.

Though he managed to avoid injury, the tumble left him disheveled and covered in dust, which infuriated him.

“Damn it, I was trying to talk to you nicely, but you just have to play tough? Fine, let’s see who’s tougher!”

With that, he locked onto He Jin and unleashed a sorcerer’s spell he hadn’t intended to use.

“Agony of Despair!”

As the spell took effect, He Jin suddenly felt as if someone had kicked him hard in the lower abdomen. Excruciating pain shot through his nerves and into his brain, making him instinctively clamp his legs together before collapsing to his knees with a thud.

At the same time, he let out a despairing howl, as if life itself had become unbearable.

“Aaaargh…”

The agony lasted only fifteen seconds, but within that brief span, He Jin felt as though he had lived and died twice over. Though the pain faded, it left him utterly drained, lying on his side, motionless, sweat streaming down his cheeks, which he didn’t even bother to wipe away.

Terror filled He Jin’s eyes.

“This is definitely beyond human capability. It must be an evil spirit—only a malevolent ghost could wield such power. If this continues, I’ll be killed by this demon for sure!”

Driven by fear and a desperate will to survive, He Jin struggled to his knees and knocked his head three times in Xu Kang’s direction.

“I did not realize a deity had descended. My mortal eyes offended your divine might—my sin is grave. But since this is my first offense, I beg the deity’s mercy. I am willing to offer blood and the flesh of oxen, sheep, and pigs as sacrifice for your enjoyment!”

Xu Kang was speechless.

Damn, he even knows how to bribe? This guy’s not so dumb after all!

Hearing He Jin’s bargaining, Xu Kang, intent on keeping up the act, didn’t refuse and agreed at once.

“Very well. Since you are so sincere, I will spare you for now. Go prepare the offerings, but they must be ready before dawn!”

He set the deadline at dawn because he didn’t want to worry the Xu family and planned to return before morning.

He Jin, unaware of this, grew even more convinced of his guess.

“This being is surely a demon. But if he’s willing to negotiate, I need not fear him—I’ll play along, and when dawn arrives, I’ll fetch a Taoist priest to exorcise him!”

A sly smile curled He Jin’s lips as he knocked his head three more times.

“Thank you, great deity, for your mercy. I will have pigs and cattle slaughtered for the sacrifice at once; the offerings will be ready before dawn. Before that, allow me to prepare some blood to whet your appetite!”

Without waiting for Xu Kang’s response, He Jin stood up, sword in hand, and in a flash, cut down two kneeling dancing girls.

Blood sprayed forth. The other dancers, maids, and musicians screamed in terror and tried to flee.

But He Jin would not let them escape. He gave chase, cutting down several more dancers from behind, shouting as he did:

“Guards! Seal all the courtyard gates—no one is to leave! Kill anyone who tries to escape!”

“Yes, sir!”

As the soldiers responded, screams and cries of agony echoed around the mansion—those who tried to flee had been cut down. Some terrified maids and dancers, not knowing where else to go, ran back and fell to their knees before He Jin, weeping and kowtowing as if their lives depended on it.

“Grand General, spare us… Grand General, please spare us…”

“Don’t kill me, please, please…”

Watching these sobbing, pleading people, He Jin sneered coldly.

“Hmph. To become the blood offering for a god is your great fortune. Speak no more, or your families will be executed along with you!”

With that, he raised his sword again, ready to slaughter a few more despairing young women.

At this moment, Xu Kang, stunned by the carnage, finally came to his senses and shouted at He Jin in fury.

“Damn you—stop at once!”

He had assumed the offerings He Jin mentioned would be livestock, not human lives, so he had agreed without hesitation. Never did he expect that He Jin would sacrifice people!

Fury at He Jin’s utter disregard for human life, coupled with guilt and remorse for his own carelessness, surged within him. With nowhere else to vent his feelings, he once more directed his wrath at He Jin.

“You fiend, you murderous brute—die! Agony of Despair! Agony of Despair! Agony of Despair! Agony of Despair! Agony of Despair…”

“Aaaargh…”