Chapter 1: Are you sick?

  Cock-a-doodle-doo!

  The live chicken finally broke free from the shackles of human bondage and the cruel fate of being plucked to death, letting out a loud and ear-piercing cry of liberation.

  It flapped its wings desperately, but the feathers on its wings had been plucked clean by the Taoist priest, leaving only two bare and fleshy pieces to flap wildly, making what was once a beautiful pose now look extremely ugly.

  Its sharp claws stretched out, wanting to make anyone who tried to harm it pay the price ---- and in front of it was only Tang Zhong.

  Tang Chong didn't expect that visiting a Taoist temple would also involve encountering an assassin, just like this Taoist priest had been guarding the mountain for many years and was waiting for them to come up.

  His heart tightened suddenly and then relaxed instantly.

  Calm before a storm!

  This is what the master of the house often lets him practice. He says that tension and anger will affect your judgment and ability to act, causing you to lose the most precious time and opportunities.

  Tang Zhong's body moved.

  He rushed towards that ugly chicken.

  Then his right hand clenched into a fist and punched out with great force.

  The fist went through the two sharp claws stretched out in front of the chicken and hit its abdomen heavily.

  It was like a watermelon smashed with a big hammer, or a strawberry trampled by someone's foot. The chicken's body suddenly swelled up and then burst open----

  Bright red blood, five internal organs and six entrails along with the chicken's intestines and feces-like substances inside were torn out, splashing everywhere. The dead chicken that was punched to death by Tang Zhen seemed like a heavy and massive weapon, flying towards the Daoist's face at an even faster speed.

  The Taoist pounced on the body of Autumn Cold, but was blocked. With one punch, he sent that dead chicken flying.

  It was just this moment of delay, and the autumn cold that had been stunned to stand still was pulled behind his back by Tang Chong's grasp on his arm.

  "Run fast!" Tang Da Zhong shouted loudly. The voice was deafening, and this was no occasion to be concerned with gentlemanly demeanor.

  "Ah----" Autumn Cold finally reacted, let out a sharp cry, and turned around to run towards the Daoist temple gate.

  "You can't escape." The Taoist sneered coldly. He quickly retreated back to where he had just killed the chicken, and with a flick of his toe, the dagger that he had discarded on the ground flew towards Autumn Cold's back.

  "Damn it." Tang Zhong's body flew forward, knocking down Qiuyi Han who had just run two steps.

  A sharp dagger was stuck in the rotten wooden door panel, making a piercing sound as it pierced through the wood. The wooden door creaked and shook, shedding a piece of old dust that had accumulated over the years.

  The two bodies rolled on the ground, Tang Zhong's hands tightly protecting Qiuyi Han's head and face, worried that her delicate skin would be hurt.

  By the time they finally steadied themselves, the Taoist had already walked to the entrance of the small gate, pulled out the dagger stuck in the door panel and put it in his hand, playing with it, grinning strangely at Tang Chong.

  "The young man is not bad," said the Taoist priest in praise.

  "Autumn Cold, how are you?" Tang Chong asked anxiously as he climbed off Autumn Cold's body.

  Autumn's chill brings tears to her eyes, her face is wet with tears, she can only shake her head desperately, unable to speak a word ---- This little princess who was raised in the greenhouse was truly frightened.

  However, Tang Zhong could also understand.

  Not just her, but other students or a normal adult, when they encounter such a murder case while traveling, what kind of reaction can they make?

  Many women who accidentally walked into a murder scene were so frightened that their legs went soft and they couldn't walk, let alone in this kind of situation where they themselves are the target of murder - every second could cost them their lives.

  Tang Zhong wanted to pull Qiuyi Han up from the ground, but her body was like instant noodles that had been soaked in water - no matter how hard he tried, she remained in a limp and unconscious state.

  Tang Zhong slapped a palm on Qiu Yihan's face, his expression ferocious, and he bellowed at her in a hoarse voice: "Qiu Yihan, if you want to live, you must get up."

  If she doesn't get up, even if Tang Zhong gives her an opportunity, she won't be able to escape.

  Rolling run?

  Of course, if she could really do it, Tang Zhong would not have picked on her for leaving in an unseemly posture. In this world, there is nothing more important than staying alive.

  After the brief exchange just now, Tang Zhong already knew that this evil Taoist's strength was extraordinary. The speed was astonishing, not to mention the foot-kicking flying knife technique that made one's scalp numb.

  If he were alone, Tang Zhong would have had the mind to play along with him or escape directly. However, now he couldn't abandon Qiu Yihan.

  Tang Chong didn't know if the evil Taoist's target was himself or Qiu Yihan, and he suddenly launched a surprise attack with an unknown purpose.

  However, he clearly knew that whether the evil Taoist attacked him or Autumn Cold, it would make him busy.

  In any case, he had to be distracted from protecting Qiuyi Han.

  This is the most taboo thing in the battle between masters.

  So, create an opportunity for Qiuyi Han to escape, and then stay behind to fight a life-and-death battle with the evil Taoist priest - or he dies and I stand - on the premise that Qiuyi Han leaves first.

  It was unclear whether it was Tang Chong's voice that was too loud or the force of this slap that was too great, but after being slapped, Qiu Yihan reflexively sat up from the ground, her eyes vacant and her face covered in tears as she stared at Tang Chong.

  "This is all your grandmother's doing." Tang Zhong cursed in his heart. Old lady, you've spoiled your own child rotten.

  "Don't waste your energy." The evil Taoist's knife hacked at the door frame, each strike leaving a deep gash, wood chips flying everywhere. "She can't escape. You can't either."

  Tang Zhongye didn't even bother to wake up Qiu Yihan, but instead stood up and looked at the evil Daoist, saying: "I really can't run away? It seems that your target is me. I really don't understand, my life is so valuable - it's worth sending out such a powerful person like you to deal with me?"

  He finally got a clear look at the evil Taoist's appearance. It was an extremely ordinary face, with not a single feature on his entire head that could make people feel even slightly surprised or strange.

  The only thing that leaves a deep impression is that when he smiles, his facial skin barely moves. It's as if there's a layer of fake skin or a mask on his face.

  The grey Taoist robe he wore was a bit too large, dirty and stained with chicken blood, chicken droppings and black and yellow entrails. It was filthy and disgusting, making people unbearable to look at.

  "Does it matter?" The evil Taoist smiled gloomily. "Aren't we all going to die anyway?"

  "It's crucial," said Tang Chong. "Even if we die, we must die with a clear conscience. Besides, I'm also worried that you've got the wrong person. We're just students, what kind of life-and-death feud could a student have with you?"

  "Hearing you say that, I'm even less likely to tell you," the evil Taoist said. "I like it when people die without knowing what's going on. Isn't the fun of killing in its complexity?"

  Tang Zhong suddenly understood, this guy was actually a pervert.

  He can think of ways to strangle and pluck a chicken, when it comes to killing people, the methods must be even more varied.

  Tang Zhong also knew that this guy must be pretending to be a Taoist priest in order to get close to himself and Qiu Yihan, making it convenient for him to take action. Because he didn't think someone like that would become a Taoist priest at a place like 'Tianyi Temple'.

  The old Taoist who was sunbathing at the entrance seemed to have been knocked out by his medicine, otherwise he wouldn't be sleeping for so long.

  "But didn't anyone else climb to the top of the mountain?" Tang Chong thought to himself.

  He was both expecting and worried about such a result.

  If someone else climbs up, I hope they can help bring Autumn Cold out. However, what worries him is that if the ones climbing up are a few useless guys, he's afraid he'll have to divert his attention to rescue them again.

  Being Superman is really terrible.

  "If you're here for me, then let her go." Tang Zhong said, looking at the evil Taoist.

  "It won't work." The evil Taoist turned around and tried to close the back door of the Taoist temple.

  He originally thought he could solve the problem with a few strokes, but Tang Zhong's strength made him unable to exert himself.

  The opportunity has arrived.

  Tang Zhong's body suddenly sprang into action, crouching low and charging forward, ready to punch a hole through his back - just like he had punched a hole through that chicken's body earlier.

  The evil Taoist seemed to have no awareness at all, still stretching his body forward, pulling the two door panels on both sides back with both hands. His entire back was exposed without any defense.

  Tang Zhong's toes touched the ground and he bounced up again, if you didn't see it with your own eyes, you absolutely wouldn't be able to imagine a student could run at such an astonishing speed.

  It's near.

  Getting closer.

  His fist swung up and then came crashing down viciously.

  As long as you hit it, the evil path will surely die.

  The evil path still maintained a posture with his back to Tang Zhong, but when Tang Zhong's fist was about to hit his back, his right foot suddenly kicked back.

  It was like a wild donkey kicking its legs, like a vulture standing alone, the posture was not elegant, but it made Tang Zhong break out in a cold sweat.

  His right leg kicked out, his grey long robe was pulled open, revealing a pair of ordinary-looking leather shoes.

  A black, almost non-reflective, sharp object protruded from the heel of the leather shoe and pierced directly into Tang Zhong's chest.

  A dagger hidden in one's boot!

  Assassin!

  This guy is a professional killer!

  Tang Chong's body rushed forward too quickly, and he wanted to pull back but it was already too late.

  His fist was still in the posture of rushing towards the evil Taoist's heart, but before he could hit it, he would definitely be pierced by the evil Taoist's knife.

  Legs are longer than hands.

  The evil Taoist had already calculated this point, so he deliberately lured Tang Chong to attack.

  A hair's breadth escape!

  Hanging by a thread!

  Ten thousand urgent!

  At this most critical and crucial moment, Tang Zhong fell down.

  It's obvious he did it on purpose. This is the only way he can save his life.

  His body leaned back, and his chest narrowly avoided the knife on the evil Taoist's foot. His legs stretched forward, and he slid into the evil Taoist's crotch like a mud eel.

  Then, taking advantage of the evil Taoist still maintaining the posture of the yellow dog urinating, he punched him in the eggs.