Xu Shan quickly regained his footing, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at the City Lord's wife lying on the ground nearby.
Ignoring her for the moment, he assessed his surroundings and noticed they had emerged in a dense forest. He was sure that he wasn't far from the nearest city. Moreover, the Guards were also long lost. They had no chance of reaching him with the Portal being destroyed.
In that way, he had also cut off the Royal Army's approach to the City and the information from there. He had bought more time.
The woman groaned in pain as she struggled to get up.
Xu Shan approached her, his expression devoid of any sympathy.
Fear flickered in the woman's eyes, but she managed to push herself to her feet, holding her injured arm.
"You won't get away with this," she hissed through gritted teeth. "The Kingdom will hunt you down, and justice will be served."
Xu Shan merely chuckled in response, finding amusement in her futile defiance.
"We'll see about that," he taunted. "But for now, I have more pressing matters to attend to."
Without another word, Xu Shan stepped closer to the woman.
"You promised you would let me live if I listened to you!" The woman was taken aback, seeing the daggers appear in Xu Shan's eyes.
"Aren't promises meant to be broken?" Xu Shan asked, as he placed his hand over the woman's head. "I could never leave you alive, since you know a little too much about my new identity."
"Also, I have to get something else from you as well... My last demand..."
The woman looked at Xu Shan with a horrified expression. Before she could react, she felt a strange power invade her mind and her memories.
Within a moment, the silent surroundings were filled with the painful cries as the woman wreathed in pain. It was as if her mind was breaking apart slowly.
Xu Shan watched with a cold detachment as the woman's screams filled the surroundings, her desperate pleas falling on deaf ears.
The power coursing through her was extracting every piece of information, every tiny detail that could potentially jeopardize Xu Shan's newly acquired identity. He didn't care if he broke the woman in the process.
"Interesting..." After ten minutes, Xu Shan took his hands off. The Woman dropped on the ground, her eyes completely blank.
ραΠdαsΝοvεl ƈοm "Cunning indeed," Xu Shan muttered, looking at the woman. Even though she didn't use any obvious tricks, she had left some clear scheme in place for detecting him.
Fortunately, now that he had her memories, he knew how to take care of such things.
"Since you fulfilled all three of my desires, I will grant you freedom... True freedom."
He used the dagger, giving the woman a swift death, freeing the woman from the pain of shattered consciousness.
Xu Shan wiped the blood off the dagger, his expression unchanged. He knew that this was just one of many decisions he would have to make in order to protect his interests from those who sought his death.
He used the Devouring on the woman's Celestial Spirit, before leaving her behind.
He turned toward the nearest city. With a proper Identification Badge, and no obstruction from the previous City guards, he had a great opportunity to finish his journey soon.
....
The sun was beginning its descent, casting long shadows across the rugged landscape as Xu Shan set out towards the nearest city. It had been quite some time since he had seen another human being, and the solitude was starting to feel strange.
He was going in the direction to the next City, but the path was completely empty. Along the way, he didn't see a single carriage.
He wasn't sure if it was because the City he came from was sealed or some other reason.
As he trudged along the narrow path, the sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds provided the only companionship.
The forest grew dense around him, and an eerie silence settled in.
Xu Shan's senses sharpened as a faint growl reached his ears. He stopped in his tracks. The growl grew louder, accompanied by a low snarl that sent shivers down her spine.
Out of the underbrush, a pack of hideous creatures emerged. They had the body of wolves but the heads of reptiles, with sharp fangs and piercing yellow eyes. Xu Shan recognized them as the dreaded Snarlclaws, known for their ferocity and relentless pursuit of prey.
They were quite well known beasts in the memories of the City Lord's wife.
"You're at the wrong place at the wrong time," Xu Shan spoke. "However, I have a feeling that you won't understand what I'm saying."
The Snarlclaws circled him, their saliva-drenched fangs glistening in the fading light. Their eyes locked onto Xu Shan, hunger burning in their gaze.
Without warning, the first Snarlclaw lunged at him, claws slashing through the air. Xu Shan reacted swiftly, sidestepping the attack and swinging her dagger in a wide arc.
The weapon connected with a sickening thud, slicing through the creature's skull and sending it sprawling to the ground. But there was no time for celebration as another Snarlclaw lunged at him from behind.
Xu Shan twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the attack, and spun around, bringing his dagger crashing down on the creature's spine. It let out a bone-chilling screech before collapsing in a heap. The remaining Snarlclaws circled closer, their snarls growing more frenzied.
Completely calm, Xu Shan charged forward, meeting the oncoming assault head-on. He parried and dodged, his dagger becoming an extension of his body. With each blow, he felt a surge of energy and determination.
He fought with precision and agility, striking at vulnerable spots whenever she could. Moreover, with each strike he felt like he was devouring some of their strength.
Yet, the Snarlclaws were relentless in their pursuit. Their attacks were savage and coordinated, testing Xu Shan's every move. One managed to sink its teeth into his arm, but his skin proved so hard that his sharp fangs couldn't even enter deep enough.
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