Journey to the End of the Night

One of them stood straight, gave a cold chuckle, and tugged at his collar while looking at the young girl.

He sneered, "This battle against demons has really exhausted me with those Sect members' disdainful looks. Brother, I've been suppressing my anger for a long time. You, the daughter of a sinner, have come right to our doorstep. You'll let us have a good time!"

The girl's eyes widened in terror, completely unprepared for this group of beasts in human clothing!

She thought it was just a misunderstanding that could be resolved with an explanation to quell their anger so she and her father could go back home.

After all, her father hadn't killed anyone.

But who knew they could be so utterly beast-like!

Under the girl's screams, the group stopped their violent actions and smirkingly encircled her, tearing at the hemp rope and clothes on her body.

"Not bad, not bad, they say the child pays for the father's debts. Your father killed someone, so you'll satisfy us."

"Don't struggle. Serve us well, and maybe we'll spare your life."

"Hahaha, we are Immortals, understand? You, a mortal, serving us is your great fortune and celestial fate. Others can't even beg for this!"

The girl screamed, trying desperately to dodge their hands, her eyes red with crying, "Ah! No! Get away!"

Baili An's gaze swept over the father-daughter duo, his slightly narrow eyes narrowing even further.

The contour of his elongated eyes altered his usually gentle demeanor, adding a sharp demonic air.

His Mortal Sword aligned with his arm, feigning movements with the Glazed Treasure Umbrella.

The grass in the mountains swayed slightly, and the dew shook off but didn't seep into the ground. Instead, it followed the sword tip, extending into dozens of sharp water lines that sliced through the air.

The group was on a high, when suddenly a cold, fierce wind rose from behind. They quickly turned around, but their cultivation was clearly not as strong as the five people from that night.

Caught off guard, they were each pierced by a water line, carrying a streak of bloody red blood pearls, falling to the ground lifeless.

Baili An indifferently sheathed his sword, adjusted the loose black scarf around his neck, and covered the half-ruined side of his face.

The ropes binding the girl scattered on the ground. Since Baili An had moved swiftly, only her coarse outer garment was torn, revealing none of her underclothes intact still.

Obviously shocked, she fearfully covered her chest, weeping softly.

"You… you killed someone…"

She cautiously looked at the man before her, holding a very beautiful and clearly costly umbrella.

He was clad in a black robe, with a wide hood hiding his face securely, and his chin was also wrapped several times around with a long black scarf, completely concealing his chin and neck.

His skin seemed as if it despised sunlight, with only his pale hand holding the umbrella visible.

The hand was well-shaped with distinct joints and elegant fingers, very beautiful for a young man's, yet utterly pale, as if not of the living.

For a moment, the girl wondered if the man before her was an Evil Spirit or demon of the mountains.

Yet, she reconsidered, as demons wouldn't save persons.

Relieved, she then saw a graceful spiritual deer trotting behind him, affectionately nudging his legs with its head, calming her entirely.

Such a beautiful deer, brimming with Spiritual Energy. If the man was indeed an Evil Spirit, the animals wouldn't naturally be so affectionate towards him.

Baili An nodded slightly at her, naturally hesitant to get too involved with humans.

After saving the day, he said little more, turning to bury these bodies.

He had thought he would detest killing, yet when he truly drew his sword and took lives, he found his heart indeed cold, utterly still.

"My savior, please wait… Ouch!" As the girl saw him about to leave, anxiety surged, and she tried to rise.

But she forgot that when these men had captured her, she had struggled intensely.

One of those vicious youths had harshly kicked her on the calf.

Not sure whether the bone was broken or what, but standing up brought a piercing pain, making her already pale, frightened face even paler.

Baili An turned back reluctantly, detecting something amiss with her leg.

Slowly crouching, he pinched the Glazed Treasure Umbrella between his shoulder and cheek without a word, pulled off her small cloth shoe, and carefully rolled up the trouser leg to her knee.

After lightly pinching for a moment, he said, "It's broken. Just set it and rest for a few days; no grave harm."

Touching her skin, the girl felt his hand was as cold as mountain snow, chilling yet not ominous, comfortably cold without causing revulsion.

Coupled with his subdued, gentle tone, she felt slightly embarrassed.

"A bit painful, just bear with it."

After saying that, Baili An forcefully adjusted the dislocated bone with a click.

The girl muffled a groan, bravely enduring without crying out loud.

Baili An looked down slightly towards the half-dead middle-aged man on the ground, his tone slightly reluctant, "You can't just pick up dead men's things in the future."

The man groaned twice in pain, unclear if he comprehended.

"That… my savior, I have nothing to repay your life-saving grace. This is all I have, made by my hands this morning. Although it has gotten cold, it still tastes quite good. I hope you will accept it."

From her waist's small blue pouch, the girl took out a something wrapped in clean white cloth and handed it to Baili An, saying timidly.

Baili An accepted the cloth package and unwrapped it, revealing three plump large meat buns.

Under the shadow of his hood, his eyes slightly drooped, tinged with a hint of sadness.

Buns are no rare items, yet for a hunter's impoverished family, that can barely afford a wallet, they are a rare treat.

The girl's intentions were kind.

Unfortunately, Baili An couldn't eat them.

"Thank you," he said, carefully wrapping up the three meat buns.

He had just placed them inside his coat when suddenly…

"I don't need your heroics!"

One of the seemingly dead Sect disciples suddenly burst upwards.

With one hand covering his blood-drenched chest and the other wielding a sword, he harshly swung at Baili An's back.

The quality of the sword wasn't high, merely a prized piece among Mortal Swords, unable to breach the corpse demon's tough flesh.

It couldn't even slice through Baili An's seemingly ordinary black robe, the sword tip sliding past the fabric, sparking a trail.

Unscathed.

Yet Baili An was shouldering an open Glazed Umbrella, with the handle not controlled by his hand.

Regardless of the attacker's weakness, the force was enough to flick the umbrella from his shoulder.

Thus, Baili An was exposed to the blazing sun.

Completely unprotected…

"AAAAAH!!!" Baili An let out an inhuman, agonizing scream.