Indeed, not simple

Xǔ Tiānlí still remembered the countless times he had waited alone for his father to return home.

Wufeng City was exceptionally peaceful, so much so that not a single otherworldly demon could be found.

His father often took on commissions from out of town, leaving early in the morning and not coming back until late at night.

During his school days, Xǔ Tiānlí would finish his homework early and go to bed.

The next morning, he would only leave for school after confirming his father was sound asleep in his bedroom.

However, during holidays, Xǔ Tiānlí would often stay in the living room by himself, waiting for his father’s return.

He would curl up on the sofa, watching episode after episode of anime on his laptop, so engrossed that he even forgot to check the time in the bottom right corner.

Sometimes, unable to bear the loneliness, he would send messages to his father, asking when he would return, but he never received a reply.

‘Had something happened to Father?’

Passing his father’s bedroom, Xǔ Tiānlí discovered the truth: his father, who usually carried two phones, had forgotten one at home this time.

All the messages Xǔ Tiānlí had sent lay cold on the screen, never having reached his father.

‘He had promised to be back soon.’

Unable to wait any longer, Xǔ Tiānlí ran out into the street, thinking his father might be at the Heaven’s Will Bureau branch base, wandering alone through the empty streets.

Along the way, he met two kind older sisters.

They were both surprised that Xǔ Tiānlí was still out so late.

Xǔ Tiānlí asked what time it was.

They exchanged glances and gave an answer that even he hadn’t anticipated:

‘Three in the morning.’

At that time, Xǔ Tiānlí was still an elementary school student.

After bidding farewell to the two older sisters, Xǔ Tiānlí arrived at the entrance of the Heaven’s Will Bureau branch.

Yet, he lacked the courage to enter, simply peering into the lobby, and upon seeing no sign of his father, he ran back home.

He did not see his father return until he lay exhausted in bed, drifting into slumber.

But the next morning, he saw his father making him breakfast.

From that day on, his father never returned home later than midnight.

” ‘If I could just grow up sooner, would I be able to help you, Father?’ “

Young Xǔ Tiānlí mumbled, sipping the soy milk his father had personally made.

” ‘What are you thinking?’ “

” ‘My line of work is too arduous.’ “

” ‘You’d be better off studying hard, getting an office job, and enjoying air conditioning in the future.’ “

” ‘No!’ “

” ‘Being a Spirit Wielder is so cool, isn’t it good?’ “

” ‘It’s also very tough.’ “

His father ruffled his son’s fluffy black hair.

” ‘How about I leave you a sum of money so you can go out and make your own way?’ “

” ‘Eh, no way!’ “

” ‘What would you do if I left?’ “

” ‘Besides, don’t I have a fiancée?’ “

” ‘What would I do if she couldn’t find me?’ “

Hearing his son’s words, his father looked out the window.

The sun shone brightly, yet it failed to illuminate his expression.

It wasn’t until half a minute later that he finally smiled, his gaze returning to his adorable son.

” ‘To be thinking of your wife at such a young age, whoever marries you in the future will be blessed for the rest of their life.’ “

These words made the young Xǔ Tiānlí shy, and he vehemently explained that he was not a lecher.

Even now, as an adult, recalling that day, Xǔ Tiānlí couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

‘If someone really became my wife, they’d have to suffer with me for the rest of their life.’

He was sprinting down the corridor when he suddenly slowed his pace.

‘Wait, why am I suddenly thinking about this?’

‘Damn it, is this what they call a ‘life flashing before your eyes’ moment?’

‘I haven’t even started fighting yet!’

Even after slapping his cheeks hard, Xǔ Tiānlí’s father’s words still echoed in his ears.

‘If it were Mù Qīngyǔ, I wouldn’t mind letting her suffer a little.’

As long as that arrogant young lady could be thoroughly defeated and reveal a truly delicious expression, Xǔ Tiānlí felt that a little more suffering on his part would be entirely worth it.

Bang!

The sound of a partition door shattering pulled him back to reality.

Xǔ Tiānlí’s expression instantly turned grave, and the veins on the hand gripping his long blade’s sheath bulged.

Bang!

The last partition door, after enduring a violent impact, cracked open like a blooming flower, fissures spreading across its entire surface.

Bang!!!

Another fierce impact, and the partition door could no longer withstand it.

It completely collapsed, sending dust billowing everywhere.

Xǔ Tiānlí narrowed his eyes, discerning the figure slowly emerging from the dust.

It was a dog with four paws on the ground, covered in stiff black fur, and possessing nine heads.

When those nine pairs of eyes all fixed on him, Xǔ Tiānlí couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine.

This was a Tier-2 otherworldly demon, an enemy that even a Tier-3 Spirit Wielder might not be able to defeat with certainty.

He, a mere Tier-1, would likely be flattened with a single swat.

‘Calm down, Xǔ Tiānlí.’

‘Think about what others would do in this situation.’

‘Old Cui would protect the entire branch with his life, even if it meant sacrificing himself.’

‘Though Qiao Yíng might not seem entirely proper, judging by what others say about her, she would also find a way to resist the enemy in such a moment.’

‘And Master…’

Xǔ Tiānlí’s golden eyes stared intently.

‘Hmm, if it were Master, they probably wouldn’t utter any nonsense.’

‘After all, their strength is so immense that defeating this otherworldly demon would be but a flick of a finger.’

No more words were needed.

Xǔ Tiānlí drew his black long blade, its tip aimed at the enemy before him.

Such a provocative action naturally ignited the nine-headed otherworldly demon’s fury.

It roared, struggled, and whimpered, crouching on the ground.

This scene was being observed by someone in the monitoring room.

The screen showed Xǔ Tiānlí’s figure looking utterly insignificant before the otherworldly demon.

It felt as if the demon could chew him up in one bite.

He stroked his chin, seemingly coming to a realization, then rose and left the room.

The nine-headed otherworldly demon opened all its mouths, letting out an enraged roar towards the front.

The sound waves nearly ripped up the ground, making Xǔ Tiānlí lose control of his footing.

However, he quickly plunged his long blade into the floor, stabilizing himself.

Even so, he felt a churning in his stomach, almost unable to suppress the urge to vomit.

The image of his brains splattering.

He was at a disadvantage right from the start!

After testing him and seeing his state, the nine-headed otherworldly demon wagged its tails, baring its fangs as it charged towards Xǔ Tiānlí.

Each time its four feet landed, the ground trembled.

This was the source of the tremors they had felt on the upper floors.

The foremost head opened its mouth and lunged to bite Xǔ Tiānlí.

However, the anticipated scene of flesh tearing and bones shattering did not occur, causing the other eight heads to momentarily freeze.

The gaping maw did not close; instead, it was jammed open by Xǔ Tiānlí’s upright long blade.

If it exerted even a little more force, the blade would pierce its flesh, causing intense pain.

Yet, for a Tier-2 otherworldly demon, such pain was merely equivalent to a mosquito bite; it was not enough to make it retreat.

On the contrary, it bit down hard on the black long blade, while its massive body continuously forced Xǔ Tiānlí backward.

Xǔ Tiānlí exerted all his might, but in this struggle, he was still at an absolute disadvantage.

Behind him was Féng Yè’s office.

If Féng Yè noticed the commotion outside the door, he would surely rush out to help.

‘What should I do?’

For a moment, Xǔ Tiānlí felt despair, contemplating letting go and simply being bitten.

But such thoughts were quickly dispelled by a peculiar sensation.

Xǔ Tiānlí’s eyes seemed to have a drop of red ink fall into them, rapidly turning crimson.

The nine-headed otherworldly demon suddenly widened its eyes, as if seeing a massive phantom appear behind him.

The force pushing forward significantly diminished.

Xǔ Tiānlí released one hand, gripping the hilt with only the other.

His free hand clenched into a fist, knuckles cracking.

The carvings within his body erupted with brilliant light, and spiritual energy rapidly gathered in that fist.

At this moment, only one thought filled his mind: Punch!

The punch landed directly on the otherworldly demon’s head, specifically its eye.

After a brief pause, the demon’s colossal body was sent flying backward, tumbling awkwardly on the ground!

Having already heard the commotion, Féng Yè had arrived at the doorway and witnessed this scene through the crack in the door.

‘He truly isn’t simple.’

Féng Yè was so astonished his jaw nearly dislocated.

‘Master Qín is even more extraordinary.’

‘Without her, would anyone else in the world have discovered such a promising talent?’

That punch had truly invigorated Xǔ Tiānlí.

But it wasn’t enough.

The surging power within him continued to climb, making him feel constricted and uncomfortable.

Xǔ Tiānlí gripped his long blade with both hands, slowly raising it, entering a state of complete stillness.

The otherworldly demon, having clambered back to its feet, had regained its senses.

Only half of its heavily damaged head remained intact; the side that had taken the punch was a bloody mess, its eyeball a burst pearl.

It roared again, vowing to make Xǔ Tiānlí pay for his actions.

Xǔ Tiānlí’s stance no longer wavered.

He concentrated, fully focused on steadying the long blade in his hands.

The Return to the Void One-Strike Decapitation’s power increased proportionally with the duration of one’s meditative focus.

If the long blade couldn’t withstand such immense power, his efforts would be in vain, and the tragic outcome would be self-evident.

The otherworldly demon had already charged.

Xǔ Tiānlí had no retreat!

He took a deep breath, and the instant the otherworldly demon leaped, he forcefully brought his long blade down.

In that instant, a blinding light enveloped the entire corridor.

It was like an incomparably sharp sword qi, piercing through the bronze walls of the branch base and flying straight into the sky, vanishing without a trace.

The pedestrians outside witnessed this scene, their eyes widening in shock.

‘What was that?’

Or rather: ‘Are Spirit Wielders fighting?’

‘No way, why has Wufeng City been so plagued by disasters lately?’

As the light receded, Xǔ Tiānlí and the otherworldly demon stood with their backs to each other.

As he lowered his long blade and gasped for fresh air, a crack appeared in the otherworldly demon’s massive body.

Crimson liquid splattered like a fountain, forming a massive pool of blood as it collapsed.