The Return of the Youth, Chapter 14: Slaying Demons in the Long Night

Under the moonlight, on the snow-covered long street.

“Impressive, you beat that demon corpse to death with your bare hands.”

A handsome young gentleman dressed in white lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage, looking down at Yiheng.

Yiheng turned his head, his gaze sharp as a torch. “So it’s really you, little thief. Do you happen to know this evil creature?”

“Don’t call me a thief! Not only do I know it, I also know its fatal weakness!” The handsome young man frowned, his face full of impatience.

Yiheng snorted coldly. “You stole my silver and carriage, so you are a thief!”

“I’m not a thief. My name is Jiang Bai—Jiang like ginger, Bai like the sword immortal Li Bai. Can you understand that?” Jiang Bai furrowed his brows, patiently explaining his name again.

Yiheng brushed the snow off his shoulder and looked up calmly as ever. “Little thief.”

“Shut up! You’re driving me crazy. If it were before, I could crush you with a finger.” Jiang Bai put his hands on his hips, fuming.

Seeing Jiang Bai’s angry and embarrassed look, Yiheng recalled how the other had stolen his belongings a few days ago, forcing him to walk back halfway. The resentment he had been holding in finally eased somewhat.

Yet, he couldn’t deny that this man was truly handsome, even stirring a bit of jealousy in him.

“Little thief, you really know the weakness of these demon corpses?”

“Call me Jiang Bai! If you say my name properly, I’ll tell you.”

“Little thief, hurry up and tell me, don’t keep me in suspense.”

Yiheng’s brows tightened, his expression growing more serious. He gripped the large Wei-style long blade on his shoulder with his other hand, staring into the deeper part of the long street.

A sparse, intermittent sound arose, like the incessant chirping of crickets on a summer night.

The young man in white turned his head aside and said, “You keep calling me little thief, so I refuse to tell you.”

“Hey, I’ll handle these demon corpses. You watch over that mother and child, how about it?” With a sharp ring, the long blade was drawn. Yiheng gripped the hilt with both hands, vigilantly scanning his surroundings.

“No, unless you stop calling me little thief.”

“No way, little thief, you change the terms.”

As the demon corpses gathered increasingly in the distance, Jiang Bai’s face darkened further. No longer fixated on the name, he jumped down from the carriage. “I’ll watch over them, but I’m not doing it for free.”

Yiheng’s lips curled slightly. “Little thief, consider that hundred taels of silver a write-off, alright?”

“You’re generous. Just to protect that mother and child? Do you really think they’re worth a hundred taels of gold?” Jiang Bai pulled two gold ingots from his bosom, asking curiously.

Yiheng said, “Someone once taught me that the value of a person’s life should not be measured by money.”

“Who said that?” Jiang Bai lifted his chin, asking.

“My master.”

“I’d like to meet your master someday. Anyone who says that deserves a drink from me.”

“He has already passed away; I’m afraid he won’t be able to drink your wine.”

“What a pity.”

Jiang Bai approached the mother and child, speaking gravely. “These demon corpses are controlled by corpse worms that parasitize the brain after death, manipulated to act. It must be the work of a ghost cultivator.”

“Ghost cultivator?”

A chill ran through Yiheng’s heart. He immediately thought of the gray-robed man who had stolen his master’s remains.

At that moment, although Aunt Liu could not see the evil creatures lurking in the dark, she sensed danger from the conversation between Yiheng and the stranger. She sobbed, urging Yiheng to escape. “Young Master Yiheng, don’t worry about us. Our lives aren’t worth a hundred gold!”

A full moon emerged from behind the clouds, its light spilling over the long street.

Aunt Liu finally saw clearly what lay deeper down the street—not leopard cats, but a group of corpses, resembling the zombies rumored about.

Their skin was dry and bark-like, tightly clinging to their bones, utterly bloodless. Their eyes were tightly shut, their sunken sockets adding to the eerie aura. Tattered clothes rustled in the wind, carrying a stench of decay.

Though long dead, they moved with stiff steps, arms stretched forward in a grotesque manner, advancing slowly.

Although she had seen evil spirits before, tonight was the first time she witnessed such a bizarre and terrifying scene. Her body instinctively wanted to flee, but what little reason remained in her urged her to shout loudly:

“Ah! It’s demons! Young Master Yiheng, run quickly!”

Only those truly kind-hearted would, in moments of danger, care more about others’ safety than their own.

Jiang Bai gently placed a hand on Aunt Liu’s shoulder, soothing her. “Don’t worry. Judging by his strength, he should have no trouble dealing with those demons. He’s just worried about not being able to take care of you all for the moment.”

Aunt Liu lifted her head and asked, “Really? Is Young Master Yiheng really that powerful?”

“Though I can’t gauge his true strength, his tone holds no fear. On the contrary...” The young man in white raised his chin, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes. That distant youth, black robe fluttering wildly, resembled a phantom in the night, lunging toward the horde of demon beasts.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze, only the harsh sound of blades slicing through the air echoed in the night sky.

The raised long blade, under the moonlight, reflected a piercing cold gleam, like a lightning bolt tearing through the darkness.

“Die!”

Yiheng slashed. The long blade cut through a snarling demon corpse’s right arm as if slicing tofu. A swift turn severed the other arm as well.

Yet the demon corpse seemed unfazed by pain. No blood flowed from the severed limbs. Instead, it bared its teeth and lunged at Yiheng. Its sharp fangs glimmered ominously in the moonlight, as if intent on ripping him to pieces.

“Hey! The weak point of those demon corpses is the head. Just cut offI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.