Chapter 54: Escape? Escape!!

Outside the Jiang Family’s home.

Sensing the danger, the hairs on Jiang Che’s body stood on end.

The danger was coming from the side!

’This feeling... It’s a Blood Sacrifice!’

Without turning his head, Jiang Che immediately entered the Heart Stream State. His Qi Blood circulated wildly as he executed the Flying Swallow Step, darting into a small alley.

He couldn’t go home. Jiang Ling was there, and he had to lead the monster away!

The Blood Sacrifice pounced, but hit nothing but air.

It raised its head, its eerie, green-glowing eyes seeming to hold a trace of confusion.

Then, with a push of its feet, its figure vanished with a SWISH.

The next second, it reappeared behind Jiang Che!

It stretched out a withered, enormous hand and reached to crush Jiang Che’s head.

Feeling a needle-like sense of danger at his back, Jiang Che decisively dropped low and rolled away, dodging the attack.

Having missed again, the Blood Sacrifice grew annoyed.

It let out a low roar, placed both hands on the ground, and began to crawl at high speed!

’This is bad. The beast is too fast. I have to get to the Government Office and find Chief Liu!’

Jiang Che scrambled to his feet, made a sharp turn, and ran toward the Government Office.

The Government Office was only half a *li* from here. At Jiang Che’s current speed, he could make it in ten breaths!

The Blood Sacrifice quickly gave chase, catching up in just two breaths.

It stretched out its giant hand and clawed viciously at Jiang Che’s back.

Its arms were twice as long as a normal person’s, so it was about to grab him in an instant.

Seeing no way to dodge, Jiang Che decisively executed the Cloud-Stacking Fist, using the "Mountain Shattering" technique to strike the monster’s palm.

CRACK!

The punch made the Blood Sacrifice’s hand pause for a moment. Jiang Che used the opportunity and the rebound force to shoot forward several more meters.

’My arm is broken! This Blood Sacrifice really is at the Early Stage of the Iron Skin Realm—it’s much stronger than that flower thief was!’

Jiang Che felt a sharp pain shoot through his arm, and his heart filled with dread.

Having missed again, the Blood Sacrifice furiously slammed its fist into the ground to vent its frustration.

The green flagstones on the ground instantly shattered, exploding into dust.

Its eyes slowly turned from green to red, and its body seemed to grow slightly larger.

"AWOOOO—"

It roared in anger and resumed the chase!

’Six breaths left.’

Jiang Che pushed his speed to the maximum, but in an instant, the Blood Sacrifice was right behind him again!

It attacked with both hands from the left and right in a pincer-like motion, trying to grab Jiang Che’s body!

Jiang Che’s [Omen] flared with a frantic warning. He felt the skin on both sides of his body burn from the piercing sense of danger.

’Five breaths.’

Jiang Che desperately tried to adjust his position, but he still couldn’t completely escape the Blood Sacrifice’s attack range.

RRRIP—

A chunk of flesh and blood was instantly torn from Jiang Che’s back, along with his clothes!

"Hiss—"

Jiang Che sucked in a sharp breath.

Enduring the excruciating pain, he took advantage of the Blood Sacrifice’s momentary stiffness to shoot forward another few meters.

’Four breaths... three breaths.’

The monster caught up again. Curling its claws into a fist, it slammed a punch into Jiang Che’s right shoulder blade.

"Pfft—!"

The punch completely shattered Jiang Che’s shoulder blade, and he violently coughed up a mouthful of blood.

But Jiang Che also used the impact of the blow to propel himself forward another ten-plus meters.

’One breath...’

Jiang Che could already see the two stone lions at the entrance of the Government Office.

Joy surged in his heart. He frantically circulated his Qi Blood, gritted his teeth, and charged forward with all his might.

The Blood Sacrifice also saw the Government Office from a distance.

It seemed to sense something and came to an abrupt halt.

Gazing at Jiang Che’s retreating back, a hint of hesitation appeared in its eyes. In the end, it didn’t continue the pursuit.

It raised its hand and gently licked the blood and flesh stuck to its fingers.

"...Delicious... flesh and blood..."

A look of ecstasy appeared on its withered, bluish face.

After one last glance at the Government Office, it turned, and with a WHOOSH, its figure vanished into the alley.

Jiang Che successfully reached the Government Office.

But the Government Office was already closed for the night, and the Government Soldiers at the entrance were gone.

With no time to worry, Jiang Che leaped over the high wall and into the courtyard.

Seeing that the Blood Sacrifice hadn’t followed, Jiang Che felt a little calmer and headed straight for the rear courtyard.

Soon, Jiang Che saw a small house made of blue bricks and gray tiles.

BANG BANG BANG!

"Chief Liu, it’s me, Jiang Che!"

Jiang Che knocked on the door.

A moment later, the door opened.

"Jiang Che? How did you..."

Liu Hai was shocked to see Jiang Che covered in blood.

"What happened?! Get in here, quick!"

He hurriedly helped Jiang Che inside.

"What happened to you? Did you run into a Blood Sacrifice?!" Liu Hai’s expression turned grim.

Jiang Che quickly recounted his encounter with the Blood Sacrifice and his desperate escape.

Liu Hai nodded and began to inspect Jiang Che’s wounds.

"Just as I expected. Judging from the wounds, this beast has already reached the Early Stage of the Iron Skin Realm!"

Liu Hai frowned.

"Quick, let’s treat those injuries. Be careful, the Blood Sacrifice might be poisonous."

With that, he brought over a basin of clean water and began to wash Jiang Che’s wounds with a towel.

"Huh? This is..."

Liu Hai stared, speechless with amazement, as Jiang Che’s wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Chief Liu, please help me keep this a secret..." Jiang Che said with a wry smile.

He then felt for his broken bone and set it back into place.

Before long, Jiang Che could feel the bone gradually mending itself.

He couldn’t help but marvel at how powerful his enhanced Rejuvenation was.

Witnessing all this, Liu Hai couldn’t help but laugh.

"Well, now. You’re quite something, kid. Tell me honestly, how many more secrets are you hiding?"

"I just happened to come across an Iron Body Technique..." Jiang Che said, a bit embarrassed.

"Alright, I won’t ask any more questions. In any case, you should stay here tonight," Liu Hai said, patting Jiang Che’s shoulder.

"But my sister is still at home. I’m worried about her... Chief Liu, could you come with me to bring her here?" Jiang Che asked hesitantly.

Leaving his sister home alone was definitely not an option.

Granted, the Blood Sacrifice was now attacking Martial Artists.

But it had appeared near the Jiang Family’s home before.

If it happened to slip into the house, it certainly wouldn’t mind eating one more person.

"You’re right... There’s no time to waste. Let’s go!"

Jiang Che felt that his injuries had mostly healed, though his right shoulder blade still ached faintly.

His right lung also felt a bit constricted when he breathed, and he estimated it would take another day to fully recover.

The two of them quickly arrived at Jiang Che’s home.

When Jiang Ling saw Jiang Che covered in blood, she was so frightened she immediately burst into tears.

Jiang Che quickly explained that he was already healed.

Jiang Ling saw that his flesh had indeed grown back, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

"Why don’t you stay at my humble home for the night, Chief Liu? I happen to have two spare guest rooms," Jiang Che said after a moment of thought.

The Government Office didn’t have much space. It would be inconvenient for the three of them to squeeze in together.

"Alright," Liu Hai agreed without hesitation.

Besides, no one was at the Government Office right now, so it made no difference whether he was there or not.

After Jiang Ling prepared a guest room, Liu Hai settled in.

The next day, Liu Hai returned to the Government Office.

Before leaving, he instructed Jiang Che not to go out for the time being, at least until he figured out a way to capture the Blood Sacrifice.

He also told Jiang Che not to worry too much.

According to old case files, Blood Sacrifices disliked appearing during the day and were generally only active at night.

Furthermore, they were very cautious by nature and wouldn’t easily enter someone’s home. As long as they stayed inside, they should be safe.

Therefore, Jiang Che decided not to go to Shao Jianbo’s place to practice Calligraphy for the time being.

He estimated it would only take ten more visits to max out his Calligraphy skill.

But by the time he finished and returned, it would already be late.

To be safe, Jiang Che decided to go into seclusion.