Chapter 14: Detestable

"My kidney!" Utantan gritted his teeth in pain, clutching his side.

"You son of a bitch, you tricked me!"

"All's fair in war, don't you get it?" Zhao Ergou grinned. "Might as well go home and dig potatoes! Pathetic!"

Time was running out!

Zhao Ergou barely managed to draw his bow and shoot; his aim was off, but somehow the arrow struck Utantan's side.

Zhao Ergou wouldn't admit he was actually aiming for his chest.

"Damn brat!" Utantan roared in fury. "You dare shoot my kidney? I'll tear you limb from limb!"

Without a kidney, his wife Cuihua would surely leave him for a stronger man.

What meaning would there be in fighting and dying for military honors then?

It was all because of this damn kid!

Utantan's rage surged to its peak; this bastard was insufferable!

Crack!

Utantan snapped the arrow shaft in two, not pulling it out, but throwing the broken feathered end to the ground. Gripping his curved blade, he charged at Zhao Ergou.

He wanted to cut Zhao Ergou into eighteen pieces to vent his hatred!

Zhao Ergou flung his bow over his back, seized his battle knife, ready to fight to the death.

He refused to believe he couldn't defeat Utantan, even after being shot with an arrow.

If necessary, he'd drag the enemy down bleeding and weak until death.

The half-arrow embedded in Utantan's side felt like a thousand knives twisting his kidney with every step, forcing him to grimace in agony.

Watching Utantan’s pained expression, Zhao Ergou burst into loud laughter.

"Hahaha! Come on, hit me! You idiot!"

That expression was so infuriatingly cheeky, it rivaled the antics of a character from a play.

Perhaps one of the Rongdi soldiers nearby overheard.

"Centurion, let me cut him down for you!"

The Rongdi soldier charged at Zhao Ergou, brandishing a steel blade.

Swoosh!

A spray of blood erupted.

The soldier’s throat was sliced clean through; he collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

Zhao Ergou glanced at the corpse and sneered, "What a joke. Your so-called centurion can't touch me. Why are you jumping into the fray? Always this brave?"

Watching Zhao Ergou’s cocky grin, Utantan could no longer contain his fury. He let out a beast-like roar.

"Argh… I’ll kill you, you Qin dog!"

Enduring the stabbing pain in his kidney, Utantan charged at Zhao Ergou like a raging beast.

"Haha! You look half-dead and still dare to challenge me?" Zhao Ergou seized the moment, shouting as his blade hummed with immense force, delivering a devastating downward strike.

The blade gleamed sharply, its momentum overwhelming.

Utantan, already injured, reacted a beat too late. Zhao Ergou’s blade sliced into him, sending him staggering backward.

Blood poured from the wound in his side, his face pale with pain.

The broken arrow still lodged in his flesh stabbed like a nail, sapping his strength.

"Hmph, a cripple is still a cripple. Injured and trying to act tough? Today I’ll show you what real strength means!"

Zhao Ergou pressed his advantage mercilessly—striking with his Furious Wolf Three Blades, each blow faster and fiercer than the last, raining down on Utantan relentlessly.

The wind howled with the blade’s fury, killing intent thick in the air.

Utantan was forced to retreat again and again, unable to mount any defense.

Several Rongdi soldiers tried to assist, but before they could close in, Zhao Ergou cut them down effortlessly.

"Brothers, watch closely. I'll show you how to deal with these Rongdi scum!" Zhao Ergou shouted as he fought.

The tear in Utantan’s side widened, blood soaking half his armor.

He gasped for breath, his armor battered and torn by Zhao Ergou’s strikes.

His injuries worsened; he was near collapse.

"Even if I die, I’ll drag you down with me!" Utantan’s eyes reddened as he summoned his last strength and lunged at Zhao Ergou for a final, fatal embrace.

"You want to die with me? Do you deserve it?" Zhao Ergou smirked disdainfully. This fool was too naive.

He had no intention of foolishly fighting a dying man to the death.

With that thought, Zhao Ergou slipped nimbly aside, evading Utantan’s attack, aiming to exhaust him.

"Come on! Chase me! I’m right here—if you can catch me!"

Zhao Ergou taunted with a teasing smile as he danced away.

Rongdi soldiers kept rushing in recklessly, but to Zhao Ergou, they were nothing more than cannon fodder, swiftly dispatched with a few strokes.

Name: Zhao Ergou
Race: Human
Realm: Late Martial Disciple (+)
Skills: "Fugou Technique" (Intermediate), "Furious Wolf Three Blades" (Intermediate)
Strength: 999 jin (approx. 499.5 kg)
Talent: Bronze Archer (+)
Killing Intent: 55

Zhao Ergou surveyed his stats with satisfaction.

While fighting, he felt the power surging through him, gradually understanding the pattern of his killing intent.

The stronger the foe he killed, the more killing intent he gained.

Most of his victims were early-stage Martial Disciples; fewer were mid or late stages.

Seeing the "+" next to his realm, Zhao Ergou didn’t hesitate to choose to advance.

"I’ll show you all how hard work makes me stronger!"

A warm current flooded his body; his bones felt as if forged by iron hammers, growing tougher and more resilient.

Utantan watched helplessly as Zhao Ergou’s aura soared. His heart sank.

This brat had broken through mid-battle!

Already weak and severely wounded, Utantan now faced a foe whose power had just surged. Was this the end for him today?

"Haha, Utantan, watch closely!"

Zhao Ergou felt strength fill him; a single strike forced Utantan to retreat several steps.

He had reached the pinnacle of Martial Disciple, with strength now at 1,600 jin (approx. 800 kg).

Spending 40 points of killing intent, he had leapt straight to this advanced stage.

"Wow, over 1,600 jin of strength! Utantan, weren’t you so tough? Why are you cowering now?"

Zhao Ergou stretched, feeling explosive power coursing through him—he was certain one punch could fell a bull.

Utantan’s strength was similar, only he had more martial essence.

However, newly broken-through martial artists had weak essence, hardly a threat.

"Utantan, I’ll give you one last chance: kneel and call me grandpa. I’ll make your death quick."

Zhao Ergou twirled his blade, determined to swiftly slay his formidable enemy and then slaughter more Rongdi warriors.

He meant to seize this opportunity, killing wildly to grow stronger, fast.