Bang! Bang! Bang!
Qin Yuesheng exchanged dozens of punches with the water ghost. The opponent showed no intention of dodging, taking Qin Yuesheng's punches head-on, while Qin Yuesheng had to do his best to avoid every attack from the water ghost. This sinister creature had incredibly terrifying finger strength, and even with his Iron Shirt technique, he couldn't be certain he'd withstand a grab.
Fortunately, the Evil-Subduing Saber embedded in the water ghost's chest was continuously effective. As time dragged on, the water ghost's chest was visibly dissolving.
After a prolonged assault, Qin Yuesheng finally found an opportunity. With the ample experience brought by the enhanced Tiger Crane Double Form Fist, he formed both hands into crane shapes and launched a rapid flurry of strikes at the water ghost's armpit.
The tiger shape is fierce like a hammer, and the crane shape is sharp like a blade.
In an instant, four deep holes appeared in the water ghost's body, but the creature had no blood inside.
Buzz!
The water ghost let out a residual sound, which was exceptionally piercing and irritating, while simultaneously dropping a punch straight at Qin Yuesheng's head.
In the next moment, Qin Yuesheng quickly raised his crossed arms to take this extraordinary powerful blow head-on.
The heavy force spread from Qin Yuesheng's arms to his legs. Despite his strength being far beyond ordinary humans and having an exceptional physique, he couldn't help but bend his legs under the pressure, pushing his black boots deep into the mud.
"Cough..." Stalemated for a moment, Qin Yuesheng realized that continuing like this would be disadvantageous for him. Gritting his teeth, he erupted with all his power, forcefully pushing away the water ghost's fist, while grabbing the nearby Evil-Subduing Saber, slashing and hacking frantically.
This was not an act of panic or loss of wits. At this close range to the water ghost, it was the perfect chance for Qin Yuesheng to attack.
With the effectiveness of the Evil-Subduing Saber, the water ghost's chest was immediately slashed beyond recognition, with flesh flying like fragments, directly exposing its internal structure.
Just one glance made Qin Yuesheng's hair stand on end, a chill rushed from his back to his scalp.
They were withered human heads, their skin resembling dried paper, their faces frozen in expressions of terror and agony, while live fish struggled to survive in the gaps between the heads.
"Young master!" Having finally recovered, Cao Zhengchun and the others remembered Qin Yuesheng's identity. Anyone else could be harmed, but Qin Yuesheng must not be.
But just as they prepared to rush in with fire sticks, hoes, and iron forks to aid Qin Yuesheng, he shouted back without turning: "Stop, don't come over!"
Nine from the Qin family guard stayed behind here, but when he arrived at top speed, everyone was already dead, proving that this water ghost was not something ordinary people could contend with.
One-on-one, Qin Yuesheng could barely handle it, but if Cao Zhengchun and others joined and the water ghost changed targets, these people would surely die.
Meaningful sacrifice indicates value, while pointless sacrifice is merely going to one's death.
With the Evil-Subduing Saber in hand, the water ghost couldn't gain any advantage. The materials used to forge the Evil-Subduing Saber were naturally meant to suppress these sinister monsters, and even though Qin Yuesheng didn't know blade skills, his wielding was notably effective.
Pieces of flesh peeled away, and after a while, the water ghost turned restless. Apart from its slaughter instinct, it seemed to possess little intelligence. Neither knowing how to dodge nor flee, it appeared that as long as living beings were nearby, it would continue to fight to the death.
Soon, the water ghost's chest and abdomen were stripped clean by Qin Yuesheng. With these coverings gone, within its chest cavity, a lump of flesh adhering to the spine, wrapped with numerous purple veins, became visible to Qin Yuesheng.
Though he hadn't seen pork, he'd seen pigs run. This water ghost was fearless of pain, attacking its vital areas had no effect, and as soon as this flesh ball was revealed, Qin Yuesheng realized it might be the key to eliminating the water ghost.
With a crude Bagua Palm, he pushed away the water ghost's fist, and in the blink of an eye, the Evil-Subduing Saber plunged into that flesh ball.
Splack!
A large amount of black liquid gushed from the crack, and instantly the flesh ball began to shrink while the water ghost screamed wildly. Within seconds, it collapsed on the ground, leaving behind nothing but a composite human skin seemingly made of various skins.
"Young master."
Seeing the water ghost dead, the danger was evidently gone. Cao Zhengchun and others hurried over to express their concern for Qin Yuesheng.
"Enough talk, this thing must be the cause of Baihe Village's recent disappearances." Qin Yuesheng flung the Evil-Subduing Saber hard at the ground, and pulled out his black handkerchief to wipe it clean before sheathing the mighty blade.
"Is, is it human or ghost, why on earth is there such a thing in the Gusu River?" Gao Peng surveyed the remaining skin of the water ghost, having lived in Baihe Village for decades, it was his first experience with something like this.
He also covered his eyes with both hands, afraid of glimpsing those severed limbs on the ground nearby.
The nine Qin family guards were truly pitiful, their deaths unbearable to witness.
"Who knows, as this matter is settled, I should return to the mansion tomorrow. Remember to accompany me to Cyan Yang City to report this to the authorities and see what they say there." Qin Yuesheng looked over the sacrificial Qin Mansion guards, holding a sense of sorrow.
"Cao Zhengchun, tomorrow when we return, remember to bring people to collect their bodies and find a suitable mountain and water burial site. Although the mansion guards are orphans with no relatives, since they've lived with the Qin family for many years, they're considered part of our family, and shouldn't be neglected."
Cao Zhengchun nodded repeatedly: "Yes, young master."
In truth, Qin Yuesheng's words moved him. Being an orphan himself, if he was unfortunate enough to pass away in the future, he was sure the young master would also arrange his final affairs.
In Cyan Yang City, many wealthy families directly disposed of the corpses of deceased guards and maidservants by throwing them into the mountains or sinking them in the Gusu River, without any decent burial. Qin Yuesheng's arrangements were already generous in treating his subordinates well.
"Let's go, head back for some rest, that fight left me a little tired."
As Qin Yuesheng prepared to leave, naturally, no one had the leisure to linger and observe the scene further.
The group promptly returned to Gao Peng's residence, passing the night peacefully.