Chapter 87: The Rift Valley and the Blood Dragon

“Sadaharu, charge out!” Kagura shouted at the wall.

The three of them were covered in blood, even Sadaharu’s pure white fur now streaked with crimson. Sadaharu leaped high, bounding over the city wall and landing outside, startling the city guards.

“What an interesting demon beast, to think it could accomplish such a feat.” The woman in black’s eyes sparkled. With a light tap on a rooftop, she soared to the city wall and landed outside.

For a martial artist, that distance was nothing remarkable.

“Congratulations, Host, you have completed Main Quest Two. Reward: 500 exchange points.”

“Main Quest Three: Defeat one hundred martial artists. Reward: 1000 exchange points. Completion will unlock subsequent quests.” The clear, cat-eared girl’s voice rang out.

“Thank you both. Ten minutes remain—you should head that way, rest a bit on the road, and you’ll be able to leave this world soon,” Yun Xuan said.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed? Your opponent is much stronger than you,” Kagura glanced back at Yun Xuan.

“No, not to die—I have my own way out,” Yun Xuan smiled faintly, casting a look at their pursuers.

“We at Odd Jobs never abandon our clients and run away,” Shinpachi Shimura replied seriously.

“If we stay, we’ll all be caught. She seems rather interested in me—or rather, the high-tech weapon in my hand,” Yun Xuan stood up, glancing back at the woman in black who was drawing nearer, then pulled out the freeze gun and took aim.

“Farewell,” Yun Xuan leaped forward, firing the freeze gun at the woman in black, but missed.

“Come forth, Demon Wolf Erha!” As Yun Xuan landed, Demon Wolf Erha appeared, barking excitedly, even faster than Sadaharu.

“…Bastard!” Kagura and Shinpachi shouted in unison.

“Sorry, I’ll go on ahead. Anyway, you two are strong, and you’re about to leave,” Yun Xuan scratched his head, turning away.

“Sadaharu, that way.” Kagura pointed the direction, and the two parties parted ways.

“A second-stage demon beast, and he can even command beasts. So, it’s no surprise that those so-called righteous sects abandon their own when in danger,” the woman in black mused, growing more intrigued by Yun Xuan—especially by the strange weapon he wielded.

Though it posed no threat to her, its power was enough to overwhelm a junior samurai. “If I could study that thing, perhaps I’d have a trump card that doesn’t drain spiritual energy,” she thought, watching Yun Xuan’s retreating figure. It was precisely because Yun Xuan could use it without expending energy that she wanted it.

…

Demon Wolf Erha looked adorable, but was incredibly fast—worthy of being called a demon beast. Or perhaps, in this fantastical world, a magic beast.

“Ten more hours… It’s enough to drive one mad. But luckily… I’ve found a good place,” Yun Xuan looked ahead to see a gaping ravine.

“The Rift Valley? He’s heading that way—does he have a death wish?” The woman in black’s expression changed as she saw the chasm.

The Rift Valley was carved open by the sword energy of an Emperor-tier martial artist during a great war. It was bottomless, shrouded in mist; rumors said treasures of an Emperor lay within, but in hundreds of years, no martial artist had ever returned from it.

Demon Wolf Erha stopped at the edge of the Rift Valley. Yun Xuan strapped on a parachute and peered into the abyss.

A fierce wind whipped Yun Xuan’s face. The Rift Valley truly was bottomless, wreathed in swirling mists.

“If there are beasts down there, I’ll just have to accept my fate. Meow Meow, if I die, I’ll revive, right?” Yun Xuan asked.

“Of course. It will cost 1000 exchange points to resurrect at your save point in the Food Wars world,” the cat-eared girl Meow Meow replied reassuringly.

“That’s good.” Yun Xuan took out a drink, gulped a few mouthfuls, and gazed at the full moon, which illuminated the land as bright as day.

“Who exactly are you?” The woman in black stopped a short distance from Yun Xuan.

“A man. May I ask your name?” Yun Xuan put away his bottle—littering was out of the question; environmental protection mattered.

“Core disciple Liu Mei, of the Demon Sect of the Four Directions. If you hand over the weapon you just used, I’ll spare your life and let you join our sect. What do you say?” Liu Mei smiled.

“Demon Sect of the Four Directions, Liu Mei. My name is Yun Xuan—remember it well. Next time, I will destroy your sect and the Nine City Alliance,” Yun Xuan declared, then withdrew Demon Wolf Erha and leapt into the Rift Valley.

“He actually jumped?!” Liu Mei stared, stunned.

In the martial world, the weak submit to the strong; it was natural. Yet Yun Xuan’s unyielding spirit in the face of death left her speechless.

She hurried to the edge of the Rift Valley, but Yun Xuan was already lost from sight. Disappointed, she sighed and turned away—she didn’t believe his threat for a moment.

…

Yun Xuan opened his parachute, but his descent didn’t slow—instead, he plummeted faster, as though drawn by some force.

“Is there a monster down there?” Yun Xuan stared into the unfathomable abyss.

He didn’t know how long he’d been falling—the notification came that the Odd Jobs pair and Sadaharu had disappeared; their time was up.

Exhausted, Yun Xuan closed his eyes for a nap, nearly drifting off.

“Human, awake.” A voice called out.

Yun Xuan opened his eyes to see a small mountain before him—no, not a mountain, a monster.

Its entire body was covered in scales, with sharp horns on its head, serpentine in length, and its skin a deep, blood-red.

“Blood Dragon?” Two words flashed through Yun Xuan’s mind.

“Human, you know me?” The Blood Dragon spoke, its voice tending toward feminine.

“Of course. May I take a picture?” Yun Xuan raised his phone.

“A picture? What is that?” The Blood Dragon asked curiously.

“I’ll explain in a moment,” Yun Xuan raised a hand to halt further questions and started snapping photos.

The Blood Dragon fell silent. She’d met many over the centuries, most dying to the valley’s traps—greedy humans who ignored warnings. She’d seen through them all.

But this man behaved so earnestly, it was baffling.

Yun Xuan himself didn’t know what he was feeling—it was as if, having resolved to die, nothing else mattered. Yet, in the face of death, he’d stumbled upon a sliver of hope.

The Blood Dragon hadn’t killed him outright, which was a relief. Against such a being, he had no chance—better to die quickly.

“All right, would you kindly kill me now? Yes, just pierce my heart in one blow,” Yun Xuan put away his low-end smartphone, laid down in front of the Blood Dragon, and closed his eyes.

“Human, why did you come here?” The Blood Dragon asked in surprise.

“To survive. I was being hunted,” Yun Xuan replied, seeing the Blood Dragon unmoved, he rolled over to face her.

“I see. Do you not know what this place is?” The Blood Dragon suddenly understood—she’d wondered why a mere martial apprentice had come, and now it made sense.

“Judging by the looks of it, this must be your home. Is it very dangerous?” Yun Xuan looked around.

“Extremely. This is the resting place of an Emperor-level martial artist. I am its guardian beast,” the Blood Dragon said, studying Yun Xuan’s expression.

“A guardian beast… So, you won’t kill me?” Yun Xuan’s eyes lit up.

“No, I am here only to guard this place,” the Blood Dragon nodded.