Jing Wuming carefully sensed the changes within his body. After a moment, he couldn't help but burst with joy.
"Master, my soul power has actually broken through to level twenty! And I feel my physical abilities have improved tremendously — my strength has more than doubled."
Though still just a boy, even as an assassin, Jing Wuming couldn't hide his delight.
Jiang Chen nodded. "This ability is a gift from me. Not only that, you also carry the same poison I have. As your cultivation grows, the poison inside you will become more dominant. Even without soul rings on your sword spirit, you'll still be able to unleash incredible power."
Jing Wuming finally understood Jiang Chen's meaning and felt even more grateful.
"However," Jiang Chen added solemnly, "with great power comes severe side effects."
Jing Wuming's expression turned serious.
"Before long, you will develop an intense craving for fresh blood. You must drink blood to relieve it. You are no longer a normal person — more accurately, you've become a bloodthirsty monster. Only by feeding on blood can you survive."
Though Jiang Chen himself didn't fully understand how he maintained his humanity, he knew that Jing Wuming was now a true vampire-like zombie, needing blood to live.
Jing Wuming was shocked by this revelation — a blood-drinking monster, how sinister and terrifying.
Yet despite his fear, his loyalty and submission to Jiang Chen remained unwavering.
Jiang Chen continued, "You may drink human or beast blood, but without my orders, do not bite anyone alive."
Jiang Chen deeply understood how disastrous a zombie outbreak would be in this world. If the zombie virus ever spread across Douluo Continent, it would be an unprecedented catastrophe, and zombies would be universally hunted as monsters. He himself would have no escape.
Until he became truly powerful, he would never allow such a thing to happen.
Although Jing Wuming hadn't yet felt that craving, he had carved Jiang Chen's command deep into his soul — he would never bite a living person unless ordered.
Looking at Jing Wuming, Jiang Chen had a fleeting thought — perhaps one day, he could build an unstoppable undead zombie army in this world, a force that would strike terror into all.
But that was just a fleeting fantasy. Unless absolutely desperate, he would never commit such an atrocity.
He chuckled quietly to himself — perhaps he was the kindest zombie in history.
"Oh, by the way," Jiang Chen said, "when you return, first falsely report that I'm dead, then secretly investigate who wants to kill me."
Cold light flickered in Jiang Chen's eyes. Whoever dared try to kill him would pay dearly.
Jing Wuming nodded. "Master, shall I eliminate them?"
Jiang Chen shook his head. "No need. Just uncover the truth and come back."
Jing Wuming nodded again and vanished in a blur.
Jiang Chen no longer cared about fishing. He turned toward Shenghun Village, his head aching, wondering how to explain everything to Tang San.
As he walked all the way back to Shenghun Village, he still couldn't think of a good explanation.
He glanced toward Tang San's house and saw Tang San's head quickly flash past the doorway before the door slammed shut.
"Tang San, with all your skills, are you really afraid of me — a zombie? Is that necessary?" Jiang Chen thought wryly.
He really didn't know that Tang San was panicked out of his mind. Tang San knew how to cure zombie poison but had no idea how to subdue a zombie.
Worse, Tang San feared Jiang Chen might go berserk and bite his father, Tang Hao.
Jiang Chen shook his head helplessly and walked toward his home, completely unmotivated to train.
He had barely taken a few steps when Tang San's voice called out, stopping him.
Jiang Chen turned to see Tang San stepping outside.
In Tang San's eyes, Jiang Chen clearly saw a trace of wariness.
"Jiang Chen, let's talk alone," Tang San said.
Jiang Chen nodded. "Where?"
Tang San pointed toward a nearby mountain. "Let's go to the top."
Jiang Chen agreed readily. Tang San reaching out like this was a good sign.
…
At the mountain peak, Jiang Chen and Tang San stood facing each other. The mountain breeze rustled their robes. Their auras intertwined, steady as a mountain, exuding the demeanor of true heroes.
Tang San's face was grave, several steel needles hidden on his body, poised to strike a lethal blow at any moment.
Though the Tang family did not have a formal creed of exorcising demons and upholding righteousness, the Xuantian Baolu — their sacred code — had one clear rule: if someone is confirmed as an enemy and poses a mortal threat, there is no need to hold back.
Tang San cared most deeply about two people in the world — his own father and Old Jack. He would never allow Jiang Chen to harm their lives.
So, despite his deep wariness of Jiang Chen, he still chose to meet him alone here.
"Why did you bite that person?" Tang San asked coldly, his tone sharp.
Jiang Chen looked at Tang San's restless, suspicious expression with a hint of helplessness.
"What if I told you that boy attacked me first, tried to kill me—would you believe me?"
Tang San slowly shook his head, giving Jiang Chen a look that said, Do you think I'm an idiot?
A boy randomly trying to kill a six-year-old child? What kind of joke was that on this continent?
Jiang Chen shrugged helplessly. "See? I tell you the truth and you still don't believe me."
Tang San's face grew colder. "If you don't explain this clearly today, don't think you're leaving here!"
"I already said I don't bite people casually. Believe it or not," Jiang Chen replied lazily.
He had no intention of revealing that someone had hired an assassin to kill him—without proof, Tang San wouldn't believe a word.
Seeing Tang San's expression darken, Jiang Chen started walking down the mountain. The best explanation was to prove with time that he wouldn't harm Old Jack.
"Don't think you can leave!" Tang San barked, suddenly appearing behind Jiang Chen and placing a hand on his shoulder.
Jiang Chen's soul power surged. Without turning his head, he shook his shoulder sharply, shaking Tang San's hand off.
But when Jiang Chen took two steps forward, Tang San struck again — this time using his Xuan Yu Shou technique, delivering a palm directly onto Jiang Chen's shoulder.
If Jiang Chen didn't clear things up, no matter what, Tang San intended to keep him here today.
Tang San knew Jiang Chen's power was immense. With soul energy fueling the strike, the blow nearly made Jiang Chen stagger to his knees unprepared.
Even a clay doll has some fire in it — let alone Jiang Chen. Facing Tang San's persistence, even his good temper was wearing thin.
Suddenly, Jiang Chen spun around, locking eyes with Tang San. "You want to fight me?"
"Unless you explain, you're not going anywhere!" Tang San's voice was cold and firm.
"If you've already decided I bit that boy on purpose, what's the point of explaining?" Jiang Chen said.
Tang San paused, then realized it was true — in his heart, he had already convinced himself Jiang Chen had bitten deliberately.
As for someone trying to kill Jiang Chen? That reason was too absurd. Not only would Tang San refuse to believe it, even Jiang Chen himself found the idea ridiculous unless attacked first.
Seeing Tang San fall silent, Jiang Chen pressed on, "So, do you want to kill me then?"
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