Chapter 044: A Remedy That Can Change, A Medicine That Can Become Poison

Yin Corpse Worms, since the implementation of cremation, have become rare sights. These insects belong to a type of corpse worm, living in graveyards and surviving by feeding on rotting flesh and decaying corpses.

The worms themselves are harmless, at most only nauseating to encounter. However, in the hands of those with intent, they can be transformed into potent medicine or deadly poison. It’s much like a sword: when untouched, the blade is innocent, neither good nor evil—the outcome depends on who wields it.

In earlier times, Yin Corpse Worms were used to treat patients with extensive burns, especially before modern medicine was so advanced. They would devour the scorched and decayed flesh, and combined with specially prepared herbal remedies, help new skin and tissue grow over the wounded areas.

Yet, there were those with sinister hearts who would feed Yin Corpse Worms with their own flesh and blood mixed with various poisons, then use secret techniques to manipulate them into obedient killing tools.

The man in the black hat was clearly employing such methods, though perhaps his way of raising Yin Corpse Worms was simpler than most. His head was covered with decaying flesh; I surmised that after his accident, he began feeding the worms with the bloody meat atop his skull. Otherwise, after so many years, his head would not still look like that.

When I faced the Soul Summoning, Body Control, and Heart-Stirring Spell, I thought I’d encountered a master. But now, seeing him use these worms against me, I felt a bit insulted.

Anyone with skill would scoff at using Yin Corpse Worms. I understood why he kept them, but to use them on me? That was clearly an insult—he treated me like a child.

On second thought, the man in the black hat knew I had broken his spell, so I must not be as weak as he thought. Now, he uses Yin Corpse Worms against me—there could only be one explanation.

He had suffered backlash and consequences from my breaking his spell, damaging his body so severely that he could no longer cast anything else.

It must be so.

Now that I understood his situation, there was no need for me to hold back.

He raised his mountain knife again, but I calmly bit my finger and drew the True Law talisman in my palm.

Dealing with Yin Corpse Worms is not difficult—one only needs to strike their heads with a technique of extreme Yang. I believed there was no spell more Yang than the True Law.

“Three thousand ways of the Dao, thunder reigns supreme. Heavenly thunder descends to obliterate evil. I am the Thunder God, the Thunder God is me—by the decree of law, act swiftly!”

This time, I had no intention of dodging. I merely tilted my head aside and caught the Yin Corpse Worm attacking my head with one hand.

The captured worm shrieked, trying to escape, but my hand was a thousand-pound shackle to it.

“Break!”

With a sizzling sound, the smell of burnt flesh wafted from my clenched fist, wisps of black smoke rising into the air.

The man in the black hat was momentarily stunned. He turned to look at me, his eyes full of unwillingness. After glaring at me fiercely, he turned to Tong Ruan. This time, without hesitation, he raised his knife and hacked at Tong Ruan’s neck!

This strike, if it landed, would ensure Tong Ruan followed the fate of her father.

Against the man in the black hat, talismanic spells were useless, for he was still human.

I picked up a green brick nearby and, without thinking, hurled it at him. It struck his blade, causing him to hesitate for a moment.

Seizing the opening, I dashed to his side in a few steps.

“Never underestimate someone who’s eighteen—eighteen is already an adult!”

I pulled out the self-defense baton I’d gotten from Tong Ruan earlier, flipped the switch, and pressed it against his neck.

The baton buzzed violently.

I didn’t know what it felt like to be hit by a baton, but I saw the man’s eyes bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead.

He howled, and despite the baton’s powerful shock, managed to swing his knife one last time at Tong Ruan!

As the blade fell, both he and Tong Ruan collapsed to the ground.

The man convulsed, foam frothing at his mouth—he wouldn’t be moving any time soon.

I lifted Tong Ruan and checked her. Thankfully, only a shallow cut marked the back of her neck; she was safe.

I stood, spat on the ground, walked to where I’d left my phone, and glanced at the recording I’d just made.

The angle was good—the man in the black hat’s attempt on Tong Ruan’s life was recorded clearly.

I wasted no time and dialed the police.

“Hello, I need to report a crime. Abandoned brick factory, someone’s trying to kill.”

Before the police arrived to arrest the man, I had to make sure he didn’t escape or have any chance to perform magic.

I took the hemp rope I’d prepared from my backpack and tied him up securely.

He had not yet regained consciousness. I watched him for a while, then made a decision.

Given that Tong Ruan fell unconscious as soon as he entered, it must have been the curse from the Body-Burning Spell.

But any spell or curse requires incantations and hand seals to activate.

I tore a piece of cloth from my own clothing and stuffed it in his mouth, then crouched behind him and, taking a deep breath, forcibly broke both the middle and index fingers of his hands!

Only this way could I completely prevent him from casting spells.

He screamed, the pain waking him prematurely.

But now, he was like a toothless tiger. I wasn’t afraid; if anything, he should fear me, for I held both the mountain knife and the self-defense baton.

Sweat from the pain soaked his thick coat; perhaps my removal of the Yin Corpse Worms had something to do with it.

I approached him, a foul stench of rotting meat emanating from his head.

Pinching my nose, I said, “If you hadn’t suffered backlash and paid the price of Heaven’s law, I’d have had a much harder time dealing with you today.”

“I… I underestimated you… I never thought… you could break my Soul Summoning, Body Control, and Heart-Stirring Spell…” he stammered, his tongue barely working.

“Why… why stop me… They… they deserved to die!”

Chapter 44: Medicine or Poison, Free Reading