With the Blade

Chapter 317: Chapter 266: Illusory Warmth

In the grand prison of Dengzhou City, Wang Erniu held tightly onto the rod in his arms.

The guards said they wanted them to communicate with these weapons, but the uneducated Wang Erniu didn’t know what "communicate" meant. Since the guards didn’t explain further, he ended up using the most primitive method of hugging to transfer his body warmth to the rod in his arms, hoping to convey some warmth.

Of course, it was ineffective, even a bit foolish, but it was the best Wang Erniu could do.

After all, he had nowhere to go.

His old father was gravely ill, and the rest of his relatives were gone. As a poor man, he had no friends to rely on and naturally no benefactors willing to help. To keep his father alive, he had sold everything in the house, and now even having a bowl of rice was problematic.

It was at this time that news suddenly came from the Dengzhou Prefectural Bureau about a recruitment.

Theoretically, someone as impoverished as him would never be chosen by the Prefectural Bureau, given that he was small and weak, bypassed even during local recruitment of villagers. How could he possibly be selected as a guard—yet the Prefectural Bureau chose him, providing him this opportunity, and even a hearty meal.

Never mind whether it was true or false; at least the meal was real.

So, after packing a generous meal for his old father, Wang Erniu was brought into the Prefectural Bureau.

He was joined by nine others, and upon seeing their patched clothes, Wang Erniu knew they were like him, from poor families—Wang Erniu didn’t quite understand why the high and mighty prefect would select such a group as guards when there are stronger and taller candidates outside. Why not use them instead?

"Perhaps this is how the big shots think."

Unable to comprehend, Wang Erniu could only make sense of it this way.

Just like the incomprehensible notifications posted in the Prefectural Bureau. People would stare at them for a long time without understanding who they were meant for—obviously, big shots are like this, their thoughts and comprehension beyond the reach of people like them.

But this time, Wang Erniu unexpectedly understood.

Because, just as night fell, a cage was opened.

It was the first cage on the left, and inside lived an old beggar, like Wang Erniu, who was allotted a weapon during the day. Now, seeing no one around, the old beggar had already chopped the chain on the cage door and pushed it open.

Yet, the old beggar didn’t leave. Instead, he swung his knife again and broke open another cell door.

Inside the other cage was a gaunt man, reportedly here because his wife had died, leaving him to care for five children. He came to the Prefectural Bureau hoping to secure this guard position—and now, he knelt at the air vent, holding the sword given during the day, muttering to it by the glow of moonlight.

Clearly, this was the man’s way of communicating with his weapon, seemingly more reliable than what Wang Erniu was doing.

But just as Wang Erniu was about to mimic, the old beggar quietly lifted his knife.

"Kid, don’t blame me. I’ve wasted a lifetime, this is my only chance..."

As he said this, with eyes glowing red, the old beggar swung his blade.

"Don’t blame me!"

Thwack—

The gaunt man’s head was severed from his neck before he could turn around.

The old beggar, without even wiping the blood, moved towards the next cell, knife in hand.

Bright red blood spilled out, its metallic tang quickly filling the entire prison. By now, the rest of the inmates, no matter how dull, realized that someone had died.

Having learned from the previous example, everyone intuitively understood the method of selection.

Instead of showcasing their non-existent skills and hoping for some benefactor’s favor, it’s better to eliminate the competition first, strike preemptively—since there was only one spot, meaning the other nine would be eliminated. So why not take this chance to eliminate opponents?

Previously, they wouldn’t have considered this.

But this time, the old beggar’s actions served as a reminder.

After all, they had weapons in their hands.

"Kill!!!"

The prison instantly turned into a battlefield, everyone wielding their weapons, including Wang Erniu. He finally understood the true way to bond with his weapon—since they’re weapons, it’s inevitable that they are meant to kill and drink blood, fighting together with the weapon, killing the enemy together, isn’t this the most intimate act?

"Kill!!!"

Wang Erniu, fueled by some unknown strength, shattered the old beggar’s head with a single blow, then with another strike, pierced through a boy his own age.

Using a flat-headed wooden stick to pierce someone through, puny Wang Erniu clearly didn’t have the strength, but as he swung the rod, a boundless force seemed to grow within him, letting him achieve what he wanted, allowing him to kill those he wished to kill...

"It’s it! It’s it!"

Wang Erniu couldn’t help but lower his head, looking at the blood-soaked rod in his hand.

The rod was aiding him.

At this instant, he clearly realized this fact.

So, he retracted the rod, carefully inspecting it under the moonlight, and as it lost the rod’s support, the last corpse in the prison fell to the ground.

Besides the recently beheaded man and himself, Wang Erniu had killed all competitors with this rod, secured the opportunity more precious to him than life.

This slaughter, too, was closely observed by Bai Wujiu and his subordinates hidden in a dark room.

"Not bad, hasn’t gone mad."

After scrutinizing for a while longer, Bai Wujiu’s expression relaxed a bit.

"Since we have results, continue replicating it. External Evil Qi can’t be mass-produced, but infusing Evil Qi within is still possible... By the way, any news from Forget Sorrow Village?"

"Contacts have been made with those from Forget Sorrow Village."

A subordinate stepped forward, reporting in a low voice.

"Their intent is..."

"Refused? Understandable."

Bai Wujiu sighed, predicting this outcome.

Resentments were formed, not easily resolved, right?

"Uh, no."

Just as Bai Wujiu considered countermeasures, the subordinate continued.

"They agreed."