Chарtеr 243: Наlf-Fасed Ghost 1
"Тhаt sсimitаr..." Рan Chi loоkеd again, his еyes widеning instаntlу. "Тhаt blаde is eхactly the weaроn that sеverеd Li Каiхiang's hеаd!"
А Wеstеrn Regiоn scimitar, its hilt inlaid with sеvеn-cоlored gemstоnes, surroundеd by gold аnd brоnzе сrаftsmаnshiр. The sсimitаr's sheаth rеsеmbled thе crеsсent moоn аt the bеginning of the month—slеnder and elоngаtеd. With just a slight еxertion оf fоrсe, it соuld tеаr орen thе flеsh of its viсtim.
Pаn Chi now mеt Shen Du's gаzе аnd silentlу роintеd toward the nоrthwest direction. Thе two understoоd eaсh othеr's intеntions. Рan Chi was about to leave.
Zhu Yan naturally noticed their subtle exchange, but it seemed as though the two were deliberately keeping something from her, unwilling to share.
"Zhu Yan, I'm leaving," Pan Chi spoke up proactively.
Zhu Yan looked at him in confusion, still unable to regain her earlier composure. At this critical moment, where was he going?
"If I can return safely this time, will you give me a chance? I want to pursue you." Pan Chi spoke softly, carefully observing Zhu Yan. Seeing that she remained silent, he continued, "Since you don't speak, I'll take it as your agreement."
Zhu Yan snapped back to her senses slightly, frowning as she looked at Pan Chi. What exactly was he planning to do? His sudden confession had startled her. Thinking back on his words, Zhu Yan found herself momentarily at a loss for words, the questions she wanted to ask stuck in her throat.
Shen Du stood nearby, his face darkening. "Pan Chi, you..." This is going too far.
Ignoring Shen Du's sour expression, Pan Chi stepped forward, took Zhu Yan's hand, and placed a piece of thousand-year-old amber in her palm, whispering, "Don't forget what you promised me."
With that, he suddenly turned and walked toward another direction along the city wall.
Zhu Yan clutched the cool amber in her hand, her heart a turmoil of mixed emotions. Pan Chi's words had sounded like a farewell, yet she hadn't been able to utter a single word in response. She hadn't even found the chance to refuse. When had he developed such deep feelings for her?
Shen Du stood to the side, watching Zhu Yan lost in thought. He silently stepped forward, wanting to say something but hesitating. He simply watched as Zhu Yan stared intently at the thousand-year-old amber in her hand, his heart knotting with frustration.
"What exactly is he going to do..." Zhu Yan murmured, unable to suppress her worry. As soon as she finished speaking, she looked up again and widened her eyes at the sight of Pan Chi in women's attire not far away.
A light pink ruqun, hair styled in a demure bun—he looked utterly pitiable. Pan Chi, with his handsome features, wore women's clothing without the slightest hint of incongruity. Zhu Yan was momentarily stunned.
"So beautiful!" someone who saw him exclaimed sincerely.
Yes, Zhu Yan thought the same. Pan Chi dressed as a woman was truly exquisite.
"Zhu Yan!" Shen Du naturally noticed Zhu Yan's gaze, and a surge of jealousy welled up in his heart. He had originally wanted to ask Zhu Yan about her feelings toward Pan Chi, but with the enemy at hand, he had restrained himself again and again. Now, she was staring at Pan Chi without blinking—how was he supposed to feel?
Zhu Yan snapped out of her daze at his call. However, she immediately understood why Pan Chi had acted as he did earlier. He was sacrificing himself, disguising as a woman to replace Du Xiaowan. Zhu Yan's heart was deeply moved.
Zhu Yan quickly regained her composure, her expression calm as she looked ahead. Shen Du held her again, sensing her calmness and the change in her demeanor. He felt a slight stir in his heart—she had changed her view of Pan Chi. A sense of crisis instantly surged within him.Mo Qianzhi watched Pan Chi step forward and frowned. He understood Pan Chi's intention. The arrogance of the Half-Faced Ghost had already displeased him for a long time. How could he possibly be frightened by the words of that creature, neither human nor ghost?
"Lord Shen, both you and I are clear about why Young Master Pan stepped forward. Now, we must carefully discuss how to deploy our forces and arrange our formations," Mo Qianzhi spoke up proactively.
Shen Du suppressed the discomfort in his heart and nodded. "The Half-Faced Ghost is on the city wall, which is easy to defend but hard to attack. Let's first deploy the Serpent Formation to adapt to the changing situation. What do you think, Lord Mo?"
Mo Qianzhi also nodded in agreement.
"I have also brought some Inner Guards with me. Lord Mo may feel free to deploy them. These Inner Guards are highly skilled in martial arts and can also suppress the Half-Faced Ghost."
"Good! Given the current situation, this is the only way. Let's start with the Serpent Formation!"
After the group had discussed their plan, they saw Pan Chi alone walk up to the Half-Faced Ghost.
"I want to exchange myself for her," Pan Chi said in a low voice, getting straight to the point.
Seeing the newcomer's red lips and white teeth, strikingly handsome, the Half-Faced Ghost gave a sinister smile. Wasn't this just a man? Did he take him for a fool? Since he wanted to play, he would humor him.
"Why do you think I would agree to that?" the Half-Faced Ghost said while greedily eyeing Pan Chi.
Pan Chi covered his face and chuckled softly. "Because I am more beautiful than her."
These words startled Zhu Yan, who was not far away. Only Pan Chi could say something like that!
The Half-Faced Ghost sneered, half-convinced and half-doubting. "How do I know you two aren't equally matched? Why don't you take off your clothes so I can have a better look elsewhere?"
Pan Chi stared into the Half-Faced Ghost's eyes, unsure whether the creature had guessed his identity, but saving someone was more urgent.
"What? Not willing to show me? Seeing how fair and delicate your skin is, why not come inside with me so I can take a closer look?"
These words thoroughly humiliated Pan Chi, but he showed no anger or embarrassment. Instead, he tightly clenched the handkerchief in his hands, as if having made up his mind. "As long as you promise to release her, this humble woman will do whatever you wish."
"Stop pretending. I know who you are—Pan Chi, the current top scholar in both civil and military examinations!" The Half-Faced Ghost directly exposed his identity, letting out a strange, eerie laugh from beneath the mask.
Seeing that he could no longer hide, Pan Chi dropped all pretense. "Since you already know my identity, stop beating around the bush! Tell me, why did you kill Li Kaixiang and cut off his head? Why won't you let Du Xiaowan go? Why did you kill the Military Commander of Yingzhou, Bi Qiu? Why have you killed so many people?"
Once his identity was revealed, Pan Chi shed the deliberately feminine demeanor he had adopted earlier. His forceful words earned the admiration of those behind him. To dare confront the Half-Faced Ghost face-to-face—he was truly a remarkable figure.
Upon hearing this, the Half-Faced Ghost sneered mockingly. "I never expected you, Pan Chi, to be such a righteous person. I—I am acting on behalf of heaven! These people had impure hearts and did not deserve to occupy their bodies. I devoured their bodies to purify them!"
"Only after being digested within me can their souls be purified and their bodies laid to rest. I am collecting them on behalf of heaven, purifying them for the gods!"
With these bloody words, the Half-Faced Ghost spoke with absurd grandiosity, showing no awareness that killing was a crime.
Listening to his shameless arrogance, Mo Qianzhi felt profound grief and indignation. He shouted, "Silence! With a heart as venomous as a snake's, how dare you claim to act for gods and buddhas? Aren't you afraid heaven will strike you down with lightning?"Sima Biqiu was wholeheartedly devoted to the people, known to all in Yingzhou. Yet you had the heart to cruelly strike him down, flaying him and pulling out his sinews, causing him unbearable agony—unable to live and unable to die.
And those innocent people who died tragically—every one of them was kind and virtuous, yet they met such a fate, their bodies left incomplete. You... you are utterly devoid of conscience."
Mo Qianzhi's words stirred murmurs among the surrounding commoners, all pointing accusing fingers at the Half-Faced Ghost.
"He's insane! Such a person deserves to be torn apart by five horses."
"Yes, torn apart by five horses, then left in the wilderness. Even the beasts in the mountains would likely scorn such an evil person, unwilling to eat him."
"Heartless wretch, just die already."
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