Chapter 77

Glancing at the disemboweled ghost that had been reduced to a pile of mush by a single blow from the giant hammer, Dongfang Xiuzhe shook off the blood and flesh from the hammer, then took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping the ground before finally settling on the withered severed hand.

To be precise, it was something on the severed hand.

A smile, rare and mischievous, appeared on his young face as the corners of his mouth turned up.

"Good thing I was careful enough to avoid this hand when I swung the hammer. Otherwise... hehe!"

It wasn't that the severed hand was particularly special; it was as withered as a chicken claw and even made one feel a bit nauseous. However, it became extraordinary because it wore a simple, gray, ancient ring. If he hadn't guessed wrong, this should also be a storage ring, and its quality was even higher than the one he already had.

To think, the Three Corpse-Eating Ghosts were quite poor. In the end, only the disemboweled ghost had a ring that looked like a storage ring on his finger. How this ring was obtained was already impossible to trace.

Exhaling, he shouldered the giant hammer.

"Finally, it's all over."

He had already seen such bloody scenes in his previous life, even scenes ten or a hundred times more bloody were commonplace. After all, those demons and monsters were not benevolent; they killed without regard for the bloodiness of their actions.

He smiled lightly, his dark eyes deep and lively. Dongfang Xiuzhe raised his slender arm, revealing a small segment of his white wrist from the dark gray hemp sleeve. He extended his palm toward the severed hand, and the ring on the finger, as if hearing the call, slipped off and floated like willow fluff, landing in his palm.

Holding the ring up to his eyes, Dongfang Xiuzhe studied it briefly. Indeed, it was a storage ring.

Including the one he had obtained from the bandit leader, this was his second storage ring.

What Dongfang Xiuzhe didn't know was that such storage rings were extremely precious, not something ordinary people could wear. Even his father, Dongfang Long, had never bought one to wear, yet he now had two. Sigh.

Although he was very curious about what good things were inside the disemboweled ghost's storage ring, Dongfang Xiuzhe still restrained the urge to check it immediately.

Although he had eliminated all three of the "Three Corpse-Eating Ghosts," this didn't mean everything was over. Wang Junqi was still lying there!

Another important point was that he had sneaked out. If he didn't return to the group soon, he would inevitably be noticed, and then he would have to face a scolding from Liu Hong.

Putting the storage ring away, Dongfang Xiuzhe was about to use a spirit to clean up the scene when he suddenly felt a familiar aura behind him.

"Damn, I was too absorbed!"

Seemingly guessing something, a look of helplessness appeared on Dongfang Xiuzhe's face.

About twenty meters behind Dongfang Xiuzhe, a person stood, dressed in red, her graceful figure even more alluring due to the rain.

This person was none other than Liu Hong, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

At this moment, she was as still as a stone, not moving a muscle, not even blinking, as if completely blending into the surrounding shrubs.

Her beautiful eyes were wide open in shock, and the rain formed a series of crystal-clear threads in her long, black hair.

"How... how can it be him? Am I seeing things..."

Liu Hong never imagined she would see Dongfang Xiuzhe here. No matter how good her imagination was, she couldn't find a reason for this little boy to be here.

"Shouldn't he be with Teacher Luning and the others? How... how can he be here..."

If it weren't for the distinctive "Grassroots启蒙 School" uniform, Liu Hong might have thought she was seeing a twin.

Her gaze moved up from the small figure, and when it reached the giant hammer on his shoulder, Liu Hong's body trembled as if electrocuted.

"What is that? What... what is he carrying?"

Since the battle had already ended when she arrived, Liu Hong hadn't seen the awe-inspiring scene of Dongfang Xiuzhe's overwhelming aura. Otherwise, she would have been even more shocked.

Opening her mouth, Liu Hong wanted to shout, but she didn't know what to say, her mind still blank.

However, compared to her previous state of shock, she was now much better, her chest heaving dramatically, a beautiful sight with the raindrops like pearl necklaces.

"Liu Hong teacher, what a coincidence!"

Dongfang Xiuzhe turned around awkwardly. He had no time to admire Liu Hong's fiery figure; he was racking his brain to think of an explanation!

"You..."

Liu Hong had wanted to ask, "How can you be here?" but when her gaze passed through Dongfang Xiuzhe and saw the revolting pile of flesh behind him, the words died in her throat.

Experience told her that it was a corpse!

Giant hammer, Dongfang Xiuzhe, dead body, murder scene?

These words, which should have no connection, were now comically present at the same time.

"Did... did you kill them?"

After a deep breath, Liu Hong finally asked the first question.

At this moment, she felt Dongfang Xiuzhe was so unfamiliar, was this really her student?

Laughing awkwardly, Dongfang Xiuzhe tried to change the subject: "Liu Hong teacher, what are you talking about? I don't understand!"

Even he knew this excuse was terrible, but he couldn't think of a better one at the moment.

Liu Hong's gaze was sharp. Even though Dongfang Xiuzhe denied it, she already considered it a fact, as there was evidence—the blood and flesh still on the giant hammer, not yet washed away by the rain.

It was hard to imagine how this frail student could have such strength, capable of wielding a thousand-pound hammer.

Was this the strength a child should have?

Compared to this, the strength Dongfang Xiuzhe had shown at school was incredibly weak!

How many more secrets were hidden in this small figure?

"Wait, the giant hammer?"

As if thinking of something, Liu Hong's expression suddenly changed, her gaze once again focusing on the weapon on Dongfang Xiuzhe's shoulder.

"The dark appearance, the water-like patterns... why does this giant hammer seem so familiar?"

Liu Hong frowned in deep thought, the atmosphere becoming particularly heavy.

Dongfang Xiuzhe was about to change the topic to divert Liu Hong's attention when a sudden cry from the ghost lady echoed in his mind:

"Master, it's not good! A powerful stranger is approaching Qiqi!"