Chapter 36: The Execution of Judge Lu—Human Hearts Grow Even More Malicious (Part One)

Thunder struck out of nowhere, blasting a small pit into the ground and sending earth flying, forcing Judge Lu to retreat and hesitate to advance. He reached out behind him.

Unbeknownst to them, the woman inside the house stood at the doorway, stunned and helpless, and Judge Lu happened to seize her in his grasp, making her scream in terror.

“My wife! Brother Lu, let go of my wife!”

Zhu Erdian’s face was drained of color as he rushed forward, only to be kicked over by Yi Fan: “Even now you refuse to see the truth. This demon merely uses you, hides his magical body within you. As for replacing your wife’s head, it was nothing but a whim of his wicked nature. You take it as a favor, but you are utterly expendable.”

“No, that’s not true!” Zhu Erdian refused to believe it, turning to Judge Lu: “Brother Lu and I became friends at first sight; he would never harm me.”

Yi Fan shook his head and said no more. Such deluded souls could not be reasoned with.

“Brother Zhu, you’re right. How could I ever harm you? It’s this priest who spits slander and stirs up discord between us,” Judge Lu nodded. “Come here, lest you fall victim to his deceit.”

“Wait, Brother Lu, put my wife down first.”

Zhu Erdian hesitated, afraid to approach.

“What’s this? You don’t trust me?” Judge Lu sneered. “Very well. If you won’t trust me, then our bond is severed.”

He paused, glanced at the unconscious woman in his hand, his mouth splitting wide: “It’s been ages since I tasted human flesh. Tonight, I’ll savor something fresh.”

With that, he stripped the woman, grasped her legs, tore her apart, and stuffed her into his mouth. Blood and flesh splattered, crimson streaming from his lips in a ghastly scene.

“No…”

Zhu Erdian managed only a cry before fainting in terror.

Yi Fan’s face darkened with rage. “Monster, you’re courting death!”

He kicked Zhu Erdian far aside and advanced, sword in hand, lightning crackling in his palm. Yet the horde of yakshas was too many and fearless; he could not approach Judge Lu for the moment.

Judge Lu laughed wildly: “You wish to kill me? With your meager cultivation, you’d need a hundred more years. Tonight, none of you will leave alive.”

At once, the courtyard blazed with green fire, sinister winds whipped, and the yakshas grew ever more frenzied.

“Monster, your arrogance ends here!”

On the other side, Zhuge Liuyun slapped his sword case: “Boundless Heaven and Earth, lend me your power; Sword of Law, come forth!”

Sword cries rang out as four or five cold flashes flew, slaying ten-odd yakshas in the blink of an eye, clearing the area. He leapt forward, weaving incantations and stepping nimbly, drawing near Judge Lu.

Yi Fan, heartened by his prowess, called out, “Brother Zhuge, let me aid you!”

Without concern for his own strength, he unleashed lightning, thunder roaring as dozens of evil spirits were reduced to ash. His figure flashed, sword slicing, and he too reached Judge Lu’s side.

“Ha! Die!”

With the pressure around him lightened, Zhuge Liuyun laughed, formed a seal, and pointed at Judge Lu. The floating swords turned into cold light and slashed toward him.

Judge Lu’s expression changed. He tossed aside the woman’s remains, spread his hands, and conjured an iron chain of ghostly fire, swinging it hard to intercept. It blocked one sword with a metallic ring, but the rest struck him.

With a scream, Judge Lu rolled on the ground, crushing a building behind him. Rising, he bore several deep wounds, oozing sickly green fluid that ate into the earth like acid, corroding holes.

Seeing his dire state, Yi Fan and Zhuge Liuyun exchanged a glance and rushed forward, showing no mercy.

For a moment, Judge Lu was powerless. Suddenly, with an angry roar, he stomped, cracking the ground and spewing ghostly fire meters high, forcing Yi Fan and Zhuge Liuyun to retreat.

“He’s trying to escape!”

Yi Fan exclaimed. Judge Lu shrank in size, shot them a venomous glance, then burrowed underground, vanishing.

“Escape? You think you can?”

Zhuge Liuyun sneered, recalled his sword, and leapt into the air, changing his incantation: “Boundless Heaven and Earth, command of wind and thunder, as swift as law!”

Lightning flashed and blasted the ground. After dozens of strikes, Judge Lu tumbled out from the corner of the courtyard, his body charred. Without pause, he shoved the wall, which collapsed, and rolled out, fleeing toward the street.

The neighborhood was residential; the fierce battle and thunder had already awakened the residents. Some fled, others hid and watched from afar.

Seeing Judge Lu’s form, they cried, “Monster!” and scattered in panic.

“We can’t let him escape to another house, or he’ll be hard to find.” Zhuge Liuyun shouted, light-footed as a swallow, gripping his great sword, covering dozens of meters in a flash.

Yi Fan followed close, unleashing lightning, but Judge Lu dodged and leapt, trying to scale the wall and hide in another home.

“Amitabha! Monster, where are you going?”

Just as Yi Fan and Zhuge Liuyun feared he’d escape, a Buddhist chant rang out. Yuan Hui appeared from the street corner, his robes billowing, foot stamped as Buddhist light flared, an incantation striking Judge Lu.

Like oil poured onto fire, Judge Lu screamed and was blasted back. The couple Yin Yanxia arrived in time, their dust whisks swinging like iron rods, landing blows upon him.

With no way out, Judge Lu’s face twisted as he laughed: “Even if you destroy this magical body, you can’t touch me. Wait and see, I’ll settle accounts with you all.”

He tried to transform again for a final struggle.

Yi Fan stepped forward: “Enough talk. We’ll kill your avatar, then destroy your temple—let’s see where your true form can hide.”

He unleashed lightning, dispersing Judge Lu’s transformation, then stabbed him with his sword. Zhuge Liuyun followed up, lopping off his head.

The scene fell silent as green flames sprang up, soon consuming Judge Lu’s body. When he was motionless, Yi Fan and Zhuge Liuyun stepped back.

Moments later, Judge Lu’s body crumbled to ash, carried away by the wind.

“We must act quickly, lest the demon’s true form escape. Let’s find the Deng and Zhu families and have them mobilize the soldiers to destroy the temple and force him out tonight.”

Yi Fan, calm and collected, picked something from the ashes and showed it to the others—a piece of charcoal. He pocketed it without concern.

“Excellent, the evidence is found. That scholar Zhu is inside; he knows everything. As for his wife, she has been slain by the demon. Sadly, Miss Deng’s head was destroyed as well,” said Zhuge Liuyun.