Bang!
A pistol shot rang out.
Gripping the pistol, still emitting white gunsmoke.
Ryōko Yakushiji glanced at the greyish-white leopard she had just shot dead before her and couldn't help frowning as she said:
"So, this sort of damned thing is what's called a speciality of the Abyss world?"
Hearing this, the tall, attractive woman standing beside Ryōko Yakushiji - wearing a classical black cheongsam embroidered with dragon patterns, her green hair coiled up - responded coldly:
"I don't believe I have any obligation to answer you, do I?"
At this, Ryōko Yakushiji let out a derisive laugh, calmly took a cigarette packet from her jacket pocket, lit herself a cigarette and said:
"The assassination family, the Tao clan - certainly has style."
As she spoke, Ryōko Yakushiji narrowed her eyes, blowing out smoke rings while looking at the tall woman before her:
"However, you should know what your family does, don't you, Jun Tao."
Ryōko Yakushiji slightly raised the corners of her mouth, smiling at Jun Tao as she said with a hint of amusement:
"30 million US dollars - to fully protect my safety in this Abyss world. How about it?"
Hearing this, Jun Tao merely replied with an indifferent expression:
"The Tao clan doesn't accept new contracts in the middle of missions."
"I see, so you were hired by someone from the Chinese embassy?"
Ryōko immediately understood why Jun Tao was participating in this competition for the True Dragon Legacy.
But precisely because she understood, she didn't want to let go of Jun Tao as a bodyguard.
After all, she knew her own combat capabilities well - even with the Abyss Artefacts collected by the Yakushiji family, she still couldn't compare to those monsters coming to participate in the competition.
"My family possesses a Tao Order from the Taoist sect. That item should allow me to commission your services once without conditions, without violating your Taoist principles, correct?"
Hearing this, Jun Tao frowned slightly and looked at Ryōko Yakushiji with some surprise:
"The Yakushiji family actually has a Tao Order in their collection? I remember these were only distributed a few times among some mountain tribes in Guizhou."
"There are always people in this world who need money."
Ryōko Yakushiji offered a simple explanation, then kicked the leopard corpse at her feet:
"So, will you take the job?"
"If we don't receive the Tao Order afterwards, the Taoist sect will place JACES on the elimination list."
As she spoke, Jun Tao flipped her hand, and a stack of yellow talismans appeared in her palm. Then she glanced at Ryōko Yakushiji:
"Move your foot. You can't use the corpse of this draconic monster as a footrest."
"Oh?" Ryōko Yakushiji stepped back in surprise, watching Jun Tao's actions with curiosity.
At that moment, Jun Tao formed a character hand seal with her right hand and swung her arm, sending talismans scattering out like a rainstorm.
As the yellow talismans landed on the leopard's corpse - its head already burst open and body beginning to stiffen - the creature twitched several times, slowly rose from the ground, and began swishing its tail fluidly.
Witnessing this scene, Ryōko Yakushiji expressed some amazement:
"Corpse control technique? This is my first time seeing it."
"Let's go."
Jun Tao spoke while walking toward the leopard, then sat sideways on its back.
"Where to?" Ryōko Yakushiji came over and straddled the leopard directly while asking curiously.
Jun Tao replied calmly:
"Following this leopard's returning Spiritual Power to this world's origin of life. I believe the True Dragon Legacy we're seeking is there."
"You actually have such methods?" Ryōko Yakushiji's face showed surprise: "Should I expect nothing less from a Taoist family with 3000 years of inheritance?"
Just as Ryōko Yakushiji was complimenting Jun Tao, she suddenly noticed Jun Tao's expression turn grave.
"What's wrong? Did the tracking fail?" Ryōko Yakushiji asked curiously.
At that moment, Jun Tao looked toward the northeast, her expression serious:
"Something's coming."
"What?" Ryōko Yakushiji looked in the direction Jun Tao was watching but saw nothing except the cracked reddish-brown earth.
Until she noticed a small piece of gravel on the ground, trembling slightly.
"The ground is moving? An earthquake?" Ryōko Yakushiji was momentarily stunned, but then she realised: "No, that's not it. There are numerous things running toward us."
Just then, a rumbling vibration came from the northeast.
Ryōko Yakushiji looked up and immediately saw a dark mass of figures desperately fleeing.
Among the dark swarm were broomsticks with legs, lanterns surrounded by will-o'-the-wisps, raccoon dogs running on all fours, and mixed among them were humans in suits and short sleeves running too - a truly bizarre collection of species.
And now, this chaotic mixture was charging toward them from the northeast.
Witnessing this scene, Ryōko Yakushiji was astonished:
"...What is this, Hyakki Yagyō? I don't see the Lord of a Hundred Demons anywhere?"
At that moment, while steering her mounted leopard to change direction and distance themselves from the approaching yokai horde, Jun Tao calmly stated:
"Look carefully. There's more than just yokai in there."
Hearing this, Ryōko Yakushiji observed more closely, her expression growing grave.
Among the fleeing yokai, she spotted ash-grey animals.
There were cheetahs, crocodiles, elk, and even grizzly bears.
They were uniformly ash-grey in colour, with one red eye and one blue eye, various parts of their bodies covered in more or less ash-grey scales.
Seeing these monsters, Ryōko Yakushiji exclaimed in astonishment:
"These are monsters born of this Abyss world... Why are even monsters among those yokai?"
"Aren't those monsters supposed to kill humans on sight?"
Just then, while controlling the running cheetah, Jun Tao said lightly:
"That's because there's someone even more monstrous than the monsters chasing them!"
Before Ryōko Yakushiji could question this statement, a loud bang rang out.
A gunshot echoed.
And accompanying the gunfire came a pure, unblemished, dazzling radiance from the sky.
Beneath that light, a giant humanoid figure, its entire body like pure white machinery, wielding a sharp sword, and crowned with a golden halo, hovered in the air, slowly raising an exaggeratedly massive sword the size of a building.
The next instant,
The light sword swung down with immense force—!!