Chapter 1 Maple Creek Valley

Ibaraki Prefecture is located in the central part of Honshu Island, Japan, within the Tokyo metropolitan area. Agriculture and aquaculture are highly developed, as are coastal and deep-sea fisheries.

At the same time, there are many scenic spots and historical sites.

North of Ibaraki Prefecture, there is a place called Maple Creek Valley.

Maple Creek Valley has a quiet environment and excellent scenery. It used to be a famous scenic spot, but the reason it's called "used to be" is naturally because it isn't anymore.

Tall trees, lush flowers, cascading waterfalls, long wooden bridges, and flowing streams surround a desolate manor.

The owner of this manor is now the owner of Maple Creek Valley.

The pattering rain obscured the view, and an oiled paper umbrella shielded them from the rain.

"There's a smell of blood..."

Beneath the wide sunglasses, a trace of surprise flashed in her long, narrow phoenix eyes.

Wang Zhixuan turned her head to look at the short-haired youth with an ordinary face standing by the roadside, holding an umbrella.

"Did you do it?"

"With my abilities, I couldn't."

Gu Changsheng shook his head slightly, his tone a little ethereal.

"Go in and take a look, and you'll know."

"Mystifying as always, you're still so annoying."

Her leather boots stepped on the reddish puddles, and Wang Zhixuan strode into Maple Creek Valley.

After passing through the tall trees that resembled fences on both sides, Wang Zhixuan paused again.

The smell of blood was stronger here.

She glanced around, and in the forest path that stretched for hundreds of meters, dozens upon hundreds of corpses lay scattered in tragic states. Blood spread out under the washing of the rain, turning this hundreds-of-meters-long forest path into a bright red 'blood path'!

The dense smell of blood lingered for a long time, even in the rain.

"How many people died here, do you know?"

Gu Changsheng also stopped.

"Sixty-three complete corpses, and the limbs can be pieced together to make twenty-six. Eighty-nine people died here."

Wang Zhixuan had seen a lot of death, but she still frowned at the scene before her.

Killing people was fine, but dismemberment was a bit much.

"There are also thirteen corpses that have been completely turned into minced meat, and the rain has been falling for a day, so they must have been washed away."

Gu Changsheng said calmly.

"Indeed, you couldn't have done this."

Wang Zhixuan closed her eyes slightly, imagining herself in the killer's position, facing over a hundred elite assassins, and wondering what she could do.

After a moment, she shook her head slightly.

These hundred people were not ordinary people, and they had guns. Even if she was seriously injured and had achieved Baodan (Holding the Elixir), she still couldn't do it so cleanly.

"I can't do it."

Gu Changsheng sighed softly.

Wang Zhixuan held up her umbrella and, without hesitation, stepped on the 'corpse road', walking through the long, bloody forest path.

Turning the corner, there were three more corpses on the ground, all in extremely gruesome states.

"Satoichi, Okada Shizuka, Nomura Rin. These three are proficient in karate and aikido. With the three of them working together, even a Huajin (Transforming Energy) boxing master would not be able to defeat them easily."

Gu Changsheng's explanation came at the right time.

"The enemy turned the corner here, and the three of them jumped out from the shadows. One stabbed straight into the chest, one chopped down at the neck, and one swept upwards at the waist... But the attacker almost simultaneously broke the three of their blades and rebounded them, each piercing their respective vital points in the center of their eyebrows."

Wang Zhixuan glanced at them and continued forward.

Instantly killing three Anjin (Hidden Energy) masters was something she could probably do after achieving Baodan, but it wouldn't be so easy and effortless.

Gu Changsheng paused for a moment, taking a deep look at the three corpses.

Then, he followed unhurriedly.

The further they went, the more corpses there were along the way, and the more gruesome the deaths were. The smell of blood in the rain became stronger and stronger, as if it wasn't rain falling from the sky, but blood.

Arriving at the depths of Maple Creek Valley, the smell of blood here was so thick that it had almost become tangible!

Under the silent rain, corpses lay scattered in front of the wooden manor, unspeakably eerie and terrifying.

"That's Miyamoto Ichiro..."

Under the oiled paper umbrella, Wang Zhixuan took off her sunglasses, and a deep surprise appeared in her eyes.

She recognized the old man kneeling upright in the rain in front of the pile of corpses.

Miyamoto Ichiro, a master who had achieved great success at a young age in Japan, a Baodan expert.

"One move, still one move?!"

Wang Zhixuan's fingers holding the sunglasses were a little pale. Even a Jianshen (Seeing the Spirit) master couldn't kill a Baodan master with one move!

What's more, Miyamoto Ichiro had been at the Baodan realm for nearly thirty years, and he was definitely in his prime.

With his longsword in hand, who could kill him with one move besides Mu Longcheng?

"It's not Mu Longcheng."

Gu Changsheng shook his head slightly.

Wang Zhixuan didn't say a word, turned around, and walked into the manor by the stream.

Inside the manor, there was no rain washing away the blood, and the smell of blood was even more appalling. Corridors, living rooms, passages, stairs, everywhere she looked was full of corpses, full of limbs, and full of dark red bloodstains!

Everyone in the entire manor had been wiped out!

The two stepped through the corridor, went up the stairs, and arrived at the top floor. In the spacious hall, the scent of musk had not yet dissipated.

On the dimly colored floor, a tall white man lay on his back, his face twisted in horror, and his unclosed eyes contained extreme fear.

On the ancient tatami, an old man lay between the tea sets, his blood staining the tea.

"Depp and Sakata Ryuichi..."

Even though she had already expected it, Wang Zhixuan was still somewhat moved.

What kind of person could directly wipe out the Bamboo Dragon Society?

Even an old fox like Sakata Ryuichi didn't have time to escape, or gave up on escaping, and didn't leave the tatami even when he was killed?

He must have seen a terrifying force that he knew he could never resist!

*Pa ta*~

The door to the secret room behind the tatami was opened, and a corpse fell heavily onto the floor.

*Ka cha*!

The sunglasses in Wang Zhixuan's hand were finally crushed.

Looking at the corpse that had fallen on the floor, Wang Zhixuan's body trembled.

"Miao Xiu..."

This Great Xuan Tiger King, a veteran powerhouse who had been at the Baodan realm for many years, the Miao Xiu who had fought her to a draw and almost killed her, had actually died in the Bamboo Dragon Society?

Died so silently,

Died so without dignity,

Died so ridiculously...

"For many years, Sakata Ryuichi has maintained contact with Mu Longcheng. This time, Sakata Ryuichi's deep-sea whaling ship was the one that picked up Miao Xiu..."

Gu Changsheng sighed softly, saying with a trace of inexplicable emotion,

"Sakata Ryuichi loves whale meat and believes that the meat of this sea giant contains unknown benefits. He has been relentlessly hunting whales for years, but he did not expect that this time, the deep-sea whaling ship brought him a huge surprise.

That was an invitation from the Grim Reaper..."

"Deep-sea whaling ship..."

Wang Zhixuan's heart stirred, and she suddenly remembered something.

Half a year ago, there was news from Japan that a deep-sea whaling ship was inexplicably sunk while hauling whales. Dozens of whaling ships in the nearby waters did not see what the reason was.

All they knew was that the whaling ship and all the sailors on board were wiped out!

Could it be...