The Black Kirin appeared suddenly, catching me completely off guard. Before I could react, it pounced on me and pinned me to the ground.
As soon as it made contact, I realized it wasn't a physical being but a force, something akin to standing in a windstorm where the gusts are so strong you're pressed to the ground and unable to rise. This force is known as "spiritual energy" in Taoist terms, an invisible yet tangible power.
The Black Kirin pressed me down fiercely, its tail swishing and head swinging, opening its massive mouth to roar at me.
Its roar, too, was transmitted through spiritual energy. People outside couldn't hear it, but to me, it was deafening, as if a thunderclap struck directly into my ears, causing intense pain. I felt dizzy from the pressure.
But fortunately, it didn't have a tangible body. Its sharp teeth didn't pierce my chest. I only felt intense pain, but no life-threatening wounds. If it had bit down, I would have been done for.
Damn that Huang Jiu. He left at such a bad time—late at night!
I cursed inwardly, struggling with all my might, but with my upper body pressed down, I couldn't muster any strength.
If Huang Jiu had been here, though I wouldn't expect him to fully stop this evil Black Kirin, at least he could have bought me some time, and I wouldn't be in this predicament.
The Black Kirin continued to gnaw at me, and the intense pain quickly drained most of my energy. Seeing that I stopped struggling, it paused, and a disdainful voice came from the window.
"I thought you were a big shot. Turns out you're just a fool."
As the voice fell, the glass on the window shattered, and a man in his forties, wearing a military-green outfit, crawled in.
His clothes were dusty and looked out of place, yet his skin was pale, and his fingers were long and slender—definitely not someone used to hard labor. He didn't fit his attire at all.
Once inside, the man glanced at me with amusement and sneered.
It was karmic retribution. I had just broken the Suppression Technique yesterday, and now someone from the Luban Sect had come for me.
This Black Kirin was probably created using the Beast Armor Technique.
The Beast Armor Technique is a combination of mechanical arts and Yin-Yang techniques. It uses mechanical skills to create beast armors and infuses them with spiritual energy through Yin-Yang techniques, making them controllable and able to transform at will.
The object that broke through the window earlier was probably the Kirin Beast Armor.
It was just a meter away from me now. As long as I could break it, the Black Kirin would disappear along with it.
And the chisel that my second uncle gave me was the perfect tool for this.
Unfortunately, I was completely pinned down now, unable to reach it, even if it were only ten centimeters away.
Seeing the man crouch down, I quickly said, "Big Brother, we both know that a scheme like this is for money. If things turn deadly, neither of us will benefit."
The man smiled and shook his head. "No, no, no. You dying is only bad for you, not me."
A chill ran down my spine. His meaning was clear—he was only after my life.
There are many ways an occultist can make a death seem quiet and inconspicuous, and I knew several of them myself.
My mind raced, but I knew I had to speak or I would die even faster. I hurriedly said, "Twenty thousand. I'll pay you the full amount Wang gave me. After this, we'll part ways. How about it?"
The moment I mentioned money, the man's eyes flared with anger, and he slapped me twice across the face. "Twenty thousand? Twenty thousand?! What the hell is that?! For millions in business, you're offering just twenty thousand!"
I had no words.
For someone like Wang, with his wealth, millions would be nothing. If it came down to it, he wouldn't even blink at ten million.
My second uncle's work had been sloppy, to say the least.
But seeing the man's fury, I knew there was still room to talk.
They say villains often talk too much, but it's not just a plot device. Villains are usually repressed and frustrated with the world. When they find an outlet to express their grievances, they can't help but rant.
This man, for instance, was furious and eager to vent his anger, which meant I still had a chance.
What I feared most were those who were ruthless and didn't waste words—those who came straight to the point.
As the man's anger surged, I hurriedly said, "If twenty thousand isn't enough, I can give more. Let me go, and I'll get the money for you right now."
I was forcing the spiritual energy within me toward my tongue.
The moment the Black Kirin pinned me down, I had thought of biting my tongue, but I felt the creature's energy was too powerful, and a simple blood drop wouldn't break it.
To reverse the situation, I needed to unleash True Yang.
But my spiritual energy was weak, and my control was far from perfect, so I struggled to force it into my tongue.
Fortunately, my mention of money had angered him.
Seeing him slap me again in frustration, I gritted my teeth and forced a bite through my tongue.
With my spiritual energy rushed to the tip of my tongue, I spat a mouthful of blood.
The blood mist hit the Black Kirin like a fireworks display on New Year's Eve, and in a flash, it vanished.
I quickly rolled and sprang to my feet, pulling out the chisel at my waist. The mechanical Kirin was still squirming on the floor. With one swift jab, I plunged it straight into the beast.
The wooden beast broke apart in a heap of pieces.
The spiritual energy infused into the Beast Armor always attaches itself to the master's essence, so the moment I stabbed it, the man's face turned red, and he spewed a mouthful of blood.
I rolled away, and before he could stop me, I pressed the switch for the electric roller door.
The door opened, and I didn't block it.
After all, he was an adult, and I was just a half-grown kid. Trapped in a corner, I wasn't sure if I was his match.
I stepped aside and calmly said, "At your current state, it won't be easy to kill me. There are people outside on the street, and if you make a move, I'll scream. Think about what'll happen then. Now, I'm giving you a way out. Leave through that door and go as far as you can."
The man, clutching his chest, his breath unstable, glared at me through gritted teeth. "You little bastard. Next time we meet, you won't be so lucky."
I calmly replied, "We'll see about that."
The man gave me one last furious look, clutching his chest as he stumbled out of the shop, turning into an alley.
Only when he was out of sight did I collapse onto the floor.
That burst of spiritual energy had drained me completely, and without forcing myself to hold on, I would have collapsed long before.