With the Blade

Chapter 264: Chapter 216: The True Sacrificial Rite

Songzhou, Underground Death Row.

Few people know of this place. After all, in the public’s perception, those who commit murder are supposed to be executed on the spot. This aligns with the saying "a life for a life," an iron rule that cannot be defied—of course, for the few who are in the know, this on-the-spot execution has another implication: to physically eliminate these murderers to prevent them from accumulating Evil Qi, which could transform them into notorious bandits.

But there are still a few real bandits who weren’t executed.

On the surface, they died during the capture, but in reality, they were imprisoned in the underground death row—the reason for not killing them is naturally because they are more valuable alive.

Most of these death row inmates have already had Evil Qi enter their bodies, and some have even reached the threshold of releasing Evil Qi externally. Placing them anywhere would wreak havoc. Imagine throwing them behind enemy lines—it would bring immense satisfaction. Even if they aren’t sent behind enemy lines, just conscripting them into a suicide squad would still make for a formidable army.

Of course, all this is merely the delusion of the former commander of Songzhou, Xu Yan, and doesn’t represent the willingness of the death row inmates in the underground prison to obey such orders.

Massacre, the most defiant among these inmates, was originally named Qian, with the given name Ning. He was originally a peddler in Songzhou City. His life took a turn when a business dispute with a customer led him to stab the customer to death with the very scissors he sold—after which, Massacre went on the run from Songzhou, settling on a hill outside the city and took to banditry.

When the Capturers launched their assault on his stronghold, this former peddler had indeed transformed into Massacre. With a pair of giant scissors over five feet long, he violently fought, causing numerous casualties among the Capturers.

However strong Massacre was, his stamina eventually waned, and the Capturers’ encirclement was relentless. Thus, after paying a heavy price, the exhausted Massacre was finally disarmed and captured alive on the spot.

Yet, even after being captured alive and imprisoned in this dark, sunless place, Massacre never lowered his head. Every moment, he longed to reclaim his weapon and charge out once more, using that gigantic pair of scissors to behead everyone in sight.

But clearly, such a thing could never happen. Without his weapon, he had lost most of his combat power, and the daily rough and meager meals further sapped his strength and physical condition. No matter how angry he was, his current weakened body couldn’t sustain any battle.

Until that sumptuous feast was placed before him.

"What, are they finally going to kill me?"

Massacre vaguely sensed something, but he still chose to feast without hesitation—partly because it was his last meal, not eating would be a waste, and partly to regain some long-lost strength and look for an opportunity to break out.

But before taking action, he first needed to know where his weapon was, for only with it did he possess combat power.

Unexpectedly, just after he finished his meal, that enormous pair of scissors was placed before him.

"Aren’t you afraid of death?"

Feeling the long-sealed bloodthirsty Evil Qi on the weapon, Massacre could barely restrain his urge to kill.

With the weapon in hand, he felt whole again. He wanted to kill many, to slaughter all around!

"Don’t rush, someone wants you to kill."

The guards cautiously opened the cage, releasing Massacre directly.

It was at this moment that Massacre noticed all the cages around had been opened. Clearly, it wasn’t just he who received this treatment—all the death row inmates in the underground prison had been released.

"What’s this, have the plainsmen invaded?"

Massacre vaguely thought of something.

"Is Xu Yan, that useless man, unable to hold them off, so he wants us to go up and kill?"

"You’ll find out when you get there."

The guard didn’t waste words and started leading the way.

Walking out with his weapon, Massacre could already hear some shouting and fighting, apparently the outside was already in chaos. No wonder they even released him—but after listening for a while, Massacre suddenly felt something was off.

Because, while there were indeed sounds of fighting in the distance, there wasn’t a trace of weapon piercing flesh.

"Is this a fake fight?"

Massacre was quite puzzled, unable to grasp what was happening outside. Those fighting sounds were unmistakably real, but why hadn’t any hint of bloodshed wafted over despite the prolonged commotion?

This piqued Massacre’s curiosity, and he prepared to go take a look.

But before he could step out, another inmate was already flying towards him.

"Thud—"

The burly inmate crashed against the wall, emitting a dull thud, but he immediately got back up, swinging his large knife.

"Kill!!!!" fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

With bloodshot eyes, the inmate charged once more.

And Massacre saw the battle in the distance.

There was indeed a fight, but it was dozens of inmates attacking a single person. That man, covered in fierce patterns, faced the assault of dozens yet moved casually, untouched by even the slightest scratch.