Chapter Twenty-Two: Shattered into Ten Pieces!

Luoyang Town, Blood River Bridge.

Since ancient times, there has been a famous bridge in Luoyang Town, known as Blood River Bridge. There are countless sinister rumors about this bridge, and the people of Luoyang Town always avoid speaking of it, for it is indeed shrouded in mystery.

No one can say precisely what makes it so mysterious, for those who knew its secrets are, for the most part, long dead.

The elders claim that a demon lurks beneath the bridge, and all who cross it will never live to see the sunrise. This is evident in the water flowing beneath the bridge: as it passes under, the water turns to the color of blood, but once it flows past, it clears again.

The bridge is made of wood, and after countless years, it has become a rotting relic. Yet, no one has ever dared set foot on it, so no one has ever fallen into the river by accident.

But on this darkest of nights, a lone figure stepped gradually onto the bridge.

The already trembling bridge began to sway violently, as if it could collapse underfoot at any moment.

The man walking upon it, however, remained calm and unhurried, striding steadily forward.

This was Qin Feng. After being attacked by assassins from Blood River Bridge in the southern woods, he had come alone to this forbidden place in Luoyang Town.

Though the bridge shook fiercely, it did not, in a strange way, collapse. Qin Feng sneered and continued on.

Upon stepping onto the bridge, Qin Feng immediately sensed a change.

As soon as he set foot on the bridge, a thick red mist rose on either side, enveloping the entire wooden span in a blood-red haze, obscuring all sight of the outside world, making the scene chilling and oppressive.

Qin Feng did not hesitate, but walked directly to the center of the bridge and lit a soul lamp at its highest arch.

The green flame flickered in the crimson mist, leaping and casting its light deep into the fog, appearing all the more eerie against the darkness.

Qin Feng pursed his lips, folded his arms across his chest, and stood motionless at the center of the arch, gazing into the distance, his eyes glinting as if lost in thought.

Less than half the time for an incense stick to burn had passed before Qin Feng's expression shifted, his gaze focusing on a spot within the red mist.

There, a small, flat boat pierced the crimson fog and glided forward. At its prow, another green soul lamp flickered, echoing the one on the bridge.

The boat moved slowly, breaking the silence of the night and adding another layer of mystery to the already terrifying Blood River Bridge.

The boatman was in no hurry, nor was Qin Feng. He waited in silence until the boat came to a stop beneath the bridge.

Peering down, Qin Feng saw nothing but a decrepit, rotten vessel and, at its prow, a blue skeleton.

And that skeleton was the ferryman.

Strangely, Qin Feng felt no sign that anyone nearby was controlling this blue skeleton. On the contrary, he sensed a surging vitality emanating from its bones.

"This isn’t corpse puppet magic—how odd."

The boat stopped, and the skeleton raised its head to look at Qin Feng. A chilling voice echoed in his ear.

"Young master Qin, this is not a place for you."

Ghostly fire danced in the skeleton’s eye sockets. With each word, green flames carved lines in the red mist, making the scene all the more spectral.

"Oh?" Qin Feng arched an eyebrow in response. "You know me?"

A dry, rattling laugh followed, the blue skeleton's fleshless jaw opening and shutting rapidly. With no flesh or hair, it could not speak, only emit an irritating clatter of bone on bone.

"Hmph, what a charlatan," Qin Feng muttered. The other seemed not to hear, and the eerie voice rang out again: "I do not know you personally. But after you killed three of our Blood Hands, it is impossible not to recognize you."

Qin Feng frowned.

The skeleton continued, "But that was their own fault. In our line of work, if you haven’t honed your skills and you die, you have only yourself to blame. As for Blood River Bridge’s reputation, you may rest assured: we only strike once, whether we succeed or fail. We will not pursue this matter further. But, today, you’d best explain your purpose in coming here. Otherwise, young master, you will not leave this bridge alive."

Though the distance was not close, Qin Feng could feel a wave of murderous intent radiating from the skeleton’s blue bones.

A frigid aura seeped toward him, and Qin Feng had to secretly circulate his inner energy to keep the chill at bay.

He laughed carelessly, his presence swelling.

"Relax. Who would come to this godforsaken place if not to place a Blood Hand Order?"

"Oh?" The blue skeleton’s ghostly fire leapt, then it nodded. "Very well. Who do you wish to kill?"

Qin Feng sneered, staring intently at the blue skull. "What if I don’t want anyone killed?"

"Not kill? Are you joking with me?" The ghostlight flared angrily in the skeleton's eyes. The air grew tense, and the bridge itself began to shake violently.

"Wait, don’t misunderstand! I’ll kill that person myself. My purpose in placing the Blood Hand Order is just to teach him a lesson, to make him behave for a while. Just injure him—nothing more. Will you take such a job?"

"Injure…?"

The skeleton’s tone faltered; if it had a face, its expression would surely have been remarkable. It seemed that, in all its memory, no one had ever come to Blood River Bridge to order an injury and not a killing—this was truly a first.

"Very well. Who is the target, and where do you want him hurt?"

"Ye family. Ye Wuyin. As for the injury, his legs—break them!" A cold gleam flashed in Qin Feng’s eyes.

"Agreed. One low-grade spirit stone, payable in advance."

The skeleton seemed impatient, as if such a small business was not worth so many words, its tone growing brusque.

Qin Feng took out ten low-grade spirit stones from his storage pouch and tossed them all down at once.

The blue skeleton did not reach out but let the stones fall freely into the blood river.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Ten stones—break them ten times," Qin Feng replied coldly.

The ghostfire flickered with surprise, and after a long pause, the skeleton finally spoke, denying, "No. Only once. That is the rule."

Qin Feng suddenly threw his head back and laughed.

"Rules, fine! Then by the rules: one strike, two legs, break them into ten pieces!"

He spoke harshly.

The blue skeleton could only fall silent.

Over all these years, the blue skeleton had frightened more people than Qin Feng had eaten grains of rice, but this time, it was he who was startled by Qin Feng’s ruthlessness.

"Of all the people Ye Wuyin could have provoked, he chose this harbinger of doom... But this Qin Feng is bold, resourceful, and ruthless. This youth—his future is boundless. I must report this to my superiors. He is worth special attention, perhaps even cultivation. After all these years, I may finally have found a worthy candidate. If this comes to pass, perhaps I can finally leave this wretched backwater behind..."