Myriad Realms Gatekeeper

"I really didn't use any professional skills or Blade Master techniques just now."

Then he turned to Butcher Zhao, "Let's hear it, how do you plan to teach me?"

Butcher Zhao fell silent.

All the professionals on the ground floor of the inn went quiet.

What's the deal with your Dharma Aspect?

You are just a minor at Triple Strength, unable to coordinate with a Technique Spirit, to enhance the power of the Spirit.

But what's the deal with this rabbit?

Has this world gone mad!

"Sir, dissection is actually quite easy to learn, look—"

With a kitchen knife, Butcher Zhao cut off his own left hand, laid it on the counter, and began to dissect it seriously with one hand.

Shen Ye propped his chin with one hand, a slight curve forming at the corners of his mouth.

—This guy doesn't want to die.

But a second ago he wanted to dissect me.

Shen Ye raised his other hand and gestured a "heart."

"What do you mean?"

Butcher Zhao didn't understand.

Shen Ye twisted two fingers and snapped them.

Hidden behind the palace walls within the Dharma Aspect, the Underworld Lord Miket Tikaxiwa raised his hand and prodded the rabbit's butt with his finger.

"Wow—ptui—"

The rabbit, not daring to be slow, spat saliva at Butcher Zhao.

Boom!

Butcher Zhao burst into white flames all over his body.

In an instant.

"I've already given up, why won't you spare me?"

His flesh sizzling from the burning, he voiced his unwillingness.

"You gave up just because you don't want to die," said Shen Ye calmly, in a tone devoid of emotion, "In fact, if you come across someone weaker than you in the future, you'll still dissect them alive and take pleasure in it."

"So I'm not killing you for myself, but for all beings."

"Damn it, you just want to kill me, that's definitely it." Butcher Zhao said with hatred.

The fire grew stronger.

He fell to the ground, dead.

Everyone fell silent, all looking at Shen Ye.

An atmosphere of gloom akin to mourning a fallen comrade began to spread throughout the entire ground floor of the inn.

Shen Ye slapped the table and exclaimed:

"Get up, let's continue! What do you mean I just want to kill you? Did I know you from before?"

Butcher Zhao's corpse lying on the ground, spoke, "We were strangers to each other."

"Do we have a feud?" Shen Ye asked again.

"No," said the corpse.

"If it weren't for your words about dissecting people, and your intent to dissect me alive, would I have killed you?" Shen Ye spoke with righteous indignation.

"Of course you would, you just took the gold from Skinny Monkey," the corpse insisted on its view.

"Hell! I'm honestly explaining to you, and you don't listen, still insisting I just want to kill you! Say it again, is it that I want to kill you, or are you asking for it?" Shen Ye pointed at the corpse's nose and asked.

"It's you who wants to kill me," the voice of Butcher Zhao's corpse rose a notch.

"You're stubborn in death—never mind, I'll wrap up your body for now, later we'll discuss this in depth, we must clarify this matter!"

Shen Ye rolled up his sleeves to take care of the body.

"...Kid, if my body stays here any longer it will stink and rot, you still want to find me?" the corpse tested.

"Your reasoning is flawed, I need to make that clear to you," Shen Ye said patiently, "Even if you rot, it's fine, I'll burn you to ashes—don't worry, not to dust, but piece by piece, then pack it in a small box, easy to preserve, and still able to make sound, for decades no problem, I'll find you now and then to chat at leisure."

"—I believe, eventually, you'll understand my philosophy in battle."

The corpse fell silent for a while.

On second thought, why bother arguing with him so forcefully?

In the future, while busy doing something in Hell, to be suddenly called up to chat with his killer, what's the point?

What if he's in the middle of a battle in Hell and he's called up to discuss mercy?

What if he's entertaining a woman and gets yanked up by him?

Wouldn't he be at his beck and call all the time?

Doomed to a life under someone else's thumb?

No way!

The corpse had a moment of clarity and all became clear, and it spoke gently:

"I suddenly realize that you couldn't possibly harbor the intention to kill me for no reason. You did it for the love and justice on this earth, out of pity for the weak in the world. You are the light of righteousness, and I, feeling too unworthy, defamed you."

"Please let me quietly repent in Hell!"

"Don't look for me anymore."

"Are you sure you understand the agony behind my decision to kill you?" Shen Ye seemed indecisive.

"Actually, you killed me for the sake of the people, I've come to understand this compassion, even feeling that you did well!" said the corpse of Butcher Zhao.

"Well, in that case, I won't look for you anymore." Shen Ye said with some regret.

The corpse's head tilted, and its spirit promptly departed.

The matter was over.

"Really gone?" Shen Ye suddenly asked.

The corpse's head straightened, it took a long while for it to compose and muster itself before it struggled to speak:

"Yes, great and merciful young master of brilliant light, I had departed just now. After you spoke, I returned—please allow me to continue repenting in Hell." Discover hidden stories at empire

"Seeing as you seem to truly understand my difficulty, go then." Shen Ye said with relief.

The corpse stayed still.

After several breaths, its head slowly tilted to one side.

"Right...," Shen Ye suddenly remembered something, his gaze once again falling on the corpse.

The head of the corpse snapped back to attention, poised as if waiting for something.

"I didn't call you though." Shen Ye was surprised.

"I... felt you had more directions, and I didn't dare leave too hastily," the corpse of Butcher Zhao said.

"What's this about me taking Skinny Monkey's gold?"

"That, well, everyone knows Skinny Monkey had a Brocade Pouch for gold—though I think Skinny Monkey died too easily,"