The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix’s Novels Also Desires Happiness - Chapter 274



52. Moving Forward

The night was deep, and heavy rain poured down.

Amidst the torrential rain, Mu En transformed into a shadow, swiftly navigating through the complex and dim streets of the lower city, the cold wind sweeping across his brows, making his silhouette appear somewhat sharp.

The silent streets were empty, with only… a serpent-like killing intent swirling.

A cold gleam suddenly severed the falling rain like a thread, piercing toward Mu En’s fatal heart with perfect precision, as if rehearsed a million times.

Mu En’s figure shifted slightly, and he too, as if having practiced a million times, sidestepped this long-prepared strike, allowing the sharp dagger to graze the corner of his clothing. He turned his head to glance at the figure in the shadows.

It was a woman.

Dressed in a maid outfit.

Her expression was as cold as if covered by a steel mask.

In her eyes, which reflected no light, there was not a trace of emotion.

The ambush had failed, not causing the slightest change in her gaze, not even a shift in her breathing rhythm.

—Just as she was when she was still alive as an assassin.

The woman did not retreat but advanced.

The petite dagger fluttered in her hand like a flying butterfly, then with even sharper moves, it lunged toward Mu En’s throat.

Ding.

The blade met.

The sparks that erupted from Elizabeth and the dagger illuminated the faint smile at the corner of Mu En’s mouth.

“It seems…”

Mu En flicked away the dagger.

Stepped forward.

Pressed ahead.

The woman transformed into a fleeting shadow, retreating several meters in an instant.

But when she lifted her head, Mu En was still right in front of her.

The pure white short blade outlined a brilliant edge, suddenly blooming in the pitch-black night.

“My skills have far surpassed yours.”

Mu En lowered his gaze, allowing the blood on his cheek to be washed away by the heavy rain, quietly watching as the headless maid assassin fell, then transformed into black particles, disappearing without a trace.

“Farewell.”

Mu En whispered softly.

Countless swings of the blade, countless lives and deaths.

From being killed in an instant at the beginning to now defeating her using the techniques he learned from her, unknowingly, more than half a year had passed.

And during this time, it was enough for a man to undergo a complete transformation.

“But this is still not enough…”

Mu En took a deep breath, letting the Elizabeth in his hand dissipate.

Then.

He clenched his fist.

Swung!

Boom—

It was as if thunder erupted amidst the rain, and under the tremendous roar, the raindrops turned into fine mist, suddenly spreading from the two fists that made contact.

In a short time, a “vacuum” formed around Mu En, within a few meters, where the rain could not penetrate.

Feeling the numbing pain in his fist, looking at the man before him radiating a beast-like ferocity, Mu En grinned, a fierce smile spreading across his face.

“Come!”

He shouted.

Once again, he took the initiative to swing his fist!

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

A punch.

Another punch.

No fancy tricks, just the simple collision of fists between men!

But this was not the way it began.

When Mu En first faced this naked man, he couldn’t even force him to use his full strength; he was merely tormented by a few casual techniques, suffering to the point of despair.

That feeling of every bone and muscle in his body nearly being dismantled by bare hands is still fresh in Mu En’s memory.

But as long as it’s a technique, it can be learned.

And weakness in strength only makes one pay more attention to compensating with technique.

In countless life-and-death confrontations, what Mu En learned was not just thunderous strikes.

Now, everything the naked man displayed has become his nourishment!

But.

The records of the black book are not mere puppets that are simply copied.

Aside from lacking emotion and the ability to think, they are almost no different from when they were alive.

So this experienced adventurer, upon realizing that techniques no longer worked against Mu En, instinctively chose another combat method specifically targeting Mu En.

That is to break strength with strength!

In a situation where techniques are nearly similar, realm and power become the true keys to victory and defeat.

With a realm and power that still far exceed Mu En’s, it should have been extremely easy for the man to crush him.

Indeed, it should have been.

“So, you truly live up to your reputation, Teacher Meila!”

Mu En laughed heartily.

From his fists erupted a deafening roar.

That roar was rapid and brief, like thunder piercing through stone.

But if one were to stretch that moment out, they would realize it was not just a single roar.

It was several roars, overlapping in an instant, thereby unleashing several times Mu En’s original strength!

The instantaneous multiplication of strength naturally brought Mu En an even more terrifying physical burden.

During the brutal exchanges with the man, every bone in Mu En’s body cried out, every muscle trembled.

His skin cracked like porcelain, and scorching blood continuously oozed and splattered from his flesh, turning him into a bloody figure.

Yet even covered in blood, Mu En showed no signs of retreat.

On the contrary, his eyes grew ever brighter, blood surging, adrenaline skyrocketing, the grimace on his face becoming increasingly fervent!

Come!

Keep coming!

Not enough!

Let me feel even more pleasure!

After exchanging who knows how many punches and kicks, he saw the naked man suddenly withdraw, fingers slightly curled, like the claws of a beast.

“Haha, I can do that too!”

Mu En mirrored the naked man’s actions.

Thunder.

Confrontation.

Thunder.

And… fivefold!

A full five bursts gathered in Mu En’s palm, and then, in an instant, erupted!

Like the heavenly thunder of creation, it violently tore apart the silent night!

…

As the aftershocks dissipated.

Mu En glanced at his arm, which had nearly twisted into a grotesque shape, and sighed softly:

“I’ve looked into your identity…”

“Your name is Rod, Rod Kazel, right?”

“Today is the first time I’ve called your name.”

Pausing for a moment, Mu En placed a hand on his chest, with respect, softly said:

“Well then, Mr. Rod, please allow me to express my sincere gratitude and say to you… goodbye.”

In the gradually dissipating dust of shattered stones washed away by the heavy rain, the naked man still stood tall.

Only in the silhouette of the night, his entire left hand, including half of his chest, had completely vanished.

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The outcome was already decided.

Mu En lifted his head.

He didn’t know if it was his illusion, but the man who should only exist in memory gently nodded at him.

Then, transformed into a glimmer, he disappeared.

“Truly fleeting yet long-lasting.”

Mu En exhaled lightly, emotions brewing within his chest, uncertain of what they were.

In the past, a rival that he couldn’t even look up to has now been defeated by his own hands.

At this moment, what should he do?

Cry?

Laugh?

Celebrate wildly?

No.

None of that is right.

This small progress isn’t worth being proud of.

The enemies he will face in the future won’t give him countless opportunities to start over, nor will they wait for him to remain stagnant.

So.

He must.

Keep moving forward.

His thoughts returned, and the impending crisis of death echoed in his mind.

Mu En instinctively sidestepped, but the glint of a blade that emerged from the darkness accurately struck him, leaving a massive wound on his abdomen.

He had merely avoided a fatal blow.

“Damn.”

Mu En cursed angrily, looking at the alluring snake person swaying out from the shadows.

“Still alive, yet you keep getting sneakier every time.”

“Well, whatever. I’ve gotten used to being ambushed by you.”

Mu En sighed lightly, stuffing his intestines back into the wound, pulling out Elizabeth, the blade glinting with a cold light.

“Come on, let’s continue.”

Mu En laughed heartily:

“If I don’t die at least ten times tonight, I’m far from… satisfied!”