Mortal Dawn and Dusk, My Eternal Life - Chapter 54

Within the secret chamber, the situation had reversed dramatically in an instant. Old Master Du, who a moment ago had been so arrogant, viewing Gu Mingxuan as his prey, now scuttled towards the door like a stray dog, his face etched with boundless terror. Gu Mingxuan, whom he had considered a “perfect supplement,” stood in the center of the secret chamber like a demonic deity returned from hell, radiating a terrifying aura that made one’s heart pound.

The formerly aggressive black-clad household guards, upon seeing their master easily defeated and the non-human, terrifying aura around Gu Mingxuan, were so scared their legs turned to jelly. Their swords clanged to the ground, and they no longer harbored any thought of resistance. They merely huddled trembling in a corner, watching the “monster” walking towards them with eyes filled with extreme terror.

Gu Mingxuan’s eyes, shimmering with dark golden light, coldly swept over these household guards who were already scared out of their wits. He could clearly feel faint but equally tempting surges of life force emanating from each of them. The power of the wolf demon heart within him was still pounding wildly, and a bloodthirsty impulse, like a hidden current, surged through his limbs. If he wished, he could drain these people’s life force in the blink of an eye, turning them into shriveled corpses. This feeling was filled with fatal temptation.

However, when his gaze met the faces of the guards, twisted by fear, some fragmented images uncontrollably surfaced in his mind—a female silhouette; and those comrades on the battlefield who, though trembling with fear, were still willing to stay by “Gu Mingxuan’s” side, fighting alongside him… An inexplicable pang of pain came from his human heart. He did not want to become a monster like Old Master Du. He did not want that blurry, pitch-black female silhouette to see him… in such a bloodthirsty state. This strong desire miraculously suppressed the bloodthirsty impulse within him.

The stubborn kindness from the depths of A-Mu’s soul, along with the military honor carried by the identity of “Gu Mingxuan,” at this moment, engaged in a silent contest with the eerie heart. Ultimately, humanity… temporarily gained the upper hand.

Gu Mingxuan took a deep breath. The eerie dark golden light in his eyes gradually receded, regaining a hint of clarity. He no longer paid attention to the terrified guards but turned his gaze to the only one still standing… the black-robed man.

“Now, it’s your turn,” Gu Mingxuan’s voice was cold and devoid of emotion. He had no sympathy for these henchmen who had aided and abetted evil. The black-robed man’s face turned ashen as he saw Gu Mingxuan walking towards him, retreating repeatedly. He knew he was absolutely no match for this “monster” before him! But the instinct for survival still made him put up a final struggle! A look of madness and desperation flashed in his eyes. He again pulled out the small porcelain bottle from his embrace, and swallowed the last crimson pill, covered with black demonic qi, in one gulp!

“Roar—!”

The black-robed man let out a suppressed roar. His aura surged violently again, even stronger than before! Blue veins bulged beneath his skin, writhing like earthworms. His eyes also turned completely blood-red. Clearly, he had fully activated the forbidden medicine’s power, willing to burn his life force for temporary immense strength!

“A bit interesting.” Gu Mingxuan looked at the black-robed man, whose strength had exploded, a cold, sharp arc forming on his lips. He didn’t even adopt any defensive posture, merely stood quietly, as if waiting for the other’s attack.

“Die! Monster!” The black-robed man roared. His figure, like a cannonball, charged at Gu Mingxuan. The short blade in his hand, carried by a fierce gust of wind, viciously stabbed towards Gu Mingxuan’s heart! However, even though he had taken forbidden medicine and his strength had exploded, he still seemed… ridiculous in the face of Gu Mingxuan’s absolute power.

Gu Mingxuan merely extended his right hand with an understatement, yet he moved after the fact and arrived before the black-robed man, seizing his wrist with uncanny precision!

“Snap!”

A crisp sound of bone breaking! The black-robed man’s wrist was directly crushed by Gu Mingxuan’s brute force!

“Ah—!!!”

The black-robed man let out a shrill scream, and the short blade in his hand clattered to the ground. Gu Mingxuan gave him no chance to breathe. His other hand, like an iron clamp, gripped his neck, lifting him entirely! Then, with just a gentle twist!

“Crack!”

The black-robed man’s neck bent at an unnatural angle. The red light in his eyes rapidly dimmed, and he became completely silent. From beginning to end, Gu Mingxuan didn’t even exert much effort, effortlessly dealing with this opponent, who had taken forbidden medicine and whose strength had exploded, as if crushing an ant.

High in the tree, Su Mingyue watched everything unfolding in the secret chamber, her clear eyes filled with shock and… a hint of indescribably complex emotions. She could clearly feel that when Gu Mingxuan dealt with the household guards and the black-robed man, he… didn’t emit any killing intent! He was simply… purely “handling” some trouble. And, he actually… didn’t drain their life force! This was completely different from her previous understanding of “monsters.” This man… what exactly was he…? Su Mingyue’s heart was filled with more and more confusion. She found that she seemed to understand this man less and less.

And what Su Mingyue didn’t know was that at this moment, Gu Mingxuan possessed both the memories and emotions of this body, as well as the kindness and obsession of that poor young man from a thousand years ago, and even a terrifying power that didn’t belong to this world, fused from demonic energy and her own blood. These three distinct characteristics were strangely fused within him, forming a new, unique… personality. He was neither completely A-Mu nor the long-dead Gu Mingxuan. He was simply himself.

Gu Mingxuan casually tossed the black-robed man’s corpse aside, then looked at the terrified household guards on the ground, and this secret chamber filled with blood and sin. He let out a long sigh. Although he had dealt with these pawns, the real mastermind… that cunning Old Master Du, had escaped in the chaos. He had to find him as soon as possible and bring him to justice. Otherwise, there would be even more innocent souls in Tianjin.

However, just as Gu Mingxuan prepared to leave the secret chamber to pursue Old Master Du—

“Ah—!!!”

A shrill scream suddenly came from outside the courtyard! That voice was all too familiar to Gu Mingxuan! It was Li Erniu! His orderly!

Gu Mingxuan’s heart instantly sank, and an ominous premonition surged within him! His figure flickered, and like an arrow shot from a bow, he rushed out of the secret chamber!

And Su Mingyue, hidden in the tree, also changed drastically! All her attention just now had been focused on Gu Mingxuan, and she had actually… completely overlooked Old Master Du who escaped in the chaos!

Damn it! That old man, after he escaped, he actually…

Su Mingyue’s heart raced. She no longer bothered to hide her presence, immediately leaping down from the tree and chasing towards the direction of the scream! She only hoped… it wasn’t too late!