Chapter 145: The Blood-Claw Monster Cocoon—A Sight to Diagnose the Illness

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What had seemed like an easy capture suddenly turned perilous as a roar like a dragon’s echoed from within the youth’s body, swallowing the fiery poison he had unleashed. Then, wielding a massive sword nearly ten feet long, he brought it crashing down upon Han Chong’s head!

From the man’s palms, blood-red claws instantly materialized, extending a full ten feet like twin talons, scorching hot and wreathed in flames. Even before they neared, Han Chong felt his blood surge turbulently.

These claws seemed strangely supple, almost boneless, like rubber—unyielding to force. They coiled around the Heavenly Sword in Han Chong’s grasp, attempting to seize his very body.

The man’s strength and cunning far exceeded Han Chong’s expectations.

The three-mole man sneered triumphantly. His secret technique of condensing blood into claws relied on softness overcoming hardness, combined with the venomous power of blood fire. No matter how fierce his opponent, he would ensure their defeat.

But then, to Han Chong’s astonishment, the silver-armored general’s figure split into two identical clones, pressing from both sides in an ambush.

“Impossible! You know the art of duplication!” Han Chong shouted.

The clones attacked from front and rear, yet the three-mole man struggled to fend off the twin blood claws, quickly falling into disadvantage. Suddenly, he twirled, releasing layers of blood mist that poured from his body like cotton, quickly forming a spherical cocoon of blood.

Han Chong’s strikes bounced off with elasticity, unable to pierce it. Worse, the cocoon rolled and collided, forcing him to retreat repeatedly.

Han Chong vanished underground, and the blood cocoon pressed down repeatedly but to no avail, coming to a halt as the two faced off.

“Are you surnamed Han?” came the suspicious voice of the three-mole man.

“That’s right. Who are you? Under the Son of Heaven’s watchful eye, you brazenly capture so many women—has law no meaning to you?”

“Haha, as long as I am strong enough, I am the law. What can you do to me?”

“Are you an underling of the Crown Prince? Does he know of your deeds?”

“Hmm? Heh heh, trying to get me to talk? Dream on.” The man’s expression stiffened, then darkened into a sinister smile.

Han Chong silently regretted that the man wore a jade pendant at his waist which recorded everything; had he revealed all, Han Chong would have had an undeniable advantage. But this villain was too cunning.

Still, the crime of imprisoning innocent women was undeniable, all captured by the jade pendant’s recordings.

“Now, neither of us can harm the other. The beauties here are yours to choose from. Consider this place as if you never came. Should you need more, just come back to pick,” the man’s voice coaxed from within the blood sphere.

“Oh? And what if I take all the women away?” Han Chong raised an eyebrow.

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“You are far too greedy. To be honest, even if you leave to report this, I do not fear you!”

“Hmph. You think I’m truly powerless against you?”

Han Chong smiled coldly, sheathing the Demon-Suppressing Heavenly Sword and drawing forth the Clear Light Sword instead, beginning to dance it deftly.

Countless fine sword energies coalesced into the form of a dragon. Yet rather than growing larger, Han Chong deliberately kept it compressed, maintaining its length at ten feet.

At first, the three-mole man was unimpressed, but as time passed, he sensed a growing threat from the sword dragon, as if a fierce beast had awakened to lock its gaze upon him. Doubt crept into his heart: could his blood cocoon withstand this assault?

After a short while, Han Chong’s vital energy was nearly halved, and the sword dragon began to lose control. With a furious roar, it charged the blood cocoon.

The man’s eyes widened in alarm as he rolled backward, but the sword dragon was relentless. Though the cocoon was resilient, it had limits and was shredded layer by layer.

The three-mole man’s face drained of color. Suddenly breaking free, abandoning the cocoon, he fled the chamber in wild flight. Han Chong could not catch him.

The remnants of the cocoon, now ownerless, were devoured by the blood dragon bursting from Han Chong’s body, growing ever more solid in form.

The struggle was witnessed by many women huddled in a corner of the prison. Seeing the three-mole man escape, they rejoiced as Han Chong shattered the cell doors, releasing them all.

Yet as long as the three-mole man lived, he was a menace. But after this battle, his strength would be greatly diminished. Next time, Han Chong vowed, he would capture him.

...

“Unbelievable! That Han brat again, repeatedly ruining the Crown Prince’s plans—he truly has no regard for his life!”

In the Crown Prince’s palace, the three-mole man returned in a panic, reporting the events.

The Crown Prince’s face flushed crimson with rage, ready to personally send the Demon-Slaying Bureau to seize Han Chong for punishment.

“Your Highness, this man’s skills are not weak; his magic is strange and cunning. He has newly won battle merits. It would be unwise to confront him directly. I have a plan to put him to death!”

“Oh?” The Crown Prince leaned in close, his expression turning serious as he looked at the man with some anger.

“Your Highness, please calm yourself. Only this method can kill him outright. That brat will surely die!”

“Very well. As you say, I will see to it that he is eliminated.”

The next evening, the Crown Prince’s chief steward personally summoned Han Chong to the palace for a banquet.

Han Chong’s mind stirred. No banquet is ever a good banquet. Could the Crown Prince be so brazen as to openly plot against a third-rank general?

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He wanted to decline but thought, “How can one catch a tiger without entering its den?” With his current cultivation and secret arts, even a tiger’s lair could not hold him. If he could seize a handle on his enemies, it might be worth the risk.

Unbeknownst to him, while Han Chong journeyed to the Eastern Palace, many high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate also received invitations from the Crown Prince’s steward.

Such a grand event quickly became known to the other princes, who secretly ordered their spies to watch closely.

...

At the Prince of Ying’s residence:

“Your Highness, Han Chong has been summoned to the Crown Prince’s mansion. Could this be an open plot to assassinate him?”

Ouyang Jingguan frowned.

“Impossible. Han Chong is still a third-rank patrol general and newly decorated for battle. The Crown Prince should not be so reckless.”

“Your Highness knows Han Chong’s character well. Knowing the Crown Prince’s ill intent, yet he still goes by order—it’s hard to tell if he’s foolish or fearless.”

“Heh, tonight promises a spectacle. The Crown Prince even invited many high officials from the three judicial offices. I wonder what sorcery he plans.”

“Tonight, either Han Chong dies, or the Crown Prince is made a fool again.”

“Should we intervene? If Han Chong is killed, there will be no one left to stand up.”

“No need. Someone else will act. We shall watch and wait.”

“Patrol General Han Chong of the Demon-Slaying Bureau has arrived.”

Led by the steward, Han Chong entered the Eastern Palace unhindered. The place was magnificent and heavily guarded, protected by over ten talismans of fortune that rendered all magic useless.

In the main hall, he finally saw the famed Crown Prince himself. The prince’s face was as flawless as jade, clad in a golden dragon robe, crowned with gold and girded with a jade belt. Tall and robust, he possessed the appearance of a fine man.

Han Chong bowed respectfully, his heart stirred. Though he merely glanced, his expertise in medicine and diagnosis was profound.

The Crown Prince’s complexion was unnaturally flushed, a strange sight indeed.