The Twelve Trials Starting from Zero

"Of course, it's to become stronger."

He said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world, then twisted the knife hard, causing Liuli to turn pale with pain, break out in a cold sweat, and almost kneel down.

But she did not fall. Having also practiced the Immovable Meditation method, her endurance far surpassed that of ordinary people. With sheer willpower, she steadied herself again, gripped his sword, and stared intently into his eyes, saying, "No! I don't believe it! I don't believe Kenshin could have become like this! There must be another reason, right? Tell me!"

"Ha, what a delusional fool!"

Shishio Kenshin smiled contemptuously, drew his sword, blood splattered, and kicked her to the ground.

Liuli clutched the wound on her abdomen, struggling to support herself on the ground, trying to get up, but found that her whole body was numb and weak. If she made even the slightest movement, the blood vessels all over her body would feel like they were being scraped by knives, making her unable to move at all.

"No need to waste your energy." Shishio Kenshin casually threw off his straw hat, stepped into the dojo wearing straw sandals, and easily cut down two disciples who rushed at him while saying, "If you are hit by this demonic sword Blood Binding, even if it is only the size of a needle tip, you will be 'bound' by the blood flowing through your whole body. The slightest movement will cause unbearable pain, leaving you at the mercy of others."

"stop!"

Ruri lay on the ground, watching helplessly as more and more people noticed the commotion and charged towards Shishio Kenshin with a roar, only to be easily cut down like wheat. Her heart felt like it was bleeding. "Stop! Why? Why are you doing this?!"

"Didn't I already say? This demonic sword needs to drink the blood of more close people to become stronger, and after thinking about it, you should be considered close people, right? So, I'm sorry, but in order to make me stronger, please offer your lives as a sacrifice to the sword!"

Before he could finish speaking, Shishio Kenshin, who had just cut down another group of people, suddenly twisted his wrist and pierced Ruri's back with his sword, pinning her to the ground. He then withdrew the sword, and with a soft splatter, blood mist spurted out. Ruri's body stiffened and collapsed to the ground.

"Liuli!!"

"Damn it! He killed Miss Liuli!!"

"Avenge Miss Liuli!!"

"Ambition, ambition, heroism, sword, heart!! I told you that once you stepped into the demonic path, I would cleanse your sect! I will kill you!!"

"kill!!"

……

Amidst the shouts of her father and the others at the dojo, the sounds of battle, the screams, and the pain, Liuli felt her body rapidly grow cold. The surrounding sounds blurred and faded away, and her consciousness gradually slid into the abyss, swallowed by darkness.

After an unknown amount of time, she finally felt her body again and slowly opened her eyes.

"Are you awake?"

A young man with fair skin, handsome features, and wearing a white cassock appeared in Liuli's eyes.

"What am I doing..."

She frowned slightly, her head spinning, and she felt a little confused. Just as she was about to sit up, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen and back, and she couldn't help but groan, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

"Don't worry, you are seriously injured and have lost too much blood. You almost never woke up again. You need to rest."

As the handsome man dressed as a monk spoke, he helped Liuli sit halfway on the mat.

Ruri looked herself over and noticed that her abdomen and back were tightly wrapped in strips of cloth, and she was covered with a patched, loose, old women's kimono. She smelled strongly of medicine. Looking around, she saw that the shabby room was small and cramped, and there were piles of firewood and water tanks not far away, which looked like someone's woodshed.

I have injuries, so what happened before wasn't a nightmare, but real...?

Recalling what had happened, her face immediately turned pale. She put on her kimono on the spot, then braced herself against the ground and stood up despite the excruciating pain.

"Miss, what are you doing? Please sit down! If you continue like this, your injuries will get worse!"

"Get out of the way! I don't have time to lie here!"

Liuli pushed the man away and walked barefoot towards the outside, but she collapsed to the ground after only a few steps due to exhaustion.

"hateful!"

She did not give up and got up again despite the pain, but after taking only a few steps, she fell to the ground again.

"Miss, stop moving! You'll really die if you keep this up!"

"I'm not going to die that easily!"

After saying that, Liuli got up for the third time, walked a short distance, and then fell to the ground again.

The man dressed as a monk shook his head and sighed, seemingly unable to bear it. He frowned and pondered for a moment before finally standing in front of her and offering her his right hand. "Fine, if you insist on leaving now, then use this for now."

Liuli turned her head and saw a pinkish-purple jade fragment shimmering with an eerie light in the outstretched right palm.

The ending won't be tragic! The ending won't be tragic! The ending won't be tragic! I'm saying it three times because it's important!

Chapter 107 Blade of Vengeance

In the setting sun, the ancient Taoist temple was filled with deathly silence as corpses covered with straw mats lay scattered in the front courtyard.

"Miss Liuli, please accept my condolences."

The tragedy at Changgu Dojo alarmed the city lord, who sent people to handle the aftermath. They happened to meet Liuli, who had returned to the dojo.

Liuli nodded blankly, finished her rambling reply to the visitor, and walked dejectedly into the dojo.

The body of Changgu Hachirin, covered with a white sheet, lay in the center of the dojo. The air still smelled of blood, and the bloodstains and battle marks on the floor had not yet been cleaned up. Stepping into the room, she could almost hear the roars and screams from before still echoing in her ears.

"They're all dead...everyone's dead..."

Liuli surveyed the dojo, and her usually tense face finally betrayed a look of utter despair.

She walked unsteadily to the body of Chang Gu Bayun, knelt down, and reached out her trembling arms to cover the body. After a pause, she carefully lifted the shroud.

The next moment, a face with wide, angry eyes, covered in blood, and filled with a furious and resentful expression as if cast in iron, came into view. Below it lay a body severed at the waist, its intestines and blood spilling out.

Liuli's body stiffened, and tears, unable to be stopped, slid down her cheeks and shattered on the floor.

"Ah... Father..."

First came a low, fearful, and incredulous gasp, followed by a suppressed sob.

The setting sun cast a blood-red glow over the empty dojo. Finally, Ruri collapsed onto the corpse of Chang Gu Ba Lun and wept bitterly. She hadn't cried once since her mother's death, but now, grief surged like a flood bursting its banks, and even someone as strong as her could no longer bear it.

However, the crying did not last long before it quickly stopped.

After a long, deathly silence, Liuli knelt up, tears still wet on her face, and silently stared at her father's corpse, her eyes gradually filling with a resentment that seemed to want to burn everything.

"Miss Liuli, have you finally calmed down?"

The sound rang out at just the right moment, and the man dressed as a monk, carrying books on his back, appeared behind him at some unknown time. In the gradually dimming light, his robes looked as pale as withered bones.

"Who are you?" Liuli's voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth.

"I am Jinglian, a monk on a pilgrimage across the country. I was tracking a murderer who was bewitched by a demonic sword when I sensed the evil energy erupting here and rushed over. Unfortunately... by the time I arrived, the tragedy had already occurred. Only you, Miss, lay at the entrance of the temple, barely clinging to life. So I temporarily moved you to a nearby house and asked the lady of the house to bandage and change your dressing. You know what happened after that."

"The murderer bewitched by the demonic sword, does that refer to Kenshin?"

"That man was dressed as a young ronin, in blue robes and black hakama, wearing a straw hat. He has killed hundreds of people to make the demon sword stronger... That's all I know. It sounds like Miss Ruri knows a lot about that man. Could you perhaps enlighten me?"

"Do you have a grudge against him?"

"No, it's just that I can't bear to see innocent people continue to bleed. As a monk, I should be compassionate and sacrifice myself to destroy the demon."

She didn't speak again, but silently pulled the white sheet back up to cover her father's body. Then she stood up, turned around, stared at Jinglian expressionlessly, and said coldly, "I don't know much about him either. He only studied swordsmanship at this dojo for a while."

"Oh, really? Even Miss Ruri doesn't know his background. During your time at the dojo, did you notice anything unusual about him?"

Liuli's eyes flickered slightly, as if she had been thinking for a moment, and she shook her head slightly, "No. It's just that my talent in swordsmanship is exceptional, unlike that of ordinary people."

"Is that so..." Jinglian gazed at her intently, then shook her head and sighed softly, "Well, it seems that man was only bewitched by the demonic sword later. So, Miss Liuli, what are your plans for the future?"

"Revenge, of course!" Liuli's face was icy as she stared at Jinglian, saying decisively, "What other choice do I have?"

Yes... that's the look in their eyes... that's the look of someone willing to do anything for revenge, as if they'd burn themselves out in the process...

Looking into the other person's eyes, Jinglian felt a sense of pleasure, but she showed no sign of it on her face. Instead, she shook her head and said, "Give up, Miss Liuli. Ordinary humans, even highly skilled swordsmen, are no match for that man. He has already become half-demon, far beyond what ordinary people can handle."

"I am not afraid of death."

"But that would just be throwing away one's life in vain."

“The Shikon Jewel.” Ruri stared intently at Jinglian, her eyes stubborn. “You just said that the Shikon Jewel can grant any wish. I was able to recover from my injuries quickly using it, so I’m wondering if I can use the power of the Shikon Jewel to kill that person.”

"I'm sorry, I only have one Shikon Jewel shard on me, which I've already lent to you."

"Then I'll go collect more, and one day I'll be able to kill him!"

"But the Shikon Jewel is coveted by countless demons, making it even more dangerous to collect them."

"It doesn't matter! For revenge, for killing that man with my own hands, I'd give my life if it meant it!"

"Ugh……"

Seeing the other party's persistence, Jinglian sighed deeply, her face showing reluctance. After hesitating for a moment, she finally said, "Miss Liuli, are you really determined to take revenge?"

"Revenge is imperative!"

"Alright, since you're so determined, I'll lend you a hand. I only hope that after taking your revenge, Miss Liuli will cherish her life."

After saying this, he put down the books he was carrying on his back and took out a straight sword wrapped with prayer beads. "This is a demon sword that I just sealed. It is called Ghost Stealer. It can steal the demon power of other demons to quickly enhance its own and its master's power. However, if it is used for a long time, it will be eroded by the demon energy within and transformed into a demon."

"If you use this sword, Miss Ruri will soon be able to fight that man. But remember, you must not overuse it, otherwise you will lose your mind and become a monster who only knows how to kill."

……

Meanwhile, not far from Turtle City, Su Qi was riding his demon horse and flying rapidly towards the dojo.

"Follow-the-Wind Ear, where is Naraku now?"

"Still at the dojo."

"very good!!"

Having already heard about Naraku's actions from Shunfeng'er on the way, Su Qi's face was now filled with coldness, and the murderous aura emanating from his body frightened Shunfeng'er so much that he didn't dare to move an inch, fearing that Su Qi would suddenly turn around and cut him down with a knife.

A moment later, Turtle City came into view, and they were about to arrive when a gust of wind suddenly rushed out from the woods below, and a figure appeared.

"Shishi Kenshin, and Kikyo, you guys arrived really quickly."

Kagura, riding on white feathers and holding a folding fan, stood in front of the three with a solemn expression.

Chapter 108 Sudden Backstabbing

laugh! !

The blade's energy swept through the air like lightning, and before Kagura could react, it severed a piece of her sleeve, whizzing past her.

"Kagura, get out of the way!" Su Qi's face was as cold as iron, and his sharp eyes almost gave people the illusion of being torn apart. "I'm in a bad mood right now. If you delay any longer, you might become a corpse."

Cold sweat trickled down my forehead.

She had no doubt that if the other party had been targeting her, she would have been chopped into pieces by now.