I Am a Rune Engraver, Carrying a Knife Makes Perfect Sense-Chapter 23 - Playing for Real

—

From the moment Xu Shen saw the ghoul at the hotel, he knew something was off.

How could a top-tier hotel in Yuan City, especially on its highest floor, have a ghoul suddenly appear? And in the city center, no less?

Saying it wasn’t suspicious would be like saying pigs could fly.

As for Liu Shaoteng, Xu Shen only briefly considered him as a suspect before dismissing the idea. As the hotel owner, Liu Shaoteng would have to be suicidal to pull such a stunt—it would be like hanging himself.

He had also carefully observed everyone present that night. Each of them had genuinely stepped forward during the ghoul attack, trembling but not retreating. Even during their drinking session, Xu Shen had subtly tested them with a few comments, but no one reacted suspiciously.

If none of them were involved, then someone else must have orchestrated it—either targeting him or one of them.

A mid-second-tier ghoul could have easily killed several people if Xu Shen hadn’t been there. Perhaps the perpetrators hadn’t expected someone at Awakening Realm to obliterate a Core Solidification ghoul.

During the drinking session, Xu Shen had asked Zhang Zhuangshi to investigate the matter. Given Zhang’s family’s underground connections, he was bound to have some leads.

Now, it seemed they had found something.

“Who? Where are they?” Xu Shen asked coldly.

His icy tone sent a shiver down Zhang Zhuangshi’s spine on the other end of the line.

“It’s an organization in the West District,” Zhang explained. “Their leader is a late-Core Solidification cultivator with about ten Awakening Realm followers. They’re pretty influential over there.”

“They mostly deal in shady business.”

“I checked surveillance footage and interrogated some of the hotel’s security staff. Turns out those bastards tied up the ghoul and dumped it in the elevator! The rope had some kind of special power that released it automatically when they got far enough away.”

“Brother Shen, this was definitely intentional!”

Zhang Zhuangshi’s voice grew darker as he spoke. If Xu Shen hadn’t been there that night, who among them could have handled the ghoul? Even Uncle Teng had been slapped into a wall.

A lingering fear crept into Zhang’s heart. Why would this organization pull such a stunt?

“Where in the West District?” Xu Shen asked calmly.

“An abandoned elementary school on the outskirts. Brother Shen, wait for us to—”

Click.

Xu Shen hung up and immediately dialed another number.

“Xu Shen?” Wu Yun’s voice came through.

“You’ve heard about the hotel incident, right?” Xu Shen asked directly.

“What about it? Did you find out who’s behind it?” Wu Yun asked, catching on quickly.

“I’m killing someone tonight. Just letting you know,” Xu Shen said flatly.

“???”

“Xu Shen, calm down! Do you know what happens if you kill someone inside the city?” Wu Yun said sternly.

“If they can release a second-tier ghoul to attack me today, they can release a third-tier one to threaten my family tomorrow.”

“What do you think I should do?” Xu Shen’s voice was icy cold.

“Brother Wu, don’t get involved in this. Do me this favor—I owe you one.”

With that, he hung up again.

Wu Yun rubbed his temples and took a deep breath before calling Jiang Youyi to relay Xu Shen’s words.

He expected Jiang Youyi to be furious, but instead, Jiang chuckled lightly.

“Looks like he understands his own value now—confident and clever.”

“I didn’t expect him to track them down so quickly.”

“Forget it. This is something the Xinhuo Guard should’ve handled anyway. Let him take care of it—we can even earn his favor in return. Why not?”

“A favor from an eighteen-year-old rune master is worth a lot.”

“Inform the West District Xinhuo Guard not to intervene near that elementary school tonight. They can clean up the bodies in the morning.”

With that, Jiang Youyi ended the call.

Wu Yun frowned slightly. It wasn’t like Jiang Youyi to let an organization go unchecked. Had they crossed some line?

After some thought, Wu Yun decided to check things out himself—quietly.

—

That night, the West District was unusually restless.

Vans poured into the area, unloading groups of bald men wielding machetes.

Residents peeked out from their balconies, watching the scene below unfold.

Was this a gang war?

From one of the more expensive cars at the front, Xu Shen stepped out with a cold expression.

Beside him, a burly bald man grinned menacingly. “Brother Shen, these bastards dared to mess with you. Not one of them will escape tonight!”

Xu Shen nodded faintly. This bald man was Xu Guang—a distant relative who seemed thoroughly subdued after their last encounter. One call from Xu Shen had brought all his men here.

Not far away, another group approached noisily.

“Who goes there?!” Xu Guang shouted.

“It’s us, boss!” came a familiar voice.

Xu Shen turned to see Yang Dian and Zhang Zhuangshi leading another group of people toward them.

Xu Shen smirked slightly as Yang Dian and Zhang Zhuangshi stared at him in disbelief.

“You said Brother Shen was going alone and couldn’t find anyone,” Zhang muttered to Yang Dian. “We even brought people… Look at this—totally unnecessary.”

“I’m killing people tonight,” Xu Shen said plainly, addressing everyone present. “If anyone’s scared, leave now.”

Zhang Zhuangshi was the first to laugh. “Brother Shen, I’m not scared at all.”

Yang Dian added smugly, “Whatever you do, boss, I’ll follow.”

Some others looked hesitant—they weren’t sure if Xu Shen was serious but nodded reluctantly anyway.

“Let’s go,” Xu Shen said after glancing at those who seemed unsure. He led the way toward the abandoned elementary school ahead.

Walking through familiar yet unfamiliar streets, Xu Shen felt a pang of nostalgia and sorrow.

This had once been his home.

It was on these streets that he’d parted ways with his parents—never to see them again.

The elementary school ahead had been where he studied as a child. Now it was a den for criminals…

“Have your men surround the area. Kill anything that tries to escape,” Xu Shen ordered as they neared the school gates.

Xu Guang nodded immediately and signaled his men to quietly encircle the area.

“You three come with me. Break their legs first if you see anyone,” Xu Shen said, glancing at Zhang Zhuangshi, Yang Dian, and Xu Guang.

The three nodded in unison.

“Uh… Brother Shen, we’ll stay outside,” one of Yang Dian’s recruits said awkwardly. “Our cultivation levels…”

“Yeah… Same here…” others chimed in nervously.

Only now did they realize Xu Shen wasn’t joking—he was dead serious!

They’d thought this was just a fight—not something involving lives…

“Fine. Stay here,” Xu Shen said indifferently before stepping inside.

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Yang Dian shot them a cold glare while Zhang Zhuangshi shook his head in disappointment. “Cowards…”

Inside the school grounds, Xu Shen’s expression turned feral as killing intent surged from him. Blood energy roared as he took each step forward—his presence growing colder and more oppressive with every move!

“Who’s there?!”

The commotion alerted those inside. Lights flickered on as several figures rushed out.

“How dare you trespass on Blood Heat Gang territory?!”

A blond man charged forward, releasing his Awakening Realm aura.

Xu Guang sneered before vanishing and reappearing in front of him—his machete slicing downward!

“ARGH!!”

The blond man screamed as his Achilles tendon was severed!

Xu Guang stomped down hard—snapping both legs with audible cracks!

Brother Shen said break their legs—so break their legs he did!

“Bastards! Someone’s looking for death!” More Awakening Realm cultivators emerged from inside.

Yang Dian, Zhang Zhuangshi, and Xu Guang roared as they charged into battle.

Xu Shen remained expressionless—hands in his pockets—as he walked further inside.

“Get down!” A burly crew-cut man lunged from the shadows—his aura surging as he brandished a gleaming dagger aimed at Xu Shen’s abdomen!

This guy must be their leader! Taking him down would end this quickly!

But just as his dagger neared its target—he felt a sharp pain in his arms!

Before he realized what had happened—both arms bent at unnatural angles…

A slender hand gripped his throat tightly as icy beast-like eyes stared into his soul…

“Where’s your boss?” Xu Shen asked coldly.

“You’re… dead…” The man sneered before his words turned into a scream!

RIP!

Xu Shen tore off one of his arms effortlessly!

“AAAAHHHH!!!”

The man’s agonized screams echoed through the area as everyone froze in terror—watching Xu Shen casually hold a severed arm…

“Where’s your boss?” Xu Shen repeated calmly.

“Who are you?” A deep voice boomed from the school building entrance.

A towering man over two meters tall stepped forward—his late-Core Solidification aura radiating powerfully.

“I’m here for you,” Xu Shen replied coldly.

The man narrowed his eyes—he knew who this was but hadn’t expected him to come directly…

CRACK!

In one swift motion—Xu Shen snapped his neck and tossed him aside like garbage…

Silence fell over the battlefield—even their leader stood frozen in shock…

This kid… dared to kill someone inside city limits?!

Yang Dian, Zhang Zhuangshi, and Xu Guang were equally stunned…

Brother Shen… You’re playing for real?!