I Am a Rune Engraver, Carrying a Knife Makes Perfect Sense-Chapter 24 - Brothers

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“Heh… Hehe… My friend, my name is Pao Hui. Perhaps there’s been some kind of misunderstanding?” Pao Hui stammered, cold sweat dripping down his back as he forced a smile.

This kid, though only at the late Awakening Realm, had snapped one of his subordinates’ necks without hesitation. Where did he get such confidence?

And at such a young age, he dared to kill someone?

From his years of experience, Pao Hui could tell—this seemingly young and inexperienced boy was extremely dangerous.

Crack… Crack…

The sound of bones breaking echoed around them as Pao Hui winced. His subordinates, seeing their second-in-command dead, didn’t even dare to fight back. One by one, they were beaten down by Yang Dian, Zhang Zhuangshi, and Xu Guang, their legs shattered as they lay on the ground wailing in pain.

“Misunderstanding?” Xu Shen chuckled.

“Yes, let’s talk things out—”

“Misunderstand your mom! Fuck you and your fucking family” Xu Shen roared, cutting him off as he charged forward.

The Weapon Rune on his arm flared to life as blood energy surged through him like a roaring beast. In an instant, he was in front of Pao Hui!

Pao Hui’s pupils shrank. How is he this fast?!

Years of combat experience kicked in as he instinctively crossed his arms and hunched his body to shield himself.

BOOM!!

It felt like being hit by a speeding train. The force of Xu Shen’s punch shattered both of Pao Hui’s arms instantly, flesh and bone exploding into a bloody mist. The punch continued through the spray of blood, slamming into Pao Hui’s chest and sending him crashing into the ground like a ragdoll.

Both his forearms were completely destroyed.

Pain surged through Pao Hui’s body like a tidal wave, rendering him unable to even scream. Fear gripped him as he realized just how powerless he was.

He’s going to kill me!

Xu Shen crouched down, grabbing Pao Hui by the head. His voice was calm but chilling. “Who told you to release the ghoul? And how did you know we were at the hotel?”

“I… I won’t tell you…” Pao Hui stammered through gritted teeth, his voice weak from the pain.

“You won’t?” Xu Shen smiled coldly.

“W-What are you going to do—” Before Pao Hui could finish, a sharp pain shot through his leg.

Xu Shen had plunged a black knife deep into his thigh. Blood gushed from the wound, pooling on the ground beneath him.

“Now will you talk?”

“I really can’t—AHHH!!”

Without a word, Xu Shen began twisting the knife slowly. Blood sprayed everywhere, splattering across his face. Under the flickering firelight, his expression looked particularly menacing.

Everyone present felt a chill run down their spines. Even Yang Dian and the others, who were on Xu Shen’s side, couldn’t help but feel that he was being too ruthless.

“This is your last chance,” Xu Shen said in a voice that sounded like it came from the depths of hell.

“Zhang Ling!! It was Zhang Ling!!” Pao Hui finally screamed, unable to endure any longer.

The moment Zhang Ling’s name was mentioned, Zhang Zhuangshi’s face turned pale. Yang Dian and Xu Guang both turned to look at him with suspicion in their eyes.

Pfft!

Xu Shen drove the knife into Pao Hui’s heart before pulling it out again in one swift motion. Blood gushed out as Pao Hui’s eyes dimmed, a faint look of relief crossing his face as he died.

The remaining subordinates, all with broken legs, lay trembling on the ground, not daring to make a sound.

“Brother Shen, it wasn’t me! I swear!” Zhang Zhuangshi’s eyes reddened as he spoke. “I was there too!”

“I know,” Xu Shen said with a nod. “But did you mention this incident to any Xinhuo Guard?”

Zhang Zhuangshi froze for a moment before his eyes widened in realization. “Shit!!”

“That bastard Zhang Ling must’ve tried to get me killed so his son could inherit the family!” Zhang Zhuangshi cursed loudly as the pieces fell into place.

Zhang Ling was his father’s cousin and the second-in-command of their family. He was notorious for being useless—weak talent and a penchant for shady dealings. Even his position as squad leader had been secured through underhanded means.

Before leaving home that day, Zhang Zhuangshi had casually mentioned the incident to one of Zhang Ling’s subordinates—a guy named Pao Hei.

It all made sense now!

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Breathing heavily, Zhang Zhuangshi turned to Xu Shen. “Brother Shen, I’ll handle this! I’ll go back and tell my dad—he’ll clean house—”

“No need to trouble your father,” Xu Shen interrupted with a chilling smile. “We can handle this ourselves.”

Xu Guang grinned viciously. “I’ve heard about Zhang Ling before. He embezzled plenty during his time as squad leader and got reassigned outside the city.”

“Word is his uncle was Yuan City’s former commander—that’s why no one dared touch him.”

Zhang Zhuangshi immediately pulled out his phone and called his father.

“What is it, son?” A stern voice answered on the other end.

“Dad! I almost died! Let me tell you about Zhang Ling—” Zhang Zhuangshi launched into an exaggerated retelling of events.

There was silence on the other end before his father finally spoke. “How can you prove this?”

Xu Shen stepped forward and played a recording on his phone—the audio captured earlier during Pao Hui’s interrogation.

Everyone stared at Xu Shen in awe. None of them had expected him to be so meticulous.

As the recording ended with Pao Hui screaming Zhang Ling’s name, heavy breathing could be heard from the other end of the call.

“There are three Core Solidification cultivators where he is,” Zhang Zhuangshi’s father said coldly.

It was clear he was furious now. Whether it was targeting Xu Shen or implicating his son—Zhang Ling had crossed a line.

“Uncle,” Xu Shen said calmly. “Just give us the location—we’ll make sure none of them escape.”

“You must be Xu Shen,” Zhang Zhuangshi’s father replied after a pause. “A hero at such a young age… I’m glad my son has someone like you by his side.”

“Zhang Ling is hiding at an abandoned farm outside the city. Here’s the exact location…”

After providing the details, Zhang Zhuangshi asked hesitantly, “Dad… What about the former commander?”

“He’s my uncle,” his father replied curtly. “If he dares target you—he’ll die too.”

His words left everyone stunned but also impressed by how ruthless Zhang Zhuangshi’s father could be.

As the call ended, Xu Shen smiled coldly. “That fat bastard… I’ve been wanting to deal with him for a while.”

His voice sent chills down their spines. If Xu Shen had only been mildly annoyed when Zhang Ling instigated Yang Dian against him before—this time he was filled with murderous intent.

If that ghoul had been released near his family instead of at the hotel…

The thought made Xu Shen’s killing intent surge even higher.

“Brother Shen, what about these guys?” Xu Guang asked, glancing at Pao Hui’s remaining subordinates with broken legs.

“Kill them all,” Xu Shen said coldly.

“Wha… All of them?” Xu Guang hesitated briefly before complying.

“Check that storage room first—you’ll understand,” Xu Shen added.

Confused, Xu Guang smashed open the lock on the storage room door—and froze at what he saw inside.

A dozen terrified children stared back at him with hollow eyes and battered bodies.

Xu Guang trembled violently as his eyes turned red with rage. “Kids… Don’t worry—I’ll take you home,” he said gently, forcing a smile for their sake.

But inside, his killing intent boiled over uncontrollably.

Human traffickers… These bastards were human traffickers!

Though rare in this era—it still happened occasionally due to some people’s inability to have children naturally…

“Uncle… Are you really here to save us?” A brave boy asked timidly.

“Yes,” Xu Guang nodded firmly. “Tell me where you live—I’ll have my men take you back.”

After gathering their addresses—mostly orphanages or welfare homes—Xu Guang called over some of his men.

“Take them home safely. If anyone goes missing—I’ll kill you myself!” He barked.

“Yes!!” The men each took a child and drove off immediately.

As the cars disappeared into the distance—Xu Guang’s face twisted with rage as he picked up an iron pipe from the ground.

“You…” He glared at one of Pao Hui’s subordinates before smashing their skull in with the pipe!

“You bastards dared harm children?! Orphans with no parents?! How could you be so heartless?!”

He swung wildly—venting all his fury…

Xu Guang himself had been kidnapped by traffickers as a child but managed to escape…

Most of these children were likely orphans of Xinhuo Guards or victims of ghoul attacks…

Yang Dian and Zhang Zhuangshi stood silently nearby—their faces pale with anger as they picked up weapons and joined in…

The screams gradually faded until silence returned…

Covered in blood—they seemed like entirely different people now—reborn with newfound resolve…

Xu Shen glanced toward the school gate where some of Yang Dian and Zhang Zhuangshi’s recruits had fled earlier after witnessing him kill someone…

Cowards… Let them run—they were useless anyway…

The remaining injured gang members dared not even lift their heads—but soon found themselves surrounded by Xu Guang’s men wielding iron pipes…

“Hey… you fucking bastards! You dare harm kids?! In Northeast District—you only get one outcome: death!!”

With that—a rain of iron pipes descended upon them…

—

Outside the school gates—Xu Guang turned to Xu Shen with bloodshot eyes. “Brother Shen… Let’s go.”

“No—I’ll go alone,” Xu Shen replied firmly.

Zhang Ling had three Core Solidification cultivators with him—Yang Dian and Zhang Zhuangshi wouldn’t stand a chance against them…

“I’ll distract them while you sneak in!” Yang Dian suggested seriously.

“Yeah! Brother Shen—we can’t just turn back now after coming this far!” Zhang Zhuangshi added with a bloody grin. “Don’t insult us like that!”

Xu Shen looked at them for a long moment before breaking into a smile.

“Alright—just us four against all of them!”

“But none of you move unless I say so!”

No matter what their past relationships had been—after tonight—they were different now…

Anyone willing to stand by him through this—they were no longer just friends…

They were brothers!