Chapter 50: The Corpse of Lei Kun

"Once we return to the Wanxiang Sect, we'll have Liu Ming drink the Truth Serum. That should reveal something," Lin Qian thought to himself. He then turned to Lei Qian and said, "After you take care of Lei Kun's body, let's head back to the sect."

"Yes, that's all we can do for now," Lei Qian agreed with a nod.

Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream pierced the air behind them, startling everyone.

Lin Qian quickly turned around, only to be left speechless by what he saw.

Lei Kun, who had been dead, had somehow come back to life. His hands had pierced through the chests of two outer sect disciples.

The sound of flesh tearing echoed as the revived Lei Kun ripped out the hearts of the two disciples and shoved them into his mouth.

As Lei Kun chewed, blood dripped from his fingers, and all the onlookers trembled in fear, slowly retreating behind Lin Qian and Lei Qian.

Tears streamed down Lei Kun's face as he devoured the fresh hearts. They mixed with the blood running down his pale cheeks.

"Brother... save me, save me!" Lei Kun suddenly wailed, his voice choked with sobs as he looked desperately at Lei Qian, who stood frozen in shock.

Chunks of flesh hung from Lei Kun's mouth, and blood oozed from between his teeth.

Lei Qian took a deep breath and shouted at Lei Kun, "Little Kun, what's happening to you? What are you doing?"

"I don't know! I don't know! I can't control myself!" Lei Kun screamed in terror, swallowing the flesh in his mouth.

Lei Qian gritted his teeth and started walking toward Lei Kun. "It's okay, I'm here!"

But as Lei Qian drew closer, a flash of red appeared in Lei Kun's eyes, and he suddenly lunged forward, claws outstretched.

At such close range, Lei Qian clearly saw that Lei Kun's fingernails had grown sharp and deadly. Remembering how Lei Kun had easily torn through the chests of the outer sect disciples, Lei Qian knew his throat wouldn't stand a chance.

Just as Lei Kun's claws were about to strike, a hand grabbed the back of Lei Qian's robe and yanked him backward.

At the same moment, a leg shot out, kicking Lei Kun squarely in the chest.

Lei Kun's attack was halted, and he was sent flying backward like a cannonball, crashing into a tree.

The tree cracked and fell under the impact.

Even after crashing through three more trees, Lei Kun finally hit the ground, motionless.

"Didn't Lei Kun always call you by your name? When did he ever call you 'brother'?" Lin Qian, who had just saved Lei Qian, asked as he stood in front of him.

It was Lin Qian who had kicked Lei Kun.

When Lei Kun had called Lei Qian "brother," Lin Qian immediately sensed something was wrong.

Lei Qian had once mentioned during a conversation that Lei Kun had stopped calling him "brother" after the age of twelve. Since then, he'd always addressed him by name.

At that moment, Lin Qian also realized what had been bothering him earlier.

There was no smell of decay. Lei Kun's body, despite being buried for seven days, had no odor at all, which was impossible!

Lei Kun's body wasn't strong enough to prevent decomposition after death. The absence of any foul smell was unnatural.

Lei Qian, who had been pulled back by Lin Qian, took a deep breath and gradually calmed down. "That scene earlier really shook me."

Lin Qian understood. Although Lei Kun had no real connection to him, he knew that Lei Qian shared a bond of family with Lei Kun, even if they weren't blood brothers.

"Human, you hurt me," Lei Kun said, standing up and brushing off the wood chips from his body. His bloody mouth twisted into a grin. "You deserve to die!"

Lin Qian sighed, then looked at Lei Qian. "Lei Kun is dead, and whatever this thing is, it's not him anymore."

Even Lin Qian found this situation strange.

Could it be that in this world, soul warriors could turn into something like zombies after death? Was this Lei Kun some sort of undead?

"I understand," Lei Qian said, his expression complex as he stared at Lei Kun. "If that were really my brother, your kick just now would have left a hole in his stomach."

Lightning crackled in the air as Lin Qian's golden lightning soul energy burst forth. He locked eyes with Lei Kun and said to Lei Qian, "You should leave with the others and report this to the sect. I'll handle him."

"But—"

"I'll try not to destroy his body. He'll have an intact corpse," Lin Qian interrupted.

Seeing Lin Qian bathed in golden lightning, Lei Qian bowed deeply without saying another word. He turned to the other disciples and shouted, "Everyone, back to the sect!"

With that, Lei Qian took off at full speed, disappearing in a flash of lightning.

The other disciples, their legs trembling with fear, snapped out of their daze and quickly followed Lei Qian, running back to the Wanxiang Sect.

"You're alone now, human. Aren't you afraid?" Lei Kun's corpse grinned menacingly.

Lin Qian felt increasingly uneasy. He couldn't sense any life force from Lei Kun, only a strong stench of death.

It was like he was talking to a corpse.

"Afraid? You're just a dead body. What do I have to fear?" Lin Qian scoffed.

"Hahaha..." Lei Kun's corpse laughed, then looked down at Lin Qian. "From what I can gather from this body's memories, you seem to be its enemy. How about I avenge it?"

"Even after eating just two hearts, it's enough," Lei Kun's corpse said as it vanished in an instant.

Lin Qian's pupils contracted in surprise. "So fast!"

When Lei Kun was alive, he was no match for Lin Qian. Taking him down had been as easy as a single kick.

But this undead Lei Kun was far quicker than Lin Qian had anticipated.

Even Liu Ming, ranked seventh among the inner sect, wouldn't be able to keep up with this speed.

A sudden rush of wind signaled Lei Kun's attack from behind. His sharp claws aimed directly at Lin Qian's heart.

"But I'm faster!" Lin Qian roared, spinning around and swinging his lightning-covered fist to meet Lei Kun's strike head-on.

The two collided with a loud bang. The shockwave from their impact shattered nearby trees, and those further away bent under the force.

Lin Qian stood his ground, but Lei Kun was sent flying backward. His sharp claws had broken off.

"This human boy... how is he so strong for someone still in the Xingyuan Realm?" Lei Kun's corpse thought in surprise. "I need to get out of here, or I might be in real trouble!"

Lei Kun, realizing he was at a disadvantage, used the force of Lin Qian's punch to retreat, intending to escape into the forest.

But as he turned to flee, a spear suddenly shot out, spiraling toward him, forcing him to land back on the ground.

Looking at the grim expression on Lei Kun's face, Lin Qian smirked. "I'm never truly alone because I'm an emperor!"