I Received Messages From Future Self!
Chapter 530 - 526: All Flash, No Substance, Take a Sword.

Chapter 530: Chapter 526: All Flash, No Substance, Take a Sword.

Although this Zhong Kui is not that Zhong Kui, just by looking at the appearance, it’s really hard to tell the real from the fake at night.

Taotie is already a rare bear-like man, yet the Store Manager Zhong Kui from the pawnshop isn’t any worse than Taotie.

With his flat nose, wide mouth, full beard, and a face full of ferocity, his grin is sinister and frightening, even more so than Taotie, enough to stop a child from crying.

His pair of bull-like eyes are like iron balls, adding an extra layer of terror, comparable to the real Zhong Kui in a temple.

In Fang Xiaocao’s eyes, the Zhong Kui before him and the real Zhong Kui seem like twin brothers.

It’s easier to tell during the day, but at night, it’s really hard to distinguish between the real and fake.

Compared to him, Taotie is three times more adorable.

"Bold! You see me and yet do not kneel?"

Zhong Kui opened his mouth, his voice screeching like an Evil Ghost, piercing and terrifying.

With his terrifying face, it harbors a unique sense of horror.

However, this trick might work on ordinary people, but against Taotie, it’s a different story.

Because Taotie is a hardcore person who dares to split sticky rice dumplings alive, he’s not afraid of any Ghostly God.

Not to mention knowing that the Zhong Kui before him is a fake, even if he were the real Heavenly Master Zhong Kui, Taotie would still sit down with him, drink two pounds of sweet potato liquor, and chat about Underworld gossip.

For someone this unfazed, do you expect to scare him by pretending to be a ghost?

That’s like eating too much lard, clouding the mind.

"You damned thing, who are you trying to scare?"

"You want me to kneel?"

"Why don’t you get on your knees first and kowtow to me, damn it!"

Would Taotie be willing to be scared for no reason?

Of course not!

Taotie lifted the Two-handed Sword in his hand, the tip pointing directly at Zhong Kui’s nose, shouting louder than Zhong Kui.

His momentum surpassed even that of Zhong Kui.

It was as if Taotie was the real Ghost Catcher.

Zhong Kui was dumbfounded, his tactic which always worked on even the bravest had no effect here. How come it didn’t work on Taotie?

Not only did it not work, but he seemed to be counter-scare.

Where was he going to reason this out?

"Impudent, I am the Heavenly Master Zhong Kui, and you dare to be insolent before me!"

Zhong Kui didn’t give up trying to scare Taotie.

If he couldn’t scare Taotie, he wouldn’t be able to perform the rest of his act.

His strength was one-third reliant on his resemblance to Zhong Kui, intimidating enemies before delivering a lethal blow to instantly kill them.

This tactic always worked.

Especially at night, its effect is maximized.

Although those who roam the Jianghu are ruthless people who live by the sword, few are like Tom and Taotie, who have never done wrongings; despite seeming fearless, they all have moments of guilt, and many have some beliefs, like worshiping Guan Yu, where honoring Guan Yu’s loyalty goes hand in hand with a reverence for Ghostly Gods.

Before joining the pawnshop, this Store Manager Zhong Kui was into metaphysics or, more colloquially, a shaman.

After learning these trickery tactics, combined with his Kung Fu, he miraculously ascended from a second-rate to a First-Class Expert.

Later, relying on these trickery tactics, he crazily amassed resources, becoming a top-tier master, attracting the high-level of the pawnshop, and was taken in as the Store Manager, codenamed Zhong Kui.

After becoming the pawnshop’s Zhong Kui, he again unblocked his governor and conception vessels, being ugly yet flamboyant.

Confident in his ugliness, he had cosmetic surgery to look like Zhong Kui, achieving an additional negative buff of ugliness, his strength increased by another level.

Before encountering Taotie, relying on these trickery tactics and top-tier master strength for the pawnshop, he was nearly undefeated.

He was truly the pawnshop’s ace expert.

This was equivalent to getting the main character’s setting.

Unfortunately, today Zhong Kui ran into Taotie.

A carefree fool.

Destined to taste the bitterness of defeat.

However, the price was a bit high.

One requiring to pay with one’s life.

Taotie hefted his Two-handed Sword and slashed toward Zhong Kui, all pretentious trickery be damned, one slash would cut through it, let’s see how proud you get.

"What the—?"

"You’re not playing by the rules!"

Seeing Taotie attack, Zhong Kui panicked.

It’s the first time in his career seeing someone like Taotie, who neither respects nor fears Ghostly Gods, and even wants to kill them.

Zhong Kui immediately drew the Heavenly Master Sword from his back.

To block Taotie’s Two-handed Sword.

Clang—

The two swords clashed, sparks flying everywhere.

Zhong Kui staggered back two steps.

In the first direct confrontation, Taotie won!

Zhong Kui shook his numbed hand, secretly acknowledging Taotie’s immense strength.

Taotie looked at Zhong Kui and sneered.

In his heart, he was cursing: "Ha, just a flashy but useless snack."

"I thought I met a fellow brother, turns out just an empty-headed fool."

Taotie felt tricked.

Zhong Kui had deceived his innocent heart.

Therefore, he must die.

"Die for me!"

Taotie roared, swinging his Two-handed Sword toward Zhong Kui, today this deceiver of his affections must die, not even Jesus could save him, Taotie decreed.

Zhong Kui knew he didn’t have Taotie’s strength, naturally he didn’t dare to engage directly.

A brilliant idea sparked in Zhong Kui’s mind.

He planned to imitate Tom’s method against Fish Gills, using wit to outsmart Taotie and win the life-and-death duel.

"Hey, idiot, come kill me."

After dodging Taotie’s sword, Zhong Kui began taunting Taotie.

"I’ve never heard of such a request."

"I’ll fulfill it today for you!"

"Die for me!"

Taotie was amused by Zhong Kui’s request.

It was the first time he encountered someone actively seeking death.

Being so considerate, Taotie naturally wanted to satisfy Zhong Kui’s not-too-excessive request.

Taotie took a swift step, rushing toward Zhong Kui.

The Two-handed Sword swung wide, slashing at Zhong Kui.

"What the—, so fast!"

Zhong Kui didn’t expect Taotie’s speed to be so quick.

He was in front of him in less than three seconds.

It was now too late to dodge.

Zhong Kui could only grit his teeth and parry with his sword.

Clang—

The Two-handed Sword, filled with Taotie’s fury, slammed down heavily on the Heavenly Master Sword.

Crunch—

The Heavenly Master Sword, after enduring for three seconds, could no longer bear the pressure and was directly cleaved by Taotie.

With the Heavenly Master Sword gone, the momentum of the Two-handed Sword did not decrease.

After a brief halt, it continued to slash towards Zhong Kui, who was greatly alarmed and hurriedly dodged to the side, but still couldn’t escape the Two-handed Sword’s attack, with a "squelch," blood splattered.

Zhong Kui’s hand holding the sword was sliced off by the sword blade.

Zhong Kui went from Heavenly Master to Guo’er.

Grasping his severed arm, Zhong Kui staggered back, distancing himself from Taotie, glaring at Taotie, his lips trembling, unable to speak for a long time.

Taotie casually flicked the blood off the sword, grinning at Zhong Kui, and uttered a friendly greeting: "Useless pastry."

Zhong Kui’s eyes were about to burst, he quickly tightly bound his severed arm with a sleeve, temporarily stopping the blood, and jumped around, pointing at Taotie and cursing loudly: "Bastard, you’re the useless pastry, your whole family are useless pastries!"