Chapter 62: The Sparrow Lurks in the Shadows?

As Qin Ming neared the house, footsteps echoed softly beneath the storm's roar. With one swift motion, he vaulted over the wall, landing soundlessly in the yard.

Immediately, he launched a flying kick, sending one of the adventurers sprawling through the air. Hearing the scuffle, the other two turned sharply to face him, only to be met by the lethal blur of his hand slicing through the rain.

"Skill! Sonic Blade!"

A flurry of cutting wind whooshed forward, each swipe generating sharp blades of air that cleaved through the storm as he charged. Though Qin Ming's bare strength was lower here without his equipment, the others were just as defenseless, their own defenses equally vulnerable.

One of the adventurers wisely let go of the contested item, narrowly dodging the air blades by diving for cover. But the other, who clung stubbornly to the inheritance package, wasn't so lucky. Stumbling in his retreat, he was repeatedly slashed by the incoming blades, blood splattering as the attack cut deep. Even the wall behind him was gouged with slashes.

Howling in pain, he was helpless against Qin Ming's final kick, which sent him hurtling through the house's shattered window.

Qin Ming snatched the inheritance package and, without hesitation, bolted toward the wall, vaulting it in a single bound. The remaining two adventurers scrambled after him, but as soon as they poked their heads over the wall, they were met with another round of cutting air blades.

The sonic barrage split raindrops into mist, slicing chunks from the brick wall. The two adventurers ducked for cover again, allowing Qin Ming to escape. By the time they dared to look again, the dark houses around them had come alive with the flicker of flashlight beams as villagers emerged to investigate.

Exchanging frustrated glances, the three adventurers quickly scaled the wall and melted into the night, leaving only a battered yard and broken windows in their wake.

Outside the village, Qin Ming sprinted across the rain-slicked fields, clutching the stolen inheritance. His brow furrowed with uncertainty—should he return home first, or open it here?

Before he could decide, a piercing whistle of air approached from behind. He instinctively dove forward, landing face-first in the muddy ground, as a figure shot overhead, landing heavily with a powerful kick where he'd just been standing.

Realizing she had missed, the assailant quickly pivoted, aiming a brutal kick at him.

But Qin Ming was faster, intercepting her leg with both arms. With a powerful shove, he threw her off balance, spinning her in mid-air before delivering a bone-rattling kick to her chest, which sent her skidding across the field.

He watched as she leaped back to her feet with a swift kip-up, twin daggers drawn and stance wide, her face obscured beneath a hood.

Shoving the inheritance into his coat, Qin Ming assumed a combat stance. The two combatants locked eyes in the pouring rain, holding still for a beat before launching themselves toward each other.

The woman clearly had martial training—her twin blades danced dangerously close, leaving arcs in the air as she slashed with expert precision. But Qin Ming, now armed with upgraded combat skills and ironclad resilience, matched her stroke for stroke.

After a relentless exchange of blows, Qin Ming managed to grab her wrist, taking a shallow cut to the shoulder as he forced her arm away.

A dangerous glint flashed in her eye. She twisted her arm, activating her hidden skill.

"Skill! Raging Blade!"

With a skill inspired by Ryuji Yamazaki from King of Fighters, she unleashed a blinding four-part slash across Qin Ming's torso. She had aimed for his neck, but Qin Ming's quick retreat meant her attack slashed across his chest instead. Four deep cuts appeared, his shirt shredding under the assault.

Yet that was all. With the Iron Body skill, Qin Ming's natural resilience had transformed him into a near-impervious fortress. Without her equipment, her attacks were insufficient to penetrate his defenses.

Seeing her best skill falter against him, the woman's eyes widened in horror. She readied her daggers to strike again but faltered, her energy suddenly drained as if sapped from within.

Glancing down, she realized Qin Ming had sunk his teeth into her arm, initiating his Essence Drain skill.

"B-level skill, Essence Drain... activate!"

As energy drained from her body, she could barely emit a strangled gasp before her once-strong limbs began to wither, her body visibly weakening.

As her stats dropped by five points in every attribute, Qin Ming's physique expanded, a surge of strength revitalizing him. He delivered a crushing kick to her chest, sending her sprawling.

A moment ago, they had been evenly matched. But with her stats crippled and Qin Ming enhanced, their power levels had shifted drastically.

His skill gave him the ultimate advantage in these fights outside Nightmare Space, tipping the scales by a combined swing of ten points. For adventurers unable to rely on equipment, such a massive disparity in base stats could mean the difference between life and death.

The woman staggered to her feet, breathing heavily. She looked up just as Qin Ming unleashed a storm of Sonic Blades.

Shards of wind cut through the rain, carving through her clothes and leaving her bloodied.

Before she could recover, Qin Ming opened his palms, charging his final attack.

"True Sonic Blade!"

With a deafening roar, two converging streams of air twisted forward, cleaving the woman's body in half. Her torso separated, slumping to the mud in a spray of rainwater and blood.

A peal of thunder boomed overhead, the storm intensifying as Qin Ming lowered his arms, letting the rain wash over him. He gazed down at her wide-eyed, lifeless body, speaking coldly.

"You shouldn't have followed me."

Another crack of thunder, and the woman's body began to dissolve, disappearing into the earth. All traces of her blood vanished, leaving only a single glowing key in its place—the ominous, red-tinted key of an adventurer's bloodline.