Chapter 63: The Art of Deception

Once he had figured out all the issues at play, Liu Zhi understood how to deal with this Leif. Liu Zhi raised his voice and declared, “Step back, let me handle him. Just follow behind me.”

Hearing this, the corpse-soul naga, who was locked in combat with Leif, immediately withdrew to Liu Zhi’s rear, paying no heed to the fact that Leif was in the midst of unleashing a powerful attack.

At that moment, Liu Zhi faced Leif head-on, striking out as he taunted him, “Stop pretending. All your moves are just figments of your own mind, aren’t they? You can only display them within the hearts of others. The more someone believes in them, the stronger your attacks become. But the moment someone stops believing, you’re nothing but weak.”

As he said this, Liu Zhi’s sword kept slashing toward Leif. He was using the basic sailor’s swordsmanship—not flashy, but tempered by more than ten years of experience. In battle, he focused all his attention on the fight, and before long, he sensed that Leif’s strength was now almost equal to his own.

Meanwhile, the powerful attack Leif had been preparing remained in its preparatory phase, showing no signs of progress. Liu Zhi didn’t even bother to avoid it according to the instructions on the mural; instead, he simply charged forward headlong.

This reckless swordsman’s approach rendered all of Leif’s preparations useless. With each exchange, Leif grew weaker. He tried several times to retreat into the white mist, but Liu Zhi blocked him with agile footwork.

At the same time, Liu Zhi paid close attention to the problem of the white mist, which was made of steam. Having been tricked by Leif once before, Liu Zhi now hesitated at every thought, weighing his options carefully. If he was truly uncertain, he preferred to pretend he hadn’t noticed and solve things the simplest, most direct way—by beating Leif.

Time proved Liu Zhi’s approach correct. Several times, Leif managed to slip into the white mist, only to be forced to return. It was clear that if he performed his tricks alone, no matter how well he acted, it did him no good.

Finally, Leif lost his temper. With a wild roar, he raised his sword and charged at Liu Zhi, his swordplay now wild and unrestrained, like a madman hacking at his foe.

But Liu Zhi could tell there was a method to his madness. Despite the apparent lack of defense, all the gaps in Leif’s technique were in fact calculated traps, waiting for someone to take the bait.

Faced with this, Liu Zhi simply responded to each move as it came, not rushing to attack.

The calmer Liu Zhi remained, the more frenzied Leif became. In the end, Leif’s skin turned a strange shade of red. Liu Zhi also noticed tentacles like those of an octopus sprouting from Leif’s chin, and small bumps rising on his brow.

“So you really are a demon,” Liu Zhi remarked as he parried Leif’s blows, “though I have no idea what kind you are. If I did, you’d already be dead.”

Provoked by Liu Zhi, Leif bellowed, “It’s you who will die! I curse you—Xander Elance Eid, I call your name, will you answer?”

“No!” Liu Zhi shot back without hesitation. What nonsense was this? A demon, trying to play at some Journey to the West trick?

No sooner had he replied than Liu Zhi’s vision blurred. It was as if he had been transported to another realm.

He now seemed to stand amid the stars, and before him towered an enormous Leif, magnified countless times. Leif looked down at him and spoke in a calm voice, “Xander Elance Eid, become my servant. Offer me your life.”

Liu Zhi found his body was not entirely under his control. He was raising his hand, ready to use his sword to cut off his own head.

Yet Liu Zhi remained unflustered, even closing his eyes. He found that even with his eyes shut, he could still perceive everything before him: the starry expanse, the colossal Leif standing before him, himself so small he could barely reach Leif’s feet.

“Impressive—even my mind is being affected. But you’ve overlooked one thing: how could I possibly use my true name before a demon? So you haven’t controlled me after all.”

Just as Liu Zhi finished speaking, the space before him rippled faintly.

It was now obvious that the real Leif was hiding somewhere nearby—so close that Liu Zhi could have killed him with a simple swing.

Yet at this crucial moment, Liu Zhi held back, instead stepping aside to leave an opening.

Leif was clearly taken aback. He couldn’t understand why, with Liu Zhi poised to kill him, Liu Zhi would suddenly retreat.

“Don’t be fooled by my sword—I’m actually a mage. A necromancer. That naga lady isn’t my follower, but my undead servant. So your mind magic has no effect on her. She’s right behind you, watching. Farewell.”

As Liu Zhi spoke his parting words, the corpse-soul naga appeared behind Leif—but not exactly where Liu Zhi had seen him, rather a bit further back.

She raised all four arms high, her sword and dagger crossing in the air as she struck forward.

Leif’s body was instantly sliced into eight pieces.

He had not anticipated this outcome. All his defenses had been concentrated to the front, waiting for Liu Zhi to strike so he could counter accordingly.

He never expected this ending. In a flash, the starlit vision vanished, and Liu Zhi found himself back in the great hall, where the white mist was growing thicker.

Leif’s severed head rolled across the floor, coming to rest at Liu Zhi’s feet.

Leif struggled to open his eyes and asked, “When you hadn’t yet discovered my traps, why didn’t you bring those things down with you? Those are the items every hero uses to fight demons.”

Liu Zhi shot him a glare, stepped forward, and stomped on Leif’s head, crushing it to pieces.

He had no intention of giving his enemy any chance to relax through pointless explanations.

After smashing Leif’s head, Liu Zhi took out the Staff of Death, pointed its lightning coral at the rest of Leif’s body, and unleashed two bolts of lightning.

Only when he was sure there was no hidden spark of life left in Leif did Liu Zhi finally breathe easy. Leaning on the Staff of Death, he gave his half-formal answer to Leif’s dying question.

“I’m used to fighting Yogg-Saron with zero lights.”