Chapter Sixty-Five: The Warrior of the Demonic Path

“It’s not that, I just suddenly realized you’ve regained your figure,” Liu Wen shyly turned away, climbed up next to Ma Yi, and lay on the bed, staring at him.

“Figure?” Ma Yi was startled for a moment, then understood, a mischievous smile spreading across his face as he stood up.

“Haha, today we can finally consummate our marriage. You’ll truly be my wife now,” Ma Yi laughed as he pounced toward her.

Like a flower, Hua sat beside Liu Xue’s bed, watching her quietly and listening to the sounds outside. With her acute hearing, even the buzzing of a mosquito outside the villa wouldn’t escape her notice, let alone noises just one floor away. Liu Wen’s voice rang out without the slightest attempt at concealment.

“These young people nowadays!” Liu Guoliang shook his head, got up from his study, and returned to the bedroom. Seeing his beautiful wife sitting on the bed, he felt a surge of impulsiveness.

“What are you up to?” Chen Fang asked curiously, glancing at her husband.

“It’s been so long since we’ve… you know.” Liu Guoliang grinned apologetically.

“In your dreams! I look just like a twenty-eight-year-old bride now, and look at you, you old geezer—I don’t want any of that,” Chen Fang replied with a laugh.

“Hmph, tonight I’m the old bull eating the tender grass. So what?” Liu Guoliang grinned wickedly and lunged at her, and soon the room was filled with their playful wrestling.

Ma Yi rummaged through the room and found the cigarettes he’d stashed away. He suddenly realized he hadn’t smoked in ages—ever since he became a child, the craving for nicotine had vanished. But now, seeing the cigarettes, his throat itched with longing.

He drew one out and lit it, savoring a deep inhale. The rich aroma filled his lungs, a wave of satisfaction washing over him.

Liu Wen, exhausted, nestled in Ma Yi’s arms, a faint smile on her lips and a look of deep contentment on her face.

At dawn, Ma Yi was still lost in dreams when Liu Xue’s knocking startled him awake. He’d been busy until four in the morning last night and had barely slept. Glancing at the clock, it was only around eight. He didn’t want to respond.

“If you don’t open the door, I’ll kick it down!” Liu Xue threatened from outside.

“We’d better get up,” Liu Wen said hurriedly, grabbing Ma Yi’s hand as he started to misbehave, her face flushed with embarrassment.

“Let her fuss; let’s sleep a bit longer,” Ma Yi smiled, drawing Liu Wen into his embrace, breathing in the intoxicating scent of her hair, and slowly closing his eyes.

Outside the door, Liu Xue snorted in frustration and fell silent.

It was nearly noon before Ma Yi and Liu Wen finally dragged themselves out of bed. The room was quiet—Liu Xue had probably gone off to play, and Liu Guoliang and his wife weren’t in the living room. Only Li Li was quietly waiting in the first-floor hall. When Ma Yi got up, she hurried over to ask if he needed anything to eat, or perhaps some pastries.

Eating Li Li’s cooking, Ma Yi gave a contented belch. Liu Wen ate lightly, still weary from last night’s exertions.

Liu Xue was excitedly watching several petite zombie warriors sparring, shouting sarcastic comments at both sides to spur them on.

Just as Ma Yi had taught, Erha and Hammer were wielding iron rods, colliding them together. The rods never actually touched—there was a six or seven centimeter gap—yet a piercing friction sound erupted from their closest points. Ma Yi, with his sharp eyes, saw two opposing waves of vibration clashing between the rods at different directions and frequencies.

Bang! Hammer, being a level lower than Erha, was clearly outmatched in strength and skill, and was knocked aside by a single swing.

“Boss!” Iron Pillar greeted Ma Yi first. He felt a bit disgruntled—these little guys were stronger than him, though he was the biggest of them all, his strength was the weakest. Still, he remembered Ma Yi’s words and said nothing.

“What are you up to?” Ma Yi smiled, looking at the triumphant Erha, who was now the strongest in the villa district aside from Ma Yi.

“We’re having a match between the Demon Team and the Giant Team. Demon Team will win!” Both of Erha’s heads always spoke together, or not at all, so chatting with him meant hearing everything twice.

“Demon? Giant?” Ma Yi glanced around, and it was just as Erha said: on Erha’s side were all those under one meter fifty, while Iron Pillar’s side had at least two-meter tall giants.

Ma Yi murmured the word “Demon,” and a strange spark flashed through his mind. Scenes from novels, TV shows, and movies he’d seen flickered in his memory. He recalled his research into zombie bodies during his campaigns in the southern base. An astonishing idea took shape: whether it was his own transformed appearance or the zombies’ evolving forms, Ma Yi suspected zombies might be turning into another race, or perhaps the so-called zombie was merely a stage of evolution that must be confronted.

Just as dinosaurs vanished from history, yet new life forms continued to shape the earth, Ma Yi hastily summoned Erha and the other warriors.

“Transform for me, let me see,” Ma Yi said. He himself had never transformed during the Purification or the Superior stages, so he wasn’t familiar with his transformed appearance. Facing lower-level evolvers, he’d never needed to unleash his full power.

“Okay, boss. Transform!” Erha stepped forward as Ma Yi requested.

Copperhead and Fatty also came over and transformed as Ma Yi instructed.

“Just as I thought,” Ma Yi observed Hammer and Fatty, who reached ten meters tall—almost identical to Ma Yi’s transformed size. Yet on their foreheads, a small horn protruded. Indeed, each had just one horn, resembling a muscular version of the mythical Golden Horn and Silver Horn. The horn grew from the center of their foreheads, pointing upward. If Ma Yi’s horns were like those of a water buffalo, these two had horns more akin to a rhino’s—thick at the base, narrowing to a sharp tip.

Erha was different; his height was similar, around ten meters. Normally a chubby kid, but after transformation he became a robust twin-headed giant. Both heads sported two horns each, growing from the center of their foreheads: a smaller one in front and a thicker one behind, resembling the double horns of a male rhinoceros.

Aside from the two types of horns, the most notable thing was the skin. Whether Copperhead or Erha, their skin was a deep blue, like that of an elephant. Compared to Ma Yi’s jet-black transformed skin, theirs was much lighter, with red stripes winding around their bodies. Hammer’s and Fatty’s stripes were thin, like painted tattoos, while Erha’s were wider, resembling red crystals embedded in his skin. Notably, Erha had grown a tail—a tailblade.

Ma Yi recalled that after his own transformation, the red crystal-like areas turned into flowing magma-like patterns, creating an illusion of movement. He understood much more now.

If Purification-level zombies gradually become more human-like, then transformed zombies have entirely surpassed the zombie category. They resemble the magical demon races from novels and TV.

Ma Yi was actually curious about what Iron Pillar would look like after evolving to Purification or Superior level. So far, those who had reached these stages had all taken Ma Yi’s blood, so he suspected their transformations were shaped by the influence of his blood.

“From today onward, Iron Pillar, you’ll train twice as hard. Strive to break through to Purification-level soon—I’m really looking forward to seeing how you turn out,” Ma Yi said frankly to his subordinates.

“Brother-in-law, transform for me! Look how ugly they are after transformation,” Liu Xue stood by, checking each one, amused by their imposing aura. As a human, and with her brother-in-law present, she felt no pressure at all—she was even interested and critiqued their forms. Seeing their clothes burst from the transformation, Liu Xue hatched a plan but kept her face calm, looking at Ma Yi.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ma Yi chuckled. Since meeting Liu Xue, she had always been a spice in his life. Liu Wen’s elegance and steadiness established her as the main wife, Hua had gone from beating Ma Yi to obeying him, whatever he said she would do her best to accomplish, and she never caused trouble even if Ma Yi brought other women home.

Liu Xue was different. If not for Ma Yi’s brother-in-law status, her personality would cause chaos. Just a morning without supervision, she had already stirred up two factions among his men, naming them Demon Team and Giant Team—a name they certainly couldn’t have come up with themselves. Yet her mischief had just solved Ma Yi’s long-standing doubts.

“Brother-in-law, transform! Sister Hua says you’re like a great demon king,” Liu Jing folded her arms, her eyes shining with a pitiful look as she gazed at Ma Yi. Currently, Ma Yi was shorter than her, and Liu Xue deliberately crouched to keep her head below his, looking up with her delicate face.

“It’s already noon—go eat. Li Li’s cooked, and your sister sent me to call you. I almost forgot,” Ma Yi slapped his forehead, remembering his purpose, and skillfully shifted the topic, bringing Liu Wen into it. Liu Xue was obedient to Liu Wen—her sister’s words were even more effective than their parents’. According to Liu Wen, when Liu Xue was little and misbehaved, the adults couldn’t bear to discipline her, but Liu Wen once gave her a good beating. Since then, Liu Xue has feared her sister deep down.

“Hmph, stupid brother-in-law.” Liu Xue rolled her eyes, straightened up, and walked toward the villa. As she passed behind Ma Yi, she made a funny face at his back and stuck out her pink tongue.