Chapter 651

Chapter 651: The Monster

In the depths of the forest, something was rapidly approaching.

Several men stood pale-faced, their legs trembling, the stench of urine and filth clinging to them as it seeped down their legs. Zhu Mo wrinkled his nose in disgust.

One of the men, shaking uncontrollably, pointed behind him in terror. “A man-eating monster! Please, I beg you, save us! A man-eating monster!”

Even before he could finish speaking, a grotesque creature lurched forward—its body rigid, eyes a terrifying shade of crimson.

With a chorus of terrified screams, the men scrambled to hide behind Zhu Mo, tumbling and crawling in their desperation.

“Roar…”

A chilling growl echoed from the creature’s throat. Its long, unkempt hair draped over its face, barely revealing a pair of bloodshot, muddied eyes. Its movements were stiff, lacking the agility of a normal person.

“Step aside immediately, or don’t blame my sword for being merciless!” Windchaser and Zhu Mo stepped forward, their spirit swords gleaming with a deadly, cold light.

“Kill them! Quickly, kill them!”

“They’ve already lost their minds; they’re no longer human!”

“They attack anyone they see! One bite and the affliction spreads, turning victims into the same mindless creatures! Please, kill them before it’s too late!” The trembling men’s fear shifted to elation upon realizing that Windchaser and Zhu Mo were cultivators.

Zhu Mo said nothing but turned to look at Lu Chao Chao.

“No,” Lu Chao Chao stepped forward, her delicate brows furrowing. “They still retain some consciousness; they have not fully succumbed.”

“What does a little girl like you know? They are beyond saving! If we don’t kill them now, they’ll turn into creatures that feel no pain, no fear! Kill them now!” The burly men, already scared out of their wits, had tears and snot streaming down their faces.

The creatures before them were not large in stature. Looking closer… they appeared to be women.

Their bodies remained stiff as they opened their mouths, producing guttural noises as if struggling to form words. Their eyes, though clouded, locked onto the men with unwavering intensity.

“They have no intention of attacking us,” Windchaser observed. “It seems… they bear hatred toward those men behind us.”

Lu Chao Chao’s voice was soft but sharp. “What did you do to them?”

“Nothing! Heavens be my witness, we are only trying to survive in this chaotic world! We are just refugees, searching for a way to live!”

“We merely took shelter in the forest when these monsters attacked us.”

“Please, kind masters, save us! We’ve done nothing wrong!”

“Monsters don’t need a reason to attack, do they?!”

“They are no longer human! Even if you break their limbs, they’ll still crawl forward to bite you! You must not let them go!” The large man whimpered in grief. “My brother was bitten to death by them.”

The creatures seemed to understand the accusation. Their eyes flared with hatred, their hoarse cries tinged with sorrow. Despite Windchaser and Zhu Mo standing in their way, they lunged forward with desperate fury.

The cowardly men behind them, already paralyzed with fear, suddenly showed a different kind of desperation. One among them, seeing Windchaser’s hesitation, let a dark gleam of malice flash in his eyes. He crept closer to the one who looked the weakest—Lu Chao Chao.

His large hand shot toward her delicate neck, which was small enough for him to grasp in one hand.

“Haha! Why must you force me?” His eyes gleamed with cruelty, a wicked smile curling his lips.

He had observed carefully. This little girl, clad in luxurious garments, spoke in a soft, childish tone. The others seemed to encircle her protectively.

She must be of noble birth.

If he could take her hostage, they would have no choice but to obey.

“Kill those monsters! Now! Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens next! This little girl’s life must be valuable, yes? If you want her to live, do as I say!” Behind him, the previously weeping and terrified men straightened their backs, revealing their true nature—bandits, hardened and ruthless.

Though their opponents were cultivators, they held a hostage. They were willing to gamble on that leverage.

Lu Chao Chao’s voice remained eerily calm. “So, you are not innocent. You’ve done something to them, haven’t you?”

The rogue smirked. “So what if we did?”

“Do it now, or I won’t be responsible for what happens next!”

Xie Yu Zhou sighed deeply and began chanting over his wooden fish.

“Of all people to take hostage, you picked her?” he lamented. “You just grabbed the most dangerous one.”

The bandit felt a chill. The group before him did not show fear or panic. Instead, they regarded him with amused mockery.

A deep sense of unease gripped him. “What kind of game are you playing?! Do as I say!”

“I…” His voice cut off in a gurgle.

Blood poured from his mouth in thick spurts.

His head tilted downward in disbelief. The delicate-looking girl before him had tilted her head, her expression pure and innocent.

Yet her small hand was buried in his chest.

She gripped something that pulsed and throbbed within, slowly tightening her fingers.

“Guh… no…!” His teeth, stained red with his own blood, gnashed together in terror. His pupils reflected Lu Chao Chao’s smiling face.

Demon. A demon!

He heard a sickening squelch.

His body crumpled, lifeless.

Everything happened in a flash. The other bandits barely had time to react.

“You couldn’t have picked a worse target,” Xie Yu Zhou shook his head. “Even the Seven Sins dare not call themselves her equals.”

The remaining bandits turned to flee.

Windchaser’s sword gleamed, cutting through the air.

The bandits screamed as the flying sword pierced them, impaling them together like skewered meat.

One bandit, in his frantic escape, stumbled near Shan Shan. The wet nurse holding him flinched as blood sprayed onto her face.

The small child in her arms kicked his legs excitedly. “Meat skewers!”

Lu Chao Chao shot him a glare. [Can I ever eat grilled skewers again now?!]

The bandits had no time to even close their eyes before death claimed them.

The creatures let out guttural cries, but as blood-red tears streamed down their cheeks, they did not step forward.

They remained on the slope, gazing at the corpses of the bandits, hesitant to approach.

“They… are they asking us to follow?” A-Man whispered. She had a keen sense for emotions.

“Let’s go.” Lu Chao Chao took the lead, following the creatures. They moved with stiff, lurching steps but occasionally turned back, as if making sure the group followed.

Ahead, a cave entrance appeared. Inside, signs of habitation were evident.

Still-glowing embers smoldered in a crude fire pit, surrounded by straw bedding.

At the center stood a pot, its contents bubbling ominously.

A strange, acrid scent filled the air.