Chapter Thirty-Two: Monster

Cui Xiu had not anticipated the appearance of this monster. The moment he witnessed the scene, he barely had time to think; his left hand instinctively flicked out, using a deft force to push it aside, while his body retreated swiftly.

A hiss!

His long sword was drawn, held horizontally before his chest.

A sharp clang!

The monster's claws followed, slapping down upon the blade. The collision of its nails with the sword produced a sound like metal striking metal.

The sword in Cui Xiu’s hand had been obtained from the Wu mansion, a weapon for self-defense, and its craftsmanship was naturally of high quality. Yet, even this sword forged from refined steel could hardly withstand the force, forcing Cui Xiu to retreat and dissipate the impact, lest the blade snap.

He had to admit, his own strength paled in comparison to the monster’s; a direct confrontation would be unwise.

The monster cared nothing for Cui Xiu’s thoughts; it was about to attack again. Cui Xiu steadied himself, preparing to respond, when he noticed the monster’s body suddenly pause, its fierce aura shifting as it turned toward the direction where Wu Yu stood.

Danger!

Cui Xiu instantly realized that the monster was targeting Wu Yu.

"Wu, watch out!" he shouted, warning the still unresponsive Wu Yu.

Wu Yu’s body trembled; he turned his head, immediately seeing the monster’s revolting appearance, its skinless form. A wave of nausea surged within him, but the shock snapped him to alertness.

Though he realized the danger, unlike Cui Xiu, who had undergone the tempering of source energy and possessed a vastly enhanced physique, Wu Yu could not react quickly enough. Helpless, he could only watch as the monster lunged toward him with terrifying speed.

Cui Xiu wanted to intervene, but found himself utterly unable to match the monster’s speed, leaving him frustrated.

He must become stronger—this was his thought at that moment.

At the very least, he must not be so slow that he cannot even keep up with such monsters.

But even if he grew stronger, it was not something he could achieve now; it was clearly too late to save Wu Yu.

Cui Xiu did not want Wu Yu to perish here—not only because they shared a decent camaraderie, but also because Wu Yu had traded with him, and for the sake of potential secret manuals to be gained, Cui Xiu preferred nothing untoward to happen to Wu Yu. It would not serve his interests.

Yet, the most tormenting feeling is that of powerless intent.

He could not care about much else—unable to keep pace, he let go of his sword, hurling it toward the monster, hoping to hinder it, if only for a moment.

Unfortunately, whatever the reason, the monster paid no heed to Cui Xiu’s thrown sword; it let the blade fly at it, its eyes fixed solely on Wu Yu.

Wu Yu was about to be seized by the monster, but fortunately, the previously confident Guan Yuan did not falter at this critical moment and arrived just in time.

"Go!"

With a clear shout, a streak of light flashed.

A thunderous crash!

In the blink of an eye, the monster seemed to be struck by something fierce, sent flying several yards away.

It tumbled, nearly falling into the pit at the center of the stone chamber.

Yet the monster was exceedingly robust—not mere brute strength. Its hands clung to the edge of the pit, ten fingers digging tightly into the ground, preventing it from falling.

Cui Xiu turned to look and saw something protruding from the monster’s chest.

Upon closer inspection, it was the hilt of a flying dagger.

Cui Xiu was amazed—such a massive creature had been knocked back by a small flying dagger, a testament to the dagger’s force, which was indeed astonishing.

"Master Cui, please take Master Wu and leave first," came Guan Yuan’s voice.

Cui Xiu knew this was no time for hesitation; hearing the command, he did not linger. He rushed toward the still dazed Wu Yu.

This time, with Guan Yuan present, no one blocked Cui Xiu’s path.

Having undergone several rounds of strengthening, Cui Xiu’s agility and strength had changed considerably. He quickly lifted Wu Yu and dashed into the passageway.

Before leaving, Cui Xiu glanced back and witnessed a startling scene.

Guan Yuan and Brother Zhao had gathered, along with another subordinate of Guan Yuan. The three stood guard at the entrance to the passageway, facing dozens of Liu Family Village villagers whose bodies were beginning to transform, their pale yellow eyes growing ever more eerie.

Meanwhile, the pit in the stone chamber was seething with movement; several fleshy tendrils erupted from within.

Soon, a monster three men tall leaped from the pit.

It was an indescribable creature, resembling an enlarged yellow weasel, with a massive tail studded with black tendrils, its body all exposed flesh, devoid of fur or skin, twisted sinews writhing in the air, disturbing to behold.

The sight of such a monster was almost beyond Cui Xiu’s imagination.

He dared not linger; the creature’s mere form revealed it would be difficult to handle. Keeping calm, he knew if he did not leave with Wu Yu swiftly, he would only hinder Guan Yuan and his companions. Without looking back, he led Wu Yu through the passageway, fleeing toward the ancestral hall outside.

"Wu, Wu?!"

At last, they emerged from the passage. Cui Xiu held his sword in one hand, supporting Wu Yu with the other, breathing slightly heavily.

It was not a matter of insufficient stamina, but the tension of the recent encounter had left his emotions taut. Now, leaving the cavern, he allowed himself a sigh of relief.

He turned to see Wu Yu still lost in the trauma of the cave, unable to regain his composure.

Hearing Cui Xiu’s call, Wu Yu finally looked up. Seeing Cui Xiu’s familiar face, his pallor regained some color, though he was still shaken.

He glanced around, realized they were in the ancestral hall, and his body went weak.

Fortunately, Cui Xiu was there to steady him.

"Cui, thank you for earlier; I’m alright now," Wu Yu said apologetically after regaining his composure, then remarked, "I never imagined such monsters could exist in this world!"

Cui Xiu shook his head in response. He too was amazed by the creature, but his previous life’s experiences kept him from being too shocked; after all, he had encountered ghosts before, and a few more strange things in this world were hardly surprising.

"This place..." Cui Xiu did not answer Wu Yu directly. He glanced at the statue within the ancestral hall, his brows furrowing. "Wu, let’s go outside first."

"Indeed, it’s best to wait outside," Wu Yu agreed, following Cui Xiu’s gaze and noticing the bizarre statue. Recalling the cave, he felt uneasy.

Seeing this, Cui Xiu led Wu Yu out of the ancestral hall.

As soon as they stepped outside, a cold wind swept past, stirring the tangled dead grass before the hall, lending a sense of desolation.

The sky was dim, utterly unlike when they had entered.

Cui Xiu felt something amiss. He looked up—at some point, heavy black clouds had gathered, as if rain were imminent.

Under such weather, the empty Liu Family Village was silent save for the sound of the cold wind; no other noise could be heard. Cui Xiu and Wu Yu seemed the only living souls in the world.

Faced with this scene, their spirits instinctively tightened.

"Cui..." Wu Yu furrowed his brows, about to speak, when suddenly, a change occurred.