The area shrouded by the "Mist Veil" wasn't vast—about ten meters in diameter—but dense trees prevented a straight path. After circling around fifteen meters, two dark figures emerged ahead.
Zhao Laosan had reached the edge of the formation; any further delay, and he'd escape.
Spotting him, I quickly called out, "Third Brother!" feigning confusion, "What's going on here? I've been walking in circles!" Referring to him as 'brother' wouldn't earn his trust; instead, he saw me as a 'pawn.'
Turning around, Zhao Laosan spat, "You little bastard, who let you in?"
I replied earnestly, "It was Big Brother Zhao. You all have been in here so long; he got worried and sent me to check. But I got lost too. Luckily, I ran into you!"
As I tried to approach, the starving ghost beside him grew alert, opening its massive mouth wide enough to swallow my head. It was both terrifying and disgusting.
I panicked momentarily—had the ghost sensed the blood on me? Soon, I realized it was simply hungry and wanted to eat me.
Zhao Laosan smirked maliciously, "Old friend, just a bit longer!" Clearly, he intended to feed me to the ghost.
I quickly pleaded, "Don't eat me! Third Brother, I know Mount Longhu's techniques; I might be able to break this formation!"
"Oh?" Zhao Laosan eyed me skeptically. "Seems you might be useful." He grabbed the back of my collar, placing me in front. "You have three minutes. Fail, and you're dead."
The starving ghost hovered above me, drooling. Its saliva turned into yin energy upon contact, extinguishing one of my yang flames and sending chills through me.
Despite the danger, I was pleased. Earlier, Zhao Laosi's ghost tattoo hadn't fully manifested before he was incapacitated. Zhao Laoda's ghost was decapitated, causing some trouble. Now, if I could strike the vital point, this would be simpler.
However, opportunities are elusive. I hesitated, waiting for the perfect moment. The ghost grew impatient, circling me.
Time slipped away; three minutes were nearly up. Zhao Laosan mocked, "Seems Mount Longhu's reputation is overrated. You're useless."
The starving ghost, delighted, lunged, grabbing my head to bite. In that instant, its waist and abdomen were exposed.
Seizing the moment, I struck with my blood dagger. The ghost's expression froze, then its body exploded, releasing pure yin energy, which the dagger absorbed.
Zhao Laosan stood behind me. Without hesitation, I reversed my grip and stabbed backward. Feeling the hit, I turned to see his eyes wide, mouth agape, a demon-hunting arrow protruding from his mouth—shot through the back of his head.
Clearly, upon sensing danger, Zhan Ling had acted. Facing away from an enemy is fatal.
My dagger had also pierced him, absorbing significant blood energy. I withdrew it, avoiding the spurting blood.
Zhan Ling's arrow was lethal, but I felt uneasy. Perhaps, with more experience, this feeling would fade.
I shook off the thought.
Zhan Ling, guided by Huang Jiu, approached. Glancing at the corpse, she remarked, "Little brother, you may look young, but you're quite ruthless. I'm impressed." She licked her lips suggestively.
Ignoring her, I prepared my blood dagger and moved toward Zhao Lao'er.
Among the four, Zhao Lao'er's ghost was the most formidable but also the least intelligent. His ghost tattoo, a two-year-old ghost infant, affected his intellect.
When we found him, he assumed we were allies. The ghost infant perched on his head, looking fierce. It seemed to scowl at everyone.
Children often believe that a fierce expression instills fear. Unaware that true menace isn't about expressions.
Zhao Lao'er was unsuspecting. Zhan Ling and I quickly found an opening. As I slew the ghost, she simultaneously snapped Zhao Lao'er's neck.
She killed without hesitation.
Watching Zhao Lao'er's life fade, I didn't hesitate either. I plunged the blood dagger into him, capturing his final breath.
Witnessing four lives end so swiftly left me numb.
We'd only met hours ago; who knows what evils they'd committed?
But the blood dagger reacted, indicating they deserved death.
Huang Jiu, seeing the matter resolved, jumped off my shoulder. "One moment they're fierce, the next they're corpses. Life is unpredictable. I'm craving chicken!"
I kicked him lightly, "Quit whining. The commotion here might alert the Earth Master. Let's clean up and head up the mountain!"
Huang Jiu