Shen Xing's flesh had been peeled away, revealing his stark bones, yet he had not yet drawn his last breath.
A hoarse hiss escaped his lips as blood poured back into his throat. He was too weak to struggle, too weak to cry out in agony, only wishing for a swift death.
But *qian dao wan gua* was not a metaphor in Ying Yi's hands; it was a unit of measurement.
When it was said ten thousand cuts, not one less would be delivered.
The scent of blood permeated the air, and Situ Kong felt as if everything before him was shrouded in a bloody mist. In the distance, faint roars echoed through the mountains and forests.
Even though they were merely on the outskirts of Changming Mountain, the thick stench of blood had attracted the wild beasts of the forest.
If they lingered any longer, they might find themselves surrounded by them.
Nine thousand nine hundred ninety-seven, nine thousand nine hundred ninety-eight... Nan Shiying counted softly. Reaching nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, she slowly stood up, walked to Shen Xing, and pinched his chin, forcing him to lift his head.
Shen Xing's life was drawing to a close. He could no longer see the person before him clearly, his vision blurred into a hazy expanse of blood.
Nan Shiying looked at Shen Xing, at his fleshless bones, at the heart still beating beneath the bone, and found the sight exquisite.
The way the heart pulsed was like the beauty of life's beginnings.
Nan Shiying reached out, her fingers piercing his ribcage, and grasped the vibrant red heart.
Shen Xing believed he had become numb to pain, but the moment her hand closed around his heart, an unbearable agony and suffocation surged into his skull. He felt the terror and despair of life being crushed in her hand. At this moment, Shen Xing's heart held not hatred, or rather, after the initial resentment and curses had faded, his desire was not for the other party to die in torment and humiliation, but rather a hope that his own death might appease the other's anger, a hope that they might spare his wife and children.
"Please... please..."
Before he could utter his plea, Shen Xing's body collapsed heavily to the ground.
Nan Shiying took a step back, not even glancing at Shen Xing's corpse. She casually threw the heart in her palm to the ground.
Xiao Man tutted. She pulled another piece of cloth from her sleeve, took Nan Shiying's hand, and began to wipe the blood from it, grumbling as she did so, "Brother, why do you touch all sorts of dirty things? Look, if I tear off any more of this sleeve, it'll become a short sleeve!!!"
As Xiao Man spoke, she shook her sleeve. Her cuffs were torn in various places, looking as if a dog had gnawed them. A narrow strip of cloth dangled with her movements. If one only looked at the sleeves, they might believe she was wearing beggar's clothes.
Situ Kong knew that these two, who presented themselves as siblings, were actually master and servant. Yet, Situ Kong could also feel the protection and care the former offered the young girl.
Look at that, a maid dared to reprimand her master, but the master not only wasn't angry but even smiled apologetically and appeased her.
If it weren't for the girl's extreme youth, Situ Kong might have thought the master was fond of her.
He couldn't figure it out, so he stopped thinking about it.
"Young Master, we should leave here quickly!"
The roars from the surroundings seemed to be getting closer. Situ Kong glanced around, fearing a wild beast would suddenly leap out from anywhere.
Nan Shiying took the torn cloth from Xiao Man's hand and meticulously wiped her own. She hummed an noncommittal agreement.
"Let's go!"
Changming Mountain rose a thousand feet, its peaks sharp and rugged, its rocks gnarled. In winter, the forests were sparse, leaving only bare branches on the towering ancient trees. The fallen leaves on the ground had long since dried and crackled with a "kacha kacha" sound underfoot.
Ying Yi carried Xiao Man. The rugged mountain path was not difficult for Nan Shiying and the other two, excluding Xiao Man.
Xuan Yi had often remarked on how the Princess's martial arts progressed by leaps and bounds!
Nan Shiying pondered that perhaps it was due to her awakened abilities, which included a talent for learning. However, calling it learning wasn't quite accurate. Nan Shiying felt that "plunder" would be a more fitting description than learning.
But none of that was important.
The further they ventured into the mountains, the thinner and sharper the air became. Nan Shiying took off her cloak and draped it over Xiao Man.
...
Mid-slope of Changming Mountain.
"Senior Brother, I'm scared!"
In a mountain cave halfway up the slope, two ragged figures huddled together. Qing Yuan clutched Qing Zhu's arm, weeping softly.
They had left Linyuan and traveled, journeying until they reached Wucheng.
Changming Mountain was treacherous, yet its forests were filled with rare treasures. According to the ancient texts of their Medicine King Valley, Changming Mountain was home to many marvels: century-old blood ginseng and flame feathers; the Jade Flower that bloomed once a decade; and the supremely poisonous Desperate Grass and White Gu.
They had traveled here and decided to ascend the mountain to collect herbs.
Little did they expect to encounter... to encounter... Qing Yuan shuddered, the image they had seen at that time chilling her to the bone.
It was her fault; she had been too scared and, in her panic, had stepped on a dry twig. Their group of over a dozen had scattered while fleeing, and now their Senior Brother and Master were lost to them, their fate unknown. Qing Yuan, both terrified and self-reproaching, had not eaten properly for days and was now ravenously hungry.
"Yuan Yuan, don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Senior Brother will protect you," Qing Zhu said, his lips pale. He knew that having stumbled upon such a secret, those people would not let them go. But even if there was only a sliver of hope, he had to get Yuan Yuan down the mountain.
Yuan Yuan sniffled. She knew in her heart that they likely wouldn't make it out alive. How could those people, those demons, let them leave alive?
Yuan Yuan suddenly looked up, her expression one of horror as she scanned their surroundings. "Senior Brother, someone is speaking in my ear. Senior Brother, the fog is poisonous, it must be poisonous."
Yuan Yuan heard someone whispering in her ear, the voice gradually growing frenzied, interspersed with the sounds of chewing flesh and swallowing blood amidst their hoarse screams.
She covered her ears, wanting to scream but unable to bear it. Yet, with all her willpower, she suppressed her instinctive reaction. She bit down hard on her clothes, and through the fabric, bit her own flesh.
The pain suppressed the sounds in her ears.
Qing Zhu held Yuan Yuan tightly.
The fog was poisonous, disturbing the mind, but he could not cure it, he could not!
...
On the mountainside, a figure flashed by.
"Have you found them?"
"Not yet!"
"Useless! Keep searching. You must kill all those who know. The Heavenly Maiden has not yet awakened, and the final ritual is still missing a link. We absolutely cannot afford any mistakes now!"
"Yes!"
The figure vanished, and silence returned to the forest.
Only a person wearing a Rakshasa mask stood atop a tree canopy, their sharp eyes surveying the surroundings.
Not a single one of those rats from Linyuan would be allowed to escape!