Chapter 252: The Lurker

Sun Fuling smiled, "Only deities, dwelling high above the nine heavens and having no substantial conflict with humanity, could possibly bring this about. Look, ever since nations appeared in the human realm and began utilizing primal energy, the power of monster immortals and human immortals has gradually waned. Wild monsters can no longer compete, and even Taoist cultivators must bow before the Son of Heaven, seeking titles and positions."

He Lingchuan asked in surprise, "If that's the case, why do some people still claim that primal energy was taught by immortals?"

Sun Fuling explained, "Historical records show that during the Middle Ages, monstrous beasts ran rampant, plaguing the populace. People regarded floods and monstrous beasts as the two great scourges. Immortals, or rather, cultivators, were their mortal enemies. As the spiritual energy in heaven and earth dwindled, cultivators hoped to seize it from the monstrous beasts, and vice-versa. Some old scholars believe primal energy was taught by immortals because, for a long time, sects and nations allied to combat monsters. To face a common enemy, the sects deliberately befriended humans. As for deities, they are simply too ethereal, unseen and unproven."

Consequently, human nations spread across the world, while most monsters were driven into the wilderness and vast marshes.

Anomalies like the Northern Monster Kingdom were, after all, rare.

"Deities..." It was a mysterious term, but He Lingchuan had heard it on many occasions. Earlier, Nian Songyu had even invited a deity to possess him, aiming to seize the Great Square Pot. "Why would they help humans?"

Sun Fuling spread her hands. "How many people in this world truly understand such ethereal beings? I've heard countless legends, all of them far-fetched."

She chuckled, "You'd be better off asking Commander Zhong or General Hong about that."

Indeed, those two were closer to deities than most people.

He Lingchuan scratched his head and changed the subject. "How do you want to spend these two weeks of vacation?"

"I want to go..."

A sudden scream from the west interrupted her.

The voice was high-pitched, belonging either to a woman or a child.

The sound abruptly ceased, but He Lingchuan had already pinpointed its direction. Pointing to the golden rain tree beside them, he told Sun Fuling, "Stay under the tree and don't move!"

The golden rain tree was large. Although its leaves had fallen in winter, its trunk formed an angle with the nearby low wall. The sun was now setting in the west, casting no light on this spot, making it a very concealed place to stand.

He himself ran towards the sound.

After scaling three low walls and passing two earthen houses, he saw a child lying face down on a doorstep.

He Lingchuan turned him over.

It was a boy of about six or seven, his eyes wide with terror. His cervical spine was broken.

There were also several bloody holes on his neck, as if punctured by sharp claws.

The boy stared blankly at He Lingchuan, his lips moving without uttering a word, before he drew his last breath.

The dead cannot be brought back to life; catching the culprit was paramount. He Lingchuan laid the child's body down and examined the surrounding traces.

Having served as a patrol guard and hunted monsters several times, he had accumulated considerable experience. He now saw a footprint on the ground next to the child's body—

It was a human footprint, but it was shorter than the length of his palm.

He leapt onto the wall and found two streaks of fresh blood on the tiles, where the assailant's forelimbs had pressed, stained with the child's blood.

He activated his Swallow Return movement technique and pursued in the determined direction.

Over three months of diligent day-and-night training had shown results. He moved through the narrow streets and cramped houses, his speed barely hindered by obstacles, almost as agile as a real swallow.

Immediately afterward, he saw a dark shadow flash over a wall to the east, as if it had jumped into someone's window.

He had caught up!

He Lingchuan followed, landing silently on the roof tiles, holding his breath and waiting.

For a good while, it didn't emerge, perhaps waiting for He Lingchuan to enter.

He didn't fall for it. He lit a small medicine bottle and threw it through the window.

With a clang, the bottle shattered.

Soon, thick, murky yellow smoke billowed from the doors and windows, accompanied by hoarse coughing sounds.

Was the assailant really human?

This medicinal smoke was used to drive monsters and wild beasts, like weasels, foxes, or cave spiders, out of their lairs, but it worked just as well on humans.

Just a few breaths later, He Lingchuan saw a dark shadow leap out of the window and flee wildly.

The distance between them was only about two or three zhang.

He was prepared. With a flick of his wrist, the concealed mechanism activated, and a sleeve arrow shot out.

It hit.

However, he had aimed for the back of the heart, but the arrow struck the opponent's leg instead.

Attacking a fast-moving object still lacked a bit of precision.

The dark shadow staggered, let out a strange growl, and continued to rush forward.

He Lingchuan secretly lamented.

The sleeve arrows he carried were common ones bought from Skinny, their material and force merely mediocre, barely passing. If he had used the custom-made purple-gold sleeve arrows from Li Fubo, the dark shadow's thigh would surely have been pierced through, and with a rope attached to the arrow, He Lingchuan could have simply yanked it back.

Here, the sleeve arrow could only serve to slow it down.

The importance of equipment often became apparent only at critical moments.

He Lingchuan dared not delay, leaping off the roof to give chase.

The thick smoke had not yet dissipated, obscuring his vision. The moment he landed, he felt a slight disturbance of air behind him and was instantly seized by a chilling premonition.

An ambush!

Without time to think, his knees buckled and legs went soft, executing a sideways roll. His right hand grasped the hilt of the saber at his waist, and he swung it forward in a forceful slash!

Indeed, another dark shadow had been lurking behind him, enduring the stinging smoke to deliver a blow to He Lingchuan's back.

This thing was actually working with a partner!

Fortunately, He Lingchuan reacted quickly.

Even so, he felt a burning pain in his back.

He had sustained an injury after all.

If he had dodged half a second later, this thing would probably have carved several large holes in his back.

Fortunately, his saber also struck the opponent's chest, but the impact felt like hitting worn leather, without the satisfying sensation of cleaving through flesh.

But the dark shadow shrieked in pain and unleashed a furious barrage of attacks on He Lingchuan.

With a few clangs, their weapons clashed, sparking in the swirling smoke.

Only then did He Lingchuan realize that this creature was more than a full size larger than the first dark shadow he had pursued, but far less agile. No wonder its first reaction after being ambushed was to lurk and counterattack rather than flee.

Moreover, the dark shadow choked on several mouthfuls of smoke while roaring, which slowed its attacks. If not for its tough hide, He Lingchuan would have long since cleaved it to death.

Its epidermis was tougher and thicker than a century-old vine, and the patrol guard's battle-hardened saber inflicted limited damage. As long as it protected its head and neck, He Lingchuan was momentarily powerless against it.

With this thick hide, it was almost invincible.

He had now clearly seen his opponent: it was gaunt, like a skeleton covered in skin, but its skin was dark and covered with fine scales.

At first glance, it appeared humanoid, with longer lower limbs than upper, capable of walking upright and attacking. However, its forelimbs had only three toes, and its claws were like hooked scissors, possessing astonishing hardness that could directly withstand He Lingchuan's saber.

Even more terrifying was its face...

It had no face; its head only featured two sunken eye sockets, from which green phosphorescent lights flickered. Another hole, whether a nose or a mouth, emitted a hissing sound like an insect.

Suddenly, it spat a glob of thick green phlegm at He Lingchuan.

They were close, and the creature had a direct, precise spitting style. He Lingchuan dared not let it hit him, so he instinctively raised his saber to block.

Immediately afterward, he heard a faint sizzling sound from the saber blade, accompanied by a strange odor.

If that viscous glob had splattered directly onto his face, then...

He would have to bid farewell to his handsome appearance in this dream, wouldn't he?

Just then, a shadow flickered on the wall. The agile monster He Lingchuan had been pursuing earlier returned, joining the battle without a word.

One was fierce, the other fast; it was two against one. What were his chances of winning?

He Lingchuan was in dire peril.

If not for his recent life-or-death training at the Martial Arts Hall, which had rapidly improved his mindset and martial skills, he would have been disemboweled and taken out of action after just two exchanges.

But he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold on.

Should he risk an injury and take out the agile monster first? He was pondering this when he heard a "whoosh." Someone had thrown a pot of boiling water from behind, drenching the sturdy monster completely.

The creature immediately shrieked, its movements becoming erratic.

Its cry was peculiar, resembling both an insect's hiss and a night owl's wail.

How could He Lingchuan miss such a perfect opportunity? Taking advantage of its instinctive turn, he brought his saber down on its neck.

He knew this thing had tough skin, so he attacked with all his might, putting every ounce of strength into the blow.

At the same time, a dark object struck the monster's head with a resounding "thump," precisely knocking it towards the long saber.

Bluish liquid splattered, but He Lingchuan dodged it.

The monster's neck was mostly cleaved open, but the bone wasn't entirely severed, still connected by a small section.

But his saber broke.

The blade had been corroded earlier, and then its owner had used it to strike with immense force; it could no longer withstand the strain.

The sturdy monster collapsed to the ground, twitching faintly. Its companion, seeing the unfavorable turn of events, turned and fled, moving even faster than before!

He Lingchuan shot another sleeve arrow into its back, but could only watch as it sped away.

"Why are you here?" By now, the smoke had largely dissipated, and he could clearly see the person who had helped him—

Sun Fuling.

She was still clutching a large pot, which had a deep dent in its bottom.

She had just poured boiling water onto the monster and then delivered a forceful blow to its forehead with the pot, a perfect coordination with He Lingchuan. Otherwise, he might not have been able to cleave the monster's neck.

The monster on the ground couldn't stand, but was still reaching out with its claws. Seeing it about to touch Sun Fuling's shoe, He Lingchuan yanked her back. "Didn't I tell you to wait under the tree?"

"It got too lively here." She seemed largely unfazed, merely bending down to observe. "What in the world is this thing? Its neck is mostly severed, yet it's still alive."

He Lingchuan admitted, "I haven't seen one either." Since joining the patrol guard, he and his team had slain at least forty to fifty monsters, and none looked like this.

Calling it a monster was less accurate than calling it a malevolent spirit.

Yet, specters feared the true fire of the sun, typically not active during the day, and certainly not under direct sunlight.

During the pursuit, he had clearly seen the sunlight falling on the monster without causing it any discomfort.

"Where did you get the hot water?"

Sun Fuling pointed inside the house. "I took it from the stove; it had just boiled."

"Someone lives here?"

"Yes, they're dead on the floor." Sun Fuling turned and walked into the house.