32: Death Guard

The Devilish Qi took the Opportunity to possess Old Mrs. Wang.

Throughout the entire process, everyone remained completely unaware.

This wisp of Devilish Qi seemed to have eaten its fill and did not directly consume Old Mrs. Wang.

"You old woman, what are you doing?"

A Martial Artist stepped forward and pulled Old Mrs. Wang back.

When the rat demon was alive, you hid far away. Now that this thing is dead and has become our spoils of war, what do you mean by coming up to kick it a few times?

"Alright, stop crying. It's just a dead person! What's the big deal?"

"Maybe you'll all be reunited again soon."

The Martial Artist spat and turned to discuss the division of spoils with his brothers.

"This is our first time killing a demon, brothers. I didn't expect it to be so easy."

A second-grade Martial Artist suddenly said with a laugh.

"Yes, I didn't expect this rat demon, which looked terrifying, to be so easily defeated. Brother, how should we divide these spoils of war?"

Following his gaze, a basin-sized rat demon corpse lay sprawled on the ground, its once sharp claws now limply hanging, its fur disheveled and stained with patches of blood.

Many Martial Artists' eyes were fixed on the rat demon's corpse, filled with unconcealed greed.

For these low-level Martial Artists, the flesh and blood of demonic creatures contained special energy. If consumed, it could not only enhance their own Qi and blood but also, to a certain extent, increase the speed of their Cultivation.

In their daily lives, to find such an Opportunity, they would have to take countless risks in these dangerous mountains...

At this moment, another Martial Artist stepped forward and raised his voice, saying, "How else can we divide it? Of course, we divide it equally. Everyone is second-grade! No one should try to take advantage of anyone else."

After speaking, his gaze fell on Lu Ming and Lin Yao, who had remained silent.

"What do you two say?"

Everyone's eyes collectively turned to Lu Ming and Lin Yao, who stood to the side.

Lu Ming slightly narrowed his eyes, then gently nodded. To be honest, he didn't really think much of this rat demon meat.

Lin Yao stood quietly beside Lu Ming, not speaking.

This meant they agreed.

Before long, everyone had completely divided the rat demon's corpse.

The Mortals could only watch from the side, not daring to step forward.

Upon seeing this situation, Jin Zihua was accustomed to it. Not everyone was as fortunate as the people of Chang Sheng Village, who, as Mortals, could still have the privilege of tasting the flesh and blood of demons.

The four words "more work, more gain" in a chaotic world meant that the strong were respected.

Would Mortals have grievances?

Would Mortals dare to have grievances?

No, nor did they dare.

Just like the situation earlier, if it weren't for the Martial Artists' intervention, very few Mortals would have survived.

This is how the world operates, and everyone within it is the same.

Jin Zihua sighed haphazardly, stood up, looked at the corpses on the ground, rubbed his hands, and said to everyone, "The smell of blood here means it's not a place to linger. Let's hurry on our way!"

"Yes, yes, yes, hurrying is important!"

Everyone quickly agreed, and all of them hastened to pack their belongings and continue their journey.

"Although the Prefecture City has bad feng shui, making it easy to become weak and sick while living there, one can still barely survive until death. The demons outside are truly too terrifying."

"Yes, yes, it makes me miss life in the Prefecture City."

"I wonder if Chang Sheng Village can accommodate so many of us?"

...The group discussed in low voices.

After walking a considerable distance, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Jin Zihua's carriage led the procession, and Wang Tu simply jumped in.

After what they had just experienced, the two could be considered comrades who had faced life and death together.

"Shopkeeper Jin, how much further is Chang Sheng Village?"

"About another day's walk."

"Shopkeeper Jin, I keep feeling that something about what just happened isn't right. This rat demon shouldn't have been so weak, logically speaking. What exactly is wrong?"

Upon hearing Wang Tu's words, Jin Zihua's brows furrowed slightly. He scanned his surroundings and said in a low voice.

"Brother Wang, do you mean... there's something wrong with this rat demon?"

Although Jin Zihua had traveled extensively, his skills were focused on business and appraising treasures. He wasn't truly good at fighting.

However, Wang Tu was a third-grade Martial Artist, and he believed Wang Tu's words.

Wang Tu nodded, his expression grave.

"Yes, although rat demons aren't major demons, they shouldn't be so easily slain by us. Moreover, when the rat demon's corpse was being divided just now, I felt something was off, but I couldn't pinpoint what it was."

Jin Zihua pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "You have a point. Is it possible that this rat demon was already injured before it came down the mountain?"

Wang Tu's expression softened slightly upon hearing this.

"What Shopkeeper Jin said isn't without reason, but my heart is still pounding, and I just can't feel at ease."

"Don't worry, nothing will happen."

Although Jin Zihua used these words to comfort Wang Tu, only he knew that he himself was also restless, as if a stone was pressing down on him.

Fortunately, the group continued for another seven or eight hours without any problems.

Jin Zihua gradually relaxed.

*

In the evening, the group happened to reach an abandoned village and rested there.

Early the next morning, the sleeping group was awakened by screams.

"Ah—! Someone's dead! Someone's dead!"

A villager at the back of the group was slumped on the ground, his face pale, his finger trembling as he pointed to a corpse not far away.

The corpse was one of the guards who had been on night watch. Now, he was shriveled like a withered tree, his guard uniform hanging loosely on him, his exposed hands like chicken claws, with only a thin layer of skin over the bones.

"What... what happened?"

Wang Tu quickly walked over, his expression instantly becoming grave—the deceased was not an ordinary person, but a second-grade Martial Artist.

Jin Zihua also rushed over. Seeing the horrific state of the corpse, his brows furrowed tightly: "This... his vital essence has been sucked dry."

He hadn't even finished speaking when the surrounding crowd began to stir.

Fear spread rapidly like a plague. Everyone nervously looked around, afraid that they would be next.

"Could it be... a ghost?"

Someone asked tremblingly.

Ghosts love to absorb human vital Qi.

"Don't talk nonsense! If it were a ghost, how could it only consume one person?"

"It could also be a devil."

Another person retorted, feigning composure, but with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Jin Zihua took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

"Everyone, don't panic! First, check the surroundings to see if there's anything unusual!"

Upon hearing this, everyone began to act.

However, apart from the shriveled corpse, no other abnormalities were found in the surroundings.

"Shopkeeper Jin, maybe it's just an accident. Let's hurry up and leave."

"Yes, yes, yes, didn't you say Chang Sheng Village has a master overseeing it? Once we get there, we'll be safe."

The villagers still held onto a glimmer of hope, but Jin Zihua, looking at the corpse before him, felt a solid layer of goosebumps.

It definitely couldn't be an accident, and the ability to silently drain a second-grade Martial Artist into a dried corpse made him think of only two words—possession!

Jin Zihua's gaze subtly scanned the surrounding crowd, growing more and more horrified as he looked.

"Go, go."

"Yes, yes, yes, let's hurry and go."