Chapter 161: Today is Not the Day I Kill You

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As soon as Xun Huwen makes himself known, the abomination’s flesh starts squirming, turning, and making all sorts of uncomfortable noises. Its enormous body shrinks right before their very eyes, becoming lean and gaunt, though still more than capable of swallowing a grown man whole. Its face loses its horns, tusks, and snout, leaving behind something unnervingly human-like.

Thankfully, it doesn’t grow any eyes. Feng Zhi doesn’t think he could bear it if a beast like that had human eyes. Still, the ease with which the abomination morphs tells Feng Zhi its corpse-like, rotting appearance is a deliberate choice from whoever controls it rather than a natural consequence of it being a mass of dead flesh.

How… tasteless.

“Curious,” the abomination says, now with a mouth and teeth that look entirely too much like a man’s. Feng Zhi fights the urge to shudder. “You… are most curious, visitor from the other side.”

Xun Huwen taps his foot against the ground exactly once.

The abomination’s left ear goes flying off, ripped away by some invisible force neither Feng Zhi nor Xi Mou can see.

That is how easily Xun Huwen could kill them if he wanted to.

“I have no interest in pleasantries,” Xun Huwen says. “You said this meeting was no accident, yet our quest was only decided on weeks ago. We did not even know how we were to be transported. How exactly did someone from the other side receive word of our presence?”

The abomination merely chuckles in reply. Feng Zhi narrows his eyes as it reconstructs its ear with ease. It is as just as he thought. Its regeneration is actually reconstruction. He should have realized it when the monster so easily split into three creatures of identical size. Whenever the creature suffers damage, whoever controls it just reshapes his monster.

The mass contained within its body must be absurd.

“Explain…? Visitor from beyond the plains, there is no need to explain. I have come here to make sure none of you leave. That is all you need to know.”

“How brazen of you.” Xun Huwen grins and eagerly starts walking towards the giant beast. “I thought I had come here for the Feng, yet staying with you might just be more fun.”

The abomination grins.

“If it is the Feng you seek… I have no issue waiting until you’re done with them. It is all the same.”

Xun Huwen.

Stops.

He stops, and Feng Zhi and Xi Mou’s hearts follow suit. Their knuckles go chalk white. Feng Zhi winces as he accidentally draws his own blood from how hard his nails are digging into his palms.

Terrifying as Xun Huwen is, there was some comfort to be found in the interest he showed for their grotesque adversary. However, if he joins forces with him, there is no way they will leave this place alive.

Feng Zhi can only hope Feng Hao is running as far away from this place as possible.

Xun Huwen chuckles.

“Oh, rest easy, Young Master,” Xun Huwen says, somehow managing to make the title sound like an insult. “Today is not the day I kill you.”

He shows them his back, and they almost fall to their knees.

“A pity,” the abomination replies. Multiple spikes grow all over its body as it readies itself for battle.

“Only a little,” Xun Huwen says, his aura simmering around him. “Besides, if I tried to kill him, an annoying eavesdropper would interrupt me. Isn’t that right?”

“That is indeed the case.”

Feng Zhi and Xi Mou step back in surprise as another person appears on the battlefield. Feng Zhi first recognizes him as a Core Disciple, then he identifies him as Elder Xun’s personal disciple.

Mud.

“Oh?” Xun Huwen raises an eyebrow and looks back as Mud appears in front of Feng Zhi and Xi Mou. “So you finally show your face in front of me.”

“This Mud and his face are behind you.”

Xun Huwen twitches, and merely one second ago, the gesture would have evoked fear in Feng Zhi’s soul. That is no longer the case. Feng Zhi will not go as far as to say he suddenly feels safe. That would be utter foolishness. However, Mud’s presence brings an odd sense of tranquility. Judging by Xi Mou’s lack of reaction to Xun Huwen’s irritation, Feng Zhi can tell he’s not alone in feeling like that.

“It seems this Mud has offended. Very well, I shall retire.”

Before Feng Zhi even realizes what is happening, Mud has his hand on his shoulder and is dragging him and Xi Mou away with a movement technique. In the span of a single breath, they put several miles between themselves and Xun Huwen.

And yet, when Xun Hunwen unleashes an attack on the abomination, they all feel it.

“You saved us,” Feng Zhi says, trying to keep his balance as the earth begins rumbling. “Wait! My brother! He’s still back there and-”

“Your brother is headed that way.”

“What?” Feng Zhi looks at the spot in the horizon Mud is pointing at. “But the cave-”

“Young Master Feng Hao made a hole through that cave using the Eternal Flame.” Mud sounds almost impressed. “At least, that’s what I believe he did. This Mud arrived a few seconds after. The Young Master is trying his best to hide his Qi while running, but you should be able to catch up to him easily.”

Mud turns to Xi Mou, who immediately tenses up in response. The Core Disciple peers into his eyes for an unnervingly long time.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“You are not the sort of company I would like to leave the Young Master with, yet there are no other alternatives. Go now. Do not stop for anything or anyone. It is not safe for Young Master Feng Hao out there.”

“Go?” Xi Mou asks. “You will not accompany us?”

Xi Mou may be from a different faction, but it is natural for him to want Mud to stay with them. They may all be Core Disciples, but Mud is undeniably their better. If Xi Mou hadn’t asked, Feng Zhi would have.

“Collecting Young Master Feng Hao is not my mission. Containing Xun Huwen is,” Mud replies.

As if to reaffirm the necessity of his purpose, the tremors around them intensify as Xun Huwen unleashes more power. Even looking in the direction of the fight hurts Feng Zhi. It is hard to believe the difference between him and Xun Huwen is that of only one cultivation realm.

“Go now. Before it is too late.”

“You believe Xun Huwen can be defeated?” Feng Zhi asks, half-hoping.

“No,” Mud replies. “I believe there is still time for him to decide to join forces with his foe.”

It is all he needs to say.

Feng Zhi and Xi Mou start running.