Chapter 261 – Unforgiven (II)

Chapter 261

Unforgiven (II)

I’ve noticed more changes as we got deeper into the forest.

The first one was that our lanterns weren’t lighting it up nearly as well. Whereas they used to give us a decent enough buffer when we only used one, it was impossible by now; we had to use two, one on each side as we walked.

It was as though the shadows of the forest swallowed up the light, feeding on it.

The second one was that the roars were growing more frequent. Whereas before, we’d usually have to wait at least ten or so hours between each one, the frequency now was down to about just three hours now, which meant that we mostly walked all day long, with very little rest in-between.

The third one, and by far the most terrifying one, was that the corpses weren’t just hidden under the patches of moss any longer.

Some weren’t even hidden, period.

Just now, we came to a bit of a screeching halt as we came upon a tree whose trunk was defaced by a body jutting out rather oddly. The limbs were crooked and bent, almost like branches, with the head hung low, expression still serene even if the eyes were just pitch-black orifices.

When there is one, there are bound to be more, and before long almost every tree had a corpse jutting out of it.

Some even had two.

… seriously.

Fuck this place.

I’ve piled on many regrets throughout my life, but coming here might legitimately be top two or three, ever.

Only one thing is certain to top it, but that isn’t really saying much.

This wasn’t a forest, not really–it was a horror show the likes of which I never want to experience again.

A feeling strongly reinforced when I slipped slightly, thinking it was a root, only to look down and see that it was actually a corpse wrangled by a set of roots.

Even the kids, steel-veined as they were, hardly remained composed.

“What kind of a place is this?” Dai Xiu grunted. “This is pure evil.”

“Maybe it’s… some kind of a graveyard?” Wan Lan supposed, seeming just as uncertain.

“Whatever it is,” Xi Zhao said. “I’m never coming back here again.”

Ah, good to see that even these gremlins have some limits.

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“AAAAHHHHGGG!!”

The roar was so loud that it startled all of us, including the old alchemist; it was also so loud that the entire forest quaked for a moment–but only the ground. The trees themselves remained completely still, as though they were a painting rather than actual, existing objects.

“Let’s go,” Long Tao’s voice drew us out, and, to be honest, his rather nonchalant countenance did help. It meant, at least, whatever this place was… wasn’t that terrifying.

Following his lead, we resumed walking toward the voice, trying our best to ignore the litany of bodies decorating the trunks of the trees, positioned in every imaginable way.