Chương 72: Rain of Blood

The Snapper Deer didn't poke its head out immediately upon reaching the small river. A good five more minutes passed as it stood still, its antlers vibrating more intensely with each passing moment. All of a sudden, the vibration was cut short. Just as Ren thought it might have noticed Iceberg, it propelled itself into the stream like a cannonball. The sharp antlers stabbed deep, skewering seven or eight fantasy piranhas. They fluttered feebly as their crystal-clear blood flowed into the antlers.

Not even one drop fell into the stream. The deer threw their dried husks onto the bank. The vibrations began anew. While Ren watched with fascination, the deer repeated the motions. Vibrate the antlers. Stop and stab. Devour the blood and throw the carcasses. Rinse and repeat. This continued for a whole hour, and by the end, he couldn't even find the energy to sigh. He stared at the inconspicuous lump where Iceberg lay, not moving a muscle, while he slapped the tree bark briskly. Of course, no sound spread.

Fine, I admit it, you win! He had put tons of thought into finding suitable beasts they couldn't defeat with just their superior realms. The Four-Armed Gorillas were stupid and easy to defeat one-on-one, but had crushing numbers. Any reckless move against them would result in Pup's defeat. For Witch, he had found the most disgusting— venomous— creature he could find in the Body Tempering realm, the Shitspitting Crawler.

It's like a xianxia equivalent of the Komodo Dragon, just dirtier— I really can't believe I'm using this word for another beast— with the ability to 'spit' its venomous… you know what it is. Truth be told, Ren felt it was a huge pity to miss watching Witch's perfect match-up. Without her poison and against such a beast, he really wondered what surprise she could give him. It was also a bit guilt-inducing to know that he was missing such an important ritual. I'll make it up to her.

Ren forced himself to shrug and returned his focus to the present. There was nothing Liuxue could do but wait patiently for a chance. And she does that, unlike me. He yawned, leaning back with both hands. How he wished to just change the target! But I can't lose such an opportunity either. And this actually works in my favor. More time to prepare. My hands are already itchy… ugh, I promised not to enjoy it. Behave, you fuckers, behave. As his thoughts spiraled, he didn't remain idle either.

As his fingertips tingled wondrously, silver tongues flowed out. They slipped in and out of the bark like a pod of dolphins traveling, breaching through waves, leaving no mark behind. He let out a turbid breath. The silver tongues spread more and more until they coated the tree's whole inner body. Following his rhythm, they carved out a place for themselves, pulverizing the excess. A faint golden light slipped into the bark, too.

From the outside, he seemed to play a melody, his fingers rattling, only the faint flash of his ring betraying what he was doing. The Snapper Deer stopped right when he finished. The piranha carcasses had already piled into a small hill, and the stream was clearer than ever. His eyes sharpened as he straightened, clasping his hands over his chest. For its very last meal, it had a healthy appetite. The beast crouched and stirred the stream with its antlers, moving at a snail's pace.

Then it poked its head a few inches, its antlers spreading apart as if they were made of rubber. First, a slender beak left the shell's protection, followed by two pairs of purple eyes, one pair over its head while the other below. Unfortunately, not only was the eye count wrong, but even its ears pushed people to contemplate life. It had three freaking pairs of fluffy cat ears… At last, a long-ass neck came into view, with no additional quirk. Ren slumped on his back, already giving up on this accursed creature.

However, the agonizing wait was about to end now. The deer hesitantly reached for a sip, its thorny tongue darting out to lap at the water. Iceberg chose at the exact moment it swallowed. As the predator she was, she burst out of the soft soil without a sound, her dark spiritual energy moving the soil for her. The long dagger slashed through the air, the winged serpent, covered in snowflake patterns, floating around it and hissing venomously. The beast didn't even have time to blink.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Something snapped. The Snapper Deer's right antler suddenly lashed as though it had a mind of its own. It met with the dagger. The clash of two forces only lasted a second before the winged serpent merged into the dagger. Fingers clenched the hilt painfully tight with a new force as Iceberg pushed forward. The dagger streaked across the antler, leaving only a stub behind, its surface perfectly smooth.

She reached its armored neck, and the blade bit into it like a hot knife through butter. Clack! Her dagger stopped cold upon reaching the bone. A miserable bawl pierced through the forest's serenity. Four purple eyes flared wide. A brisk crack split the air as the other antler smacked toward her face. Iceberg didn't retreat. A shorter dagger flashed into her empty hand. She precisely struck a curved place in the antler, the dagger sliding off the bone with a shrill screech.

It wasn't enough to stop it, and the antler still grazed her forehead. Yet at the same time, it gave her a precious second to flutter herself forward and, using her body, push the dagger deeper. A clink sounded as the blade found purchase on its spine-like neck bone. The Deer let out another shrill bawl. It struggled to retract its head. Apparently, it wasn't that easy when a dagger was planted into its neck. Their eyes met amid the stalemate, sparks flying. Sweat and blood trickled down Iceberg's cheeks.

Her agony overflowed from her twisted face, and her arm, bracing against the antler, quivered like a leaf barely holding on. Stray spiritual energy slivers even seeped out of her pores. Seemed to notice this, the beast screeched. It raised its forelegs. Iceberg was helplessly flung into the air and dangled by her daggers. The beast lashed out with both forelegs and the intent to crush her fragile frame. That's it. Ren put his hand on the branch, bracing himself to rise.

He had never planned for her to win, to be honest. Even managing to inflict such a deep injury was an amazing success. She already did a good job. However, Iceberg's eyes snapped toward him for a split second, causing him to freeze. She didn't give him time to ponder the meaning in her gaze. The shrill bone-grazing sound echoed again. Iceberg smiled and let go of the long dagger to grab the shorter one with both hands. Her biceps bulged with strength and a good amount of spiritual energy.

Using the short dagger as leverage, she catapulted herself over its head just as the blade snapped the shorter tip of the antler and came free. The beast instantly tried to retract its head, even giving up on its attack. Thud! It failed, its purple eyes widening in shock. The shell struck the long dagger's handle and drove the blade deeper into its neck.

"Ha!" Iceberg shouted, somersaulting like a violent butterfly. The winged serpent abandoned the long dagger and flashed to the shorter one. Blood splashed as her stab found deep purchase in the beast's head, eliciting a wail. The Snapper Deer toppled backward. Brilliant… brilliant! Ren couldn't help but clap, eyes brightening. He shot to his feet, one foot already in the air, when a shadow dangled in front of him. He halted all at once.

A white serpent, no longer than his leg, flicked its forked tongue as its pair of eerie, rose-colored pupils met with his. They weren't vertical like they should be. No, they were too steady, too piercing. Too humane.

"Miss me?" BOOM! … Liuxue forced her death-tinged spiritual energy flow into the short dagger, wrists trembling, arms shaking with the rebound of the beast's stone-like armor. The winged serpent constantly ate away the waves of spiritual energy the beast shot back, as busy as a bee to keep its thrashing under control. I don't need his babysitting. She'd thought— no, she definitely knew— he would interfere the moment her life came under even the slightest threat. And he would have been right to interfere, in a way.

This wretched beast could take her life with one stomp. It must weigh a few tons, at the very least. She couldn't handle such weight. She didn't need to, of course. Then why do I feel this… terrified? She didn't fear the beast. Her fear was something else… something deeper. Something she couldn't even admit to herself. Liuxue shook the thoughts off and focused on the beast crashing to the ground. She stepped back with a light pat of her feet, taking the dagger with her. A black sheen reflected over its surface.

It was breathtaking, unlike her, who was covered in mud. A spray of blood added another layer of dirt, or an insult, to her face. She stabbed again, ducking under its only intact antler. It wailed. Not in that deep, strong bawl, but in a quiet requiem that lingered in the air, its beak rattling with whimpers and wheezes. It breathed out, unfortunately not in. And from those breaths, wisps of black aura seeped through, inhaled by the winged serpent before she could react. That was new, alright.

Must be related to the forbidden art. She shrugged and turned around. She forced herself to carry her deadpan expression, although even she struggled to contain the slight curve in her lips. Senior Brother exploded. Blood roses rose in a whirlpool. The colossal tree he was on bent like a widow with hungry children, and deafening creaks and cracks erupted with force. Something was flung far away amid the dust, crashing into another colossal tree and cracking it in two. It lodged deep and moved no more. She froze.

She had seen this same explosion. Seen how it devoured men alive, piece by piece, tearing their flesh and feasting on them until they became a part of… it. Those wanna-be demonic cultivators' bloodcurdling screams, followed by their inhuman howls, still— She shivered." Ahh~" said the hateful voice that haunted her every night. Irritatingly, still mellow as a whispered lullaby.

"I see the flair that adorns me has yet to fade. Naughty, are we?" A soft, cold breath caressed her left ear.

"Since such knowledge is apparent to me now, I should express my favor too, hehe." This time, it came from her right. She felt a wet touch on her earlobe. Fleeting but very much real. And bone-chillingly cold. The touch pierced all her defenses, her will to resist shattering as a drop of blood unknowingly slipped from her earlobe. At last, he decided to show himself. The same scholarly smile. The same apathetic expression. The same fire playfully flickering in his vertical pupils. His breath directly hit her face.

"Even an old coldblood like me can't resist this… unbearable heat of your presence, my lovely consort." The Viper licked his lips.

"Let us partake in one cauldron, you and I, so these frozen bones of mine remember your warmth." A scream, raw and hysterical to the bone, tore through her throat.