As Lu Xuan approached the stronghold’s perimeter, he immediately noticed the missing gate—leaving the interior fully exposed.
“What… is that?”
His eyes locked onto the scene ahead.
A man was sprinting toward him in sheer desperation, chased by what looked like a baby-sized monstrosity.
It was him.
Lu Xuan instantly recognized the fleeing figure—the same man who had openly despised him earlier.
…..
Su Tianqi ran like a man possessed, his legs pumping wildly as if he wished he had twice as many.
Because the horror chasing him—the White Lotus Blood Infant—had abruptly abandoned its fight with Li Yanran…
And chosen him as its new prey.
That bitch Li Yanran!
Why couldn’t she hold it back?!
He didn’t want to die!
With bloodshot eyes, Su Tianqi hurtled toward the stronghold’s entrance—only to see a tall, motionless figure blocking his path.
Rage surged through him.
Who dares stand in my way when I’m fighting for my life?!
But as he drew closer, recognition struck.
Lu Xuan.
“You bastard!” Su Tianqi snarled. “MOVE!”
“AAGH—!”
Before he could utter another word, his left arm sheared clean off, sending him tumbling forward in a spray of blood.
The pain was blinding.
The monster had caught up.
Gritting his teeth, Su Tianqi rolled onto his back—and froze.
The creature was chewing on his severed arm, its grotesque maw dripping with gore.
A wave of primal terror shot up his spine.
No hesitation.
Ignoring the agony, he scrambled toward the gate—only to see Lu Xuan still standing there, seemingly paralyzed by fear.
A vicious idea took root.
If I can’t outrun it…
Then let this fool be the distraction!
“DIE FOR ME!”
With his remaining arm, Su Tianqi lashed out, aiming to shove Lu Xuan into the Blood Infant’s path.
But his hand passed straight through.
Like striking a mirage.
THUD!
Su Tianqi face-planted onto the dirt, his mind blank with disbelief.
How—?
Then he saw them.
Tiny, blood-smeared feet stepping into view.
His head jerked up.
Two hollow white eyes stared back, inches from his face.
Shreds of his own flesh still clung to the creature’s teeth.
“H-Help—”
CRUNCH.
A jaws unhinged—and snapped shut.
…..
From a distance, Lu Xuan frowned at the blood-drenched, infant-sized abomination.
What is this thing?
A bandit hideout shouldn’t harbor such monsters.
And the bandit I interrogated never mentioned it.
The creature was now devouring its meal, pale hands ripping flesh with unnatural strength.
Suddenly—
WHOOSH!
A figure streaked from the stronghold, her aura blazing with blood energy.
Li Yanran.
Her fist smashed into the Blood Infant, sending it flying with a screech.
Lu Xuan’s brow arched.
The woman from before.
The Bloodforge warrior.
But her condition was dire—one thigh soaked in blood, her robes saturated crimson.
“RUN!” she roared at Lu Xuan the moment she landed.
No arguments there.
If even a Bloodforge expert feared this thing, it wasn’t worth his time.
“Split up!” Li Yanran yelled. “That’s a White Lotus Blood Infant—an artificial horror created by the cult! Whoever survives must warn the magistrate! If it escapes—”
A guttural hiss cut her off.
The Blood Infant had already risen, its wounds steaming faintly before healing seamlessly.
Li Yanran’s blood energy… had done nothing.
“Go! I’ll hold it—”
SHINK!
The creature lunged—
But something blurred past her.
A towering figure intercepted the Blood Infant mid-air.
BOOM!
A kick sent the monstrosity rocketing back into the stronghold, vanishing into the darkness.
And the figure followed.
Li Yanran stood frozen.
Her mind blank.
The entire exchange had lasted less than a breath.
She hadn’t even seen it clearly.
