All Turned to Human Skin

Lin Fan turned around and saw a smiling man standing behind him, having appeared there at some unknown moment.

The man was slightly plump, with a very amiable expression.

This person was Wu Hai. Lin Fan had some impression of him—during the last Monthly Test, he was an old Menial Disciple with cultivation at the Second Grade of Spirit Gathering Realm, just like Wang Biao.

Moreover, he was quite popular on the first floor of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, always greeting both newcomers and old-timers with a full smile, rarely making enemies.

"Junior Brother Lin, I've invited a few fellow disciples to head down to the Market Below the Mountain together. That way, we'll have company on the road there and back."

"You haven't been to the market yet, have you? How about joining us?"

Wu Hai invited warmly.

From his tone, he hadn't only invited Lin Fan but quite a few others as well.

Under normal circumstances, more people meant more safety, but Lin Fan, looking at Wu Hai's honest, simple smile, couldn't shake a faint sense of something off.

He immediately shook his head and smiled. "I'll go another day."

Wu Hai didn't take offense. He just narrowed his eyes and still chuckled. "In that case, we'll plan for next time."

With that, Wu Hai walked straight into the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.

Lin Fan followed suit at the right moment.

He noticed that after inviting him, Wu Hai went on to invite others—Wang Biao, Feng Ling, and several other Menial Disciples who had performed well in the last Monthly Test.

But without exception, old-timers like Wang Biao all turned down his invitation.

In contrast, most of the other new Menial Disciples eagerly accepted Wu Hai's offer.

With his Second Grade Spirit Gathering cultivation, Wu Hai had a strong chance of becoming a Formal Disciple in the future. For these new Menial Disciples, building a good relationship with him now was a rare opportunity.

Of course, not all new Menial Disciples joined in. Quite a few had their own thoughts and didn't rush to commit.

"Brother Lin, Qi Hui just came to invite me to go down the mountain."

Lin Fan had just returned to his spot when Zhou Wanqing sidled over and whispered.

"Qi Hui? Wu Hai's roommate?"

Lin Fan paused, then quickly caught on.

"Yeah, but I didn't agree."

"She's already invited quite a few female Menial Disciples, and many of them agreed to team up and head down to the market."

Zhou Wanqing said quietly.

Hearing this, Lin Fan fell into thought.

This Wu Hai was clearly no simple character. Not only did he personally invite other Menial Disciples, but he also had his roommate invite the remaining female ones. There had to be some scheme behind it.

"Brother Lin, when are you planning to go down the mountain?"

Seeing Lin Fan silent, Zhou Wanqing couldn't help asking.

She knew Lin Fan really wanted to visit the market too.

"No rush. Let's wait a bit longer."

Lin Fan smiled slightly.

As they spoke, Wu Hai and Qi Hui had already led over a dozen Menial Disciples out of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion in a bustling group, heading toward the market below the mountain.

Time flew, and soon it was afternoon.

"Brother Lin, those people who went down the mountain still haven't come back."

"Do you think something happened to them?"

Zhou Wanqing, who had just finished her work, suddenly looked up and asked.

Lin Fan was startled, then looked out beyond the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, but saw no approaching figures.

The dozen or so Menial Disciples Wu Hai had taken down the mountain were long overdue. If Zhou Wanqing hadn't spoken up, he might have nearly forgotten about it himself.

"I don't know."

"But under normal circumstances, Menial Disciples aren't allowed to stay out overnight. If they haven't returned before dark, then something really has gone wrong."

Lin Fan's heart tightened as he spoke.

He then glanced at the other old-timers. Wang Biao sat as steady as a mountain, buried in copying texts, while Feng Ling was whispering with the Delicate Girl across from her.

The entire first floor of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion seemed calm, as if nothing had happened.

By the time the sun set, Wu Hai and the others still hadn't returned.

Only then did Lin Fan fully realize that things were far from simple.

"Brother Lin, those people..."

Zhou Wanqing grew uneasy, hesitating to speak.

"Let's talk about it when we get back."

Seeing her like this, Lin Fan spoke soothingly.

The two rose and walked out of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.

Just then, Feng Ling also emerged from another direction.

Catching sight of Lin Fan and the girl's close, intimate manner, Feng Ling cast a glance with her beautiful eyes.

As she brushed past Lin Fan, she suddenly spoke: "If you're going to the Market Below the Mountain, it's best not to trust anyone. Go in the morning if you can, and come back before noon."

With that, she turned to leave.

"Sister Feng!"

"How about we team up together?"

Before Feng Ling had taken more than a few steps, Lin Fan's voice came from behind her.

"Not interested."

Feng Ling gave a light snort, pulled the Delicate Girl along, and walked straight away.

"Brother Lin, she's pretty good to you."

Watching Feng Ling's retreating figure, Zhou Wanqing said softly.

She wasn't jealous—she just thought Feng Ling was a decent person.

Lin Fan smiled, then took Zhou Wanqing's hand and headed toward their lodgings.

Meanwhile, in a secluded spot.

"Brother Wu, we're all Menial Disciples of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, and you're the one who brought us down the mountain."

"Now you're blocking us from going back—what exactly do you mean?"

A young man mustered his courage and stepped forward to demand an answer.

"What do I mean?"

Wu Hai grinned, then his arm suddenly twisted and transformed into a pitch-black tentacle that shot out like a bolt.

The young man's soul fled in terror as he instinctively dodged, but before he could react, a sharp pain pierced his heart.

"Ah..."

The young man screamed as his heart was impaled by the tentacle. Before the blood could even spurt out, the writhing appendage sucked it dry in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, he went from a living person to a desiccated, wind-dried human skin.

"Monster..."

"Run... run!"

This sight sent the remaining Menial Disciples' scalps crawling with terror. Like startled birds, they scattered in every direction.

But their speed was no match for the black tentacles that shot after them.

"Wu Hai, we're all Menial Disciples of Blood Soul Peak! If you slaughter your fellow disciples like this, aren't you afraid the higher-ups will investigate?"

One Menial Disciple, seeing no way to escape, roared out.

"This is the Blood Demon Sect. A Menial Disciple's life is worth less than a pig or a dog. You think anyone will avenge you?"

"Don't be naive. Becoming my nourishment and helping me become a Formal Disciple sooner—that's your honor."

Wu Hai grinned, his once-honest face twisting into something hideous and savage.

Madness filled his eyes as his tentacles relentlessly impaled the panicked Menial Disciples around him, greedily draining their blood.

With every person's essence he absorbed, the aura he emitted grew several times stronger, and another black tentacle sprouted from his body.

In just a few breaths, over a dozen Menial Disciples had all turned into dried human skins.

"Brother Wu, they all deserved to die."

Qi Hui's pretty face was pale as death, but she forced herself to step forward and flatter him.

She was terrified that Wu Hai might finish her off too.

"You've served me well these past days, and you've helped me lure quite a few female Menial Disciples down the mountain. Once I become a Formal Disciple, I'll treat you well."

Wu Hai said with a smile.

Qi Hui's face lit up with joy, and she hurriedly replied, "Thank you, Brother Wu!"

But the moment the words left her mouth, her delicate body shuddered.

Qi Hui's expression froze, her eyes filled with confusion as she murmured, "Why... why..."

She crumpled. A black tentacle had pierced through Qi Hui's chest, greedily sucking the fresh blood.

"Grown tired of that flavor. Time for a change."

Wu Hai smiled cruelly.