Lin Fan turned around and saw a smiling man standing behind him. He had no idea when the man had arrived.
The man was slightly plump, with an easygoing face.
This man was called Wu Hai. Lin Fan vaguely remembered him. During the last Monthly Test, he had been an old menial disciple whose cultivation, like Wang Biao's, had reached the Second Grade of Spirit Gathering Realm.
Moreover, he was quite popular among the people on the first floor of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion. Whether he was dealing with newcomers or old disciples, he always wore a smile and rarely made enemies.
"Junior Brother Lin, I've invited a few senior and junior brothers to stroll around the Market Below the Mountain. That way, we'll have someone to look out for us on the way there and back."
"You haven't been to the market yet, have you? Why don't you come with us?"
Wu Hai invited him warmly.
From the sound of it, he had invited not only Lin Fan but quite a few others as well.
Under normal circumstances, safety came with numbers. Yet as Lin Fan looked at Wu Hai's honest, smiling face, he couldn't help feeling that something was indescribably strange.
He immediately shook his head and said with a smile, "I'll go another day."
Wu Hai wasn't annoyed. He merely narrowed his eyes slightly and continued smiling. "In that case, I'll ask you next time."
With that, Wu Hai entered the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.
Lin Fan followed him inside at the right moment.
He discovered that after inviting him, Wu Hai continued inviting others, including Wang Biao, Feng Ling, and several other menial disciples who had performed well during the last Monthly Test.
Without exception, however, Wang Biao and the other old menial disciples rejected his invitation.
Instead, many of the newer menial disciples eagerly agreed after receiving Wu Hai's invitation.
Wu Hai possessed Second Grade Spirit Gathering cultivation and had a high chance of becoming a Formal Disciple in the future. If they could build a good relationship with him now, it would be a rare opportunity for these new menial disciples.
Of course, not every new menial disciple joined. Quite a few had their own thoughts and didn't rush to state their positions.
"Brother Lin, Qi Hui just invited me to go down the mountain with her."
Just after Lin Fan returned to his spot, Zhou Wanqing came over and spoke in a low voice.
"Qi Hui? Wu Hai's roommate?"
Lin Fan was startled, then quickly understood.
"Yes, but I didn't agree."
"She's already invited quite a few female menial disciples, and many of them have agreed to form a group and go down the mountain to the market."
Zhou Wanqing spoke in a low voice.
Lin Fan pondered thoughtfully upon hearing this.
Wu Hai clearly wasn't simple. Not only had he personally invited other menial disciples, he had also gotten his roommate to invite the remaining female menial disciples. He must have been plotting something.
"Brother Lin, when are you planning to go down the mountain?"
Seeing Lin Fan fall silent, Zhou Wanqing couldn't help asking.
She knew that Lin Fan also really wanted to visit the market.
"There's no hurry. Let's wait a little longer."
Lin Fan smiled faintly.
As the two spoke, Wu Hai and Qi Hui had already led more than a dozen menial disciples out of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion in a grand procession, heading toward the Market Below the Mountain.
Time flew. In the blink of an eye, 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 raised her head and asked.
Lin Fan was startled. He then looked outside the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, but saw no one approaching.
The dozen or so menial disciples Wu Hai had taken down the mountain still hadn't returned. If Zhou Wanqing hadn't reminded him, he might even have forgotten about it.
"I don't know."
"But under normal circumstances, menial disciples aren't allowed to spend the night outside. If they haven't returned before dark, then something really has happened."
Lin Fan's heart tightened as he spoke.
As he said this, he looked at the other old menial disciples. Wang Biao was as steady as Mount Tai, bent over and copying books, while Feng Ling was whispering with the Delicate Girl across from her.
The entire first floor of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion appeared utterly peaceful, as though nothing had happened.
By the time the sun had set in the west, Wu Hai and the others still hadn't returned.
Only then did Lin Fan finally realize that something was wrong.
"Brother Lin, those people..."
Zhou Wanqing looked uneasy, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"If you have something to say, wait until we get back."
Seeing her like this, Lin Fan comforted her.
The two rose and walked outside the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.
At that moment, Feng Ling also came out from the other side.
Seeing how close Lin Fan and Zhou Wanqing looked, Feng Ling glanced over with her beautiful eyes.
As she brushed past Lin Fan, she suddenly said, "If you're going to the Market Below the Mountain, it's best not to trust anyone. Try to go in the morning and return before noon."
After saying that, she prepared to leave.
"Sister Feng!"
"Why don't we form a group 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 soft snort, pulled the Delicate Girl along, and left directly.
"Brother Lin, she treats you pretty well."
Looking at Feng Ling's departing figure, Zhou Wanqing spoke gently.
She wasn't jealous. She simply felt that Feng Ling was a decent person.
Lin Fan smiled, then pulled Zhou Wanqing toward their residence.
At the same time, in a secluded place.
"Brother Wu, we're all menial disciples from the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, and you were the one who brought us down the mountain."
"What exactly do you mean by stopping us from going back?"
A young man gathered his courage and stepped forward to question him.
"What do I mean?"
Wu Hai grinned. Then his arm suddenly twisted, transforming into a black tentacle that shot out.
The young man's soul turned cold with terror, and he instinctively dodged. But before he could react, a fierce pain erupted in his chest.
"Ah..."
The young man let out a shriek. The tentacle pierced through his heart, and before the blood could spurt out, the writhing tentacle sucked it dry.
In the blink of an eye, he had been sucked dry from a living person into a piece of wind-dried human skin.
"Monster..."
"Run... run!"
This sight made the other menial disciples' scalps crawl. Like startled birds, they scattered in all directions.
But their speed was no match for those black tentacles.
"Wu Hai, we're all menial disciples of Blood Soul Peak. Aren't you afraid that the people above will investigate after you slaughter your fellow disciples at will?"
Seeing that escape was difficult, a menial disciple immediately shouted.
"This is the Blood Demon Sect. The lives of menial disciples are worth less than those of pigs and dogs. Do you think anyone will avenge you?"
"Don't be naïve. Become my nourishment properly. It's your honor to help me become a Formal Disciple sooner."
Wu Hai grinned. His formerly honest appearance had become hideous beyond compare.
His face was filled with madness. His tentacles continuously impaled the panicked menial disciples around him, constantly siphoning away their blood.
And every time he absorbed a person's vital essence, the aura he emitted grew several times stronger, while another black tentacle sprouted forth.
After only a few breaths, all the dozen-plus menial disciples had turned into wind-dried human skin.
"Brother Wu, you killed them so well."
Qi Hui's pretty face was deathly pale, but she still forced herself forward and continuously flattered him.
She was afraid Wu Hai would casually dispose of her as well.
"You've served me very well these days, and you also helped me invite quite a few female menial disciples down the mountain. Once I become a Formal Disciple, I'll treat you well."
Wu Hai smiled warmly.
Qi Hui's pretty face lit up, and she hurriedly said, "Thank you, Brother Wu!"
But just as she finished speaking, her delicate body suddenly shook.
Qi Hui's expression froze. Her eyes were filled with confusion as she murmured, "Why... why..."
She fell to the ground, a black tentacle piercing through her chest and greedily sucking up her fresh blood.
"I've grown tired of you. I always have to change the flavor."
Wu Hai gave a cruel smile.
Before you continue