Candlejackal Monster

Three Candlejackal Monsters were feeding. Scattered on the ground were torn pieces of human clothing, along with limbs smeared with mud and blood, their original forms unrecognizable. A smaller one was holding down a skull, its lid flipped open, and was lapping up the red and white contents inside with its purplish-black, barbed tongue, clearly enjoying itself. Another of similar size was gnawing on a thigh bone, the sound of it cracking echoing. The largest one, with the densest bone spurs on its back and the deepest green glow in its eyes, squatted on a slightly higher rock, coldly watching the two smaller ones eat, occasionally licking the blood from its muzzle.

What made Wang Quan's heart tighten further was that in his spiritual sense vision, the two smaller Candlejackal Monsters that were currently eating, though their monster energy was weak, were indeed in the early Spirit Awakening Realm. The old jackal squatting there, however, had much more ferocious monster energy, carrying a heavy scent of blood, at least mid Spirit Awakening Realm, and possibly brushing against the late stage.

Facing them head-on, there wasn't the slightest chance of victory.

Wang Quan took a deep breath, suppressing the throbbing pain and nausea caused by the spider venom corroding his chest. In an instant, his face shifted to one of terrified panic, mixed with a sliver of desperate humility, as if he had just grasped a lifeline. He practically tumbled and scrambled out from behind the rock he was hiding behind, staggering, his face covered in dirt, and lunged towards the three Candlejackal Monsters, shouting with a choked voice:

"Sirs! Sirs! I, I finally found you!"

The commotion instantly startled the three beasts.

The two young jackals, engrossed in their meal, abruptly raised their heads. Their blood-flecked muzzles split open, revealing dagger-like fangs, their eerie green eyes snapping to lock onto Wang Quan. They let out low, menacing growls from their throats, crouching low as if preparing to pounce.

The old jackal slowly turned its head. Its eerie green eyes, devoid of emotion, looked at the disheveled Blood Tax civilian who had suddenly appeared. It didn't attack immediately or make a sound, just watched coldly, like observing a piece of moving meat.

Wang Quan lunged to within two or three zhang of them before collapsing to his knees, as if exhausted, hands pressed to the ground, panting heavily. He looked up at the old jackal, his face a mixture of fear, urgency, and relief at finding a savior. His voice trembled, and he could barely speak coherently:

"Sirs! Esteemed sirs! Please, please save this humble one! Just now... just now, in that mountain hollow, I ran into a Giant Spider sir! It... it was severely injured and couldn't move in the cave. It said... it said it needed fresh blood to recover! It forced me to come out and find some... I was so scared my soul nearly flew away, I ran out desperately, and was, was unsure where to look, when I unexpectedly ran into you sirs! You sirs are majestic and imposing, clearly powerful figures! That Giant Spider sir must be an old acquaintance of yours, right? I beg you sirs, show some mercy and come with me to take a look? Perhaps... perhaps if the Giant Spider sir is pleased..."

He spoke incoherently, his body trembling with fear and excitement. His gaze was humble and timid, yet filled with hope as he looked at the old jackal, vividly portraying a lowly commoner who had soiled himself from fear of a monster and was desperately trying to grasp at a floating piece of driftwood.

The two green flames in the old jackal's eyes flickered slightly. It didn't respond immediately, slowly rising to its feet. It was significantly larger than the two smaller ones, its shoulders nearly reaching Wang Quan's chest. Its dark red fur was rough and dull, and the bone spurs on its back were also a faded gray, but the ferocious aura it exuded was far heavier than that of the young ones. It took a couple of steps forward, closing in on Wang Quan, tilting its grotesque head. Its voice was hoarse and low, like gravel grinding:

"Giant Spider? What kind of Giant Spider? Tell me in detail. If it's an old acquaintance, I might consider going."

Its tone was casual, but Wang Quan was sharp. He immediately caught a fleeting glint of greed deep within those green, fiery eyes. The old fellow was tempted! Hearing the words "Giant Spider" and "severely injured," it was surely thinking not of saving an old friend, but of the monster core the spider might leave behind, or some other benefit! Especially... it glanced sideways at the two young cubs beside it, who had gained sentience but whose monster energy was still unstable.

Wang Quan sneered inwardly, but his face became even more panicked. He tried to recall, swallowed, and stammered:

"R-replying to sir... It, it was a black, enormous spider, just lying in that mountain cave. Its belly... its belly seemed to have a strange face, it was very unsettling! It, it seemed to be quite badly injured, several of its legs were broken, oozing foul green fluid, and its belly seemed to have a large gash..."

He deliberately described the appearance of the Bone-Corroding Human-Faced Spider in detail, especially emphasizing its severe injuries and location.

The old jackal listened quietly. When Wang Quan mentioned the strange face on its belly and several broken legs oozing green fluid, the green fire in its eyes clearly brightened. A Bone-Corroding Human-Faced Spider! It was really that guy! Judging by the description of the blood food, it was severely injured, perhaps close to death! Its monster core, to supplement these two cubs who had just reached Spirit Awakening and whose foundations were still unstable, would be a great thing! It might even allow them to stabilize their footing, or even advance further!

Its thoughts raced, but its face remained impassive. It merely said in a low voice:

"Hmm... hearing you say that, it does sound somewhat like an old acquaintance of mine. In that case, you lead the way. If it truly is an old friend, I won't shortchange you."

After speaking, it turned and let out a low growl at the two young Candlejackal Monsters, who had stopped eating but were still staring intently at Wang Quan. It was in the language of monsters, full of command. Although the two young jackals reluctantly glanced back at the unfinished food on the ground, they obediently settled back down, their four pairs of green eyes still fixed on Wang Quan.

The old jackal looked back at Wang Quan, its voice brooking no argument:

"Lead the way, boy. If you dare to lie to me, or play any tricks..."

It didn't finish, merely baring its white, sharp fangs in a grin, a gust of foul wind washing over Wang Quan.

"Yes, yes! This humble one wouldn't dare! This humble one will lead the way now! Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

Wang Quan kowtowed repeatedly, scrambling to his feet with hands and feet, turning and walking in the direction of the Bone-Corroding Human-Faced Spider's cave. His steps were hurried and unsteady, and he kept looking back nervously to see if the old jackal was following, perfectly playing the part of a commoner leading the way.

The old jackal followed a few paces behind him, its eerie green eyes fixed coldly on Wang Quan's back. It occasionally scanned its surroundings, guarding against potential dangers. It didn't fully trust this blood food, but the temptation of a severely injured, possibly dying Bone-Corroding Human-Faced Spider was too great. A severely injured late-stage Spirit Awakening Realm monster, its monster core and remains, were very valuable. As for this blood food, it could be dealt with later, providing an extra meal.

There was no conversation along the way. Wang Quan acted exceptionally obedient and fearful. Several times he tripped over rocks, falling and getting his face full of dirt. When he got up, he only dared to glance back timidly at the old jackal before lowering his head and continuing on. The spider-venom wound on his chest throbbed with every movement, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead, but all of this was hidden by the dust and his cowardly demeanor.

Finally, they reached the cave entrance in the mountain hollow, hidden by vines. The strong stench and faint monster energy still wafted out from the cave.

Wang Quan abruptly stopped about ten paces from the cave entrance. The color drained from his face. Pointing at the dark, gaping maw of the cave, he said to the old jackal behind him, his voice trembling:

"S-sir! Th-this is it! Just now... just now the Giant Spider sir was inside! I, I won't go in, will I? Before, when I went in, I was almost swallowed whole by the Giant Spider sir, my soul nearly flew away! It's definitely not recovered yet, and its temper must be terrible. If I go in again, I'm afraid I won't come out alive to serve you, sir..."

As he spoke, he involuntarily recoiled, his eyes darting away from the cave entrance as if something man-eating truly lurked within.

The old jackal stopped, its nostrils twitching as it carefully sniffed the air. That was right, it was the unique, sweetish-rotten monster energy of the Bone-Corroding Human-Faced Spider, and its aura was very weak, chaotic, mixed with a heavy scent of blood and a decaying deathly aura. It seemed this blood food hadn't lied; that stupid spider was indeed seriously injured, perhaps already...

The green light in its eyes flickered as it stared at Wang Quan, its voice hoarse and cold:

"You, go first. I'll ensure you're safe. Hurry up."

Its tone was harsh and uncompromising.

"S-sir!"

Wang Quan promptly fell to his knees again, this time facing the old jackal, his head hitting the ground with loud thuds, his voice choked with sobs:

"I wouldn't dare! I truly wouldn't dare go in again! That Giant Spider sir is ferocious; going in would be certain death for me! I beg you, sir, you are powerful, please go in yourself. I'll wait outside and absolutely won't run off!"

"Hmph."

The old jackal snorted, exhaling a cloud of foul breath tinged with blood. It slowly stepped forward, its massive shadow engulfing Wang Quan entirely:

"I don't want to say it a second time. Either lead the way, or... you die now. I'm not negotiating with you over a mere blood food."

As soon as it finished speaking, without any warning, a muscular foreleg covered in dark red short fur shot up, carrying a gust of foul wind, and fiercely kicked towards Wang Quan's chest as he knelt on the ground! The kick was full of force, clearly intending to leave no survivors, just to cripple this disobedient blood food, or perhaps kick it directly into the cave as a scout.

Wang Quan seemed to be stunned, remaining kneeling on the ground and forgetting to dodge, merely widening his eyes in terror.

A dull thud. Wang Quan let out a pained cry and was sent flying backward, not towards the cave entrance, but diagonally crashing beside a pile of rocks near the cave mouth. He clutched his chest, his face deathly pale, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He curled up, groaning in pain.

Incorrigible thing.

The old jackal watched him indifferently, stepping forward, its massive claws crunching on the gravel:

"Now, are you going to lead the way, or shall I twist your head off?"

"I... I'll lead... I'll lead the way..."

Wang Quan struggled, getting to his feet with difficulty, his face a mixture of pain and fear. He clutched his chest with one hand, his steps unsteady, staggering towards the cave entrance. He moved so slowly it was agonizing, as if every step took all his strength.

A flicker of impatience and disdain crossed the old jackal's eyes, but he still followed a few steps behind, warily watching the dark cave entrance.

Just as Wang Quan was dawdling his way to the edge of the cave, preparing to bend down and crawl inside, the old jackal, who had been following closely, lost his patience. He took another half-step forward, almost pressing against Wang Quan's back, and growled, "What are you dawdling for! Hurry up..."

And that was it!

The Blood Tax civilian, who had been facing away from the old jackal, hunched over, his steps faltering as if he were about to die any second, suddenly erupted from stillness into explosive action without any warning!

His left hand, which had been covering his chest, suddenly swept backward, flinging a handful of foul matter—a mixture of dark green pus, foul-smelling mucus, and gravel—right into the old jackal's face at close range! This was the dirtiest, most toxic pus and rotten flesh he had secretly collected from the Giant Spider's wounds when he was cleaning up its corpse earlier!

Although the old jackal had been on guard, he never expected this seemingly gravely wounded, timid Blood Tax civilian to suddenly pull such a dirty and unexpected trick. The foul-smelling substance came too quickly, too suddenly. It only had time to instinctively close its eyes and turn its head, but still got smeared all over its face, especially its two eerie green eyeballs, which got splashed with a lot of it!

"Roar! Vile creature!"

The old jackal was shocked and enraged, but more than that, it was furious at being humiliated. Its face burned, and the stench assaulted its nostrils. Although the poison in the filth wasn't immediately fatal to a thick-skinned creature like itself, the temporary blindness and stinging pain caused by being smeared in the eyes were truly unbearable. It violently swiped its sharp claws towards where Wang Quan had been standing! This claw strike was filled with rage, capable of shattering stone!

However, the moment Wang Quan threw the filth, his body seemed to lose all its bones as he lunged and rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the deadly claw. The claw grazed his back, the wind it generated chilling him to the bone, and it gouged several deep trenches in the stone floor.

As he rolled, the Blood Drinking Saber, which Wang Quan had been gripping tightly in his right hand, hidden in his sleeve, was drawn. There was no dazzling blade light, only a dim, terrifyingly fast gray shadow carrying a desperate force. Taking advantage of the old jackal's blurred vision and momentarily unsteady stance after its missed claw strike, it swept upward like a venomous snake towards its relatively soft belly!

The old jackal had fought many battles, and even though its vision was obscured, its ability to discern movement by sound was still intact. It felt a fierce wind coming from below and, in its shock and rage, forcefully twisted its sturdy body backward and to the side, simultaneously instinctively raising a foreleg to protect its belly.

Screech!

The dim blade cut through, making a sound like tearing leather. The Blood Drinking Saber failed to completely cleave its target, only opening a shallow but not insignificant gash on the outer side of the old jackal's guarding foreleg and its belly. Dark red beast blood immediately gushed out.

"Aow—!"

The old jackal let out a pained howl. This wound was not fatal, but to be injured by a Blood Tax civilian it considered an ant, someone it could crush with a casual flick of its wrist, was an unbearable humiliation! It violently shook its head, trying to open its smeared eyes, and at the same time, relying on its senses, it pushed off with its hind legs. Its sturdy body lunged like a boulder towards where Wang Quan might land, its maw opening wide, its bone-white fangs snapping down fiercely! It intended to tear this insidious bug to shreds!

Having landed a blow, Wang Quan didn't linger. He immediately used the momentum of his roll to dart behind a protruding rock. The old jackal's charge slammed hard into the rock, with a booming sound, sending shattered rock flying. The hard rock itself cracked from the impact.

"You dog! I'll tear you to pieces bit by bit! Grind your bones to dust!"

The old jackal finally managed to pry its smeared eyes open. The eerie green flames within them burned even fiercer with its furious rage. It stared intently at Wang Quan, who had darted out from behind the rock. Its voice had even changed due to its extreme anger. It glanced down at the gash on its belly. The blood wasn't much, but a faint itchiness and numbness spread from the wound, making its heart skip a beat.

Wang Quan stood with his saber, his old chest wound reopening from the violent exertion, blood seeping out and staining his tattered clothes. But the fear and subservience from before were gone from his face, replaced by an ice-cold calmness and a burning madness in his eyes. He licked his dry lips, feeling the faint craving from the Blood Drinking Saber, and stared at the enraged old jackal, suddenly baring his teeth in a smile filled with mockery and malice:

"Old beast, your claws are quite sharp. Too bad your brain isn't as good."

"You're seeking death!"

The old jackal was completely ignited. Its four limbs dug into the ground, and its sturdy body lunged forward again, faster than before. Its two forelegs swiped in a crisscrossing motion, creating a flurry of claw shadows that sealed off Wang Quan's escape routes to the left and right. Its maw opened wide, aiming directly for his head! It intended to tear this blood food, which dared to injure and humiliate it, to shreds on the spot!

Wang Quan's pupils contracted. He dared not meet the attack head-on. His footwork changed rapidly, and he pushed the Turtle Snake Coiling Dragon Strength's vital energy to its limit. His body leaned back at an almost contorted angle, narrowly evading the gaping maw. At the same time, he slanted the Blood Drinking Saber upward, attempting to parry one of the claws.

A crisp sound like metal colliding! The Blood Drinking Saber struck the old jackal's claw blade, even sparking! Immense force surged through, making Wang Quan's arm tremble violently, his tiger's mouth go numb. The Blood Drinking Saber almost slipped from his grasp, and he was jolted backward, stumbling. A sweet taste flooded his throat, and he swallowed a mouthful of blood back down.