Candlejackal Monster

Three Candlejackal Monsters were feeding. Shredded scraps of human clothing lay scattered across the ground, along with arms and legs caked in mud and blood, none of them recognizable anymore. The smaller one had pinned down a human head with its claws, the top of the skull peeled open. Its purple-black tongue, covered in backward-facing barbs, stretched out and licked the red-and-white matter inside with relish. The other, about the same size, was gnawing on a thigh, the bone cracking loudly between its teeth. The largest one, its back bristling with the densest bone spikes and its eyes glowing the deepest green, squatted on a slightly elevated rock and watched the two younger ones eat with cold detachment. Every so often, it licked the blood from its jaws.

What made Wang Quan's heart tighten even more was that, within his spiritual perception, the two smaller Candlejackal Monsters feeding there had weak Monster Qi—but they were unmistakably at the early Spirit Awakening Realm. As for the old jackal squatting nearby, its Monster Qi was far more ferocious, carrying a heavy, bloody stench. It was at least mid Spirit Awakening Realm, and might even have one foot in the late stage.

In a head-on clash, he had not the slightest chance of winning.

Wang Quan drew a deep breath, forcing down the dull pain in his chest where the spider venom was eating away at him, along with the wave of nausea. In the blink of an eye, his face shifted into the panicked confusion of someone scared out of his wits, mixed with the humility of a man who had suddenly seized a lifeline. Practically rolling and crawling, he stumbled out from behind the rock where he had been hiding. His steps staggered, his face and clothes were coated in dust, and he charged toward the three Candlejackal Monsters, crying out in a trembling voice:

"Milords! Milords! I—I finally found you!"

The commotion startled all three beasts.

The two young jackals, who had been eating with gusto, jerked their heads up. Their blood-smeared mouths peeled back, revealing dagger-like fangs. Their green, ghostly eyes locked onto Wang Quan, and low, threatening growls rumbled from their throats as they lowered their bodies, ready to pounce.

The old jackal slowly turned its head. Its green, ghost-fire eyes regarded the suddenly appearing, bedraggled Blood Tax citizen without the slightest emotion. It did not attack immediately, nor did it speak. It merely stared coldly, as though looking at a piece of meat that happened to be able to move.

Wang Quan rushed to within two or three zhang of them, then seemed to run out of strength and collapsed to his knees with a thump. He braced himself with both hands and panted heavily before looking up at the old jackal. His face showed fear, urgency, and the relief of someone who had found a savior. His voice trembled, and he could barely get the words out:

"Milord! Milords! S—save me! Just now... just now, I ran into a Spider Demon in that ravine over there! It—it was terribly wounded, lying helpless inside a cave. It—it said it needed fresh Blood Food to recover! It forced me to go out and find some... I was so scared my soul nearly flew out of my body! I ran for my life, but I—I had no idea where to look, and then I happened to find you, milords! You look so imposing—anyone can tell you're mighty figures! That Spider Demon must be an old acquaintance of yours, right? P—please, show some mercy and come take a look with me! Maybe... maybe if the Spider Demon is happy..."

He babbled on, his body trembling from fear and excitement. His eyes were servile and timid yet filled with hope as he gazed at the old jackal. He acted out a lowly citizen who had been frightened into wetting his pants by a monster yet was desperately trying to clutch at a floating log, and he did it to perfection.

The two green flames in the old jackal's eyes wavered faintly. It did not answer immediately, instead rising slowly to its feet. It was a full circle larger than the two young ones, its shoulders nearly reaching Wang Quan's chest. Its dark-red fur was coarse and dull, and the bone spikes along its back had a withered gray cast. Yet the murderous Baleful Intent weighing upon it was far heavier than that of its pups. It paced forward two steps, leaned close to Wang Quan, and cocked its hideous head. Its voice was hoarse and low, like sand grinding against stone:

"A Giant Spider? What kind of Giant Spider? Tell me carefully. If it is an old acquaintance, this old man might make the trip."

Its tone was flat, but Wang Quan was no fool. He immediately caught the fleeting glimmer of greed deep within those green eyes. The old thing was interested! When it heard "Giant Spider" and "heavily wounded," it was clearly not thinking of saving an old friend. It was thinking of the Monster Core the Spider Demon might leave behind—or whatever other benefits it could seize. Especially... Wang Quan cast a sidelong glance at the two nearby pups. They had gained intelligence, but their Monster Qi was still unstable.

Wang Quan sneered coldly inside, but his face grew even more panicked. He struggled to recall the details, swallowed, and stammered:

"R—reporting to you, milord... It—it was a pitch-black spider, a huge one, lying inside that cave. Its belly... its belly seemed to have a strange face on it. It was horrifying! It—it looked badly hurt. Several of its legs were broken, and foul, green liquid was pouring out. Its belly also seemed to have been torn open with a huge gash..."

He deliberately described the Bone-Corroding Human-Faced Spider in detail, emphasizing its grave injuries and its location.

The old jackal listened silently. When Wang Quan mentioned the strange face on its belly, several broken legs, and the green liquid, the green fire in its eyes visibly brightened. The Bone-Corroding Human-Faced Spider! It really was that creature! Judging by this Blood Food's description, it was gravely wounded and probably close to death. Its Monster Core would be an excellent tonic for the two pups who had only just awakened their spirits and whose foundations were still unstable. It might even help them establish themselves firmly—or advance another step!

Thoughts raced through its mind, but its face remained as lifeless as before. It merely said in a low voice:

"Hmm... From what you've said, it does sound somewhat like an old acquaintance of mine. Since that is so, lead the way. If it truly is an old friend, this old man will reward you."

After speaking, it turned toward the two young Candlejackal Monsters, who had stopped eating but were still glaring fixedly at Wang Quan, and let out a low growl in the guttural tongue of monsters. The growl was thick with command. Though the two young jackals reluctantly glanced once more at the unfinished food on the ground, they obediently lay back down where they had been. Even so, all four green eyes remained nailed to Wang Quan.

The old jackal looked back at Wang Quan, its voice carrying an unquestionable edge:

"Lead the way, boy. If you dare deceive me or play tricks..."

It did not finish. It merely bared its teeth, exposing rows of pale, gleaming fangs, while a foul wind rushed into Wang Quan's face.

"Yes, yes! I wouldn't dare! I'll lead the way right now! Thank you, milord! Thank you, milord!"

Wang Quan hurriedly kowtowed, then scrambled to his feet on all fours. He turned and headed toward the cave of the Bone-Corroding Human-Faced Spider, his steps flustered and unsteady. Every so often, he glanced back nervously to see whether the old jackal was following, playing the role of a lowly guide to absolute perfection.

The old jackal followed several steps behind at an unhurried pace, its green eyes coldly fixed on Wang Quan's back. Occasionally, it swept its gaze across the surroundings, wary of possible danger. It had not completely believed this Blood Food, but the temptation of a severely wounded Bone-Corroding Human-Faced Spider was simply too great. The Monster Core and remains of a late Spirit Awakening Realm monster were worth a great deal. As for this Blood Food, it could kill him on the way back and gain an extra ration.

They traveled in silence. Wang Quan behaved with extraordinary honesty and fear. Several times, he tripped over rocks and fell face-first into the dirt. Even after scrambling up, he only dared glance timidly back at the old jackal before lowering his head and continuing onward. The spider silk's corrosive wound in his chest tugged painfully with every step, and cold sweat beaded his forehead, but the dust and his pathetic appearance concealed it all.

At last, they arrived before the entrance to the ravine, its cave mouth hidden behind vines. The thick, rancid stench and faint Monster Qi were still drifting out from within.

Wang Quan suddenly stopped more than a dozen steps from the entrance. The color drained from his face, and he pointed at the pitch-black cave mouth behind him, his voice trembling:

"M—milord! It—it's here! The Giant Spider was inside just now! I—I don't have to go in, do I? I nearly got swallowed in one bite when I entered before. I was scared half to death! It definitely hasn't recovered yet, and its temper must be terrible. If I go back in, I'm afraid I won't come out alive to serve you, milord..."

As he spoke, he unconsciously shrank backward, his eyes darting away from the cave entrance as though a man-eating monster truly lurked inside.

The old jackal stopped and flared its nostrils, carefully sniffing the air. There was no mistake. It was indeed the distinctive Monster Qi of the Bone-Corroding Human-Faced Spider, carrying a faintly rotten sweetness. And its aura was extremely weak and chaotic, mingled with a heavy stench of blood and thick, decaying Death Qi. It seemed the Blood Food had not lied. That foolish spider truly was badly wounded. It might already have...

Green light flickered in its eyes as it stared at Wang Quan. Its voice was hoarse and cold:

"You go first. This old man guarantees your safety. Move."

Its tone was hard and left no room for discussion.

"M—milord!"

Wang Quan dropped to his knees again, this time facing the old jackal. He hammered his forehead against the ground, the blows sounding loudly as he pleaded through sobs:

"I—I wouldn't dare! I truly wouldn't dare go in again! That Giant Spider is terrifying. If I go in, I'll die! Please, milord, you're so powerful—go in yourself. I'll wait outside and won't run anywhere!"

"Hmph."

The old jackal exhaled a cloud of murky air tinged with blood. It slowly advanced a step, its enormous shadow swallowing Wang Quan whole:

"I do not wish to repeat myself. Either lead the way, or... die now. You are nothing but Blood Food. This is not a discussion."

The moment it finished speaking, one muscular foreleg covered in short, dark-red fur rose without warning. Carrying a vicious gust, it kicked hard at Wang Quan's chest as he knelt on the ground! The blow was full of force. It clearly had no intention of leaving him alive, planning either to kick the disobedient Blood Food half to death or send him straight into the cave as a pathfinder.

Wang Quan seemed to have been frightened senseless. He remained kneeling, eyes widened in terror, and made no attempt to dodge.

With a muffled boom, Wang Quan cried out in agony. His body flew backward—not toward the cave, but diagonally toward the pile of loose rocks beside its entrance. He clutched his chest, his face deathly pale, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth as he curled up and groaned in pain.

"What a fool who doesn't know whether he's alive or dead."

The old jackal watched him coldly and strode forward. Its great claws crushed the rubble beneath them with a series of cracking sounds.

"Now, will you lead the way, or shall I twist off your head?"

"I... I'll lead... I'll lead..."

Wang Quan struggled to his feet. His face showed both pain and fear. One hand pressed against his chest while his steps floated unsteadily, and he swayed toward the cave entrance so slowly that it was infuriating, as though every step required all the strength in his body.

A trace of impatience and contempt flashed through the old jackal's eyes, but it still followed several steps behind, warily watching the pitch-black cave.

Just as Wang Quan finally shuffled to the edge of the cave and bent as though to crawl inside, the old jackal following behind grew impatient. It moved another half-step forward, nearly pressing against Wang Quan's back, and growled:

"What are you dragging your feet for? Hurry..."

That was all it took!

The Blood Tax citizen who had been facing away from the old jackal, hunched over with unsteady steps as though he might drop dead the next second, suddenly changed from utter stillness to explosive violence!

His left hand, which had been clutching his chest all along, whipped backward. A large handful of filthy matter mixed with dark-green pus and blood, foul-smelling slime, and fragments of gravel smeared directly across the old jackal's face at point-blank range! It was the dirtiest, most poisonous pus and rotting flesh from the Bone-Corroding Human-Faced Spider's wounds, which he had secretly gathered while dealing with the Giant Spider's corpse.

The old jackal had remained cautious, but it had never imagined that this seemingly gravely wounded, cowardly Blood Tax citizen would suddenly resort to such a despicable and unexpected trick. The stinking mess came too quickly and too suddenly. It only had time to instinctively shut its eyes and turn its head, yet plenty of the filth still splattered across its face—especially into its two green, ghostly eyes!

"Roar! You vile wretch!"

The old jackal was shocked and furious, but more than anything, it was enraged by the humiliation. Its face burned painfully, and the stench shot straight up its nose. The toxins in the filth were not enough to kill a thick-skinned beast like it immediately, but the temporary blindness and searing pain from having its eyes fouled were unbearable. It whipped its claws around and tore viciously at the spot where Wang Quan had been standing! The enraged strike was powerful enough to shred stone!

However, the instant he flung out the filth, Wang Quan had thrown himself forward and to the side, rolling as though boneless and narrowly avoiding the deadly claw. The claw grazed past his back, its wind chilling him to the bone, while also gouging several deep furrows into the rocky ground.

As he rolled, Wang Quan kept his right hand clenched around the Blood Drinking Saber hidden in his sleeve. The blade was already out of its sheath. There was no dazzling flash, only a dim gray shadow moving so fast it was frightening, carrying the desperate force of a cornered man. Taking advantage of the old jackal's blurred vision and the slight wobble that followed its missed strike, he slashed upward like a venomous snake, aiming at its relatively soft belly!

The old jackal had spent a lifetime fighting. Though it could not see clearly, it still knew how to identify a position by the wind. Feeling a vicious gust rising beneath its belly, it twisted its sturdy body forcibly to the rear and side in shock and fury, while its other foreleg instinctively guarded its stomach.

Ssshhk!

The dim blade swept across, producing the sound of hide being cut open. The Blood Drinking Saber failed to slice entirely through its target, but it opened a neither shallow nor deep wound along the outside of the old jackal's guarding foreleg and the edge of its belly. Dark-red beast blood immediately gushed out.

"Awooo—!"

The old jackal let out a howl of pain. The wound was not fatal, but being injured by a Blood Tax citizen it regarded as an ant—someone it could crush at will—was the height of humiliation! It violently shook its head, trying to open its fouled eyes. At the same time, relying on instinct, it kicked off with its hind legs and sent its sturdy body hurtling like a boulder toward where Wang Quan might have landed. Its enormous jaws opened wide, and its pale fangs snapped down viciously! It would tear this treacherous insect apart!

Wang Quan's strike had landed, and he had no intention of lingering. He immediately used the momentum of his roll to dart behind a protruding rock. The old jackal slammed into the stone with tremendous force. With a rumble, fragments flew in every direction, and the unyielding rock was smashed with several cracks.

"You mangy cur! I'll tear you apart bit by bit! Grind your bones into powder!"

The old jackal finally managed to force open its fouled eyes. The green ghost-fire in them leaped even more violently with rage as it fixed its gaze on Wang Quan emerging from behind the rock. Its voice had warped from fury. It lowered its head and glanced at the wound on its belly. There was little blood, but a faint numb itch spreading from the injury made its heart jolt.

Wang Quan stood with the saber in hand. The old wound in his chest had split open again from his sudden movements, and blood seeped out, staining his ragged clothes red. The terror and humility from before had vanished from his face, replaced by ice-chip calm and the madness burning in his eyes. He licked his dry lips, felt the faint stir of desire coming from the Blood Drinking Saber, and stared at the enraged old jackal. Then he suddenly grinned, his smile full of mockery and malice:

"You old beast, your claws are pretty sharp. Too bad your brain isn't."

"You're courting death!"

The old jackal was thoroughly provoked. It dug in with all four limbs and pounced again, faster than before. Its two foreclaws swept out in alternating strokes, filling the air with a bloody wind and a storm of claw shadows that sealed off Wang Quan's paths to either side. Its enormous jaws lunged straight for his head! It meant to tear apart this Blood Food who had dared injure and humiliate it!

Wang Quan's pupils contracted. He did not dare meet the attack head-on. His footwork changed sharply, and he drove the qi and blood of Turtle Snake Coiling Dragon Strength to its limit. His body bent backward in an almost twisted posture, narrowly avoiding the gaping jaws, while he slashed the Blood Drinking Saber upward at an angle, trying to deflect one of the claws.

A crisp clang like colliding metal rang out! The Blood Drinking Saber struck the old jackal's claw blade and actually threw off several sparks! Enormous force surged through Wang Quan's arm. His hand shook violently, his tiger web went numb, and the Blood Drinking Saber nearly flew from his grasp. The impact staggered him backward, and a sweet taste rose in his throat. He forcibly swallowed the blood back down.