Not Following the Script

The two simple-minded veterans were the first to launch an attack, setting a fine example. The demon-slaying party's morale was finally stirred.

Qin Guang had drunk a Strength Potion, which temporarily raised his Strength by three points, pushing it past twenty. That was no low figure among first-difficulty Reincarnators.

At the same time, he activated the D-rank skill Charge. Propelled by tremendous force, he charged at the Snake Demon like a raging bull, gripping his shield in both hands!

With a thunderous bang, Qin Guang, bolstered by Strength, actually matched the Snake Demon blow for blow. Both of them lurched sideways and lost their balance.

Having been humiliated by the enemy's very first strike, the Snake Demon flew into a rage. His eyes glinted viciously as he prepared to counterattack, but remembering the Fox Demon's earlier warning, he reluctantly held back. Pretending to be overwhelmed, he leaned backward.

What the Snake Demon did not know was that feigning weakness required finesse. To the story characters, Qin Guang's strength was merely average, yet he could clash head-on with the Snake Demon. This fiend seemed rather unlike the supposedly immensely powerful monster from the rumors. Could it be that Lin Tiannan, having repeatedly failed to slay the demon, had maliciously exaggerated its strength?

For a moment, Lin Tiannan's lofty image seemed to have crumbled somewhat. However, martial artists believed in seeing for themselves. Shi Jun, the most hot-tempered among them, had already rushed forward and delivered an incomparably savage palm strike, catching the Snake Demon off guard and hitting him squarely in the face.

Shi Jun was known as the "Dragon-Capturing Hand." Even if the nickname was somewhat exaggerated, his palm technique was undoubtedly formidable. The force behind that strike was extraordinary. Even with the Snake Demon's tough hide, he could not withstand it. His massive body was sent flying into the nearby stone wall, his scales grinding against the hard rock with a shrill screech that happened to conceal several faint sounds of something cutting through the air.

"Just as I thought—a fancy-looking fraud, utterly unable to withstand a blow. And Lord Lin had been so cautious. What a..." The Dragon-Capturing Hand, Shi Jun, sneered inwardly, disdain curling his lips. But before his smile could fully bloom, a powerful tail swept through the air and lashed at him with a sharp crack.

Faced with that completely unheralded tail strike, Shi Jun could only barely raise both hands before his chest. He followed in the Snake Demon's footsteps and was sent flying hard. His defense was far inferior, however. Before he had even landed, he could no longer suppress a mouthful of blood, which sprayed from his lips. He had clearly suffered serious injuries.

Earlier, everyone attacking had focused on the giant scythe in the Snake Demon's hands. They had forgotten that the demon race's most powerful weapons were naturally their own bodies, not weapons forged afterward. Every part of the Snake Demon's body could be used as a weapon. Underestimating him could cost them their lives!

Shi Jun's painful lesson made the others no longer dare let down their guard. Qin Guang raised his shield and withstood the scythe's fierce blows again and again, while Zhu Hao, who had also drunk an Agility Potion, relied on his speed advantage to intercept and warn against the Snake Demon's bodily attacks. Together with the occasional support from the two story characters, the situation was firmly brought under control.

Watching the Snake Demon's HP rapidly fall, the bolder newcomers crept closer and closer. Though they could hear his continuous roars, they felt that his voice carried a bleak, lost despair, as though he had reached the end of the road.

"Looks like bosses aren't all that difficult. He's not much stronger than those elite monsters from before..."

"I think the veterans are just too powerful. Haven't you noticed that Miss Tang has barely even made a move? They haven't used their full strength at all!"

"Yeah, yeah! I wonder when I'll have that kind of power. Descending into an immortal fantasy world to vanquish demons and earn everyone's admiration—that must feel incredible!"

"Stop dreaming. I think once this battle is over, we should ask them to help us complete those optional quests. The rewards should be pretty generous!"

"That's a great idea. It's on the way anyway, right? Hahaha!"

Tang Mei'er appeared completely focused on the battle, but when the newcomers' quiet discussion reached her ears, the corners of her lips lifted almost imperceptibly.

"You lackeys, just wait! I'll come back for revenge!"

When the Snake Demon's HP dropped to half, the demon—who had made such a flashy entrance but seemed rather weak in battle—shouted a line commonly heard in cartoons. With a sweep of his scythe, he forced everyone back and shot deeper into the cave dwelling with lightning speed.

"Haha, we won!" Cheers suddenly rang out through the dark cave. The Snake Demon's retreat greatly boosted everyone's morale, and their faces shone with delight. The three story characters stood proudly, full of vigor. After this battle, their reputations in the martial world would surely soar. All thoughts of retirement were immediately cast aside.

Though Tang Mei'er, familiar with boss strategies, knew that the next battle was the real crux and that this had merely been a warm-up, she naturally would not spoil the wonderful mood by saying so. Instead, she gave Qin Guang a meaningful look.

Understanding immediately, he walked over to the newcomers. Before he could speak, Kong Jun, their leader, proposed the request concerning the optional quests. He also stated that afterward, everyone was willing to give up half their rewards as thanks to the veterans.

These newcomers did possess some self-awareness. They knew the veterans had done all the work, and there was no such thing as a free lunch. If they wanted the veterans to help them wholeheartedly, only profit would last.

"Hmph, they've already got one foot in the grave, yet these rookies are still dreaming of good things!" Qin Guang glanced sideways at the newcomers currying favor with him, feeling an innate superiority in intellect. Outwardly, however, he put on a hesitant expression. After pondering several times, he finally agreed.

Seeing that Qin Guang had not refused their offer to split the rewards, the newcomers felt even more assured. They had no idea that once they entered the cave dwelling, they would face a betrayal as brutal as hell itself!

The three story characters quickly suppressed the injuries they had suffered in the previous battle. With the intention of pressing on to destroy the fleeing enemy, they immediately entered the cave dwelling and began searching for the Snake Demon and Fox Demon.

"Please wait, seniors. I heard that the fiends abducted many innocent women. To prevent them from being caught in the fighting, I think we should rescue them first." Having entered the cave dwelling, with the truth about to be revealed, Tang Mei'er no longer concealed herself. She stepped forward from the crowd, and her words brought the three story characters, who prided themselves on righteousness, to an immediate halt.

"Miss, you are entirely correct. We were too hasty. We are ashamed indeed!" The Yin-Yang Taoist stroked his beard, an apologetic smile appearing on his face. In truth, they had their own calculations. Lin Tiannan, hidden somewhere in the shadows, could appear at any moment. If they did not swiftly eliminate the fiends, and Lord Lin ended up taking action, would not most of their credit be lost?

Fame and fortune moved the heart. Pretending not to care in ordinary times did not mean one was truly indifferent to them. Faced with such a rare opportunity to make a name for themselves, no one could resist!

However, Tang Mei'er's argument was far too righteous and beyond reproach. Thus, though the three story characters were unhappy inside, they could only smile and obediently let her lead them around.

Watching their insincere expressions, Tang Mei'er sneered inwardly. When it came to acting, she was a true grandmaster. She could see through the schemes in the hearts of these bumpkins who had never even had the chance to read An Actor's Self-Cultivation at a glance.

Naturally, Tang Mei'er did not want to give the Snake Demon too much time to recover either. So after pretending to search for a while, she followed the map and led everyone directly to the stone chamber that Gao Xu had entered earlier.

The faint voices and weeping coming from within proved that this was their target. The Yin-Yang Taoist listened closely for a moment and, determining that it was probably not a trap set by the fiends, stepped forward to push open the door. Yet he discovered that it seemed to be blocked from the inside and could not be opened.

The Yin-Yang Taoist frowned, circulated his inner energy, and called out, "Ladies inside, do not panic. This humble Taoist is the master of Yin-Yang Temple. We have come specifically to rescue you. Please open the stone door!"

The stone chamber suddenly fell silent, but no one answered.

Tang Mei'er sensed that something seemed wrong. The information had said that once they found this place and opened the door, the trapped girls would call for help and the escort mission would begin. Why had this happened?

The plan had reached its most crucial point, and even with her composure, sweat began to form in her palms. Seeing the Yin-Yang Taoist rebuffed, she could no longer concern herself with anything else. She stepped forward and said softly, "Sisters inside, do not be afraid. The Snake Demon has already been driven away by us. We are here to take you home!"

After a long while, a voice that sounded weak yet was truly resolute came from within. "Sister, may I ask whether you have already eliminated both demon kings?"

Tang Mei'er froze.