Beast, Stop This at Once

By nightfall, the herb field was silent. Liu Feng slowly withdrew his hands.

Before him, the skins of the two "Exotic Gu" had dulled completely, with no movement left in them.

"Before I entered the Gu Cave, Third Senior Brother brought back another batch of people. Leng Qiuyue was most likely among them."

Liu Feng understood this clearly and planned to look for her after leaving the Medicine Garden.

He did not dwell on it further. Taking out an Insect Crystal, he hesitated for a moment before driving his Intermediate Gu to swarm over it.

Though he felt some resistance toward refining this Insect Crystal, since he had embarked on the path of a Gu Master, there were many things he had no choice but to accept.

Within the Inner Herb Field, twenty-four Gu Children gave it their all.

Some Gu Children knew they lacked the ability to hatch an Exotic Gu. Like Ma Kun, they chose to refine Gu rather than rear Gu.

Even so, Gu Children still died miserably. Their deaths were even more horrifying than they had been days ago. Two Gu Children had even lost human form, struggling for half a day like heaps of rotten flesh before dying.

Beneath the eastern mountain wall, morning light once again spilled over the Medicine Garden.

Five days had passed. Of the twenty-four Gu Children who had entered, only fourteen remained.

"Twelve days have passed since you planted your Gu. In another three days—or no more than eight at most—the fates of you fourteen will be decided," Third Senior Brother Zhu Li said, waking the fourteen Gu Children.

In truth, there was no need to wait another eight days. He knew that five among them had already refined their Exotic Gu Eggs to death and could only become Gu Servants. Ma Kun was among them.

Seeing the fourteen Gu Children rise, Third Senior Brother called out, "The Gu Rearing Pool strengthens your bodies, while the Medicine Garden lets you rear Gu. Over these remaining days, whether you can hatch an Exotic Gu depends on your own ability. Dismissed."

The fourteen Gu Children gathered outside the Medicine Garden, listening to Third Senior Brother while sizing one another up.

Judging by their vigor alone, five men and one woman stood out among them. Liu Feng was one of the five.

At that moment, Liu Feng was brimming with energy. He showed none of the signs of having his blood and vitality drained dry by the Exotic Gu Egg. On the contrary, every movement carried a powerful sense of strength, though his motions seemed somewhat sluggish.

His physique had improved too greatly all at once, leaving him unable to adapt in such a short time.

In Third Senior Brother's eyes, though Liu Feng had yet to hatch an Exotic Gu, the wondrous substance within the eggshell had dissolved into his body, and his physique had already surpassed that of an ordinary Gu Servant.

In other words, even if Liu Feng failed and became a Gu Servant, he would still be one of the best among Gu Servants.

"It's practically set in stone that the one surnamed Liu will hatch an Exotic Gu. I need to find someone to rely on as soon as possible!" Ma Kun's gaze flickered as he worried that Liu Feng would find an opportunity to strike at him.

Liu Feng did not notice Ma Kun's expression. He merely glanced at Liu Xing and saw that the man's robust frame had visibly shrunk by a full size.

As for whether Liu Xing could endure until his Exotic Gu hatched, Liu Feng could not predict it either.

"Third Senior Brother said that for the next few days, each of us must rely on our own ability. Is he telling us to compete in connections and personal reserves, to see who can find other ways to replenish themselves?" Liu Feng knew this had nothing to do with him.

Still, he had no need for such things. He had not even fully refined a single Insect Crystal yet, and besides, he still had a second Insect Crystal to use.

The fourteen survivors quickly dispersed, none lingering beside the Medicine Garden.

The Mortal Gu within their bodies were all gone, and their Intermediate Gu had eaten their fill. There was little use in staying here any longer.

Over the remaining three days, they intended to gather herbs or pills that could strengthen their blood and vitality, replenishing what they had expended these past days.

Night fell over Insect Valley.

Not far from the Medicine Pit stood a Thatched Shed, beneath which was an entrance leading to an underground Stone Chamber where Medicinal Mud was prepared.

Outside the Thatched Shed stood another row of huts for the Gu Children responsible for preparing Medicinal Mud.

During the day, Gu Children came and went here constantly. At this hour, however, few figures could be seen, as most had returned to their rooms to cultivate.

These newcomers had only entered Insect Valley half a month ago. Qi Refining was impossible for them; they were still in the stage of adapting to planting Gu.

At that moment, a teenage figure with ten ink-black fingers appeared there. He was around sixteen years old, and it was Liu Feng.

He headed straight for the larger hut, the residence of the lead Gu Child.

Liu Feng had come to inspect the roster of Gu Children. Gathering herbs, planting herbs, moving goods, rearing Gu, preparing Medicinal Mud... the Gu Children had been assigned to different places. He had already checked the rosters at two locations; this was the third place he needed to search.

Naturally, he only looked at the rosters. He did not mention searching for anyone, much less voluntarily speak Leng Qiuyue's name.

"Creak..." The door was pushed open from outside.

Liu Feng got straight to the point, intending to offer some benefits in exchange for the roster. Yet the other person spoke first.

This lead Gu Child had an enormous head. Before Liu Feng could say anything, he grinned familiarly. "Brother! Coming to see me at this hour, you must have heard the news and come here looking for some fun, right?"

Of course Liu Feng understood what he meant—nothing more than affairs between men and women.

During his more than half a year in Insect Valley, he had seen Gu Servants beat Gu Children to death and Gu Children plot against one another. As for female Gu Children sacrificing their looks to preserve their lives, that was common enough.

Liu Feng had long grown used to such sights, but his face now darkened as a bad suspicion arose in his heart.

If Leng Qiuyue had been assigned to this group, and if she happened to be beautiful...

"What fun? Explain yourself." Liu Feng's voice was low.

"Still pretending, are you? Our group got assigned two little beauties. Quite a few Gu Children and overseers have come here lately to enjoy themselves."

At that, the Big-Headed Gu Child beamed, rubbing his hands together as he extended them toward Liu Feng. His meaning was obvious—he wanted benefits.

Among Gu Children, the benefits that circulated were nothing more than two things: Qi-Nurturing Pills or Insect Medicine.

Liu Feng narrowed his eyes, coldness spreading through their depths. This fellow had taken him for someone who had come here for pleasure.

"Who are the two? Take me to see how they look first!" Liu Feng suppressed his fury, his heart tightening.

He had only just taken on this karmic debt. Entrusted by someone to protect that person's daughter, he at least had to ensure that she planted the Exotic Gu "Flower Immortal" and became a Gu Master.

Yet before he had even seen her, could she already have been defiled?

"Fine, follow me. One is called Li Xiang'er, and the other is Leng Qiuyue. Let me make this clear first: one of them has a fierce temper and needs to be taught a few lessons, but the other is obedient as can be. Guaranteed to satisfy you."

As soon as the Big-Headed Gu Child said this, he noticed Liu Feng's face twitching. He only assumed this Gu Child was too excited to contain himself and did not think much of it.

"So be it!" Hearing Leng Qiuyue's name, Liu Feng was startled, then silently sighed.

Things had already come to this. He would help as much as he could and assist this girl in hatching the Exotic Gu "Flower Immortal" in the future.

Led by the Big-Headed Gu Child, the two went one after the other beneath the Thatched Shed and headed into the underground Stone Chamber.

Before they even entered the Stone Chamber, a dense medicinal stench wafted out through the passageway.

Once inside, neither the Big-Headed Gu Child nor Liu Feng paid attention to the smell, for unbearable sounds reached their ears.

Liu Feng hurried several steps forward, and the sight within the Stone Chamber immediately came into view.

Prepared Medicinal Mud lay in the depths of the Stone Chamber. Nearer the outside was a pile of herbs, as well as more than half a vat of dead Gu.

At that moment, two men and one woman—three Gu Children—were tangled together amid a pile of herbs, rolling about.

By the light of an oil lamp, the female Gu Child appeared delicate and soft, with fair skin. Among all the Gu Children, she indeed counted as exceptionally pretty.

Seeing Liu Feng trembling all over, the Big-Headed Gu Child comforted him, "Easy now. Those two useless fools will be done soon."

Liu Feng was frantic with anger. He had been entrusted with a task, yet trouble had already arisen before he had even begun.

"Be... beast, stop this at once!"

In the next instant, under the Big-Headed Gu Child's horrified gaze, Liu Feng shot up like a bolt, whipping up a gust of wind as he landed atop the herb pile.

Immediately afterward, two half-dressed figures were sent flying backward. The force was so great that the Big-Headed Gu Child was too frightened to move at all.

After the two Gu Children hit the ground, they wailed twice, twisted around, and fled. Knowing they were no match for Liu Feng, how could they dare fight back?

Liu Feng stood atop the herb pile and lowered his gaze.

Within the herb pile lay a petite figure, a radiant smile hanging on her lovely face.

"Little brother, you too..." As she spoke, the girl's small hand climbed onto Liu Feng's leg.

Liu Feng's face twitched as he cut her off. "Leng Qiuyue, hurry up and put your clothes on."

The lovely young girl froze for a moment, then smiled sweetly and obediently dressed herself.

After Liu Feng's expression eased somewhat, she said, "Little brother, you really are a man who cherishes delicate flowers. I'm Li Xiang'er. Leng Qiuyue has quite the fiery temper—she's still inside, going hungry..."

As she spoke, the girl pointed toward the pile of Medicinal Mud within the Stone Chamber.

In the dim lamplight, deep within the Medicinal Mud Li Xiang'er pointed to, a mud-smeared girl hid in a corner, still clutching a Herb-Cutting Blade tightly in her hand.