You Chase Me, Damn It...

In the dense, lush valley.

Compared to Cao Hongzhuo, who sold medicine whenever he found an opportunity, Shen Xiu was far more cautious on the way back.

Although he had only caught a fleeting glimpse of that red figure atop the peak, it was like a heavy, oppressive cloud hanging over his head, impossible to dispel.

Shen Xiu could only admire Cao Hongzhuo's utterly carefree nature.

The only thing that puzzled him was why everything Cao Hongzhuo pushed so hard was a Rejuvenation Pill rather than any other medicine.

However, Shen Xiu did not dwell on the matter.

After walking some distance toward the valley exit, they gradually entered another forest thick with luxuriant branches and leaves.

The forest was dim and chaotic, always a place where demonic creatures easily bred and lingered. Coupled with what had happened earlier, Shen Xiu could not help growing more tense.

He had already drawn the Hundred Refinements Saber at his waist, holding it poised in his hand as he watched every rustle of wind and grass around him.

Yet one of their companions—the burly man who had looked down on him before—could not help letting out a snort when he saw Shen Xiu acting so nervously.

"Heh, still a greenhorn who's never seen anything. Getting all jumpy over this little bit of trouble."

The man in the same group as him also gave the same chuckle upon hearing his companion's mockery.

Shen Xiu merely glanced at them without speaking. He seemed to hear a strange whistling sound, coming from very far away.

As he followed the sound, his body abruptly halted. Staring behind the man, his pupils shrank sharply, and his body instinctively tensed.

The others beside those two also stiffened, staring in shock behind them as though they had seen something terrifying.

Seeing the strange reactions of everyone around him, even a man as thick-nerved as he was should have realized something was wrong.

What was more, they could all clearly feel an incomparably cold chill coming from behind them, as though they had fallen into an ice cellar.

This aura.

It was several times stronger than the Black Demon Bear they had hunted before.

For a moment, both men's scalps went numb, their limbs seeming to freeze solid.

"I... there isn't something behind me, is there?"

The man in tight clothes looked ready to cry. His lips trembled uncontrollably as he stiffly turned around.

He moved very slowly, so slowly it was hard to imagine.

Just as the man turned around and caught a glimpse of a tall red figure from the corner of his eye.

Pfft!

A somewhat familiar sound of flesh being pierced rang by his ear.

The burly man's expression froze, terror congealing on his face.

If that sound came from someone else, it was naturally cause for relief. But if it came from his own body, then only boundless fear remained for him.

A sharp pain erupted in his chest.

He slowly lowered his head and saw a blood-red pointed tip protruding from his chest, a bitter smile appearing on his face.

Then he lost all sensation and sank into utter darkness.

"Motherfucker, run!"

In the blink of an eye, they had lost one man. Cao Hongzhuo caught sight of that red shadow and finally realized Shen Xiu had not been talking nonsense. Scrambling away in panic, he ran toward the open plains.

He directly threw away the Black Demon Bear's corpse in his hands.

He bolted wildly, even the heaps of fat on his body trembling like little butterflies gathering nectar among flowers.

It was truly hard to believe that someone of such enormous bulk could unleash such astonishing speed.

As for Shen Xiu, upon seeing that suddenly appearing red figure, he called out to Dong Qi at his side, decisively threw down the Black Demon Bear's corpse to lighten his burden, and charged out of the forest.

His speed was like an arrow leaving the bow!

Facing that figure, Shen Xiu's scalp went numb. He did not want to remain for even a moment longer.

He had no idea where this thing had come from or what exactly it was, but every hair on his body and every cell within him conveyed the same message.

That thing was dangerous!

Absolutely dangerous!

In truth, its danger had already been displayed vividly in that very moment.

A Body Tempering expert had not even had time to react before that terrifying figure ambushed him from behind. He had not even managed to cry for help.

Among this group, Shen Xiu felt that only Steward Chen, who led them, possessed outstanding strength.

As for the fat man Cao Hongzhuo, Shen Xiu knew he had Body Tempering strength, but not the mentality to match it.

Judging by how decisively the red figure attacked, there was no doubt that no one present could stand shoulder to shoulder with it.

The disparity in strength was far too great.

Even if Shen Xiu went all out, it would likely be useless.

Leaping over a fallen tree, Shen Xiu glanced back from the corner of his eye and happened to see a lagging man meet a cruel end, falling silent in an instant.

Some people simply vanished as they walked.

The red figure's slaughter continued. Its red arm condensed into a crimson sharp sword and once again pierced through the chest of someone lagging behind.

Making a pair of candied hawthorns on a stick.

Steward Chen's face turned livid. The one who had died was one of his subordinates.

That subordinate had always been utterly loyal to him, quick and capable in handling matters. He had never expected him to die here.

Setting aside everything else, even getting out now was likely to become a problem.

This bizarre encounter was simply a calamity falling from the sky. Steward Chen could not understand where things had gone wrong.

He had sent people to carefully scout that small valley seven or eight days ago. Aside from a few very ordinary unranked demonic beasts, there had been nothing else threatening there.

Yet such an unimaginable accident had still occurred.

"Cao Hongzhuo, run faster!"

Looking at Cao Hongzhuo panting like a dog behind him, a complicated look flashed through Steward Chen's eyes.

His body paused slightly. Before Cao Hongzhuo caught up, he struck Cao Hongzhuo's back with his scabbard, sending him more than ten meters ahead.

And at that moment, another of his colleagues suffered a cruel end.

So-called formidable martial arts were utterly vulnerable before that tall red figure. He died in an instant.

A trace of unwillingness flashed over Steward Chen's face, but it swiftly returned to calm. His eyes hardened as he turned back and slashed at the Red Shadow.

Without caring about the result, he borrowed the recoil to retreat another few meters.

At that moment, his gaze inevitably fell upon Shen Xiu's figure rushing past to the side, and an indescribable flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

He was currently in the middle stage of the second realm, not far from its peak, yet his speed was actually inferior to the other's.

"Fuck, Old Chen, do you think I need saving from you?"

Feeling Steward Chen's intentions, Cao Hongzhuo's chubby face showed a rare trace of moved anger as he cursed.

At this moment, he understood that no delay was as practical as taking one more step forward.

At the same time, he quickened his pace, wishing he could cover a thousand miles in one step, making Close at Hand, Far Away.

While glancing behind him from the corner of his eye and running for his life, sweat streaming down his face, he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"You bastard, chase me, damn it! Chase me..."

Cao Hongzhuo's attitude was extraordinarily arrogant.

He brazenly spouted wild boasts. Shen Xiu, running ahead, twitched at the corner of his mouth upon hearing it, but he did not relax for even a moment.

Yet the tall red figure behind them suddenly abandoned Steward Chen and, as Cao Hongzhuo wished, charged toward him, drawing closer with every passing moment.

Cao Hongzhuo was instantly dumbfounded.

"Ahaha, I was joking! You believe me, right?!"

Feeling that icy aura behind him growing ever closer, Cao Hongzhuo's heart seemed to skip half a beat.

The crushing pressure left him unable to breathe. He could not help pulling a mournful face as he forced out a laugh.

"See those skinny guys up ahead? Their meat is nice and firm. You should go chase them, sir..."

Cao Hongzhuo ran wildly as he shouted, his face twisted as his words became incoherent.

Hearing the fat man's voice, Shen Xiu was covered in black lines and utterly speechless. What did he take that thing for? As if it would listen to him?

The next instant, Shen Xiu's face stiffened.

Because that thing really did leave Cao Hongzhuo behind and come after them! And the one it was chasing was Shen Xiu, who was at the very edge!