Jiang Lu quickened her pace as she watched the changes around her.
Just as she came within a few steps of the exit, her surroundings suddenly changed. The next instant, the vines sprang into motion, their rustling filling her ears.
Alarm flashed across Jiang Lu's face. She glanced at the rapidly growing vines and hurried forward, accidentally brushing against a leaf. The leaf recoiled, then instantly lashed out at her.
Jiang Lu immediately circulated her spiritual energy to block it. With a swing of Qianming, a flash of spiritual light swept past, and the leaf and vines attacking her fell to the ground.
Liquid dripped from the vines, landing with a soft patter before being swiftly absorbed. The severed vines and leaves rapidly withered as well.
Her surroundings fell silent, and the vines froze for an instant.
Jiang Lu's heart lurched. The next moment, she bolted out of the cave without looking back.
The instant she left the tunnel, the surrounding vines surged in and packed it completely. Hearing the rumbling behind her, Jiang Lu turned back in panic.
The vines looked nothing like they had before. Dense black markings covered their emerald stems, and the water globes actually held flowers inside. As the transformation continued, the flowers' centers burst through the watery globes and rapidly expanded until they were large enough to swallow her whole.
The flowers were purple, their centers lined with sharp teeth. As they opened and closed, their grinding teeth made a sizzling rasp.
Jiang Lu's eyes widened. They were Man-Eating Flowers!
Thank goodness she had run fast enough!
And thank goodness she had only attacked them when she reached the exit. Otherwise, she would have been trapped inside the cave.
But the sight of all those ever-growing Man-Eating Flowers made her question everything. *Weren't Man-Eating