Black Snake began paying attention to Chen An.
The abnormalities had only begun surfacing, one after another, after they met him.
His tongue sampled scents, he watched minute changes in temperature, and he sensed vibrations. Even in his dim field of vision, everything seemed normal.
The boy looked like a child from an ordinary household. The only difference was that he tended to be quiet, often pondered things alone, and rarely asked for anything.
Black Snake grew troubled, unable even to spare a thought for the mysterious rewards he received after slaying uncanny creatures.
All he wanted now was to know how to resolve these abnormalities.
There was no telling how many more days they would have to travel. He watched his friend grow more irritable by the day, her face often darkening over trivial matters.
He had mentioned her changes to He Ning at night, but she thought everything was perfectly normal.
For the first time, he truly understood what it meant to be powerless.
In this group, it seemed only he and the two donkeys could be considered normal.
The spring breeze carried the fragrance of nameless wildflowers.
The vegetation flourished green, and the leaves were gradually closing over the mountains.
When they reached the entrance to a clearing, He Ning, who had been frowning all along, lost her temper again.
Several men carrying loads were resting beneath a tree. They spotted the travelers passing along the mountain path: a couple carrying a child, and a Daoist and a boy riding donkeys.
For some reason, a wicked flame sprang up in their hearts. Those bundles looked heavy, and the donkeys were sturdy-
Rough hands instinctively closed around the billhooks beside them.
The men beneath the tree exchanged glances and quickly split into two groups. One blocked the way