In the center of the village.
Two sets of footsteps approached. Before long, a man and a woman arrived behind the group of Paper Effigy Makers, bringing a newly formed resentment with them.
Someone turned to look, his face registering astonishment. After seeing the scenes of slaughter along the way, this man still dared to come over. Had he come here to die?
"Oh, all the boys are here. Relax, I'm one of you."
Jiang Chen smiled and strode over, completely at ease under everyone's scrutiny.
"Which hall are you from?"
Someone spoke up to ask.
"You doubt my identity?" Looking utterly confident, Jiang Chen rolled up his sleeve, revealing the strange blood-red symbol on his arm. "Take a good look. Surely this can't be fake."
"A Dark Alliance Blood Talisman? Is he someone important?" someone said in surprise.
No sooner had he spoken than-
Smack! A slap landed on his head.
"Are you fucking blind or stupid? He's been marked by the Blood Talisman! This man has hunted down someone important in our Dark Alliance!"
"Prepare for battle!"
The Paper Effigy Makers all braced themselves. Paper figures with exaggerated rouge on their cheeks slowly advanced, an intense, eerie aura spreading around them. Before long, dozens of paper figures had surrounded Jiang Chen and Lin Youwei.
Just then, Xiaohai suddenly grew excited. "Sis!"
His head had already become deformed and split open. Whenever he opened his mouth to speak, his face twisted in pain, yet he still shouted with all his might.
"Sis, are you okay? Don't be scared! Xiaohai's here to save you! Are these bad people holding you hostage?"
Across from him, Xie Yujie jolted among the Paper Effigy Makers, her mouth falling open. "Xiaohai, you..."
Her expression was deeply conflicted.
At that moment, the old man behind