Something's wrong with this demon.

Chapter 54

"rustle……"

Sometime later, the noisy sounds from the mine had faded away.

The dark forest was deathly silent.

Only the mournful, chilling sound of the wind and the rustling of shoes on black fallen leaves echoed in the silent, empty forest.

It was almost dawn outside.

But it remained as dark as night, eerie and black, as if it were a forbidden dark place abandoned by the whole world.

There is no sky above and no soil on the ground here.

Only dense, pitch-black branches and leaves, baring their claws, and thick, damp, decaying black fallen leaves, as thick as the earth itself.

The air was filled with an ancient and sticky smell.

Luo Qingchen slowed her pace.

Because if you're not careful, the fallen leaves under your feet might collapse.

What lies below could be a puddle or a swamp.

Of course, it could also be a gaping maw full of fangs, already wide open.

The stench of blood in the air had not dissipated; on the contrary, it had become even stronger.

He moved like a nimble cat, or a lone wolf with a keen sense of smell, cautiously traversing the silent and eerie black forest, following the distinct scent of blood.

The daylight couldn't penetrate.

The noise outside has nothing to do with this place.

He seemed to have entered another world, walking slowly forward step by step.

It feels like there's no end in sight.

All around was darkness and repetitive scenery.

But his blood-sucking ability makes his sense of smell unique.

He could clearly feel the bloody smell growing stronger and closer.

She seemed to stop.

Soon, he saw her.

With her eyes closed and her chest heaving, she leaned weakly against an ancient, withered tree.

Behind the big tree was the Blackwater River, even darker and more desolate than this forest.

The smell emanating from the river was rotten and pungent.

Her body was covered in blood, and the area beneath her was also covered in blood.

Blood is red, human blood.

When she heard approaching footsteps, she suddenly opened her eyes, revealing a pair of scarlet and bloodthirsty pupils, her face contorted and twisted, her fangs sharp and terrifying.

A hoarse, beast-like roar came from her throat.

But her screams had lost their power.

The sharp claws that once easily ripped out a cultivator's heart are now gone.

She was like a small animal that had lost its claws and teeth, only able to contort her face and roar, trying to scare away the enemies who terrified her.

Luo Qingchen stopped in her tracks.

He didn't go forward again, nor did he make any other move; he just stood there quietly, watching her.

She continued to scream and threaten.

Until Luo Qingchen called out that name.

"A-Yun..."

He called out softly.

Perhaps no one would associate the hideous monster before them with that quiet and gentle girl.

She stopped roaring, but still bared her fangs, her face contorted in a ferocious grimace.

"A-Yun..."

He called out again softly.

Her bloodshot eyes widened, and a hoarse roar suddenly escaped her throat. Her body began to twist violently, as if trying to escape his gaze. Her head also began to shake violently, as if desperately denying the name.

Luo Qingchen looked at her quietly without making a sound.

She struggled for a moment, then gradually calmed down.

She slowly lowered her head, and a mournful sob suddenly escaped her throat.

After a long while, she slowly raised her head.

Those once bloodthirsty, scarlet pupils had turned black; her hideous face had returned to its original form.

Her face was covered in tears, and she sobbed, "Ah... Brother Chen... I'm sorry..."

Luo Qingchen shook her head, slowly walked to her, squatted down, gazed tenderly into her eyes, and said softly, "Ayun, you don't need to apologize. You haven't apologized to anyone."

She cried, "I...I killed so many people..."

Luo Qingchen shook her head, her gaze gentle and filled with heartache: "No, you haven't killed anyone. Those weren't human."

"Waaah..."

She began to sob and cry.

"I hate them! I hate them!"

Suddenly, her face contorted, her eyes turned bloodshot, and her voice became shrill: "They hurt me, they hurt me with Father, they stripped me naked and locked me up with the dogs... I hate them! I hate Father! I'll kill them! I'll eat all their hearts! They're not human! Waaah..."

She screamed and cried.

The appearance on her face and the color of her pupils kept changing.

The black mist surrounding her was also churning violently.

"They're not human! I...I'm not human either...I'm a monster! I'm a demon! I'm a man-eating demon! I...Waaah..."

She cried and screamed for a while, then gradually calmed down.

She looked at the boy before her, her face streaked with tears, her body trembling violently: "Brother Chen... I... I'm scared... I'm so scared... I'm a monster..."

Luo Qingchen stretched out her arms and gently hugged her, saying softly, "Ayun, don't be afraid, you're not a monster... they are."

"Waaah..."

She buried her face in his chest and wept bitterly.

"Brother Chen, I know... I know... you found out about me a long time ago... you advised me to leave, but... it was too late..."

"It was originally inside the cat's body. It was me... I willingly let it come here..."

"I want revenge... I need it..."

"I've already been tortured beyond recognition by my father and the others... so what if I become a monster?"

"I'm going to kill all the bad guys... I'm not even afraid of death, so why would I be afraid of becoming a monster..."

"But... Brother Chen, sometimes, when I'm sober... when I look at myself in the mirror, when I think back to the days in Qingshui Town, I... I'm in so much pain, I'm so scared..."

"Why...why did they hurt me?"

"He...he's my father!"

Luo Qingchen gently held her, quietly listening to her sobs and outpouring of emotions.

"What a pity... what a pity there was still one person we didn't kill..."

"I killed Qingmei and transformed into her likeness... all to kill him... I know I'm about to die, so I can't wait any longer, I must kill him..."

"He's the worst...he's the worst..."

"Waaah..."

The body in her arms trembled and cried, its breath gradually weakening and its voice growing softer.

"Brother Chen..."

"I...I'm going to die..."

Her voice softened, just like when they first met in the building and she offered him money.

"I hope you...live well..."

"I……"

Just then, a burst of laughter suddenly came from the nearby woods.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Zhang Jiu, carrying a knife, suddenly appeared, laughing loudly as he strode over.

"Brother Luo, you're amazing! You actually managed to find this beast! Luckily, I sprinkled something on you and tracked him down here! Thank you so much! Thank you so much!"

He said thank you, but a sinister grin spread across his face.

Luo Qingchen lowered her head and slowly released the trembling body in her arms.

"Aww—"

Zhao Yun's face twisted and contorted again, her eyes instantly turning bloodshot as she let out a sharp scream at Zhang Jiu who was walking towards her.

Her body trembled violently with anger and hatred.

She struggled to lunge at him.

But clearly, she had no strength left.

At that moment, she seemed to know clearly that she had no chance left.

She trembled and sobbed, her eyes filled with bright red blood, her pupils filled with hatred and despair.

"Waaah..."

She collapsed to the ground, letting out a desperate and resentful cry.