Something's wrong with this demon.

Chapter 4

Deep inside the cave, the firelight was dim.

On the rock-built stove, a large pot with its lid on was simmering over a low flame, preparing the medicinal broth needed for cultivation.

Tian Feng, with a full head of gray hair, sat cross-legged to the side, closing his eyes to calm his mind.

Luo Qingchen walked in with unsteady steps, and said respectfully, "Master, your disciple has returned."

Tian Feng didn't open his eyes. After a moment of silence, he said, "Go and rest. I need some more blood tomorrow night."

Luo Qingchen's heart sank suddenly.

"Yes."

He didn't dare say anything more and bowed his head as he retreated.

Only when his figure disappeared into the darkness outside did he dare to show some expression.

I had fresh blood drawn last night, and they want to draw blood again tomorrow night.

Only one day had passed.

For most patients undergoing drug administration, after a blood draw on the same day, it is necessary to wait at least half a month until the body has recovered somewhat before another blood draw is performed.

Only in this way can it last.

If the intervals between blood draws are too short, the patient's body will quickly become weak, sick, and die.

Some people with weaker constitutions may even go into shock and die on the spot.

Recalling what he had overheard outside the cave, he was now certain that this so-called "master" not only wanted to drain his blood, but also coveted his flesh and blood!

In their minds, the other party had clearly already sentenced him to death.

Looking up, the three animal hides hanging on the wall at the cave entrance swayed gently in the night breeze, as if beckoning to him, or as if saying: Come on, we've been waiting for you.

"Junior Brother Luo, what did Master say?"

At this moment, the eldest disciple, Zhang Dashan, emerged from the darkness beside him.

He had actually heard the entire conversation that had just taken place in the cave.

Luo Qingchen composed herself and said calmly, "It's nothing. Master just said that we'll need blood again tomorrow night."

Zhang Dashan smiled slightly, reached out and patted his shoulder, saying, "We should use Junior Brother Yang's blood. You just lost a whole bowl of blood last night, so we can't use yours anymore."

Luo Qingchen nodded silently and said nothing more.

Zhang Dashan laughed and said, "Alright, it's getting late. You bled last night and have been running around all day. I'm sure you're not feeling well. Go and rest. If your master needs anything, I'll call you."

"Yes, thank you, Senior Brother."

Luo Qingchen didn't say anything more. After thanking him, she went to a corner not far away, lay down on the ground, and quickly closed her eyes.

In the darkness, Zhang Dashan glanced at him again, then went inside.

After everything around her quieted down, Luo Qingchen slowly opened her eyes again, her gaze returning to the three hides hanging on the wall at the entrance of the cave.

"Am I going to be hung there like them?"

No, of course not.

If he dies, what will happen to his sister?

His gaze fell upon his body.

The first health bar had dropped from 70% to 75%.

In one day, 5% of the blood was restored.

But he knew that the 5% recovery he had made was just the rapid replenishment of thin blood in his body during an emergency.

His body is still very weak.

For an average person to fully recover from their previous condition, it would take at least a month.

And he...

"Heal!"

He looked at the second spare health bar, and with a thought, the second health bar's 100% status immediately became 90%.

The first health bar, which was meant to sustain life, immediately jumped from 75% to 85%!

This time it's not diluted blood, but blood with extremely high purity!

He immediately felt the deficiency in his body being replenished in large quantities.

At that moment, the dizziness and headache disappeared, and his strength seemed to have been restored instantly.

He dared not add too much, for fear of being noticed.

Of course, we dared not leave it out.

After all, she will have her blood drawn tomorrow night. If she only has 75% of her blood remaining, she may go into shock and die on the spot during the blood draw.

Once he enters a state of shock, what awaits him is likely to be skinning and dismemberment.

Therefore, he must maintain his physical condition to prepare for tomorrow's events!

"However, how do we replenish the blood in the second spare health bar?"

"Could it be like the first health bar, where it slowly recovers on its own?"

Looking at the second spare health bar, he pondered to himself.

At that moment, a wave of fatigue washed over me.

The weakness from blood loss and the day's exertion triggered his body's self-protection mechanism, making him desperately crave sleep and rest.

Thinking about what would happen tomorrow night, he didn't dare waste any more time. He closed his eyes, calmed his emotions, and prepared to get a good night's rest to recharge.

Whether we live or die, we'll see tomorrow night.

He soon fell asleep.

I slept very soundly and didn't wake up until the evening of the next day.

When he woke up, he found that the sun outside the cave had already set behind the mountain and was about to set.

"Click!"

The crisp sound of chopping wood echoed outside the cave.

Deep inside the cave, all was silent.

Perhaps knowing his fate tonight, neither Zhang Dashan nor Yang Ming came to ask him to do anything, and the master didn't call him again either.

"In their hearts, have I become a dead person?"

Without thinking further, he sat up and checked his health bars again. He found that the first health bar had recovered from 85% last night to 90%; while the second reserve health bar had not moved at all and was still at 90% last night.

He secretly wondered.

The second health bar doesn't seem to regenerate automatically. How can I replenish the lost blood?

Is it a one-time use product, completely gone once it's used up, and can't be replenished at all?

wrong.

Since the second health bar can be upgraded, it must be able to be replenished.

However, he doesn't know the method yet.

As he was pondering this, his second senior brother, Yang Ming, carrying freshly chopped firewood, walked in from the cave entrance. Seeing that he had woken up, he merely glanced at him indifferently and did not say anything, before heading straight into the cave.

After a moment, Yang Ming came out again, tossed a piece of venison to him, and said coldly, "This is from your master. Eat it quickly, because your master will need your blood tonight."

After saying that, she gave him a cold look and left the cave.

That last look in his eyes was as if he were looking at a dead person.

Luo Qingchen silently picked up the piece of meat from the ground, held it in her hand, her expression changed for a moment, and then she raised her eyes and looked into the depths of the cave.

It was a deep, dark, eerie, and deathly place, like a gaping maw, silently and coldly waiting for him.

The sound of chopping wood echoed again outside the cave.

Before long, Zhang Dashan, the eldest disciple, walked in from outside the cave, drenched in sweat. Seeing that he was awake, he immediately put on a warm smile: "Junior Brother Luo, you're awake. Did you sleep well?"

Luo Qingchen nodded slightly, then suddenly said, "Senior Brother, can I borrow a piece of meat to eat? Master just gave me a piece of meat, but I'm so hungry, I don't think it's enough."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dashan's smile froze slightly, as if he hesitated for a moment. However, he quickly took out a piece of meat from his pocket, handed it to him, and said with a smile, "We're brothers, no need to talk about lending or not. Eat quickly. You've lost too much blood, you need to eat more meat."

Luo Qingchen took it and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

Zhang Dashan smiled, walked inside, and said, "I'll go in first. Call me if you need anything."

"Um."

Luo Qingchen looked at his strong back and slowly clenched the meat in her hand.

The setting sun outside the cave quickly disappeared behind the mountains.

Night fell silently, like a boundless net.

The entire mountain forest was plunged into darkness.

The cave was also pitch black.

Only in the deepest part of the space, a dim yellow light burned, barely illuminating that small patch of space.

"Crunch..."

Footsteps came from inside.

Luo Qingchen, who was sitting in the darkest corner, slowly opened her eyes.

Zhang Dashan and Yang Ming appeared at the same time.

Seemingly afraid that he would escape, Yang Ming went straight to the cave entrance and stood there, staring at him with a cold gaze.

Zhang Dashan sighed and looked at him with pity, saying, "Junior Brother Luo, Master is at a critical juncture in his cultivation these days. He wants you to go in and squeeze out some more blood, just a bowlful."

Just one bowl?

One bowl yesterday, one bowl today—this isn't just asking for blood, it's taking his life!

Luo Qingchen lowered her head and paused for a moment, but without hesitation, she stood up and prepared to go inside.

At this moment, he suddenly remembered something, took out two pieces of meat from his pocket, handed one to Zhang Dashan, and threw the other in front of Yang Ming, saying bitterly, "It would be a waste to give it to me. Thank you both for taking care of me these past few days."

Zhang Dashan took the meat, sighed again, and comforted him, "It's alright, don't worry, you'll be fine after a few more days of rest."

Luo Qingchen didn't say anything more and walked into the cave.

Yang Ming, who was guarding the cave entrance, bent down, picked up the piece of meat from the ground, patted it, checked it, and put it into his pocket.

For patients who frequently undergo blood draws, these blood-replenishing meat chunks are extremely important, even crucial to their lives.

He certainly wouldn't waste it.

"Greetings, Master."

Luo Qingchen entered the cave and respectfully bowed to the figure sitting in front of the medicine pot.

Tian Feng opened his eyes, looked at him calmly, and said, "Come here, your master still needs some blood."

"Yes."

Without any hesitation, Luo Qingchen stepped forward, knelt down in front of him, and extended her right hand.

Tian Feng set out the bowls, took out a dagger, and began to draw blood.

The moment the cold blade sliced ​​through her skin, Luo Qingchen's arm trembled involuntarily.

Bright red blood flowed out and fell into the large bowl below.

Soon, the bowl was filled with blood.

This time, Tian Feng simply sprinkled some medicine powder on his wound and said, "Go out and get some rest."

Luo Qingchen stood up with her head down, but suddenly felt dizzy and swayed a few times before falling to the ground again.

Zhang Dashan, who was waiting at the door, immediately came in and helped him up, saying, "Junior Brother Luo, let me help you out."

After he helped Luo Qingchen out, Yang Ming went inside and bowed respectfully, saying, "Master, should we skin her now? The skin of a living person should be tighter."

Tian Feng picked up the bowl from the ground, lifted the pot lid, and said calmly, "Let's wait another night. If he can't get up tomorrow, then we'll deal with it."

"Yes."

Yang Ming didn't dare to say anything more and bowed his head before leaving.

Zhang Dashan helped Luo Qingchen to a corner outside. After he lay down, Zhang Dashan comforted him, "Junior Brother Luo, it's alright, you'll feel better after a good night's sleep."

Luo Qingchen didn't speak, her face pale as she closed her eyes.

Zhang Dashan stared at him for a while, then gently patted his shoulder and got up to leave.

He walked into the darkness inside.

Before long, the sounds of chewing meat and talking could be heard softly in the darkness.

"What did Master say? Are we going to do it now?"

"Master said to wait one more night, and if he can't get up tomorrow morning, then we'll take action."

"I doubt he'll be able to get up. He's lost such a large bowl of blood for two consecutive nights; even my body can't take it, let alone his..."

"Senior Brother, I'll skin the animals tomorrow morning, and you can cut the meat?"

"You're quite the shrewd one. Cutting meat requires chopping bones and dealing with those filthy innards. I'd rather skin him. That kid has such delicate skin; it'll probably be easier to skin him than a toad."

The two chewed on pieces of meat while talking in hushed tones.

In the pitch-black corner, Luo Qingchen, who should have been fast asleep, slowly opened her eyes.

Behind him, in the cracks of the wall that were originally covered only with moss, mold, dust and stone chips, some fragments of something had appeared at some point.

If light could shine in, perhaps a few brightly colored things could be vaguely seen.

Those are the fragments left after squeezing out the juice from a poisonous mushroom and crushing it.