Chapter 65: [Chen Yan’s Trials]
After Gu Qingyi left, Chen Yan directly climbed onto a nearby large tree, sitting on a branch several meters above the ground, instantly feeling much safer.
It was now nighttime, and the cold wind was howling. The rustling sounds within the forest occasionally echoed, creating an atmosphere that made the light in the forest path seem to dim further.
Chen Yan squinted his eyes, using the Celestial Eye Qi Observation Skill to monitor his surroundings, not daring to relax for a moment.
He felt that in his field of vision, a faint red hue was already permeating the surroundings. The color was still subtly shifting, heading towards the direction in the mountains—precisely where Gu Qingyi had chased.
Clearly, Gu Qingyi’s chasing direction was correct, and it should lead to something significant.
Chen Yan, being cautious, promptly took out several talismans.
First, he slapped a [Lucky Charm] onto himself, then another [Six Yang Righteous Qi Talisman].
These two talismans, the first one could boost his luck, and the second one could somewhat suppress evil impurities.
Lastly, he slapped a [Light Body Talisman] on himself—so if he encountered a strong enemy, he could run faster while escaping.
Sitting on the tree branch, looking towards the mountain forest, he suddenly heard rustling sounds from the distant woods.
Chen Yan, with keen hearing, immediately recognized that the rustling sound indicated something was running through the woods, as the ground was covered with dried leaves and branches during this season.
He quickly stood up on the branch.
A moment later, he saw a figure stumbling out of the forest!
Chen Yan saw clearly and recognized it was an ordinary woman dressed in winter clothes, her dishevelled ponytail swaying, wearing a down jacket and jeans.
The woman ran in a panic, mouth constantly emitting terrified cries—those unconscious "ah" "ah" sounds made by people in shock.
Chen Yan saw that she was in such a hurry that she even lost one shoe.
In the nighttime forest, with evil qi permeating, such a figure running out startled Chen Yan.
However, he then used the Qi Observation Skill and saw that her aura was ordinary grey, indicating she was a regular mortal, with a faint hint of blood-colored tint in her luck, suggesting she was facing some bloodshed misfortune.
The woman ran out of the forest, stumbling on the drainage ditch by the forest path, falling forward heavily onto the ground.
Chen Yan pondered slightly, took a mask from his pocket, put it on, and then jumped down from the tree, landing a few steps in front of the woman.
The woman sprawled on the ground, struggling to get up, saw someone ahead, screamed before realizing it was Chen Yan, and then desperately yelled: "Help! Save me! Help!!"
Seeing the woman reach out struggling, Chen Yan did not approach immediately but stood in place, pretending to ask in confusion: "What’s wrong? What happened?"
The girl, her face covered in dirt with her forehead slightly bleeding, appeared injured. Upon hearing Chen Yan ask, she burst into tears and snot, screaming: "Monster! There’s a monster inside!"
Chen Yan stared at the girl intently, confirming no abnormalities with the Qi Observation Skill, then approached and pulled her from the ground.
"Don’t rush, tell me clearly, what kind of monster?" Chen Yan asked.
"I... I..." The girl was trembling violently, looking at the forest behind in terror, speaking brokenly: "Quick, save me! Run, we need to run..."
"Is someone chasing you in the forest?"
"No, not human! It’s not human! It’s a monster!" The girl seemed on the verge of a breakdown: "Run! There’s a monster!"
Chen Yan dragged the girl out of the forest path, she stumbled and staggered, Chen Yan noticed that due to losing a shoe, her sock was torn and slightly bloodied.
"Did you call the police?"
"No, I lost my phone." The girl cried.
"Tell me clearly, what did you encounter?"
"Monster, a monster that eats people."
"How did you escape?"
The girl suddenly cried loudly: "My dog, my dog saved me... It killed my dog..."
After a few cries, probably exhausted, having run too long in the cold, her body losing warmth, coupled with oxygen deficiency and shock, the girl’s eyelids fluttered and she fainted.
"..." Chen Yan, speechless, looked at the girl, then dragged her to the base of a tree, about to take out his phone to contact Gu Qingyi...
Suddenly, Chen Yan’s hairs stood on end!
With the [Fortune-Telling Talisman] power and the body’s sensitivity due to Essence Nourishing, Chen Yan had a keen sense of any danger.
At this moment, he felt a cold, sinister presence approaching, like a chilling aura rising from his spine to the back of his head, causing him to shudder.
He heard faint, heavy breathing from behind.
He quickly inhaled, immediately unleashing an "Escape Rune Technique", propelling himself forward! At the same time, he sensed a strong gust brushing past his rear head...
Chen Yan leaped forward five meters, then turned back to look, seeing that the spot he had just stood on a tree trunk already had a deep gash!
And there stood a monster, hunched and gasping heavily.
This thing looked humanoid but was draped in tattered clothes, with disheveled hair, appearing grayish.
Its form was human-like, yet its arms seemed longer than usual, nearly reaching its knees, its hands appearing like dried chicken claws with shriveled skin, but its fingertips were sharp like hooks.
Its head hung low, hair covering its face, but amidst the mess, one could faintly see, its blood-red eyes staring intently.
A gaping maw, its lips smeared with fresh blood, and bits of flesh!
Chen Yan gasped at the sight.
Using the Qi Observation Skill, he sensed the monster exuding intense evil qi, the odor of blood so strong it nearly choked him.
Facing the monster, Chen Yan felt his adrenaline surge, temporarily forgetting fear, gritting his teeth, and firmly staring at the monster, pulling out two [Six Yang Righteous Qi Talismans] from his pocket, holding one in each hand.
These talismans were part of the talisman art he had learned recently, consuming considerable Primordial Qi and not easy to execute. He had managed to create three in total, having used one on himself earlier, with only these two left.
"Hungry... Hungry..."
The monster muttered lowly, and Chen Yan felt startled... This thing could speak human language?
He gradually retreated, back against a tree.
Suddenly, his vision blurred, and the monster’s figure abruptly vanished.
Without hesitating, Chen Yan made the wisest decision: Even if he couldn’t see the monster’s movement, he immediately used the "Escape Rune Technique" to move away!
Whether you can see or not, the priority is to evade!
Chen Yan swiftly dodged, the monster had leaped to his previous spot, its claws splitting the tree trunk, causing it to shatter.
Chen Yan cursed inwardly: Such destructive power?!
Didn’t Young Lady Gu say the monster wouldn’t be too strong, and I should be able to handle it? Handle my ass!
If it swipes with its claws, I wouldn’t stand a chance!
The tree collapsed, its crown encasing the monster. Seeing clearly, Chen Yan charged forward using the "Escape Rune Technique."
With a mouthful of Primordial Qi, the command burst from his tongue with a hint of wind and thunder under the influence of Primordial Qi.
The monster, originally tangled in the fallen tree crown, immediately stiffened, unable to move.
Chen Yan swiftly reached its side, injecting Primordial Qi into his hand, slapping a [Six Yang Righteous Qi Talisman] onto the monster’s shoulder!
The monster shuddered, releasing a screech, the Body-Stabilizing Technique slightly wavering. Chen Yan quickly stepped behind it, slapping another [Six Yang Righteous Qi Talisman] onto its back.
After deploying both talismans, Chen Yan swiftly retreated, executing the "Escape Rune Technique" to teleport ten meters away, standing where the girl had fainted.
Seeing the monster crackle with black flames, the talisman paper burnt instantly, the monster howling in pain, black evil qi swirling around its shoulder and back.
The monster struggled, and Chen Yan wasted no time, grabbing the unconscious girl and hoisting her onto his shoulder, immediately bolting! His feet leaping swiftly; within seconds, a roar resounded behind, and the monster’s claws shattered the Body-Stabilizing Technique, tearing apart the tree crown.
Seeing the figure chasing, Chen Yan whipped out his phone, running nonstop while yelling into a voice message.
"Gu Qingyi!! The monster is chasing me!!"
Turning back, he saw the monster staggering as it ran, yet incredibly fast! Within breaths, it closed the distance.
Chen Yan felt tense—This monster’s speed surpassed his escape technique?
Looking ahead... The forest path was flat, swiftly making a decision: On flat terrain, the monster’s speed would soon catch up!
With that thought, Chen Yan gritted his teeth, turning sharply and sprinting into the left side of the forest!
The dense trees forced Chen Yan to slow down, but with keen reflexes he zigzagged through, avoiding trees. While the "Escape Rune Technique" was impractical here, the [Light Body Talisman] kept his speed up.
The monster struggled though. It was visibly weakened by Chen Yan’s talismans, running clumsily, likely not too bright.
After chasing into the forest, it repeatedly collided with trees, breaking them, roaring in frustration.
Chen Yan continued running wildly, seeing the monster gradually lag behind...
After about ten minutes, Chen Yan could hardly hear the monster anymore, yet he still sensed it pursuing.
"Gu Qingyi! If you don’t come, I’ll die!"
Chen Yan yelled into his phone.
Suddenly, the view ahead opened! He stepped out of the forest into a clearing!
Before him lay a lake!