Chapter 111: Hunting in the Wild 2

Old Four felt like his luck had never been better. With soft, fragrant warmth pressed against his back and a faint, alluring scent drifting on the breeze, his natural lechery surged out of control.

The young woman stroked his shoulder, seemingly by accident. “Big Brother, your shoulders are so broad…”

“…”

Old Four paused for a moment before breaking into a heh-heh grin. He straightened his back even more. “Us mountain folk go up and down these hills every day. We might not have much else, but we’ve got strength to spare!”

“Really?” Her voice grew even softer. “Are you tired carrying me, Big Brother? How about we rest up ahead for a bit?”

What did that mean?

Old Four found it a little odd. Was the young woman hinting at what he thought? He still had the task on his mind, though. “Nah, it’s no trouble. I’ll carry you right to the Mountain Lord Temple! You should get that leg looked at. We’ll add each other on Green Bubble later, and next time you’re around, your big bro will show you a good time!”

“Really…?” She leaned close to his ear, her breath warm and sweet like orchids. At the same time, her long, pale legs clamped tightly around Old Four’s waist.

Old Four froze, his steps halting in fright.

What did that mean?! Was it what he was imagining?

The legs around his waist squeezed even tighter, as if confirming his suspicions.

He’d heard that girls these days were pretty open-minded. Had he actually stumbled into a steamy encounter like this?

As Old Four wrestled with his inner demons, the young woman whispered sweetly in his ear, “Big Brother, how big are you down there?”

Old Four’s soul nearly left his body. He immediately veered toward a nearby thicket with the girl on his back. She giggled and swatted his arm playfully. “I know a clean spot nearby. I saw it when we passed earlier. I’ll guide you!”

“Good, good, good!” Old Four flew into action, his brain turned to mush. He followed her directions blindly, twisting and turning until they actually arrived. It was a shallow stone cave, spotlessly clean, with the entire interior visible at a glance.

The young woman hopped down from his back, smiling as she tugged him deeper inside. Old Four overtook her instead, grabbing her hand and pulling her along. The moment they stopped, he frantically stripped off his clothes. “The ground here’s too hard. Don’t want you getting bruised. Lie on my clothes…”

He glanced back—and saw her lips curved in a smile. He lunged forward, smothering her with sloppy kisses. But in that instant, something slimy oozed onto his leg.

He kicked casually to shake it off, only sinking his foot deeper into the goo. Irritated, he looked down and spotted a soil-brown, soft-bodied creature as thick as a person’s leg, covered in black hollow dots.

His foot had already sunk into its body.

Old Four’s mind reeled. What the hell was this? If it weren’t so huge, he’d swear it was a Mountain Leech… But did those things ever get this big?

Old Four let out a sudden scream. “Ah—!”

“What’re you yelling for?” A pair of lotus-root arms wrapped around his neck. The young woman shot him a coquettish glance. “What’s wrong, big bro?”

“Th-there’s something!” Old Four scooped her up, trying to stand, but the leech-like thing coiled around his leg the moment he moved. His leg visibly paled at a rapid pace. He looked up—and the stunning girl prettier than any star was gone. Her face had become some grotesque soft-bodied mass.

Old Four’s brain short-circuited for a second. Then the thing’s maw gaped open, lined with ring after ring of teeth like a seven-gill eel, and it sank into his shoulder.

“Aaahhh—!”

His clothes rustled to the ground. There was no beautiful girl—just a Mountain Leech thicker than Old Four’s waist wrapping him tight. He heard the voice: 【Hee hee, Big Brother, your blood tastes so good.】

【Don’t run! Let’s keep playing!】

The Mountain Leech writhed, coiling around Old Four layer by layer as slime coated his entire body. Old Four felt his blood draining away clearly. He struggled to break free, but couldn’t budge.

The maw pulsed, and the leech’s gray-brown body began to swell.

It was cold—so cold, like being tossed into a frozen wasteland.

Old Four’s vision blurred, but the leech wrapped around him grew strangely warm. Something injected into his shoulder from it, followed by agony like his organs were burning!

It felt like his insides were melting!

【Hee hee… hee hee…】 The girl’s laughter echoed in his ears—or maybe from inside him. Old Four’s skin turned blood-red and paper-thin, ready to burst at a poke. The leech’s venom kept him agonizingly alert as his body liquefied into pulp.

Egg after egg was pumped into him, hatching swarms of baby Mountain Leeches that slurped up his tissues. Soon, twisted black shadows writhed beneath his crimson skin, multiplying rapidly. Old Four’s body bloated, his red skin turning pitch-black—crawling with the leeches inside him.

Finally, his body burst. Countless Mountain Leeches chewed through his skin, surging out like a black tidal wave.

They clustered around the massive parent leech. The cave filled with eerie sounds, like churning slime or buzzing hums, as if calling out:

Mama… Mama! Mama! Mama!

…

Meanwhile, Chen Ji picked up Zhao Ling’s call. “Yeah, no problem. The renovation crew’s there today, so just head on in. Lunch is self-serve at my place—plenty of ready-made dishes in the kitchen. Just heat ’em up.”

He asked again, “Everything safe on the road? No issues? Tell everyone not to lag behind. Getting separated in the mountains is dangerous.”

“Mm-hmm, got it! Thanks, Brother Chen!” Zhao Ling chirped happily. “Everything’s fine, super safe! We ran into that Little Red you raised—er, rescued—halfway. Little Red’s such a good girl, leading us straight to the Mountain Lord Temple!”

Chen Ji paused with the cat food can in hand. He grabbed two premium mousse dog cans from the side, plus a big bag of dried beef chews for grinding teeth—foxes were canines, right? Should eat the same?

“Then we’re heading in! We’ll leave the money for you! Business is business!” Zhao Ling said. “Don’t worry, I know the rules. We’re off to pay respects to the Mountain Lord now! Hee hee, hoping he’ll bless us!”

Chen Ji nodded. “Mm. Pay your respects and get out. Don’t linger in the main hall.”

Zhao Ling had it on speakerphone. Everyone tensed up. Did that mean the big shots in the video comments were right…?

Zhao Ling asked nervously, “Brother Chen, is there some special rule? Too much Yin Qi or…?”

“No.” Chen Ji cut her off. “Just repainted the main hall. Formaldehyde levels are high.”

Zhao Ling: “…”

Her classmates: “…”

Zhao Ling replied dryly, “Oh, got it. Thanks, Brother Chen. We’ll light the incense and bounce—promise we won’t hang around!”

If it’d been “excess Yin Qi,” these young folks might’ve wanted to poke around for a Yin-Yang Eye awakening or some heavenly master gift. But formaldehyde? Not even a toe inside!

Zhao Ling pulled a pack of masks from her pocket—springtime allergies, you know—and handed them out one by one. Everyone grabbed one, then rushed into the main hall like their asses were on fire. No time for wishes, just kowtow and bolt. Most held their breath the whole time!

Chen Ji hung up and picked out the two cheapest cat food cans for the Mountain Lord—Xiangxiang loved them, and since they were one and the same, tastes should match, right? Not human anyway, not a real cat. Wouldn’t kill Him.

A nearby clerk smiled politely. “Sir, we have a stray cat and dog section on your left, second shelf over. Discounts for stray pet food.”

Chen Ji smiled back. “Perfect.”

He’d remember to compliment the clerk at checkout. Super thoughtful—just what he needed.

With tourists heading up the mountain, Chen Ji didn’t linger in town. He bought what he wanted and headed back to Shangyang Village. Unreliable as the Mountain Lord was, better keep an eye out!

On the other side, Second Bro and the other two rested at their temporary camp. Old Five stubbed out his cigarette. “Where’d Fourth Bro take that girl? Phone’s not going through!”

They were right near the Mountain Lord Temple. Old Four should’ve linked up half an hour ago, but an hour later—no sign, no signal.

Signal was full bars here—probably thanks to the new tower for the temple. Used to be spotty.

They’d nearly finished eating.

Second Bro, an old hand like the other three, said calmly, “He’ll die by his own belt one day.”

Third Bro snorted but didn’t argue. Instead, “Forget him. Ten minutes, pack up, and we move.”

One less meant more work, but bigger shares.

Second Bro and Old Five nodded. The trio quickly doused the fire—fire first, always.

They pressed on into the woods toward the back mountain. Videos showed Chen Ji leaving the Five-Step Snake here, so likely its haunt. They crept through the leaf-strewn underbrush.

Suddenly, Second Bro said, “Fog’s rolling in.”

Second Bro and Old Five peered closer. A thin mist had risen unnoticed in the dim woods, cutting visibility. Third Bro warned, “Eyes sharp.”

Second Bro halted, pulling a gun from his bait bag with a click as he chambered a round.

Old Five followed suit, grabbing his hunting rifle. The three advanced warily, scanning the surroundings. Third Bro focused on the ground ahead, probing every inch with a stick to avoid a surprise strike from the Five-Step Snake.

The fog thickened.

The three of them walked for about half an hour, by which time the fog had grown so thick they couldn’t see their hand in front of their face. Second Brother halted, frowning as he said, “We seem to be going around in circles in the same spot.”

He pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen, his expression turning grim. “The signal… it’s gone.”

The signal had been at full strength before they entered the forest. Now, all that remained was a stark, empty ‘X’.