Chapter 112

Chapter 112

Xiao Huai closed his eyes. Invisible golden threads seemed to spread through the air and wrap around him.

Gentle and warm.

Before he could open his eyes, a familiar voice rang beside his ear.

“Xiao Huai, I never expected to see you in such a sorry state.”

Xiao Huai raised his head and looked at Joseph.

Joseph stood with his arms crossed. Though his eyes held a trace of teasing amusement, it was only the banter of a friend.

Xiao Huai wiped his lips again. “Do I? I thought I’d cleaned it all off.”

Joseph was about to laugh when another man’s voice came from behind him.

The Count–Ben Carr.

“That isn’t the sorry state he meant.”

When Carr and Joseph’s eyes met, their gaze crossed time itself, conveying a thousand words without sound.

No disgust, no accusation, no hatred.

“It’s been a long time.”

“It’s been a long time.”

They spoke simultaneously.

Xiao Huai tilted his head slightly, feeling somewhat superfluous. In the next second, however, someone wrapped both arms around his leg.

“Big Brother! Hanako missed you so much!”

Xiao Huai looked down and found Hanako beside him, her face bright with excitement. “The moment Hanako saw the message saying she could come help you, she came right away! I can’t believe Hanako gets to see Big Brother again!”

She looked around and exclaimed repeatedly, “Wow! What is this place? Hanako has never seen anything like it. Those birds… they’re so scary.”

Joseph and Carr had not expected Xiao Huai to bring a child.

How could he bring a child somewhere this dangerous? Their eyes had only begun to fill with reproach when Hanako touched a fingertip lightly to her lips, an eerie, terrifying smile crossing her face.

“Are you the stupid dead birds bullying Big Brother? Then Hanako will pluck out every last one of your feathers.” She giggled softly, savage light flashing in her eyes.

Joseph and Carr: “…”

Xiao Huai noticed their expressions. “Hanako, these two are my companions, Joseph and Carr.”

Then he looked at Joseph and Carr, his tone carrying the teasing warmth of a friend.

“This is Hanako. One punch from her, and any of us–you or me–would be bedridden for a while.”

Hanako jumped at once. “That’s not true! Hanako is very gentle!”

Xiao Huai smiled faintly. “Mm. I agree.”

The four three-legged crows were ready to descend at any moment. They spread their wings like supreme hunters, their bodies covered in backward-curving spikes like thorns. Their eyes were pitch-black, without the luster Xiao Huai remembered.

The aura of the curse covered every feather on their bodies.

Carr said quietly, “These creatures don’t seem easy to handle…”

He sensed an extraordinary power within them.

Hanako’s smile also faded. She stood in front of Xiao Huai. “No matter what happens, Hanako won’t let them hurt Big Brother at all.”

Joseph said, “There are four of them. Carr and I will handle three. Little girl, you can take the last one, can’t you?”

Hanako glared at Joseph. “Who’s a little girl? Hanako can eat two all by herself!”

Joseph shook his head. This Hanako truly was unusual.

“Don’t worry, Big Brother. Hide behind Hanako. Hanako will protect you.”

Hanako glanced back, only to find Xiao Huai standing alone in a corner, his presence nearly imperceptible.

“Huh? Big Brother, you…?”

Xiao Huai coughed lightly twice, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth.

“Their aggro is on me. Even if I wanted to run, I couldn’t.” He raised his head toward the three-legged crows. “I’m entrusting my back to all of you.”

As the last word fell, Xiao Huai removed his outer robe. The exposed flesh of his arms had long since been mangled, the blood black and sticky.
The moment everyone saw his skin, their eyes widened.

They could not believe Xiao Huai had endured such pain without saying a word.

Could wounds this severe truly not hurt?

Joseph’s voice turned hoarse. Xiao Huai paid it no mind.

Injuries were inevitable on a battlefield. His Sanity had fallen into the twenties.

Hallucinations had already begun appearing before his eyes.

But once he decided to accomplish something, he would never give up lightly, even if it cost half his life–or all of it.

He had to end this instance quickly.

The longer it continued, the more players like Chen Kai would appear.

The three-legged crows had long since caught the scent of blood. Unable to restrain themselves any longer, they beat their massive wings and burst from the darkness.

Their beaks were sharp as steel. Screeching harshly, they flew straight at Xiao Huai.

They attacked simultaneously from east, west, north, and south. Xiao Huai’s gaze chilled. He moved beside a stone carving and shouted to the others, “Shatter the statue!”

Joseph focused. A mass of black diamonds appeared around him and smashed into the stone carving.

All three companions moved to Xiao Huai’s side at once.

With a crack, the carving shattered into countless fragments. Dust billowed outward and blocked their sight.

But Xiao Huai’s voice sounded directly inside each of their minds.

This was a hidden skill of the invisible bond between them. It was as though a net covered all four. In that instant, their five senses became shared, and each knew what the others were thinking and what they intended to do next.

Xiao Huai concentrated. Even without being able to see clearly, he could locate them by scent.

Through their minds, he told everyone where the four three-legged crows were.

A fierce battle was on the verge of erupting.

[Warning! Abnormal fluctuation detected in the curse source! Player, retreat immediately!]

Light flashed in Xiao Huai’s eyes. The Topographic Map of the Pudu Desert floated into the air and transformed into an invitation.

Golden light covered it. Only two words appeared on its cover: [Return Immediately].

Who was here? Who had guided him all this time? And who had made him the Holy Father?

Every question left traces behind.

The greatest clue was–the prince.

“What a truly saintly heart.”

If the prince called himself the second Holy Father, no one would dare claim to be the first.

He was a young man raised in a utopia, a saint whose heart held hope and all living beings.

Even when everyone betrayed his trust, he would never blame another person.

At the final moment of his life, he still wanted to save others.

He was the true Holy Father.

Now that the invitation had appeared, Xiao Huai might not have time to tangle with the three-legged crows.

Something had to have happened on the prince’s side.

The three-legged crows seemed to fall into a momentary daze. Light flashed through their eyes, and they began to howl.

Now. This was their chance to break away.

Xiao Huai conveyed the entire plan to his three companions through their minds.

Though none of them spoke a word, before the dust settled, all three unleashed their skills.

Xiao Huai did not look back. He knew a group of trustworthy teammates was protecting his back.

He ran in great strides toward the palace interior.

His every step rang heavily through the pitch-black corridor.

His breathing grew harsher and his heart pounded wildly. Every inch of his skin felt as though countless insects were crawling across it.

He did not stop. If he stopped, it would mean giving up.

Golden light flickered through the passageways.

An hour and a half remained before six.