Chapter 133

Chapter 133

At that moment, Thirteen had thrown himself down in front of the “Giant,” calling out “Fourteen” over and over, leaving everyone utterly baffled.

Fourteen lay on the ground, unable to move. But when he heard Thirteen’s voice, he answered him with a low growl.

It was plain to see that there was, astonishingly, a deep bond between this man and this “monster.”

Ren Fengjue had followed Thirteen over. Seeing the “Giant” collapsed on the ground, he could not help glancing at Yan Zhengchu.

But from the slight daze in the other man’s eyes, it seemed this matter had nothing to do with him…

As for Yu Lang and the injured Axia, there was even less need to mention them.

Only Xia Ximo remained as composed as ever, calm and unruffled.

A flicker of doubt flashed through Ren Fengjue’s mind.

But very quickly, he shifted his attention back to Thirteen.

Yan Zhengchu, remembering that Thirteen had once said his name had been given to him by Huang Yuqiong, the proprietress of Qiongying Inn, could not help saying, “You’re calling this monster ‘Fourteen’? Don’t tell me…”

“Shut up! Fourteen is not a monster!”

Thirteen shot him a vicious glare.

Yan Zhengchu went on, “It is bloodthirsty, savage, and utterly inhuman. Even if it isn’t a ‘monster,’ it is certainly no human!”

Just then, Xia Ximo, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.

“He should indeed have been human originally.”

“That he has become half man, half beast now is likely your doing.”

At that, Thirteen froze, his expression turning complicated.

Back at the inn, he had already realized this woman was no ordinary person.

Did she know something else?

In truth, Xia Ximo did not.

It was only because Wuyou, inside the Soul-Ferrying Lantern, had been chattering nonstop that she had learned a thing or two.

“As early as a hundred years ago, there was a Giant Clan within the Northern Border Divine Mountain. They lived in the forests and had no contact with the outside world. Though they were wild by nature, they still kept to their own rules.”

“The Giant Clan had long lifespans, but they did not reproduce easily. So as time passed, their numbers dwindled more and more.”

“This Giant before us should be from the former Giant Clan. However, his eyes are scarlet, and he is so bloodthirsty and brutal. He must have been affected by the stimulation of something…”

By the time she heard this, Xia Ximo already had an answer in her heart.

The Fu Tower Ghost would certainly not have appeared here for no reason.

There had to be some connection between it and Thirteen.

“Besides, you only treat him as a tool for killing. When have you ever treated him as a person?”

Xia Ximo’s words made Thirteen falter again.

He seemed to want to defend himself. “What would people like you know about the bond between Fourteen and me?!”

Xia Ximo gave a faint sneer. “You won’t allow others to call him a ‘monster,’ yet you let him live like one?”

“Exactly!”

Yu Lang immediately chimed in. “Miss Xia is right. When we first arrived at the inn, you yourself said there was a man-eating monster inside.”

“As for the word ‘monster,’ weren’t you the one who said it first?”

Thirteen looked at Fourteen, who lay there unable to move, and guilt seemed to surge up in his heart.

But in the next moment, a fierce glint appeared in his eyes. He drew a dagger from his sleeve and lunged straight at Xia Ximo.

Ren Fengjue had been watching his every move. When he saw that Thirteen’s target was Xia Ximo, he drew the long sword at his waist almost without thinking and thrust it diagonally toward Thirteen.

As the sharp blade left its sheath, a flash of sword light swept before everyone’s eyes. In the next second, Thirteen cried out in pain.

The dagger fell to the ground. Clutching his bleeding right arm, he dropped to his knees.

Yu Lang immediately stepped forward and added a kick, pinning him hard to the ground. “You scoundrel! How dare you launch a sneak attack!”

Thirteen’s face was pressed tightly against the ground, but he was still stubborn. “Kill me or carve me up, do as you like. Why waste your breath?”
“Ha! Still talking tough?”

Yu Lang drove his foot down harder, pressing so hard that Thirteen could barely breathe.

“Yu Lang.”

Seeing that Xia Ximo was unharmed, Ren Fengjue spoke up to stop him.

Remembering the sorry state he had been in just moments ago, Yu Lang had wanted to teach him another lesson, but since Lord Ren had spoken, he could not disobey. He immediately added one more kick before stepping aside.

Thirteen struggled up from the ground. After spitting out a mouthful of bloody saliva, he slowly leaned back against Fourteen.

Ren Fengjue walked over to him and crouched down.

“Thirteen, after all this, are you still unwilling to tell the truth?”

“Is Huang Yuqiong dead or alive, or did she disappear?”

“And what exactly is going on with Fourteen?”

Thirteen reached out and stroked Fourteen’s face. A faint smile rose to his lips. “Sister Yuqiong gave me my name, and I gave Fourteen his. I have no family. They are my family.”

Three years ago, Huang Yuqiong picked up an injured little beggar from the roadside and named him Thirteen.

After she opened Qiongying Inn, she took Thirteen in as a worker.

There was a dry well in the inn’s courtyard. Its mouth was much wider than an ordinary well and was covered with a slab of stone.

Whenever Thirteen was working, he could always hear strange noises coming from below the well.

He was bold by nature. He moved the stone aside, intending to find out what was going on, only for a head to poke out from inside and scare him half to death.

It was a Giant, a figure twice as tall as an ordinary person, yet his eyes were pure and harmless.

It was clear that he had no intention of hurting anyone. He merely stared with wide eyes, observing his surroundings and the person in front of him.

Seeing that the Giant did not plan to climb out of the well and made no other move, Thirteen gradually lowered his guard.

He tried to speak to him, only to discover that the other party did not understand human speech at all.

So Thirteen had a sudden idea. He brought food from the inn and tossed it into the well to feed him.

The Giant had a huge appetite, but he would eat almost anything.

Huang Yuqiong loved cleanliness, so the inn had never kept any chickens, ducks, or livestock. The leftovers from the kitchen finally had another use.

Though the Giant was enormous, he was extremely shy around strangers. He could tell from the sound of footsteps whether the person approaching the well was Thirteen, and decide whether or not to respond.

Thirteen had never had many friends, but he truly liked this Giant “friend.” He would even tell him the thoughts he dared not share with anyone else.

He even gave him the name “Fourteen.”

He told Fourteen that Sister Yuqiong said once they saved up a little more money, she would take him to the capital to make a living.

That made him happy, but it also meant he would have to part with Fourteen.

Fourteen could not speak. He would only widen his eyes and look at him innocently.

Thirteen knew Fourteen was reluctant to part with him too, so he promised that as soon as he found his footing in the capital, he would find a way to bring Fourteen there as well.

Time passed day by day.

One year, then two. Soon, the third year was almost upon them.

Thirteen thought the good days he longed for were drawing closer and closer.

But who could have imagined that on that evening, when the setting sun was red as blood, the arrival of a merchant caravan would shatter the beautiful dream they had always yearned for?

Huang Yuqiong died.

Thirteen had not been knocked unconscious. His head was split open and bleeding, and he lay on the ground with no strength to resist. He was forced to listen to the filthy words of those nine beasts and watch helplessly as they committed atrocities against the “Sister Yuqiong” he had always respected and cherished.

Outside, the night was as dark and heavy as ink, but Thirteen knew his world would never see light again.