Chapter 102: The Sinister Old Demon

Xiaoyu said, "Yes, we’re heading back immediately, but the dangerous monster might be nearby. Returning isn’t necessarily safe. It seems we must be more careful as we walk."

At that moment, all three were tense, far from the ease they felt earlier. On the road, Qu Buping saw Xiaoyun’s face pale with fear. To ease the tension, he jokingly asked, "What if we run into this monster?"

Xiaoyu, still nervous, replied, "Of course, we run away."

Qu Buping said, "I wonder if we can outrun this monster."

Xiaoyu laughed, "I don’t know, but that’s not important. As long as I run faster than you two, I have a chance to survive."

Hearing that, Qu Buping punched him lightly and scolded, "Get lost. We used to say we were like brothers, but now that danger’s here, you only think of saving yourself."

Though Qu and Chu were teasing each other, Xiaoyun grew even more anxious. Among the three, his martial skills were far inferior. If the monster appeared and they each fled alone, Xiaoyun would surely be the first to be caught and have his heart ripped out.

Seeing Xiaoyun’s pale face, Qu Buping smiled and said, "Let’s stop talking. If we keep going, our Young Master Yun will faint from fear."

Xiaoyu noticed Xiaoyun’s terrified expression and thought that Qu Buping’s attempt to lighten the mood had backfired.

The three were growing increasingly uneasy; anxiety only worsened their predicament. Lost in the forest, they couldn’t find a way out.

Suddenly, they spotted several corpses ahead, each with a large, bloody hole in the left side of the chest—exactly like the one they had seen earlier. Clearly, these people had died after having their hearts ripped out. What kind of creature could be so cruel?

Qu Buping, who usually wore a carefree smile, now looked grim and whispered, "If I’m right, these people were killed by a notorious underworld fiend known as the Life-Draining Blood Demon. This fiend is infamous for eating human hearts alive and is one of the most vicious, terrifying, and bloodthirsty villains in the realm."

Xiaoyun, having never ventured into the martial world, didn’t know about the Life-Draining Blood Demon. Yet, the gruesome and terrifying scene had already instilled deep fear within him.

Though Xiaoyu’s experience in the martial world was not as extensive as Qu Buping’s, he had heard of the deeds committed by the Life-Draining Blood Demon.

Xiaoyu said, "If it really is the Blood Demon’s doing, we should leave as soon as possible. There’s every reason to believe that if we encounter him, we will die miserably."

Qu Buping replied, "Who doesn’t know that?"

Xiaoyun couldn’t help but say, "Brother Qu, you always brag about your martial skills. Maybe you could defeat the Blood Demon. That would be a great deed, ridding the world of evil."

Qu Buping smiled bitterly, "If I had the confidence to defeat the Blood Demon, it would only be for one reason."

Curious, Xiaoyun asked, "What reason?"

Xiaoyu laughed, "We’re just fools who overestimate ourselves."

Suddenly, they heard a rustling sound from afar. Qu Buping quickly glanced at Xiaoyu with a warning look. The three immediately crouched in the bushes as the sound approached.

Xiaoyun saw a strange figure with fiery red hair, a face covered in scars, and eyes gleaming an eerie emerald green like those of a venomous snake. Anyone who saw him would be chilled to the bone.

This monster had nearly no flesh on one clawed hand and was clutching a young villager who showed no response—perhaps fainted from fear.

Xiaoyun’s heart pounded wildly as he watched the monster sweep its chilling gaze around before suddenly tearing open the villager’s clothes and plunging its clawed hand deep into the villager’s chest.

Terrified, Xiaoyun felt his heart nearly leap from his chest as blood splattered, the claw sinking deep. Then the claw retracted, holding a still-beating heart.

Unable to contain himself, Xiaoyun let out a cry.

Qu and Chu silently cursed, "This is the end!" The monster then let out a horrid howl-like cry, "Who’s there? No need to hide—get out here!"

Seeing escape was impossible, Qu and Chu pulled Xiaoyun up. They brushed off some dried leaves clinging to them as they stepped forward.

The monster, spotting three handsome young men, cackled, "Ha! What a treat—three tender hearts to feast on. Young hearts nourish the body best."

By now, Xiaoyun had fainted from fear. If not for Qu and Chu supporting him, he would have collapsed. Although nervous, Qu and Chu maintained a calm facade.

The monster began to devour the heart, blood dripping from his mouth, eating with relish, making the trio sick to their stomachs.

Soon the monster finished the heart and scanned the three with his eyes. Xiaoyun shut his eyes, still feeling the monster’s terrifying gaze cutting across his face like a bloodied blade.

Qu Buping forced a calm voice, "Blood Demon, do you want to eat our hearts next?"

The monster was indeed the Life-Draining Blood Demon. Surprised that these three were neither fainting nor begging but speaking boldly, he was momentarily taken aback.

He snarled, "I’ll eat one of your hearts now, and the other two I’ll save for tonight. Are you afraid? If you’re scared, kneel and beg me three times, calling me ‘Grandfather.’ Whoever does it best and amuses me, I might consider sparing him."

Xiaoyu and Xiaoyun were slightly shocked. Qu Buping understood the Blood Demon’s nature well. Such a monster’s promise to spare one was not to be trusted.

This fiend was ruthless. Sometimes he toyed with his prey like a cat with a mouse before killing them. But under no circumstance would he release a victim out of sympathy. Survival depended on strength and, ideally, making the demon wary.

So Qu Buping sneered coldly, "Old Blood Demon, it’s not that I don’t want to give you my heart; I’m just afraid you don’t have the courage to take it."

The Blood Demon was startled by their defiance. Their tone and manner suggested they were not ordinary. He didn’t know their background and hesitated to kill them immediately.

Beside him, Xiaoyu secretly admired Qu Buping’s boldness. He knew Qu was pretending to be someone influential to make the Blood Demon cautious. Until the monster fully understood who they were, he wouldn’t dare attack them.