Free Web NovelChapter 104: Chapter 104: The Strange Junior Brother Qian
Jiang Xu didn’t pay much attention to the panicked looks on the faces of the group from Wind and Thunder Manor.
He had only acted to warn them, to keep them from heading toward the Grand Array.
But unexpectedly, Jiang Xu didn’t make it in time. One of them was flying too fast and slammed right into the Grand Array.
Jiang Xu was utterly helpless.
The man had terrible luck, rushing to his own death. There was nothing he could do about it.
Through his Spiritual Eye Technique, he saw that the Cultivator the Wind and Thunder Manor group called Junior Brother Qian had crashed straight into the Grand Array. Just like the mouse Jiang Xu had caught earlier, an endless black energy surged into his body.
He struggled hysterically, but it was no use. The endless black energy locked him firmly in place. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t resist; he couldn’t even retrieve items from his Storage Bag.
Just like that, the unlucky Cultivator swelled from the size of a normal person into a ten-foot-tall, pitch-black, ferocious-looking humanoid monster of terrifying appearance!
The sight sent a deep chill through Jiang Xu.
However, what Jiang Xu hadn’t expected was for the monster to behave like a zombie from the movies and TV shows of his past life, going on a killing spree against its own kind after breaking free of the Array.
But to his astonishment, after the monster broke free from the Array, it retracted its monstrous form and reverted to its original, normal human appearance.
It was none other than that same Junior Brother Qian.
The moment he appeared, the disciples from Wind and Thunder Manor spotted him. Their entire defensive formation quickly shifted to Junior Brother Qian’s side and pulled him in.
"Junior Brother Qian, where did you disappear to just now?"
one of them asked anxiously from within the group.
Junior Brother Qian let out a dry laugh.
"Disappear? I just saw an enemy and hid. Now that the coast is clear, I came right back out, didn’t I?"
The others relaxed and chided him with a laugh.
"You damn coward, you made us worry for nothing! You scared the hell out of us!"
"Yeah! Give us a heads-up next time!"
Junior Brother Qian replied awkwardly.
"I know, I know!"
What the other five didn’t know was that the moment their attention shifted away from him, Junior Brother Qian’s clear eyes instantly turned scarlet red. His gaze, as he watched them, became intensely greedy.
It was the look of a glutton who had starved for ten days staring at a royal banquet.
He was ravenous, desperate to devour it all at once.
Of course, none of this was noticed by the other disciples of Wind and Thunder Manor.
But Jiang Xu saw everything.
His Spiritual Eye Technique clearly perceived a black film coating the body of that "Junior Brother Qian" up ahead—a film identical to the one on the mutated mouse.
’What’s happening? Why is it like this? Is he even human anymore, or is he some other species?’
Turmoil surged through Jiang Xu’s mind.
He didn’t know what this man had gone through.
But Jiang Xu was certain of one thing: although the man’s appearance was unchanged, his mind had been corrupted. His thoughts had been altered, just like that mutated mouse.
He had become utterly bloodthirsty.
However, Jiang Xu had no intention of revealing himself just yet.
He was extremely curious about what this "Junior Brother Qian" would do next. After all, unlike the test mouse that had gone berserk, this man seemed to retain his own consciousness.
Jiang Xu decided to continue observing in secret.
...
Time passed.
Jiang Xu remained hidden the entire time.
The six members of the Wind and Thunder Manor group gradually grew impatient.
"Senior Brother!"
one of them asked the leader.
"The ambusher hasn’t shown himself in a long time. Do you think he’s gone?"
The leader replied grimly.
"Don’t let your guard down! This could be part of his scheme! Don’t assume we’re safe just because he hasn’t appeared!
However, it’s not good for us to just stay put. If we’re stuck in a stalemate here, we’ll be the ones at a disadvantage!
Let’s maintain formation and start moving toward the Marketplace. That way, we won’t delay our journey too much, and we can still effectively defend against an attack!"
Jiang Xu felt a sense of helplessness when he heard this.
’They’re being too clever for their own good,’ he thought. ’The Array is still there. They’re safe as long as they don’t move, but the moment they do, they’re bound to fall into its trap!’ ƒгeewebnovёl.com
But what Jiang Xu didn’t expect was...
Just as the others were voicing their agreement with the Wind and Thunder Manor leader, the seemingly-no-longer-human Junior Brother Qian spoke up to object.
"Senior Brother Wang, I think that’s a bad idea. We’re supposed to be going to the Marketplace to pick some people up.
But that’s not a life-or-death matter. It’s far less important than our own safety.
The ambusher still hasn’t been found. To proceed so rashly would be a mistake.
It’s a long way, which gives that villain plenty of opportunities. We’d be better off turning back for reinforcements. That would be a sound strategy."
Forget the others—Jiang Xu was completely dumbfounded.
’Aren’t they his targets?’
’Why is he going out of his way to warn them?’
After hearing what Junior Brother Qian said, the other five felt he had a point. They began to retreat, maintaining their original formation.
As the group headed back, Jiang Xu naturally didn’t stay put. He followed close behind, continuing to observe the actions of "Junior Brother Qian."
At first, the men from Wind and Thunder Manor remained vigilant, and Junior Brother Qian made no moves.
But after a while longer with no sign of an enemy, the group from Wind and Thunder Manor began to relax considerably.
Just then, Junior Brother Qian suddenly spoke up.
"This is too passive," he said. "It’s almost night, and the danger will multiply after dark. How about this: Xiaoliu and I will fly ahead at full speed to rendezvous with the main party, and you all can wait here."
"No, that’s too dangerous," the leader immediately refused.
"Senior Brother Wang, you’re being too timid. My proposal is the best option we have. I’m fast, and Xiaoliu is an expert at Defense. The two of us together will be perfectly fine!"
Xiaoliu, who was standing next to Junior Brother Qian, chimed in as well.
"That’s right, Senior Brother Wang! Brother Qian and I will definitely be able to find the main party and lead them back before dark!"
Seeing how insistent the two were, Senior Brother Wang didn’t argue further. He gave his tacit approval for them to leave the group and go on ahead, while he and the other three men remained where they were.
’This is bad,’ Jiang Xu thought, hurrying to follow Junior Brother Qian as he sped up and moved ahead.
About ten minutes later, once the figures of the other Wind and Thunder Manor members were no longer visible behind them...
Junior Brother Qian slowly reduced his flight speed, drawing closer to Xiaoliu.
Seeing Junior Brother Qian approach, Xiaoliu asked cautiously. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Brother Qian, did you notice something? Or..."
"No, nothing’s happened."
"Then why are you..."
Only a single body’s length separated Xiaoliu and Junior Brother Qian.
As Xiaoliu watched in confusion,
a sharp claw slashed out.
And his head was torn from his body.
