SES Chapter 84 Part 1

Chapter 84

“Up there?”

Luo Ren let out a cold laugh, suddenly rolled sideways on the ground, and flicked his right hand. The knife shot hard toward that spot.

A dull thud into flesh—he must have hit something. But before he could turn his head, the sound of air rushing above warned him—whatever this thing was, it was like a savage: it could take a beating, and it could take a stab.

Luo Ren whipped back around. Just as the figure lunged at him, he struck out with his right hand, locking onto its throat.

A solid hit—but…

At this close distance, he could see the skull-like face and the wild white hair sprouting from its head. But that wasn’t the shocking part.

The thing’s throat was split open. Where flesh should have been, there was a ring of rouge-yellow substance covering it, like amber—but soft, faintly warm, sinking inward under his grip, and starting to glow.

Poison? Would skin contact be dangerous?

His mind raced. He wrenched the creature sideways by the neck and then quickly released, flipping back to his feet. The figure staggered, retreated to the wall, and then, like a gecko, scuttled up in an instant.

Luo Ren stared at its throat. Amid the faint glow were crimson markings—jumbled, chaotic, like a mess of tangled ropes.

Clinging to the stone wall, the figure peered down at him, chest shifting slightly at the throat.

Barely audible sounds followed, faint as the wind, or like taut wires scraping past his ears—impossible to catch.

Luo Ren’s thoughts spun fast.

—Can someone with a severed windpipe even speak?
—If she can, what kind of frequency is she using? Is she communicating with the savages through some eerie, inhuman sound waves?

Communicating with savages?

His eyes narrowed. Sure enough, within moments, heavy footsteps echoed from outside the cave. Without hesitating, Luo Ren retreated quickly. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a savage’s figure entering. He launched a swift kick—shifting low mid-motion—and smashed into the savage’s knee.

The beast howled in pain and toppled forward. Almost at the same instant, the sound of air behind his head came again. Luo Ren had been waiting for it—he rolled away with all his strength. Just as he got up, as expected, the figure crashed right into the savage.

Seizing the moment, Luo Ren bolted out.

Cao Yanhua watched helplessly as Yi Wansan finished off two apples. When the cores were tossed aside, Cao’s stomach betrayed him with a loud growl.

That single sound eased some of Yi Wansan’s anger.

Cao seized the chance to thaw their strained relationship: “Brother San, we really need to think of a plan…”

Before he could finish, his face shifted. “Did you hear that?”

They both heard it. From far away—two sharp cracks. Gunshots.

Excited, Cao Yanhua said, “That must be my brother Luo!”

He clenched his fists. “Good—kill those savages!”

Yi Wansan, stomach still half-full of apples, wavered a little. “But those things already took bullets before. Luo Ren said it himself—these hunting rifles don’t pack enough stopping power.”

Cao grew anxious. “What if this… creature gets violent when it’s wounded? Then wouldn’t we—”

Wouldn’t that mean even greater danger?

Yi Wansan realized it too. People already lose control when injured, let alone these savages you can’t reason with.

He tried to stay optimistic. “But she caught us, gave us apples to eat—doesn’t look like she’s planning to kill us.”

Cao shot back sharply, “People feed pigs, too, before they butcher them!”

That hit a little too close, and Yi Wansan had no reply.

Grasping at straws, he said, “Maybe she sees us… differently?”

Cao sneered, “Why? You think she’s got a crush on us?”

That comment sparked something in Yi Wansan. He blurted out, “Only the two of us never attacked her.”

Cao blinked, not getting it.

Yi Wansan pressed on. “Think about it—Old Yan has a blood feud with the savages. When we got to the stone house, the young boss lady was fighting to the death with one. Red Sand swung an iron shovel and got swatted away. Luo Ren shot her twice. But us—”

He stressed the word. Looked straight at Cao: “Get it now?”

Cao’s eyes widened. “But us—we never showed her hostility. If anything… we showed goodwill?”

If not attacking counted as goodwill.

And it did make sense. From start to finish, the two of them hadn’t lifted a finger against the savage—not even plucked a single hair. After being dragged into the cave, they’d been model prisoners. Hell, even when he was bursting to pee, Cao had managed to force out a sincere, friendly smile at her.

Could that be the reason?

Cao glanced at Yi Wansan.

Yi Wansan said firmly, “Brother Cao, this could be our chance. If she comes back and doesn’t harm us, then we stay friendly. So friendly she gets confused…”

Cao nodded hard.

Sometimes, four ounces can move a thousand pounds. Maybe taming this savage would come down to him and Brother San.

Madai was getting anxious when Luo Ren finally returned.

She let out a long sigh of relief.

He had a few scrapes but nothing serious. She pulled out an alcohol-soaked cotton ball to treat him, but when Luo Ren reached for it, he suddenly froze.

He spread his fingers. Stuck to them was…

Something like resin. Rouge-colored, like amber.