SES Chapter 89 Part 1

Chapter 89

Cao Yanhua bolted like mad, feeling as light as a swallow.

The wind roared past his ears—he had his little master to thank for that, since she always made him run laps with iron weights strapped to his body.

But this wasn’t looking good. Heavy, ragged breaths drew closer. A wild woman lunged for him, her long arm sweeping forward. Her first grab caught his shoulder, but slipped off, and Cao Yanhua shot forward like he’d been burned, letting out a sharp yell. Somehow, even on the brink of exhaustion, he found another burst of speed.

At the same time, the scream for “Help!” that had been stuck in his throat was about to come bursting out again—

“Cao Yanhua, hit the ground!”

It was Luo Ren’s voice.

Cao Yanhua dropped flat without hesitation. Luo Ren never steered him wrong. At that moment, even if Luo Ren had told him to turn around and hug the wild woman, he’d have done it.

In the darkness, a saber spun as it slashed straight toward the wild woman’s face. The sheer momentum reminded him of old clams cracking open in Wuzhu Village.

The woman let out an angry roar and stumbled back. Luo Ren vaulted over Cao Yanhua, pushed off a tree trunk, flipped midair, and delivered a sharp side kick that sent the woman sprawling. In the same motion, he yanked his saber free from her shoulder.

Cao Yanhua’s legs went weak—he couldn’t even stand. Shivering, he crawled forward on his hands and knees. After a few meters, firelight flickered ahead, accompanied by quick footsteps.

“Fatty Cao, what happened? You’re not hurt, are you?”

Yan Hongsha rushed over and helped him up. Cao Yanhua grabbed her arm, nearly bursting into tears. Finally, I’ve found the others.

A heavy thud shook the branches above—another wild slap against a tree trunk.

Cao Yanhua snapped back to himself. “Hongsha, go help Brother Luo!”

She shoved the torch into his hands. “Give us some light.”

Pulling her saber, she sprinted toward the fight.

With Yan Hongsha joining in, Luo Ren’s burden lightened immediately. Before, he’d been stuck dragging things out, dodging rather than attacking. But with two people working in sync, the tide turned fast. The wild woman had raw strength, but Luo Ren and Yan Hongsha had training and agility. One feinted, the other struck. One pressed head-on, the other attacked from the side. And not far away, Fatty Cao seized every chance to hurl rocks at her.

Overwhelmed and cornered, the wild woman suddenly shrieked, then darted into the trees. The branches shook violently, then went still.

Chasing her into the forest at night would be foolish. Luo Ren braced himself on his saber and crouched, catching his breath. Yan Hongsha leaned against a trunk, gasping hard. Between breaths, she glanced at Cao Yanhua—then let out a sudden huh?

“Where’s Thirteen Thousand?”

San-san?

Cao Yanhua’s jaw dropped. He had completely forgotten about the one he’d been so desperate to protect just minutes ago.

Luo Ren asked, “Do you remember the way to the wild woman’s nest?”

Cao Yanhua wasn’t so sure. “Not really… but it’s not far. It’s high up—very high. Without a wild one leading the way, there’s no getting down.”

He quickly explained what had happened.

Luo Ren frowned. If it were that high, only Mu Dai could climb up there.

Yan Hongsha grew uneasy. “Luo Ren, why did the wild woman only bring Fatty Cao back? She lost to us earlier. Would she take it out on Thirteen Thousand? If she hides him, the forest is so big, we’ll never find him.”

Luo Ren nodded. “We’ll regroup with Mu Dai first, then look for Thirteen Thousand.”

On the way back, Cao Yanhua pieced together Luo Ren’s side of things.

So Old Yan was really dead. He stole a glance at Yan Hongsha—her lips pressed tight, her face grim. When Luo Ren mentioned it, her eyes had reddened for just a moment.

And earlier, in that cave, no wonder the wild woman’s gaze had flicked back and forth between him and Thirteen Thousand. She’d been deciding which one to trade for that other woman.

The thought unsettled him. He even felt a sting of jealousy. So in the end, they left San-san behind because he can draw? Hmph.

Luo Ren pointed ahead. “We’re almost there. When I spoke to that woman, I specified two friends. For some reason, the wild one only brought you. But that’s fine. As long as we still have the woman…”

Suddenly, his face darkened.

Cao Yanhua followed his gaze, puzzled. Something was burning in the middle of the fire pit—what was that?

Luo Ren strode forward. “Mu Dai?”

Yan Hongsha’s heart clenched. She hurried after him. Cao Yanhua, still confused, jogged along behind. When they entered, Luo Ren was already helping Mu Dai up off the ground.

Then Cao Yanhua caught sight of the withered corpse beside her—and shuddered head to toe.

“What happened?” Luo Ren asked.

Mu Dai looked dazed, pausing before answering. “After you left, the woman tried to get out. She kept rolling toward the exit. I pulled her back, and then…”

Her eyes went blank. She couldn’t quite remember. Luo Ren gave a small smile and ruffled her hair. “Another blackout, huh?”

He walked over to the fire pit and inspected the ominous fragment.

Cao Yanhua guessed aloud. “That’s… the third piece, isn’t it?”

Luo Ren nodded, squatting as he unstrapped his pack. “Fire can hold a cursed shard for now, but once it burns out, it’s useless. Water’s more reliable.”

He pulled out a bottle. Inside, a slender piece of crimson amber lay at the bottom.

Yan Hongsha crouched beside Mu Dai, casting a look at Luo Ren. She lowered her voice. “Is it… the same again?”

Mu Dai drooped, exhausted. “Seems like it.”

“You notice Luo Ren never asks?”

“…Yeah.”

Mu Dai bit her lip, expression complicated.

Luo Ren carried the bottle over, telling Cao Yanhua to shine the torch. He inspected the woman’s body. Spotting the wound at the back of her neck, he asked Mu Dai, “Knife?”

He then noticed the dagger dangling from her hand. “You cut it out yourself?”