Chapter 106: Escape

“Quick! Keep moving!” Yue Qi grabbed Qin Luo’s hand, regret flooding his entire heart. By now, the Wind Control Spell had been cast, and though they didn’t know how far they had run, the immense pressure behind them seemed to be closing in faster and faster...

“What do we do? It’s catching up!” Qin Luo was at a loss, only able to push forward with all her might, while Yue Qi held back slightly, lagging half a step behind her...

“Wait...!” Yue Qi’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Didn’t you leave a small formation in front of that village just now?”

Earlier, Qin Luo had set up a small illusionary array to prevent zombies from detecting them. If they could make it there now, perhaps they could shake off their pursuers...

“Then let’s hurry!” Qin Luo’s spirits lifted at the thought. The outline of the village was already visible ahead—still deathly silent—but the pressure behind them grew ever stronger. From afar, Yue Qi could see a shadowy figure hovering in the sky, rushing toward them at incredible speed...

“Damn it!” Yue Qi cursed and sped up his pace. Qin Luo was already panting heavily; as an ordinary person, the long trek had exhausted her. Even a brief rest hadn’t fully restored her energy, so running at full tilt now was understandably wearing her down.

“I can’t go on! I’m done! Little Junior Brother, you run ahead! I’ll hold them off here, maybe buying us some time...” Qin Luo slowed increasingly, speaking to Yue Qi.

“Don’t say that! Keep going! Once we reach the illusionary array ahead, we’ll be safe!” Yue Qi shouted, unwilling to see his close companion in danger.

“I really can’t run anymore...” People were strange like that. When running, physical strength might not be the most important thing; belief mattered more. For Qin Luo, once she entertained the thought of giving up, her legs immediately weakened.

“Little Junior Brother, when you go back, tell Grandfather that I died a heroic and righteous death. Don’t worry, he won’t blame you!” Qin Luo seemed to be preparing for the worst, murmuring to herself.

“Ah, you girl!” Yue Qi suddenly stopped and crouched in front of Qin Luo...

“Get on! Don’t waste any more time!” His brow furrowed, his tone stern and imposing. Qin Luo was startled and froze, unsure of what to do...

“Are you daft? Get on now!” Yue Qi shouted again, snapping Qin Luo out of her daze.

“Okay, okay!” Qin Luo responded, about to leap up but then hesitated again, perhaps out of embarrassment or some other reason...

“You’re such a pain!” Yue Qi was losing patience. Time was precious now. The pressure behind them had visibly increased. There was no time to waste. He bent backward, lifting Qin Luo’s legs and hoisting her onto his back.

“Ah?!” Qin Luo was still confused, startled at first, but seeing Yue Qi carrying her and running once more, her heart finally settled...

The leader-level zombie behind was now clearly visible. Under the moonlight, Qin Luo could even see its eerie, blood-red eyes. But after a single glance, she screamed and covered her eyes—after all, this so-called leader zombie was naked...

They had reached the village, but to their dismay, it was engulfed in roaring flames. Yue Qi recalled that he had accidentally set it on fire earlier while chasing that zombie. But now was not the time to dwell on that; escape was the only priority...

Glancing back, Yue Qi was shocked. He had been running fast, and though momentarily delayed, with his usual speed, ordinary zombies would never catch him. But now, under the leader zombie’s command, all the zombies in the pit seemed to have burst out, and they were moving with terrifying speed, as if injected with adrenaline!

“Damn?! Are you kidding me?” Yue Qi groaned, carrying Qin Luo on his back. His speed was limited, but betraying a teammate was not his style.

“Just ahead! At the village entrance!” Qin Luo pointed forward, indicating the location of her formation.

Yue Qi didn’t respond—there was no time. He wished he had wings to fly away from this cursed place.

“Faster! Faster! They’re catching up!” Qin Luo kept patting Yue Qi’s back as she urged him on.

“Got it, got it!” Yue Qi casually cast several Fire Control Spells behind them, igniting houses that hadn’t caught fire yet. The blazing flames quickly illuminated the night sky and blocked a large group of zombies. Normally, the zombies might have rushed forward blindly, but today, under the leader zombie’s command, they hesitated at the fiery barrier, cautiously moving in small groups...

“Hmph, these two little pests are pretty clever!” The eerie man’s eyes flashed red, then he suddenly puckered his lips and muttered to himself, “But I wasn’t planning to chase them. They just ran ahead of me on their own...”

As he thought this, the man suddenly stiffened, as if noticing something. A sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth. “Heh, looks like this will be an entertaining show!”

Then, inexplicably, the eerie man let out a terrifying scream that shook the heavens. Birds and beasts around scattered in chaos, the forest erupting in noise.

“What’s he doing?!” Qin Luo was scared stiff and wanted to look back, but the thought of the naked leader zombie made her abandon the idea...

“How should I know...” Yue Qi said, but a glimmer of joy appeared on his face—he had already spotted Qin Luo’s formation just ahead!

“We’re here!” Yue Qi accelerated toward the formation, but midway, several mutated zombies suddenly leapt out from the sides!

“Why now?! Of all times!” Yue Qi gritted his teeth and swung his sword forward. The sword energy disrupted the mutated zombies, throwing them into disarray.

“That was close!” Yue Qi sighed and stepped into the formation. It wasn’t an advanced array—just a basic illusionary formation he could handle himself...

“Huh?! Where did they go? The presence is still here...” The eerie man stopped in his tracks halfway, descending slowly. In his mind, he still didn’t acknowledge the existence of such formations...

“Oh? Something’s wrong with this space?” The eerie man stared blankly at the scene before him. Behind him stood a large horde of zombies, most having passed through the village and now waiting in place...

“Interesting, very interesting...” The eerie man smiled suddenly, slashing his hand sharply. The space ahead tore open violently!

“Pfft...” At that moment, eight faint sounds came from the surrounding corners. The man noticed eight inconspicuous small trees splitting open...

“Impressive, human wisdom. We still have much to learn...” The eerie man admired, but then glanced at the horde behind with a hint of disgust...

“What about those two little pests? Have they escaped...” The eerie man muttered, stepping back a few paces. Suddenly, he paused and murmured, “So they’ve gone ahead. Since there are others guarding the front, forget it. If they try to break through, kill them; if they escape, let them be...”

At that moment, the eerie man let out a piercing shriek that shook the heavens...

Yue Qi and the others had truly escaped. The eerie man’s inspection of the formation took a while—not too long, not too short—but it had given Yue Qi enough time to flee...

“Put me down!” Seeing the surroundings somewhat safe, Qin Luo blushed and said to Yue Qi.

Yue Qi nodded silently. They had left a mark here earlier; going straight ahead would lead them back toward Changzhou City...

“We should hurry back. That leader-level zombie has brought this huge horde out—it’s probably planning to attack Changzhou City!” Yue Qi said gravely.

“Then why didn’t it strike earlier? Why wait until now?” Qin Luo asked. She was far less exhausted now, her spirit renewed by being carried on Yue Qi’s back.

“Not sure. Maybe we provoked them somehow. Still, better to return quickly...” Yue Qi said, bestowing a moistening blessing on himself and Qin Luo before preparing to set off again...

“Woah!” But on the road leading back to Changzhou City, suddenly more than a dozen zombies appeared!

“What’s going on? Did they catch up?!” Yue Qi’s heart skipped a beat as he glanced back. But behind them was empty—nothing in sight...

“Boom!” Suddenly, the zombie at the front hurled a fireball. Yue Qi was caught off guard and barely blocked it with his sword.

Looking closely, Yue Qi realized the group ahead consisted of several Qi-cultivating zombies and a few mutated ones!

“Stop fighting! Run! Or the zombies behind will catch up!” Qin Luo shouted, grabbing Yue Qi and darting down a side path.

Yet the dozen or so zombies made no move to pursue, as if they intended to block that road, forbidding passage...

The eerie man’s zombie army had also arrived. He glanced around but didn’t spot the two humans, looking somewhat forlorn...

“Ah well, lost them then...” The eerie man muttered again, but then suddenly raised his head and smiled brightly. “But I’ve heard that nearby Changzhou City is quite nice...”

With that, the eerie man soared into the sky, flying toward Changzhou City...