Chapter 45: The Price of Panic

“Isn’t that the Kidney Deficiency Man? Why is he relentlessly pursuing us?”

“Even with invisibility and mimicry, we remain unable to shake off his relentless pursuit!”

Ahoge Dragon gazed back at Gudou Toutian, whose mouth was grotesquely stuffed with a ball, his entire presence radiating a fierce, aggressive aura.

A profound sense of incomprehension settled over her.

“He is no longer truly Gudou Toutian! He’s merely a puppet, controlled by that Blood Elf we encountered just moments ago.”

“Since the Blood Elf is currently immobile, she’s using Gudou Toutian as her instrument to seize us!”

“Regardless, our only recourse is to flee! Don’t you possess magical abilities? Quick, launch an attack against him, meow!”

Mercifully, Gudou Toutian was not entirely under the Blood Elf Loli’s sway, as she was currently undergoing a grueling, painful transformation.

Nevertheless, even with partial control, subduing Ahoge Dragon and her novice companion remained an effortlessly simple task for him.

Should Ahoge manage to unleash a magical assault, she might just be able to impede the relentless advance of this formidable foe!

“I know! I know!”

A sudden realization dawned upon Ahoge Dragon, and she swiftly extended her palm, aiming it directly behind her.

“Earth Magic: Quagmire!”

“Earth Magic: Quagmire!”

True to her hopes, once Gudou Toutian plunged into the newly conjured quagmire, his relentless speed was drastically curtailed.

“Fire Magic: Fireball!”

“Fire Magic: Fireball!”

As they continued their flight, Ahoge Dragon repeatedly unleashed Fireball spells in their wake.

This was because Ahoge Dragon could no longer detect the ferocious magical energies emanating from Yao Yueli.

This absence of power indicated that Yao Yueli had successfully evaded the pursuit of the Black-clad men.

Consequently, upon witnessing the mountain ablaze, Yao Yueli would undoubtedly deduce Ahoge Dragon’s involvement.

She would, without question, hasten to this location to rescue Ahoge Dragon!

To achieve two objectives with a single action—truly a stroke of genius!

****

“Gudou Toutian, what are you doing?”

“These… these fireballs, manifesting from thin air… could they possibly be the work of that elusive, invisible lizard monster!”

Far from luring Yao Yueli, Ahoge Dragon’s makeshift ‘beacon fire’ had, quite unexpectedly, drawn the attention of Princess Yue Yi and Tailang instead.

Following the emergence of the Elven race’s protective Defense Tree Tower, the Crown Prince’s forces had divided into two distinct groups.

The Crown Prince himself led an assault on the Defense Tree Tower, while Princess Yue Yi and Tailang journeyed together, seizing the opportune moment when the magical beasts were under external control.

Their intention was to raid the magical beasts’ den, mirroring the actions Ahoge Dragon and her group had undertaken previously!

However, the sight of someone setting the mountain ablaze was utterly infuriating; how many precious spiritual herbs and invaluable treasures would be irrevocably damaged by such recklessness!

Consequently, their path had led them directly to this very spot.

What they discovered here was a sight that simultaneously astonished and greatly pleased them.

‘Ahoge Dragon has finally shown her true colors!’

‘This time, we absolutely must capture her, subject her to a brutal round of torture, and only then dispatch her!’

‘Only through such means can Princess Yue Yi’s simmering wrath finally be assuaged!’

Furthermore, the sight of Gudou Toutian actively attacking Ahoge Dragon was equally astonishing.

They had genuinely believed him and Ahoge Dragon to be staunch allies, even good brothers.

‘And now he, too, has exposed his true nature!’

With the magical attacks originating from a singular point, Princess Yue Yi and Tailang were able to precisely discern the location of both individuals.

In short order, they maneuvered to encircle Ahoge Dragon from both flanks.

“What ever shall we do, Maomao? We’ve been completely surrounded!”

Ahoge Dragon was utterly terrified, realizing with a jolt that every single opponent they faced here was a truly ruthless adversary!

Mao Yuxia, though nervously surveying their surroundings, inwardly reassured herself that there was no cause for excessive alarm.

With a resolute decision, she and Ahoge Dragon abruptly revealed themselves.

“It truly *is* the two of you. Now that you realize escape is impossible, do you intend to surrender?”

“Heheheh! Let this princess inform you, especially that foul-smelling lizard! Surrender will avail you nothing, for this princess intends to tear you limb from limb!”

Princess Yue Yi’s smile was a chilling, sinister twist of her lips, her eyes glinting with malicious intent.

“You bloated, repulsive toad! You foul creature covered in warts, who are you calling stinky?!”

Ahoge Dragon, though cornered, refused to yield in spirit!

She would first unleash a torrent of curses upon her adversary, if only to sate her own indignation!

“Insolent wretch! Tailang, apprehend her at once! First, shatter her legs! Then, tear out her wings!”

Princess Yue Yi’s hands balled into tight fists as she issued her furious command to Tailang.

Tailang slowly rotated his neck, then advanced with deliberate, measured steps, a truly monstrous and terrifying smile stretching across his face.

He was utterly unrecognizable as the ‘little puppy’ Ahoge Dragon had so dismissively described!

“Wuwah~~”

Ahoge Dragon let out a terrified shriek; ‘He’s utterly hideous!’

“Let’s make our way to the Kidney Deficiency Man first! Didn’t the Blood Elf intend to capture us and bring us back? Surely, she will prioritize protecting us!”

“We only need to endure until Big Sister makes her appearance!”

Having conceived of a viable strategy, Ahoge Dragon, along with Mao Yuxia, began to retreat, their objective to use the Kidney Deficiency Man as an unwitting shield.

“Do you think you can escape?”

Unaware of Gudou Toutian’s compromised state, Tailang felt no urgency, nor did he bother to accelerate his pace.

He savored the macabre pleasure of allowing his prey to slowly anticipate their demise, relishing the sight of terror blossoming across their faces.

“Puff~~ Ah~~”

However, just as Tailang neared the Kidney Deficiency Man, Gudou Toutian unexpectedly lunged forward, unleashing a devastating horizontal swing with his greatsword.

It was a single, overwhelming strike, capable of sweeping aside a thousand foes!

Tailang, utterly engrossed in his excited fixation on Ahoge Dragon, failed to perceive Gudou Toutian’s sudden intervention. In the blink of an eye, his body was cleaved in two with brutal force!

His eyes, wide and unseeing, bore witness to his own demise.

“Toutian… brother… wh-why!”

Princess Yue Yi’s face drained of all color, her mind reeling from the inexplicable turn of events.

‘Could the Gudou family have conspired with the Charm Demon Clan, plotting a rebellion?’

Instinctively knowing she was no match for Gudou Toutian, Princess Yue Yi bolted without a moment’s hesitation, her legs propelling her into a desperate flight!

‘Was she to stand idly by and await death?’

Yet, her speed paled in comparison to Gudou Toutian’s; he swiftly appeared behind her, bringing his sword down in a swift, lethal arc.

Fortuitously, Princess Yue Yi reacted with astonishing speed, narrowly evading the strike. Her hair then rose, shimmering with an ethereal glow, as beams of silver-white moonlight shot forth towards Gudou Toutian.

This was a potent mental assault, and Gudou Toutian, already under remote control, possessed only a meager amount of spiritual energy embedded within his blood.

Consequently, he faltered, momentarily stunned.

Without a second thought, Princess Yue Yi seized the opportunity and resumed her frantic escape.

“This… he just died?”

Ahoge Dragon tentatively prodded Tailang’s lifeless form, her fingers discovering a small cloth pouch brimming with an assortment of herbs.

Overwhelmed with elation, Ahoge Dragon realized she had stumbled upon a veritable treasure trove.

Furthermore, with Gudou Toutian now in pursuit of Princess Yue Yi, their path to escape had once again opened.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!”

A sense of pure contentment washed over her.

The pair promptly changed course, sprinting off in a different direction.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Abruptly, a small, crimson figure materialized before them, blocking their path.

Its form was diminutive, akin to that of a primary school child, with a pair of adorably plump cheeks.

Its ears were distinctly pointed, and its blood-red eyes sparkled with an unmistakable twinkle of amusement.

A pair of delicate, blood-red wings fluttered agilely from its back, lending it an ethereal grace.

The Blood Elf Loli had successfully completed her arduous evolution.

Her power had undeniably reached an entirely new echelon.

Ahoge Dragon and Mao Yuxia froze instantly, petrified with fear, unable to even twitch a muscle.

‘This entity can control Gudou Toutian; for us two mere novices, despair is our only recourse!’

“What exactly are you?”

The Blood Elf drifted effortlessly behind Ahoge Dragon, encircling her neck with a delicate arm.

She then pressed her nose against Ahoge Dragon’s cheek, sniffing inquisitively.

“I… I am merely… a mutated lizard monster… I assure you, I am not palatable, truly not palatable at all…”

Ahoge Dragon frantically attempted to conceal her true nature, terrified of being devoured entirely.

“Pr…”

The Blood Elf delicately licked a bead of sweat from Ahoge Dragon’s trembling cheek.

“This is the taste of a lie!”

“You are of the Dragon race, are you not!”

At these words, Ahoge Dragon’s body stiffened perceptibly, and a wave of profound panic surged through her heart.

“N-no, no! I… I am not a dragon. You must be mistaken… where in this world could dragons possibly still exist…?”

“Hmph hmph… A dragon, indeed. What a truly bountiful harvest this day has proven to be!”

Just then, Gudou Toutian appeared, carrying the utterly terrified Princess Yue Yi, who looked as if she had witnessed a ghost.

A subtle, knowing smile played upon the Blood Elf Loli’s lips.

It appeared she could even refine Princess Yue Yi’s blood, subsequently using it to control Yue Guangyao, much in the same manner she now controlled Gudou Toutian!