All sounds blended together, a chaotic clash between frantic thoughts and the last remnants of reason within the demon fox.
Yu Sheng could hear Hu Li's painful whimpers beside him, but his mind was filled with even more frantic voices—the insatiable hunger of the demon fox, the piercing hunger that was almost unbearable, the seductive pull of chaotic darkness, and… the urging cries for him to flee.
Taking a deep breath, Yu Sheng crouched low and charged toward a gap between the demon fox and the monster.
However, instead of fleeing as Hu Li had urged him to, he picked up a broken piece of blue stone from the ground and rushed toward the creature’s side, clutching it tightly.
He knew he was unlikely to defeat this monster, but he also understood that running solely with his human legs was impossible.
The place was full of broken walls, and the only exit to the outside world was completely blocked by the massive body of the creature.
Charging recklessly would likely lead to a quicker death.
It was better to boldly face it head-on.
He may not win, but if he was ready to die, there was a chance to achieve something—a chance that perhaps, if he could distract the monster, Hu Li might find a way to break free from her terrifying constraints.
She was still managing to maintain some semblance of her mind; if given the chance, there might be a possibility of a counterattack…
All these thoughts flashed through Yu Sheng’s mind in an instant.
He knew his considerations were lacking, but in the absence of other choices, he pressed forward with determination.
Power surged within him, a strength that even he found baffling.
He hurled the heavy stone at the blood-soaked behemoth like a cannonball.
In the next moment, he had no time to gauge the success of his attack—the ominous sign of danger flooded his heart, and he instinctively leaped to the side just as the monster countered.
A shadow resembling a steel whip struck where he had just stood.
It was a snake-like tail that suddenly burst forth from the creature's body, sending dirt and stone flying in all directions.
The solid blue stone and broken bricks disintegrated into dust, and Yu Sheng felt a powerful impact as debris slammed into him like bullets, the sound akin to metal clashing.
Ignoring the pain surging through him, Yu Sheng quickly rolled to evade the pursuit of the snake tail, his eyes catching a glimpse of Hu Li’s direction.
The silver-white demon fox struggled fiercely amidst a myriad of dark spikes and shreds of bones.
The ghostly blue flames flickered violently near her fluffy tail, as if about to explode at any moment.
Yet she remained trapped—those restraints seemed tailor-made for her, rendering Yu Sheng’s interference utterly ineffective.
In fact, he could tell at a glance that this fox maiden was immensely stronger than he was, yet she was completely at the mercy of the monster.
Clearly, there existed a remarkable… “restraint” between them.
But in the early moments, outside the dilapidated temple, she had charged toward him without hesitation, wanting to “save” him—though she ended up unable to do so, it was sincere help she had intended to offer.
A memory flitted through his mind, and with gritted teeth, Yu Sheng felt a surge of determination to rush at the creature again, hoping the old tactic of trading his life for parts could work one more time.
He was unsure where his newfound strength and recovery came from, but he remembered biting off a piece of flesh from that monster before these changes occurred.
He didn’t know if there was any connection, but he had no other options now.
Fearless of death, he was willing to test all his wild guesses.
“Don’t… worry about me!” Just then, Hu Li’s voice came again, “It can’t kill… me. You, run!”
“It’s fine, it can’t kill me either,” Yu Sheng spat out a mouthful of blood, a result of debris hitting his chin earlier.
He turned and flashed a cheerful smile at the silver-white demon fox. “I might die soon, but don’t worry, I will come back for you.”
Hu Li’s struggles paused for a moment, as if momentarily puzzled.
Yu Sheng said nothing more and strode toward the monster, his steps light, his smile widening.
That smile held a joy akin to attending a feast.
“Don’t you love convincing people to eat?” He muttered to the blood-soaked behemoth before him, “Well then, I’m here to eat!”
He leapt into the air, like a hungry wolf pouncing on the banquet table.
The dozens of eyes across the monster’s grotesque body trembled violently.
For the first time, a hint of hesitation and… fear flickered in those chaotic and frenzied eyes.
A muffled roar rumbled from its gaping jaws, and multiple snake-like tails with dark scales burst forth from its flesh, striking at Yu Sheng as he ascended.
Yu Sheng felt himself being pierced; it was a deadly wound.
He didn't know how many places he was hurt, but he sensed his life ebbing away as warm blood flowed from his body.
Yet an indescribable… “appetite” surged from within.
He disregarded the pain, pushed aside all thoughts of death and fear as he gripped the snake tail piercing into his abdomen, grinning as he lowered his head to gnaw at it—
The monster let out a strange and piercing shriek, violently whipping its tail as if trying to shake off a mortal plague.
Yu Sheng clung fiercely to that tail, refusing to let go despite the violent flinging.
He slammed into the ground, smashing into a nearby dilapidated wall, but the resilient body allowed him to endure the impact without injury, even heightening his clarity amidst the anguish.
Just then, the tail lifted high again, flinging toward a gaping hole in the temple wall.
A strange golden light flashed briefly at the edge of his vision.
In the rushing wind, Yu Sheng strained to look up, seeing that light approaching rapidly.
Before he could discern what it was, instinct drove him to raise a hand to shield himself.
His hand grasped something—it was a handle.
Yu Sheng: “…?”
A slight creaking sound mixed with the howling winds, and the image of a door suddenly formed in his mind—a plain, unremarkable door leading to somewhere…
As the thought of a familiar place entered his consciousness, he yanked the door open.
In the next moment, both Yu Sheng and the snake tail engulfed in darkness fell through the door, which slammed shut with a deafening creak.
The monster’s snake tail was severed by the sudden appearance and disappearance of the door, sending forth a cacophonous howl that echoed through the valley.
The injury seemed to drive it mad, and it roared in the ruins of the temple, wildly rampaging and frantically gnawing on anything within sight—even its own body.
Only after an unknown time did it slowly calm, its form gradually dissolving into a shadow of darkness until it faded away into the night.
The dark spikes and bone fragments vanished silently, and the battered silver-white demon fox collapsed to the ground, unmoving, as if lifeless.
Minutes passed before Hu Li slowly opened her eyes, looking around in confusion, her golden-red eyes appearing devoid of any human spirit.
After a long while, her gaze finally settled on a specific spot within the ruins.
It was the steps where she had once sat with her “savior.”
Dragging her massive fox body, she moved slowly towards it, noticing plastic bags and leftover scraps scattered on the ground.
Lowering her head, she emitted muffled sounds as she swallowed everything down.
Yet she remained hungry.
The seductive voice persisted like an unvanquished demon, whispering to her in the depths of her hunger—
“Eat, you know where there are things to fill your stomach… “You buried them in the woods…
“Bones, meat, and blood…
“Go, eat, you won’t be hungry after…”
With her head lowered, the fox let out pitiful whimpers, then curled up under the steps, stretching her neck to gnaw at the broken bricks around her, even digging into the dirt and decaying wood beneath the ruins, slowly stuffing them into her mouth, chewing and chewing.
“I’m not hungry… I’m not hungry… someone will feed me… he will come back soon to bring me more to eat… I’m not hungry…”
And so she continued to gnaw until, like in many past years, she gradually drifted into unconsciousness.
The feeling of falling jolted Yu Sheng from his daze.
He still retained the sensation of grasping the door handle, but the next moment, he realized he had crossed a threshold.
Wide-eyed in shock, he found himself lying by the roadside, surrounded by familiar streetlights, utility poles, and the old houses of Wutong Road.
The dilapidated walls and gate of No. 66 Wutong Road stood not far ahead, basked in the soft morning light.
With great effort, he turned his head back and saw a fleeting shadow of a door gradually fading away.
Within that shadow, he could vaguely glimpse the valley shrouded in night, the ruins of the temple, and…
The white fox struggling in the debris.
Yu Sheng tried to reach out a hand toward the white fox.
But the last remnant of shadow dissipated the moment his fingertips grazed it.
(End of chapter)