Chapter 38: Trapped by One’s Own Actions, Repaying Evil with Virtue!
Page 1 of 3
Today’s second update: Chapter 038!
…
The Thunder Rush Squad, led by Fang Wensheng, had ultimately underestimated this Flame-Mane Demon Rat.
They had assumed that Fang Wensheng, having broken through to the Fourth-Bone Realm, could use Rat-Driving Incense to force the other Mane Demon Rats toward the Heaven-Burning Squad. With Su Chi, a Second-Bone expert, and four other teammates at his side, six against one, subduing the Flame-Mane Demon Rat should not have been difficult.
If one considered only their strength and numbers, along with the measures the Thunder Rush Squad had prepared to deal with the beast, then indeed, it should not have been difficult.
But the critical factor was one they had overlooked.
This time, the Flame-Mane Demon Rat had brought more than a hundred Mane Demon Rats, along with two other Tempered-Bone Mane Demon Rats, into the gas plant for one purpose: the gas-conversion device beneath it, which was continuously supplying it with fire-element energy.
The Flame-Mane Demon Rat itself had not broken through to a higher realm, but staying near the gas-conversion device was like fighting someone while they stood in a spring of water.
Its recovery was absurdly powerful!
The successive attacks of the Thunder Rush Squad had wounded it, but none had been lethal. Meanwhile, it could unleash explosive fire attacks without pause!
How powerful was a Fifth-Bone fireburst? Even Fang Wensheng, a Fourth-Bone expert, did not dare take one head-on.
The six members of the Thunder Rush Squad were in a wretched state, while the Flame-Mane Demon Rat remained as imposing as ever.
They had tried every method, including luring the beast away from the conversion device. Yet even after the other Mane Demon Rats could no longer endure the Rat-Driving Incense and had been driven toward the other side of the gas plant, the Flame-Mane Demon Rat still refused to budge.
By the customary standards of demon-hunting teams, they could already conclude that this Flame-Mane Demon Rat was not an opponent the Thunder Rush Squad could defeat.
The operation could essentially be declared a failure. If they did not want their losses to grow, they should leave now. The Flame-Mane Demon Rat would not pursue them.
But Fang Wensheng was unwilling to give up!
It was not merely because failure would prevent him from obtaining the corresponding demon-hunter points, nor solely because the core of this Fifth-Bone Flame-Mane Demon Rat was immensely valuable.
The real reason was that he had intended to rely on killing this Fifth-Bone Flame-Mane Demon Rat to advance to the rank of Mystic Five-Star Demon Hunter!
Previously, when they had both been Third-Bone experts, Geng Xiao had led the Heaven-Burning Squad in successfully hunting a Fifth-Bone monster. As captain, Geng Xiao had consequently advanced to become a Mystic Five-Star Demon Hunter.
By contrast, the strongest monster Fang Wensheng’s Thunder Rush Squad had ever killed was only at the Fourth-Bone level. As a result, although Fang Wensheng’s realm was now higher than Geng Xiao’s, his demon-hunter rank was still one star lower.
Part of it was a matter of pride. More importantly, when Fang Wensheng accepted this demon-hunting mission, he had used his connections to learn that Flame City would be hosting a major event this year—an opportunity open to many demon hunters.
The basic requirement for participating was the rank of Mystic Five-Star Demon Hunter!
For these reasons, Fang Wensheng had made exhaustive preparations after accepting the mission to hunt the Flame-Mane Demon Rat. He had even gone so far as to purchase the rare Rat-Driving Incense on the black market and drag the entire Heaven-Burning Squad into the mess.
They had already invested so much, and his teammates had even been wounded. How could anyone expect him to accept failure now?
He could not do it!
Of course, this was also the consequence of bringing disaster upon himself.
If he and Su Chi had not conspired to both capture the Flame-Mane Demon Rat and use the enormous horde of Mane Demon Rats to suppress the Heaven-Burning Squad, but had instead followed the original plan—having both teams eliminate the Mane Demon Rats around the perimeter before attacking the Flame-Mane Demon Rat together—their chances of success would have been far greater.
Page 1 of 3
Page 2 of 3
That was what it meant to lift a rock only to drop it on your own foot!
While Fang Wensheng’s Thunder Rush Squad was locked in a bitter struggle, the seven members of the Heaven-Burning Squad also crept over from the other side.
“It’s so hot.” Su Rui fanned himself, feeling as though he was on the verge of heatstroke.
The others were drenched in sweat as well. In this environment, Yu Le’s body temperature began rising uncontrollably once more. Fortunately, he had the human-shaped air conditioner known as Han Yuesu beside him.
Cold air spread outward, and the group felt as refreshed as though they had eaten an ice pop in the height of summer.
Ling Xiao, who had been sent to scout, returned with a smile on his face.
“I’ve confirmed it. There’s only that Fifth-Bone Flame-Mane Demon Rat by the central conversion device.”
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s charge over. We can’t let the Thunder Rush Squad steal the kill!” Meng Huai said anxiously.
Ling Xiao grinned. “Don’t rush. That Flame-Mane Demon Rat has the gas-conversion device at its back and is absorbing an endless supply of fiery energy. Its combat strength is off the charts. I just took a look—the Thunder Rush Squad is already spent. Only Fang Wensheng and Su Chi can still barely fight it.”
“If we don’t hurry over, the Thunder Rush Squad may not make it out of this. Fang Wensheng is really going to end up drawing water with a bamboo basket—nothing but wasted effort!”
“They might even be wiped out completely!”
The others’ eyes lit up at those words.
Meng Huai waved his fists. “That’s perfect. It saves us the trouble. Let the Flame-Mane Demon Rat deal with the Thunder Rush Squad once and for all.”
Yet after he finished speaking, he received no response from Geng Xiao or Han Yuesu.
“Captain Geng, Captain Han, why aren’t you saying anything?”
Geng Xiao looked at Han Yuesu. “Yuesu, what do you think?”
Han Yuesu’s gaze turned cold. “If Mu Chao’s death and everything that happened this time really were the work of the Thunder Rush Squad, then letting them die at the hands of the Flame-Mane Demon Rat would be far too easy on them!”
“Besides…”
Geng Xiao nodded. “Besides, we had an agreement beforehand. If it weren’t for that person, I would never have agreed to cooperate with the Thunder Rush Squad. If their mission fails, then our previous agreement is void.”
“Wait, Captain Geng, Captain Han—what exactly are you saying?” Meng Huai sensed that something was wrong.
Geng Xiao rose and gave the order. “Let’s go. We’ll help the Thunder Rush Squad deal with this Flame-Mane Demon Rat first. We can settle our accounts with them afterward!”
“Hey! Wait!”
Meng Huai tried to stop them, but Geng Xiao and the others had already set off.
Yu Le, supported by Gu Xiaoyuan, hurriedly called out, “Xiaoyuan, let’s follow them.”
“Oh, all right!”
Su Rui followed without hesitation, leaving Meng Huai standing there in utter confusion.
“Weren’t we supposed to come here and cause trouble for the Thunder Rush Squad? How did this turn into helping them?”
It did not matter that he failed to understand. Geng Xiao and the others, Yu Le included, all knew the situation perfectly well.
Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3
The conflict between the two teams naturally existed. Once the truth was uncovered, the Heaven-Burning Squad would certainly retaliate.
But retaliation did not mean standing by and watching the Thunder Rush Squad die at the hands of the Flame-Mane Demon Rat.
First, anyone with a conscience would refuse to support such an act—watching a monster slaughter human beings. The Heaven-Burning Squad was not the Thunder Rush Squad; they were not so vile in their methods. Monsters remained the greatest enemies of demon hunters!
Second, the condition Geng Xiao had proposed when agreeing to provide assistance was that the Thunder Rush Squad hand over one person.
That person was currently the only one who might be able to help Yu Le find Yu An’an.
If the Thunder Rush Squad’s mission failed, or if the entire team were wiped out, their agreement would become nothing more than a worthless scrap of paper.
There were matters of greater and lesser urgency. The Thunder Rush Squad had paid the price for its recklessness. For now, the Heaven-Burning Squad had chosen to repay resentment with kindness and clean up their mess first.
“Captain Fang, we can’t go on! We’re no match for this Flame-Mane Demon Rat!” Su Chi knelt on one knee, his other leg already badly burned by the flames.
Even his Mystic-grade Lifebound Weapon, Cloud-Treading Boots, had been destroyed!
Fang Wensheng’s face was so dark it seemed ready to bleed. After releasing a bolt of lightning that forced the Flame-Mane Demon Rat back, he clenched his teeth and said unwillingly, “Retreat!”
But the Fifth-Bone Flame-Mane Demon Rat was not stupid. Earlier, no matter how Fang Wensheng and the others had tried to lure it away, it had refused to move because it knew that leaving the conversion device would place its life in danger.
And now, with the two Tempered-Bone experts before it already in poor condition, would it really let them go?
They had provoked it and now wanted to run? Not a chance!
It was too late to retreat!
After enduring Fang Wensheng’s lightning attack, the Flame-Mane Demon Rat became a blazing ball of fire and charged toward Fang Wensheng, who had turned his back on it.
“Captain Fang!”
Su Chi struggled to rise, but he was far too late.
Fang Wensheng’s expression changed. He dodged to the side, but the Flame-Mane Demon Rat followed him like a shadow. First, it spat out a fireball that sent Fang Wensheng flying. Then it caught up, pinned Fang Wensheng’s shoulder beneath its claw, and brought its flaming fangs directly before his eyes.
“Damn it…”
Fang Wensheng was completely unable to break free from its suppression.
Just as the flames were about to reach his brows, a voice rang out from above.
“Flame Fist: Meteor!”
Boom!
Flames burst in every direction. The Flame-Mane Demon Rat cried out in pain, its entire body sent flying by the blow, and Fang Wensheng was freed.
“Old Fang, weren’t we supposed to act together? How did you start fighting without us?”
Page 3 of 3