Chapter Eighty: The Antlered Immortal Comes to Plunder

Although the distance was still considerable, Xiyan’s spiritual sense allowed her to clearly perceive the dangerous aura radiating from the approaching intruder—it was obvious this was no benevolent soul.

“Luoying, wake up!”

With a nimble leap, Xiyan rose from her bed and bent over gently to rouse the little girl lying there.

“Sister, what’s wrong?”

Luoying rubbed her sleepy eyes with a small hand, her face full of confusion.

“There might be a monster appearing in the tribe soon. Quickly, find a place to hide. I’ll go teach that presumptuous beast a lesson!”

“Sister!”

At these words, Luoying quickly scrambled out of bed, grabbing the white sash of Xiyan’s dress and stopping her in alarm. “Sister, you mustn’t provoke that monster, it’s dangerous!”

“It’s fine!”

Xiyan sneered dismissively, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. After a brief pause, her tone softened as she comforted the little girl, “Don’t worry. The more dangerous something is, the more it piques my interest. Since I’ve run into this, that monster’s days are numbered!”

“But what if it really is a Wild Mountain Demon?”

“Would you still harm it, Sister?”

Luoying sat on the bed, her innocent eyes blinking expectantly at her beautiful, fairy-like elder sister, hoping to hear her deny it.

“Rest assured.”

Xiyan smiled gently, confidently analyzing, “From the roar I heard just now, that definitely wasn’t the sound of a Wild Mountain Demon. So I can safely say that whoever’s come to trouble your village this time is someone else entirely. You can relax!”

“Then be careful, Sister. I’ll wait for you to come back!”

“Alright!”

With deep affection, Xiyan reached out to stroke the sensible little girl’s head, a wave of warmth flowing through her heart.

Leaping out of the earthen hut, Xiyan surveyed her surroundings with heightened vigilance. Within her line of sight, there was no sign of imminent danger.

The entire tribe was so quiet in the deep of night that she could hear her own breathing. Overhead, the full moon shone down, casting a mysterious and tranquil light over the village.

It seemed the monster’s cultivation was not yet very advanced; otherwise, the distance of five miles should have been traversed in an instant.

With this thought, Xiyan felt her confidence settle further—at least, she was capable of protecting the villagers from harm tonight.

“Awoo…”

Once again, an eerie cry reached Xiyan’s ears, now much clearer and louder than before. The monster had evidently entered the woods at the edge of the tribe and was about to invade the village.

“This wretch has arrived at just the right time!”

Xiyan cursed inwardly, her body instinctively darting toward a spacious clearing at the center of the tribe, searching for a large stone to conceal herself behind.

Once she’d hidden herself completely, the monster’s shadow leapt from the forest, landing steadily not far from her hiding place.

The moonlight shone perfectly onto the intruder’s back, stretching his already impressive silhouette long across the ground.

By the moon’s glow, she examined the creature more closely and was indeed surprised by its appearance.

Standing about six feet tall, its features and build were no different from an ordinary human—an unremarkable face, a strong frame, and a brown Daoist robe gave it quite a human-like appearance.

The only thing that was both absurd and comical was the pair of long antlers sprouting from its head.

Yes, antlers.

Antlers like those of a mountain deer, standing out starkly under the moonlight.

“Heh heh.”

The antlered monster swept his sharp gaze across the tribe and cackled in a voice like a night owl, “Looks like I’ll be able to seize several boys and girls tonight to offer Lord Fuyao. Perhaps, if he’s pleased, he’ll reward me handsomely!”

Fuyao?

Why did that name sound so familiar, as if she’d heard it mentioned before?

From the monster’s words, it was clear he was here to capture villagers as an offering to this so-called Lord Fuyao.

This must be an organized effort.

Who would dare so brazenly capture innocents for sacrifice? Could it be that the Demon Clan of Cangwu Plain was making a resurgence?

“Monster! Come catch the monster!”

Just as Xiyan was pondering, a sudden, urgent, childish cry rang out from within the village.

Turning quickly toward the source, she saw a young boy pointing at the antlered creature, his face pale with terror.

“Brat, what are you yelling for!”

The monster’s body flickered with anger, and in a flash, he was before the child, grabbing him up with a hand and threatening with a dark face, “I was just wondering where to start, and here you come right to my door. Perfect!”

“Let me go! Let me go, you stinking monster!”

The child struggled and cursed, his voice trembling with fear.

“Let you go?”

“Once Lord Fuyao has eaten you up, let’s see if you can still shout!”

With a fierce glare at the boy, the antlered monster’s figure shifted again. A foul stench filled Xiyan’s nose as the creature returned to the clearing before her hiding spot, still clutching the child.

The commotion roused the villagers, who, after days of fear, now rushed from their homes armed with sticks and farm tools, intent on surrounding the monster.

No!

Xiyan’s heart clenched. These villagers were no match for the creature; the more people gathered, the greater the potential for tragedy.

The monster, too, hadn’t expected so many to come after him so quickly. Panicking, he hoisted the child and dashed toward the woods at the edge of the village, disappearing into the night in an instant.

“Whew…”

Xiyan let out a long, silent breath. The weight on her heart finally eased.

A spirit beast was still a spirit beast—even with cultivation, it remained timid at heart.

Now that the antlered monster had fled, the villagers would be spared unnecessary harm, and she could pursue the fiend without worry.

By now, all the villagers had rushed to the clearing, staring in astonishment at the empty space, utterly bewildered.

Xiyan had intended to show herself and reassure the villagers, but remembering the child still in the monster’s grasp, she feared that even a moment’s delay could lead to irreversible tragedy.

So, without pausing to greet the villagers, she rose swiftly from her hiding place, pursuing the fleeing monster at a speed like a phantom, leaving behind only the startled and bewildered crowd.

Fortunately, the antlered monster’s cultivation was not profound. Though he had fled the village well ahead of Xiyan, within the time it took for half a cup of tea to cool, she had already sensed his presence with her formidable spiritual awareness.