Martial Arts Longevity Begins with the Equipment Slot

Chapter 88 Mysterious Monster, Mist-Hidden Fire Ape

Chen Yu crouched down and carefully examined the corpse closest to him.

He was a strong, middle-aged man, clutching a chipped woodcutter's knife in his hand.

He had several knife wounds, but they were all shallow and not in fatal locations.

"These few minor injuries can't possibly kill someone?"

Chen Yu frowned and was about to get up.

My fingers inadvertently touched the collar of the corpse's clothes.

Suddenly, my fingertip touched a piece of extremely fine black powder.

"What is it?"

Chen Yu rubbed the powder between his fingers and smelled it.

A faint smell of burning filled my nostrils.

"Strange, why did only the clothes burn?"

"The body showed no obvious signs of burning, yet the person was burned to death?"

Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the deceased had no black ash in his mouth or nose, indicating that he had not died from smoke inhalation.

"Bring the torch over."

Chen Yu gave the order.

"yes!"

Ding Dangmao, who was standing nearby, hurriedly stepped forward with a torch.

The torchlight shone on the corpse, making the details even clearer.

Not only this one, but the two corpses next to it also had similar burn marks.

One on the shoulder, one on the arm.

The skin and flesh around the wound were all charred black.

"Commander, what's going on? Has there been a fire?"

"That doesn't make sense! Only parts of these corpses are charred; there aren't large areas of burn marks!"

Ding Dangmao looked at Chen Yu and asked.

"This is really weird!"

Chen Yu stood up and looked around.

The courtyard wall was made of adobe bricks and showed no signs of smoke from a fire.

The pile of firewood in the corner is also fine.

The bloodstains on the ground had not been dried by the fire.

Only a small portion of the body had charred marks, which clearly indicated it was not an ordinary fire.

"Commander, there's also an emergency in this courtyard!"

The voice of another sword guard came from next door.

Chen Yu climbed over the courtyard wall and entered the neighboring courtyard.

The courtyard was even smaller, but it contained even more corpses.

There were at least twenty or thirty bodies piled up in one place.

Chen Yu squatted down and checked them one by one.

These corpses were quite different.

Not only were there burn marks, but there was also a fatal stab wound.

"The knife wound was the cause of death, while the scorch marks were an addition to the knife wound?"

"Did the people of Black Wind Stronghold massacre the village and then set fire to destroy the evidence?"

"No, it doesn't really look like it!"

"Judging from the extent of the charring, it doesn't make sense!"

Chen Yu was deep in thought.

"Be careful!"

Ding Dangmao suddenly screamed loudly.

"Commander, look! Fog is coming!"

Chen Yu focused his attention on the corpse.

Surprisingly, they failed to notice a very faint layer of gray mist on the ground beside their feet.

The mist clung to the ground and flowed slowly, as if it were seeping out from a crack in the earth.

"Why is there fog here?"

He cautiously took half a step back.

The fog didn't catch up; it just slowly dissipated along the ground.

"Squeak!"

A mouse scurried out from the corner of the wall.

"squeak……"

It convulsed twice upon contact with the mist, then its four legs straightened, and it died instantly.

"There's something wrong with this fog! Everyone, get out! Back to the village entrance!"

Chen Yu shouted sternly.

"This matter was probably not caused by Black Wind Stronghold!"

Before Chen Yu could finish speaking, a dark shadow suddenly exploded in the ruins of the backyard.

"Whoosh!"

The thing was originally curled up at the very bottom of the pile of corpses, completely pressed down by the layers of bodies.

It suddenly burst forth, bringing with it a scorching heat wave.

"Aaaaaah!"

"What is that?!"

The closest sword guards instinctively raised their arms to cover their faces.

The hairs on the back of my hand were singed by the heat and instantly curled up, emitting a burnt smell.

"It's so hot!"

"A demon! It's a demon!"

Exclamations of surprise echoed through the courtyard.

"Be careful!"

"That's terrifying!"

Several young sword guards hastily retreated.

These sword guards had seen blood; they were not afraid of bandits.

Bandits are people too; if you cut them with a knife, they will bleed, and if you cut off their heads, they will die.

But this thing in front of me is different.

Monsters are far more bizarre than bandits.

Ordinary swords and knives may not be able to harm it.

If everyone's attacks fail, then things are likely to turn out badly!

Chen Yu looked up.

Before them stood a monkey-like monster about three feet tall.

It has no hair and its skin is dark red.

Its limbs are slender and its claws are sharp and hook-like.

A pair of eerie green eyes had no pupils, only two flickering flames.

"Don't panic! Form a battle formation!"

Chen Yu calmly gave the instructions.

"Form ranks!"

The fifteen sword guards quickly formed a crescent formation in the courtyard.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the monster, not daring to look away for even a moment.

The monsters gathered and dispersed with the mist.

Gray mist continuously emanated from the edges of the limbs and torso.

"Release the arrows!"

Chen Yu gave the order.

More than a dozen arrows pierced the air and flew away.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

The fire ape dodged and weaved through the gaps in the rain of arrows, moving as fast as a red lightning bolt.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

The three arrows clearly struck its body, but they passed directly through the mist and finally embedded themselves in the earthen wall behind it.

"You...you went through it?"

Why?

Fang Dachuan's eyes widened, and his voice trembled slightly.

"What exactly is this thing?"

Before he could finish speaking, the fire ape suddenly let out a sharp cry.

"roar!"

The sound waves pierce deep into the brain, making it unbearable.

Everyone covered their ears at the same time.

The whistling ended.

The fire ape transformed into a streak of red light, hurtling straight at the two nearest sword guards.

"Whoosh!"

Its speed is so fast that it is almost impossible to keep up with the naked eye.

Only a faint red afterimage could be seen flashing between the two.

"what!"

Two screams rang out almost simultaneously.

The two sword guards staggered backward, three charred claw marks appearing on their chests.

The clothes were forcibly torn open, revealing the charred skin underneath.

A stench of burnt flesh filled the courtyard, making people nauseous.

"Zhang Jian! Li Long!"

Ding Dangmao cried out in disbelief.

"You guys go and rescue them first!"

After Chen Yu finished speaking, he continued to keep an eye on the fire ape's tracks.

Having landed a successful blow, the fire ape ceased its fight, landed on all fours, and leaped up the earthen wall.

With just a few leaps, he darted onto the roof of the last house at the end of the village, moving as fast as a piece of burning coals being swept by the wind.

"Chase it! Don't let it get away!"

Chen Yu took the lead and quickly pursued.

As if waking from a dream, everyone followed behind.

The fire ape crouched on the rooftop for a moment, then glanced back at the pursuing sword guards.

As dusk deepened, its pair of eerie green fire eyes shone eerily in the dimming light.

"Whoosh!"

The fire ape leaped into the dense forest behind the house.

The bushes crackled and popped as it passed by.

The withered leaves curled up and ignited, leaving a trail of tiny sparks that flickered uncertainly in the twilight.

"Whoosh!"

Chen Yu climbed over the courtyard wall, used his toes to push off, and shot into the forest like an arrow.

Dozens of sword guards followed in single file.

"Commander, this thing has headed deeper into Niutou Mountain!"

Fang Dachuan caught up with him, panting heavily.

"That's perfect."

Chen Yu watched the red figure moving swiftly among the shadows of the trees.

"The people from Black Wind Stronghold are also in Ox Head Mountain; they might have come specifically for this monster!"

"No matter what secrets they have, no matter which side killed our people, we must go into the mountains and find out the truth!"