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nChapter 51: Running for Life

nTranslator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

nChen Fei witnessed a sudden burst of red light emanating from Qian Jijiang’s chest, followed by a swirling cloud of charred black smoke. Qian Jijiang writhed in pain, his voice filled with disbelief. “No, we were just here!”

nAs the pain subsided, Qian Jijiang’s eyes regained clarity, and he surveyed the surroundings. The sight of the mountain village in the distance caused his face to pale. It became apparent that something strange was happening, and they were trapped in a bewitching spell.

nChen Fei, alarmed by the situation, asked Qian Jijiang, “How do we wake them up?” He marveled at Qian Jijiang’s ability to resist the spell, knowing that without the aid of the Clear Heart Formula, he would have likely fallen under its influence.

nQian Jijiang, though surprised by Chen Fei’s resilience, was too preoccupied to inquire further about his well-being.

nQian Jijiang swiftly took out an incense stick from his bag and ignited it. As a thin trail of green smoke dispersed into the air, Yan Qing and the rest of the group suddenly snapped out of their bewitched state. Their gazes turned towards the mountain village in the distance, their expressions filled with alarm.

nRealizing that something was amiss, Yan Qing exclaimed, “There’s something peculiar about that mountain village. Let’s get out of here!” Without wasting any time on explanations, Qian Jijiang sprinted forward, urging the others to follow closely behind.

nFeeling the urgency in the air, the group wasted no time, moving swiftly to escape from the encroaching danger.

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nChen Fei maintained his focus, continuously circulating the Clear Heart Formula to keep himself calm amidst the chaotic situation. The cold sensation brought a sense of clarity, allowing him to see further ahead. However, his initial joy quickly turned into unease as he realized that the extended view revealed not another road but a small mountain village.

nContrary to their intentions of avoiding it, the group was inexplicably getting closer and closer to the village. The once-distant houses became clearer, standing in an orderly manner amidst fertile fields and mulberry trees. The village appeared idyllic, like a paradise. However, a sense of foreboding lingered as the figures within the village became more discernible, almost as if they were beckoning the group to come closer.

nChen Fei’s urgent warning caught the attention of the group, causing them to halt their advance. Qian Jijiang, acknowledging Chen Fei’s ability to wake from the spell earlier, regarded his words seriously. Anxious, Qian Jijiang inquired, “What did you see?”

nChen Fei’s expression darkened as he relayed his observation, “1 saw houses, farmhouses, and numerous people standing there, facing us.”

nA wave of discomfort swept over Chen Fei, intensified by the chilling sensation from the gangrene mark on his arm. He realized that passing this trial was crucial if he wanted to reach Apricot Fen City.

n“Old Qian, we need to find a way out of this. Any ideas?” Chi Defeng turned to Qian Jijiang, placing his hopes on the experienced martial artist.

nQian Jijiang, sensing the urgency of the situation, took the lead and called for everyone to follow closely. He retrieved a half-red candle from his bag, an item seemingly ordinary yet significant in this predicament. With a tinge of reluctance, he carefully lit the wick, and a circle of vibrant red light emanated, encompassing the group.

nAs the red light enveloped them, a sense of tranquility washed over Qian Jijiang’s heart, dispelling the chilling cold that had gripped him earlier. Simultaneously, the red light seemed to repel the surrounding fog, causing it to disperse as if cowering from the candle’s illumination.

n“Run!” Qian Jijiang’s voice resonated with determination as he dashed forward. The others, realizing the importance of keeping up, hurriedly followed suit, their footsteps resounding in unison as they fled from the encroaching village, protected by the red light of the candle.

nThe group of six displayed impressive movement techniques, allowing them to keep up with Qian Jijiang’s intense pace. Gradually, the fog ahead began to dissipate, and the small mountain village ceased to reappear. This brought some relief to everyone’s hearts, for the mere sight of that village threatened to drive them mad.

nSuddenly, Qian Jijiang’s face turned frighteningly pale, and he shouted urgently, “No, no, stop, stop!” Confusion filled the eyes of his companions as they turned to look at him.

nHowever, Chen Fei noticed that the red candle in Qian Jijiang’s hand had already burned more than half in just a short while. To Chen Fei’s astonishment, the candle continued to shrink at a visible rate. At this pace, it would be extinguished within fifteen minutes.

n“What’s the matter?” Chi Defeng asked, perplexed. “The candle is burning too fast. We haven’t escaped the peculiarity; instead, we’ve unknowingly drawn closer to it!”

nQian Jijiang held the candle and tested it in four directions, realizing that only the southeast direction burned at a slower pace.

n“This way!” Qian Jijiang exclaimed, leading the way as he rushed forward. Chen Fei scanned his surroundings, his heart filled with trepidation. The Clear Heart Formula had served him well, allowing him to maintain his mental clarity.

nHowever, it became apparent that mere lucidity was insufficient. Unless he escaped this place, he would likely fall victim to the lurking horrors that awaited him. Particularly at this moment, the chilling sensation of a presence behind him sent shivers down Chen Fei’s spine.

nIt felt as though those evil entities were poised to pounce upon him in the next instant. “The mountain village has reappeared,” Feng Yu suddenly shouted, pointing in the distance.

nEveryone turned to look and confirmed that it was indeed the same village they had encountered earlier. Despite their efforts to forge ahead, it seemed as though they had inadvertently circled back to their starting point.

nIn that moment, the red candle in Qian Jijiang’s grasp had dwindled to less than 30% of its original size. “This is burning too fast.” Qian Jijiang lamented, observing the diminished candle before turning his gaze toward the distant village.

nDetermination etched on his face, he clenched his teeth and retrieved another candle from his bag. However, this one was different from its predecessor, for it was pure white in color. “This anomaly is exceedingly powerful. Our only option now is to take a gamble. Otherwise, none of us will be able to escape this place today,” Qian Jijiang spoke in a solemn tone.

n“What is it that you propose?” Chi Defeng inquired.

n“I will ignite this white candle and throw it away. This white candle possesses the opposite effect of the red one—it will attract the malevolent entities,” Qian Jijiang explained. “Consequently, our future will be fraught with danger. We must run as swiftly as we can.”

nQian Jijiang’s voice dropped to a whisper as he continued, “This act amounts to risking our lives. However, if we fail to take this step, we will likely remain trapped in this cycle indefinitely.

nAs the red candles neared depletion, the realization struck that the entire group would meet their demise once the flames extinguished. Yan Qing and the others exchanged worried glances, yet they refrained from impeding Qian Jijiang’s course of action, recognizing that no superior alternative presented itself. In this dire moment, they had no choice but to heed Qian Jijiang’s instructions.

nQian Jijiang bowed his head, igniting the white candle. A peculiar scent emanated from its flickering flame. Exerting all his might, Qian Jijiang hurled the white candle behind him.

nDespite its constant wavering, the white candle stubbornly refused to be snuffed out. In the ensuing instant, Qian Jijiang clutched the dwindling red candle and dashed forward with wild abandon. His speed had surged by over fifty percent compared to before, leaving the rest of the group astounded by his newfound swiftness. Only Chen Fei managed to maintain a steady pace, steadfastly trailing behind Qian Jijiang. Chi Defeng followed closely behind Chen Fei.

nMeanwhile, Yan Qing and Yan Ding let out muted cries before thrusting their swords into each other as if driven to a desperate and tragic end.

nAs the scent of blood permeated the air, Yan Qing and Yan Ding vanished abruptly, their forms seamlessly merging with Chi Defeng’s presence. Simultaneously, the elderly woman, Feng Yu, swiftly ingested a pill, causing a green aura to manifest on her countenance. Taking a single step, she effortlessly outpaced Yan Qing and the others, determinedly pursuing Chi Defeng.

nA hollow laughter seemed to echo through the forest while the surrounding fog grew denser. Fortunately, the fog billowed behind them, gradually thinning in the direction they were heading. Everyone’s expressions displayed a mixture of astonishment and relief. The white candle had indeed proven effective, dispelling the incessant sensation of being watched..

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