A/N: So super sorry for the long wait! Since it's been a while, here's a brief recap of what's happened so far:
After separating from our favorite potato hubby and stumbling upon the mysterious Mr. Uncle and a pair of young siblings, Feng Yao is shocked when she discovers that the younger brother of the two has the exact same concoction of poisons coursing through his body as hers. Realizing that this must be the work of the person from her past, she quickly works to save him with the use of the specially made antidote that she always keeps on her body.
This event, along with the deadly rumors circulating around about unexplained corpses appearing around the area, forces Feng Yao to journey through the heavy snowfall to find the infamous wandering village with the help of the older sister of the two children. But upon arriving, Feng Yao realizes just how serious the situation is after discovering that all of the villagers have been forcibly transformed through unnatural experimentation into crazed blood-thirsty and physically enhanced humans.
Barely surviving the multiple encounters with the various villagers and the creature that evolved from one of them, Feng Yao seeks shelter in a hidden underground room only to discover a malnourished little boy with white hair hiding inside. Unwilling to leave him, she takes him under her wing and is able to sneak the both of them safely out of the village. However, just as Feng Yao realizes that the young girl that is supposed to meet her outside is missing, the young girl's scream rings out from within the wandering village.
Now, enjoy the chapter!
* * * * *
Feng Yao's head whipped around to look at the entrance of the dark tunnel in horror. Although the figure of the girl was not there, in her mind, the bloodied sight of the girl's mangled body was already lying there alone in the snow, a silent scream forever etched on her young face.
The unnervingly realistic vision made Feng Yao's breathing hitch in fear with her heart almost stopping.
Before she knew it, she had already tucked the little boy in her arms in between two large boulders for safety and was sprinting back into the darkness of the tunnel, praying for a miracle.
Please, please be okay!
With one last push from her legs, she burst into the clearing on the other side. At once, her eyes were blinded by the harsh moonlight dancing on the bloody snow around her, drowning her eyes in a landscape of silver and red.
But within seconds, her eyes had already shot through the blinding colors and straight across the sea of dead bodies before sharply latching onto a distinct figure in the distance.
Within the masses of rotting flesh stood the creature from before, its teeth bared wide open in a snarl that had long become stained with blood. As if searching for something, the creature continuously whirled around in a frenzy with its remaining eye madly darting from pile to pile.
Feng Yao immediately ducked behind a group of corpses, hoping that the overwhelming scent of blood in the air was enough to temporarily mask her presence while she scanned her surroundings. However, the person that she was looking for was nowhere to be found.
The girl had clearly been here a moment ago. The angry grunts and shrieks increasing in intensity from the creature were enough to indicate that.
But where was she now?
Feng Yao quickly glanced over the mountains of flesh and bones around her, but after finding nothing out of the ordinary, she turned her attention to the abandoned homes in the distance.
Could she have escaped to over there? She may have been able to find shelter inside of a building.
...No. That's impossible.
She wouldn't have been able to make it that far without the creature noticing her.
Feng Yao immediately turned back to study her surroundings. If the girl was hiding, then she had to be somewhere around here. Taking care to not miss a single detail, she scanned the area in front of her once more.
Suddenly, she noticed something out of the corner of her eye.
From underneath the pile of corpses a few feet away from the creature, there seemed to be a small corner of a cloak sticking out from the side. Although it had long become stained in blood, it was an undeniably familiar fabric.
Wasn't that what the girl was wearing on our way here?
Nearby, the creature let out another ear-piercing shriek, but Feng Yao ignored it. Her eyes were focusing solely on that specific spot with the corner of that cloak.
If you're there, then please just give me a sign...
It was at that moment that Feng Yao's eyes narrowed as she noticed an incredibly faint, almost imperceptible, tremble from the bottom of that pile.
It's her! She must have hidden herself under the corpses.
Finally finding the person, Feng Yao let out a small sigh of relief. But her expression soon darkened again.
The problem now was figuring out a way to rescue the girl. How was she supposed to get the girl out without allowing the creature to see them?
She looked down at her trembling hands before clenching them tight.
I don't have enough strength to fight. I'll just have to make a distraction.
Quietly, she crawled around the mass of bodies to a spot that would give her a better line of sight before grabbing a few random items out of the snow. Feng Yao's frozen fingers moved as quickly as she could to fiddle around with the items, taking care to glance every so often to the other side to make sure the creature had not yet noticed her presence.
Being unable to find the girl, the creature had already gone back to tearing apart limbs with its teeth. Wildly reaching about without any direction, it continued to grab fallen bodies around it before madly feasting upon their mangled arms and heads.
The icy cold air had long already covered the dismembered body parts in a layer of frost, but the creature didn't seem to care. Its teeth continued ripping away at each piece as if it was a thick fatty slice of meat.
Feng Yao could almost feel each violent crunch of bones grinding against her eardrums, each unnatural grunt and growl crawling up her skin like maggots. But she quickly forced herself to ignore the sounds, focusing on her hands until she finally finished tinkering.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling roar pierced through the empty night. Alarmed, Feng Yao raised her head.
Why did it stop?
The creature had its face tilted up towards the night sky, sniffing as if it had picked up on an unusual scent.
Is it me?
But I made sure to cover myself in blood. My scent shouldn't be as strong as before.
She paused just before her head whipped around to look on the other side of the field.
The mass of corpses that the young girl had been hiding in was starting to crumble. Although it wasn't yet noticeable, it was only a matter of time before the entire thing tumbled and crashed onto the ground.
But that wasn't what made Feng Yao's heart rate abruptly shoot up.
It was because she could see that on the other side, the young girl was trying to escape.
The girl's small face had become completely covered in blood and fleshy bits, but Feng Yao could still clearly make out her fearful eyes as she struggled to silently slide out.
No! You shouldn't move yet!
The girl's position within the pile meant that she couldn't see the creature on the other side of the field. And unfortunately, that also meant that she could not see Feng Yao either.
Feng Yao quickly turned back towards the creature and felt her stomach drop as the expression on its face became more and more unnaturally twisted. Realizing that she had run out of time, her eyes urgently scanned around until she located a small tree off towards a slight angle of the creature.
Gritting her teeth, her hands gripped tightly onto the two handles in front of her. Just before the creature turned around, Feng Yao forcefully launched each weapon in her hand towards the tree.
The first one that left her hands was a dagger with a decapitated head tied tightly to the side. The blade of the dagger impaled deep into the wood while the head clunked against the bark. But not even a second later, the large blunt hammer from Feng Yao's other hand slammed and sunk right into the center of the skull, immediately creating a small explosion of fresh blood that splattered all over the snow.
As expected, the creature looked over at the sudden noise and sniffed the air once again. Feng Yao waited until it let out a shrill shriek and began to rush over towards the bloodied tree before she hurriedly sprinted towards the girl.
Noticing someone's presence, the girl looked up with terrified eyes. But upon seeing that it was only Feng Yao, the fear melted away from her face as she choked back a sob of relief. Feng Yao swiftly put her finger up to her lips, and the girl tearfully nodded.
With Feng Yao's assistance, the girl was able to quickly extract herself out of the mass of bodies before emerging completely covered in thick globs of red. The color was so dark that it seemed thicker than using paint. Not even her original black hair could be seen.
But Feng Yao was practically in the same state.
She tried to offer a smile to comfort the young girl, but because her cheeks were completely numb, she had no way of knowing if it had appeared on her lips or not.
At least she's all right. Now we just have to get out of here.
Feng Yao reached out to grab the young girl's hand, intending to take her and rush back towards the tunnel.
However, at the very last moment, her vision suddenly flickered as a massive wave of weakness abruptly assaulted her body. Her steps stumbled, and in her brief moment of inattention, her right foot accidentally stepped down right onto a large bone hidden in the snow.
"Crack."
The loud noise rang out sharply into the air, just as distinct and jarring as the sudden clang of metal against metal.
Feng Yao froze for only a split second before she immediately grabbed the girl's arm and began to sprint.
"Run!"
Just as she shouted, the deafening scream of the creature roared right behind them.
"Rooooooaaaaaaar!"
The creature's speed was much faster than theirs. Feng Yao already knew that it was impossible to make it to the tunnel without being caught first.
Even now, she could feel that her legs were no longer responding to her as she wished. She was completely running on willpower, and it was only a matter of how many minutes she could still manage to push through.
In a split second decision, her free hand reached into her waistband to pull out one of her two stashed daggers before flinging the girl forward.
"Big Sister Feng Yao!"
The girl's eyes widened as she was thrown forward, shouting in both fear and confusion as she left Feng Yao's grip.
"Just run! Don't look back!"
Feng Yao hoarsely shouted. Just as she whirled around, her raised dagger was abruptly met with a tremendous force, forcefully throwing her several feet in the air before she fell harshly to the ground.
"Aggh--"
A muffled cry escaped Feng Yao's lips from having all air knocked out of her lungs. But she didn't have time to catch her breath before she heard another scream.
"Ahhhhh! No! Don't come near me!"
Before Feng Yao knew it, her body was already leaping forward again, tackling the creature with its hand only centimeters away from the girl's face right down into the snow.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!"
A large flurry of snow exploded upwards into the air as the two of them tumbled violently on the ground. Although Feng Yao and the creature were similar in body structure and mass, the creature had an obvious advantage in both energy and raw power. Under its strong grip, Feng Yao could feel the bones in her arms almost cracking as its sharp and dirty fingernails pierced into the soft flesh around her wrist.
Mustering the last of her strength, she twisted the dagger around in her hand and aimed for the creature's foot nearest to her hand.
"ROOOOAAAAARRRR!"
The moment that the tendon snapped underneath her blade, the creature let out a furious scream. Digging its nails even deeper into her flesh, it suddenly flipped them around so that it could bite at her neck. Feng Yao had no choice but to clench her jaw before thrusting her leg firmly upward against the creature's chest and continue the battle for dominance.
Off to the side, the young girl who had been thrown forward onto the ground by Feng Yao suddenly saw something fly away from the creature during the fight. Her eyes involuntarily followed the movement, watching it briefly glitter underneath the moonlight before falling into the snow near her.
For some reason, she couldn't help but feel like it was incredibly important. Although she knew that Big Sister Feng Yao had clearly told her to run, something inside her whispered that she needed to go and find it.
With shaking hands, she slowly crawled over before reaching to pull it out from within the snow. But as the moonlight settled on her hand and revealed the item, the girl's face abruptly froze.
In her small palm was...a very thin silver chain.
She couldn't help but suddenly remember.
The man who had given this chain had claimed it was a simple piece of jewelry, something that many ladies used to adorn their ankles.
But even though she had been very young at the time, she could tell from his cold eyes. It was no piece of jewelry. It was a symbol to show that he was in complete control of the wearer.
That man had even deliberately given her mother this in front of her, just to never let her forgot this message. And although her mother had foolishly laughed in delight, she knew the truth.
That truth, it was the only reason why I...for so many years...
Her wide eyes stared unblinkingly at her hand, tears continuously pouring down her frozen cheeks. But she couldn't feel them. She couldn't feel anything.
"...oth...er...mo....ther..."
As if she was a broken loop, her mouth continued to endlessly open and close with those same syllables stuck on her blue lips.
Slowly, she turned her head back to blankly look at the battle between Feng Yao and the creature. But as she continued to watch them fight, something started to click inside of her mind.
"mo...ther....mother...mother! MOTHER! NO!! FENG YAO, DON'T!"
Feng Yao could vaguely hear a scream from the girl in the distance, but she could no longer spare any energy to pay attention. Her chest was painfully heaving and her vision was continuously flickering in and out, but somehow she had still miraculously managed to pin the creature down.
Just as she raised her dagger to deal a finishing blow, however, she suddenly felt a powerful force collide against her waist and throw her to the side.
"Stop, stop fighting! Mother, it's me! It's me! Please, don't you recognize me?!"
Feng Yao tumbled off to the side, but quickly forced herself into an upright position again.
"Wait--! Don't get near to it!" She shouted, but the young girl no longer seemed as if she could hear Feng Yao.
Taking a step closer, the girl gave a bright smile.
"Mother, I've returned! It-it's me, Experiment 108. Don't you remember? I am Experiment 108, your daughter!"
Feng Yao's mind was reeling.
This creature....is her mother?
No, not anymore.
This thing is no longer human. Her mother has already died a long time ago.
"I've completed my task as usual...and that man...that man will definitely come back to save you! He promised! He definitely promised!"
The creature only snarled in response before leaping forward with its teeth aimed towards the girl's neck. It was only because Feng Yao was able to barely yank back the girl that the creature missed its target by mere inches.
"That thing is no longer your mother! It's not human anymore!"
Feng Yao tried to shout at the girl as she dragged her into running away, but the girl immediately struggled against her hold.
"No, you're wrong! This is my mother! She was clearly fine the last time I saw her! This is only because she hasn't recognized me yet!"
The girl tried to dig her feet into the ground, but Feng Yao harshly tugged her along, refusing to pause for even a split second.
"It's not her anymore! It's a creature that feasts on flesh! You already know that your mother wouldn't be like this!"
"But, but it is her! That silver anklet! That belonged to my mother! It has to be her! That man clearly promised me...he promised me..."
"That man deceived you all! He would never come back to help those that he abandoned!"
"You're wrong...no, you're wrong...then what have I been doing this entire time...? What was the purpose...? Why...?"
Her voice broke down into a sob, and Feng Yao could no longer understand what she was saying. But she couldn't look back to see the girl's expression.
Although she had managed to wound one of the creature's feet, who knew how fast it would still be able to run. She couldn't take any chances, especially since they were so close to escaping.
Pulling the girl along, they finally entered into the darkness of the tunnel. But the loud growl behind them clearly indicated the creature had also done the same thing. Each step she could feel it getting closer and closer.
Feng Yao tried to think of what to do.
What should I do?
I only have one dagger left in my waistband. I could try to attack its remaining eye, or go for its neck as soon as we make it to the other side.
No, that wouldn't work. I'm not far away enough to have an extra second to turn around and attack.
I can try to throw the blade at it instead. But if I miss, I'll be completely out of weapons on this side of the tunnel.
I...I don't know what to do.
Feng Yao felt like her entire brain was covered in fog and her mind was no longer properly functioning. Inside of her head was an overpowering thumping, matching the rhythm of her chaotic pulse that seemed as if her heart was on the verge of losing control. At this point, she wasn't even sure if any air was reaching her lungs from the rapid heaving of her chest.
Suddenly, she saw a light in the distance.
The end of the tunnel!
The appearance of hope was like a boost of adrenaline. Feng Yao gripped tighter onto the girl's hand in hers and began her last sprint.
The light began to increase as they got closer and closer.
But just as they reached the very end of the tunnel, Feng Yao suddenly felt a chill burst out behind her back and immediately knew.
It's here.
Before she could react, an intense pain had already bloomed across the span of her back. It felt as though the blades of multiple dulled axes had just violently shredded right through her muscles.
"Ahhhh!"
An involuntary scream ripped out from between her lips as both she and the girl were thrown forward. With their hands no longer connected, their two bodies ended up flying in different directions before brutally landing on the ground.
Upon the agonizing impact, Feng Yao's vision abruptly swarmed with red and white. But she could no longer tell if it was from the snow around her or if she had finally reached her limit. Streams of blood ran all around her, seeming as if they'd never stop as they mixed in with the clothing lying in tattered layers across her body.
From a distance, it sounded as though the girl had let out a scream too. But for some reason, Feng Yao couldn't quite focus on it.
She tried to shake her head to get rid of the buzzing in her ears, but it just wouldn't go away.
Get up...You have to get up Feng Yao...The creature is right behind you...
But no matter how much she tried, she just couldn't seem to muster enough strength to stand up once again. And although she could see the young girl lying motionlessly on her left side, when she attempted to reach out and touch her, she could no longer feel anything through her numb fingers.
"... You should've...just run away..."
Her voice cracked as she attempted to touch the girl, but again the girl didn't move.
...I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have had you accompany me here.
Tears began to prickle her eyes.
I promised your little brother that I'd keep you safe.
But, this may have to be the end.
Forcing her eyes to stay open, she turned her attention back towards the entrance of the tunnel.
The creature seemed as if it was hesitant to cross the invisible border connecting the tunnel of the wandering village and the outside world. But as soon as its eye made contact with hers, it was as if a switched was suddenly flipped on.
"ROOOOAAAAAARRRR!"
Its angry, primitive howl rang out loudly into the air, causing snow on the tops of the nearby trees to crash down all around them.
Feng Yao could only weakly close her eyes, knowing that the sight of this creature rushing towards her would be the last thing she saw.
I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...
Even at the end of my life...I managed to bring misfortune onto those that I tried to save...
But just as her eyes were about to fully close, she suddenly noticed someone clutching onto the fabric of her bloody sleeve.
It was the little boy that she had rescued earlier. Without her realizing, he somehow had been able to silently approach before quietly holding onto her side.
A jolt went through Feng Yao, immediately forcing her eyes awake.
"What are you doing here--?!"
But it was too late. Feng Yao could only wrap her hand around his wrist before pulling him into her embrace underneath her in one last effort to shield him from the pain.
Her sudden movement caused the robe that'd been covering his head to fly away, allowing the moonlight to suddenly fall upon his previously covered white hair.
Immediately, it was as if the individual strands were injected with life as they began to glow with a soft light. Gently, they fluttered and illuminated the small figure within Feng Yao's arms. In the dark forest, it was particularly conspicuous, just like a small lantern suddenly being lit within the shadows would be.
But to Feng Yao, she had yet to realize that anything was off. It was only after a few seconds went by that she began to notice something was strange.
Slowly opening her eyes, she was stunned to see that the creature, only a few steps away, had become petrified with an expression of pure terror on its face. A fearful whimper escaped its mouth before it suddenly began to retreat backwards in a panic. It seemed as if it wanted to put as much distance between itself and them.
In shock, Feng Yao watched wide-eyed as it finally turned around and frantically scrambled through the tunnel back to the other side.
What...just happened?
I'm alive? We're alive?
Still not having fully comprehended the situation, Feng Yao stiffly looked down at the boy in her arms who continued staring at her silently. It was then that she noticed that the robe she had covered him with earlier had disappeared.
Is that what scared the creature away?
His white hair...is it because it is the same color as their master's hair?
A wave of complex emotions overcame her before she turned to look at the girl still lying on her other side.
Your mother after transforming couldn't recognize you, her own daughter. But she could still recall the fear she had for her so-called master.
...How much damage has to be done until that man is satisfied?
Pressing her lips together, Feng Yao pushed back the wave of sadness in her heart. Holding the little boy tightly in her arms, she shakily forced herself up before gradually making her way towards the girl.
As she got closer, Feng Yao became more and more worried. The girl was clearly breathing, so she was still alive. But she was facing the opposite way, so Feng Yao had no way of seeing her expression.
Is she conscious?
However, when Feng Yao finally was able to see the girl's face, she almost wished that the girl had fallen unconscious.
The poor girl, lying all alone in the cold snow, was staring with vacant eyes at something that only she could see. Tears poured down her face before quickly freezing into a thin layer of frost, but she didn't seem to care anymore. All she focused on was silently repeating the same word across her lips.
"...why...why..?"
Taking the two children, Feng Yao led them down the mountain. Holding the girl's hand with her left one and carrying the boy in her right arm, Feng Yao stumbled along the pathway in search for shelter.
Although the sky was now beginning to lighten in the distance, she knew that the weather wouldn't get that much warmer from the sun appearing. They had to get out of the bitter wind before resting. Otherwise they would all die in their sleep from the chill.
And besides that...
Feng Yao glanced over at the young girl with worried eyes.
Ever since they had left that place, the girl hadn't once made eye contact or spoke directly to Feng Yao. The only thing that she did was continuously mumble under her breath, although it was too jumbled for Feng Yao to make anything out.
Seeing this, Feng Yao could only squeeze the girl's hand in an attempt to offer comfort before turning her attention to the little boy in her arm.
After retrieving her outer robe, she had once again tied it around him, taking care to cover his hair with the fabric. Not only would it help keep him warm, but hopefully it would also cover him from any prying eyes.
Now, he was currently resting his head against her shoulder as if he had fallen asleep. But Feng Yao knew that he was still very much awake. Every time she would misstep in the snow, his fingers would slightly tighten its grip on her clothing before immediately letting go.
If they weren't in their current situation, Feng Yao might have even laughed at how cute it was. But unfortunately, this was no time to be laughing.
"Little girl," Feng Yao slowly called out, taking caution to keep her voice from wavering from exhaustion.
"Do you remember whether there are any small caves nearby this mountain?"
Although she now knew the girl's name, Experiment 108, Feng Yao didn't want to use it. This girl didn't deserve to be called by such a cold name. Especially since it was a name that that man had branded onto her.
Feng Yao received no answer from her, but she had already expected that. Simply squeezing the girl's hand again, she tried to give a small smile.
"Then if you also don't know, let's go down this pathway on the left. I'm sure we'll find one soon. Then we can take a good rest."
Suddenly, the world in her eyes began to spin before the scenery abruptly tilted. Trees turned sideways until her entire vision was filled with only the sky and faintly twinkling stars.
Feng Yao continued staring up in bewilderment, not quite understanding what had happened. It was only when she felt a small cold hand touch her on her cheek that she finally realized that her legs had given out on her.
Looking down at the two kids that had somehow ended up falling on top of her, she gave a slight laugh in embarrassment.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to trip. I--I'm just getting a bit tired, that's all."
Feng Yao patted the girl's back before she rubbed the little boy's cold hand that had touched her face.
"Thank you."
She smiled at him, watching as he blinked a few times before he rested his head back onto her chest.
Feng Yao tried to push herself up into a sitting position, but her arm immediately buckled and she fell back down from the wave of fatigue and pain suddenly washing over her. Perhaps it was due to her finally lying down and away from immediate danger that her body was now giving up.
The adrenaline was completely gone by now, leaving behind only a battered body that hurt everywhere imaginable. All of her wounds still felt incredibly raw, almost as intense as when she first received them. It didn't help that she had landed completely flat on her back either, right on top of the last deep injury she received from the creature.
"S-sorry, I d-don't think I'll be able to move for a-awhile..."
Her teeth were beginning to chatter from the pain overwhelming her senses. Above her, the stars were also starting to fade in and out of sight. She knew that she was fighting a losing battle against her exhaustion.
You can't...fall asleep here...Feng Yao...
In the back of her mind, she knew that it was dangerous to fall unconscious right out in the middle of these snowy mountains, especially with two helpless kids by her side. At the moment, however, she didn't even have enough energy to open her eyes, let alone find a cave for shelter.
Finally, her eyes fluttered shut as she gave up fighting.
But just as her consciousness was about to completely sink into darkness, an overly bright and loud voice suddenly pierced through her haze.
"Mwahaha! I finally tracked you down, you crazy lady!"
This familiar...and slightly obnoxious voice...
"Cower in fear, for it is I! Now give me back my precious sword--ah, wait wait! What's wrong with you? Hello? Hello? Don't die on me! Nooo, I finally just found youuuuuu!"
Feng Yao couldn't help but let out a faint laugh before finally falling into a deep sleep.
* * * * *
Author's Note:
Hello!! I've finally returned!!
But...Is anybody still here? (*cries*)
o(╥﹏╥)o
I'm super sorry that I went missing for so long! Basically I was bombarded with a terrible amount of coursework (as a result of my questionable decision to overload my class schedule to the max), exams, and health issues that all ended up pushing me to the end of my wits...
But I'm back now and will definitely be continuing this book to the very end!
My updates will most likely continue being sporadic, but if you guys are still willing to read them, then I'll absolutely continue pushing out more chapters soon! (Of course, they won't take as long to update as this chapter did ahaha... *sweats*)
Honestly, your comments are what motivate me the most, so thank you for all of your well wishes!
＼（＾▽＾）／
Stay safe everyone, and I will see you all soon in the next update!
(•‾⌣‾•)و ̑̑♡