Chapter 228: Such Incredible Speed
Taotie crouched down and tore a piece of cloth from Kui Mulang’s body, wiping the blood off his machete. With a casual flick, he tossed the stained fabric away, and it fluttered down, landing right over Kui Mulang’s lifeless face.
“Not only were you ugly, but you had to come out and scare people too.”
“Tsk, what a sin.”
Sliding his machete back into its sheath, Taotie swiftly looted Kui Mulang’s body, taking his communication device, weapons, and ammunition before leisurely striding towards Fang Xiaocao.
Reaching her, Taotie handed over Kui Mulang’s gun and ammunition.
“Fresh from Eagle Sauce’s arsenal, top-tier imports!”
“Here, Your Highness, take it for fun.”
He spoke nonchalantly, but Fang Xiaocao was completely lost.
“What’s going on?” she asked, puzzled.
“Just a pathetic coward, not even worth mentioning,” Taotie replied dismissively, waving his hand. “Come on, Your Highness, let’s keep moving.”
Taotie’s easygoing grin betrayed no trace of the violence he had just unleashed. To anyone unaware, it might have seemed like he had just returned from a casual stroll rather than a deadly battle.
Fang Xiaocao nodded in agreement. This forest was full of dangers. Without Taotie’s protection, she wouldn’t stand a chance.
If Taotie said to move, then move it was.
Compared to survival, her opinion didn’t matter much.
Side by side, Fang Xiaocao and Taotie continued their journey through the thick layers of fallen leaves, following the route Tom had planned.
The forest was eerily silent.
Even the insects had stopped chirping.
The deeper they went, the more Taotie’s expression darkened.
Fang Xiaocao didn’t understand what this meant.
But Taotie, a seasoned fighter, knew all too well—this was the calm before the storm.
An ambush was waiting ahead.
A dangerous enemy lurked nearby.
Anyone capable of silencing the very wildlife around them was no ordinary threat. This foe was far deadlier than Kui Mulang.
Taotie’s hand quietly gripped the hilt of his machete.
His sharp eyes scanned their surroundings.
Fang Xiaocao, unaware of the impending danger, continued studying the route on her map.
Suddenly!
A firm hand grabbed her.
Startled, she instinctively reached for her gun.
“Don’t move,” Taotie’s voice whispered urgently.
Hearing his familiar voice, she let out a breath of relief and relaxed her grip on the gun.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Someone’s coming,” Taotie said in a low voice.
He pulled her back gently, his eyes turning bloodshot.
This was a sign.
Taotie was about to go full throttle.
After all, he wasn’t called the Human Beast for nothing.
When Taotie unleashed his bloodthirst, he became a monster.
A true killing machine.
Rustle… rustle…
A strange sound echoed through the quiet forest.
The footsteps were erratic—sometimes near, sometimes far.
Was it one person? Or several?
The eerie sound only made the darkness of the woods feel even more terrifying.
Taotie smirked, his grin twisted and menacing.
His bloodlust sent shivers down Fang Xiaocao’s spine.
She had seen this look before.
Back when Taotie fought Tom in a life-or-death battle.
That expression had terrified her.
“Your Highness, whatever happens, don’t look back,” Taotie ordered. “No matter what you hear, just keep running.”
“Follow Tom’s planned route.”
“If you see anyone, shoot.”
“Tom and I will find you.”
Even as they slowly retreated, Taotie kept whispering instructions.
His unusual seriousness told Fang Xiaocao one thing—this enemy was no joke.
Someone so dangerous that even Taotie wasn’t certain of victory.
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly.
“Understood.”
“Don’t worry, I have my own ways to stay alive.”
She forced a confident smile.
Taotie glanced at her and nodded.
He knew Fang Xiaocao had her own means of survival.
Otherwise, he and Tom wouldn’t have brought her along in the first place.
Why drag a liability on such a dangerous mission?
If it were just him and Tom, things would have been much simpler.
“Wait for my command.”
“When I say run, you run.”
Taotie’s voice was steady but firm.
Fang Xiaocao nodded hard.
Rustle… rustle…
The unsettling footsteps continued.
Like a death march creeping closer.
Fang Xiaocao was already breaking into a cold sweat.
Taotie’s grip on his machete tightened.
He kept stepping backward, his eyes darting in every direction.
Prepared to strike at any moment.
Fang Xiaocao observed his vigilance and realized—
The enemy in the shadows wasn’t just dangerous.
They were on Taotie and Tom’s level.
A single mistake…
It could mean even Taotie wouldn’t survive.
Swish, swish, swish—
Figures darted through the trees.
Moving at an astonishing speed.
Fang Xiaocao could only hear them.
She couldn’t even catch a glimpse of their shadows.
Taotie’s frown deepened.
“Who the hell is this?”
“They’re way too fast.”
“I’ve never heard of anyone like this in the underground.”
“Could they be a hidden force trained in secret?”
He muttered to himself.
Clearly, even he couldn’t fully track their movements.
Taotie stopped retreating.
Sching!
He drew his machete in one swift motion.
“Run, Your Highness!” he shouted.
Fang Xiaocao flinched but reacted immediately.
She bolted.
Dashing straight down the path Tom had mapped out.
Seeing her sprint away, Taotie smirked.
Gripping his machete tightly, he stood his ground.
His crimson eyes scanned the darkness.
Suddenly!
Whoosh!
A shadow shot out from the trees.
Ignoring Taotie completely.
Heading straight for Fang Xiaocao.
“Heh…”
“You’re really just gonna ignore me?”
“Then you deserve to die.”
Taotie sneered.
He slowly raised his arm.
And pointed a gun at the shadow.
Bang!
A gunshot echoed through the forest.
A crimson mist bursts from the moving figure’s body.
The shadow froze mid-motion.
Then turned—staring at Taotie in disbelief.
“You…”
“You have no honor…”
“You… used a gun…”
The figure trembled.
Then collapsed with a thud.
Twitching for a moment before going completely still.
Whoo…
Taotie blew the smoke off his gun barrel.
He looked down at the corpse and smirked.
“Hah.”
“You think speed alone makes you invincible?”
“No matter how fast you are…”
“You can’t outrun a bullet.”
He scoffed.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Suddenly, the sound of multiple projectiles slicing through the air filled the forest.
Taotie’s expression changed.
He quickly dove behind a tree.
Just in time to dodge a hail of incoming weapons.
(End of Chapter 228)
