Chapter 183 - 112: Laugh, Isn’t It Funny?
White Deer Peak, deep within a dark forest.
A thick fog, like a milky tide, flooded every inch of the forest.
"HUFF... HUFF..."
The sound of heavy panting shattered the deathly silence of the forest.
Three figures dressed in the uniforms of the Demon-slaying Bureau were stumbling through the woods, running for their lives as they gasped for breath.
They were covered in wounds and bloodstains.
As they ran, the older Demon Slayer Envoy who was being supported suddenly stumbled and fell heavily to the ground.
"Brother Li!"
The two younger Demon Slayer Envoys cried out in alarm, stopping at once and rushing forward to help him up.
The man they called Brother Li had a deathly pale face. He glanced down at the mangled wound in his abdomen, which had nearly been pierced clean through. A bitter, hopeless smile twisted his lips as he pushed their hands away and shook his head.
"It’s no use... I can’t go on..."
"I’ll only slow you down. If we keep going like this, that Demon will catch up for sure. All three of us will die here."
He pulled the only two Talismans he had left from his robes and shoved them into their hands.
"We split up. These Talismans are for restoring Star Power. You two take them. Now go!"
"Brother Li, I’m not leaving you behind!"
One of the younger Demon Slayer Envoys’ eyes were red, his voice choked with emotion. "What do you mean, split up? You’re just trying to lure that Demon away for us!"
He was filled with regret.
’If I hadn’t been so reckless, so hungry for glory, Brother Li wouldn’t have been so gravely wounded by the Demon trying to save me.’
"Go!"
Brother Li shoved him away.
The force of the push made him cough up a mouthful of bloody froth.
He struggled to sit up, pressing his blade to his own neck, his eyes filled with grim resolve.
"Listen, Xiaquan, I’m just a burden anyway!
If you don’t leave, I’ll die right here in front of you. At least... at least one of us has to get out of here alive to warn the others."
His gaze swept over their two young, anguished faces. His voice suddenly softened, becoming a plea.
"My mother... someone has to look after her..."
"Now go!!"
The young man, Xiaquan, stared at the trickle of blood seeping from Brother Li’s neck, tears welling in his eyes.
His companion beside him clenched his jaw, his knuckles cracking as he squeezed his fists.
Finally, with an agonized stomp, they let out a low, grief-filled roar before turning and sprinting down the mountain.
Watching their figures disappear into the dense fog, Brother Li let out a long sigh and collapsed to the ground.
He glanced back at the misty forest behind him, a ruthless glint in his eyes.
Then, with trembling hands, he took out a vial of foul-smelling powder used for luring Demons. He pulled out the stopper and poured the entire contents over himself.
A pungent, fishy stench instantly filled the air.
He struggled to his feet and staggered away in the opposite direction, forcing himself into a desperate run.
He hadn’t gotten far, however, when a clear, childish voice suddenly rang out from behind him, tinged with mockery.
"HEE HEE..."
"Mister, you run so slow."
Hearing this voice, Brother Li froze as if struck by lightning, his face filled with despair.
But he didn’t stop. Instead, he gritted his teeth and burst forward with what little strength he had left, charging ahead with all his might!
The next moment, something tripped him. He fell with a THUD, getting a mouthful of dirt.
He scrambled up and turned to look.
A small boy, about seven or eight years old, emerged from the mist.
With his hands behind his back, the little boy skipped and hopped toward him on his tiptoes, looking utterly adorable.
If you ignored the yellow-and-black tail swaying leisurely behind him, that is.
Clearly, a Little Tiger Demon.
"Mister, why aren’t you running anymore?"
the little boy asked with a grin, revealing two small, sharp fangs. "Are you tired? Want to take a break?"
Brother Li gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on his blade as he stared coldly at the boy.
But the Little Tiger Demon was in no hurry to attack.
He suddenly turned, faced a large tree, and covered his eyes with two chubby little hands. He spoke in a high, childish voice.
"How about this, mister? I’ll give you one more chance."
"I’ll count to ten, and you run as far as you can. Then I’ll come find you."
"Let’s see if Xiaobao can catch you. How about it?"
"One... two..."
The little boy actually began to count.
Brother Li froze.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he struggled to his feet and dragged his broken body into the depths of the dense forest, staggering as he ran.
’This is my only chance.’
’Even if there’s only a one-in-a-million chance, I have to buy them more time!’
"Three... four... five..."
The Little Tiger Demon’s voice drifted after him, laced with a deadly chill.
Brother Li pushed himself to his limits, enduring the searing pain in his abdomen as he stumbled through the rugged forest.
Blood gushed from his wound, leaving a broken trail on the ground behind him.
His vision started to blur.
But he didn’t dare to stop. He couldn’t stop.
He didn’t know how far he ran. Perhaps a hundred meters, perhaps more.
As his wounds worsened and his Star Power was completely depleted, Brother Li could no longer hold on. His legs gave out, and he collapsed, utterly spent, gasping for air.
"Mister, is that all the farther you could run?"
"That was much worse than your last try."
The childish voice, filled with obvious disappointment, echoed from right above him.
Brother Li stiffened and looked up.
The little boy was perched on a branch right above him, resting his chin on his hands and looking down with a grin.
His large eyes glittered with a cruel light.
Brother Li summoned his last ounce of strength to grip his blade and gave a wretched laugh.
"You little animal... Don’t celebrate too soon! Sooner or later, you’ll die at the hands of the Demon-slaying Bureau!"
"Oh? Is that right?"
The Little Tiger Demon tilted his head, putting on a frightened expression. "Oh, Xiaobao is so scared."