Chapter 117: The Raid
Chapter 117: The Raid
Gu Mingde's command sent everyone into action, but they didn't rush out in a swarm. Instead, one group moved first, covering some distance before the next group followed, each taking cover as they advanced.
The lead group would pause periodically to observe their surroundings, especially at turns, leaving markers for those following behind.
Chen Chuan's group was the last to move, but by the time they did, the first group had already infiltrated the village.
Initially cautious, Chen Chuan's group was surprised to find the gate unguarded, and the villagers inside seemed oblivious to their presence.
As they ventured further, they discovered a large gathering of villagers in front of an ancient temple, all facing away and bowing. Among them was a shaman-like figure, banging his head on the ground while singing an eerie, elongated chant. Strangely, the drumbeats were created by the villagers banging their heads on the skin of the drum, creating a scene that was both absurd and eerie.
This fanatical atmosphere, however, made them oblivious to the intruders' presence.
The various clients were invigorated, silently praising Chen Chuan's judgment for choosing the perfect time to strike, making it convenient for their operation.
They nodded to each other and slowly spread out, each finding a suitable position. By the time the next group arrived, there were around twenty people, and they all drew their crossbows, firing at the villagers.
Based on the information from the previously raided Flying Head Sect stronghold, these villagers, immersed in the long-term influence of the Headless Demons, were beyond salvation. They would viciously attack anyone they encountered, except for members of the Flying Head Sect. Therefore, this operation required a ruthless approach.
The villagers at the back were shot down one by one, and those at the front finally realized something was wrong. They turned around, their eyes bloodshot, and charged towards the intruders with furious roars.
But their efforts were futile. As more clients arrived, they spread out in an arc, no longer concerned about making noise. They began firing their pistols.
Others at the rear held rifles and nets, prepared for any flying heads that might appear. The village echoed with gunfire.
Despite taking down all the visible believers, not a single flying head had appeared. The clients immediately moved in to finish off the fallen, and two of them approached the entrance of the ancient temple to take a look. However, as they did so, they suddenly froze and then collapsed.
Their teammates at the back were startled and about to rush forward when someone grabbed them, urgently saying, "Don't go up there!"
But within moments, they were horrified to see their fallen teammates rise again, their eyes now bloodshot like the villagers. They drew daggers from their waists and lunged forward.
Fortunately, their attacks were chaotic and easily subdued. Still, they struggled fiercely, shouting and yelling incessantly.
Witnessing this, everyone's expressions changed slightly. Even though they knew the situation wasn't dire, they didn't want to end up like that.
A team leader spoke up, "Let's retreat. We'll wait for Expert Chen to handle the situation inside." The others agreed and withdrew a considerable distance.
By now, Chen Chuan and Gu Mingde's group had entered the village. Gu Mingde was surprised to see how easily his team had breached the village, even without using the smoke grenades they had prepared. "Not a single guard left behind?" he wondered aloud.
Chen Chuan thought it was normal; such urban legends that could cloud one's judgment rarely followed logical patterns. Absolute loyalty was rare, and those who dared not worship during the skull worship ritual were likely already fed to the flying heads.
Chen Chuan surveyed the scene; about seventy to eighty people lay on the ground, mostly middle-aged men. There were no women, children, or elders in sight, which was unusual for a village. Recalling the flying heads they had seen earlier, he shook his head.
Just then, a client rushed over to inform Gu Mingde about the situation ahead.
Gu Mingde's expression turned serious. He turned to Chen Chuan and asked, "Expert Chen, what do you think?"
Chen Chuan replied, "Leave the rest to me. There might be more flying head demons inside, and if they fly out, I might not be able to stop them all. Captain Gu, you all need to be careful."
Gu Mingde assured him, "We can handle anything our weapons can deal with."
Chen Chuan acknowledged this. Facing ordinary flying heads while maintaining one's sanity wasn't difficult. "By the way, Captain Gu, could I borrow a few more guns?"
Without hesitation, Gu Mingde handed over his unused pistol. He then signaled to his assistant, Pan Zhonghe, and another client behind him to do the same. They passed their pistols to Chen Chuan, who attached them to his camouflage cloak's waistband.
As Chen Chuan was about to enter the temple, Gu Mingde called out to him. He took out a capsule board from his pocket and handed it to Chen Chuan, saying, "Expert Chen, take this with you."
Chen Chuan recognized the capsules as "Calming Pills," formulated based on the advice of the government hall's consultants. When placed under the tongue, they could effectively stabilize one's mind, and swallowing them in critical moments could help maintain composure.
While these pills were useful against one or two flying heads, as proven before, their effectiveness against a group of flying heads and their root cause might be limited. Nonetheless, Chen Chuan accepted them with gratitude.
Gu Mingde's expression turned solemn. "Expert Chen, be careful. If things go wrong, please retreat and we'll devise another plan."
"Chen Chuan nodded, "Handling the Headless Demons might take more than a day. I may come out to retrieve the offerings before each sacrifice."
Gu Mingde had already been briefed on some necessary conditions by Chen Chuan, and he solemnly said, "Expert Chen, we will definitely have everything prepared."
Chen Chuan drew the Snow Lady Sword from its sheath and walked towards the entrance of the ancient temple. As he approached, the 'Second Self' exhibited faint signs of transmutation, not as intense as imagined, similar to the experience at the mountain's base.
He took out the piece of yellow jade that Cheng Zitong had given him and examined it. The edges showed signs of darkening, indicating that it had indeed deflected some of the damage.
Chen Chuan put the jade away and proceeded inside.
Gu Mingde and the others watched as Chen Chuan's figure gradually disappeared into the shadows, their expressions turning solemn. The Headless Demons couldn't be defeated by sheer numbers; it was up to the expert to handle the situation.
Inside, Chen Chuan found a narrow passage carved into the mountain wall, with cracked stone slabs underfoot and lamp racks nailed to the walls.
After walking about seven or eight meters, he saw about six people standing in two rows, shoulder to shoulder, prostrating themselves and constantly bowing towards the interior. They mumbled incoherently, seemingly unaware of the events outside.
But as Chen Chuan entered, it was as if he triggered something. They sprang up, roaring with anger and cursing indistinctly.
Chen Chuan held his sword in front of him, blocking the entire passage, and pushed the men forward.
They scrambled to move ahead, but their efforts were uncoordinated. The man in front had too short a reach to touch Chen Chuan, so he was pushed back, stumbling and staggering towards the rear.
After walking about three or four meters, they entered the main hall of the ancient temple. Chen Chuan exerted a gentle force, and with a burst of power, the men flew out in a fan shape, falling to the ground unable to get up. They appeared unharmed on the surface, but their internal organs and bones were completely shattered, rendering them powerless.
At that moment, Chen Chuan looked up and saw a spacious dome-shaped structure, likely a natural cave modified with human intervention. However, it was riddled with holes, and the ground had several pools of foul-smelling stagnant water.
At the top, there were several large holes, through which sunlight streamed in. The Headless Demons must have flown out from there.
In front, where a statue should have been, a large curtain hung from above, and within it, a vague shadow could be seen. The Headless Demons that had been there were now flying around the hall, with one or two occasionally swooping by.
On the altar in front, there were piles of what seemed to be pig and sheep parts, as well as suspected human limbs. Numerous Headless Demons crowded together, devouring the offerings and jostling each other. Bloodied, seemingly disconnected internal organs hung from the edges.
At this sight, Chen Chuan's eyes turned cold, and he immediately drew his Wu Yi Pistol and started shooting at the Headless Demons. The demons were startled and began to fly around frantically.
He emptied the magazine in one breath, then took out the pistols given to him by Gu Mingde and the others. He fired continuously, emptying all four guns. Six Headless Demons had fallen to the ground by the time he finished.
Just then, as if sensing the cessation of gunfire, the remaining Headless Demons rushed towards him.
Chen Chuan took a deep breath, put away his pistol, and waited until the Headless Demons were almost upon him, about to conceal his figure. Suddenly, a bright sword light flashed, followed by a series of sounds of the sword slicing through decaying skin and bones!
When the light faded, Chen Chuan maintained his sword-lifting stance, and the Headless Demons surrounding him had fallen to the ground. One of them seemed to be startled and turned back, but before it could go far, it suddenly veered and fell to the ground, splitting into two halves with only a small piece of skin and bone remaining at the top.
At this moment, Chen Chuan noticed that the transmutation of the 'Second Self' seemed to have deepened slightly, but it wasn't too serious. The yellow jade must have played its part.
However, it seemed that two ordinary Headless Demons had escaped, but their number was small, and Gu Mingde and the others should be able to handle them.
Chen Chuan glanced at the curtain ahead, reloaded his Wu Yi Pistol, and advanced with his sword.
Outside, the commission members were prepared. Hearing strange shrieks coming from within, they knew Headless Demons might have emerged.
Dozens of guns and bows aimed at the temple's entrance. Soon, two black dots flew out, and without hesitation, a barrage of gunshots erupted. The Headless Demons, unable to dodge, were shredded as soon as they reached the outside, leaving pits on the nearby walls. By the time they hit the ground, it was hard to tell what they were.
Gu Mingde took a look. The Headless Demons had escaped from within, which was good news, indicating Chen Chuan's progress was going smoothly.
Inside the ancient temple, Chen Chuan slowly approached the curtain. He heard the sound of chewing and carefully extended his sword, lifting the curtain. The Headless Demon inside stopped chewing and turned to look at him.
As Chen Chuan's gaze focused, he noticed something unexpected.
All the Headless Demons he had encountered so far had been terrifying in appearance, clearly monsters. But this Headless Demon was a woman with a charming face, her eyebrows painted, red lips, and fluttering eyes. Her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall onto the altar. Upon seeing Chen Chuan, her eyes, like autumn waters, turned towards him.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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