Chapter 582: Chu Mo Island (47)
Chapter 582: Chu Mo Island (47)
In the darkness, Hong Hu waited anxiously.
From his vantage point, Tian Ma Xing Kong, Feng Bu Jue, and Young Noble Jibu were all standing directly beneath the hanging corpse, flashlights raised and unmoving.
Clearly, Feng Bu Jue’s suspicion had been correct again. This monster indeed possessed some form of area-wide control skill.
Thankfully, Hong Hu hadn’t joined them. Otherwise… they might have all been wiped out.
Time ticked by, and all the pressure now fell squarely on Hong Hu’s shoulders.
Suddenly, a system prompt echoed in his ears: [Team Member: Young Noble Jibu, deceased].
Almost simultaneously with the announcement, Young Noble Jibu’s figure dissolved into a beam of white light and vanished.
"Tch… Guess it’s time to improvise", Hong Hu muttered, sweeping his flashlight beam across the area.
Left alone in this vulnerable situation, he himself was now in grave danger. Who knew what other threats lurked in the darkness around him… He needed to check his surroundings first before launching any operation.
"Well… might as well test an attack." Steadying himself, Hong Hu placed his flashlight on the ground and drew his weapon, nocking an arrow to his bowstring.
After a brief aim, a Luminous Arrow flew forward.
Hong Hu’s shooting proficiency had reached A-rank standards, and he was using a bow-type weapon (superior in precision to firearms). At this range, hitting a stationary target was guaranteed.
A second later, the arrow zipped through the air and struck the corpse’s chest.
But… the arrow didn’t embed. Instead, it passed straight through the corpse’s body.
"Phantom?" Hong Hu’s eyes widened in mild shock. Only a moment later, he deduced aloud.
His reasoning was sound. There were only three possible explanations—physical forms, spirit entities, or illusions. Luminous Arrows worked on the first two, so what remained was clear. The corpse was merely an illusion.
"Tch, playing tricks like this?" Hong Hu snorted, swiftly drawing another arrow and aiming upward at the rope suspending the corpse.
Whoosh—another shot flew. This time, the Luminous Arrow struck true.
With just a faint graze, the rope snapped. As it fell, the corpse dangling from it vanished instantly.
At that exact moment, Tian Ma Xing Kong suddenly recoiled backward with a tremble, spouting garbled curses mid-leap. Upon landing, he instinctively assumed a combat stance, scanning his surroundings nervously.
"Oh? Freed?" Feng Bu Jue, surprisingly calm, turned to face Brother Horse and Hong Hu in the distance, then glanced at his game menu. "Hmm… Jibu’s gone."
"Wh-what just happened…?" Tian Ma Xing Kong, still pale and shaken, stammered as he looked at Feng Bu Jue.
"Relax. All illusions", Feng Bu Jue replied casually, then called out to Hong Hu. "Hong Hu, we’re clear!"
"Hold on!" Hong Hu didn’t rush to believe. Remaining rooted in place, he shouted back, "Are you sure?"
His caution was warranted. What if this scene itself was another trap?
"Well…", Feng Bu Jue began, turning to glance at the broken rope above, "can’t say I’m certain…"
Before he finished, Feng Bu Jue suddenly leapt upward, seizing the swaying rope in a flash of motion. With a forceful yank downward…
"Ahh—!" A sudden death cry erupted from above. Though brief, Tian Ma Xing Kong immediately recognized the voice—it belonged to the very same creature hanging from the rope.
Startled, Brother Horse swept his flashlight upward.
Earlier, the rope had been tied to a protruding crystal above. But now, under artificial light, they could see an eerie creature clinging to the crystal’s edge. The "rope" was, in fact, extending from the creature’s mouth.
"Yaaah! Stop pulling already! Let go!" The creature’s voice, once ominous, now sounded oddly cordial.
"Fine", Feng Bu Jue replied, "you come down first."
"No way! You’ve got ill intentions!" it shot back.
"Come down", Feng Bu Jue repeated, "I promise not to kill you."
"You expect me to believe that?!" the creature screeched. "You’re a madman! (Though its speech slurred as the "rope" was yanked)"
"I’m not a madman…" Feng Bu Jue stated flatly, then abruptly grinned. Gripping the "rope" with both hands, he began swinging wildly. "I’m… Tarzan! Aaah—aaah~aaah~aaah!"
Mimicking the iconic Tarzan roar from the animated adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic, Feng Bu Jue swung through the air.
The strange creature on the crystal mirrored his howls in pitch-perfect despair.
The spectacle left Tian Ma Xing Kong and Hong Hu momentarily speechless. But Hong Hu quickly regained composure, striding forward. Feng Bu Jue’s antics at least confirmed one thing—the danger had passed.
Eventually, the creature relented. If it hadn’t, its "tongue" would’ve been torn out entirely.
"Let me introduce—this is Fear’s Heart, one of Chu Mo Island’s four guardians", Feng Bu Jue announced, gesturing to the strange creature sprawled on the ground.
Far from the expected heart-shaped form, the entity resembled a pitch-black, two-meter-long lizard.
"Did this thing kill Jibu?" Hong Hu asked, frowning.
"Not exactly", Feng Bu Jue clarified. "Jibu was expelled due to Terror Value overload. In other words… scared out of the scenario."
"Oh… so those illusions were its doing?" Brother Horse added belatedly.
Fear’s Heart rolled on the ground, glaring at Feng Bu Jue. "You mind letting go of my SE-head?"
"Of course", Feng Bu Jue immediately released the "rope", smirking. "See? I keep my word."
"Is that right? So you are a person?" Fear’s Heart hissed sarcastically, retracting its tongue. "Then I’d recommend seeing a psychologist."
"Already did. Several top psychologists and neurologists held a joint consultation", Feng Bu Jue replied.
Fear’s Heart lowered its voice. "So… you’re still recovering?"
"No. Healing ended long ago", Feng Bu Jue shrugged.
"Then why stop treatment?"
"Because after some time, those psychologists and neurologists became patients themselves."
"Excuse me for interrupting this divine conversation…" Hong Hu interjected, clearly exasperated, "but could someone explain what just happened?"
"Why explain?" Fear’s Heart retorted. "I was hunting like usual, set a bait-hunting trap, and then you showed up."
"Oh… so you ambushed us and killed one of our party", Hong Hu summarized. "And now… you’re in our hands."
"Yep."
"Admirable frankness", Hong Hu muttered, squinting.
"Alright! Since you’re admitting guilt—" After several minutes, Tian Ma Xing Kong had largely shaken off his fear, regaining his composure. Stepping forward, he jabbed a finger at the lizard-like creature. "You scared me half to death earlier! Good thing I’ve got nerves of steel. Now it’s my turn! Feel the wrath of a hero—"
"Rein it in", Feng Bu Jue stepped forward, blocking his path. "Killing it won’t revive Jibu. Besides… it wasn’t scaring you—it was you scaring yourself."
“Huh?” Tian Ma Xing Kong blinked in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Let me explain,” Fear’s Heart interjected. “Earlier, when you approached, I activated my ability—‘Source of Trembling.’ Everything you saw, heard, felt… it all stemmed from your imagination.” It shuffled its flattened body, pacing back and forth. “Take this for example… When you neared the ‘bait’ I laid out, you fixated on its face. That’s when your mind started conjuring up scenes—what might happen next, what twists could occur. Of course, those were just triggers. The real horror? Things you’d never dare imagine… Things buried deep in your subconscious. That’s what Source of Trembling feeds on.”
Fear’s Heart lifted its head, fixing its gaze on Brother Horse. “You’re lucky. Your subconscious holds limited memories of horror, so your imagination’s limited. That’s why you survived. Hehe… But that other kid? Different story entirely.”
“Bottom line,” Feng Bu Jue chimed in, “Jibu’s seen way more horror films and novels than you. His mind brews far richer terror scenarios.”
“So what if that’s how it works? You’re the one who used your ability on us!” Tian Ma Xing Kong snapped at Fear’s Heart.
“Pfft… I didn’t force you to walk into my range. You could’ve gone around or turned back,” Fear’s Heart retorted. “You walked into the trap yourself. Who else can you blame?”
“Wait, so according to you, we deserved this?” Tian Ma Xing Kong shot back.
“Calm down,” Feng Bu Jue interjected soothingly. “Actually… we do share some blame.” His voice softened, coaxing calm. “This place is a hotspot for party wipes. The system warned us beforehand through the plot.”
He paused, then recited, “‘If you encounter Fear’s Heart, flee immediately. Humans can’t contend with it.’” Shrugging, he added, “At first, I wondered—could we even escape if it used its ability? If so, why play Rock-Paper-Scissors Domain with Imprint Hand? Now I get it. The message was clear: don’t walk into the trap willingly.”
“So we just let it go?” Tian Ma Xing Kong asked, still uneasy.
“Ah, young hero,” Feng Bu Jue sighed, lecturing like a mentor. “Learn mercy. Take Master Kwan’s Wong Fei-Hung series—true heroism means sparing foes who repent. One ‘Master Wong, I repent’ and they’re free.”
“I’m not wrong,” Fear’s Heart interrupted. “Even if I killed you all, it’s within my duty and authority.”
Silence fell.
Hong Hu and Tian Ma Xing Kong suddenly fixed Fear’s Heart with pitying stares.
“W-what are you looking at me like that for?” The lizard shuddered.
“Hehe…” Feng Bu Jue curled one corner of his mouth into a sinister smirk, fixing Fear’s Heart with an icy stare…
…
Fifteen minutes later.
“Hmph… ‘No-zuo-no-die’—the truth,” Tian Ma Xing Kong muttered, chewing a strip of “lizard” meat.
“Expected a treacherous monster, but he was so straightforward,” Hong Hu mused, nibbling roasted meat. “So pitiful.”
“Talk with your mouth full, you lose dignity,” Feng Bu Jue quipped, biting into a juicy strip.
The trio now roasted Fear’s Heart’s corpse over a fire, their makeshift grill sizzling.
It had been two and a half hours since their last meal. Feng Bu Jue insisted on refueling every 90 minutes—maintaining stamina consumption rates within normal parameters.
Worth noting: Before killing Fear’s Heart, Feng Bu Jue had pretended reluctance, negotiating with it.
To summarize: He used “you killed our comrade” as leverage, wheedling directions to the “Despair Cage.”
Once they had the info? They struck. Kill, chop, roast—add blood-drinking bonus, skip the details.
In short, after sacrificing one teammate, the main quest finally had a lead.
The trio rested briefly—full bellies, replenished blood. Off they went again.
Their stop was short. Nightfall loomed, and defeating Fear’s Heart had cost little stamina.
Feng Bu Jue’s analysis at the Priest Hall proved spot-on: Imitation Soul was indeed the strongest of the Four Guardians. The others? Joke level. Though each Guardian had one absurd ability (Imprint Hand’s Rock-Paper-Scissors Domain, Imitation Soul’s mimetic transformation, Fear’s Heart’s Source of Trembling), Imitation Soul’s innate race ability reigned supreme.
“Ahhh!” Minutes into their journey, Tian Ma Xing Kong suddenly gasped. “I almost forgot—how did you survive Source of Trembling?”
“Drama queen… That’s what you’re asking?” Feng Bu Jue replied flatly.
“I’m curious too,” Hong Hu added. “You’re a horror encyclopedia, with an imagination to match. Facing your own nightmares, even I’d bow out.” His expression darkened. “You should’ve been the least likely to survive.”
“Oh? That’s your take?” Feng Bu Jue’s tone remained deadpan.
Hong Hu pressed, “Why did Fear’s Heart call you a madman? From your dialogue, you two conversed extensively in the illusion.”
“Heh… Not a big deal,” Feng Bu Jue began, buying two seconds to craft a half-truth. “When facing anomalies, I don’t panic—I analyze. This reflex is ingrained. Even when fear’s planted, as long as I stay rational, I resist.”
He tapped his temple. “Example: You wake up, brush teeth, turn on the faucet—blood flows out.”
“Can you pick a less gross example?” Tian Ma Xing Kong grimaced.
“Fine, blood,” Feng Bu Jue conceded. “What do you do?”
“Rationally assess the situation,” Hong Hu mused. “Tell yourself it’s a dream, then wake up. If stuck? Use the blood to brush teeth—hallucinations are hallucinations.”
Feng Bu Jue smiled faintly. “Wrong.”
“Huh?” Hong Hu blinked.
“You overthink,” Feng Bu Jue laughed. “My instincts react instantly.”
“What’s your reaction?”
“Turn off the faucet.”
Hong Hu and Tian Ma Xing Kong fell into thoughtful silence.
(End of Chapter)
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