Chapter 257: Demon-Scented Grass
Lu Hui was actually struck by him, something the Bald Monk never expected.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't understand why Lu Hui had suddenly stopped dodging halfway.
Could it be that he was overconfident and deliberately let this strike hit him?
But opportunities were rare. The Bald Monk hesitated for a moment, then snapped back and struck again, aiming for Lu Hui's lower body.
Pain erupted in Lu Hui's chest. Seeing the Bald Monk's tricky strike, a chill ran through him. He struggled to break free from the Water Prison Technique and dodged backward.
Yet, bound by the Water Prison Technique, he was half a step too slow—his thigh was still cut.
Furious, Lu Hui gritted his teeth and thrust his sword. Fast and fierce, it pierced the Bald Monk's right chest.
The Bald Monk's eyes gradually went blank as he collapsed to the ground.
Lu Hui, covered in his own blood, also fell slowly.
In the secluded forest, the two battled to the death, blood flowing freely, until they finally collapsed under each other's blades.
The scene perfectly matched the scenario Mo Hua had planned in advance.
Mo Hua nodded, clearly satisfied.
Zhang Lan, however, was stunned.
"What kind of technique is this? Where did this kid learn it?!"
It really was a trap capable of killing without leaving a trace…
Seeing Mo Hua so confident, he knew Mo Hua had a way to handle Lu Hui, but he didn't expect it to be so shocking.
A subtle technique, using another's hand to kill, effortlessly caused Lu Hui's demise.
The deaths of Lu Hui and the Bald Monk were perfectly reasonable, flawless even.
"Shall we go check?" Mo Hua asked.
Zhang Lan snapped back to reality and nodded but waited a moment, letting more of Lu Hui's blood flow before heading over with Mo Shan.
Mo Hua followed behind.
The three arrived at Lu Hui and the Bald Monk's side, carefully checking their vital signs, exchanging glances of regret.
The Bald Monk wasn't dead, Lu Hui's sword had struck his right chest, missing the heart, leaving him with a breath of life.
Lu Hui had lost too much blood and was temporarily unconscious, but his chest wound wasn't fatal, so he survived.
"Do bad guys really have such tough lives…" Mo Hua muttered.
What to do next?
After all, Lu Hui was a Dao Court Division officer, should they let him die?
Mo Shan and Mo Hua looked to Zhang Lan.
Zhang Lan sighed, "So tired."
Then he found a spot and sat down leisurely. "The scenery here isn't bad, let's rest a bit."
Mo Hua glanced around. The forest was remote, littered with deadwood and fallen leaves... scenery? Hardly.
Yet he nodded. "The scenery is indeed nice."
He plopped down as well, pulling out wine, meat, and snacks from his storage bag. The three ate together in good spirits.
Lu Hui lay bleeding beside them.
After a while, he didn't die. Not only was he alive, he slowly regained consciousness, murmuring painfully.
His right hand shakily retrieved a pill from his storage bag. After absorbing its power, the bleeding from his chest gradually stopped.
Mo Shan drew his sword, ready to finish him, but Zhang Lan restrained him.
"Don't dirty your hands," Zhang Lan said.
Lu Hui struggled to sit up. Seeing Zhang Lan and the others, his expression shifted, resentful that they hadn't helped, yet wary they might strike.
Zhang Lan feigned concern: "Head Enforcer Lu, are you alright?"
A faint smile tugged at Lu Hui's lips. "Thanks to Head Enforcer Zhang, I'm not dead… for now."
"That's good. I was worried about your injury," Zhang Lan said.
Lu Hui's smile was hollow. "Thanks for your concern, Head Enforcer Zhang."
But inwardly, he cursed, *Concern? You think I could have died?*
A poisonous glint flashed in Lu Hui's eyes.
He remembered this debt. He would settle it later.
Yet he dared not show his hatred, hiding it instead, lest he provoke Zhang Lan or Mo Shan and be silenced.
Lu Hui said, "I remember your favor. Once I meditate and recover a bit, shall we continue our journey back?"
Zhang Lan nodded, "Sounds good."
Lu Hui resumed meditating to heal his wounds.
Mo Shan and Zhang Lan bound the still-living Bald Monk with chains.
Mo Hua glanced at the Bald Monk, a hint of disdain on his face.
What a useless fellow, he couldn't even kill Lu Hui, wasting the perfect opportunity Mo Hua had provided.
Lu Hui had also been lucky, the strike hadn't hit a vital spot, so he survived.
Mo Hua, however, was in no rush. This was Great Black Mountain, the hunter's territory—also his territory.
Lu Hui would not leave alive.
Once Lu Hui recovered enough to move, they would set off, escorting the Bald Monk along the mountain path.
At a fork, Mo Hua quickened his pace and turned into a narrow path on the left.
Mo Shan's eyes flickered as he understood and followed.
Zhang Lan, unfamiliar with mountain paths, naturally followed Mo Hua.
Lu Hui, from Qingxuan City and ignorant of Great Black Mountain, cautiously followed, unaware anything was wrong.
The path was only narrower and more desolate, otherwise unremarkable.
Mist wasn't thick, nor was the miasma deep.
As they walked, Lu Hui suddenly smelled a pungent, bloody stench.
Looking around, he saw it came from a herb in Mo Hua's hand.
Lu Hui frowned. "Little brother, what's that herb?"
Mo Hua didn't hide it. "It's Demon-Scented Grass."
"For what use?"
Seeing Lu Hui didn't recognize it, Mo Hua explained: "The mountains are full of beasts. This herb's stench can repel them."
Lu Hui, not a hunter, thought it reasonable at first.
"Can I see it?"
"Sure."
Mo Hua handed it over readily.
Lu Hui examined it carefully—it seemed ordinary, untouched, nothing special aside from the strong stench.
Was this kid really just using it to repel beasts?
As he walked, he noticed Mo Hua and the others were already ten steps ahead.
Startled, he felt a chilling presence behind him.
Turning slowly, he saw two beasts emerge from the forest on either side.
One had red skin and fangs, drooling; the other had white fur and long horns, eyes glowing red.
Both fixed their gaze on him.
Lu Hui's heart froze. Suddenly, he understood.
Demon-Scented Grass, Demon-Scented Grass... the scent is foul.
Cultivators dislike it, but demons love it. How could it repel beasts?
It wasn't for repelling, it was to attract them!
And now, the Demon-Scented Grass was in his hands.
"Damn it! This little brat tricked me!"
Lu Hui flung the grass away, but it was too late. The beasts had already locked onto him and leapt.
Despite his injuries, he could no longer care.
He surged his spiritual energy, blood boiling, and ran with all his might.
If the beasts caught him, he would surely die today. Life and death mattered more than his wounds.
He pushed his body to its limits and pulled ahead, loosening the pressure from behind.
Just then, he saw Mo Hua glance back and smile.
"What's that brat smiling at?"
Lu Hui froze, then noticed Mo Hua's hand raised, palm clenched.
Mysterious, eerie spiritual energy suddenly condensed into water chains, instantly binding him!
In a flash, Lu Hui understood everything.
Why the Bald Monk, though fast, never escaped. Why he couldn't dodge that strike.
"This sneaky little brat?!"
He understood, but it was too late.
The Water Prison Technique had him locked tight.
Within moments, the beasts were upon him, jaws wide, fangs piercing his shoulder.
(End of Chapter)