The commotion behind her was considerable. Xiong Jiaojiao glanced back, her face instantly turning pale.
’I can’t believe they found us so quickly. What am I going to do...?’
The man on her shoulders kept his eyes shut tight, showing no sign of waking.
"Hey! If you don’t wake up, we’re both finished!"
’I know there’s no chance to escape, but I can’t stop. What if... what if we actually get away?’
"Still trying to run? You just don’t know what’s good for you!"
Number Two reverted to his beast form. With a casual sweep of his long snake tail, he sent Xiong Jiaojiao and the man she carried flying.
The force was overwhelming. Xiong Jiaojiao’s insides churned, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Xiong Xianhui was flung to the side. He seemed to be in better shape, but still grunted in pain.
"You bitch. Tricking us again and again, making fools of us... you’ve got some nerve."
"Tell me, how should I punish you?"
The black snake tail coiled gently, pulling her close. Then, the tail tightened abruptly, and Xiong Jiaojiao felt a crushing pressure.
In that moment, the fear of death enveloped her. Despair flooded her heart like a raging river, threatening to drown her.
’I don’t want to die, but I really, really don’t want to go back there.’
’Not only did they abuse me in... *that way*... they also forced me to eat the flesh of my own kind and help them capture other Beastmen.’
’Even... my Beast Father and Beast Mother...’
’Hate! I hate them!’
’I want to butcher them with my own hands and watch them die in agony!’
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. The hatred in Xiong Jiaojiao’s eyes was so tangible it pricked at Number Two.
This only made him angrier. Reverting to his humanoid form, he slapped her viciously across the face. "Hate? You think you have the right to hate? Females belong under our boots. How dare you resist? Once we find a female who can bear cubs, you..."
Number Two’s gaze turned chillingly cold, his unspoken threat perfectly clear.
’That’s when they’ll kill me.’
"Heh. Do you know why you all have so much trouble bearing cubs?"
After spitting on Number Two’s face, Xiong Jiaojiao added, "This is the Beast God punishing you! For all the things you’ve done against his laws... you deserve this!"
"You!!"
Number Two trembled with anger, wanting nothing more than to tear this female to shreds immediately.
"She’s the only female we have. If you kill her, who’s going to bear cubs? Or are you saying you can?"
Seeing Number Two was about to lose control and strangle the life out of her, Number Three leisurely chimed in with a reminder.
He knew that, of course, but Number Three’s words were a blatant show of disrespect.
His face turned livid. Though furious, he loosened his grip.
"I’m not interested in how you punish her. As long as she doesn’t die, do whatever you want."
"As for that Bear Clan Beastman, he’ll probably wake up soon. If we don’t deal with him now, when will we?"
Number Three’s eyes were filled with greed as he looked at Xiong Xianhui. As soon as he finished speaking, he walked toward him.
’Where should I take the first bite?’ he wondered, sizing up the man’s frame.
"You two screwed up this time, so I’ll take the first bite. No objections, right?" Number Three said without raising his head, his eyes fixed on Xiong Xianhui.
The leader frowned, a little displeased, but didn’t refute him. "No objections."
The others simply stared at the ground, minding their own business. They would be the last to eat anyway, so they couldn’t care less who went first.
"No objections."
Number Two replied distractedly, his hands gripping Xiong Jiaojiao tightly. "I’m going to teach this little bitch a lesson first. You guys go ahead and eat."
Everyone knew exactly what "a lesson" implied.
They all shared a malicious grin as they watched the two leave.
Xiong Jiaojiao’s face was even paler than before, her hands and feet ice-cold with fear.
She began to struggle desperately, her hands beating at him. "You disgusting thing, don’t touch me!"
"AH! No, no, don’t come near me."
"I-I was wrong! Please, let me go..."
Her pleas for mercy gradually faded into the distance, leaving the others feeling somewhat disappointed.
Chu Liangyu took in the entire scene. She glanced at Xiong Xianhui, who was not in any immediate life-threatening danger.
She stealthily followed in Number Two’s direction. It wasn’t until they were far from the group that Number Two finally stopped.
He threw her hard onto the ground, and with a single motion, tore her clothes open.
"Heh, weren’t you so brave just now? Why are you so scared now?"
"I was wrong, please spare me."
Biting her lip, Xiong Jiaojiao begged for mercy, trembling.
But her weakness only made her enemy more excited, his actions more vicious!
Pinning her down tightly, Number Two bit down on her shoulder. His sharp fangs pierced her skin, injecting a small amount of venom into her body.
It wasn’t fatal, but it would make her feel as if countless ants were devouring her, causing excruciating pain.
"AHH!"
The shrill scream could pierce eardrums, a testament to the victim’s agony.
Chu Liangyu’s brow furrowed tightly. Taking advantage of Number Two’s divided attention, she rapidly closed in on him.
The bronze short knife glinted coldly in the sunlight. Chu Liangyu focused her strength into her wrist and stabbed straight into Number Two’s back.
It all happened so fast that Number Two didn’t even have time to react.
A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He slowly turned his head, wanting to see who it was.
But Chu Liangyu used this moment to land several more blows, each one deep enough to reveal bone, each one exceptionally vicious.
Number Two’s back was now like a sieve, blood gushing out unstoppably.
He reverted to his beast form, his tail whipping viciously toward Chu Liangyu.
But due to his injuries, his movements were a fraction slower, and Chu Liangyu easily dodged it.
The trees weren’t so lucky, however. They were knocked to the ground one after another.
Dust rose from the ground, blurring Chu Liangyu’s figure.
This made Number Two feel uneasy, and he attacked Chu Liangyu again.
Chu Liangyu leaped onto a fallen tree, using it to launch herself onto the giant black snake’s body.
Her target was clear, and she went straight for its weak spot!
The snake’s pupils contracted violently. It spat out a mouthful of venom, trying to stop Chu Liangyu’s approach.
But Chu Liangyu only paused for a moment to dodge the venom before rushing at him even faster.
The short knife was gripped tightly in her hand. She decisively and cleanly stabbed down at the black snake’s weak spot!
The next instant, the black snake collapsed, its breathing stopped.
Chu Liangyu’s hands, still holding the knife, trembled slightly. This was her first battle.
’I’m not scared... I’m actually excited.’
’Is this what it feels like to have real power?’
She held her hand up before her eyes, looking at it for a moment. The corner of her mouth unconsciously curled into a faint smile, revealing a joy that came from within.
Hiding in the bushes, Xiong Jiaojiao was dumbfounded. She had never seen such a powerful female.
’She actually killed that black snake!’
’Aren’t females supposed to be weak?’
’How can she be so strong?’ Xiong Jiaojiao couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration for Chu Liangyu.
She walked out from the bushes, raised her head, and stared fixedly at the aura this female radiated.
"You’re so amazing!"
The words of praise tumbled out of her mouth. Xiong Jiaojiao was stunned for a moment before realizing what she had just said.
Chu Liangyu was busy smearing blood on her own face. Hearing her words, she glanced back at her.
Then she messed up her hair a bit more before finally jumping down from the black snake’s body.
"Find a safe place to hide. I still have things to do, so I’m leaving."
Xiong Jiaojiao looked completely bewildered, not understanding what Chu Liangyu was doing.
Chu Liangyu, however, paid her no more mind. But before leaving, she glanced at the black snake’s corpse, a trace of regret in her eyes.
’If there weren’t other people around, it would be nice to exchange this for a system reward.’