C17 Goldfin Louse

Wu Renfan furrowed his brow. "Why do you need to open the backpack?"

No sooner had he spoken than a rustling sound emerged from outside.

Light pierced the dense fog, and faintly, the sound of someone shouting reached their ears.

"Students, students, where are you?"

Wu Renfan had barely opened his mouth when Luo Yan pressed the barrel of his gun against his temple, then slowly shook his head.

The trio held their breath.

Around the tree hollow, the occasional rustling could be heard.

It seemed as though a search party had circled them several times.

Eventually, the lights and voices faded into the fog.

Wu Renfan finally spoke up. "What if it really was a search team outside?"

Luo Yan, with a stone-faced expression, replied, "Once the fog clears, we can head back and get rescued all the same."

His unspoken message was clear.

He wasn't willing to take any risks.

Luo Yan, gun still trained on Wu Renfan, commanded, "Open the backpack."

He was done with small talk.

Wu Renfan gave a nonchalant shrug, took off his backpack, and opened it.

Luo Yan turned to Zeng Shan. "Empty everything out."

Zeng Shan complied without hesitation.

With a clatter, the contents of the backpack spilled out: a magazine, some medicine, and freshly gathered herbs—nothing out of the ordinary.

Luo Yan's gaze shifted to Zeng Shan, who caught on and emptied his own backpack in turn.

His items were much like Wu Renfan's.

"See, Captain, maybe you're just on edge," Wu Renfan remarked.

"You don't really think we lured that giant beast here, do you?"

"Why would we sabotage ourselves?"

Luo Yan gave him a sidelong glance.

He suddenly remembered Wu Renfan visiting his tent the previous night.

He had checked everything afterward, including the backpack, and found nothing amiss.

But then it hit him.

He had missed something.

Without another word, Luo Yan tossed his backpack to the ground and crouched down.

He drew his combat knife and slashed open the backpack.

Wu Renfan jumped, startled.

His eyes darted around as he stealthily edged toward the exit.

That's when Luo Yan noticed something.

As the blade sliced through the backpack, a hidden compartment was revealed.

Something dropped to the ground.

It was a plant.

A green shrub, shaped like a phoenix's tail.

Wu Renfan and Zeng Shan both gasped, "Phoenix Tail Flower?"

Luo Yan turned to Wu Renfan.

Wu Renfan's face paled.

He made a move to dash out of the tree hollow.

Whoosh!

A flash of the blade.

Luo Yan's military knife plunged into Wu Renfan's thigh.

Wu Renfan collapsed, about to scream, but Luo Yan quickly covered his mouth.

Zeng Shan looked on, bewildered, clueless about what had just transpired.

Luo Yan's voice was icy, "Did you enter my tent last night just to plant the Phoenix Tail Flower in my pack?"

"No, no, no," Wu Renfan stammered, "Captain, hear me out."

"I had no idea the Phoenix Tail Flower was in there."

"It was Ren Zhong. He handed me this pack to swap out yours."

"But I swear I didn't know he hid the Phoenix Tail Flower in it."

"He offered me some perks, but I wouldn't risk my life for such trifles."

"If I'd known about the Phoenix Tail Flower in the pack, I'd never have agreed to his plan, even under threat."

Ren Zhong, the fair-faced young man in Lo Beichen's company, was clearly behind this.

It was obvious.

Lo Beichen must have orchestrated this scheme.

Such cunning—planning to eliminate me before the Death Arena!

Luo Yan remained silent after hearing Wu Renfan's plea.

Zeng Shan, however, stormed over, seething, "Wu Renfan, you're both foolish and malicious!"

Without further ado, Luo Yan instructed Zeng Shan, "Come with me."

He withdrew his knife, and Wu Renfan's thigh gushed blood, the pain so intense he writhed on the ground.

Luo Yan, knife in hand, emerged from the tree hollow.

Zeng Shan cast a final glance at Wu Renfan and followed suit.

The mist and illusions were no match for Luo Yan's Illusion Breaking Eye.

He could navigate Zeng Shan safely back to camp.

But Wu Renfan was not so fortunate.

In the fog, he was as good as blind, especially now with an injured leg.

Watching Luo Yan and Zeng Shan depart, he was overcome with panic.

Fearing the approach of the beast, massive and cat-like, Wu Renfan urgently whispered from the tree hollow, "Captain, this really isn't my fault. I'm a victim too."

"Captain, just don't leave me behind."

"From now on, I'll follow your lead."

"Lo Beichen clearly intends to take me out as well."

"He's shown no kindness, so I owe him no loyalty."

"There's nothing more to discuss."

"If you're planning to take on Lo Beichen, count me in."

However, the sound of Luo Yan's footsteps, along with his companion's, didn't cease; they hastened away instead.

"Don't leave me behind."

"Don't leave me behind!"

In a panic and completely overwhelmed, Wu Renfan clutched his thigh.

He clumsily made his way out of the tree hollow and into the dense fog.

Within the murkiness.

Zeng Shan could hardly make out Luo Yan's silhouette.

He had no choice but to follow the sound of his footsteps.

But suddenly.

The footsteps of Luo Yan vanished.

Just as Zeng Shan was about to call out,

He heard Luo Yan's voice ahead, "We've got trouble."

The words had barely left his mouth when,

In the silent woods, amidst the dense fog,

A peculiar noise began to echo.

Hiss hiss...

The sound, similar in nature, emerged sporadically from all around.

In a hushed tone, Zeng Shan inquired, "What's that?"

"Goldfin Louse..."

"The parasite that lives on its host."

"It was moving around here a short while ago. Though it's gone now, it left behind quite a few parasites."

Luo Yan explained with a calm demeanor.

At that moment, within his line of sight,

Several insect-shaped grey glows dotted the forest.

Luo Yan's mind went over the details of the 'Goldfin Louse'.

The Goldfin Louse, a winged creature, was a unique parasite found on its host.

Its wings were as tough as iron, incredibly sharp.

It communicated by rhythmically rubbing its hind leg joints against its wings.

Though capable of flight, it preferred to stay close to the ground.

Its speed was moderate.

Besides feeding on blood, it was known to spread various diseases, including the 'Scarlet Poison'.

As Luo Yan reviewed what he knew,

He searched for an escape plan.

Regrettably, as far as the eye could see, Goldfin Lice swarmed in every direction, leaving no gaps to exploit. Just then, a burst of gray light shot out from the grass to Luo Yan's left. A Goldfin Louse! Luo Yan rolled to the side, raised his rifle, and took aim.

Ratatat!

The rifle belched flames, and a stream of bullets tore the dog-sized parasite to shreds. However, the gunfire drew the attention of other Goldfin Lice. They communicated with a series of hissing sounds and began converging on Luo Yan and Zeng Shan's location.

Scanning the area, Luo Yan spotted a potential refuge. Amidst a chaotic heap of stones stood a massive boulder, towering seven or eight meters high with a fissure running through its center—214 centimeters high, 107 centimeters wide, and over five meters deep. It seemed just wide enough for one person to navigate.

"Follow me," Luo Yan commanded, darting toward the boulder. He planned to use the narrow space to reduce the number of Goldfin Lice they would have to face. Zeng Shan quickly kept pace.

Meanwhile, Wu Renfan was lost in the thick fog, unable to discern any shapes or figures. In desperation, he yelled, "Luo Yan, Zeng Shan, where are you?"

Suddenly, a buzzing noise filled the air above him. Something landed on his head, followed by a sharp pain, and then Wu Renfan heard a loud 'glug' sound. It was eerily reminiscent of the noise he made while sipping a drink through a straw, but this time, it was a Goldfin Louse draining his blood and brain matter.

Amidst the haze, Zeng Shan heard the agonizing and despairing screams of Wu Renfan echoing from behind.