C22 Hu Ren's Change

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, a group of seven or eight soldiers stood vigilantly outside the gates of Wreah, scrutinizing the travelers coming and going.

"Huh? That man approaching seems somewhat out of the ordinary," Xi Jianwei remarked, having spotted a middle-aged man hastening toward the gate with a young master on his back.

The man was splattered with blood and armed, suggesting he was no friend of peace.

Alerted by Xi Jianwei, the other guards tensed, their hands instinctively going to the hilts of their swords.

"Identify yourself!"

"Please, sirs, do not be alarmed. The young master I carry is the son of the Magistrate. We were ambushed by bandits and barely escaped with our lives," called out Zhang Binchao. He had initially intended to flee back to the city alone but, fearing repercussions from Magistrate Hu, he had stealthily returned to assess the situation.

Fortuitously, he encountered Hu Cheng en route, which was a cause for great relief.

Hu Cheng was indeed alive, but he was a mere shadow of his former self, with a vacant gaze, resembling nothing so much as a breathing corpse.

Zhang Binchao had no choice but to hoist him onto his back and make haste. Had he not been trained in the martial arts, the effort surely would have overwhelmed him.

The soldiers remained on high alert despite Zhang Binchao's explanation. Xi Jianwei stepped forward to inspect the pair and, upon closer examination, recognized Hu Ren.

"What has befallen Young Master Hu?" he inquired.

Zhang Binchao exhaled wearily. "Perhaps he's been overly traumatized. Please, let us pass without delay."

Recognizing the young master of the Magistrate, the guards ceased their interrogation. Xi Jianwei relayed the situation to his comrades, and they allowed the two men entry.

Once inside the city, Zhang Binchao did not seek out Magistrate Hu. Instead, he carried Hu Cheng to a medical clinic, knowing that the Magistrate would be furious to see his son in such a state.

As they reached the clinic's entrance, a man exiting caught sight of them and exclaimed, "Cousin!"

At the sound of the voice, Hu Cheng, who had been in a stupor, showed signs of life. His dry eyes fluttered open, and upon recognizing the speaker, a wave of sorrow washed over him.

"Cousin Hu Ren, I think I'm on my deathbed."

With those words, he strained to reach out his arm toward Hu Ren.

Hu Ren stepped closer and clasped his hand, asking, "What's happening?"

Hu Cheng shook his head and replied, "Cousin, I feel like I'm fading fast. Please, inform father and warn him to be careful... Ah! The pain is unbearable!"

He couldn't finish his sentence as a searing pain erupted in his stomach, as though something was gnawing at his insides.

Zhang Binchao, hearing Hu Cheng speak, initially thought he was regaining his composure, only to be taken aback as Hu Cheng suddenly started screaming in agony.

Hu Ren quickly called out, "Get him to the clinic, have Liu Hansheng examine him immediately!"

Without hesitation, Zhang Binchao carried Hu Cheng to the clinic, exclaiming, "Liu Hansheng, we need your help!"

Liu Hansheng emerged from the back, a benevolent man in his fifties.

With a composed voice, he instructed, "Help him sit down."

Hu Ren and Zhang Binchao quickly seated Hu Cheng, who continued to cry out in pain, his face turning a shade of deep red.

Liu Hansheng took a seat, his brow furrowing at the sight of Hu Cheng's trembling arms.

"Secure his arms; don't let him thrash about."

At his command, Hu Cheng and Zhang Binchao each held one of Hu Cheng's arms steady while Liu Hansheng checked his pulse.

After feeling the pulse, Liu Hansheng's concern deepened. He rolled up Hu Cheng's sleeves to reveal a purple streak forming an odd pattern on his arm.

He then lifted Hu Cheng's shirt, exposing a distended belly.

All three could clearly see something round moving beneath the skin, as if it were about to burst forth.

Liu Hansheng's face registered alarm as he stood up and ordered, "Take him outside quickly; his time is short."

Hu Ren, incensed, grabbed Liu Hansheng's arm and demanded, "What are you babbling about? Have you lost your desire to live?"

At that moment, Hu Cheng sprang up from his chair, flailing his arms and legs in a frenzied dance before spitting out a mouthful of black blood and collapsing to the ground.

"Cousin!"

"Young Master Hu!"

Hu Ren and Zhang Binchao exclaimed in shock, yet they were at a loss for how to help.

Suddenly, Hu Cheng's abdomen convulsed violently twice, followed by a sound akin to flatulence. A round opening tore through his stomach, and a purple moth emerged.

The sight left Hu Ren dumbfounded. Before he could gather his wits, the moth spread its wings and darted towards his face, attempting to burrow into his mouth.

Hu Ren quickly turned away from Liu Hansheng, reaching out to catch the moth. However, it deftly slipped through his fingers and made its way into his stomach.

But it didn't end there. More moths poured out of Hu Cheng's stomach, seemingly fixated on Hu Ren, and swarmed him in a frenzied assault.

In an instant, he was enveloped by moths, which began to viciously bite him.

"Ah, help me! Ah!"

His vision obscured by the moths covering his face, Hu Ren screamed in terror as he stumbled from the clinic into the street.

Zhang Binchao stood there, stunned, and managed to ask, "What's happening?"

Liu Hansheng let out a sigh. "As I feared, Young Master Hu has been afflicted by a venomous insect, a creature found only in the lands to the south."

"But why is the purple moth attacking only the head constable?" Zhang Binchao inquired, bewildered.

"I've only heard tales of such things; this is my first encounter with a venomous insect," Liu Hansheng replied, shaking his head. "It's possible they share a close bloodline, and the insect has latched onto their scent. The one who set the venom likely intended to kill Young Master Hu's kin."

Zhang Binchao nodded, still in a haze of confusion, and turned to look outside. The screams had ceased; Hu Ren lay motionless on the street, his mouth agape as the moths crawled inside.

Onlookers from the street cautiously drew nearer, only to find Hu Ren's face mutilated beyond recognition, his eyes shut, seemingly lifeless.

Dr. Liu Hansheng let out a bitter chuckle and turned to Zhang Binchao. "You'd better go report this to the authorities. I'm sure I won't be able to avoid trouble now," he said.

Zhang Binchao nodded, his sigh heavy with resignation. "I'm not even safe myself."

If only he had known that the birthday gift would be stolen and Magistrate Hu's son would die under such mysterious circumstances, he never would have gotten involved. Now, he feared there was no escape for him either. Magistrate Hu might have seemed harmless, but his methods were notoriously cruel.

Zhang Binchao steeled himself. Reporting to the authorities was out of the question. His only option was to take his wife and children and flee.

He slipped out of the clinic silently. Dr. Liu Hansheng assumed he was off to inform the officials and let out a weary sigh, slumping into his chair.

Hu Ren had made plenty of enemies, so his death was cause for celebration among many. They would pause to glance at his body before hurrying off to spread the joyous news.

A ten-year-old boy, clutching a piece of candy cake, noticed the crowd and couldn't resist asking, "Mom, what's everyone looking at?"

"Little Tiger, don't go over there. It's getting dark; we should head home," his mother urged.

But the boy, ever curious about new sights, wouldn't heed her warning. He darted toward the crowd, his small stature allowing him to wiggle to the forefront. What he saw made him jump in fright.

His mother quickly caught up to him, covering his eyes. "That's a dead man. Don't look. Let's go home," she insisted, pulling him away. But the boy protested, "Mom, I saw him open his eyes."

"Nonsense," she scolded.

But then a shout rang out, "He's not really dead!"

The crowd erupted in panic as Hu Ren's eyes snapped open and he turned his head. Rising from the ground, he lunged and grabbed someone who couldn't move away in time.

Hu Ren's mouth gaped open, and he bit down on his victim. Amidst the ensuing screams, the onlookers scattered in terror, fleeing the scene.

Before long, the individual was fatally bitten.

Having consumed the flesh, Hu Ren lifted his gaze, his pupils gleaming with an eerie mix of green and purple light.

His condition was peculiar indeed. Wounded by a skeleton soldier and afflicted with poison, the toxins gradually altered his constitution. Now, with his body taken over by venomous insects and purple moths, the combined effects had led to his current state.

Death, much like the extinguishing of a flame, is a process. Cocking his head, Hu Ren drew closer to the man's face, spotting a small green flame in his eyes, and couldn't resist the urge to inhale it.

With the green flame absorbed, the luminescence in his eyes intensified. Had Lee Fei been present, he would surely have gasped in recognition of an ability exclusive to those who wield the power to Summon Skeleton.

Devoid of any self-awareness, Hu Ren was now driven purely by instinct. He staggered to his feet and began to walk towards the setting sun.