Changqing County was divided into several districts, and beneath those were various streets. For example, the Su Family's residence was located in Changqing County, Jinyang District, Sanhe Street. This area was a typical wealthy neighborhood, constantly patrolled by constables day and night. Plus, the Su Family's estate had many servants and martial masters employed at great expense.
How could Su Shang encounter danger at home?
Su Heng didn't have time to think any further.
Although the two brothers often bickered on normal days, their relationship was quite good.
He had been in this world for over five years, and Su Shang, who was only twelve, was practically raised by him.
Bang!
Su Heng's toes tapped heavily on the ground.
His leg muscles tightened like springs, storing energy, and he transformed into a shadow. In a single swift movement, he lightly flipped over the more than two-meter-high courtyard wall. On the other side of the wall was the courtyard where Su Shang usually lived, similar in layout to Su Heng's own, except there was a well in the middle.
At that moment, Su Shang was by the well, his face pale.
A dry, withered arm, covered in green hair, was grabbing Su Shang's collar, trying to pull him into the well.
Su Shang struggled fiercely.
His arms clung tightly to a gap next to the well.
But the difference in strength between them was too great, and Su Shang's thin body was slowly being pulled into the well.
In this critical moment,
Su Shang caught a glimpse of Su Heng crossing over the courtyard wall from the corner of his eye.
"Second Brother, save me!" Su Shang shouted desperately, his voice already tinged with a sob.
"What kind of hellish thing is this!" Su Heng saw the green-haired arm stretching out from beneath the well and was also shocked. The structure of the joints wasn't like a human arm at all but resembled that of some strange ape that lived in the mouth of the well!?
Many thoughts flashed through Su Heng's mind, but his actions were not delayed at all.
In one breath,
Su Heng was already beside Su Shang.
With his left hand, he grabbed the back of Su Shang's clothes, and with his right, he seized the slender arm extending from the well. Both of his stout arms exerted force simultaneously, and with a crisp ripping sound, Su Shang's clothes tore, his small body plopping onto the ground. Overcome with emotion, he burst into loud cries.
Noisy footsteps came from outside, as servants and martial masters from nearby courtyards, awakened by the commotion, rushed over.
The creature in the well seemed to be frightened as well.
A strong exotic fragrance was stimulating Su Heng's stomach, and thick saliva uncontrollably secreted in his mouth.
"What is this smell?"
Su Heng looked down and found that the smell was coming from his own hands.
In his hand, he was holding a piece of the monster's flesh, about half a pound, one side of which was covered with dark green hair, while the other side slowly leaked blood. The monster's blood was dark green, and the smell was coming from this fresh flesh.
"Why is there a strange smell in this courtyard?"
A middle-aged man with a square face and a sturdy build, sporting a beard, walked in from the archway. He was holding a torch in his left hand and pressing on the sheathed sword that hung from his waist with his right hand, with seven or eight robust Protectors following behind him.
This man was named Zhao Hu.
He was a top martial master whom the elderly Mr. Su had hired at great cost. He was considered a first-class expert in the martial world.
"Second Young Master." Zhao Hu was hearty but knew the proper behavior of advancing and retreating.
Upon seeing Su Heng, he handed the torch to a Protector beside him, bowed with his hands clasped, and began to explain, "I was patrolling outside just now when I heard the Third Young Master's cries, so I hurried over."
A moment later,
Mr. Su, disheveled and with messy hair, also appeared in the courtyard.
He first glanced at Su Heng, who was standing silently to the side, and then at Su Shang, who was timidly standing behind Su Heng, his fair face still bearing tear stains.
"What's going on here, making all this noise so early in the morning?" Mr. Su furrowed his brows and spoke with feigned authority, "Did you bully your younger brother again?"
Su Heng glanced at Mr. Su, then paused momentarily on Zhao Hu.
Being able to become a Protector, these individuals were naturally trustworthy and considered inner members of the family. After a short contemplation, Su Heng spoke up solemnly, "Just now, by the well, the Third Young Master was attacked by a monster."
"What!?"
Mr. Su's eyes widened.
Zhao Hu and the Protectors beside him looked surprised, but none dared to speak out of turn.
"Are you muddled from sleep? There are no such things as demons and monsters in this world, just fabrications by storytellers. I keep telling you to read more books instead of foolishly fooling around all day—"
Su Heng didn't retort, but calmly extended his hand.
In his hand, a chunk of bloodied flesh was clearly visible, with thick, dark green blood slowly dripping from between his fingers.
Mr. Su's eyes widened, a chill ran up his spine to his brain, instantly dispelling any remnants of sleepiness, and he became completely alert.