Chapter 38

C38 – The Confrontation in the Depths of the Deadwick

Wen Huaimu soared toward the source of the barbarian’s roar with his flying technique, his speed vastly multiplied. Soon, he reached a valley.

There, he could faintly make out panicked screams and pleas for help.

Could this be the group that had ventured into Deadwick?

His eyes narrowing, Wen Huaimu swiftly ascended a towering tree. Channeling his magic, he projected his psychic force toward the valley ahead.

The valley was narrow, barely ten meters across, strewn with bizarre rocks and scant vegetation.

At the base of a massive boulder, seven individuals huddled together, clutching wooden sticks and assorted items, warily eyeing the long-haired barbarian below.

The barbarian stood tall, his long hair cascading over his shoulders, nearly two meters in height, his body bare save for a large piece of animal hide wrapped around his waist. He crouched like a wild animal, incessantly whimpering as he darted from side to side, his fierce eyes fixed on the group above.

“Prof. J, what’s our move?” asked one of the seven perched on the rock, a group led by an elderly man past fifty with presbyopia glasses and graying hair, the very image of a scholar.

Among them were four young men and two women.

The speaker was a slender, bespectacled man from the group of men, noticeably the most delicate of the bunch. Even the two women appeared more robust than he. Should they scatter and flee, he’d likely be the first to fall.

“And you have the gall to speak? Weren’t you the one who claimed barbarians were spotted last night?” retorted another young man in a yellow shirt, his disdain palpable, yet his gaze never strayed from the barbarian below.

“Me?” The bespectacled man was on the verge of tears, his earlier bravado now replaced by sheer timidity. Even if he survived this ordeal, facing the others again would be a challenge.

“Enough,” Prof. J commanded with authority, “We must stand together. There are seven of us against one barbarian. Surely we’re not afraid?” His words silenced any dissent. Tense and alert, they all kept a watchful eye on the barbarian’s every move, dreading an imminent charge in their direction.

“Don’t worry, everyone. Barbarians live with wild animals year-round and are definitely afraid of fire. Use any spare clothes and towels to start a blaze; we’ll scare him off,” the elder, wise from experience, quickly commanded.

At his words, several youths scrambled to produce an assortment of clothing and silken items, treating Deadwick as if it were a playground rather than a wilderness.

Armed with lighters, they set their clothes ablaze and brandished the fiery mass at the barbarian.

With the barbarian threat abated, two girls and Prof. J stayed close to the fire for protection, while the four young men ventured further afield to gather more wood, ensuring their safety.

As time slipped away, the sky dimmed to dusk. Exhausted from a day’s toil and the earlier scare, they collected firewood with frayed nerves. Now, they slumped wearily against the rock, huddling near the fire to fend off the night’s chill.

Amidst them, Prof. J was a beacon of calm. With the fire’s safeguard, he even felt composed enough to jot down notes about the day’s exploration and the barbarians they encountered.

The two girls, full of admiration, clustered around Prof. J. The young girl with a sweet face and short, lively hair voiced her concern, “Prof. J, don’t you fear the barbarians?”

“Fear the barbarians?” Prof. J paused, looking up with a smile. “Remember this, as scholars, humans are the most intelligent of creatures, and it’s the ferocious beasts we should fear, not them. Why should I fear?”

“The barbarians are so fierce, and we’re no match for them,” the short-haired girl lamented.

“Fear not, children. The fire will keep us safe for the time being. I’ve sent a distress signal via satellite; help will be here shortly,” Prof. J reassured them, smiling kindly.

“Really?” Both girls’ eyes sparkled simultaneously.

“Would I lie to you?” Prof. J chuckled, then turned back to jot something more in his notebook.

On the other side, the four young men hung on every word from the professor, grateful to still be alive. They were deep in thought, silently reflecting on their recent encounter with the barbarians, seemingly matured by the experience.

Perched atop a tree under the cloak of night, Wen Huaimu observed with an eerie smile.

The people below seemed to believe they were safe, thinking the fire could fend off wild beasts. However, they were dealing with barbarians—creatures with at least a beast’s cunning and greater intelligence. Relying on the fire for protection was proving to be a challenge.

Wen Huaimu’s psychic force extended, sensing everything within a 350-meter radius. Hiding in a thicket 260 meters away, the barbarians crouched, their fierce gaze fixed on the group huddled by the fire. Despite their occasional fearful whimpers at the sight of the flames, they showed no sign of backing down.

The barbarians were driven by a vital purpose, and they were determined not to relent until their mission was fulfilled.

Click to read????

Click to visit????????

OR download the app directly????