Chapter 352 Chapter 71: All Covered in Blood
"Ah, because that's the story I heard. I only heard it; I've never actually seen these monsters myself."
The old woman showed no unusual reaction. She smiled kindly, her wrinkles deepening.
"But I still think it's better to be safe than sorry. So, I never go to the beach, and I never go near those high walls along the coast. Since the empire has invested so much money building those walls and stationing so many soldiers there, it means there must be something dangerous inside. Even if there aren't monsters, there must be other dangers."
"So, it's better not to go there."
That explanation was reasonable.
The old woman affectionately patted the head of the child beside her.
“These children have been causing trouble lately, trying to sneak inside the walls, and they’ve been caught by the soldiers several times. Of course I’m worried. What if a few manage to sneak in and get into danger? Children, so young, they are the hope of our empire…”
Her words were sincere and made even more sense.
However…
“If only you hadn’t encountered me.”
Liang Di’s voice was icy cold. She suddenly grabbed the arms of several children and pulled them behind her, shielding them all.
Liang Lin, seeing this, also realized the danger. She immediately flashed forward, protecting Liang Di and the group of children, gripping the long sword at her waist.
“Under your skin, I might be able to see clearly what it is, but you are one of my kind… that writhing, disgusting thing, I know best what it is.”
Liang Di’s skirt was also slightly billowing, with tentacles writhing inside.
The old woman fell silent. "I don't want to hurt you... and I know that even if I fight you, it won't do me any good."
She slowly turned her head to look at Liang Lin and Liang Di.
"I can sense 'that' presence! That little girl behind you, I can't beat you."
So calm? She didn't even go berserk.
The old woman sighed.
"No, I'm not a monster. You're right that we're the same kind. I'm a hybrid of monster and human, just like you."
"We're the same kind of people, so there's no need to draw your sword against me. I'm not a monster hiding under a human skin. Those monsters have no reason, but I do, so you can rest assured."
The children ate their lollipops, glancing at Liang Lin and Liang Di, then at the old woman, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Hearing this, Liang Lin and Liang Di relaxed slightly, but Liang Lin's grip on her longsword remained firm.
“I do know some things you don’t. I’m over ninety years old, and with my ninety-plus years of life, I’ve finally found out some things.”
The old woman stood up from her chair, brushed the dust and dirt off her clothes, and leaned on her cane, her back slightly hunched. She didn’t turn to look at Liang Lin and Liang Di, but instead walked forward with heavy, slow steps, her back to them.
Liang Lin and Liang Di didn’t know whether to follow or not.
They wanted to follow to see what tricks this monster would play, but they were worried about the children left behind.
At this moment, the old woman spoke.
“Don’t worry, come with me. I won’t hurt these children. Just come with me.”
Liang Lin and Liang Di exchanged a glance after hearing this, but still didn’t respond.
The old woman turned and looked at Liang Lin and Liang Di.
“Sigh.”
She sighed again. “Didn’t you want to know some things? Come with me. There are fewer people and less noise at my house. Come there, and I’ll tell you.”
The old woman stopped, seemingly waiting for Liang Lin and Liang Di.
“Besides, these things are quite complicated to explain, and I can’t finish in a short time. Come with me to my house, and we’ll talk about it slowly.”
Liang Lin and Liang Di exchanged a glance, then looked down at the bewildered children.
“Okay.”
In the end, Liang Di made the decision.
“But you have to wait here for a while. We’ll move these children to a safer place, and then we’ll come with you.”
The old woman sighed again and silently sat back down in her chair.
“Sister Liang Lin,” Liang Di pointed to the group of children, “I’ll stay here and watch over this monster. You quickly send the children away, then come back, and we’ll go together.”
“Okay.”
Liang Lin didn’t waste any more words, took the children’s hands, and hurried away.
On the other side…
Laura was covered in blood, a gruesome, crimson stain.
Octaville and Hilary rushed over, checking her thoroughly.
"I'm fine."
"I'm fine."
Though she said she was fine, Laura's teeth were chattering.
"You call this fine? You're covered in human blood."
Octaville grabbed Laura's arm, examining the wounds closely.
Lara shook her head vigorously.
"That... that blood isn't mine, it's... it's theirs."
After saying this, Laura pointed to the scattered mage corpses on the ground.
"It's blood I accidentally rubbed off after I fainted and lay on the ground. It's not my blood, I'm not injured... okay, I bumped my head when I fell and cut my arm, but I... I wasn't hurt by any monsters."
Ah...
Octaville's hand, examining the blood, froze.
So that's how she got those wounds on her arms. I thought they were from monster bites or beatings.
Octaville reluctantly released the other woman's arm.
Laura's wings remained open, the eyes on them blinking. Against the backdrop of the corpses and bright red blood on the ground, her pure white wings looked utterly eerie.
"Huff."
"Huff."
Laura sat on the ground, panting heavily.
Once her breathing had calmed down a bit, Hilary asked, "Laura, what happened here after we left?"
Upon hearing this, Laura seemed to be plunged into some terrifying memory. Her body, which had barely stopped trembling, began to tremble again. She helplessly clutched her arms.
"I don't know how you left, or when you left at all. It must be because I was already unconscious. Anyway, when I woke up again, I found that you were all gone, and it was pitch black all around, with blood and corpses everywhere. I was so scared, and I really wanted to faint again, but I just couldn't."
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