Chapter 28 - 27: A Little Fresh and Tender, Suitable for a Barbecue

Yin Muli’s goal was to get the mask. This kamikaze-like stance of his was also meant to make Chu Liangyu beg for mercy.

But he didn’t get his wish. Not only did Chu Liangyu refuse to beg, but she also viciously tore at his flesh.

The heart-rending pain was the worst he had ever experienced.

In the end, he admitted defeat. He gave up the struggle and, spreading his wings, landed smoothly on the ground.

This was no longer the front of Chu Liangyu’s cave. The surroundings were empty, save for a river not far in the distance.

Yin Muli could hold on no longer, his wings drooping powerlessly.

The giant golden eagle appeared listless as it collapsed to the ground, its body covering a large area.

Bloodstains still lingered on the corners of Chu Liangyu’s mouth and on her face.

Paired with the murderous intent in her eyes, she looked like a veritable devil, fierce and cruel.

The giant eagle was on its last breath; it wouldn’t survive even if Chu Liangyu did nothing.

But Chu Liangyu didn’t want to leave any loose ends. She raised her bronze short knife and stabbed it viciously into the giant eagle’s neck.

A blinding white light flashed before Chu Liangyu’s eyes, causing her to pause.

"La... lala... la..."

A song, faint and ethereal, reached her ears. It was so soft that one could easily miss it if not listening carefully.

Chu Liangyu couldn’t make out what was being sung, but she could sense a hint of danger.

The song seemed to carry a bewitching power, attempting to control her mind.

For a moment, Chu Liangyu’s consciousness blurred. At the same time, the spot in her sleeve where the Carp Essence was kept suddenly emitted a bone-chilling cold.

Chu Liangyu jolted, snapping out of her daze.

Without her realizing it, she had climbed off the eagle’s back.

Across from her, Yin Muli, who had already lost the ability to move, was somehow standing up.

Blood was still gushing from his back, but his expression was vacant, as if he couldn’t feel a thing.

Chu Liangyu noticed something in the reflection in his eyes.

She was certain it wasn’t her.

Before Chu Liangyu could figure it out, the giant eagle flapped its wings, supporting its battered and broken body as it flew up above her head.

Its sharp, emotionless talons slashed toward Chu Liangyu’s head.

With her bronze short knife in hand, Chu Liangyu attacked with all her might, blocking the giant eagle’s strike.

Yin Muli’s strength was greater than she’d expected, like the final struggle of a drowning man.

He attacked Chu Liangyu relentlessly, burning what was left of his life as fuel.

At first, Chu Liangyu was unprepared and was forced back by the immense power.

After gradually adapting, Chu Liangyu gripped her short knife and went on the offensive.

The CLANG of metal striking metal was incessant, with sparks flashing from time to time.

The giant eagle’s talons were mangled into a bloody mess by the bronze short knife, yet he continued to attack.

Chu Liangyu’s expression grew colder and colder. The giant eagle had little attack power left.

But his relentless attacks were getting on Chu Liangyu’s nerves. Finally, she leaped up and severed both of the giant eagle’s talons in one clean stroke.

In mid-air, blood dripped from the stumps where its talons had been. DRIP. DRIP. DRIP.

It didn’t land but instead just hovered unsteadily above Chu Liangyu’s head.

Chu Liangyu’s brow furrowed slightly. Waiting for the giant eagle to draw near again, she threw her bronze short knife, which shot out and plunged directly into its neck.

The next moment, the giant eagle crashed to the ground, lifeless.

The song, so faint it was almost an illusion, ended at nearly the exact same moment.

"You’ve been pulling the strings from the shadows for so long. Isn’t it about time you came out?"

Chu Liangyu subtly scanned her surroundings, trying to flush out the person responsible.

A long moment passed, but aside from the occasional bird call, no one appeared.

Chu Liangyu’s wary expression relaxed, and her tone became one of relief. "So it was just my imagination. I should get out of here quickly. It would be bad if he had people backing him up."

Retrieving her short knife, Chu Liangyu wiped it clean on the giant eagle’s feathers.

She turned and walked away quickly in one direction.

Just as her figure completely disappeared from view, a huge splash suddenly erupted from the river.

In the sunlight, a cyan-blue Mermaid tail shimmered with a dazzling light, its beauty breathtaking.

Yu He’s legs materialized, and he stood on the bank, watching the direction Chu Liangyu had left in and muttering to himself, "When did she get so strong?"

He couldn’t figure out what Chu Liangyu had gone through that he didn’t know about. She was worlds apart from the person in his memory.

"If you couldn’t bear to see me leave, why didn’t you follow?"

Yu He’s body stiffened for a moment. He had clearly seen...

’Didn’t Chu Liangyu leave? How did she suddenly appear behind me?’

Her movements were so light that he hadn’t noticed a thing. This meant Chu Liangyu’s power was now above his.

’Judging by Chu Liangyu’s expression, she must know he was the one controlling the giant eagle’s attack just now.’

’What do people usually do to someone who just tried to kill them?’

’Did he even need to think about it?!’

Yu He broke out in a cold sweat. Although he was Chu Liangyu’s Beast Husband, there were no feelings between them.

Without even turning his head, he instantly transformed into his beast form and leaped into the flowing river.

The sound of splashing water rang out again. Chu Liangyu had anticipated this, and with lightning-fast reflexes, she grabbed his tail before he could swim away completely.

Yu He was caught before he could even react, his upper body still trying to swim.

He slapped at the water’s surface, making SLAP SLAP sounds. It looked rather comical.

"You’re as vindictive as ever. So don’t blame me for giving you a taste of your own medicine."

Chu Liangyu dragged the Mermaid out of the water and to an open area.

She held tightly onto Yu He’s fishtail, refusing to let go. With a heave, she swung him into the air, and inertia sent him crashing hard into the ground.

This was repeated countless times, until blood mixed with white foam started to trickle from Yu He’s mouth.

Mermaids were vicious by nature, comparable to Wandering Beasts, but their attack power was very weak.

They relied on their unreal beauty and their mind-controlling songs.

Mermaids often used their songs for this very purpose: to make Beastmen kill each other.

"Well, well, if it isn’t the salted fish. How did you end up like this?"

Chu Liangyu’s stamina was draining quickly. Growing tired of it, she casually tossed him aside.

But her killing intent hadn’t faded. ’Who knows how much trouble this guy will cause later if I let him live.’

Gently stroking her short knife, Chu Liangyu twirled it in her hand and slowly walked toward Yu He.

This was when Feng Qiwu arrived. He even circled in the air for a good while.

He carefully sized up Yu He’s miserable state from top to bottom, his gloating expression completely undisguised.

"You flying pheasant."

’He could still pick a fight with someone at a time like this.’ Chu Liangyu’s mouth twitched, unsure of what to say.

’Those two really didn’t get along, but their bickering every time they met was so childish it was almost funny.’

"Female Master, are you going to kill this guy?"

Chu Liangyu stared at his expression without a word.

"This salted fish’s blood is really smelly. Let me do it for you, Female Master."

Chu Liangyu could clearly see the excitement in Feng Qiwu’s eyes, and her own wariness lessened slightly. "Alright. You do it, then."

"You stinking salted fish, you’ve finally fallen into my hands! HAHAHAHA..."

Yu He’s relaxed expression faltered slightly, and he began to back away.

Feng Qiwu’s playful expression vanished, his hands transforming into sharp claws.

With one swipe of his claws, he tore off a large chunk of flesh.

It looked just like fish meat. As Chu Liangyu watched, a ridiculous thought suddenly crossed her mind.

’So fresh and tender... it would be perfect for a barbecue.’