Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Bloodthirsty Mosquito
Dusk had fallen, and the wind was whistling eerily through the forest. The vibrant life that filled the forest during the day had now become deeper and more secluded, as if steeped in twilight, blurring its edges. The once-distinct outlines of branches and leaves were gradually melting into shadows thick as ink, making the forest appear increasingly sinister and mysterious.
"Let’s take a break and have something to eat."
Qin Tian suggested proactively.
Upon hearing this, the three companions felt a surge of relief; they had long wanted to stop and rest.
To be honest, trekking through this forest was initially quite intriguing, with everything seeming fresh and new. But as time dragged on, the loneliness and oppression began to set in, making one easily succumb to exhaustion.
"Here, let me share some of my favorite snacks with you."
Xiaopang pulled out a handful of long, stick-like snacks from his backpack, distributing them to everyone.
"Thanks."
Qin Tian accepted the snack, casually expressing his gratitude.
Huang Xiaojia opened her snack bag and ate in small bites, sneaking glances at Qin Tian from the corner of her eye.
Throughout their journey together, they discovered that Qin Tian was not as aloof and indifferent as they had imagined. Though he wasn’t talkative, he would always respond whenever asked something.
Moreover, whenever they encountered a complex and dangerous situation, Qin Tian would silently take the lead, paving a safe path for the three of them.
The three were not fools; they could see Qin Tian’s exterior aloofness and internal warmth, and they no longer felt the need to tiptoe around him as they had at first.
Crunch Crunch
Xiaopang munching crisply on snacks said:
"It’s a shame we can’t start a fire in the forest, otherwise I’d show you my barbecue skills, which are nothing short of amazing."
"Your snacks are already quite good."
Huang Xiaojia complimented, "They’re better than the ones I brought."
"Of course."
Xiaopang replied with a smug grin, "When it comes to food, I am definitely an expert."
Buzz~~
The sound of mosquitoes flapping their wings buzzed in their ears.
Xiong Gang impatiently waved his hand, trying to shoo away a large mosquito nearby, but the mosquito persisted, circling him as if it was determined to stick around.
Finally, Xiong Gang stood up in frustration, intending to swat the mosquito. Who could have guessed that the mosquito was surprisingly agile, evading even Xiong Gang, who was Tier Two, 1-Star?
Qin Tian glanced over curiously. In a forest like this, it was inevitable to encounter various mosquitoes. However, they could usually scare them away by just slightly manipulating their Spiritual Energy.
Yet this mosquito was unusually persistent; it couldn’t be driven away nor swatted.
Could it be that this was also a Spirit Beast?
Xiaopang and Huang Xiaojia noticed the mosquito as well.
Xiaopang stood up, squinted at it carefully, and his expression suddenly changed.
"Oh no, this is a Bloodthirsty Mosquito, Da Xiong, are you bleeding somewhere?"
"Bleeding?"
Xiong Gang rolled up his sleeve, revealing no blood on his arm. He then lifted his shirt, and a fine scratch was visible on his back.
"As expected."
Xiaopang said seriously, "The Bloodthirsty Mosquito is a terrifying creature in the forest. They have a keen sense for blood and often swarm in tens or even hundreds of thousands. They can drain the blood of a huge elephant in a short period. Also, don’t think that as Spiritualists, we can fend them off. Ten or twenty, maybe even a couple hundred can be dealt with, but when tens or hundreds of thousands of Bloodthirsty Mosquitoes appear, none of us will stand a chance—not even a Tier Four Spiritualist."
"The appearance of this Bloodthirsty Mosquito suggests there must be more nearby; we need to move quickly and avoid being found by the Bloodthirsty Mosquito army."
As Xiaopang finished, a horrifying image formed in their minds.
Swarms of Bloodthirsty Mosquitoes like a black cloud, obscuring the sky as they swarm over, engulfing creatures into a black mass, leaving behind only skeletal remains within seconds.
Hiss~
The few of them inhaled sharply, their scalps tingling with fear.
"Quick, let’s move, let’s go."
Even the usually bold Xiong Gang was frightened now, urging them in a hurried voice, trembling just slightly.
"Wait a moment, treat your wound first before we go."
Xiaopang took out a black medicinal patch from his backpack, tore it open, and slapped it onto Xiong Gang’s scratch on his back while rapidly saying:
"Zhu Family Secret Medicine, specifically for contusions and injuries, five hundred per patch, fair to all, feel free to place your orders with me."
"You never miss a chance to market your family’s products, do you?"
Xiong Gang couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Zhu Tianyou, this chubby guy, never took Martial Arts lessons too seriously, but as soon as someone in the class got injured, he was right there promoting his family’s remedies.
But to be fair, the patches were quite effective. Many classmates became regular customers, and quite a few even recommended them to their families, garnering Xiaopang’s family more orders.
"As a businessman, one must always promote oneself."
Xiaopang pulled Xiong Gang’s shirt down and added with a smile, "Alright, your scratch will heal within half an hour, guaranteed no scars."
"I don’t care about scars; let’s just get moving."
Xiong Gang waved his hands, still unable to shake off the pesky Bloodthirsty Mosquito.
At that moment, Qin Tian suddenly fanned some air in front of the Bloodthirsty Mosquito. Next moment, the mosquito staggered, as if drunk, and eventually fell to the ground.
Xiong Gang’s eyes widened in surprise, asking, "Qin... Brother Tian, how did you do that?"
Qin Tian’s eyes flickered as he replied:
"Just a little trick."
He had used a poison, releasing a small amount towards the Bloodthirsty Mosquito. This poison was colorless, and in small doses, its scent was barely noticeable.
The Bloodthirsty Mosquito evidently couldn’t withstand the invasion of poison and succumbed within seconds.
Unfortunately, this little mosquito was too weak to offer any Talent or Evolution Points.
A little trick
The three knew this was Qin Tian’s secret and didn’t inquire further.
"Let’s go, find a place farther away to rest."
Qin Tian hoisted his backpack and swiftly led the three away.
An hour later, they found a relatively dry spot. By now, it was nighttime, and the forest was shrouded in darkness, so dense one couldn’t see a hand before their face.
The wind howled, making wailing sounds like ghost souls crying out.
The three young people huddled close, regretting having joined this mission.
"Brother Tian, Brother Tian, are you still there?"
The chubby one swallowed nervously, feeling around in the dark while whispering.
"I’m here."
A few meters away, Qin Tian’s calm voice replied.
"Rest, I’ll keep watch tonight."
Hearing Qin Tian’s voice, somehow the three of them felt a sense of security, and their previously tense minds began to ease considerably.
"Brother Tian, we’ll trouble you then."
Xiaopang laid out a blanket on the ground, and they all lay down together. The fatigue of the day quickly caught up with them, and they fell asleep after exchanging just a few words.
Qin Tian sat on the ground, leaning against a tree trunk. Contrary to most, he felt at home in the darkness; this was the effect of the Shadowbone Physique, which enhanced his abilities in the dark.
Whoo~ Whoo~
The trio fell into a deep slumber, emitting steady breathing sounds, with Xiaopang even lightly snoring.
Qin Tian took out the Purple Ink Mandala from his Spatial Bag, plucked a petal, popped it into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed it.