Duan Chenhui didn’t expect to run into the mysterious alien, “Mr. He,” in this place.

The two stared at each other in silence for a moment.

Duan Chenhui picked up his sword from the ground and was the first to speak: “Didn’t expect to see Mr. He here.”

“Adventures always come with surprises. Something happened this time, and I escaped in a life pod. Then I got sucked into this place,” He Qing stood up, smiling as he spoke.

Duan Chenhui studied him for a moment, unsure whether to believe him or not. He raised his sword. “Shall we go together?”

“If the general doesn’t mind,” He Qing replied, still polite yet distant.

“You’re too modest, Mr. He.” Duan Chenhui gave him a glance before turning and walking ahead. “We need to figure out a way out.”

“I’m not very familiar with this place yet. What exactly are those things?” He Qing followed and glanced back at the corpses of the demonic creatures.

“They might be corrupted creatures. I’m not too sure either,” Duan Chenhui frowned, “and laser guns don’t work against them.”

“But the general’s sword is quite effective,” He Qing remarked, eyeing the giant Que Sword in Duan Chenhui’s hand. The heavy sword had no sharp edge, capable of cutting through anything, though the tip was broken, leaving a slanted notch.

“Picked it up randomly, and it’s pretty good,” Duan Chenhui raised the sword and examined it, clearly satisfied with the weapon.

“I’ll have to pick one up for myself too.” Only Duan Chenhui could have the kind of luck to randomly stumble upon a sword like the giant Que. He Qing glanced at the sword again. It had patterns along the blade, a wide, thick, and shiny black surface, exuding a powerful presence. It was exactly the kind of weapon a general would like.

He looked around. They were in a dim forest, where the trees were all black. The ground was littered with the bones of animals and humans, with remnants of both Daoist and demonic cultivation robes among them. The bones belonged to spirit beasts and demon beasts alike.

This place must have been lively once, but now it was nothing more than a land of death.

Duan Chenhui walked ahead without speaking further.

He Qing snuck a glance at him. Duan Chenhui was much more serious in front of outsiders, never joking around.

Suddenly, Duan Chenhui, walking in front, stopped. He Qing looked up and saw a creature with tentacles and a demon covered in human faces blocking their way.

“General, let me—”

Before He Qing could finish speaking, Duan Chenhui had already rushed forward, slashing at the demon with human faces. Within two or three strikes, the demon was reduced to a pile of goo.

Then, Duan Chenhui turned to deal with the other creature. But this one’s body rapidly swelled up before exploding with a “boom,” splattering itself everywhere.

He Qing raised his hand slightly to shield his eyes. Once everything settled down, he slowly lowered his hand and looked at Duan Chenhui, who was fine but covered in the creature’s sticky remains.

He remembered that Duan Chenhui hated sticky substances, so he quickly ran over. “General, are you alright?”

Duan Chenhui turned back and wiped his sword. “Dirty.”

“…” He Qing silently clasped his hands together in his mind. General, even the best horse stumbles sometimes…

Duan Chenhui stared at him, and He Qing smiled awkwardly, saying no more.

Duan Chenhui frowned, glancing at He Qing’s clothes. “You’re covered in it too. I remember there’s a place ahead where you can wash up.”

He Qing froze for a moment. Was the general inviting him to bathe together? He quickly declined. “I’m fine.”

“Doesn’t it bother you?” Duan Chenhui disagreed, continuing, “I didn’t expect it to self-destruct. I got you caught up in it.”

He Qing looked down at his own clothes. They were indeed filthy… He glanced back at Duan Chenhui but was at a loss. In this world, Omegas and Alphas weren’t supposed to get too close. What should he do?

“Come on.” Duan Chenhui, seeing no rejection, assumed He Qing had agreed.

He Qing silently followed, twisting the hem of his clothes. They arrived at a small lake. He glanced at it—the water was clear, seemingly safe.

Duan Chenhui turned his back to He Qing and began undressing, layer by layer, until his back was exposed. “It’s safe here.”

Don’t look if it’s not polite, He Qing quickly averted his gaze. “I’ll keep watch for you?”

“Do you have something to hide?” Duan Chenhui turned his head to look at him.

He Qing touched his mask, then removed his hairband and tied it around his eyes. “All set.”

“…” Duan Chenhui glanced at him again, said nothing, and walked into the lake.

He Qing closed his eyes and undressed himself, carefully feeling his way into the water. He didn’t dare use his spiritual sense to check the surroundings—what if he accidentally scanned Duan Chenhui? That would be awkward. He washed his body and asked, “General, you seem very relaxed…” He still had the mood to bathe here?

Duan Chenhui washed his sword as well. “I’ve walked this path over a hundred times and killed quite a few of those things.”

“Hm?” He Qing tensed. “Are we trapped in a loop?”

“More or less. This space is special. It’s guiding us to walk in circles,” Duan Chenhui’s expression darkened. “It’s like the death spiral of ants. I checked—the people and animals along the way all died of exhaustion.”

He Qing had heard of this modern term. The death spiral of ants referred to hundreds or thousands of army ants forming a deadly circle, continuously moving in a loop until they all died of exhaustion.

It was basically the same here. The formation was probably a blood sacrifice array… meaning anyone who entered this space would become part of the blood sacrifice.

“Are you on a mission here, General?” He Qing had wanted to ask for a while. After entering, he had only seen Duan Chenhui and no other students.

“I brought students with me,” Duan Chenhui replied calmly. “They should be preparing dinner by now.”

So relaxed! He Qing was shocked. “Where are they?”

Duan Chenhui looked at him. “In a palace up ahead.”

“That’s great, everyone’s safe.” He Qing breathed a sigh of relief. That palace was probably where the heart of the formation was. Guess I don’t have to search too hard after all. “I’d like to check it out as well.”

“You have a way?” Duan Chenhui looked at He Qing’s mask, his eyes filled with scrutiny.

“I once read an ancient text. Maybe it’s worth a try,” He Qing half-lied.

Duan Chenhui narrowed his eyes slightly. “Then let’s try it.”

The two got out of the lake and changed clothes. He Qing removed the hairband from his eyes and glanced at Duan Chenhui, who had already donned a new set of black clothes.