Chapter 132: Chapter 132: It Should Have Been Calm and Effortless

These beasts were dead set on eating them. Running was not a long-term solution; they would eventually have to fight.

As the sky began to lighten, Granny Gu gave the order. The ten males halted and turned to face the beasts behind them.

Granny Gu had Yu An and Yu Yun hide behind her. Whenever a beast broke past the males to attack them, she would release a handful of Gu Worms.

The Gu Worms looked like small flying insects, but they were exceptionally vicious. Swarms of them would surround a single beast and quickly suck it dry of blood.

It was a clear warning. Seeing this, the other beasts regained some of their sense.

But they soon discovered that the Gu Worms, now engorged with blood, wouldn’t drink another drop. Their predatory gazes immediately returned to the three women.

Yu An was just about to secretly lend a hand. ’The Mist Forest is this dangerous,’ she thought, ’I still need them to get out of here.’

But before she could act, the beasts suddenly stopped their attack and ran off in the opposite direction.

Yu An was utterly confused. "What are they running from?"

Granny Gu glanced in the direction they had fled. "Never mind that. Let’s get going, quickly."

Yu An didn’t say anything more. The most important thing was to leave the Mist Forest as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Ao Si was being chased all over the mountains by a pack of beasts. He ran in front while they pursued him from behind, howling hungrily.

Food... delicious food...

Stop running, let me have a bite!

Ao Si wanted to cry but had no tears. He couldn’t defeat these beasts. A moment ago, he had used a plan to sow discord, getting two groups of beasts to fight each other before luring them toward Granny Gu’s party.

In order to draw away the beasts surrounding his little sister, he had been forced to use Beast-Attracting Powder. But just now, his hand had slipped and he’d sprinkled too much. It would take quite a while for the scent to dissipate.

’If I’d known it would be this disastrous, I would have looked more carefully before acting! I thought those dozen or so people were all Old Thief Yin’s vicious lackeys. Who knew my sweet, gentle little sister was hidden among them!’

’Sigh, this was supposed to be a smooth and easy operation, but now I’m just scrambling to get by.’

’Thankfully, nothing happened to my little sister. Otherwise, when I got home, my brothers would beat me half to death before Beast Father even had a chance!’

’No, I wouldn’t even need to go home to face my doom. I’d just find a tree and hang myself.’ 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

For the rest of the journey, they were occasionally attacked by beasts, but the males fought them all off. Yu An and Yu Yun remained unharmed.

By the time they were nearing the exit of the Mist Forest, all ten males were wounded to some degree, but at least they were all still alive.

With only a day’s journey left to get out, Granny Gu visibly relaxed.

"This time was a bit safer than before. Pack up, let’s keep moving. We’ll try to get out of the Mist Forest before sunset."

More than ten days of hardship had made Yu Yun lose a great deal of weight and look much more haggard. Hearing they would soon be able to leave this place, she let out a huge sigh of relief.

But when she saw that Yu An hadn’t lost any weight and was, in fact, glowing with health, she couldn’t help but feel a bit resentful.

’Why is it that we’re both being heavily protected, but my condition and Yu An’s are worlds apart?!’

Thinking this, she also voiced her question.

Yu An answered in her heart, ’Of course it’s because I’ve been snacking from my private stash, have enough ability to protect myself from danger, and can even hide in my space if things get too difficult.’

Out loud, however, she said, "That’s my secret. Want to know?"

"How about you tell me where you’re taking me and what you’re planning to do, and I’ll tell you my secret?"

Yu Yun’s face immediately turned cold. "I don’t want to know."

Yu An shrugged. "Fine, don’t know then. But you should stop staring at me like a criminal lately. I’ve only got a few easy days left to live anyway, so just let me enjoy them."

Yu Yun didn’t agree or disagree. In truth, she had her suspicions. Back on the Beastman Continent, she had investigated Yu An but could never figure out where she kept all her strange things.

’Could it be that she has some kind of treasure that can store all those items?’

But right now, the most important thing was to get the Phoenix Blood. If Yu An would cooperate obediently, she didn’t mind pretending to know nothing and letting Yu An have a few more peaceful days.

"We’re almost there. The exit is right ahead."

Seeing the sky gradually darken, Granny Gu urged them to speed up.

Yu An looked up and saw a large stone monument ahead, carved with the two large words "Mist Forest."

According to Granny Gu, once they passed that large stone, it meant they were completely out.

But just as they were about to step past it, a thick fog suddenly filled the air, even though the sky had not yet grown completely dark.

Before, the fog had always thickened gradually. This time, however, a fog with extremely low visibility appeared abruptly, and it was even denser than before.

Granny Gu, who had been just one step away from getting out, watched helplessly as the exit vanished. She immediately ordered everyone to stay put and not move.

Seeing this, Yu An’s brow furrowed.

’The fog is thick, but the exit is right there. Wouldn’t it be better to just get out quickly?’

Though confused, she didn’t ask. A moment later, an enchanting song designed to make people lose their way began to echo.

The enchanting power was stronger this time. Although three of the males were desperately covering their ears and squeezing their eyes shut, they still stood up involuntarily and began walking toward the source of the sound.

Their steps were stiff. Their companions instinctively reached out to pull them back, only to become enchanted themselves.

In the blink of an eye, eight of the males were on their feet.

The remaining two had pained expressions. Granny Gu and Yu Yun were faring slightly better than them, but they weren’t comfortable either.

Yu An still felt nothing. She secretly opened her eyes a sliver to observe Granny Gu.

A plan formed in her mind. Timing it perfectly, she suddenly stood up and began to walk stiffly, just like the other eight males.

The figures of those eight had already disappeared into the mist. Granny Gu didn’t want to think about what dangers they might face; she only wanted to protect herself, Yu An, and Yu Yun.

Noticing that something was wrong with Yu An, she instinctively opened her eyes, intending to pull her back.

But Yu An was even more determined than the eight who had wandered off. She charged forward like a stubborn bull. It was a real struggle for Granny Gu to hold her back while simultaneously resisting the enchanting song.

Left with no choice, she called on the two remaining males to help. But after they reluctantly stood up, they immediately lost all resistance. It was impossible to tell if they were there to help or to cause more trouble.

Granny Gu’s face darkened, and she had no choice but to call on Yu Yun.

Yu Yun was also suffering, but she didn’t dare disobey Granny Gu.

It had to be said, with two people pulling on her, Yu An couldn’t move forward and was stuck marching in place.

Yu Yun wanted to knock her unconscious, and Granny Gu had the same idea. Before either of them could act, however, Yu An struck first.

She shoved them both in the direction opposite the exit. The move was so sudden that it jolted the minds of Granny Gu and Yu Yun, which had been relatively stable until that moment.

Granny Gu cursed inwardly. She looked up just in time to see Yu An already at the exit, waving a brilliant smile at her.

"Bye-bye, you two! Thanks for all your protection along the way! I’ll be sure to burn some paper money for you on the holidays."

Meeting Granny Gu’s incredulous gaze, the smile on Yu An’s face widened.

’Can’t believe I’d resort to such a dirty trick?’

’What a joke. Mercy to an enemy is cruelty to oneself, and I’m no fool.’

’It’d be best if they all died in the Mist Forest. That would save me a lot of trouble later!’