Chapter 822

Those Cloud Riders were like reeds toppled by a violent wind, fresh blood winding across the ground into sheets of crimson rivers. Hu Lei flicked his long blade, and under inertia the blood droplets flung out a semicircle, splashing onto the armor of a Cloud Rider.

Like a starving gourmand finally tasting a long-awaited delicacy, Hu Lei let out a satisfied, feral grin. But soon three figures landed behind him, the leading youth pointing his sword tip straight at Hu Lei's heart.

"They actually sent a few cubs to die…"

"Remember this, I am San Yue Qi! The sword champion guarding Luofu!"

Hu Lei looked around, no other Cloud Riders came forward, and he sneered, "Could it be that Luofu has no other warriors worthy of the fight?"

Yan Qing: "You'd better watch out—you might not stomach the taste of being defeated by cubs, old wolf."

"Forget it; before Feixiao arrives, you'll just serve as warm‑up entertainment."

As his words fell, Hu Lei's massive body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, the charge pure speed and weight—nothing but "fast" and "heavy." Yan Qing dared not meet it head‑on; his seven flying swords ceased their scattered harassment, merging into one, becoming a brilliant stream of light that stabbed straight at Hu Lei's back.

Yan Qing had thought Hu Lei would dodge this sword, but he didn't even blink, taking the blow to his back without slowing his assault—he not only forced Yunli and San Yue Qi back with a single slash, but also kicked Yan Qing far away.

"Not bad, but still far from enough! My body cannot be killed by a hundred blows; your blades are as weak as weeds."

Hu Lei strode slowly toward Yan Qing, gripping him like a toy, but just as he readied the killing blow, a fierce wave of dizziness hit him, making him stagger back several steps.

"... What's going on?"

——

OVERLORD.

"What's happening to Hu Lei?"

Ya'er Beite stared at the hulking beast swaying in the sky, four or five meters tall; even a direct strike from Yunli's sword would probably just tickle it—could it really have wounded Hu Lei?

No matter how you look at it, it's impossible; the gap in their strength is simply too vast.

"By the way, have you noticed someone's missing?" Demiurge said.

"Who?"

"Jiao Qiu."

Ya'er Beite then suddenly realized that the perpetually squinting fox‑man was indeed gone. Logically, Hu Lei had already learned enough about Feixiao from him and no longer needed him.

Jiao Qiu gave off a familiar feeling—much like Demiurge, but whereas the latter hides cruelty beneath elegance, Jiao Qiu is far kinder.

"Maybe he's already been killed, or turned into a Step‑leaver?" Ya'er Beite remarked offhand, "There's also a chance he was transformed into a Step‑leaver and ended up on the Vanguard Warship, where the Cloud Rider Army has already slain him."

"Ah, Ya'er Beite, that idea is pretty ruthless… but I like it." Demiurge pushed up his glasses, "Looking at Hu Lei, he seems to be under some magical influence—no, wait, I almost forgot they don't use magic; I guess Yan Qing must have smeared poison on his sword."

"Your idea is totally out there." Aura blinked. "How would Yan Qing even use poison? Demiurge, haven't you rested? Even if it were poison, only Jiao Qiu the medic could be carrying it—how could a weak fox‑person slip poison to Hu Lei without anyone noticing?"

——

"Not long ago."

"Jiao Qiu, covered in wounds, sat clinging to life in the corner."

"For hunting, secrecy is an indispensable weapon. Those without secrets are merely beasts torn open, waiting miserably to die." Hu Lei said.

"Jiao Qiu's pupils had lost all color, he gazed listlessly at Hu Lei: 'If that's so, in your eyes I'm already a secret‑less beast, ready to die at any moment.'"

"Don't you have any other escape route, Jiao Qiu? I've stripped away your disguises and defenses layer by layer; you, the general you serve, and your deeply hidden secrets—I know them inside out."

"But the battle chief also told me his secret, and I know it inside out."

Hu Lei smiled with deep meaning: "You'll never get to use it. You'll be buried together with it. Still, you're a lucky fellow—after all, you don't have to live to witness the grim future your general faces."

"I think she understands her fate better than you do—one day she will be overwhelmed in battle by ever fiercer 'Moon Madness', ultimately torn apart by transformation and rage. Even the god you worship cannot save her from this end… on the contrary, He could grant her release."

"And the sole means of cure is in my hand."

"Jiao Qiu whispered weakly: 'Are you the medic or am I? How can you be so sure of your judgment?'"

"I should go, fox‑person. Before I leave, you know what I'm about to do, right?"

"Blood‑wine… I've heard the Step‑leavers' battle custom is to drink the blood of slain captives before combat to stir their ferocity."

"You've really put a lot of effort into studying us… but your road ends here."

"Aaaah——!"

Accompanied by Jiao Qiu's heart‑rending scream, Hu Lei wiped the blood from his lips and walked out of the room.

——

Dungeon Meal.

"Eh?"

Marusiru covered her face with both hands, her pupils shaking.

"He… he died?? Jiao Qiu he… he was just killed like that?! He's an envoy of the Yaoqing Immortal Vessel! An important general's aide! He knows so many of Hu Lei's secrets! Isn't there anyone who could drop down from the heavens to save him?"

"Yinzhi! The Vanguard Warship needs you most, Yinzhi! You left too early! Can Jiao Qiu still be rescued? Is there any resurrection‑like magic? Please help!"

Marusiru's hysterical voice echoed through the depths of the dungeon.

"Forget it, Marusiru—all the secrets, intelligence, the news that never got sent out…" Zeerchak sighed deeply, "... will vanish with Jiao Qiu's death, and he'd already prepared for that."

He paused, frowned slightly, and said, "Actually, Hu Lei's sudden dizzy spell just now… is strange; according to my experience navigating dungeons, this kind of dizziness is likely poison."

"Poison?" Marusiru gave him a bewildered look.