Chapter 96: Cefrola 12

She immediately walked to Qiu Yi's side, excitedly grabbing Qiu Yi's wrist: "Qiu Yi, you said earlier that your key was swallowed by the Mutant Vines?"

Qiu Yi was puzzled; her key really had been swallowed, but why get excited: "Yeah."

"How did the key get swallowed?" Ye Xi'an's violet cat-like pupils widened, anxiously looking at Qiu Yi, waiting for her answer.

But looking at Ye Xi'an's cute appearance, Qiu Yi was stunned, her bright red‑painted lips slightly open, blankly lowering her head to meet Ye Xi'an's gaze.

"Qiu Yi! Speak!"

"Ah? Oh!"

Qiu Yi quickly flicked her eyelids, annoyed at having just stared at Ye Xi'an's cute face and gone dumb; it's been so long since she slipped up at a crucial moment, and she just made the same mistake again.

"The Mutant Vines actually have mouths; my key was ambushed and swallowed into its belly. For some reason, it always hides its mouth, and when feeding it doesn't swallow directly but uses tendrils to slowly suck. Only for keys does it eat with its mouth."

Qiu Yi frowned and offered her speculation: "I think maybe it can only absorb flesh through its tendrils, but for something like a key—a mineral energy—it can't absorb, so it must swallow it into its stomach to digest."

"But do you know what this is for?"

Ye Xi'an, hearing Qiu Yi's words, became even more convinced that her own idea was correct.

The reason the Mutant Vines keep their mouths hidden is that they fear someone might enter through the mouth and attack its weak point.

She retrieved a medicine key from the void, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the key lying in her palm; this was the last hope.

Ye Xi'an hugged Qiu Yi, voice trembling: "Qiu Yi, I think I know the Mutant Vines' weak point!"

Ye Xi'an shared her hypothesis with everyone, but didn't mention that she could see a white light, only saying it was her speculation.

"No." Qiu Yi's expression cooled: "The interior of that vine is filled with corrosive fluid; even if you get inside without finding the weak point, you'll turn into a pool of blood for the vine to absorb."

"Moreover, that's just your guess." Qiu Yi looked at Bao Jing, still struggling in the air, his black eyes sinking, believing the beastman would soon be caught and eaten by the vines: "Xiao Xi, you don't need to risk this for a male."

"All you need to do is make his death worthwhile."

Qiu Yi's cold words sent a chill through Ye Xi'an; how could Qiu Yi speak of Bao Jing's death so lightly?

She lowered her head, her throat a little hoarse: "It's fine, I volunteer."

"I also don't agree with you going." Lin Zhi Jing, long before Ye Xi'an voiced her thoughts, already knew what she intended, but this was absurd—when does a male need a female to rescue him?

Ye Xi'an stared in shock at Lin Zhi Jing; Qiu Yi not agreeing to rescue is one thing, after all on Zhu Shen Xing females are revered and males are low, but Lin Zhi Jing himself is also male!

"Don't look at me that way." Lin Zhi Jing turned his head away, not wanting to meet Ye Xi'an's slightly disappointed gaze: "It's not just me who disagrees; you could ask your other husbands whether they agree."

Ye Xi'an, hearing that, looked toward Yi Yang and Ji Jiangci.

The two immediately bowed their heads guiltily, silent, but Ye Xi'an could tell their answer; the behavior clearly showed unwillingness.

They were deeply pained; abandoning Bao Jing was unthinkable, yet if they went to rescue, they'd most likely fail to protect Ye Xi'an, the clan would be wiped out, and sacrificing just Bao Jing to keep everyone safe—any normal beastman would choose the latter.

"Why?"

Yi Yang's face was uneasy; he swallowed his sorrow to comfort Ye Xi'an: "Honey, let's hurry back; maybe the Federation can still rescue Bao Jing in time."

Ye Xi'an naturally knew this was impossible; by the time they arrived, Bao Jing would already be dead.

And Bao Jing, soaring in the sky, sensed a cold, rigid atmosphere below; he anxiously felt the tearing of his wings behind him and the vines relentlessly pursuing.

This damned Mutant Vines possessed some strange power; no matter how he flew, it could catch up.

Its massive roots were like two long legs, each step spanning dozens of meters; he flew far, and soon it caught up, circling him; it seemed to have eyes all around its body, locking onto him.

He looked down at the person on the ground, now shrunk to ant size, and grew impatient.

Why aren't they taking An'an away yet?

He had no choice; he lowered his altitude again, hovering: "Lin Zhi Jing! Hurry and take An'an away!"

"I'll hold back the vines; you all hurry away."

Though he despised Lin Zhi Jing and didn't want him to join his clan, he knew Lin Zhi Jing was the most reliable among them.

Ye Xi'an heard Bao Jing's words, tears welling up; even Bao Jing himself was willing to sacrifice?

Ye Xi'an wiped her tears clean, her gaze becoming resolute; she stared at the twisted violet tendrils filling the sky, no longer fearing them.

Since she arrived on Zhu Shen Xing, Bao Jing had always protected her; this time, it's her turn to protect Bao Jing!

"You stinky idiot*, look here, I have the key!"

Ye Xi'an clenched the key above her head, swinging it quickly side to side, shouting continuously to draw the monster's attention.

The key crafted from purple ore reflected dazzling light under the sun, and with her vigorous shouts, even if Lin Zhi Jing tried to shield it, Ye Xi'an was determined to battle the vines; soon the noise here attracted the Mutant Vines' attention.

The Mutant Vines abandoned the chase of Bao Jing, shifting their focus to Ye Xi'an when they saw the key in her hand.

The Mutant Vines seemed infused with something that made them frenzy, thrashing wildly.

In the middle of its main trunk, a barely perceptible slit slowly widened; both sides of the gap were lined with sharp teeth glinting a chilling light, while the interior glowed blood‑red.

With an earth‑shaking roar, a half‑bent vine erupted from the opening, unfurling; the vine's head—the monster's mouth—slowly emerged from the darkness, revealing an unopened flower bud.

The tightly closed petals were a vivid, blood‑red, their edges emitting an eerie glow.

Suddenly, the bud quivered violently, accompanied by a harsh tearing sound and the squelch of soft‑bodied creatures; the petals peeled back layer by layer, exposing a crimson, blood‑like flesh inside.

When the petals fully opened, a massive blood‑filled maw appeared, its interior lined with sharp, thorn‑like teeth, each dripping viscous fluid, and the air reeked with a nauseating, putrid stench.

(End of Chapter)