Chapter 498: The Island of Devil’s Maw (4)
The group continued to move forward in a suffocating atmosphere. At every few distance, Ambitionist would take out the infrared light device to use, one, was to inspect their surrounding and two was to check whether any locust had gotten on any of their skin. This ‘locust jungle’ was much bigger than they thought. After walking for some time, they were still being surrounded by these invisible locusts. As more locusts collected on their clothes, they would eventually had to stop to clean some away and then walk further… and then stop to clean.
Finally, after Feng Bujue unleashed his second Yakyuken, or 1 hour after they got the main quest, the five came to a small brook. The infrared device showed that this brook was the parting line. The jungle on the other side had no locust at all. Seeing that, the group worked to remove the locusts from their bodies and jumped across the brook. When they were on the other side, they checked thoroughly to make sure that they had carried none over before they sighed in relief.
“Ah… finally we have gotten through that disgusting place…” Atobe sama sighed. “It’s like I’ve given a new lease on life…”
Pegasus added. “Yes… having a bunch of writhing creatures stuck on your body is so not superhero-like.”
Feng Bujue scratched his chin and said, “Well, that might not be true. I’ve seen some interesting superhero anime where… the female heroes in skimpy clothes are entangled in these sticky creatures and they were being raised into the sky…”
“Wait a minute! Are you sure those are normal anime?” Atobe roared. “They are not flicks where their names are made up of multiple numbers and letters?”
“Qie… you uncultured swine.” Feng Bujue scoffed with derision, “Those with multiple numbers and letters are usually acted by real person…”
“That is enough out of you two!” Ambitionist shouted. “How did the topic get so distracted? We are right in the middle of a quest here!”
“I say…” Uncle Worthless interrupted the trio’s conversation and said in a serious tone. “Did you guys notice…” He paused. “That the surrounding temperature has risen?”
“Eh? Now that you mention it…” Feng Bujue nodded. “It seems to get hotter.”
…
“Hmm… The temperature appears to have suddenly risen from 20 degree to about 33 degrees.” Pegasus also just realized that.
“Hmph, you people are too slow.” Ambitionist pushed on his glasses and said proudly. “I’ve already noticed that earlier…” He pointed at the brook behind him. “With this brook as the boundary, the temperature on both sides is obviously different. If you do not believe me, you can jump back to look. It will still be at 20 plus degree on the other side.”
“Oh, so that is that case…” Brother Feng cushioned his hands behind his head and said casually, “So indeed the surrounding temperature has risen.”
“What else do you think it could be?” Atobe asked.
“I thought it was my body reacting because we were on such exciting topic.” Feng Bujue chuckled. That was Brother Jue’s sense of humor… he would be able to make these non-sensical jokes at the most inappropriate moments, the content would be unimaginable but due to opposite spectrum. It could be too philosophical to understand or the humor would be so vile that you do not wish to get it.
“Then your body sure reacts hella fast…” Ambitionist narrowed his eyes to mock. “Your brain was thinking dirty, you added the images and then you got high on your own until your body temperature increases… that whole process took less than 10 seconds? Your imagination must be through the roof then!”
“Of course, at the very least, I am an artist.” Feng Bujue answered shamelessly.
“Enough.” Uncle Worthless broke then up again with a shake of his head, “I was just reminding you guys that the temperature has changed but you guys sure can lead a topic astray…” He turned to Ambitionist. “Ambitionist, you know about Brother Jue’s personality, just don’t get led away by him.”
“Also, Brother Feng.” Uncle Worthless then turned to Feng Bujue, “Even though I approve that… casual players should mainly play for fun but you are pushing the envelope… after all, most of the members of this team are professional players, we still care quite deeply whether we clear this scenario or not.”
“Fine, fine… I get it.” Feng Bujue shrugged. “I’ll just stop with my nonsense, let’s get back on the road then.” Brother Jue quickly nodded to end the conversation. Facing the type of individual like Uncle Worthless, Feng Bujue was quite helpless. He knew this kind of person quite well… they would rarely come to you with serious words but they do, you better listen because they know what they are saying. They have been through life experience to understand what they are talking about. In his real life, Brother Jue had a few of such friends, for example Bao Qing and Ou Yang Jian. In his own will (yes, Brother Jue has written one and is constantly editing it), he left the following for them, “You are the people that I envious the most, you have a good career and a happy family; your talent is enough for other to get jealous of you and for those who are fake to be ashamed of themselves. But you have always remained humble. I did not intend to leave anything for you because you already possess many things that I do not have. But ultimately… I am still more good-looking than you, so I have left some of my self portraits for you, hoping they will encourage you to strive for a greater height in life.”
…
“Look! What is that?!” After they walked along the small path for another 20 minutes, Pegasus suddenly saw something. He instantly stopped moving and yelled out in warning. The four behind him heard that and all looked up to see… and saw that behind the layers of foliage, there appeared to be a large shadow approaching. The shadow was over 2 metres tall, as wide as two person and it was moving in a standing motion.
“How about we hide for now?” Feng Bujue suggested.
“What is there to be afraid of?” Pegasus turned back to ask. “As a superhero, there is no hiding in question.”
“Hmm, well said.” Feng Bujue patted the man on his shoulder and then turned to look at the other three. “Then how about the four of us go into hiding?”
“Okay!” The three answered in unison.
The next second, other than Pegasus, the other four shot out like arrows and went into hiding.
[Hey… this bunch of cowards are too much…] Pegasus screamed in his heart.
Tsk Tsk
As the black shadow approached, its footstep was becoming more obvious.
[I should have known… when one has to face this alone…] Pegasus swallowed and looked ahead nervously as he thought. [it is very scary!]
By then the shadow had appeared from the trees and caught Pegasus who was standing in the path instantly in its line of sight.
“Hmm? A human?” Moonlight (Even though it was a blood moon, the moonlight was white and quite bright) showered through the foliage and carved out the creature’s outline. It was a humanoid creature. It had a face that was akin to that of a baboon. It was 1.9 metres tall, very wide in frame, almost as large as a sumo wrestler, but his body was not made from fat but muscle. The ‘man’ was wearing a dark cargo clothes with a park of leather boots. The players thought he was more than 2 meters tall because there was a giant axe on his shoulder and the shadow of the man and the axe overlapped to create this illusion.
“Damn monster, name yourself!” Pegasus sharpened his gaze and shouted.
[What the…] Feng Bujue who was hiding in the dark was startled. He thought [This thing’s ability to communicate with NPC is in the negative… if you speak like that, even a friendly target might turn hostile.]
“He he… heh heh… ahahaha…” To everyone’s surprise, the baboon-face started to laugh… it was a strange, curious and maddening laugh that sent chill down one’s spine.
“Why are you laughing?” Pegasus asked, “What is so funny?”
“Ha ha ha ha ha!” The thing could not stop laughing. “After so many years… finally there is a sentient creature to speak to me! Ha ha ha ha!” He started dancing, the joy was apparent on his face. “ha ha ha… human! A living human!”
“What is happening…” Ambitionist who was hiding in the tree couldn’t help but grumble.
But…
“oh? There are more?” The baboon face lifted his head and stared right at Ambitionist’s hiding spot. He looked straight at him and said, “Perfect, there are two of them.” After announcing that to himself, he suddenly raised the axe and charged at Pegasus. The happy countenance shifted into a vicious expression instantly. The baboon face laughed maniacally, “Then it does not matter if I kill one of them! Ha ha ha ha!”