Instructor Huan's expression turned solemn as he regarded the stranger. The man's appearance was grotesque—sickly pale skin, a face that seemed half-boiled, and robes adorned with what appeared to be severed human fingers. A full-fledged demonic cultivator.

  "What's wrong? Didn't you say you were coming to find me? Why so silent now?" The demonic cultivator grinned. "Surely you're just stunned by my overwhelming beauty~"

  Qing Ziyi snorted, her face darkening. "More like stunned by the foul stench of a demonic cultivator polluting the air."

  She was in a foul mood. From the start, she'd prayed this village's strange situation wasn't caused by a demonic cultivator. She wasn't someone who'd sacrifice herself for others—let alone for a village of strangers.

  She'd only accepted this mission because she urgently needed an artifact. Yet not only had a demonic cultivator appeared—he was at peak Qi Refinement, equal to Instructor Huan. Her irritation was inevitable.

  The demonic cultivator feigned embarrassment at Qing Ziyi's sharp retort. "Oh? The smell spread? I thought I'd bathed thoroughly…" He pouted sadly. "I'll be more careful after playing with the children next time! My apologies!"

  Qing Xuanling tightened her grip on her sword. The bastard was mocking them!

  Instructor Huan's expression soured—but he remained composed. However repulsive the situation, he was the mission leader. He had to think clearly.

  "…Demon—how did you know we were coming?" He looked at the puppet children who were still struggling to get up from the floor despite being cut in half. "You seemed far too prepared for our arrival. I clearly saw some of those puppets emerge from the ground…"

  Qing Xuanling was startled. She finally understood why she hadn't sensed the puppet children before they attacked—they'd been buried underground the entire time!

  The demonic cultivator smiled, pleased. "Hehe—sharp as ever. I suppose I should expect no less from Qing Huan, the Qing Clan's Little Spear Demon! How fortunate that someone as talented as you came!"

  The three Qing Clan members' minds raced simultaneously. The demonic cultivator's words connected several pieces. Qing Ziyi was the first to realize the truth.

  "We were the target all along!" Her eyes filled with terror. "You used this village to practice your heretical techniques because you knew it was under the Qing Clan's protection!"

  "Bingo!" The demonic cultivator clapped. "Quite perceptive—just what I expected from a young talisman master like yourself!"

  Instructor Huan gritted his teeth. "…Who ordered this?!"

  His normally stern voice trembled with boundless fury. He'd never imagined this mission would be such a sinister trap.

  But the demonic cultivator merely shook his head exaggeratedly.

  "Tsk, tsk—why should I tell you? We've only just met today! Besides—I don't even know myself! I was merely paid. Though I must admit—the whole thing moved faster than expected! This was originally planned for half a year from now!"

  Qing Xuanling's eyes trembled. Judging by his words, the plans had been accelerated because of the secret realm news! Moreover—it seemed there was a traitor within the Qing Clan!

  "Sigh…"

  She turned—only to freeze in shock at the crimson aura beginning to envelop Instructor Huan. He'd lost patience. He would no longer endure the demonic cultivator's taunts.

  Unfortunately, he was dealing precisely with a demonic cultivator. Bastards known for their dirty and immoral tactics.

  "Oh? Bored of talking already? You lasted longer than I expected!" The demonic cultivator grinned warmly and took a deep breath. He shouted with all his might, his voice saturated with Qi:

  "Everyone! Quickly come out and search for your children! The wicked demonic cultivator has been defeated—but the children are in terrible condition! We need your help to save them!"

  Qing Xuanling, Qing Ziyi—even Instructor Huan—stood stunned, paralyzed. Before they could comprehend what was happening, villagers streamed from their homes, tears streaming down their faces.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  But the sight before them made them shudder.

  Dozens of children's bodies—bisected, charred, mangled—still dragged themselves across the ground with vacant eyes.

  A mother rushed toward the upper half of one child. "My SuSu… SuSu, what happened to you?!" She knelt and reached for the puppet child.

  Qing Xuanling sensed danger and shouted, "Careful—don't get close—!"

  But the mother, lost in grief, didn't hear her. Tears in her eyes, she approached her daughter—

  Gurgh!

  The puppet child lunged with its last strength, sinking its teeth into the mother's neck. She died instantly—still unaware of what had happened. Perhaps that was the only mercy in her death.

  At least, even in her final moments, she was unaware that the cause of her death was her own son.

  But Qing Xuanling felt no such comfort. She gritted her teeth, shouting repeatedly for the villagers to retreat as she ran toward them.

  Alas—the villagers were too overwhelmed by grief. They didn't hear her. Couldn't hear her. The world seemed to fall silent the moment they saw what their children, nephews… brothers… had become.

  Qing Xuanling spotted the fourteen-year-old girl who'd begged for help earlier approaching a half-charred puppet child. Her heart clenched. She rushed forward—but was too slow.

  The girl lifted the puppet child into her arms and hugged it tightly… The puppet child bit her neck fiercely as soon as it was hugged.

  Qing Xuanling watched, uncomprehending.

  The air, her saliva, her body—it all felt alien. As if she no longer belonged to this world.

  Surreal.

  Before her stood two siblings embracing. But the scene that should have been beautiful was only tragic: the younger brother, mindless, was devouring the body of the elder sister who held him with love and desperation.

  'This…!' Qing Xuanling gasped. 'This is simply…!'

  Words failed her. She only knew the entire situation was wrong. She gritted her teeth and rushed toward the puppet children feasting on their relatives—

  —but a hand seized her wrist.

  "Don't you dare approach!" Instructor Huan shouted through clenched teeth. "Can't you sense it? The blood energy within those puppet children is surging too rapidly! They could explode any moment!"

  Qing Xuanling's eyes widened—but she still tried to wrench free. Several villagers remained inside their homes, too fearful to emerge. Most hadn't lost children, so their desperation was less acute. She was overwhelmed, yes—but she'd never recklessly endanger herself.

  "That's exactly why I must go!" She broke free from Instructor Huan's grip. "You said it yourself—these children grow stronger by consuming mortals! What if they devour everyone in this village? We must stop them—or we'll die in the explosions!"

  Instructor Huan frowned. He hadn't considered that. Even the demonic cultivator applauded.

  "Brilliant! I'd planned for you to avoid the blessed children due to their danger and focus on me—so I could mock your hypocrisy!" The demonic cultivator's gaze held genuine praise. "Who knew the youngest would instantly grasp the entire situation! Truly talented!"

  All would have been well—if not for his next words, delivered with a mocking smirk:

  "Pity it won't matter much. I anticipated you might realize this—so I specifically left a handful of natal Qi within its bodies! Combined with the resentment from their deaths and the act of devouring their own kin—that's enough to trigger an explosion that would instantly kill a late-stage cultivator!"

  "Tell me, Qing Clan cultivators—what will you do now? Let the blessed children grow stronger by consuming mortals? Or risk your lives saving mere mortals?" The demonic cultivator laughed wildly.

  This time, Qing Xuanling was utterly stunned. She had no answer for this dilemma.

  Fortunately, someone with years of experience had come with her.

  "Qing Ziyi—evacuate the mortals while restraining the puppet children. Use your talismans. I assure you—the clan will compensate you." Instructor Huan fixed his gaze on the demonic cultivator. "Qing Xuanling and I will remain to face him."

  Instructor Huan had discerned the optimal solution the moment he fully grasped the predicament. They didn't need to destroy the puppet children—only prevent them from reaching villagers.

  With Qing Ziyi's mastery of divine characters—including binding techniques—and her dozens of stored talismans, she was best suited for evacuation.

  She realized this instantly too. She hesitated briefly—glancing at Qing Xuanling—but considering the situation, leaving the girl to face the demonic cultivator was the only viable choice, however dangerous.

  "Fine—I'll return as quickly as possible!" She gritted her teeth and ran toward houses still sheltering mortals. "I'll try to alert the others to come—especially Qing Linxi! With her, the situation will change completely!"

  Qing Ziyi ran away while the puppet children who could still move chased after her.

  With her departure, only Qing Xuanling, Instructor Huan, and the demonic cultivator remained—the latter observing everything with a smile.

  "I must say—I expected no less from Qing Huan. To make the optimal decision in an instant!" He smiled, offering sincere praise. "Pity that no matter what you do—you're destined to fall by my hands."

  "Remember the name Zi Moyan. That is the name of the one who will kill you."

  Instructor Huan regarded Zi Moyan for a moment—then turned to Qing Xuanling, completely ignoring him.

  "Ling'er—I'm sorry to burden you with this." His expression was pained. "You should have been the one evacuating villagers. At least that task was safer. But I cannot allow any chance of failure—I suspect these puppet children are meant to be bombs to breach our clan's walls in the city."

  Qing Xuanling was startled—she hadn't considered that. She smiled and shook her head, gripping her sword tightly.

  "Please don't apologize. I prefer it this way. I joined this mission precisely to face death's danger and grow stronger." Her blue eyes burned with battle intent. "Facing this demonic cultivator is exactly what I hoped for!"

  Instructor Huan smiled. This was why he'd grown fond of Qing Xuanling—the girl never shrank from a worthy fight!

  "Good—then help me behead this demonic cultivator!"