Chapter 29: Surviving the Critical Blow

"Ya, ya, ya, hehe..." Although no one appeared, an eerie sound—whether a triumphant laugh or some sort of signaling call—drifted from the dense jungle in the direction Huang Jianfen had just fled from.

I wrenched the metal spike free and, seeing it was identical to the ones used by Brother Wen and his group, a chill ran through me. "Could it be..."

I barely had time to brandish the spike and my hiking pole, positioning myself in front of Qu Xiang and Huang Jianfen, while keeping my eyes locked on the jungle.

Beside me, Huang Jianfen, supported by Qu Xiang, groaned in agony and pleaded, "Ah Jing, no... run, quickly, take them and go..."

"What’s wrong, A-Fen?" Lan Fang’s voice trembled; clearly, she had never seen someone covered in so much blood.

"It’s too late, run! Someone... someone wants to kill us all..."

"What are you saying?" At this moment, I couldn't even check on Huang Jianfen’s condition. Qu Xiang was too terrified to speak, and Lan Fang was silent.

But thinking of Huang Jianfen’s gruesome state, I had no time for doubt. I hissed at Qu Xiang, "Go! Xiangxiang, you support her, I’ll take Sister Fang, hurry..."

"Sister Fang, help me hold the iron spike!" There was no time for explanations; the crushing weight of danger seemed to be closing in. I scooped Lan Fang directly out of the tree hollow.

Surprisingly, Lan Fang did not resist. Seeing her terror, I knew we had no choice. After barking orders at Qu Xiang and Lan Fang, I dodged the aerial roots, clutched Lan Fang tight, and fled forward.

Qu Xiang finally snapped out of her daze. Even if she had been half-asleep, she was wide awake now, dragging and supporting Huang Jianfen as best she could.

My heart hammered against my ribs. Though I didn’t know where the danger was coming from, I knew I had to stick near the river. I sensed that leaving the water would only invite more peril. I gritted my teeth, weaving through the massive trees and the tangled aerial roots along the bank.

"Damn it!" I cursed inwardly. I didn't know if it was Brother Wen’s crew, but those distinctive spikes made the identity of our pursuers all too clear. My last shred of hope vanished.

If Huang Jianfen had been ambushed, did that mean Brother Wen and his men had turned on Peng Qian’s group?

I didn’t know how they had crossed paths, but in this rainforest, an encounter was inevitable in the struggle for survival. Looking at Huang Jianfen’s horrific condition, their outcome couldn't have been good, but I had no time—and dared not—to imagine the details. My only thought was to put as much distance as possible between us and the danger.

"Hahaha, ya-he-ya-ya..."

That terrifying sound echoed through the dark jungle behind us. I didn't need to see what was making it; Huang Jianfen’s state was proof enough. If we stopped, we would undoubtedly be skewered through the body. Carrying Lan Fang and leading Qu Xiang, I felt as if the danger was right at our heels.

My scalp prickled in the darkness. I didn't know how many were following us, but seeing how slowly Qu Xiang and Huang Jianfen were moving, my anxiety flared. I kept scanning our surroundings while keeping an eye on the others, all the while bracing Lan Fang. I had never felt so hyper-aware.

*Whoosh!*

Another sound of something cutting through the air came from behind. Recalling my own recent brush with death, I dove behind a towering tree, not caring if I hurt Lan Fang in the process.

*Thwack!*

Indeed, another iron spike. It had clearly been thrown like a javelin, landing exactly where I had been standing a second before. My scalp felt like it was going to burst. I gripped my hiking pole tightly and hissed at Qu Xiang, "Xiangxiang, you run first!"

"No, Ah Jing, I’m scared..." Her response left me speechless. If I hadn't been occupied, I would have slapped her. Such stupidity would get us all killed.

But seeing her concern, I swallowed my frustration. Before I could scold her, she acted as if she were fearless, dragging Huang Jianfen to my side. In the dark, I could see the tears in her eyes.

"Get out of here!" I was nearly choking with rage. But when I saw Huang Jianfen’s head loll forward—her face obscured by the shadows—my anger vanished instantly.

I knew she wouldn't survive this, but I had no time to mourn. I growled at Qu Xiang, "Are you trying to get us killed by staying?"

"I..." Qu Xiang realized her stubbornness, but in her panic and feeling Huang Jianfen’s waning strength, she was at a loss.

The massive tree offered us a moment’s respite. Looking back through a gap in the trees, I caught a glimpse of moonlight. A dark silhouette appeared in the distance, holding a sharp, gleaming spike, head tilted, sniffing the air as if tracking our position.

I couldn't tell if there were others, but the figure looked ready to launch another strike. Because of the poor light, I couldn't make out his features, but he was only twenty or thirty meters away. He wasn't very tall, but in the darkness, he looked like a rampaging ape with disproportionately long arms.

"Xiangxiang, look! Across the river, there’s a patch of tall, thick reeds by the water. Take A-Fen and hide in there!" Desperation drove me. If we kept running like this, we would be caught. Huang Jianfen was already mortally wounded; we were next.

I scanned the darkness, my survival instincts sharpening. I spotted the reeds along the riverbank—thick stalks and dense leaves. It was our only chance to evade or momentarily lose them.

Without a second thought, I pointed to the reeds and ordered Qu Xiang. She, clearly overwhelmed, didn't hesitate. She trusted me completely. She dragged Huang Jianfen toward the bank, stepped into the river, and waded in.