Chapter 44: Mutation of the Leech, Diverting the Trouble Eastward

An hour later, Xie Jingxing led the other four to the Corrupt Moss Marsh.

The marsh was overgrown with moss that emitted a foul, decaying stench, and was teeming with unidentifiable insects.

Xie Jingxing held his breath and focused his mind, instructing his two junior sisters to clear a path with fire.

As for the two laborers, Jiang Youling and Qian Zefei, they followed far behind.

Wherever the fire passed, a continuous "crackle" of explosions could be heard. Countless venomous insects writhed and curled within the flames, turning into a sky of flying sparks.

Before the insect corpses could even hit the ground, they scattered into grayish-white ash in mid-air, falling helplessly like snowflakes.

Before long, a layer of grayish-white corpse powder covered the moss.

"Sss—"

At such a commotion, the Corrupt Poison Leech hiding deep within the marsh could no longer remain still. It lunged out from the swamp, charging toward Ying Chao.

"Watch out!"

Xie Jingxing's pupils constricted. He vaguely sensed that the speed of this Corrupt Poison Leech seemed to have increased.

Without hesitation, he mobilized his sword light, slashing toward the leech.

The sword light was as swift as lightning, striking directly at the leech's body.

Unexpectedly, the Corrupt Poison Leech twisted erratically in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow. Its mucus-like skin began to glow with an eerie green light.

Taking advantage of this moment, Ying Chao retreated several steps and threw the Fire Crystal Sand she had been clutching toward the leech.

The leech dodged frantically, but was still partially hit by the sand, which corroded small black holes into its body.

Seeing this, Su Qingyue quickly formed hand seals. A streak of fire erupted from between her hands, shooting straight toward the leech.

As the fire snake passed, the very air became distorted by the heat.

The leech let out a piercing "sizzle" as its body suddenly swelled in size. The mucus on its surface hardened rapidly, forming a translucent shell.

The fire snake collided with the shell, exploding into a blinding flash of light, but it only left a few charred marks on the surface.

"Its defense has increased!"

Fine beads of sweat broke out on Su Qingyue's forehead; clearly, casting the fire spell had consumed a significant amount of energy.

A sharp glint flashed in Xie Jingxing's eyes. His spiritual energy surged violently within him, and a piercing thunderous light suddenly erupted from his sword blade.

"Thunder Strike!"

With a loud roar, he unleashed a sword strike imbued with the power of lightning, hacking down toward the leech's head.

"Boom!"

The thunderous sword struck the leech's shell, triggering a deafening explosion.

A visible crack finally appeared in the leech's shell, and dark green bodily fluids seeped from the fissure, immediately corroding small pits into the ground where they dripped.

"It worked!"

Ying Chao's eyes lit up. She quickly pulled a crimson talisman from her robes, bit her fingertip to drip blood onto it, and shouted, "Go!"

The talisman ignited instantly, transforming into a line of fire that shot toward the leech's wounded area.

In pain, the leech let out a shrill, mournful cry. As its body writhed violently, the hardened shell suddenly burst apart, sending countless fragments flying in all directions like sharp arrows.

Xie Jingxing's expression shifted slightly. He quickly swung his sword to parry, creating a curtain of sword light to protect the three of them.

Even so, several fragments grazed his arm, leaving behind eerie, dark green bloody streaks.

Seizing the opportunity, the leech lunged forward, its speed so great it became a mere afterimage.

It no longer engaged the three of them, but instead lunged directly at Qian Zefei and Jiang Youling, who were watching from the rear!

"Not good!" Ying Chao's face changed drastically. "It's going for the junior brother and junior sister!"

Qian Zefei and Jiang Youling, who had been watching from a distance, were terrified to see the leech suddenly charging toward them.

Without a word, Qian Zefei turned to flee, but as he turned, his body shifted subtly and without a trace, precisely blocking the path Jiang Youling needed to retreat.

Jiang Youling was forced to a halt. By the time Qian Zefei cleared the way, the Corrupt Poison Leech was already upon her!

The hideous leech opened its mouth, which was lined with fine, sharp teeth, sending a wave of stench toward her.

Jiang Youling could even clearly see the venom flowing within its mouth.

With the scent of death so close, her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.

In this moment of crisis, Jiang Youling had no time to think. She immediately threw the Fire Crystal Sand—which Senior Sister Ying had given them for protection—violently at the leech!

Without spiritual energy to drive it, the effect of the sand was minimal, but as the leech's mouth gaped wide, the scorching sand fell into its maw, finally forcing it to snap its mouth shut in discomfort.

In the next instant, Xie Jingxing arrived with his sword. A streak of sword light carrying the power of thunder tore through the air, precisely striking the leech's already wounded area.

"Puchi!"

The blade cut deep into the leech's body, nearly slicing it in two.

A massive amount of dark green fluid sprayed out. The leech let out a heart-wrenching scream, its mangled body writhing and struggling frantically.

Ying Chao and Su Qingyue, unwilling to let such a golden opportunity pass, attacked simultaneously, driving their fire spells toward the leech.

The flames unleashed by the two intertwined, completely swallowing the leech.

Crackling explosions and bone-chilling shrieks echoed from within the flames. The leech's remains twisted and deformed in the fire before finally turning into a mass of charred, stinking ash.

Seeing the Corrupt Poison Leech defeated, Xie Jingxing finally looked at Jiang Youling. "Junior Sister Jiang, are you alright?"

Jiang Youling realized she was drenched in a cold sweat, but she shook her head. "I am fine."

"Junior Sister Jiang, I'm glad you're okay. That monster flying toward us just now nearly scared the soul out of me!"

Qian Zefei approached from a distance, exaggeratedly patting his chest.

Jiang Youling said nothing; she felt an instinctive dislike and repulsion toward him.

She did not wish to judge others with malice, but just now, had he not blocked her path, she would not have had to endure this life-and-death crisis.

Her intuition told her he had done it on purpose!

With her as a shield, regardless of whether she lived or died, he would at least be able to survive.

Hearing this, Xie Jingxing's gaze deepened slightly.

He had been watching from behind, and he had seen it clearly.

Junior Brother Qian could have easily run away, yet he had deliberately stepped in the way, blocking Junior Sister Jiang.

It was hard to say whether he had been startled and lost his footing, or if it had been intentional.

Su Qingyue did not notice the small interlude between the two. "It is good that everyone is safe. The last Corrupt Poison Leech is dead, and the Sangyu calamity has been eliminated. However, to be safe, it is best to carefully inspect the vicinity of the Corrupt Moss Marsh to see if any have escaped the net."

Ying Chao nodded. "Senior Sister Su and I will guard the east and west flanks, while Senior Brother Xie holds the southern pass. The northern terrain is flat and the venomous insects are sparse, so we shall trouble Junior Brother Qian and Junior Sister Jiang to keep a close watch there."

The arrangement was very reasonable, but upon hearing it, Xie Jingxing's eyes flickered.

"Junior Sister Jiang lacks experience and was frightened just now; her mind is unsettled. She shall patrol the south with me."

Ying Chao was slightly surprised but did not think much of it. "Understood."

Jiang Youling also breathed a slight sigh of relief. After experiencing what felt like an attempt on her life by Qian Zefei, she truly did not want to be near him.

Senior Brother Xie's arrangement suited her perfectly.

The group dispersed. Xie Jingxing led Jiang Youling toward the southern depression.

(End of Chapter)