Qiong's heart was pounding like a drum!

Just escaped the clutches of Chis, only to become a captive of an unknown existence in the blink of an eye!

He initially thought that Dragon Man was an outsider, but now he realized—just like Chis, it was entrenched in the middle level!?

Even more suffocating was the fact that this Dragon Man seemed to be in symbiosis with... a group of bizarre mushroom-shaped creatures?!

The intense cold of the Far North should have exterminated all fungi, Qiong had never seen Puki before.

Just by its seemingly soft and powerless appearance, Qiong instinctively categorized it as a weak demon.

However, being able to coexist with the ferocious Chis on the same level... the truth was clearly far from what it seemed!

Not to mention these complex issues, what truly worried him was that, just in front of his eyes, the Puki had sprinkled something unknown on Hunt, and now these things seemed to have grown into Hunt's body!

From what he saw, without a doubt, these mushrooms intended to use them as nutrients and consume them!

Qiong pushed away a few Puki beside him with all his might, attempting to struggle and resist, but an icy hand, with undeniable power, forced him back to the ground!

As he turned his head—there stood a towering figure, with skin as pale as paper, and... a pair of sharp fangs tinged with a hint of blood red!

"Vampire?" Qiong's voice was distorted by extreme shock, "You... you're from the Empire!?"

Qiong was momentarily thrown into confusion, utterly unable to comprehend why people from the Empire would appear in the middle layer of the Stone Castle Dungeon, let alone why they would capture them.

Louisa rolled her eyes, too lazy to explain.

The boss initially intended to let the Puki daze this Demon Race with Hallucinogenic Spores before crippling the parasite, but he struggled out ahead of time.

Might as well just proceed this way!

She embraced the struggling Qiong, restraining his arms, and then bit into his neck.

"Ugh..." As life swiftly drained away with the warm blood, Qiong's resistance quickly weakened, and his consciousness began to blur.

Louisa, opposite him, was indulging in the deliciousness.

How long... had it been since she tasted such fresh blood?

This sweetness, imbued with the unique power of the Demon Race, was incomparably delightful, unlike the crude blood of Cave Dwellers or Minotaurs, making Louisa close her scarlet eyes in satisfaction.

"You don't intend to drain him dry, do you?" The boss's voice was like cold water pouring down.

Louisa instantly sobered, hesitantly withdrawing her fangs from his neck.

She wiped away the blood from the corners of her mouth, solemnly shaking her head to show she had restraint!

Lying on the ground, Qiong's vision dimmed, with only the remaining strength driving his arm to futilely reach towards the unconscious Hunt...

Poof—

In the last of his consciousness, a Puki's short foot lightly stepped on his chest, the swirling spores covering his entire body like fine snow.

He too would be consumed by these mushrooms, just like Hunt...

-----------------

"Ah, I see now, no wonder you all ended up here."

Lin Jun instructed while greeting the two injured Demons, "Run another trip! See if the meatball that exploded just now is still there, pick it up if possible."

Something so treasured by Chis must be valuable!

Upon waking, Qiong was shocked to find that he and Hunt were still alive, not only alive, but Hunt seemed to have recovered from severe injuries!

Although his hands were shattered, at least for now, he was not in mortal danger, with even several wounds filled by that parasitic entity.

What consequences this bizarre healing method would bring, Qiong didn't know, but Hunt surviving was a good thing, anyhow!

Hunt, however, was much calmer.

Given Chis's unusual behavior, this group calling themselves Puki were probably not benevolent.

But Hunt had little choice; several attempts to lie during their exchanges were inadvertently pointed out by the other party.

He could only vaguely explain some things, carefully avoiding mentioning the tribe's location and situation.

Fortunately, the other party seemed genuinely disinterested in the Demon Tribe, sparing no more questions.

"Well, you too are driven into a corner by Chis, one has to survive after all!" The Puki before them shook head and sighed empathetically, "Just like our Puki family, naturally loving peace! But Chis, jealous and constantly attacking, plundering, and burning, forcing us into fights..."

Qiong couldn't help but touch his neck, where two fang marks remained.

Lin Jun noticed, willingly explaining, "Ah, Little Pig was a bit greedy, but she knows her limits, consider it a 'blood reward' for saving you!"

"Little Pig..." Qiong's gaze involuntarily drifted towards Louisa not far away.

The latter immediately turned her face, pretending to study the shadow in the corner.

"A token of gratitude for saving our lives, some reward is expected, we don't mind." Hunt calmly accepted the conversation, speaking on behalf of Qiong.

After a brief exchange, the Puki brought over two bowls of strange, glowing thick soup.

"What is this..."

"Mushroom soup, aren't you hungry?"

After several brushes with death, claiming not to be hungry was impossible.

Yet... being offered mushroom soup by a bunch of mushroom demons? And it's the glowing kind?!

The scene was as bizarre as could be.

Ultimately, it was Hunt who steeled himself and consumed it. After all, their lives were in the other party's hands, worrying was futile!

Once a whole bowl was downed, a hint of surprise flashed across Hunt's eyes. Though the mushroom soup didn't taste fantastic, once ingested, the warm energy quickly filled his weary body!

Qiong felt a bit embarrassed but asked for another bowl.

"No worries, eat as much as you like, they're just mushrooms, I have plenty here!"

After a satisfying meal, Hunt tentatively suggested leaving, and surprisingly, Puki agreed readily.

"With your bodies so weak, perhaps rest for another one or two days before leaving is best." Puki seemed genuinely concerned for their well-being.

"Thank you for your kindness, but after all that has happened, our tribe might be awaiting our news." Hunt replied.

"True enough, take these!" Lin Jun empathized.

A Puki timely handed over a bulging leather pouch, putting it into Qiong's hands, filled to the brim with mushrooms, "Take these with you for the journey."

As they left, Hunt saw from a distance some Puki handling the remains of Chis.

He passed by Norris, who had made another trip back in vain—Chis had already retrieved all the bodies.

The Puki escorted them all the way to the upper level, then waved their mycelium tentacles as farewell.

————

"Hunt," Qiong looked back at the shadowy silhouette of the ancient castle, his voice tinged with hesitation, "These Puki... seemed fairly friendly towards us?"

Hunt didn't respond immediately, instead letting out a deep sigh, as if releasing all the turbid air from his chest.

The sigh crystallized into a white mist in the cold air, lingering long.

"... Let's hope so."

"What do you mean?"

Hunt raised his half-arm, the mycelium intertwined with the demon pattern and flesh.

"Qiong," his gaze pierced through the wind and snow, looking towards the northern wasteland, "Maybe... what we should do now is to keep heading north without looking back, go to a place without our kin, and then... quietly die there."

He paused, his voice full of hesitation, "But everything we've seen, experienced... all the information about Chis, about those mushrooms, about this Underground City... it must also be sent back to the tribe."

Qiong thought much more straightforwardly, firmly saying, "Hunt! Wherever you go, I'll go! Even in death, we'll stick together!"

Hunt stopped, looked at him for a few moments, and ultimately couldn't bear bringing him to death without clarity.

"Let's go back and see the elder first. If it doesn't work, let the tribe migrate south sooner..."

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