[1. Beast Path]

When man is a beast, he is worse than a beast.

- Rabindranath Tagore, The Birds

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The gentle fall of the June frost has been replaced by the sinking night rain, and as if the dense rain flowers have stirred up the dark secrets in the deep soil, the lines covering the hills have explored endless chaos, and the perception is as if it has caught countless twisted black snakes or more terrible foreign objects, and the cedar has forced the disgusting and terrifying feeling in his heart, and strides forward towards the increasingly dense rain arrows.

Having been contacted by Clio and Jean, he led a large army to the Blossom Courtyard in the ominous and unbridled rain, hoping to reach the center of the conspiracy.

It must be stopped, this is no longer a black shrine, this is a curse, it is an atrocity. While she was still digesting the latest information provided by Clio and Jean, Cedar suddenly felt a withering sensation seeping into her perception in front of her—

"Enemy attack!" Nobu's voice sounded coldly, "All pay attention, the poisonous powder has seeped into the rain and flowed down!"

Was it the strange poison of Qinyuan's "oysters and beasts will die, and the oysters will wither"...... Cedar relies on the energy of the plant to unfold its prints, so it is no wonder that there is such a rapid decaying sense of intrusion in perception.

"How could Qin Yuan ......" Bi Fang on the side muttered shakenly, because the corrosive effect of the poisonous powder was still ahead, the demons were still skeptical.

"If you don't watch out, it's too late. With a cold warning, Noboru returned to silence.

The realm that I have managed to develop with great difficulty is gradually being destroyed...... Cedar bit her lip anxiously, and then Nominee comforted him softly: "Don't be afraid. ”

The whisper that understood his feelings was probably only heard by Alicia, who was walking side by side, and it would be reassuring to have that short sentence, Cedar smiled back at Ellie, who was looking at him with concern, and continued to stride forward, while also trying her best to think.

After spending the spring and summer together, Cedar felt that Nominee's voice contained anxiety and determination at the same time, and she must have considered coping, but she was still so silent, and she seemed to have said it before, hoping that she would be more independent like Harden and not rely so much on her judgment? So what should I do now......

"Ivan, what's wrong with your demons?" suddenly thought of Ivan's reconnaissance range, and he turned his head and asked.

"No problem, they're not slower than your prints, they're probably about to come into contact. "Being enslaved and climbing mountains in the rain consumes a lot of physical energy, Ivan replied gasping for breath.

"Can you use the power of ice? let your demon freeze the poisonous water flowing down first, and we'll surround her in one go!"

"Understood!" Although he was tired enough, Ivan responded immediately.

"I have to contact Abel and them......" Cedar sensed Abel's breath and quickly conveyed the current situation, "The snake seniors will freeze the poisonous water together, this rain has suppressed the poisonous powder, no problem!"

"Releasing a large amount of poison at once is also very difficult for Qin Yuan, and she won't be able to sustain it for long if she does this, so be careful to have a back hand," the envoy calmly rushed forward this time, and at the same time released his own hand-painted monsters, "At this time, these can be used, let the demon take the lead." ”

"That's a good point, but you're not going to kill Paris and them like this, are ......you? Want to intercept and kill Mr. He?" a sudden voice brought a wall of light that blocked the demons, and in the blue pattern unfolded in front of them, Rebecca appeared with Cleo, Zhaohua, and Sally.

"What......" Cedar exclaimed in shock, then looked at the envoy.

"Miss Bass, you can't still make me a villain now. "The monsters that will be blocked one by one will be recovered,The envoy smiled helplessly.。

"I'm just acting on Kerry's prophecy, not offended. Rebecca removed the barrier of the space partition and said with a smile as she turned around, "Kerry saw that you were going to fight with Mr. He soon, how can you say that it smacks of a personal vendetta?"

"The ability of the Dawn Herald is to see images of the future, isn't it? It's easy to be misled subjectively, isn't it, how do you know who's going to kill whom?" As if hearing a joke, the envoy smiled and looked at the pale Clio, "And it always feels bad to interfere with official business, what is the priority now, who is the dangerous enemy, do you have to change it with a sentence or two of subjective speculation?" Miss Nominee, you said that it would be too late to guard against Qin Yuan, right?"

"Don't worry, we've already met over there," Rebecca glanced at the faintly red ridge and smiled, "I still trust Mr. Ji and Mr. Mochizuki." And...... The last thing you need is to arrive at the Flower Blossom Temple, which seems to be the center of the spell and the place where the final monster is summoned. ”

That is to say...... Will I be sacrificed if I go there?" asked Bi Fang in horror.

"Seems to be," Rebecca shook her phone, "Mr. He's suggestion was that he and Jean and Komatsu go there, just the three of them. ”

"Mr. He said that?" Cedar asked, looking at the dim darkness of the commotion in front of him again.

"Well, he said he just housed the injured and is coming over with Harden now. ”

"Harden is coming, too?" he ......" Cedar couldn't help but be stunned.

"Isn't Harden also very good at suppressing the monsters who are in turmoil during the Purification Period?" Rebecca seemed to mean, "The monsters are afraid of him." ”

"I have no objection to the matter of purifying the soul, but why should Jean go?" the envoy always seemed to struggle with such minor issues.

"Jean is his sage lieutenant, his most trusted and close person, he reacts quickly and calmly, what's the problem?" Tengu said bluntly, "And he's also a giant, and he has a goddess curtain in his hand, so to be honest, he's the most suitable for protecting the Soul Purifier among the giants, right?"

"With his recent state of elusion, I have reason to worry that he will be dropped or have a different heart. The envoy's words were solemn, and I don't know how much of it was selfish and some of it was out of responsibility.

"Why don't I think you're right, even though you're right......" Tengu said in distress, snorting suddenly, "Lord Zhou, do you feel ...... Smell of blood?"

"Well, someone's coming. The cedar probed intently towards the edge of the forest, standing in front of everyone.

Is it hunger, madness, pain or curse, the low sound of crying and laughing, it really makes people stiffen and the pores of the body stand up!

"Don't be afraid!" heard the decisive voice of the tree in the fear of barely being able to move, and Cedar came back to his senses, his limbs still shivering as cold as he almost lost consciousness.

“...... It seems to be Mr. Jean. Turning her face sideways to see Ellie trembling slightly, Cedar stepped forward and spoke softly.

“...... Are you sure?" asked in a trembling shriek of eerie laughter, and Ivan stepped forward, assuming a defensive posture.

"What is this...... No way, this is an evil spirit, isn't it?like the voice of a ghost, hey, we shouldn't have fallen to this point through the courtyard, right?" Tengu couldn't help but let out his demonic aura and shouted.

Inspired by him, the demons finally recovered from their shock and fear, and waited for the battle.

"Isn't it decent when you have a common goal? The sound of crying and laughing was indifferent and crisp, and the moment the visitor emerged from the shadows and tall grass and bushes, the cedar almost stopped breathing—

Sheng, Tono –

The fair and almost transparent complexion, the light eyes like a full moon, and the beautiful face and resolute expression...... In the dim rain curtain, the perfect humanoid figure in black and white, holding the corpse, was like a dream demon.

No, it's like the color of the instant freeze slowly returns to abundance, the hair that sticks to the face when Konoha is parted is still dark red in the dark, the eyes that reflect the demons are as cold and blue as a frozen lake, and the figure holding the strange struggling body is slender but slender, belonging to the young man with an unknown background.

Jean ...... Mr. In the strange tragedy, he could only call in a low voice of trust, and Cedar slowly cast his eyes on the young man's arms, crying and laughing, and the indescribable horror of the unknown object-

"Komatsu, please. With a hint of sigh in his calm tone, Jean stretched out his arms softly, as if handing over a huge blood-stained swaddling cloth—

"How-" Cedar said in fear, and Cedar, who looked miserable, subconsciously stretched out his arms, "It's too miserable...... Senior, I'll ...... right away Cheer up!"

As soon as Cedar approached, he struggled violently to resist, shaking his blood-stained head like a madman, and then curled up like a gnaw on his abdomen, and grabbed the void with his hands like sticks for help and then suddenly drooped down, and his frenzied appearance could not be seen in his usual coldness.

"Senior Monk, it's me!" Where had he ever seen such a terrifying scene, Cedar took a step back in a panic, watched him struggle, crying and laughing as he was entangled in the goddess's curtain, and then held his mind to soothe and cover his forehead to release purifying mana.

"Yes...... Is the demonic power out of control?" asked Tengu worriedly behind him.

"He was chosen as a victim of the Black Temple, and after being eroded by evil spirits, he was also used to use the demonic nature of 'seeing a soldier', and he was about to be overdrawn in his life," Gene replied coldly as Cedar suppressed Gourd.

"Isn't your ability 'Seal Sleep'?" couldn't bear to see Xuan like this, Bi Fang asked softly, "Can't you...... Hold it down?"

"He was forced to raise Gu poison in disguise, and once he stopped, he would be devoured, and now he could only try to alleviate his pain. ”

"How can you be so cruel...... Tengu clenched his fists, "We are the only ones who are weak in the field of purification and healing, and if there is any need for the Purification Ceremony, I am willing to do my best!"

"You're still so upright and reliable, Tengu-senpai. But how could this have been just a trick?" Jean curled the corners of his mouth sarcastically, his gaze slowly examining the demons, "There are conspirators involved in the Black Temple, whether they know the same degree or not, they can already understand what kind of killing situation this is, right?" From Guangzhou to Tanzhou, Jiangling to Wuzhou, Luoyang to Chang'an...... Obviously, they worked together to not lose to foreign enemies, but in the end, what kind of organization did they become...... Now whose blood bears these, through the hospital. ”

"You ......," the envoy seemed to want to argue something, but finally sighed, "I can't pretend, I don't like the atmosphere of the Passage Courtyard after all." ”

Trying her best to channel her strength to Zen, Cedar listened to their words, and her heart sank like lead.

There is no need to go to Huakaiyuan, the root of the problem is not the Gu poison itself, but the person who performs the Gu poison. It is precisely because every tragedy is only aimed at superficial things that the perpetrators of tragedies will repeat it again and again.

"I've seen them all," the envoy sighed, "the Black Temple, the curse, the poison...... A fight without righteousness, is that what you want it to be?"

"Is there really anyone involved in this?" Tengu looked at the demons with wide eyes, "Is there such an accomplice in the group I know? Is it okay to do such a thing in order to get revenge on others? Is this what a demon should do? This is an atrocity that no beast would do!"

"In the same way, the barbarians and their husbands were also killed, and Paris and they are no longer running away, and are taking care of the barbarians. Rebecca continued, helping to hold up an umbrella for the rain-soaked cedars.

"Then the Yanshan they—" Cedar asked her as she wiped the blood from her face, bracing her spirits.

"It has been made clear that they fled because they were threatened, and if they don't go to Huakaiyuan, their relatives will be killed, Xiao Ruan has frequent contact with the deceased, and he is too scared. ”

Hearing this, the envoy looked at Jean, "Did he tell me who that was?"

"Fox brother Teng Xueyao, and Yonghe. ”

"Xue Yao......" Tengu was stunned, "Yes, my younger brother is called Xue Yao! Shi Xue is my brother, how could it be-"

"Brothers' names are swapped?No wonder Mr. Petra asked me to give a message to 'Shi Xue' at that time, in his eyes as an outsider, the nephew he knew was the healthy and active Shi Xue's brother!" Xue Song also reacted, "But why? and Yonghe's seniors...... Is he lying to me?"

"That's just the question of them," Tengu said, his brow furrowed suddenly, "Tsuyoshi is very cautious, and his 'nail thorn' is not far from him...... The weapon—"

"What is certain is that someone is using the core spike right now. Jean glanced at the top of the dark mountain and said lightly.

"There are five and six demons that have been chosen as victims," Clio added, "and their abilities are all related to turmoil and water harnessing, and I guess this is also to cater to the rituals of the Black Water Hime...... Using their characteristics to deal with and curse their own family members is really a vicious and perfect choice. ”

"Six ......," Tengu repeated, then sighed, "No one has noticed at all, how many days have they been in captivity like this?"

"I used to think that it was helpless to use violence to fight violence, but there should be no signs, how could it have evolved like this!" After being silent for a long time, Bi Fang shouted tremblingly.

Tengu turned his head with an inquiring look in his eyes: "What do you mean......"

Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, then clenched his fists: "Maybe it's the irrigation ...... She didn't die, it was disguised!"

“...... What?" Cedar looked up in shock, and then she jerked up with convulsions, causing him to hurriedly hold down the shiverers and spasms that she had suppressed, "Wait, she's ...... in front of me"

"She's an illusionist. ”

The tragic scene of someone else dying in front of him...... Is it actually fake? Cedar can't figure it out anymore, he is willing to work hard for the Academy, but is this deceitful place still worth his effort?

Being watched by everyone, Bi Fang lowered his head and said with little confidence: "She is not dead, she ...... She was just too scared to disappear. ”

Hearing this, Tengu laughed angrily, "Is it just like that? Does she know how much panic it will cause?"

"She's scared, she thinks it's a dead person...... It's a notoriously gloomy and weird, unsociable—"

"But what about the evidence, you are a giant, you should investigate it thoroughly!" "Lian Zhi's giant Feng Sui also felt that it was inappropriate, "It's too rash, isn't it also an overly neurotic guy, in case she wants to use fake death to take revenge on anyone, so that she can clear the suspicion!"

Bi Fang looked at the body bent into a bow with a complicated expression, and the mourning gossamer undulated and changed tone: "I...... I've really seen the kind of black shrine spell hidden in the house. ”

"Why didn't he share the information, did you know that his interest was linguistics? I should have talked to you all a long time ago!" Gene looked down at his victim, who was exhausted and exhaling intermittently after the seizure, and Jean was upset when he heard this, "He told us about the charm, and then he was ...... by the stupid deer No, Carlos he took over the research. ”

Tengu was stunned for a moment, then sighed: "He...... It's really close to those of you who don't belong to the Academy. ”

"Senior Bi Fang," said Cyridson after holding down the slump in the new seizure, "you...... Why didn't you say it before, mysterious whereabouts, black shrines, and spells, since these are suspicious, the Nine Giants should discuss and investigate together, right?"

"I knew it was too late, and I felt she had a reason to do that......"

"Then what? The follow-up should be Yan Shan's responsibility, Yan Shan he knows?"

“...... Xiao Ruan, he was asked by us, and he didn't know how to refuse...... Bi Fang looked quite remorseful, "Is he also threatened by the dead...... It's us who are not good. ”

The envoy sneered and shook his head: "As a senior, you are using favor and authority to harm him, the giant of faith." ”

In this regard, Bi Fang could only bow his head deeply: "I know...... I'm sorry for him. ”

"Senior Bi Fang," Jean said cautiously, "Apart from you and Xiao Ruan, there are still others who know about the irrigation, right?"

Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, and finally lowered his head: "...... Turn into a snake and irrigate him in a relationship. ”

"This ......," Tengu couldn't help but look at the ridge worriedly, "quickly find them again, it's hard to say if there is a problem with the snake, you still have to be careful." ”

Nodding heavily, Feng Sui couldn't help but sigh: "After all, I have to watch out for my colleagues, and I have been trying to stop ...... Why did it become a hell on earth?"

At this moment, a dark shadow loomed in the blood-colored darkness above, and after a while they could see Chongming and his party flying back in the heavy rain, looking tired and embarrassed.

"Qin Yuan's strength is beyond the usual impression, we are afraid of fraud, and finally let her cover the ghost mountain silver rat and escape," Shigeaki briefly explained, "The snake is injured again, and we will come back first after receiving the order." ”

Bi Fang looked at the snake whose face was like gold paper, gritted his teeth and endured the pain, and didn't know how to speak: "The snake ......"

"Did you say it?" looked at the eyes of the demons and guessed seven or eight points, turning into a snake and smiling bitterly, "That's also something that can't be helped...... I just want to hide her, Qin Yuan's business...... Believe it or not, I really don't know......"

Let Jean control the scar, Cedar was distracted and channeled part of the power to the wound of the snake, and asked tiredly: "...... the senior who instilled it now?"

"She said she was going to hide, and I didn't know where she was...... Listening to Qin Yuan's tone, I'm afraid-" The snake smiled weakly, "I want to believe her ......"

"Beware of colleagues and suspicions of lovers, and at the same time there are indeed bloody rituals and intrigue...... Hell on earth, this statement itself is extremely cruel and ironic. The envoy smiled bitterly, "So...... Why?"

"The grievances of abandonment, the despair of being used, the suppressed emotions, the knots of the past, the pain of not being able to find a way out, the disappointment of colleagues, probably because of these?"

Leading Harden step by step, He Yanfang was also looking up at him with a smiling face, looking directly at him through the night rain tainted with malice.

"Mr. He......" anxious but full of uneasiness, Cedar cast his eyes at He Yanfang as if asking for help.

"The six sacrificers are safe for the time being, the opponents who contributed to the flames have been hidden, and the current situation is not too bad," He Yanfang looked at the cedar pine, nodded lightly and comfortingly, and then looked directly at the envoy again, "Shang Bai Ze, wait for ...... Let's talk. ”

"Wait for the meeting to mean that after the soul is purified, I can't ask for it," the envoy squinted his eyes and smiled, as frivolous as the old but meaningful, "Sister-husband~"

Thinking of the prophecy that Cleo and the two would fight, Cedar couldn't help but want to stop: "You-"

But when he acted, everything began to distort and deform, and he could not stop falling into the trap of the unknown, and all that filled Cedar's heart was a sense of uneasiness. But there seems to be another voice in my heart saying, don't be afraid, don't run away, whether it's fault, truth or anger, let it be vented in this turbulent long rain, so as to solve the doubts that entangle your footsteps -

-

Teaser: "It's endless! Is this an illusion?"

"This ...... Whether it's stress or something else, it's probably a fantasy of our own construction. ”

"But who wants to live in an illusion like this!"

"The desire to escape, the desire not to be harmed, the desire to protect, constitute this cage that isolates the outside world. ”

"The way to return to the outside world is to untie each other's knots and accept the cruel truth that will eventually come. ”

The demon Guo who should have been at peace turned into an enemy battle, and the young man who was obsessed with ideals was still determined not to change. Caught in the repeated summer night rain feast, let them sing the ancient magic they dreamed of as a child, and transcend their sorrowful hell—

The next part, Hell's Heart.