Delicious Hearts

Ji Jie received the message from her subordinates but did not bother to check it.

She kept the demon heart seed, left by Xiao Yuan, on her person, sensing its presence at all times, even though it resided within a storage artifact.

She believed that doing so would make her feel as if Xiao Yuan were always by her side.

The demon heart seed, dormant for many years, suddenly began to throb like a living heart.

Despite her surprise, her face was alight with excitement.

For some unknown reason, she had always felt that this demon heart seed was Xiao Yuan’s true form.

She was convinced that if she could only find a way into the Heart-Eating Demoness’s Lake Palace, she would surely be able to revive Xiao Yuan!

‘She absolutely would!’

When the demon heart seed began to behave strangely, she grew concerned about what might transpire and promptly took it out.

However, the demon heart seed’s immense demonic energy instantly sent her flying backward!

She had been well-hidden within the monkey cave, but this sudden display had undeniably exposed her!

In an instant, a horde of monkeys surged towards her.

Ji Jie’s concern, however, was not for herself, but for the demon heart seed.

As it floated suspended in mid-air, the sense of repulsion it emanated made her feel as though she could never touch it again.

“Roar—”

The monkeys lunged at her, yet before they could even reach Ji Jie, the demon heart seed abruptly swelled, transforming into a massive yellow dog, its form rapidly consumed by encroaching blackness.

The dog opened its maw, unleashing a powerful suction that drew the monkeys towards it.

“Thump—”

“Thump—”

“Thump—”

Blood instantly stained the cave crimson.

Without exception, every monkey bore a palm-sized bloody hole in its chest before being flung aside, the cavern reeking sickeningly of gore.

Terrified, the monkeys scattered wildly, each fearing they would be the next to be devoured.

The scene had long since spiraled out of control, even with the presence of the little female monkey who could usually command the troop.

“Xiao Yuan~~”

Ji Jie was stunned, unsure whether to feel delight or terror.

The demon heart seed, now a monstrous dog, bounded towards her.

In her mind, a sudden image of Xiao Yuan as a tiny creature materialized—how she used to obediently rush towards her, much like a puppy greeting its master.

‘Xiao Yuan had returned! This was wonderful!’

‘Though she had assumed such a hideous form, she was undeniably her Xiao Yuan! Once brought home, she could transform back into a little girl, and they could wear beautiful dresses together!’

‘They could also share delicious food.

She would be the happiest person in the world.’

“Xiao Yuan~~”

Ji Jie sprang up, a radiant smile gracing her face, and opened her arms wide to embrace Xiao Yuan.

She longed to welcome Xiao Yuan into her arms.

Unbeknownst to her, the massive black dog opened its blood-stained maw and lunged, aiming to bite her!

“Clang!”

In that critical moment, a Black-clad Swordsman suddenly appeared before her, drawing her sword and deflecting the monstrous dog aside.

She then gripped Ji Jie’s shoulders, shaking her urgently.

“Mistress! Mistress! What has gotten into you?!”

“Mistress!”

“Slap!”

A resounding slap.

Ji Jie abruptly snapped back to reality.

Her gaze fell upon Xiao Yuan, who had shifted targets in the distance, now attacking other monkeys, and her eyes filled with a myriad of complex emotions.

‘Xiao Yuan no longer recognized her.’

“Mistress! What was wrong with you just now! That was incredibly dangerous; you were nearly eaten!”

Ignoring the Black-clad Swordsman, Ji Jie rubbed her throbbing head.

‘What exactly had transpired?’

Just then, her communication talisman lit up again.

No, it had been glowing continuously; she was only just noticing it now.

As she moved to answer, she realized many of the messages were stagnant, indicating something terrible might have befallen the senders.

Fortunately, a few voicemails remained, starting with the dwarf’s fragmented words: ‘[Dem… dem…]’

The subsequent messages made her jaw drop in disbelief!

They all declared: ‘[Yue Ye Si has gone mad! Yue Ye Si is a demoness! Yue Ye Si is slaughtering their comrades!]’

“You see now, don’t you? Yue Ye Si is a demoness, and we are certainly no match for her!”

The Black-clad Swordsman steadied Ji Jie’s tottering form, her voice laced with concern.

“Mistress, you must flee! My brothers and I will surely buy you more time!”

“You want me to flee? What about Xiao Yuan?!”

Ji Jie decisively shook her arm free, refusing to escape.

Her eyebrows furrowed into a sharp ‘inverted eight,’ as she pondered how to confront the current predicament.

“I’ll go retrieve Tou.

He can still be used to threaten Yue Ye Si.

You’ve researched many forbidden arts; please help me figure out what has happened to Xiao Yuan!”

Before the Black-clad Swordsman could respond, Ji Jie lightly leaped up and darted towards the small alcove where Tou was hidden.

“Well, well! Since Mistress desires a more thrilling game, I shall see it through to the end.”

The Black-clad Swordsman turned, her sword adorned with eyes that blinked open and shut.

As she swung it, the eyes flew off, landing on some of the deceased monkeys.

Instantly, the monkeys seemed to revive, lunging towards Xiao Yuan, now the massive black dog.

She then tore open her cloak, revealing her muscular physique.

Any discerning observer, however, would immediately notice her abnormality: a colossal blood-red eye pulsed ominously on her chest.

It evoked the chilling aura of a primordial beast.

To find such a thing growing on a human body was truly terrifying!

“Demoness~~ allow me to witness your forbidden arts.

To battle a demoness in this life, and to die by her hand, would not be a life lived in vain! Hahahahaha! I truly look forward to it! I eagerly anticipate it!”

Her laughter twisted her body, which gradually became engulfed by the eyes within her, until only a single, crimson eye remained.

****

****

For some unknown reason, a sudden riot erupted outside.

The monkeys shrieked like pigs being slaughtered, their cries chaotic and deafening, rousing him from his nascent slumber.

The little female monkey, who previously commanded the entire troop, now watched the panicked, screaming monkeys with frantic leaps, utterly helpless.

Tou, too, stretched his neck out of curiosity to peer outside.

However, the sight of monkeys, their hearts gouged out, being mercilessly flung into the air—the spraying blood, the agonizing roars—

It was nothing short of a living hell, terrifying Tou so profoundly that he recoiled back into his corner.

‘It was too horrifying! If the monkeys were being eaten, then he would be next!’

“Master… where are you… I’m so scared… Wuwuwu…”

“Chirp chirp chirp!”

Tou wept with his head bowed, then felt a small monkey chirping by his ear.

Suddenly, his backside lifted off the ground as two monkeys hoisted him up.

“Don’t eat me! Don’t eat me! Please don’t eat me!”

Tou remained terrified, wriggling his body, desperate to escape the monkeys’ grasp.

Ordinarily, if Tou showed discomfort, wouldn’t the little female monkey chirp to instruct the others to release him?

This time, however, was different.

The monkeys did not release him; instead, they carried him to a nearby rock.

After the rock was pushed aside, a secret passage, wide enough for two people, was revealed.

The little female monkey leaped inside, and Tou was gently nudged in after her.

Following them, the other two monkeys also entered.

Even Tou, simple-minded as he was, could understand the situation!

This was an escape route, a way to leave that hellish, terrifying place, so he obediently followed.

The three little monkeys and Tou walked for five or six minutes within the passage, until at last, they saw a glimmer of light!

Outside, more monkeys scurried about, seemingly those who had managed to escape the cavern with great difficulty.

‘They kept fleeing outwards, hoping that by putting enough distance between themselves and the horror, they might still save their lives!’

Yet, the outside was no safe haven either.

The moon appeared to have turned blood-red, casting an eerie, sinister glow over the entire forest in the dead of night.

Furthermore, Tou spotted a massive, swirling vortex of darkness not far off.

This colossal maelstrom seemed like an all-destroying harvester, leaving trails of flying bloodstains in its wake wherever it passed.

The great vortex was moving rapidly, traveling in a straight line.

And its trajectory was directly towards Tou’s location!

Terrified, Tou was about to turn back, but he found the approaching figure strangely familiar.

He hesitated for a second, then realized it was his Four-Master.

Disregarding why Four-Master appeared as she did, Tou pushed aside the nearby monkeys and lunged towards her.

Tears welled in his eyes as he threw himself into Four-Master’s embrace.

“Master… wuwu… Master… you’re finally here! I was so scared… Please don’t ever leave me again… never leave me again… wuwuwu…”

“Tou… little Tou…”

“Master?”

Sensing something was amiss with his master, he looked up.

What he saw was Yue Ye Si’s face, a mask of sickly distortion, her mouth stained with blood, slightly agape, and the air she exhaled reeking of a heavy, metallic blood scent…

This sight made Tou’s stomach churn, and he felt an overwhelming urge to vomit.

Moreover, he was clutched tightly by Four-Master.

Her nails were impossibly long, smeared with fresh crimson blood, resembling blades freshly drawn from someone’s flesh.

“Little Tou… I like… I like you so much… Eat… Can I… can I eat little Tou… eat little Tou?

I love your scent so much… I want to eat you whole… to make little Tou a part of me… to keep little Tou inside my body forever… I love to eat…”

“Ma… Master… it hurts… no… don’t do this… I… Ah!!”

Tou felt a searing pain as his left shoulder was torn open, then clearly saw Yue Ye Si’s crimson claws slowly slide down from his shoulder, leaving five deep red finger marks that made him scream in agony, on the verge of losing consciousness.

Yue Ye Si’s palm then settled over Tou’s heart.

Her face was contorted with primal desire for his beating heart, her mouth agape, hot breath panting, as a string of blood-tinged saliva slowly trickled onto Tou’s body.

“Little Tou’s heart… just touching it makes my own heart tremble ceaselessly… This feeling is like… like the first time I tasted a heart… that sweet… unforgettable flavor… I want… I want to devour it whole… and I also… I also want to divide it into many portions… so I can eat Tou every day… eat Tou’s delicious heart…”

“Ah! I’m so torn! Tell me, little Tou, help me choose! Should I swallow your heart in one gulp, or should I divide it into countless pieces… and eat it little by little? Heh~”

‘Eat! He was going to be eaten by his master!’

His entire body trembled with fear, his voice quivering, and the rapid clatter of his teeth could be heard.

“Master… what kind of joke is this?! If you eat my heart… no matter what I choose… I’ll still die! You… who are you?! My master would never do something like this to me! Who are you exactly… Ah!! No… please don’t kill me… I… Master…”

Tou felt a sharp pain in his chest as Four-Master’s fingers sank into his skin.

He felt his heart pounding wildly, desperate to escape his body, desperate not to be eaten!

He was utterly terrified, beyond any fear he had ever known!

He could even envision his chest gaping open, a void where his heart once beat.

‘Terror! More than that, it was despair!’

“Little Tou… I’m going to begin now…”