Chapter Twenty-Three: The Devourer of Souls

“Hey, hurry up and find something to eat, I’m starving here.” Jiang Qiang leaned comfortably by the lakeside, her body submerged from the shoulders down.

“That’s right, that’s right. Mo Han, go get something to eat.” Fang He shot out of the water, put his black-rimmed glasses back on, squinting as he rubbed his hands together.

“Damn it, Fang He, why don’t you go find food? I’m exhausted, no time for this!” Mo Han’s temper flared, and he snorted, sinking back into the refreshing clear lake.

“Big guy, big temper,” Fang He muttered under his breath.

“What did you just say?” Mo Han’s face darkened instantly. Fang He, with all his shameless tricks, always managed to sound so self-righteous that it nearly made Mo Han explode.

“No, no, nothing! I said you rest, I’ll go find food.” Fang He said, his small eyes signaling desperately to Jiang Qiang.

“All right, all right. How about you two go together? If Fang He runs into trouble, at least he’ll have someone to help him.” Jiang Qiang, almost instinctively, smoothed things over.

“Hmph!” Mo Han snorted, swimming out of the lake and heading into the depths of the greenery. He didn’t object to Jiang Qiang’s suggestion; matters of food were indeed the men’s responsibility. Besides, if danger did arise, Jiang Qiang, being a frail woman, would hardly have a chance to escape.

“Hurry up, Mo Han’s already gone, what are you waiting for?” Jiang Qiang urged, glaring at the grinning Fang He.

“Got it!” Fang He nodded, splashing after him.

“Finally, I can bathe in peace.” Jiang Qiang glanced around cautiously, as if guarding against thieves, then removed her damp clothes and laid them on the lakeshore.

A hundred meters away, under the green canopy—

“Seer, look, there’s shade over there,” Tang Ruyan keenly noticed the patch of greenery not far ahead.

“I’ve told you so many times, don’t call me Seer. It feels awkward. Call me Guan Qian. We’re classmates, aren’t we?” Guan Qian sighed helplessly. All along the journey, Tang Ruyan had treated him with a strange mix of respect and formality, a fact that troubled him. In contrast, he missed the cold, distant Tang Ruyan from their school days.

“Well… all right. Guan—Guan Qian!” Tang Ruyan nodded slightly, her lips pressing together shyly as she nervously twisted the hem of her clothes.

From birth to becoming a White Witch, this was the first time Tang Ruyan had directly called the name of the person she trusted most. It sent small ripples through her heart.

“Okay, wait here. That patch of shade seems a bit suspicious. We’re running low on water, so I’ll go look for a source.” Guan Qian noticed Tang Ruyan’s shyness and paused for a moment.

“All right,” Tang Ruyan replied hurriedly, head down, her cheeks flushed and unsettled.

Guan Qian glanced a few more times at Tang Ruyan’s sudden awkwardness, a natural smile curling his lips. Then he stepped into the shaded area, his mind lingering: ‘She seemed shy just now.’

The lush greenery was cool and refreshing, but carried a deadly silence.

Guan Qian immediately spotted the lake not far off. The water was crystal clear, utterly pure, a miracle in this wasteland—a divine anomaly.

With a swift movement, Guan Qian appeared at the lakeside. He crouched, scooped up water with his hands, and splashed his face. The fresh, sweet sensation swept away all his exhaustion from the night.

But then—

Suddenly, a figure burst out from the heart of the lake, leaving Guan Qian stunned.

The figure before him—

Long black hair, wet and draping over her shoulders; delicate brows beaded with sparkling droplets, giving her a playful air. Her lips were rosy and glistening, making them all the more alluring. Beads of water slid down skin as white and smooth as jade, tracing her curves with a gentle caress. Her full, firm chest held two glistening cherries, tempting enough to make anyone desire a taste. Beneath her slender waist, the water faintly reflected a dense, mysterious black thicket, both enigmatic and provocative. Water splashed around her fair thighs, exposing a gentle power.

It was Jiang Qiang!

A scream erupted—shrill and loud.

“Mo Han, what was that—just now?” Fang He pushed his glasses, stuttering nervously.

“Oh no, Jiang Qiang’s in trouble!” Mo Han turned and bolted.

“Wait for me, Mo Han!” Fang He, clutching wild fruit to his chest, stumbled after him.

Guan Qian, meanwhile, swallowed hard and spun around, his mind wiped clean by the enticing sight. His heart pounding, the white-eyed state faded away.

“Guan Qian! You bastard!” Jiang Qiang covered herself, cursing as she pulled on her still-damp clothes.

Just as she finished putting on her undergarments, Guan Qian turned back again.

“Ah—bastard! You’re still looking!” Jiang Qiang grabbed her pink shirt to shield herself, her face flushed deep red.

“Get out of the way!” Guan Qian’s eyes widened in shock.

Behind Jiang Qiang, a gigantic creature loomed. Its thick, vivid green stem, like a barrel, stretched from the depths of the greenery, ending in a monstrous crimson head shaped like a sun, its mysterious bud opening wide. A grotesque, beautiful face stared down from midair, venomous as a serpent.

It was a Soul-Eater Demon!

A beast that fed on the corpses of spectral beings.

“Ah—!” Fang He reached the lakeside, only to be so terrified by the scene that he fell backward, wild fruit scattering everywhere.

Mo Han, tense, hid among the trees, his back already soaked.

A sudden scream drew the Soul-Eater Demon’s gaze, its thick stem twisting toward Fang He.

“Oh my god, why are you looking at me?” Fang He’s face turned green; his scream had drawn the monster’s attention.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qiang sensed something was amiss under the demon’s nose. She clutched her pink shirt to her chest and twisted around.

Her shirt fell to the ground, and terror was written all over Jiang Qiang’s face.

“Ah—!”

With a piercing scream, the Soul-Eater Demon swooped down!

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