novelraw Chapter 426: What Are These Monstrous Things?
Chapter 426: What Are These Monstrous Things?
Yu Zhao glanced at Feng Jiu Si, then at Shui Qiu Bai. Channeling her spiritual energy, she leapt from the Galaxy Starship, landing gracefully before flashing them a faint smile.
Disappointed, Feng Jiu Si and Shui Qiu Bai reluctantly retracted their hands.
Although disheartened, they had to accept that Yu Zhao wasn’t inclined to favor either of their attempts at goodwill.
Once everyone regrouped, Feng Jiu Si suggested, “Let’s explore nearby. Perhaps we can uncover information about this abandoned planet.”
If they could ascertain the planet’s origins, they might locate its coordinates on the Star Domain Map, paving the way back home.
None objected, but the group soon quarreled over how to divide into teams.
Tu Xiao withdrew from the competition, inadvertently increasing the odds for Feng Jiu Si, Shui Qiu Bai, and Huo Shao Yan. Each of them sought to pair with Yu Zhao, hoping to better their chances.
Amid their bickering, Tu Xiao’s temper erupted. “You’re squabbling over teaming up with a useless burden! Are you all regressing in life?”
His words reeked of hostility.
Before Yu Zhao could respond, Feng Jiu Si and the others stepped forward to defend her.The scene mirrored the day when Jin Yuan had tried to make things difficult for her.
Tu Xiao was livid. “Fine! If you’re all so keen on shielding her, stay here and argue. I’m leaving!”
With a dramatic flourish, he disappeared into thin air.
Though his injuries weren’t fully healed, and this was an unknown, barren world, Feng Jiu Si and the others couldn’t just let him wander off alone.
After exchanging glances, Feng Jiu Si gave chase, leaving Shui Qiu Bai and Huo Shao Yan to team up with Yu Zhao.
Huo Shao Yan muttered under his breath, “What’s wrong with Tu Xiao lately? His temper’s getting worse.”
Shui Qiu Bai shot him a glare to shut him up and pointed in another direction. “Let’s check over there.”
“Alright.”
The three ventured in the opposite direction of Tu Xiao’s departure.
Yu Zhao had already sensed this was an abandoned planet while aboard the Galaxy Starship. Yet, standing on its desolate soil, she could truly feel the decay emanating from its core.
Jagged cracks scarred the land, riverbeds lay parched and broken, mountains stood severed in half, and a haze of dust swept over the scene. Every corner seemed to tell tales of past grandeur, now reduced to whispers of death.
The sky above lacked its usual blue splendor or white clouds, instead shimmering with an eerie hue of blue-violet, streaked occasionally by silvery bands of light.
The silence was suffocating, as if the darkness was poised to devour them whole.
Yu Zhao’s heart wavered, her spirit momentarily detached.
Before she could ground herself, Huo Shao Yan let out a dramatic wail, snapping her soul back into place.
Tears streaming, Huo Shao Yan pounded his chest, looking genuinely heartbroken—far more convincing than his earlier theatrics in Yu Zhao’s presence.
Even Shui Qiu Bai, who’d felt the oppressive atmosphere himself, had his brooding cut short by his hapless cousin.
Striding forward, he delivered a crisp slap to Huo Shao Yan’s head, jolting him back to his senses.
The slap was simple, crude, but remarkably effective.
“W-what just happened to me?” Huo Shao Yan stammered, wiping his tears and sniffing.
“This place is peculiar. Stay vigilant,” Shui Qiu Bai said, his face stern.
Yu Zhao and Huo Shao Yan nodded, heightening their guard.
…
Elsewhere, Feng Jiu Si found Tu Xiao sitting atop a protruding rock, sulking.
Seeing Feng Jiu Si approach, Tu Xiao turned away with a sneer. “Why aren’t you off pandering to that little tramp? Why bother with me?”
Feng Jiu Si’s expression flickered for a moment, but he quickly composed himself and chuckled. “You know what she’s like. Why waste your energy on her?”
The smile on Feng Jiu Si’s face, gentle as a spring breeze, dissipated Tu Xiao’s anger almost instantly.
Tu Xiao’s gaze softened, a trace of infatuation slipping into his eyes. He marveled—when had he started finding Feng Jiu Si so strikingly handsome? Handsome enough to outshine any beauty.
“Tu Xiao?”
Feng Jiu Si, unnerved by Tu Xiao’s stare, had a fleetingly absurd thought but dismissed it immediately.
They’d grown up together. If Tu Xiao harbored any unusual inclinations, surely, he would’ve noticed by now.
Tu Xiao huffed and stood. “Since you’re here begging, I’ll let it slide. But stay away from that woman. She makes me sick.”
Feng Jiu Si’s gaze lowered, concealing the doubt in his eyes. “Fine.”
“Good. Let’s move forward and find clues before they do.”
With that, Tu Xiao dashed ahead with his usual decisiveness, leaving Feng Jiu Si to trail after him, deep in thought.
…
Three days later, Yu Zhao and her group returned to the Galaxy Starship.
Huo Shao Yan scanned the surroundings. “Weird. Why aren’t they back yet?”
“They might’ve found clues,” Yu Zhao suggested.
Huo Shao Yan scoffed. “If we didn’t find anything, how could they?”
“Maybe…”
Before they could finish speculating, they simultaneously looked skyward.
In the far distance, a patch of murky mist arose. In mere moments, it expanded, blanketing the sky, surging toward them with alarming speed.
A loud, buzzing hum followed.
At the forefront of the mist were two small dots. Upon closer inspection…
Not dots—Tu Xiao and Feng Jiu Si.
Behind them was a massive swarm of Undead Moths, their enormous maws gaping hungrily.
“What the hell are those things?!” Huo Shao Yan shrieked, paling visibly. Few knew the fearless Huo family scion had an intense fear of bugs.
Legs trembling, he clung to Shui Qiu Bai’s sleeve. “Cousin, what do we do?!”
Shui Qiu Bai frowned, troubled. From this distance, he couldn’t gauge the moths’ strength, but judging by the duo’s frantic escape, even the combined effort of their group might fall short.
There was only one solution: flee the planet and outpace the swarm.
“Intercept them. Prepare to board the Galaxy Starship at any moment.”