Legend of the chosen ones: Beyond Destiny

Chapter 1222 620: Mending the Wolf's Den (Part 3)

Amidst a vibrant scene of life, the marketplace by the lake was bustling with activity.

Having grown accustomed to desolate and dilapidated sights, witnessing the oasis before them was so beautiful it left them speechless.

"Take a picture, take a picture, Ji Jue, help me take a photo!"

An Ning shoved the phone into Ji Jue's hands, jumped off the vehicle first, casually grabbed a passing little lamb to hold up, posing happily.

After taking the picture, she pulled Ji Jue in for a selfie.

They were full of joy.

Clad in robes with the Central Earth style, they used the worn and tattered car skin of Little Ox and Horse as a disguise, blending in with the various modified cars of the junk traders, and managed to mix into the crowd.

On the marketplace, people came and went.

The tents around were densely packed, subtly divided into several different sections.

The settlements of nomadic people were always on horseback, relocating constantly with the pastures and water. The appearance of the Earth Spring was undoubtedly a grand event, with all nearby settlements gathering together, seizing this opportunity to exchange goods.

Even though the goods for sale were merely second-hand items from various places, low-quality medicines, digital products, and even clumped rice and flour.

Rather than a marketplace, it would be more apt to call it a festival.

Every sun-spotted, tanned face had a smile, the broken speakers played traditional dances from the White Country, and children ran between the stalls.

Seeing new customers arrive, the vendors shouted even more energetically.

Ji Jue remained silent, not speaking.

Wandering through the marketplace, observing his surroundings, just like a newcomer.

But gradually, the smile became frozen on his face.

Until he could no longer smile.

He stayed silent, instinctively gripping An Ning's arm tightly, not allowing the young girl whose hair stood on end to leap up.

"Ji Jue!"

An Ning widened her eyes, but there was no smile, only solemnity.

Ji Jue did not speak.

He raised his head, staring at the smiling faces.

He opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but no sound came out.

All he could see was a scene of bustling noise, amidst the comings and goings, each smiling face entwined with strands of crimson.

Entangled within each person's soul.

Without exception.

An ominous malice gradually emerged from beneath the smiles, an unbearable thirst surged within each empty soul, like needles on his back.

It chilled Ji Jue to his core.

Bang!

A running child bumped into Ji Jue, falling to the ground.

After getting up, he turned to look at Ji Jue's face, stunned for a moment.

"Big brother..."

The innocent child looked up in confusion, examining his subtly twitching expression, somewhat fearfully, "Are you okay?"

Ji Jue still remained silent, looking down at him.

After a long time, he tried to smile, but his lips wouldn't move.

Yes, I'm fine.

He should say this, but such words, no matter what, just wouldn't come out.

Stop pretending, Ji Jue.

Inside, a cold voice told him again and again: Stop pretending!

So, Ji Jue closed his eyes.

In silence, he gave an empty smile.

"Kill them all."

He said, "Slaughter every one of them, don't leave a single one."

In that moment, Ji Jue finally released his grip, and the shackles disappeared.

Bang!

An Ning decisively waved her hand, the dazed child frozen in place, his expression of confusion and fear fixed, a crimson bloodline appeared.

As he fell back, blood gushed forth.

Immediately, An Ning waved her hand again, one after another beams of light shot from her fingertips, darting out like birds in flight.

In an instant, crowds of people collapsed like wheat being mowed down.

Screams rang out, echoing one after another.

Cries of terror, screams of fear, and heart-wrenching calls, calling out the names of the deceased.

The vast marketplace, amidst the slaughter, turned into Hell in an instant.

But did it really just turn into Hell now?

Or was it earlier...

Amidst the screams and cries, Ji Jue bent down, reaching out, touching the child's corpse in the mud, the familiar crimson color gushed forth.

Not just blood, but also the dissipating spiritual matter, gradually exuding poison...

So familiar.

"Blood Thirst Syndrome..."

Ji Jue pinched the blood at his fingertips, watching intently, as if suddenly realizing, he gave a soft laugh: "You're truly a genius, Shekri—"

No response.

Only amidst the wailing, a low resonance gradually emerged, like the grinding of teeth, thirsting breaths.

Amidst the crimson and corpses all over the ground, one after another lifeless bodies began to twitch unbelievably, violently convulsing, clawing their way back up!

Their eyes turned white, empty and hollow.

Only crimson red.

They trembled violently, crawling on the ground, rapidly mutating as jaws protruded from their mouths, sharp teeth and nails growing quickly, revealing their true forms in an instant!

Blood Thirst Syndrome third stage!

—Mutant Creature: Ghoul!

At this moment, under the observation of the Hanging Elephant Mirror, the entire marketplace was already shrouded in crimson.

During the continuous celebrations and trade in recent days, beneath the seemingly normal surface, the incubation period of the Blood Thirst Syndrome virus spread and expanded silently, the elderly, children, men, women, without exception.

All deeply afflicted, reaching the marrow.

Their flesh and souls consumed and emptied, leaving only the deliberately preserved 'shell' on the outside.