Chapter 17 Drifting Away

In an instant, the entire village lit up, the fires exceptionally bright against the dark mountains. Jiang Cheng immediately thought of the earlier story, about the bandits who mysteriously vanished from their stronghold, only for fires to suddenly appear at night.

"It...it's moving."

Someone's lips trembled as they uttered these words.

Indeed, the fires in the village were moving, wriggling slowly like living things. First, they gathered together, then arranged themselves into two uneven rows, advancing stiffly in a single column in one direction.

Jiang Cheng didn't know what words to use to describe the feeling. Macabre, eerie, rigid…each word seemed insufficient. In short, these things before him were definitely not human; they were more like demons and monsters crawling out of some unholy place.

But now, Jiang Cheng was more interested in where these ghastly things were going.

They didn't seem to have noticed them, but everyone knew they had been lured here. Next, they would continue to attract them, leading them to tonight's true destination.

The fires flickered, like a group of mindless walking corpses, moving further and further away.

Number 13 watched, anxious, and squeezed out a question between clenched teeth, "What do we do? Follow them or not? Say something!"

Before anyone could answer, a burly man behind them leaned forward, his voice trembling as he reminded them, "Mr. Luo, our communication with the previous team is down. And our communication with the outside world is also having problems. The communication lines are full of meaningless static."

"Use the backup lines," Luo Yunshan said, his face grim, without turning his head.

The burly man swallowed and said with a hint of helplessness in his cautious voice, "We've tried. We've already switched three lines, but it's all the same. The communications officer said it must be...interfered with by something. He's trying to identify the source of the interference."

Jiang Cheng frowned, thinking there was no point in investigating. It was definitely related to these strangely appearing fires. These things didn't want them to leave and would naturally cut off their connection with the outside world.

"I'm afraid we can't leave now. I suggest we follow them and see what's going on," Jiang Cheng suggested.

Hearing this, the burly man's face became even more tense. "Follow them..."

"Yes, it's the only way. If these things could lure us back to the stronghold without anyone noticing, they can do it again. We can't escape these mountains," Number 2 analyzed calmly.

"That's right, I agree. Mr. Sheng and the others must have gone through the same thing. I want to see what these damn things are up to," Number 13 said, his concern for Lin Wan'er and Luo He evident in his voice. "And I've recovered a lot now. If we really encounter a huge crisis, I can use my ability. I will do my best to ensure everyone's safety, please believe me."

Although Number 13 was a child, his tone and attitude were incredibly serious when he said these words, and the determination in his eyes impressed everyone.

As the team's apparent leader, Luo Yunshan turned to look at the man. "Do as they say. Pass the word, everyone prepare their equipment and travel light."

It was clear that the man, although afraid, still resolutely carried out the order. Everyone was afraid to turn on their flashlights and could only sneak along carefully by the faint starlight.

Fortunately, the fires ahead were very conspicuous in the dark, so they didn't have to worry about losing their target. They left various markers along the way. If they were all wiped out, these would be the last clues.

The two teams were not very far apart. Apart from the sound of the wind, there was no sign of life in the mountains. Enshrouded in the night, the entire mountain was completely different from its vibrant daytime self.

Darkness was like a line between life and death, separating day and night. After nightfall, the mountains became another indescribable world.

Following behind the other team, Jiang Cheng and the others gradually noticed something was wrong. The other team's speed didn't seem fast, but in reality, they were slowly increasing the distance between them. As time passed, their speed increased, and the distance between the two groups gradually widened.

"This won't work. At this rate, we'll be left behind sooner or later," Number 2 said, his eyes gleaming. "Tell the people behind us to speed up. Get rid of any unnecessary weight in your backpacks and travel light."

Looking at the exhausted figures behind him, Fatty couldn't help but say, "No, we can do it if we go faster, but their physical strength can't keep up. If we keep going like this, people will start to fall behind."

The burly man behind them was already exhausted. It was a mountain road, and the terrain was complex. Including the afternoon, they had been trekking in the mountains for six or seven hours. Even an iron body couldn't take it. Hearing Fatty's words, he immediately said, "How about...how about this? The mission can't be delayed. You guys go ahead. I'll lead a team to take care of the brothers who can't keep up, and make sure no one is left behind."

"How can we do that? What kind of place is this? Once we separate, then you..."

Fatty stopped there, not continuing, but everyone understood that this separation was likely to be forever. Without them to keep watch, these people would be lambs to the slaughter if they encountered any danger in the mountains, even if some of them were also disciples.

"That's right, we can't separate." Jiang Cheng seemed to realize something, and his expression changed. "Have you thought about what their real goal is?"

"Isn't it to lure us to a certain place?" Fatty asked casually.

"Yes, but have you thought about why these guys are walking so fast if they just want to lure us over? Aren't they worried we won't be able to keep up?" Jiang Cheng asked.

Luo Yunshan nodded, seeming to understand what Jiang Cheng meant. "These guys want to wear us down, make us split up, and then defeat us one by one."

"That's right, that's the idea."

After figuring this out, Jiang Cheng and the others slowed down. In their estimation, the guys ahead were just bait. They seemed to be about to shake them off, but in reality, it was just an intentional illusion. The other side wouldn't want to lose them, a big fish.

But to everyone's surprise, they were quickly proven wrong. The team in front walked faster and faster, not indulging them at all, until they finally disappeared from view completely.

Now everyone was dumbfounded. The situation was completely different from what they had imagined. All the equipment they had was malfunctioning, and the compass needle spun wildly. They had no idea where they were. Looking around, the mountains were high and the forests were dense. Jiang Cheng suddenly had a feeling of terror, as if they had been completely forgotten by the people outside the mountains.

The next second, his eyes caught something, and his pupils contracted violently.