Chapter Thirty-Three: Escape from the Basement

Craven's limbs were being fought over by the mechanical beasts. They eyed each other warily, filled with mutual hatred; none had tasted blood for countless years, so every morsel of food became a prolonged battle. Because the beasts hindered one another, their progress was painstakingly slow. But this was only temporary. Once they realized this was no longer a prison and there was prey enough for all, they would scatter like wild stallions, unleashing carnage. At that point, escape would be nearly impossible.

...

Liang Zhi and Qiu Shilu immediately returned, found a small cart, and had Qiu Shilu push the lambs, leading those victims still able to walk away from the livestock chamber. Next to the livestock room was another large space, resembling a vast warehouse, filled with stacks of tobacco. More than thirty people worked within, all wearing gas masks, as a peculiar fragrance lingered in the air. Hanging above, suspended by iron chains, were four shrunken figures, shoulders hunched and heads drooping. Some of their skin had peeled away, revealing robust metallic structures beneath.

“Those are... mechanical beasts—Smoke Fiends!” Qiu Shilu cried out.

Liang Zhi pinched his nose, frowning. “What exactly are Smoke Fiends?”

“They’re humanoid mechanical beasts, said to be only slightly stronger than ordinary people. But they can release an intoxicating scent that ensnares the senses. Humans exposed to it grow addicted, craving more until their bodies waste away.”

Qiu Shilu glanced at the piles of tobacco and realized, “No wonder the premium cigarettes from Little Lanting Tobacco dominate the industry—it’s all thanks to these Smoke Fiends!”

“Regardless, we shouldn’t linger here. Let’s leave at once.”

The two hurriedly pushed the children towards the large room’s opposite door, with Qiu Shilu snapping a couple of photos as they went. Some workers tried to block their way, but Qiu Shilu knocked them aside with a single blow. Cutting through resistance like a blade through bamboo, they soon reached the other door with the victims, relief washing over them.

After a brief pause, Liang Zhi’s expression changed. “This route is circular. If we keep going, we’ll end up back in the earlier area—there’s an elevator there, but also mechanical beasts.”

Qiu Shilu and Liang Zhi exchanged a glance and nodded. “Looks like we have no choice but to go back!”

Bang!

The door was kicked open again; the workers who had just been frightened by Liang Zhi and Qiu Shilu stared in disbelief.

...

How had these two returned so quickly?

Ignoring the workers, Qiu Shilu and Liang Zhi split up. Liang Zhi scanned the surroundings, then fixed his gaze on several chains, placing his hands against them. Seconds later, the chains snapped, and the four Smoke Fiends dropped from the ceiling! The chains he broke were the source of their bondage.

Freed at last, the Smoke Fiends’ crimson eyes swept the room. These humans had kept them chained, forcing them to emit their intoxicating smoke for cigarette refinement, for untold ages. Now, liberty was theirs—and the hour of slaughter had come.

One Smoke Fiend pounced upon a worker, tearing away his gas mask, then sunk yellowed metal teeth deep into the flesh—a horrifying spectacle. The others chased and hunted the workers throughout the warehouse.

Employees above, in the wooden loft, might have been simple laborers, but those working in the basement were all accomplices to the crimes of Peach Blossom Spring.

Meanwhile, Qiu Shilu found a large metal sheet, suspended it in midair, then brought her full strength down in a mighty swing of her hammer!

Boom!

A deafening clang echoed, numbing everyone’s ears and carrying far beyond the room. Liang Zhi and Qiu Shilu rushed out, sealing the door completely with their abilities, ensuring the workers inside could not escape.

Now, all they had to do was wait.

Less than a minute later, something even more terrifying entered the warehouse. Human screams, beastly roars, and the sounds of flesh torn by metal filled the air.

Liang Zhi and Qiu Shilu led the victims away, taking a roundabout path. The mechanical beasts were ferocious; to escape the basement with the children, the elevator was their only hope. Otherwise, even with Qiu Shilu’s prodigious strength, carrying them up the stairs without harm would be nearly impossible.

But reaching the elevator was dangerous. What could they do?

The only way was to lure the beasts away—using the lives of all the warehouse workers.

They dashed forward, hearts pounding, until at last they reached the place where Craven had waited for the elevator.

...

Liang Zhi frantically pressed the elevator button, and after a moment, the doors opened.

Inside, the elevator was a scene of carnage—scattered limbs, fragments of metal, more horrifying than any crime scene. The victims, women and children, trembled in fear, but despite their terror, they had no choice but to enter.

As the elevator ascended, everyone was swept up in the joy of survival.

Except for Qiu Shilu.

Her beloved hammer, too heavy to carry, had been left behind in the basement.

“Don’t be sad. I can make you an even cooler one next time—have you heard of the Drum Jar Gold Hammer?” Liang Zhi comforted her.

Craven had been unlucky; the elevator had previously been unusable because Xie Zhitu’s ability had jammed it. Now, with his power withdrawn, the elevator operated again.

Ding!

The elevator reached the top floor, and Xie Zhitu stood at the door, closing his novel.

Liang Zhi eyed the spotless Xie Zhitu with a slight frown. “You got here early?”

Xie Zhitu gave a formulaic smile. “I just arrived as well. These lambs and children are...?”

Qiu Shilu quickly recounted their ordeal.

“Poor little ones.” Xie Zhitu’s face softened with pity. He stepped forward, gently patting the little girl at the front. “Don’t worry, you don’t have to be afraid anymore. I will make sure each of you is safely returned to your families!”

He made his promise to the victims, soothing their frantic nerves.

Liang Zhi watched from the side, lips curling. Xie Zhitu certainly did good deeds, radiating an aura of perfection and behaving like a flawless saint. Yet Liang Zhi found him unpleasant, sensing nauseating hypocrisy beneath his saintly exterior.

Xie Zhitu straightened and addressed Liang Zhi and Qiu Shilu. “Now that you’ve come up from below, there’s only one step left to destroy the Peach Blossom Spring stronghold.

Kill Fan Jiu!”