However, according to them, the strange phenomenon occurs on the 15th of each month, while the bounty is issued on the 10th. It takes about three to five days for everyone to get to the Qiaota Plain, which means they arrive just in time for the strange event.

Is this a coincidence or intentional?

Those who went there must have known about the "Fifteenth Incident," but under the lure of money, they chose money over safety.

However, this time the situation seems different from the past...

According to people, although those who experienced the "Fifteenth Incident" were all drastically changed after returning, people could still come back. But now... none of the people who went to the Qiaota Plain have returned.

What exactly happened there? Did the people who went there live or die?

Upon arriving at the Chota Plains, as soon as you enter the forest, a chilling atmosphere permeates the surroundings, which is quite eerie.

As Ling walked, she felt as if she was stepping on something that was uncomfortable.

He lifted his foot to look and saw that the object he had stepped on was brownish-white with some bits of meat on it—it was a bone!

Are these the bones of those who went in?

Something really did happen here!

As I walked, I stepped on bones, the crunching sound particularly clear in the silent forest.

The ground was littered with blood and bones, some still intact, others indistinguishable from other bones... Such a scene speaks volumes about the horrific tragedy of that time.

As the sky gradually darkened, I quickened my pace.

What appears to be nothing but skeletal remains can be observed upon closer inspection, revealing that these broken bones all lead to one place—the end of the forest.

Is there something on the other side of the end?

Ling walked deeper into the forest...

Aside from the cracking sound under his feet, the only other sounds were the birds that had scattered in all directions, startled by the disturbance.

Fortunately, this place is not entirely lifeless; at least there are still living things here.

Even the daring Zero felt a little uneasy being alone in this eerie forest.

After all, we don't know where the potential dangers are, or even what those dangers are.

Now, we can only take it one step at a time.

Suddenly, the commotion before him put Zero on alert—

"Big brother! What do we do? We can't hold on much longer!" A sharp voice rang out, its hoarse tone revealing the urgency of the situation.

The three people were surrounded by a pack of wild animals that claimed wolves were not wolves. They stood back to back in a triangle and were engaged in a fierce battle with the pack.

They were described as wolves because, like wolves, they had long legs and slender bodies, tails hanging between their hind legs, erect ears, and various fur colors. Yet, they weren't wolves either, as these animals all had red eyes, serrated fur on their backs, and agile limbs; the three men's attacks only managed to damage their fur.

"Looks like we're going to be defeated here today..." a slightly weary voice rang out.

I don't know what happened, but so much Jueyan Grass has been harvested here, and the beasts are attacking anyone they see like madmen. It's strange, though, why do they need so much Jueyan Grass? I've never heard of the Qiyao Pavilion having a branch here…

One of the men, who appeared to be the leader, drove back several wild beasts and spoke to the people around him.

"Brother He, let's get you out of here first!"

"no!"

“You have to get out of here. These things are indestructible and impossible to destroy. Everyone's stamina is limited, so it's impossible for us to get out together. But if Ah Zhu and I can hold them off, you still have a chance to get out. Once you're out…”

"Stop talking, no means no!"

"There's no other way, Brother He, you go first! Archie and I will hold them off!"

The man next to him suddenly shouted, and after exchanging glances with another person, they nodded and stood in front of the man they called Brother He.

"No! There are too many of them. We can't kill them all, and besides, I brought you here. How can I face my brother and sister-in-law if I don't bring you back? How can I go back with my face? The three of us might as well fight it out and see if we can break through!"

After saying that, he left his position in the middle and stood next to the two of them. Just like at the beginning, the three of them stood back to back in a triangle.

The situation became increasingly critical.

Seeing this, Zero knew it was his turn to make a move.

Putting aside the fact that they might know some inside information, their brotherhood also touched Zero. As the saying goes, "a friend in need is a friend indeed," and there aren't many who would be willing to sacrifice their lives for righteousness in the face of a life-threatening crisis.

"Get out of the way!"

Zero shouted and leaped forward, throwing a fireball in his hand.

The three people below also had good sense and jumped up instantly, making room for Zero to attack.

A loud "boom" was heard, accompanied by the howl of a wild beast.

As the smoke cleared, a huge crater, several tens of feet wide, appeared on the flat ground, along with countless animal carcasses. A single strike had wiped out most of them!

The three were deeply shocked by the sight before them and stood motionless.

"What are you standing there for? Come here."

Zero looked at the three people who were like wooden sculptures, playing with another fireball in his hand, and looked at the remaining beasts with a half-smile.

The remaining beasts, perhaps seeing their companions killed instantly, stared at me with wary red eyes, their hind legs outwards and their front legs retracted, creating a tense atmosphere.

Zero made a move to throw the fireball in his hand.

Those beasts were also sentient. Upon seeing this, a loud screech rang out, and the surrounding beasts, as if receiving a command, ceased their attack and scattered in all directions.

If Zero had known what would happen next, he would definitely have regretted his moment of kindness.

Of course, that's a story for another time.

"How are you all? Are you alright?"

Zero glanced at them and asked softly.

"Thank goodness, I'm not dead yet. Thank you for saving my life. I am He Jie. May I ask your name, sir?"

One of the three men, who was in charge, bowed slightly to me and asked respectfully.

"Zero. It was nothing, just a small favor. By the way, you've been here for quite a while now, haven't you? Do you know what happened here? Why are there human bones all over the place?"

Zero asked him.

He Jie paused, glanced around, then looked at his companions, and asked Ling for help:

"Lord Zero, this place is not safe; it's fraught with danger. Why don't we leave first and talk as we go?"

Zero looked at their disheveled clothes and exhausted expressions, and nodded, saying:

"Alright, let's go find a place to stay first, and then you can tell me about things here."

Perhaps because the commotion was a bit too loud, nothing happened as they walked along, and soon they arrived at an inn.

Zero glanced at the sky outside, noticing their exhaustion, and said softly:

"You all rest for a while, and I'll come find you again tomorrow morning."

"Lord Zero..."

He Jie called out to Ling.

Zero turned around, waiting for him to continue.

"thank you."

He Jie laughed.

His wheat-colored face revealed a set of large white teeth, which, combined with his burly physique, created a strangely comical effect.

Ling waved to them and left the inn.