Chapter Eighty-Two: Framed and Falsely Accused

Yaoye traveled westward in haste, heading straight for the primordial forest, hoping to find the teleportation array established by the first clan leader. Now as skittish as a startled bird, he avoided every town he saw, circling around them. In mid-air, Yaoye suddenly paused.

“What’s going on? Why is there such a huge blaze in the distance?” He forcibly suppressed his curiosity. “Forget it! Escaping comes first right now.”

Glancing toward the town, where smoke and fire billowed, Yaoye furrowed his brow but stifled the urge to investigate and pressed on. As the primordial forest drew closer, his mood grew heavier. Passing the last small town before the forest, Yaoye’s curiosity finally overcame him.

“What’s happening? Why is every place I pass filled with smoke and flames?” He looked up at the vast forest looming ahead, then turned and flew toward the town. “I’m so close to the forest now. A short delay shouldn’t matter.”

Entering the town, Yaoye found corpses strewn across the streets. He drew his Crying Blood sword and began searching cautiously.

“Why are they all dead? And all slain by a sword?” He examined the bodies one by one, his heart growing darker with each corpse.

Just then, a dark figure flickered at the end of a narrow alley. Sensing movement, Yaoye stood alert.

“Who’s there?” The figure didn’t answer, but fled swiftly into the distance. Yaoye gripped Crying Blood and chased after him.

“Stop right there!”

Far from stopping, the shadow only ran faster, chuckling darkly as he fled.

“Heh heh! Yaoye, I want you to taste the feeling of being hunted by everyone!”

The shadow glanced up at the sky, then darted into a tavern at the town center. Yaoye arrived hot on his heels, rushing inside without hesitation.

No sooner had he entered than he heard the sharp whistle of something slicing through the air.

“Not good, it’s an ambush!” Yaoye’s heart lurched. He raised his sword and slashed forward. Blood sprayed everywhere, dyeing his body red.

Looking down, Yaoye saw that he had cut down a villager—one who had long since died. Fury blazed in his eyes. He longed to skin the black-clad man alive.

“I swear I’ll kill you!”

At that moment, more whistling filled the air—the pursuers had arrived. Chu Changfeng surveyed the bloodied corpses and the gore staining Yaoye’s clothes, and drew his weapon.

“Yaoye, how ruthless you are! Just to stop us, look at how many people you’ve killed along the way! Today, I’ll avenge these innocent villagers who died unjustly.”

The mob that had arrived was equally enraged. They brandished their weapons, pointing them at Yaoye in fury.

“Elder Chu is right! We’ll offer your blood to appease the dead! Yes! Blood for blood! Kill this demon, rid the world of evil!”

Everyone shouted in unison, denouncing Yaoye. He sheathed Crying Blood and waved his hands in protest.

“It’s not like that! Please listen! I didn’t kill these villagers! I had no quarrel with them—why would I?”

Chu Changfeng stepped forward, weapon raised.

“Still trying to lie? Where did all that blood on you come from? Hand over the Creation Cauldron now, and I’ll see you buried whole.”

“That’s right! Hand over the Creation Cauldron! Someone like you doesn’t deserve a divine artifact!”

Surrounded on all sides, Yaoye drew Crying Blood again, sweeping his gaze over the crowd.

“I didn’t kill these villagers! You just want the Creation Cauldron and are making excuses! Hmph! If you want it, come and take it!”

With that, Yaoye summoned his vital energy, unfurled the wings on his back, and soared toward the depths of the primordial forest.

“After him! Don’t let that demon escape!”

The mob shouted and chased after him with weapons drawn. As the crowd scattered, a figure leapt from the tavern window.

“Heh heh! Yaoye, let’s see how you handle the wrath of humanity. If you start a massacre, you’ll never be able to return to them! Hahaha!”

The shadow laughed gleefully, then sent a mental signal into the distance and sped off after the crowd.

“Yaoye, you mustn’t die at the hands of humans now—otherwise all my efforts will be wasted!” he muttered, chasing quickly after them.

Just as the shadow entered the forest, he was surrounded by four people.

“Elder Chi, everything’s going smoothly! More and more people are chasing Yaoye!”

The shadow removed his mask, revealing a sinister face.

“Xiong Batian, take your men and stop anyone above the Spirit-communing Realm from entering! Report anything unusual to me at once.”

“Yes, sir!” Xiong Batian cupped his fists and shot skyward.

“The three of us will drive out anyone above the Spirit-communing Realm who enters the forest.”

“Understood!”

The three exchanged glances and sped after Chu Changfeng and the others.