Deep within the dense forest, Diyalan carried Muyu Die on her back, navigating the thicket alongside Shi Yan.

Shi Yan’s face was grim, his eyes steadily sweeping the surroundings. The moment he detected any sign of nearby demonic beast activity, he would warn Diyalan in advance, prompting her to alter their course and avoid any confrontation.

Time flowed quietly, and gradually, the bright day dissolved into the deep night, with a full moon hanging high in the heavens.

The forest, normally hushed, was now punctuated by heart-stopping roars. Demonic beasts that favored the cover of darkness were awakening from their daytime slumber, beginning their nocturnal hunt for prey.

Under the cover of night, Shi Yan’s vision was heavily compromised, making it difficult to discern precisely which areas were safe and where beasts were lurking.

Some demonic beasts hunted in absolute silence during the night. Therefore, areas echoing with beastly howls were certainly unsafe, but zones of silence were not necessarily secure; sometimes, they concealed far greater perils!

After three hours of relentless running, both Diyalan and Shi Yan were feeling the strain.

Although they had managed to kill Tu Mu together at dusk, both had paid a considerable price. Diyalan’s vital essence had been severely depleted by Tu Mu’s savage power, and carrying Muyu Die without rest only compounded the drain, offering no opportunity for recovery. At this point, Diyalan was utterly spent, both physically and mentally, sustained only by sheer, tenacious willpower.

Shi Yan was no better off. His shoulder had been pierced, and though the wound was bandaged and the "Undying Martial Soul" was working on recovery, it would take a long time to heal completely. Utilizing the "Berserk" martial skill had left him weak, and on top of that, he was still digesting the vital energies absorbed from Jin Mo and Tu Mu, which brought intermittent surges of bloodlust and frenzy—yet he still had to forcefully maintain his focus to track nearby beast trails.

...He was arguably enduring more hardship than Diyalan.

"Let's find somewhere to rest," Muyu Die murmured softly. Sensing the increasing heaviness in Diyalan’s steps and the slowing of her movements, she realized Diyalan was nearing her limit.

"Agreed," Shi Yan breathed in, his voice calm. "I'll find us a secure spot."

With that, he scaled an ancient tree like an ape, searching for a place dense with foliage to conceal them. Perched high on the trunk, Shi Yan surveyed the area, then gave a soft "Hmm?" He used the branches to swing through the canopy, slowly making his way toward a dead, ancient tree.

That tree had thick roots but dry, waterless branches; it had been dead for many years. Swinging to a dry limb, Shi Yan leaned in for a closer look, then let out a gasp of surprise. "This old tree is hollow! We can descend inside, and the space around the root base is large enough for the three of us to sit comfortably. This place is perfect—you two rest here for a bit, I'll signal you up soon."

The upper part of the tree was narrow, but the roots were massive. The hollow space at the base could easily accommodate a person dropping down. The tree stood about ten meters tall; Shi Yan and Diyalan could descend with ease, and with a rope, Muyu Die could follow without difficulty.

Hearing of such a perfect refuge, Diyalan pressed on without resting further. "Then let's get in quickly. This area is crawling with beasts; if one spots us, we’ll be in deep trouble."

"Good. Hand me the rope, I’ll bring Miss Mu up first."

...

Two minutes later.

Shi Yan, Diyalan, and Muyu Die were all seated within the hollowed-out root structure of the ancient tree.

Pinpricks of starlight filtered down from the hole in the canopy overhead. Outside, the distant roars of demonic beasts reached them, chilling the blood.

None of them spoke.

Muyu Die and Diyalan were filled with overwhelming sorrow. On this journey, they had relied on the three of Luo Hao’s group, enduring countless dangers together. Now, only the two of them remained, and they weren't even certain they could escape their pursuers. Companions had fallen one by one; the trackers were relentless. Perhaps people from An Ming or Liang Ya would catch up by tomorrow, perhaps they would face utter humiliation... This sense of having no future left Muyu Die and Diyalan utterly hopeless, living each day in terror.

Shi Yan felt slightly better. He hadn't known the three of Luo Hao’s group for long enough to forge deep emotional bonds, so while their deaths were regrettable, he hadn't been plunged into despair and could maintain his composure. However, Luo Hao’s demise did leave him with a sense of regret, as Luo Hao had treated him well over the past few days, constantly training him with the gravity field at night. Shi Yan knew the energy expenditure required for Luo Hao to maintain that field nightly, and he deeply appreciated the favor. Especially upon learning that Luo Hao’s death was somehow linked to the Mo family, Shi Yan felt a degree of responsibility. He silently noted the three forces—An Ming, Liang Ya, and the Mercenaries—and firmly resolved to exact a bloody, brutal revenge upon them in the days to come.

Yet, glancing at Diyalan and Muyu Die, Shi Yan frowned slightly. The two women looked utterly lifeless, their faces etched with despair, seemingly devoid of any fighting spirit. He understood that the deaths of Luo Hao’s three comrades had been a devastating blow to them, but they still had a considerable distance to cover before reaching the Merchant Alliance. If these two lost all will to fight now, they absolutely would not survive this ordeal!

After a moment of contemplation, Shi Yan felt he needed to do something. Staring at them for a while, an idea slowly formed in his mind...

The hollowed-out section of the old tree was just large enough for the three of them to sit cross-legged. However, when they were settled, only small gaps separated their legs; they could clearly feel the warmth radiating from the other person’s limb. Initially, Shi Yan kept his legs tightly together, maintaining a distinct separation from the two women, like water and oil.

Suddenly.

Shi Yan shifted his legs slightly apart. His left leg naturally settled against Diyalan’s right, and his right leg pressed against Muyu Die’s left. He distinctly felt the firm, toned curve of Diyalan’s thigh and the soft, yielding flesh of Muyu Die’s, textures that demanded careful appreciation.

Shi Yan’s small movement seemed accidental, but both women reacted. Diyalan looked up and shot him a glare but said nothing. Muyu Die, however, appeared noticeably embarrassed. Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she fidgeted, subtly attempting to shift her left leg away from Shi Yan’s right to create distance. But every time she moved away slightly, Shi Yan unceremoniously closed the gap, pressing his leg against hers again. After the third attempt, Muyu Die felt a knot of anger tighten in her chest, realizing Shi Yan was deliberately taking liberties. Yet, she was helpless, silently cursing him as a scoundrel through gritted teeth, her face burning red. Paradoxically, Shi Yan’s provocation had quietly chased away the edge of her grief; she was too focused on resentfully cursing him to dwell on the brutal deaths of Luo Hao’s group.

Diyalan’s sharp eyes missed none of Shi Yan’s subtle maneuvering. She seemed to grasp something, not only refraining from comment but also giving Muyu Die a strange look, as if signaling that she was overreacting. Under Diyalan’s gaze, Muyu Die grew even more mortified, her face deeper red. Pouting, she secretly glared fiercely at Shi Yan beside her.

Shi Yan kept his eyes closed, appearing to be asleep, his breathing even, as if he were utterly unaware of his actions. "Act! Keep acting! Just wait until I recover, and I’ll settle accounts with you!" Muyu Die muttered through clenched teeth, feeling the heat of Shi Yan’s thigh against hers, her neck turning crimson, venting only internally.

Shi Yan was, of course, not asleep. With his eyes closed, he was subtly savoring the distinct feel of the women's thighs, mentally comparing them. Diyalan’s leg was toned and strong; Muyu Die’s was full and elastic—both possessed unique charms. After a brief comparison, Shi Yan concluded that both were exquisite, the pleasure almost indistinguishable. As he continued to test the sensations, his mind began to wander, and his most primal desires seemed to stir. Within his meridians, faint traces of negative energy quietly released, gradually amplifying Shi Yan’s rising urges... His breathing hitched, though the bloodlust and madness were absent; only a pure, possessive desire remained, a desire that seemed harder to control the more it was suppressed. Shi Yan was gradually losing himself...

Muyu Die suddenly jolted awake with a soft cry. "Lan Jie, something is wrong with him. It feels... it feels like that time before."

Shi Yan’s breathing was ragged, sweat beaded on his forehead, and his body trembled slightly, as if struggling fiercely to maintain control. His legs were pressed tightly against the two women, and Diyalan noticed the strangeness emanating from him. Gazing at him for a moment, Diyalan blushed faintly and whispered, "It’s different from before. Before, he wanted to kill. Now, he... he wants to..."

"Wants to what?" Muyu Die asked, surprised.

"He wants to eat people..." Diyalan replied, sounding slightly embarrassed and trailing off without elaborating.

"Eat people?" Muyu Die’s face changed drastically. "That’s even worse! How could this happen? Will he turn into a beast like them? Lan Jie, is he going to eat us? What should we do?" She clearly missed the true implication of Diyalan’s words.

"Silly girl, what nonsense are you thinking?" Diyalan snapped, her expression awkward. "He wants to mate."

Muyu Die froze, then understood. Her pretty face reddened to the point of bleeding. She stammered, "Lan Jie, I... I'll play the zither; maybe that can help ease him. Do... do you want to step out for a moment? I should go out too..."

"Mm, I'll escort you out." Diyalan nodded, a flicker in her beautiful eyes as she prepared to spring up.

Just then!

Shi Yan’s eyes snapped open. His eyes were bloodshot as he lunged like a wild beast and fiercely embraced Diyalan. The tree hollow was already cramped, and once caught, Diyalan’s delicate body was pinned against the wooden wall; she couldn't escape.

"Bastard! Let go now!" Diyalan screamed. "Silly girl, help me pull him off! Quickly!"

Muyu Die looked terrified and reached out to pull Shi Yan, but he was unmoving, like a solid rock. No matter how hard she tugged, Shi Yan didn't budge an inch. Diyalan was utterly exhausted from the day, her vital essence unrecovered, and under Shi Yan’s powerful hold, she couldn't break free.

"Riiip!" The sound of tearing fabric was jarringly loud in the quiet hollow. Diyalan felt a sudden coolness at her hips and instantly realized her short leather skirt was gone. Before she could react, a large hand reached beneath her buttocks and began to rub vigorously.

"Scoundrel!" Diyalan hissed softly, then urged Muyu Die, "Hurry! Stop him! This guy has lost his mind to desire."

"I... I can't stop him," Muyu Die cried out in panic while weakly beating Shi Yan’s back.

"Mmm..." Her gluteal crease violated by his fingers, Diyalan felt her legs weaken and she let out a soft moan, her struggling hands gradually losing strength.

Muyu Die blinked, her face red, and whispered, "Lan Jie, what was that sound?"

"I didn't make a sound! Think of a way, quickly! Oh..." Diyalan felt her resistance fading, and even her voice sounded strange.

"Lan Jie, there's... there's no time," Muyu Die stammered, her eyes wide with fright.

"What's no time?" Diyalan frowned, momentarily confused.

The next moment, she felt a hard object suddenly press against her body. Her delicate frame shuddered, and Diyalan instantly realized resistance was futile. A strange, marvelous sensation began to spread through her body, slowly drowning out her reason... Ah, well, that's that. I don't even know if I'll be alive tomorrow. Might as well let the brat have it...

The violent thrusts shattered both her physical and mental defenses. Diyalan clamped one hand over her mouth, letting out soft, muffled cries ("Wuwu") under the impact.

Muyu Die’s pretty face was a mask of horror as she stared blankly at the passionate actions of the two. Before her eyes, Shi Yan was vigorously possessing Diyalan, who, seemingly overwhelmed, offered little resistance and began actively arching her hips to meet his movements.

"You... you two... you two..."

Muyu Die's face felt hot enough to bleed. Watching them engage in such fervent activity in the confined space delivered a shocking blow to her understanding of the world. She stood stunned, completely at a loss for what to do.

...

P: A new week! It's tough going for a new book climbing the charts. I appeal to my brothers and sisters for recommendation votes and clicks, please help Kill God reach the top three! I beg you!! E