Mushroom Giants as tall as houses roamed the city, attacking people on sight and stuffing them into cages.
Many were sent to Daxing Zen Temple, and afterward, even more Mushroom Giants came wandering into the city.
The members of the Red Mountain Hall had gradually dwindled in number. Although many Talisman Masters had learned the Dust Cleaning Talisman, and could avoid infection as long as they were not captured by the Mushroom Giants, venturing out had become extremely difficult—carelessness could lead to being killed by these Mushroom Giants.
What was even more dangerous were people.
Mushroom Giants were huge, easily spotted from afar, and could be avoided with carefulness.
But people could set traps, ambush, bait, encircle, poison, and employ various other means.
Rumors even circulated within the city that food was so scarce, some had started cannibalizing!
"Today, there was no catch."
Master Xiao returned empty-handed, somewhat disheartened, "There were no fish in the Min River, those clever fish monsters, I don’t know where they have gone."
Some Talisman Masters were so hungry they felt dizzy. Glancing at the Blood Taisui, they were slapped and whispered low, "That’s the Red Mountain Lady!"
Then they looked toward a majestic rabbit, and were slapped again.
"That is our Hall Master!"
Pairs of hungry, reddened eyes gazed at the Black Pot, then quickly looked away as if they had not seen it at all.
"Can we eat mushrooms?" someone whispered.
"But the Hall Master eats them."
"The Hall Master is a rabbit; it’s only natural for rabbits to eat mushrooms."
Chen Shi listened to their conversation, suddenly stood up, and declared, "I will go find food! Black Pot, come with me!"
Black Pot stood up, swayed its tail, and followed him.
Li Tianqing hurriedly said, "Little Ten, I will come with you!"
Chen Shi nodded, and the two men and a dog left the main fortress of Red Mountain Hall.
"Tianqing, are you hungry?" Chen Shi asked.
Li Tianqing nodded, "I feel a bit dizzy, and my heartbeat is quite fast."
Chen Shi adjusted his trousers and tightened his belt, "Me too."
Li Tianqing said, "Last time Incense Master Lu brought those fish monsters, we cooked the fish head twice. The second time we made fish jelly, which didn’t fill us up. The third time we couldn’t even make fish jelly, so I sucked the fish bones. Incense Master Lu slapped me on the head and scolded me for wasting resources."
He sounded quite aggrieved, "He picked up the fish bones I spit out, chewed them up, and ate them, saying it prevented waste. Little Ten, can you find us some food? I’m so hungry."
Last time, during the Evil Bodhisattva’s Demon Transformation, they could still hunt mutant beasts to stave off hunger and had stored a lot of food. But this time, only the Min River had mutant beasts which were not enough to eat.
"The Min River is definitely abundant with fish monsters; the reason we can’t find them must be that they are being hidden by the Cao Elders’ Association’s Matriarch."
Chen Shi speculated, "Let’s go to the Cao Elders’ Association; we might still find food there. Taking Black Pot along, he can help us."
He glanced at Black Pot who was leading the way and said, "A dog can change our perception; surely, it can alter the people at the Cao Elders’ Association too. We’ll go directly to the Cao Elders’ Association, take the food and leave. Black Pot, can you manage that?"
Black Pot weakly barked, limp from hunger.
Chen Shi laughed and declared, "Black Pot says he’s got it covered."
Li Tianqing was still pondering what Black Pot meant when suddenly, Black Pot stopped, alert and looking towards the corner of the street ahead.
Chen Shi initiated a Golden Core Soul Emergence, and called out sternly, "Who is there ahead? Come out."
Li Tianqing also prepared his Golden Core and Skill, ready to strike, when a figure slowly emerged from around the corner.
A young monk, smiling with his hands pressed together in greeting, cheerfully said, "Fellow disciples, my master came to take possession of you. Could it be he has already met his end at your hands?"
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m