After the wave of Bamboo Pole Ghosts that had broken into the camp was annihilated, no more Ghost Objects charged in.

The eerie, piercing laughter had also fallen silent.

But a rustling sound still echoed from the darkness. It was impossible to tell if the creatures were detouring to avoid the Ghost Fire or gathering their strength for another assault.

...

Chen Fan squinted, peering from behind a crenelation on the City Wall. He looked down at the scattered Ghost Corpses below. Next to one of them lay an object emitting a white glow.

It was an Exotic Treasure.

He hadn’t seen an Exotic Treasure drop in a long time.

If it was an Exotic Treasure that could boost his Instant Combat Power, his chances of surviving the night would be that much greater.

But...

The Ghost Objects were much faster than humans.

If the Ghost Objects suddenly attacked while someone was retrieving the treasure, that person’s chances of dying were extremely high.

If the Ghost Objects gave chase too closely, he would have trouble opening the gate. Otherwise, the creatures would pour into the camp, rendering the City Wall useless.

"Sir."

Lame Monkey, standing beside him holding the Godslaying Spear, stared intently at the glowing white object near the Ghost Corpse. "I’ll go down and get that Exotic Treasure. My leg might be lame, but I’m not much slower than anyone else when I run."

"The Ghost Objects won’t attack for now. It should be fine."

...

Chen Fan didn’t turn around. ’People with disabilities are often more perceptive,’ he thought. He hadn’t given any sign, but Lame Monkey had already guessed what was on his mind.

Lame Monkey had barely finished speaking.

When Xiaoyu, standing on the other side, quickly spoke up. "Chief, let me go! I’m able-bodied, in my prime, and I’m fast."

He was one of Wang Kui’s men.

He had followed Wang Kui when he joined the camp. If he could survive the rainy season, he definitely wasn’t going back to the Wang Family; he’d stick with Chen Fan.

He’d finally understood something tonight. Chen Fan was clearly planning to focus on developing his chiefs, while their subordinates like him were more or less ignored, treated as mere lackeys. The group was still in its infancy. ’If I don’t seize this chance to prove my worth,’ he thought, ’I’ll be stuck as Wang Kui’s subordinate forever.’

Wang Kui had treated him well, sure.

But...

...who wouldn’t want to climb higher if they had the chance?

Besides, the Ghost Corpse was only seven or eight meters from the City Wall. He figured it wasn’t a huge risk.

’This is my chance,’ Xiaoyu thought. ’I have to take it.’

"Alright. You go."

Chen Fan didn’t hesitate. He glanced at Zhou Mo, who looked like he was about to speak, but said nothing more. He immediately made a section of the City Wall vanish, clapped Xiaoyu on the shoulder, and said grimly, "Be careful."

Time was short.

This was no time for long conversations; the Ghost Objects could attack again at any moment.

He could see that Zhou Mo had wanted to volunteer as well. As a Level 2 Cultivator who had trained in martial arts since childhood, his physical condition was far superior to the others. Logically, he was the best choice.

But he admitted to himself that he was being selfish.

’This is an extremely dangerous task,’ he thought. ’If someone has to die, it’s better to sacrifice Xiaoyu than Zhou Mo.’ In his mind, Zhou Mo was far more valuable than Xiaoyu.

...

On the City Wall, Wang Kui watched Xiaoyu’s retreating back as he charged out from the wall, his expression complex. He remained silent. He certainly wasn’t going to volunteer; he was too old to run fast.

He was just a little surprised by Xiaoyu. Usually, the kid just goofed off with him around camp, looking like he was just waiting to die. He’d never seen this kind of courage from him before.

...

Outside the camp.

Having left the safety of the wall, Xiaoyu vaulted over one Ghost Corpse after another, sprinting toward his target. He reached the body, snatched the white-glowing Exotic Treasure, and turned back, excitedly looking up at the people on the City Wall.

"I got it!"

But then...

The next moment, he saw that the expressions of the people on the wall had turned ugly. He understood in an instant, and his own face went white with terror.

In that moment, time seemed to slow to a crawl.

The downpour seemed to hang suspended in the air.

He could vaguely see the Chief’s tense face as he yelled something, but in Xiaoyu’s eyes, his lips were moving in slow motion. He couldn’t even make out the words; his brain had completely shut down.

A Crossbow Arrow shot past, nearly grazing his scalp.

’It’s over.’

That one thought flashed through his mind. He didn’t have time to look back. A cold dread shot up from the base of his spine and exploded in his skull. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, as if a thousand icy insects were crawling down his back.

’Run!’

It’s true what they say—your life really does flash before your eyes.

He pumped his legs and ran for his life. As he did, scenes from his past flashed through his mind: he saw his parents die at the hands of Ghost Objects, then he was selling his life to the Wang Family, just drifting aimlessly through the days.

The gate in the wall was still open.

But...

...he was seven or eight meters from the City Wall, and the Ghost Object was only two or three meters behind him.

The Ghost Object was much faster than he was.

It would catch him long before he reached the wall. It might even follow him inside, dooming the entire camp.

Snapping back to reality, Xiaoyu didn’t even have time to wipe the rain from his face. He felt a vicious gust of wind at his back, about to make contact. Using every ounce of his strength, he screamed at the top of his lungs, "Close the gate!"

Then, without a moment’s hesitation.

He skidded to a halt. He threw himself into a clumsy roll, barely dodging the attack from behind. Scrambling on all fours, eyes bloodshot, he scrambled toward the Farmland to his left. He knew there were traps there—it was his only chance of survival.

He never knew he could move so fast.

Several Crossbow Arrows zipped past his shoulder—the Arrow Towers on the wall were providing cover. He didn’t know what the Ghost Objects behind him looked like, or even how many there were. After just a few steps, he saw the field of Earth Spike traps.

Nearly a hundred perfectly aligned holes, laid out in a neat grid.

With a roar, he launched himself off the ground like a carp leaping the dragon gate, clearing the traps and landing in the Farmland.

He landed hard in the rain-soaked mud, a pathetic sight.

But—

CLICK!

The sound of the traps springing behind him made him laugh.

Rolling over to sit up in the Farmland, Xiaoyu wiped the rain from his face. He looked back at the two Ghost Objects caught in the traps. They were relatively short, with arms like blades—like mantis-people. Dozens of thick, black Wooden Spikes had instantly impaled them, killing them on the spot.

Not a single Ghost Object remained standing outside the camp.

A dozen more mantis-like Ghost Corpses now littered the ground.

He couldn’t help but laugh again, his laughter growing louder. The adrenaline rush and the euphoria of surviving a close brush with death made him feel incredibly alive. He raised the Exotic Treasure high in the air, looked up at Chen Fan on the City Wall, and shouted again, "I got it!"

"Stop fucking laughing! I know you got it! Now get the fuck back here!"

As the gate in the wall opened, Chen Fan’s furious yelling echoed from the City Wall through the rainy night.