Chapter 84

Following the sound of the monster, it was seen standing on the mountain top opposite the lake, looking into the valley.

The monster was about two to three li away from Xu Mo and the others, so even with Xu Mo's keen hearing, he had not heard it beforehand. The lake provided a wide view, and the monster, standing high up, had already spotted them. It roared again and charged down the mountain.

Its skin was thick and rough, and it was not afraid of being scratched by rocks and thorns, so it charged forward without any hesitation. It looked like a large ball of flesh rolling down the mountain, crushing all the shrubs and grass in its path, and even sending pebbles flying. From a distance, the scene was even more terrifying.

"Good heavens! What is that thing?" Geng Yanli couldn't help but scream loudly, her voice filled with indescribable fear. Han Ying and Gong Lei also turned pale.

Xu Mo called out loudly again, "Run! Run! If it gets here, we won't be able to escape."

He led the group into the mango grove.

Actually, the monster was afraid of water, so it would have been safer for him to lead everyone to the lake. However, doing so would also trap them. The monster had already gone mad and lost its usual nature. If it stayed by the lake and refused to leave, everyone except Xu Mo would likely be trapped to death.

According to his original plan, he intended to prepare a poison to kill the monster and then enter the cave with Han Ying to collect the night-blooming grass. However, the monster came so quickly that his plan could not be implemented.

At this time, the monkeys had mostly returned and were cooking. Therefore, the direction in which he led the group to escape was opposite to his residence, aiming to lead the monster away to avoid causing trouble for the monkeys and to prevent the monster from wreaking havoc at his place.

After entering the mango grove, he led the group to circle around. With the mango trees blocking the way, they quickly avoided the monster's line of sight.

The group caught their breath, and Gong Lei took the opportunity to ask Xu Mo, "Buddy, what is that monster?" Due to the distance, he had not seen the monster's specific appearance and could not guess what it was just by its momentum.

Han Ying and Geng Yanli were also curious and looked at Xu Mo when he asked.

Xu Mo shook his head; he didn't know much either. "It's probably a mutated monster. I don't know what it is specifically." He paused and continued, "We'd better go further away; otherwise, the monster will catch up soon."

Geng Yanli looked back and, seeing no sign of the monster, forced a smile. "It can't see us anymore; it probably won't catch up."

Though she said this, she didn't dare to stop and continued to walk deeper into the mango grove with Xu Mo and the others.

The monster, though slow compared to other beasts, was still faster than humans and had much greater endurance. Moreover, its sense of smell was extremely keen, and the others couldn't suppress their own scent like Xu Mo. After circling in the mango grove for a long time, they were still chased by the monster, and the distance between them was getting closer.

Gradually, they left the forest and reached the edge of another valley.

This side of the mountain was steeper and higher, about 700 to 800 meters. It was not easy to climb. However, with no way out, the group exchanged glances and chose to climb the mountain.

They had just climbed halfway when the monster burst out of the forest, saw them, and roared to the sky, "Aa...roar..."

Then it leaped up and charged up the mountain. Its four claws were extremely sharp, and with each swipe, rocks flew and even split. The claws dug deep into the rock, and it hopped and leaped, chasing them, and its speed seemed even faster than on flat ground.

The group looked back, and their faces changed. Geng Yanli was so scared that she kept screaming, "Oh my God, it's catching up, it's catching up..." She looked back and saw the monster getting closer, which made her even more afraid. The more afraid she was, the more she couldn't help looking back, and the more she looked back, the more afraid she became, screaming, "It's catching up, it's catching up..."

Han Ying hurriedly reminded her, "Xiaoli, don't look back."

But Geng Yanli was so scared that she ignored Han Ying's warning. Suddenly, she stepped on thin air and fell to the ground, screaming and struggling to get up, but her limbs were so scared that she couldn't move, and she shouted, "Save me!" Her voice was piercing.

Xu Mo and Gong Lei turned around and supported her, running up the mountain. Geng Yanli's face was ashen, and she kept saying, "We can't escape, we can't escape!" She looked back and screamed again, "Ah!"

Han Ying, while running, still tried to comfort her, "Don't worry, it won't catch us." But it was of no use.

They were almost at the top of the mountain, and the distance between the monster and them was getting closer, only about a hundred meters away.

Xu Mo, familiar with the terrain, looked around and called out, "Follow me."

He had been here a few times and remembered clearly. There was a cliff near the top of the mountain, and below the cliff was a fissure. A natural stone bridge, about ten meters long, spanned the fissure, connecting to the other side of the mountain.

Without hesitation, he led the group to the fissure, circled around a stone forest, and reached the stone bridge.

Xu Mo pointed to the stone bridge and called out, "We'll cross here."

The stone bridge was only about a meter wide, with several cracks in the middle. Looking down from the cliff, the fissure below was a river, with steam rising, and the entire fissure was filled with mist, blocking the view, making it impossible to see how deep it was.

Geng Yanli looked down and felt dizzy, stepping back and shouting, "No, we'll fall to our deaths, we'll fall to our deaths."

At this critical moment, Xu Mo didn't have time to argue with her. He pointed to Han Ying and ordered, "Han Ying, you go first."

Han Ying looked at the stone bridge, seeing the cracks, and felt a chill, but with no way out, she had no choice but to walk onto the bridge.

Xu Mo then looked at Geng Yanli. Before he could speak, she stepped back a few steps and screamed, "Don't look at me, I'd rather die than cross this."

Gong Lei tried to persuade her, "Xiaoli, the monster is almost here. If you don't go, it will eat you."

Geng Yanli, hearing this, shuddered but then looked down the cliff and stepped back a few more steps, her expression even more terrified, screaming, "I'd rather be eaten by the monster than cross this."

Gong Lei looked at Xu Mo helplessly and smiled bitterly, "Xiaoli has acrophobia, what should we do?"

Xu Mo thought for a moment and asked, "Can you carry her across?"

Gong Lei looked at the stone bridge and then at Geng Yanli, shaking his head helplessly, "I'm afraid not."

Xu Mo waved his hand and said, "Alright, you go first."

Gong Lei understood his meaning and said, "Then I'll leave it to you, buddy, don't hurt her."

Xu Mo nodded in agreement. Gong Lei thanked him and walked to the stone bridge.

Xu Mo watched him walk to the bridge and then approached Geng Yanli. Hearing their conversation, she had already guessed what he was going to do. She stepped back and shouted, "No way, don't come near me, don't come near me, ah..."

At this critical moment, Xu Mo didn't have time to argue. He grabbed her, carried her in his arms, and walked to the stone bridge.

He had lived in the valley for more than two years, climbing up and down the mountain every day, and his strength had greatly improved. Geng Yanli weighed no more than 100 pounds, and carrying her with one hand was no problem.

However, with Geng Yanli in the air, seeing the stone bridge getting closer and looking down the cliff, she became even more afraid, struggling and screaming, "Let me go, let me go." She flailed her arms, hitting and slapping Xu Mo.

Xu Mo whispered, "If you're afraid, close your eyes. If you keep struggling, we'll both fall to our deaths."

Geng Yanli, hearing this, was immediately frightened and stopped struggling, closing her eyes. Although her eyes were closed, she couldn't stop thinking, and her body still trembled.

But since she stopped struggling, Xu Mo walked very steadily and soon reached the other side of the stone bridge. Gong Lei and Han Ying hurriedly came forward to help Geng Yanli, and she felt a bit more at ease when her feet touched the ground.

The monster finally caught up to the mountain and followed their scent to the other end of the stone bridge. Without stopping, it charged across the bridge.

Only then did the others see the monster clearly. It was fierce and terrifying, with a shape they had never seen or even heard of.

Seeing the monster charge over, Gong Lei shouted, "Let's run!"

Xu Mo saw a log on the ground, about 30 to 40 centimeters thick and 5 to 6 meters long, and had an idea. He shook his head and said, "No, let's push it off the cliff."

Geng Yanli shouted, "You're crazy! It's so strong, how can we four move it?"

Xu Mo, knowing she was scared, didn't get angry and said, "How do we know if we don't try?" He picked up the log and called to the others, "Let's all lift this log and push it off the cliff when it charges."

Han Ying immediately went over to help. Gong Lei hesitated for a moment and then followed.

Geng Yanli looked at Han Ying and shouted, "Ying, are you crazy too, supporting him?"

Han Ying smiled and said, "It's worth a try."

Geng Yanli grumbled, "If we don't run now, we won't be able to later." Despite her words, she still went over to help lift the log.

Xu Mo stood at the front and called out, "When it charges, everyone listen to my command and push it off the cliff together."

The monster, seeing they didn't run, seemed surprised and slowed down. But then it roared again, "Aa...roar..."

It crouched slightly and charged forward.

Xu Mo, who had been staring at the monster's eyes, suddenly glared when it charged. His eyesight was powerful, and this glare concentrated all his mental energy. The monster, meeting his gaze, felt a sharp pain in its eyes, as if it had been punched, and immediately screamed, closing its eyes, with tears streaming down.

Xu Mo then shouted, "Push!"

Everyone pushed together, and the log struck the monster.

The monster, suddenly attacked in the eyes, hesitated in its charge. With its body suspended in the air, it had nowhere to brace itself. When Xu Mo and the others struck it with the log, it fell off the cliff.

——

PS: This ability to turn his gaze into a sword is Xu Mo's only offensive means at the moment. Of course, it's not yet powerful enough, and its effectiveness is limited.

Thank you to Longjian Tianxia for the support.

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