The Crazy Son-In-Law

Caw…

The monster let out a screech. Its massive body shook violently, causing Xiao Shun to nearly stumble. Suddenly, he felt a cold wind strike from behind.

A tail adorned with barbs swept towards him. Xiao Shun’s heart sank. At this moment, he had concentrated all his energy into his longsword, prepared to deliver a killing blow, leaving his defenses wide open.

Most creatures were vulnerable in the head. Was this monster any different? Or was his sword too insignificant for this enormous creature? Had his stab failed to reach any vital parts?

Smack!

In a flash, the barbed tail brutally struck Xiao Shun’s back. He felt like his bones were shattered and his organs were about to burst forth from his body.

His body flew several meters away, crashing heavily into a stone pillar, breaking it into pieces. Xiao Shun fell to the ground, his vision swirled, and his breath was ragged.

Cough!

A salty metallic taste surged up his throat and filled his mouth, making him spit out a mouthful of blood.

“Doctor Xiao…” Glasses had never seen such a scene and was terrified. His body trembled uncontrollably.

Seeing Xiao Shun stricken, he instinctively cried out. The monster seemed to focus its fury on Xiao Shun, ignoring Glasses’ cries. It became wildly agitated, its aura intimidating even from tens of meters away.

Xiao Shun, like a prey unable to escape, watched the monster slowly crawl towards him. Upon reaching him, the monster did not rush to kill him. Its bulbous eyes blinked a few times, as if it were toying with its prey.

I’m done for. I’m going to die here. I regret that I haven’t taken the next step with my wife…

Would leaving the Dark Roses behind persuade this monster to spare me? But we can’t communicate, so it’s probably hopeless. After all, I did stab it. How could there be such a magnanimous monster? This creature is clearly not a benevolent one.

Xiao Shun tried to stand but found he could no longer mobilize his energy. His body was heavily injured and immobilized. His mind was a mess, and his thoughts were disordered.

Hiss!

The monster let out what sounded like a sigh. A foul wind swept over Xiao Shun’s body.

Boom!

Then, the monster’s eyes closed, and it collapsed, motionless. The large space was left only with the sound of flowing water in the distance, seeming incredibly tranquil.

Xiao Shun swallowed hard, “…”

It’s dead now? Was it just a last burst of energy before death? Or was its nervous system just too long?ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Exhausted, Xiao Shun couldn’t calm his heart. He lay on the ground, relieved.

“Doctor Xiao… is it… is it dead?” After two minutes, the monster showed no sign of movement. Glasses, still terrified and hesitant to approach, asked weakly.

“Yes, it’s dead. Bring me the gas mask,” recalled Xiao Shun, realizing the toxic barriers were still present here. He was weak and unable to mobilize his energy, inhaling too much could be troublesome. He spoke in a weak voice.

“Okay.” Glasses, hearing the monster was dead, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He rushed over to Xiao Shun, helping him put on the gas mask while anxiously asking, “Doctor Xiao, how are you? Should I carry you out of here?”

Xiao Shun had saved him before. The young man was kind-hearted and grateful. “I’m fine, just need some rest,” said Xiao Shun, managing a weak smile.

At this moment, Yuxu also staggered over.

…

“Captain Zhao, Captain Zhao, please respond.”

At the edge of the pit, a firefighter named Bull called through the walkie-talkie. This was his umpteenth call, yet there was no response, only static.

He pursed his lips, shared a worried glance with Bucket. They both knew the situation was grim. They felt sorrow and unease for their colleagues with whom they had worked closely.

“Bull! Bucket! Pull me up!”

Suddenly, Zhao Xianyong’s voice came from the pit bottom. The two men were instantly energized. They hurried to the pit edge and quickly saw Zhao Xianyong, panic-stricken, and clumsily securing his safety rope.

“Quickly! Pull me up!”

He shouted urgently. Bull and Bucket immediately realized there might be danger below. They quickly pulled the rope and soon hauled Zhao Xianyong up.

Stumbling and exhausted, Zhao Xianyong lay on the ground, gasping for air. His white protective suit was dirty, covered in mud.

Abandoning his teammates and escaping left him emotionally conflicted. “Where are the others?” Bull asked, shining his flashlight down the pit.

“They’re”dead,” Zhao Xianyong said shakily. Although he didn’t see what happened to Xiao Shun and the others, facing that enormous creature, their chances of survival were likely slim.

Why didn’t they run? Why did they just stand there? He complained internally. Bull and Bucket exchanged a glance. Bull, with a look of grief, asked, “What about us now?”

Suddenly remembering the monster still lurked below, Zhao Xianyong scrambled to his feet, “We need to leave this place now. It’s too dangerous. Immediately.” He staggered off, but noticing the two men hadn’t followed, he turned back and yelled, “If you don’t want to die, follow me. Is your job more important than your life?”

At that moment, Tan Ping’s anxious voice came from the walkie-talkie, “Any response from them?”

The walkie-talkie only transmitted when the talk button was pressed, so those outside didn’t know Zhao Xianyong was already up. Zhao Xianyong stopped, took the walkie-talkie, pressed the button, and while walking, said, “Captain Tan, I’m up. Requesting evacuation, requesting evacuation!”

“Approved!” Tan Ping immediately responded, sighing in relief. As long as everyone returned safely, that was all that mattered.

Relief washed over the others at the scene, their earlier tension dissipating. Minutes later, they saw three white figures hurriedly emerge from the entrance of the cave.

“Why are there only three of them?” Fang Jinglun, staring at the entrance, asked with furrowed brows.

No one at the scene could answer his question; they were all equally puzzled. Zhao Xianyong was in a panic. He hadn’t thought about how to explain the situation inside to Tan Ping, and it would take more than a few words to explain. He decided to do it once he was out.