Martial Peak - Rise Of The Human Emperor-Chapter 120: Demonic Insects

The first golden rays of dawn pierced through the canopy, illuminating the hollow tree where Yang Kai and the three women had taken refuge. Yang Kai looked up at the sky from their cramped shelter, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "The sun is out. We should get going," he said, his tone casual but firm.

Mo Yanyu, still catching her breath from the restless night, nodded quickly. "Yeah, we should probably keep moving." Her voice was clipped, her gaze darting away from Yang Kai. She clearly didn't want to linger on the unspoken tension between them, especially with Mu Yu Die and Di Yalan nearby, ready to pounce with teasing remarks.

Yang Kai smirked faintly but said nothing, letting her squirm in silence. He stretched his arms, his lean frame casting a shadow across the tree's interior, and turned his attention to the task ahead.

Di Yalan, ever practical, took charge of their exit. With a swift leap, she flew up to the top of the hollow tree, her movements graceful yet purposeful. She tossed a rope down into the dim space below. "Come on, Mu Yu Die. Let's get you out quickly."

Mu Yu Die grabbed the rope with delicate hands, her expression a mix of determination and lingering exhaustion. With Di Yalan pulling from above, she began her slow ascent, the rope creaking faintly under her weight. She was nearly at the top when a sudden yelp escaped her lips.

"Ah! You asshole! What are you doing?" Mu Yu Die's voice echoed through the tree as her legs kicked frantically, her mesmerizing figure swaying in midair.

Below, Yang Kai had stepped forward, his hands boldly cupping her soft bottom. "Let me help you with this," he said, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. "There you go. This will save you some effort."

"No! Stop it! I don't want your help!" Mu Yu Die shouted, her body twisting in protest. Her hands slipped from the rope in her frantic struggle, and with a startled cry, she plummeted back into the hollow tree.

"Thump!"

She landed squarely on Yang Kai, who had barely moved to catch her. He sprawled on the ground with a satisfied grin, Mu Yu Die straddling his waist, her legs flailing as she pounded his chest. "Stop! Stop!" she cried, her smooth bottom pressing tightly against him. Yang Kai's senses flared—her warmth reignited the arousal he'd barely suppressed, and he nearly let out a moan of pleasure.

"Ah! Asshole! You horny dog!" Mu Yu Die scrambled to her feet, her hands flying to cover her backside. Her face flushed a deep crimson, tears glistening in her beautiful eyes as she glared at him. "Sister Lan, this bad guy! He was trying to take advantage of me!"

Di Yalan peered down from the top, her lips twitching with suppressed amusement before her expression hardened. "Shh!" She pressed a finger to her lips, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the forest beyond. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Yang Kai's playful demeanor vanished in an instant. He sprang to his feet, brushing off the dirt, and climbed the tree with agile precision to join Di Yalan. "What's the situation?" he asked, his voice now calm and cool, all traces of mischief gone.

"Demon insects," Di Yalan whispered, her finger pointing to the forest floor.

Yang Kai followed her gaze, spotting dozens of beetle-like creatures scuttling from the underbrush, their mandibles clicking ominously. But before he could respond, a new sound cut through the stillness.

"Tata! Tata!"

Heavy running steps echoed across the forest, the rhythm unmistakably human. Yang Kai strained to discern the source, unsure if it was a cultivator chasing a demon beast or a demon beast hunting a human. Either way, he had no intention of getting involved. He turned to Di Yalan. "Let's not ask for trouble. We need to hide in another dense tree."

After a brief moment of thought, Yang Kai moved swiftly, spotting a luxuriant ancient tree nearby. He climbed into its thick foliage and crouched among the leaves, motioning for the others to follow. Di Yalan joined him immediately, followed by Mu Yu Die and Mo Yanyu, who scrambled up with tense urgency. Together, they concealed themselves in the dense branches, masking their scent to erase any trace of their presence.

They remained on high alert, their breaths shallow. Before long, five flustered mercenaries staggered into view at a distance, their faces etched with terror. They were heavily wounded—blood stained their tattered robes. The leader, a cultivator at the Immortal Ascension Boundary Stage, urged his companions forward, while the others, at the True Element Boundary Stage, stumbled behind, casting frantic glances over their shoulders as if pursued by death itself.

The group held their breath, watching from their perch. Suddenly, a buzzing sound swelled around them—louder than any swarm of bees could produce. It closed in rapidly, accompanied by a rumbling beneath their feet. The ground split with numerous cracks, as if something underground was tunneling toward the surface. The sight nearly made their souls leap from their bodies.

Below, the last mercenary—an ordinary man without cultivation—was surrounded by a group of bowl-sized, strange-looking black insects. He cried out in terror, his clothes shredded and flesh ripped apart. In mere moments, he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Yang Kai and his companions couldn't believe their eyes. Though they didn't know what these insects were, the fear of the unknown, coupled with their brutal ferocity, left them panic-stricken. The mercenaries below erupted into chaos.

"Damn it, run!" one shouted, bolting forward only a few steps before another yelled, "They're in front of us too! We're surrounded!"

"Fight!" the leader roared, desperation lacing his voice as he drew his weapon.

Yang Kai watched, his heart pounding.

He remained still, hidden with the others, his mind racing as he weighed their options.

The mercenaries' shouts turned to screams, then faded into silence as the insects overwhelmed them. The buzzing grew deafening before gradually receding, the swarm moving on, leaving only mangled corpses in its wake.

Once the forest fell quiet, Yang Kai signaled for them to descend. "We can't stay here," he whispered, his voice steady despite the lingering fear. "Let's move—quietly."