The three of them entered Ed's cave.

A quick search.

No one.

"Damn it... where did they go?"

Kuwahara Kuang Ren cursed, kicking over the fire pit and stamping out the flames with his rain-soaked boots.

"Those damn cowards, hiding away..."

He was arrogant to the extreme, holding a katana identical to Ning Wenxiao's.

Bell had plenty of such weapons.

Ji Teng approached Ed's bag and pulled out the camera.

Inside, it played footage of Ed brutally killing previous victims.

After watching, Ji Teng seemed to realize something and suddenly raised an eyebrow, exclaiming:

"Not good!"

He spun around quickly, only to see a cloaked man holding Kuwahara Kuang Ren with one arm and pressing a sharp scalpel to his throat with the other.

Kuwahara Kuang Ren's face turned pale, the coldness at his throat rendering him unable to resist!

"Where are your teammates?"

Ran Xinping, the flat-toned woman, remained calm, one hand behind her back, seemingly preparing a powerful move.

Zhao Yi held Kuwahara Kuang Ren and retreated step by step into the curtain of rain, his figure growing darker in the shadows.

"I made up an excuse to send them away."

Zhao Yi's tone was somewhat eerie.

"The last dish, I want to enjoy alone."

With that, he disappeared into the night with Kuwahara Kuang Ren.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

The two quickly chased after him, but Zhao Yi was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, a piercing scream came from the dense forest on the right. The two drew military knives and a high-voltage stun baton, cautiously heading towards the direction of the scream.

Under a giant pine tree.

Two severed arms lay scattered.

"Ah!!!"

Another scream.

This time from the left, and the two rushed over.

Suddenly, Ji Teng stepped on something and accidentally fell.

He quickly got up with Ran Xinping's help, but under the starlight, what he saw on the ground made their scalps almost explode!

Lying there quietly was the bloody... skin of Kuwahara Kuang Ren!

"Damn!"

Even Ran Xinping, who had seen many terrifying scenes, trembled all over!

How long had it been since they arrived, and Zhao Yi had already skinned Kuwahara Kuang Ren?

Could someone really skin a person that fast?

[Kuwahara Kuang Ren is dead, killed by Zhao Yi.]

The system broadcasted.

Panic spread.

"Let's retreat to the cave... it's dark here, easy to be ambushed!"

The two no longer had the courage to continue hunting Zhao Yi; Kuwahara Kuang Ren's death had shattered their resolve!

In their panic, they failed to notice—

At the cave entrance,

A trail of fresh footprints being washed away by the rain...

[Zhao Yi killed Ran Xinping]

[Zhao Yi killed Ji Teng]

[Players Zhao Yi, Ding Longfei, Wei Yun completed side quest one]

[After the main quest ends, rewards will be given for side quests based on contribution.]

...

On the ground, by the campfire.

Zhao Yi was covered in blood.

Two headless bodies lay on the ground.

Their heads were placed beside Zhao Yi, one on each side.

Kuwahara Kuang Ren's head was also inside the cave.

He hadn't been skinned at all.

It was just a psychological trick Zhao Yi played on the two.

In reality, the one who was skinned was Ning Wenxiao, who had come earlier to assassinate Zhao Yi.

Watching the rain outside, Zhao Yi quietly held the bloody heads of the three and slept.

Sleeping like this... was the only way to feel at ease!

...

On the desolate mountain, Ed, holding a katana, cornered the wounded Bell to the edge of a cliff.

"Ed!"

"They used you!"

Bell shouted hoarsely, his eyes bloodshot!

Ed's body trembled.

His eyes were no longer as cloudy as before, but tears of blood flowed from the corners.

"I know, Bell..."

"But..."

"I really..."

"Can't go on like this..."

"Let it all end!"

"We've... done too many wrong things!"

"Death is a release!"

Looking at Ed's weary face, Bell breathed heavily, collapsing onto the ground.

He wanted to light a cigarette, but it was raining.

He hadn't smoked before.

It was only after becoming obsessed with killing that he learned to smoke.

Nicotine could dispel the guilt in his heart.

"You're right..."

"We really... did too many wrong things."

Bell sighed, slowly closing his eyes, savoring the last moment of peace before death.

Ed raised the katana high and swung it down fiercely!

He carried Bell's head to the edge of the cliff, feeling the fierce cold rain and wind, and plunged into the abyss...

[Congratulations to players Zhao Yi, Ding Longfei, Wei Yun for completing side quest 2.]

[All side quests completed, based on contribution, Zhao Yi received the Fate Chest.]

[Ding Longfei, Wei Yun received no reward.]

...

PS: This dungeon is basically over.

Let me briefly mention a few points.

1. Although I put effort into designing this dungeon, it clearly exceeded my capabilities, and unlike previous dungeons, it didn't serve the main storyline, being a spur-of-the-moment independent dungeon. As a novice, I failed to handle it well, leading to an unsatisfactory experience for you all. This is my fault, and I apologize. In the next two or three days, I will carefully sort out the main storyline and dungeon creation.

2. Due to point 1, I cut some scenes to rush the end of this dungeon, but the main flow was completed.

3. I will quickly return to the main storyline, including the secrets of Hanging Valley Town, the protagonist's secrets, and the opening of the Tide of Demon Spirits.

4. Writing a novel is like running a restaurant; some come, some go, some are regulars, and some only visit once. No matter what, it's a fate, and I'm grateful for it. You all bring me not just benefits, but companionship.

5. The author only writes books, no group chats.

6. Good night, brothers.