In a Fantasy World as Cannon Fodder, I Got Entangled with the Heroine - Chapter 70

Chapter 70: The Mastermind Behind the Beast Tide

Translation by: Weebsread👹

In the next instant—

A cluster of figures materialized from the teleportation array, shadows lengthening against the dim stone floor.

“How much more blood do you think we can squeeze from this Fire Phoenix Violet Immortal Monkey?” said a man in a gray robe adorned with a glaring blood-red skull. He strode up to the iron cage and glanced at his companions, eyes gleaming with cold calculation.

The one he addressed shook his head. “Hard to say for sure. If I had to guess—maybe three more draws, tops.”

“Three more, huh? Sounds about right.” Without another word, he moved closer to the caged beast and began the grisly task of siphoning its blood.

“Roar—!” The monkey’s agonized howl echoed through the chamber, gut-wrenching and filled with despair. No matter how it struggled, it couldn’t escape the restraints. All it could do was watch helplessly as its life’s essence drained away.

Concealed behind a massive boulder, Jiang Qian held his breath, suppressing every trace of his aura into utter silence.

Demonic sects… but which one is this?

This wasn’t in the original plot of the novel. Did all this happen because of me? 

...

...

Is this some kind of butterfly effect? A new subplot triggered by my presence in this world?

Before long—

The man hefted a bucket, sloshing with fresh, scarlet monkey blood, and stepped back onto the teleportation array.

“I’ll take this batch of Fire Phoenix Violet Immortal Monkey blood and report back first!”

With that, he activated the array, vanishing in a shimmer of rune-light.

The cultists remaining shifted their gazes back to the battered, barely breathing monkey. “I wonder how the Crown Prince managed to get his hands on a Fire Phoenix Violet Immortal Monkey in the first place.”

“Who knows? Probably bought it through some underground channel. He’s the Crown Prince—he has resources we can’t even imagine.”

“True enough. For someone of his status, a rare beast like this is just another trophy.”

The group exchanged idle banter, completely at ease—until Jiang Qian stepped out from behind the boulder.

“Who’s there?!” one of the cultists barked, instantly drawing the sword at his side.

The others reacted with practiced precision: swords flashed, tips leveled threateningly at Jiang Qian.

But he showed no sign of panic. Instead, Jiang Qian advanced, every step deepening the oppressive demonic aura swirling around him.

“A demonic cultivator—but his aura… What is this pressure?!” one cultist choked out, face paling.

No matter how they struggled to rally their demonic qi, they found it leaking from their bodies, drawn irresistibly toward Jiang Qian like water down a drain.

Their strength evaporated in an instant. All four collapsed to their knees, utterly spent and powerless, terror widening their eyes.

Jiang Qian plucked a sword from one of the trembling men. With swift, clinical efficiency, he dispatched three of them in quick, merciless strokes—leaving only one alive.

He dropped the bloodied sword and sauntered over to the last survivor, crouching down with a casual, almost pleasant smile. “Which sect are you with?”

“If I tell you… will you spare my life?”

“You have my word.”

“We’re from the Evil Blood Sect.”

Evil Blood Sect? Isn’t that connected to the Blood Sect—the greatest of the demonic clans?

“What’s your relation to the Blood Sect?”

“We’re a branch sect. The Blood Sect is our main lineage!”

Branches, main lineages… The relationships in these demonic clans really are convoluted, Jiang Qian thought, growing slightly exasperated with all the jargon. He shifted tactics.

“A minute ago, you mentioned the Crown Prince. Is there some kind of deal between him and your sect? What’s going on here?”

“We’re just following orders—no one told us the details!” the man stammered, shaking his head desperately. "I swear, that’s all I know!"

“I’ve told you everything. So… will you let me go now?”

Jiang Qian ignored him. Instead, he strode over to the battered cage. Inside, the Fire Phoenix Violet Immortal Monkey was barely conscious. Jiang Qian met its eyes.

“Do you want to live?”

The monkey struggled to force its eyes open and managed a weak nod.

“Become my beast companion.”

The words had barely left Jiang Qian’s lips when, to his surprise, the monkey responded instantly. It spat out a droplet of its heart’s blood.

Jiang Qian caught the drop in his palm and channeled his Spiritual Essence into it.

A sigil glimmered at the center of the monkey’s brow—the mark of a beast contract.

With a twist, Jiang Qian broke open the cage and set the monkey free.

No sooner had it regained its freedom than the Fire Phoenix Violet Immortal Monkey lunged at the last surviving cultist, unleashing all its pent-up agony and hate in a savage onslaught.

“Help! You said you’d let me go!” the cultist shrieked, his voice twisting with terror and betrayal as he stared at Jiang Qian.

Jiang Qian simply shrugged, his smile thin. “I promised I’d let you go. The Fire Phoenix Violet Immortal Monkey, however, isn’t bound by any promise.”

The monkey’s rage knew no bounds—it tore the man limb from limb, then turned on the other corpses, devouring them in a frenzy.

Once it had finished, the Fire Phoenix Violet Immortal Monkey’s wounds seemed to recover slightly, regaining a measure of its strength.

Jiang Qian held out his hand and summoned it back into his Beastmaster’s Ring.

Before leaving, Jiang Qian took the time to stage the scene, making it appear as though the Fire Phoenix Violet Immortal Monkey had managed a desperate escape on its own. Only then did he slip away, silent as shadow.

—

A long while later—

Riding atop his Thunderflame Skywing Eagle, Jiang Qian soared back toward Ercheng.

By now, the beast tide threatening the city had been completely repelled.

Spotting Jiang Qian from a distance, Hu Murui rushed up, worry and relief written on her face. “Brother Jiang, where did you disappear to just now?”

He gave her a faint smile. “There’s something I need to discuss with Chen Changfeng. Come—this will make things clear.”

Without waiting for a response, Jiang Qian strode toward the encampment, heading straight for the command tent.

Inside, Chen Changfeng was still engrossed in his military charts and scrolls. When the group entered, he glanced up, surprised.

“What brings you all here?”

“There’s something important you need to hear,” Jiang Qian replied solemnly.

He recounted everything he had just witnessed—though he claimed that the Fire Phoenix Violet Immortal Monkey had perished.

“What?!” Chen Changfeng sprang to his feet, anger flashing in his eyes. He forced himself to sit back down, but his face remained thunderous. “So, it was the Crown Prince orchestrating this disaster from the shadows. No wonder the Emperor sent me out here to Ercheng!”

“This is outrageous! He’s treating the lives of Ercheng’s people as if they’re less than nothing.”

“How could someone like that ever be fit to rule?!”

Bai Piaoxue and the others were seething as well. No matter how much Chen Jianzhi desired the throne, sacrificing innocents for his own ambition was unforgivable.

Jiang Qian frowned and looked around. “Where’s Duan Yuqing? Has anyone seen him?”

“No idea,” Jiang Zixuan replied, brow furrowing. “I thought Senior Brother Duan was with you.”

—

Far from Ercheng—

Duan Yuqing rampaged through the wilderness, hacking down any beast in his way. Black mist clung to him—his demonic qi was beginning to seep out, twisting his features with hatred and despair.

“Why? Why?! Why doesn’t Junior Sister ever look at me? I’ve done so much for her, yet she clings to that bastard Jiang Qian instead!”

Each furious swing of his sword sent blood spraying through the air—no beast dared stand in his way, and none survived his wrath.

Clap, clap, clap—

A slow, mocking applause echoed amid the carnage.

“Hahaha, I never expected this, Holy Son Duan. I never thought you had such resentment festering in your heart!”