Chapter 343: Killing Intent on the Ugly Peak

This look was truly classic, especially that smear of white ash, which directly distinguished the Clown from the other four face masks—simple, yet the most eye-catching.

Seeing Plum K walk over, the Clown almost jumped up from the ground in excitement. He held stones in one hand while pointing at the small gravel all over the ground with the other, babbling something at her, seemingly wanting to pull her over to join him.

Plum K looked at him with a smile and said softly:

"Fifth, I’ve brought someone back this time."

The Clown paused, half his face peeking out from behind Plum K’s waist in confusion to look at Chen Ling behind her.

Chen Ling gave a polite, slight smile.

A cold wind blew across the bare Ugly Peak, causing the gravel on the ground to roll around.

The next moment, the Clown’s expression changed.

All the comedy and smiles vanished from his face. His narrow eyes locked onto Chen Ling like pinpricks. At this moment, even that smear of white ash couldn't hide the chilling eeriness radiating from him...

He stared at Chen Ling, like a sinister little ghost dwelling on the dark Ugly Peak.

Chen Ling clearly felt a chill lock onto him. He frowned, just about to say something, when a terrifying pressure, like that of a hellish demon, poured out from that short, ugly figure!

"Fifth?!" Plum K felt the change in the Clown’s aura, astonishment appearing in her eyes!

The Clown, who had been tugging at her hem, vanished instantly.

Chen Ling felt his vision blur. The entire Ugly Peak seemed to come alive. In this world of only black, white, and gray, the mountain, the rocks, the stone house, and even Plum K standing in front of the house, twisted and swayed like water ripples, sometimes enlarging and bulging, sometimes shrinking and sinking, as if he were in a world of funhouse mirrors.

Chen Ling had already sensed something was wrong, but before he could react, this dazzling world made his eyelids feel heavier than ever, and his thoughts almost ground to a halt!

And in this twisted world, only one figure moved forward calmly, undisturbed.

The short Clown walked on the uneven, shifting ground, his narrow pupils fixed on Chen Ling, making no effort to hide his chilling killing intent. Behind him, Plum K turned with extreme slowness, reaching out as if to grab him, but grabbing only empty air.

Pfft—!!

A sharp pain jolted Chen Ling from his chaotic consciousness.

The funhouse-mirror world exploded. The Clown’s eerie, comical face was almost pressed against his cheek.

Chen Ling looked down blankly. A hand had already pierced through his chest, coming out from his back. Scarlet blood dripped from the fingertips of that small hand, and the next moment, it was pulled out with force!

Chen Ling spat out a mouthful of blood, his body retreating continuously, his eyes filled with horror and anger as he looked at the Clown!

He wants to kill me?!!

Chen Ling’s back was soaked with cold sweat and blood. He never expected the Clown to attack him suddenly. If he didn't have a heart, this strike would have killed him instantly!

But why? He clearly hadn't provoked him, and there had been no warning... Why did he want to kill him!?

The Clown still stood there, his right hand soaked in blood. His small, pitch-black eyes looked at his palm in confusion, his joined eyebrows furrowing involuntarily...

He looked coldly at Chen Ling, who had escaped death, once again.

[Audience Expectation +3]

Damn it! He still wants to attack!

Chen Ling retreated without hesitation, his scarlet opera robe, under the enhancement of [Blood Garment], dragging out an afterimage as he dashed down the mountain!

This Clown looked comical and ugly, but his aura was terrifying, exceeding everyone he had ever met except for the Aurora Lord. He had escaped death just now because he didn't have a heart; he wouldn't be so lucky next time.

The Clown narrowed his eyes, just about to give chase, when a figure suddenly blocked his path!

"Fifth! What are you doing?!" Plum K shouted in a deep voice!

The Clown paused, the murderous look on his face receding slightly. He pointed at the direction Chen Ling had fled, babbling and gesturing something.

"He is a new disciple Master has taken in, and your junior brother! Didn't you hear when Master told you about this?!" Anger rarely seen in Plum K’s eyes surfaced. The Clown had suddenly attacked Chen Ling and almost killed him; she couldn't accept this.

The Clown gestured even more frantically with both hands, his babbling voice rising, as if he were anxiously trying to explain, but no effective information could be conveyed. Plum K’s brow furrowed even tighter.

Seeing that Chen Ling had already escaped to the middle of the mountain, the Clown gritted his teeth and simply pushed Plum K aside, rushing downward!

"Fifth?!!"

Plum K’s pupils contracted slightly. After a moment of hesitation, she reached into the void and grasped a zanbato sword, chasing after him like a cannonball, various opera face makeup patterns appearing on her cheeks!

……

"Yi-hahaha!"

Chen Ling had just rushed out a distance when he heard a burst of laughter from beside him. Glancing to the side, he froze in place.

The one laughing was a rock, an ordinary rock lying on his path down the mountain... Only now, the surface of the rock had an extra layer of white ash, like the makeup on the Clown’s face.

Chen Ling’s pupils contracted slightly. Knowing this was likely the Clown’s power again, he bypassed it and continued forward.

"Yi-hahahaha!"

"Yi-hahahahahahaha!!"

"Yi-hahahaha..."

Continuous laughter came from all directions. Within seconds, everything around Chen Ling seemed to come alive. The stone steps, the soil, and even the Calamities passing by at the foot of the mountain were stained with a layer of comical lime, as if they had turned into countless Clown faces, roaring with laughter at Chen Ling.

"Yi-haha..."

Chen Ling laughed twice subconsciously, then slammed his hands over his mouth!

Damn it, what kind of ability is this?!

A gust of wind swept past Chen Ling’s back, and the pressure of a life-and-death crisis surged into his heart. Just as his pupils contracted sharply, a dull, loud sound came from behind!

Clang—!!

A zanbato sword blocked Chen Ling’s back, stopping the Clown’s outstretched palm!

The shockwave of their collision swept out, and the gravel on the mountain rolled down like raindrops.

Chen Ling looked back to see Plum K, dressed in her cheongsam, standing on the steps holding the sword. Her face was like white jade, her willow-leaf eyebrows raised, and beneath her apricot-red eye makeup were sharp, oppressive pupils!

The Clown’s hand collided with the zanbato, and he winced in pain, blowing on it forcefully. His narrow gaze moved past Plum K and locked onto Chen Ling’s figure again.

Seeing this gaze, Chen Ling’s heart sank again!

Oh no... Is he obsessed with me?!