Chapter 8: The Eighth Iron Pillar

Because of Shen Junlin’s remark, even the grilled meat in Xinyue’s hand lost its appeal.

“Where can we get inhibitors? Are there any in Isaac Town?” Xinyue asked.

Shen Junlin replied, “As far as I know, there aren’t any there.”

Xinyue raised her eyebrows in surprise. From information gathered in the black market, Isaac Town is considered relatively wealthy on the Exile Planet. If even Isaac lacks inhibitors, where else could they be found?

“There’s a Crystal City on the other side of this forest; there might be inhibitors there,” Avis said.

“Crystal City?” Xinyue thought the name sounded quite extravagant.

Avis nodded. “Before this place was called the Exile Planet, Crystal City was the central administrative district, so its economy is better off.”

That was also why Isaac Town was relatively prosperous—it was close to Crystal City.

“Then I’ll go there,” Xinyue decided firmly.

“My dear princess, please allow me to accompany you,” Avis caught the implication behind her words.

The handsome and noble-looking man performed a graceful gesture, resembling a knight wielding a sword, ready to protect the princess at any moment.

Unfortunately, Xinyue felt no attraction toward him. He was nothing more than a red-eyed drone; she could take him down with one hand.

“Were you the one who ordered the patrols to hunt me down?” Xinyue began dredging up old grievances after finishing her meal.

Her tone was calm, but her eyes—slanted and slightly upturned at the corners, trailing a hint of allure—were icy green and chilling.

This was definitely not a good sign.

Avis stiffened slightly. “Princess, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding? You even used energy grenades during the pursuit. Now you say it’s a misunderstanding? Do you think you’re incredibly clever, or that adults are easily fooled?” Shen Junlin fanned the flames.

Avis hated how Shen Junlin was pouring fuel on the fire, but he could only smile wryly. “Princess, I swear on my life, I truly didn’t know those fools would resort to energy grenades.”

He had arrived late, having gone the wrong way initially. By the time he got there, those fools had already aimed their guns at his beloved princess.

Truly, hybrids were just a bunch of rusted-brained idiots.

“Please believe that our manhunt was to ensure your safety, to prevent you from being taken by someone with ulterior motives,” Avis continued, his words suggestive.

Xinyue threw the skewer of coyote meat to the ground, clapped her hands, and stood up. “Which way to Crystal City?”

Avis seemed fairly obedient for now and could serve well as a source of information. Of course, if he became dishonest, she wouldn’t hesitate to deal with him herself.

“Sir, Crystal City is to the east,” Shen Junlin said.

Xinyue paused thoughtfully. “Which way is east?”

For someone unworldly and without a sense of direction, distinguishing north, south, east, and west was a challenge.

“This way,” Avis quickly pointed.

The three set off.

The forest was vast and teeming with dense trees and a great variety of plants.

As they ventured deeper, the vines thickened on the ground, branches twisting and intertwining like gaping jaws, and the narrow path they had been following vanished.

Glowing vines surrounded them like faithful lantern bearers, casting a faint, ethereal light over the environment.

“Isn’t this pace a bit slow?” Xinyue stopped after walking a while.

The thick vines on the ground were as soft as sponges; stepping on them made her ankles sink in. Plus, the many branches around made flying difficult—unless she went above the canopy.

Though she wondered if, in her current satiated state, her pheromones would scatter everywhere.

“Princess, I am willing to be your most loyal steed,” Avis eagerly offered.

Shen Junlin said, “Sir, I can do that too.”

Xinyue glanced at Shen Junlin; after all, he had treated her to a meal. Compared to Avis, she preferred Shen Junlin.

A deeper smile curved Shen Junlin’s lips, his whole demeanor like a breeze in spring, which made Avis grind his teeth in secret.

However—

Just as Xinyue was about to reach out to Shen Junlin, she suddenly turned her head toward the left.

She caught a familiar, peculiar scent of medicine—one she had smelled every day for a long time in the past.

Along with the scent came the sharp sting of a syringe piercing the skin.

Memories flooded her mind.

Research staff in white lab coats held small screens, periodically checking the culture columns in front of them and inputting data.

Their faces flushed with an odd excitement.

Once a switch was flipped, tiny catheters extended from the bottom of the nutrient column, winding like serpents flicking crimson tongues.

Near the specimens in the tubes, the catheter tips opened like fangs, biting into the defenseless subjects.

Some serpent heads were sharp knives, slicing large chunks of tissue from the subjects as if cutting cake, then injecting samples into the wounds.

Amid unbearable pain, the tissue grew rapidly—sometimes beyond the standard, with extra parts being cut away again.

Xinyue’s eyes darkened; those damned memories remained vivid.

“Sir?” Shen Junlin was puzzled; he had just seen her reach out.

“There seems to be something over there. I’ll go check it out,” Xinyue said before turning.

She didn’t ask them to follow, but both Shen Junlin and Avis trailed after her.

In the hive, male drones only obey the princess’s commands.

In the dim forest, several figures moved like ghosts. The vines underfoot creaked with every step. Deep in the woods, pairs of vertical pupils flickered like bulbs, each radiating a bloodthirsty aura.

Yet these fierce carnivores eventually retreated into darker corners.

The medicinal scent grew clearer, and Xinyue slowed down.

Finally, she saw it—

Amid the dense jungle, a black-winged flyer burst through the foliage.

As they approached, the sizable flyer, resembling a witch’s castle hidden deep within the forest, gradually revealed itself.

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