Bright Sword: This unit is really ruthless

Little did they know that this was just the beginning of the nightmare...

As we walked, the sky gradually darkened. The trees around us became denser and denser, blocking out the sun and not a single ray of light could penetrate.

"We have to find a place to spend the night." Zhang Ling said.

A Yue nodded, and the two began to look for a suitable camping site.

Suddenly, Zhang Ling stopped and his eyes fell on a huge ancient tree.

The ancient tree is lush and leafy, with a thick trunk that requires several people to hug.

"This tree..." Zhang Ling looked at the ancient tree, and suddenly an inexplicable sense of uneasiness surged in his heart.

He always felt that there was something wrong with the tree, but he couldn't tell what it was.

"What's wrong?" A Yue asked.

"This tree..." Zhang Ling hesitated, "Let's go to another place."

"Why?" A Yue asked puzzledly.

Zhang Ling didn't answer, but just took A Yue's hand and turned around to leave.

At this moment, the trunk of the ancient tree suddenly cracked, revealing a pitch-black hole.

From the cave entrance, a sinister laugh was heard...

Zhang Ling felt dizzy, and when he woke up again, he found himself lying in A Yue's home. A Yue's face came into view, with a hint of worry and joy, "Mr. Zhang Ling, you finally woke up!"

"I...how long have I been unconscious?" Zhang Ling struggled to sit up, feeling sore all over.

"It's been two days and two nights. I was really scared." Ah Yue brought a bowl of steaming hot porridge. "Have some quickly. I made it especially for you."

Zhang Ling took the bowl of porridge, and a warm feeling flowed into his heart. He looked at Ah Yue, and his heart was filled with gratitude and an inexplicable feeling. Ah Yue, an ordinary village girl, had a kind heart. In this village full of conspiracy and danger, she was like a pure lotus, exuding a faint fragrance.

"Ayue, thank you." Zhang Ling took a sip of porridge and felt a warm power flowing through his body.

"What are you thanking me for? You are my benefactor." A Yue smiled, revealing two shallow dimples.

Zhang Ling suddenly remembered what the old man said. This village was too dangerous and he had to leave as soon as possible.

"Ayue, let's go and leave this village." Zhang Ling put down the bowl of porridge with a determined look in his eyes.

Ah Yue was stunned for a moment, and then a trace of fear flashed across her eyes, "Leave? But...but where can we go?"

"It doesn't matter where you go, as long as you leave here." Zhang Ling's tone left no room for doubt, "This village...is not a place for people to stay."

Ah Yue was silent. She knew Zhang Ling was right, but where could she go if she left here? She had lived in this village since she was a child and knew nothing about the outside world.

"I...I'm scared..." A Yue's voice trembled a little.

Zhang Ling held A Yue's hand and gave her strength, "Don't be afraid, I will protect you." His eyes were gentle and firm, like the twinkling stars in the night sky, giving A Yue great courage.

"Okay, I...I'll go with you." A Yue finally made up her mind.

The two simply packed up their luggage and left the village under the cover of night.

The night is falling, the sky is dotted with stars, and a crescent moon hangs in the sky, casting a cool light.

They walked along the rugged mountain road without anyone speaking.

Zhang Ling's heart was filled with confusion about the future and a desire for revenge. He didn't know where he would go or what he would face, but he knew that he couldn't give up and he had to avenge those innocent villagers!

A Yue followed Zhang Ling closely. She was full of fear about the future, but she believed in Zhang Ling and believed that he would lead her away from this dark place and into the light.

After walking for a long time, they came to a dense forest.

"Let's rest here tonight." Zhang Ling said.

"Okay." A Yue nodded.

They found a relatively flat place and built a bonfire.

The firelight illuminated their faces, making them look particularly warm.

"My benefactor Zhang Ling..." A Yue suddenly spoke.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Ling looked at A Yue.

"Will you...will you blame me...for being a burden to you?" There was a hint of uneasiness in A Yue's eyes.

Zhang Ling smiled and said, "How could that be? You didn't drag me down. On the contrary, you gave me strength."

"Really?" A Yue couldn't believe it.

"Really." Zhang Ling's eyes were sincere and gentle. "If it weren't for you, I would have given up long ago."

A Yue's cheeks flushed slightly, she lowered her head, not daring to look into Zhang Ling's eyes.

"Ayue..." Zhang Ling suddenly approached Ayue and gently held her in his arms.

A Yue's body trembled slightly, but she did not refuse. Instead, she buried her head in Zhang Ling's arms, feeling his warmth and strength.

The two of them hugged each other quietly, enjoying this moment of tranquility and warmth.

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew, and the campfire swayed violently, making a crackling sound.

"What's that sound?" A Yue raised her head and looked around vigilantly.

Zhang Ling also felt something was wrong. He stood up and drew the long sword from behind him, "Who? Come out!"

It was quiet all around, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

"Is it... my illusion?" A Yue was a little confused.

"Be careful, there may be some danger here." Zhang Ling gripped the sword tightly in his hand and looked around vigilantly.

Suddenly, a dark shadow jumped out from the woods and headed straight towards A Yue!

"Be careful!" Zhang Ling shouted, pushed A Yue away, and swung his sword at the black shadow.

With a "clang" sound, the long sword collided with the black shadow, making a crisp metal collision sound.

With the help of the firelight, Zhang Ling saw the true face of the black shadow.

It was a black puppet with strange red eyes and a sharp dagger in its hand.

"This is...the village chief's puppet!" Zhang Ling was shocked.

Only then did he remember that the village chief once said that he would use puppets to control the villagers.

Could it be that...A Yue has been controlled?

Thinking of this, Zhang Ling's heart sank.

He looked at A Yue, only to see that A Yue's eyes were empty and there was no expression on her face.

"Ayue...you..." Zhang Ling couldn't believe what he saw.

A Yue suddenly picked up the dagger in her hand, pointed it at her heart, and stabbed it hard!

"No!" Zhang Ling shouted, trying to stop A Yue, but it was too late.

The dagger pierced A Yue's heart, and blood gushed out, staining her clothes red.

A Yue fell to the ground, and her eyes gradually lost their luster.

"Ayue!" Zhang Ling was heartbroken. He knelt down beside Ayue, hugged her tightly, and tears flowed uncontrollably.

He never thought that A Yue would die in front of him, and in his hands!

"Why...why did it happen like this..." Zhang Ling's heart was filled with self-blame and pain.

He raised his head and looked into the depths of the woods, his eyes filled with anger and hatred.

"Village Chief! I must kill you to avenge A Yue!"

Zhang Ling held Ah Yue's body, letting the warm blood soak through his clothes. His world seemed to collapse, leaving only endless darkness and despair. He clenched his teeth tightly, the muscles in his jaw were so tight that they were about to burst, but he couldn't make a sound.

"Why...why..." He finally squeezed out a few broken words from the depths of his throat, his voice hoarse like the growl of a wild beast.

The wind whistled and the shadows of the trees swayed, as if mocking his powerlessness. He raised his head, his scarlet eyes fixed on the depths of the woods, where the culprit who controlled all this was hiding - the village chief.

"Village chief! I will never forgive you!" Zhang Ling's roar echoed in the valley, startling a flock of flying birds. He stood up slowly, the long sword in his hand trembling constantly, the tip of the sword pointed at the dark forest, as if he wanted to pour out all his hatred.

He staggered towards the woods, each step felt like walking on the edge of a knife. He didn't know what was waiting for him ahead, but he didn't care anymore. His only goal was revenge, revenge for A Yue, and revenge for all the innocent villagers who were manipulated by the village chief!

The woods were eerie and filled with the smell of decay. With every step Zhang Ling took, he could hear the crackling of dead branches and broken leaves under his feet. To him, this sound was like the footsteps of death, approaching step by step, urging him to walk towards the abyss.

Suddenly, he stopped.

In front of him, there was an open space, on which dozens of puppets were placed, each of which was lifelike and in different shapes.

These puppets are all the works of the village chief.

Zhang Ling's eyes swept over these puppets, and he felt sick. He seemed to see the villagers who were controlled by the village chief, their appearance when they were alive, their pain, their despair...

"Village chief!" Zhang Ling shouted through gritted teeth.

An old voice came from deep in the woods: "You are finally here, Zhang Ling."

The village chief slowly walked out of the woods with a strange smile on his face.

"Why are you doing this?" Zhang Ling asked.

"Why?" The village chief raised his head and laughed, "Because I like it! I like to control the fate of others. I like to watch them struggle under my control!"

"You lunatic!" Zhang Ling roared.

"Madman? Maybe." The village chief shrugged, "But this world is originally a world of madmen."

As he spoke, he raised the cane in his hand and waved it gently.

The puppets suddenly moved, their eyes emitted a strange red light, and they surrounded Zhang Ling with various weapons in their hands.

Zhang Ling took a deep breath and clenched the sword in his hand. He knew that this was a battle of life and death.

He brandished his sword and fought fiercely with the puppets. His sword skills were sharp and his moves were deadly, but there were too many puppets, and they were tireless and insensitive to pain.

Zhang Ling gradually felt that he was unable to cope with the situation. He already had several wounds on his body and blood was constantly flowing out.

"Give up, Zhang Ling." The village chief's voice came again, "You can't beat me."

"I won't give up!" Zhang Ling gritted his teeth and said, "I must kill you and avenge A Yue!"

He swung his sword again, splitting a puppet in half.

But more puppets came up and surrounded him.

Zhang Ling felt his consciousness gradually becoming blurred, and his body could no longer support him.

At this moment, he suddenly heard a familiar voice:

"Zhang Ling! Hold on!"

He suddenly opened his eyes and saw a figure running towards him.

Is that...A Yue?

"Ayue? You are not..." Zhang Ling couldn't believe his eyes.

"It's me, Zhang Ling." Ah Yue ran to Zhang Ling's side and supported his shaky body. "I'm fine."

"But...you clearly..." Zhang Ling looked at the wound on A Yue's chest, his heart full of doubts.

"That was an illusion cast by the village chief." A Yue explained, "He used an illusion to confuse you and made you think I was dead."

"Illusion?" Zhang Ling finally realized that he had been deceived by the village chief!

"Now is not the time to talk about this." A Yue said, "We must leave here first."