Dimensional Supermarket - Chapter 25

In the darkness, Wu Yan hears the heavy breathing of the man swinging the axe. He can’t see the man’s face, but he can clearly sense his towering height. At that moment, Wu Yan stands frozen, awaiting his predetermined fate.

Then, a sudden change occurs—”Bang!”

With a deafening noise, the expected axe strike that should end his life never comes. Wu Yan belatedly collapses to the ground, a sharp pain shooting up from his backside, jolting his senses back to reality. That pain also allows him to see clearly the hellish scene in front of him.

The petite girl leaps into the air like a phantom. Her golden curls block the moonlight, her pale skin accentuating her blood-red eyes. Her fingers are elongated like withered branches, and her long nails are covered in torn flesh.

The smell of blood fills the air, rendering Wu Yan speechless with horror. He stares at the scene in front of him, his mind completely blank.

Sarah steps on the back of the man she has kicked, and the surroundings fall eerily silent.

A small girl has defeated a tall, strong man—such an event couldn’t even happen in the most outrageous storybook.

Not only Wu Yan and his group, but even the attackers from the woods stand stunned.

Sarah closes her five fingers and stabs them forcefully into the man’s back.

The sound of sharp nails tearing through skin echoes through the silence.

Everyone freezes, watching Sarah as she effortlessly pulls the man’s still-beating heart from his back.

She tosses the heart aside, then raises her hand, squinting her eyes as she licks the blood between her fingers, seemingly intoxicated and enjoying the moment.

In that instant, she is more terrifying than all the monsters and ghosts in any legend.

“What are you afraid of?” Sarah breaks the deathly silence. She raises an eyebrow at Wu Yan. “He’s not stronger than you. If you admit defeat in your heart, your weapon will fall from your hand. Without me, you’d die here, but I can’t be by your side every time.”

Wu Yan’s throat tightens as if gripped by a hand. He can’t make a sound.

“Monster, monster!!” someone screams.

The sound of frantic footsteps and people tripping over dead branches echoes as they flee.

Sarah doesn’t care about Wu Yan and his men, who are now collapsed on the ground.

Her legs swell with unnatural, twisted muscle, and her thin legs become strangely entangled. No one can follow her movements; it’s as though a gust of cold wind has blown from a hundred thousand miles away.

The man fleeing in panic can no longer hear anything or smell the blood in the air. All he can think is one word: “Run!”

The farther he runs, the better—away from the terrifying monster.

I’m safe now, right? The man can’t run anymore.

Just when the thought of safety crosses his mind, all the strength drains from his body.

He collapses to the ground, panting, convinced he is going to die.

“I saw you running the fastest. Why aren’t you running now?” A hoarse female voice suddenly rings in his ears.

The man freezes. “I can’t run…”

He then stiffens, realizing the truth.

And next to him, his opponent appears.

Under the moonlight, he sees clearly that this is no ordinary little girl. Her blood-red pupils, paler-than-pale cheeks, and long, sharp nails all tell him she is no human.

She has a young girl’s face, but her voice is that of a grown woman.

That hoarse, gentle voice paired with her petite frame and youthful appearance is enough to chill anyone to the bone.

The man stares at her in terror.

Sarah is about to say something more when she sees the man’s head suddenly slump backward as he falls to the ground.

Sarah: “…”

I didn’t even do anything yet!

Annoyed, she walks over and crouches beside the man. First, she checks his pulse and breathing to make sure he’s not dead. Then she slaps him twice to confirm he isn’t faking unconsciousness. Rolling her eyes, she lets out a long sigh and grabs his arm, dragging him back with brute strength.

If he hadn’t fainted, he could’ve walked back himself.

Now, she is all he has to rely on.

“I-I’ll bandage you,” Cao’er stammers, holding back her fear. She takes out medical alcohol and gauze from the first aid kit. Ye Zhou had taught them how to use it before they left, so everyone knows what to do.

Except for Cao’er, the others are still in shock, unable to move on from what Sarah has done.

Chen Liu, leaning against a tree, speaks with trembling lips: “She—she really is a leech monster? And her nails are so long!”

Cao’er begins cleaning Chen Liu’s wounds with water, ignoring the mud and blood. She doesn’t dare to think about what she has just witnessed, merely replying: “Sister’s been practicing for over 400 years. She’s more powerful than ordinary leech monsters.”

Chen Liu only knows that Sarah is a monster, but he never asked in detail. He certainly doesn’t expect her to have practiced for over 400 years.

“Alright, cheer up. Even if she is a monster, she’s now under The Lord Immortal,” Wu Yan coughs lightly and kneels as he stands. “Those people tried to kill us, so she fought back. Without her, we’d be just like that person over there.” He points at the corpse with the heart torn out. “If The Lord Immortal doesn’t ask when you return, don’t tell them anything.”

He doesn’t dare deceive The Lord Immortal and fears Sarah will be driven away for saving them and killing. So, he comes up with a plan: as long as they don’t mention it, they might be able to save Sarah. If The Lord Immortal asks, they won’t lie.

Li Si asks in a low voice, “Where… did Sarah go?”

Cao’er, her hands still shaking as she bandages Chen Liu, whispers, “She was chasing someone, right? We need to know who they are and who sent them. If they just happened upon us, it’s fine. But if they…”

Everyone looks at her.

Cao’er purses her lips and says, “If they targeted us intentionally, and if they were after The Lord Immortal’s cave too, we’re in trouble.”

When these words fall, a sense of relief washes over the group: “There’s an immortal guarding the supermarket! If they go there, they’re just asking for death. Suicidal. Just—”

Chen Liu: “Quit your ‘justs.’ You’re about to talk yourself into a corner.”

The others laugh, the fear lifting from their shoulders.

Cao’er relaxes too.

Right—those people might be able to bully regular folks like them, but what makes them think they can trouble an immortal?

Even if they went, would the immortal just sit there and take it?

The group treats each other’s wounds, drinks some water, and comforts one another. A short while later, they see Sarah coming out of the woods.

She doesn’t scare anyone. As she is about to enter, she calls out to Wu Yan and the others: “I caught a living person.”

But her “catching” is nothing like they expected—she is dragging a living person!

The unconscious man is soon surrounded by Wu Yan and his men. Wu Yan tells Cao’er to speak to Sarah while he and his men begin stripping the man and inspecting him.

“Brother Wu, look at this…” Chen Liu pulls a copper coin tied with a red string from the man’s clothes.

Wu Yan’s pupils contract. “Let me see!”

He tugs at the string, revealing stains on the coin, which can only be faintly recognized as dried blood.

“They’re soldiers!” Wu Yan says in disbelief. “Only soldiers carry these coins to buy their lives!”

Since the previous dynasty, all soldiers were given a life-buying coin. With it, they could buy their lives back from the King of Hell after battle.

If they die—it means their coin has run out of luck.

No one knows how many times the coin can be used. So soldiers always carry it with them.

This coin is their talisman.

“Why are there soldiers here?!” Chen Liu asks sharply. “Why aren’t they out suppressing bandits?!”

Wu Yan presses his lips together. “They’re soldiers, yes—but they’re not made of iron. They need food, water, and rest. I’m afraid… they’ve already turned into bandits. Worse than bandits.”

After all, even bandits were once law-abiding citizens.

But these soldiers have been through war before turning rogue. They aren’t the same as common thugs.

“If they’re soldiers, there will be more than just a few dozen!” Wu Yan quickly makes a decision: “We need to leave tonight! Let’s go back!”

Although Sarah is a monster, Wu Yan dares not place all his hopes on her.

The employees hurry to find a flashlight, and Chen Liu asks Wu Yan, “What should we do with this man?”

Wu Yan replies, “Take him back. Wake him up, tie his hands, and lead him back.” Wu Yan whispers, “I’m afraid he’ll strangle me if I carry him on my back. Dragging him… Only Sarah can drag him, but if she really drags him all the way, I’m afraid he’ll die before we get to the supermarket.”

Chen Liu nods. “Brother Wu, you’re still thoughtful.”

Wu Yan isn’t satisfied with this. “Don’t splash water on him. Pinch his philtrum and slap him a few times. If that doesn’t work, burn the soles of his feet with fire.”

(Translator’s Notes: Philtrum is the vertical groove or indentation that runs between the upper lip and the base of the nose.)

While the two of them are discussing their “torture” methods, nearby, Sarah tells Cao’er, “He was the fastest runner, so I chased him. Didn’t bother with the others.” She wrinkles her nose. “If I had known it would be like this, I should’ve asked Zou Ming to come with me. No, wait…” Sarah suddenly becomes happy. “I’m glad I didn’t ask him to come out after all.”

Cao’er is confused but chooses not to ask more. She often can’t understand what her mother or this sister says. So, she simply nods.

She doesn’t dare ask more—she once believed her sister to be a pure, kind little monster, but she now realizes her sister is a terrifying monster who kills without hesitation.

Cao’er shrinks her neck, full of fear, yet feels she shouldn’t be afraid—after all, they’re sworn sisters. Wouldn’t that hurt Sarah’s feelings?

Cao’er whispers, “Sister, please put your nails away.”

Sarah looks at her sharp nails, which gleam coldly, and smiles. “I just forgot. Look, I’ve put them away now.” Sarah sighs, “Wu Yan and the others aren’t good enough. They need to experience more before they can stand on their own. When I was their age…”

Cao’er: “…”

Her honorary sister sounds just like her mother.

Her own mother also likes to say, “Back when I was your age…”