40: Chapter 32: Poison Gland (4k) 40: Chapter 32: Poison Gland (4k) “Huff!”

The fierce wind generated by the high-speed movement made Xia Nan’s black bangs sway violently.

A shadow flickered in his vision, and Wood, holding two daggers, had already approached.

“Young master, are you alright?”

His anxious and concerned gaze thoroughly scanned the half-elf’s body up and down several times.

Seeing that there were no external injuries, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

In reality, it was Wood’s concern that caused his panic.

With no obstacles blocking his view, he had seen everything that had happened on his way over.

He knew that the rusted monster had not even touched Hai’an before its head was sliced off.

Yet, the urgency caused by his failure to fulfill his duty, combined with the fear of what could have happened, made him unable to stop feeling guilty.

“Thank goodness, thank goodness.”

Wood thought with relief.

Then, he turned his head and looked earnestly at Xia Nan, who was holding a longsword and preparing to move forward to support the others.

He nodded sincerely and honestly.

The battle situation was urgent, and Wood himself was not one for words.

But at this moment, he genuinely acknowledged the young guy in the team, whom he once doubted and who had now shown through his actions that he could be trusted.

“Whizz.”

Like a phantom, the figure clad in black leather armor disappeared once more.

Only now did the half-elf Hai’an, who had just experienced a life-and-death crisis, finally come back to his senses.

“Huff…

huff…”

He breathed heavily, and his originally fair face was covered in sweat.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… thank you!”

In a flustered voice, Hai’an apologized to Xia Nan beside him.

In response, Xia Nan didn’t even make any replies and rushed away from the half-elf.

On the one hand, in his eyes, even though Hai’an and others were strangers to him just a few days ago,

now that they were teammates in the group, he must fulfill his responsibilities to the best of his abilities, even for the 100 gold coins.

On the other hand, it was also because—

One of the two rusted monsters left on the field was already crawling towards them.

“Hiss!!!”

The piercing and high-pitched screech seemed to shatter the eardrums.

The elongated finned tail covered with wavy, yellow-brown shell swung in the air, scattering countless grass debris with every sweep.

Unlike the goblins whose “combat power” is determined by “numbers,” rusted monsters, seldom gathering in large groups, do not feel fear or anger from their kind being slain.

These large insects, often wandering in the deep caverns, somehow became extremely aggressive, stimulated by something.

Even with the metal weapons corroded by venom, they showed no interest and just crazily attacked the living creatures before them.

The iron-gray beheading longsword was raised in front of his chest.

Xia Nan was not eager to attack but circled the rusted monster with his sword.

His mind was racing.

Everything that had happened since the battle began flashed through his mind.

First, the biggest threat to him was naturally the corrosive poison liquid that spewed from the rusted monster’s mouth.

Whether it splashed on him or accidentally got onto his sword, it would cause him immense distress, a situation he couldn’t accept.

He must be extra cautious!

Secondly, the rusted monster’s body was covered with a thick and sturdy shell.

From what he saw when Larry struck it with the one handed hammer, Xia Nan couldn’t be sure if he could break through the armor with a single sword swing.

If he failed to pierce the insect’s defense instantly, the lack of force transmission from flesh and blood would put him in a stiff state from the counterforce.

The margin for error was extremely low!

Thus, like Wood before, finding a breakthrough between the gaps in the rusted monster shell was undoubtedly the best strategy for dealing with such insect-like demons.

But…

A hint of hesitation flashed in Xia Nan’s dark eyes.

A few seconds ago, he indeed used the Vortex Slash to cut off one rusted monster’s head.

At the time, he wasn’t thinking much, just instinctively used Wood’s tactic to strike when he saw his teammate in danger.

He didn’t even aim carefully; the blade had already wedged into the insect beast’s shell.

In retrospect, was it coincidence, or some kind of combat talent?

He wasn’t sure.

But he wouldn’t allow this kind of uncertainty to interfere with the battle at hand, where his life was at stake.