Chapter 101: Agonizing Pain

The woman was immediately startled, hastily stepping back a few paces while holding her daughter tightly.

“Dad! What’s wrong with you?”

“He was long ago parasitized by the worms in the seawater.”

Cheng Luoyi approached step by step, her hand returning to grasp the handle of the knife on her back. With a sharp ‘clang,’ she drew the long blade, her intent unmistakably clear.

The woman’s eyes widened, tears streaming uncontrollably as she struggled to accept the harsh reality.

“Why did this happen?”

“In truth, he had known about his condition for some time. He just didn’t want me to tell you, saying he wanted to accompany you both—mother and daughter—through the final journey.”

Cheng Luoyi explained softly.

The woman covered her mouth with one hand, unable to hold back her sobs. Recalling how her father had spent so much time in the seawater trying to salvage whatever supplies he could, she realized it must have been then that he was infected.

At this moment, the middle-aged man was writhing in agonizing pain.

His rigid body twisted into a grotesque posture as he rose from the ground, emitting mournful howls. Beneath the skin of his face, the writhing intensified, as though something was about to burst forth.

Suddenly, with a wet ‘pop,’ his eyeballs exploded, and several slender worms, resembling nematodes, eagerly crawled out.

“Ugh—”

The man let out a howl, completely overtaken by the parasites, seemingly on the verge of launching an attack. They needed a new host to continue reproducing.

“He’s beyond saving...”

Cheng Luoyi muttered under her breath, her final act of kindness being to have the man follow the group.

The others clenched their teeth, watching the scene with a mixture of grief and rage. Some more timid female survivors shut their eyes, unable to endure the sight ahead.

Chen Ming, however, showed good sense. He strode forward, picking up the crying little girl and shielding her eyes with one hand.

With a swift motion, Cheng Luoyi swung her knife, severing the man’s head. Blood sprayed forth, along with more wriggling worms as the corpse collapsed to the ground.

“Let’s move. The Black Scorpion Organization will be catching up soon.”

Having dealt with the matter, Cheng Luoyi sheathed her blade.

“Mhm...”

The group nodded somberly. Though many had perished along the way, those still alive had to press onward.

“Wait...”

Suddenly, Chen Ming let out a terrified scream, his gaze fixed in horror on the little girl in his arms.

The others furrowed their brows, sensing what was about to unfold.

“Uncle Chen, you’re not...?”

Sun Yuhang stammered, unwilling to accept the grim truth.

Chen Ming had seen it with his own eyes: beneath the skin on the little girl’s forehead, a worm about three centimeters long was wriggling. At a glance, it could easily be mistaken for a pulse.

The woman nearby realized what was happening, her face filled with anxiety as she hurriedly took the child into her arms.

“Brother Chen! My daughter is fine, right? She’s not parasitized, is sheI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.