My heart seemed to stop beating instantly. Instinctively, I shook my hand violently, flinging the spider to the ground, then lifted my foot and stomped down hard.

Before I could catch my breath, Sarah let out a terrified scream. I looked up at her quickly and saw her staring with wide eyes, fixed on the top of my head.

Before I could speak, Sarah had already grabbed a feather duster from nearby and swung it forcefully at me. Pain shot through my head as loud smacking sounds echoed.

Just then, something fell from my head. Looking down, I saw two large black scorpions.

Sarah's face was pale. She gritted her teeth and stomped on each scorpion, crushing them both.

My heart pounded like a drum, my legs went weak, and I collapsed onto the long bench. Sarah also slumped into the wooden reclining chair, gasping for breath.

As my terror began to settle, my eyes unconsciously fell on the mess of scorpion remains. I wasn't sure if my eyes were playing tricks on me, but the crushed remains seemed to be moving on their own.

Beneath the dead scorpions' bodies, many small wriggling dots appeared. Those dots rapidly grew at an alarming speed. In no time, they had become more than a dozen large scorpions crawling across the floor.

They quickly scurried toward us. Sarah and I were terrified, jumping around and dodging everywhere. Soon, countless venomous creatures poured out from under the wardrobe, beneath the bed, and from every corner.

Spiders, scorpions, centipedes, and unknown worms writhed rapidly, closing in on us from all directions. Sarah and I had nowhere to escape. In just a few seconds, venomous creatures had covered my body.

I closed my eyes in terror, feeling the poisonous insects burrowing into my skin and frantically devouring my flesh and bones.

"It's over. I'm going to die here today," I thought in despair.

Just then, I heard a loud crash as someone burst through the door. The pain in my body instantly disappeared. I hesitantly opened my eyes, and the venomous creatures had vanished without a trace.

Sunlight streamed through the doorway. The floor was completely clean, with no poisonous insects in sight. Sarah's and my skin was perfectly intact.

A middle-aged man stood in the doorway, his hands forming mystical gestures while he chanted under his breath. It was Peter, Nutty's uncle.

So everything that had just happened was an illusion. I then sat up, still shaken from the experience.

Nutty had already rushed into the room. He looked at me, then hurried to help Sarah, who was still lying on the floor. "Are you alright?"

After Peter heard about our recent experience, he frowned deeply and said with a grave expression, "It can create phantom sounds and even shapeshift. This creature's powers are considerable. This is quite troublesome."

Then Peter looked at me and continued, "Fortunately, you two were clever enough to see through its tricks twice. If that beast had succeeded and devoured you, it would have become indistinguishable from a living person after shapeshifting. Once it reaches that level, there would be no stopping it."

Peter sighed. "Alex, you have a spiritually receptive nature, which would greatly benefit the Temptress's cultivation. Since this creature has targeted you, it won't give up until it devours you.

"However, while this beast is cunning, its core is still buried in the earth. All its demonic power depends on that core, so it doesn't dare venture too far.

"Have Nutty take you to town after dawn. You can catch a bus back to the nearest city and stay with relatives for a few days. Once you're beyond its range of control, the creature will be powerless against you."

After speaking, Peter turned to look at Nutty. "Nutty, after you take Alex to the bus station, go to the community center and take Gus Lane here. I don't fully understand this Temptress's behavior. Although I wounded it severely just now, that will only ensure a few days of peace.

"The beast has returned to its nest to recover now. The Temptress holds extreme grudges. After suffering such a major defeat, it'll surely go on a killing spree once it recovers. Only Gus can save the village from this disaster."

Nutty seemed hesitant. "Uncle Pete, if the Temptress is so powerful and seems so human-like, won't it ambush us on the road tomorrow?"

"Of course, I won't let you go alone. I'll make each of you a special protective charm that will keep the beast from getting close before dawn."

As Peter spoke, he untied a bag from his waist and took out many small items. A brush, parchment, chicken feathers, and some yellow powder.

Peter glanced at the items spread across the table and said, "I'm out of blessed salt. Go get some from the salt jar."

Nutty looked embarrassed. "I don't have any salt either."

Seeing Peter's frown deepen, he quickly added, "I had some earlier, but Scrooge borrowed it a couple of days ago to make corn fritters. He said he'd return it in a day or two. I'll go get it now."

Sarah quickly tried to stop him. "No, it's too dangerous. You can't go."

Peter said, "Don't worry. The Temptress is severely injured and can't come out for now. Let Nutty go get it."

Sarah had to give up, though worry still showed on her face. Nutty took a flashlight and left.

Scrooge's house wasn't far away. Walking there and back would take less than ten minutes. But Sarah couldn't sit still during the few minutes Nutty was gone. She kept getting up to peer out the door.

Sarah's anxiety was contagious, and I felt my nerves stretched to the breaking point. Our worst fears were about to come true.

The village was shrouded in pitch blackness. Suddenly, Nutty's agonized scream echoed from the distance.