Luo Muge was still recovering; sitting in the carriage, he rubbed his eyes and yawned, feeling a bit drained. His stomach empty, he appeared somewhat dispirited.
Ning Shaosi remained as quiet as ever. He tilted his head, offering Luo Muge something wrapped in oiled paper.
Surprised, Luo Muge took it and found it warm. Upon unwrapping, a fragrant, steaming roasted chicken leg emerged.
Eyes lighting up, Luo Muge asked, “When did you hide this?”
“As we were leaving,” Ning Shaosi replied with a smile, revealing another oiled paper package containing a pair of chicken wings.
Luo Muge grinned, taking a hearty bite. Although he could survive without it, he didn’t want to waste the power he had painstakingly integrated. He had planned to get buns from Aunt Li’s basket later, but the kid beside him had a hidden treasure.
Glancing at him, Luo Muge asked with a playful smile, “How old are you?”
Ning Shaosi thought for a moment and replied, “I’ve been alive for many years.”
A reasonable answer; after all, which demon or monster hadn’t lived for many years? Luo Muge nodded, realizing everyone gathered for the divine trial had their own motives.
Having eaten to satisfaction, Luo Muge licked his fingers, wiped off the oil stains with the silk handkerchief Ning Shaosi had given him earlier, neatly folded it, and handed it back, saying, “It’s yours.”
Most people would have thrown it away, but Ning Shaosi calmly accepted the oil-stained handkerchief, tucking it into his sleeve.
Unfazed, Luo Muge hummed a tune, and as they traveled, the winter night arrived early. In the west, there was still some light as they left, but upon arrival, the night was veiled, with snowfall slowing down, and stars dotted the sky.
Ning Shaosi stood in the snow with a faint lantern, white snowflakes falling on his hair, quickly melting into droplets, embellishing his doll-like face, making it even more delicate and elegant.
Blinking his moist eyelashes, he looked up as Luo Muge emerged from the carriage.
As Luo Muge’s foot touched the ground, he suddenly felt a void beneath his shoe, and he fell into a snow pit, something sharp grazing his chin. The pain made him grimace.
Ning Shaosi demonstrated surprising strength, grabbing him by the back of his collar and effortlessly lifting him up. Luo Muge was still figuring out how he had suddenly stood up.
Ning Shaosi freed a hand, gently brushing off the snowflakes on him. “Did it hurt?”
Lifting his eyes, Luo Muge saw blood on his fingertips. Surprised, he touched his chin, where Ning Shaosi’s fingers had moved away, revealing a clean jawline.
Using his soft fingertip, Ning Shaosi wiped it, finding no wound. Luo Muge also noticed the blood on his fingertip, lowered his head in astonishment, and saw a glaring crimson on the snow where he had fallen, as if a swarm of wriggling blood-colored insects.
Luo Muge was utterly disgusted by these small creatures. His eyes and eyebrows furrowed, and his hand shook like a sieve, yet he didn’t flick those things away. He grimaced, saying, “What on earth are these?”
Ning Shaosi calmly caught his trembling hand, pulled out a crescent-shaped handkerchief from his sleeve, and wiped away the blood beads from Luo Muge’s finger. With a few back-and-forths, it was cleaned. The handkerchief, now tainted with blood, resembled a begonia flower.
Luo Muge, still trembling, touched his fingers. The redness at the corner of his eye gradually faded without a trace as he discreetly moved back.
“It’s a demon gu.” Ning Shaosi wrapped four fingers with the handkerchief, dug into the bloody snow, revealing a half-decayed skeletal hand soaked in blood. He lifted the bone, and the loose snow gave way, exposing half an arm, the rest still buried, hidden from view.
Luo Muge knew what a demon gu was – a blood-feeding insect with strong malignancy. They were once openly sold in the demon market, but after the new demon king took over, they went underground.
People in the carriage, having secured their belongings, observed the two crouched figures but didn’t dare disturb them. Only Tao Zhai stood in the shadows, cold gaze sweeping over them before joining the others.
In the silent surroundings, only Ning Shaosi’s lantern illuminated. Luo Muge, following his hand, pulled out the skeletal remains, raising an eyebrow, “Oh, it’s a complete set of bones.”
The bones were still clad in tattered clothes, oddly free of any bloodstains. Luo Muge examined the body and realized something was off, “This person seems to have been dead for quite some time.”
The burial wasn’t deep, likely covered by the recent heavy snow. If the person had been killed by a monster in these days, it would make sense, but the clothing was old and worn, covered in mud with signs of insect erosion.
“This is a burial shroud,” Ning Shaosi explained. “Ordinary people clean the deceased, dress them in a shroud, and bury them.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Ning Shaosi shook his head, unwrapping the handkerchief and tossing it aside. “I didn’t detect any demon gu on the person who died before.”
“What’s the purpose of this demon gu, then?”
“It likely burrowed into the bones and controlled the deceased body,” Ning Shaosi explained.
Before the words settled, the bloodied skeleton on the ground suddenly made a cracking sound. Both of them looked down to see the lifeless bones lifting its head, slowly turning toward them, with two black holes where its eyes should be, staring directly at Luo Muge.
The sight was chilling.
Then, a creaking sound echoed as the entire skeleton started to move, validating Ning Shaosi’s earlier words.
Luo Muge quickly stood up, crushing the skull of the skeletal remains before it could rise. Turning to Ning Shaosi, he said, “I know how this skeleton ended up here.”
Ning Shaosi tilted his head slightly, waiting for the next words.
“It crawled here by itself,” Luo Muge pointed in a direction, “from the graveyard over there.”
“Shall we go check the graveyard?” Ning Shaosi suggested.
Luo Muge agreed, intending to pick up the lantern. Unexpectedly, a bloodied claw emerged from the snow. Fortunately, Luo Muge, with swift reflexes, instinctively leaned back, avoiding a potential scratch on his face.
Ning Shaosi pulled his arm, leading him back a step. A bloody figure emerged from the snowy ground, snowflakes falling from its clothes. Flesh and skin hung from its head as it lunged with a claw.
Luo Muge swiftly drew the bone fan hidden on him, twirled it at his fingertips, and struck the approaching claw. Anticipating crushed fingers, the entire corpse, like hit by a tremendous force, flew out, shattering into pieces.
Ning Shaosi glanced at the fan, struggling to find words.
Luo Muge, surprised by the fan’s power, couldn’t resist running his fingers over it. Despite being bone-made, it felt as smooth as jade – a precious item.
Having encountered countless divine artifacts, Luo Muge never heard of a fan as one. As he pondered, six or seven bodies emerged from the snowy ground, some decayed, others freshly dead, all moving without hesitation.
Luo Muge wielded the fan skillfully, smashing anyone who approached. Each hit was precise, reducing several in front of him to dust, the fan now stained with mud.
Using someone else’s belonging so adeptly, Luo Muge felt a bit awkward. He wiped the mud off the fan with his sleeve, gesturing to Ning Shaosi that it was clean.
Ning Shaosi smiled at him.
Luo Muge, charmed by his innocent appearance, had the impulse to pat his head, but a scream interrupted the thought.
A mournful cry came from the direction of the stage. Luo Muge frowned, realizing Shan An’s people were still there, and hurriedly ran towards them.
Ning Shaosi followed, holding a lantern. Approaching, they saw the area around the stage filled with blood and scattered corpses. Around twenty bodies surrounded the actors, a few lanterns on the ground, struggling to illuminate.
Luo Muge quickly scanned the scene, unable to find Aunty Li. Some men swung objects frantically, blood and bones flying as a claw scratched a man’s neck, leaving a large wound.
Tao Zhai on the stage kicked away a corpse, unaware that another attacked the guarded Tao Ming, biting onto her neck with broken teeth.
Seeing this, Luo Muge’s heart sank. As he moved, a faint blue light gathered in his palm, droplets swirling along his fingertips.
Before he could step forward, someone descended from above, a powerful gust of wind sweeping the thick snow away. Numerous bodies and screaming people were lifted into the air.
Caught off guard, Luo Muge was also swept away by the force, only to be caught in the arms of Ning Shaosi behind him.
Luo Muge was still recovering; sitting in the carriage, he rubbed his eyes and yawned, feeling a bit drained. His stomach empty, he appeared somewhat dispirited.
Ning Shaosi remained as quiet as ever. He tilted his head, offering Luo Muge something wrapped in oiled paper.
Surprised, Luo Muge took it and found it warm. Upon unwrapping, a fragrant, steaming roasted chicken leg emerged.
Eyes lighting up, Luo Muge asked, “When did you hide this?”
“As we were leaving,” Ning Shaosi replied with a smile, revealing another oiled paper package containing a pair of chicken wings.
Luo Muge grinned, taking a hearty bite. Although he could survive without it, he didn’t want to waste the power he had painstakingly integrated. He had planned to get buns from Aunt Li’s basket later, but the kid beside him had a hidden treasure.
Glancing at him, Luo Muge asked with a playful smile, “How old are you?”
Ning Shaosi thought for a moment and replied, “I’ve been alive for many years.”
A reasonable answer; after all, which demon or monster hadn’t lived for many years? Luo Muge nodded, realizing everyone gathered for the divine trial had their own motives.
Having eaten to satisfaction, Luo Muge licked his fingers, wiped off the oil stains with the silk handkerchief Ning Shaosi had given him earlier, neatly folded it, and handed it back, saying, “It’s yours.”
Most people would have thrown it away, but Ning Shaosi calmly accepted the oil-stained handkerchief, tucking it into his sleeve.
Unfazed, Luo Muge hummed a tune, and as they traveled, the winter night arrived early. In the west, there was still some light as they left, but upon arrival, the night was veiled, with snowfall slowing down, and stars dotted the sky.
Ning Shaosi stood in the snow with a faint lantern, white snowflakes falling on his hair, quickly melting into droplets, embellishing his doll-like face, making it even more delicate and elegant.
Blinking his moist eyelashes, he looked up as Luo Muge emerged from the carriage.
As Luo Muge’s foot touched the ground, he suddenly felt a void beneath his shoe, and he fell into a snow pit, something sharp grazing his chin. The pain made him grimace.
Ning Shaosi demonstrated surprising strength, grabbing him by the back of his collar and effortlessly lifting him up. Luo Muge was still figuring out how he had suddenly stood up.
Ning Shaosi freed a hand, gently brushing off the snowflakes on him. “Did it hurt?”
Lifting his eyes, Luo Muge saw blood on his fingertips. Surprised, he touched his chin, where Ning Shaosi’s fingers had moved away, revealing a clean jawline.
Using his soft fingertip, Ning Shaosi wiped it, finding no wound. Luo Muge also noticed the blood on his fingertip, lowered his head in astonishment, and saw a glaring crimson on the snow where he had fallen, as if a swarm of wriggling blood-colored insects.
Luo Muge was utterly disgusted by these small creatures. His eyes and eyebrows furrowed, and his hand shook like a sieve, yet he didn’t flick those things away. He grimaced, saying, “What on earth are these?”
Ning Shaosi calmly caught his trembling hand, pulled out a crescent-shaped handkerchief from his sleeve, and wiped away the blood beads from Luo Muge’s finger. With a few back-and-forths, it was cleaned. The handkerchief, now tainted with blood, resembled a begonia flower.
Luo Muge, still trembling, touched his fingers. The redness at the corner of his eye gradually faded without a trace as he discreetly moved back.
“It’s a demon gu.” Ning Shaosi wrapped four fingers with the handkerchief, dug into the bloody snow, revealing a half-decayed skeletal hand soaked in blood. He lifted the bone, and the loose snow gave way, exposing half an arm, the rest still buried, hidden from view.
Luo Muge knew what a demon gu was – a blood-feeding insect with strong malignancy. They were once openly sold in the demon market, but after the new demon king took over, they went underground.
People in the carriage, having secured their belongings, observed the two crouched figures but didn’t dare disturb them. Only Tao Zhai stood in the shadows, cold gaze sweeping over them before joining the others.
In the silent surroundings, only Ning Shaosi’s lantern illuminated. Luo Muge, following his hand, pulled out the skeletal remains, raising an eyebrow, “Oh, it’s a complete set of bones.”
The bones were still clad in tattered clothes, oddly free of any bloodstains. Luo Muge examined the body and realized something was off, “This person seems to have been dead for quite some time.”
The burial wasn’t deep, likely covered by the recent heavy snow. If the person had been killed by a monster in these days, it would make sense, but the clothing was old and worn, covered in mud with signs of insect erosion.
“This is a burial shroud,” Ning Shaosi explained. “Ordinary people clean the deceased, dress them in a shroud, and bury them.”
With a firm pull, the bloodied bones were completely drawn out, sprawled on the snow. The skull, sunken in the snow, and the clothes, lying flat without the support of flesh, seemed odd.
“Could it be someone’s grave that got dug up?” Luo Muge rubbed his chin, a glint in his eyes. “The strange illnesses in the city, could they be related to this demon gu?”
Ning Shaosi shook his head, unwrapping the handkerchief and tossing it aside. “I didn’t detect any demon gu on the person who died before.”
“What’s the purpose of this demon gu, then?”
“It likely burrowed into the bones and controlled the deceased body,” Ning Shaosi explained.
Before the words settled, the bloodied skeleton on the ground suddenly made a cracking sound. Both of them looked down to see the lifeless bones lifting its head, slowly turning toward them, with two black holes where its eyes should be, staring directly at Luo Muge.
The sight was chilling.
Then, a creaking sound echoed as the entire skeleton started to move, validating Ning Shaosi’s earlier words.
Luo Muge quickly stood up, crushing the skull of the skeletal remains before it could rise. Turning to Ning Shaosi, he said, “I know how this skeleton ended up here.”
Ning Shaosi tilted his head slightly, waiting for the next words.
“It crawled here by itself,” Luo Muge pointed in a direction, “from the graveyard over there.”
“Shall we go check the graveyard?” Ning Shaosi suggested.
Luo Muge agreed, intending to pick up the lantern. Unexpectedly, a bloodied claw emerged from the snow. Fortunately, Luo Muge, with swift reflexes, instinctively leaned back, avoiding a potential scratch on his face.
Ning Shaosi pulled his arm, leading him back a step. A bloody figure emerged from the snowy ground, snowflakes falling from its clothes. Flesh and skin hung from its head as it lunged with a claw.
Luo Muge swiftly drew the bone fan hidden on him, twirled it at his fingertips, and struck the approaching claw. Anticipating crushed fingers, the entire corpse, like hit by a tremendous force, flew out, shattering into pieces.
Ning Shaosi glanced at the fan, struggling to find words.
Luo Muge, surprised by the fan’s power, couldn’t resist running his fingers over it. Despite being bone-made, it felt as smooth as jade – a precious item.
Having encountered countless divine artifacts, Luo Muge never heard of a fan as one. As he pondered, six or seven bodies emerged from the snowy ground, some decayed, others freshly dead, all moving without hesitation.
Luo Muge wielded the fan skillfully, smashing anyone who approached. Each hit was precise, reducing several in front of him to dust, the fan now stained with mud.
Using someone else’s belonging so adeptly, Luo Muge felt a bit awkward. He wiped the mud off the fan with his sleeve, gesturing to Ning Shaosi that it was clean.
Ning Shaosi smiled at him.
Luo Muge, charmed by his innocent appearance, had the impulse to pat his head, but a scream interrupted the thought.
A mournful cry came from the direction of the stage. Luo Muge frowned, realizing Shan An’s people were still there, and hurriedly ran towards them.
Ning Shaosi followed, holding a lantern. Approaching, they saw the area around the stage filled with blood and scattered corpses. Around twenty bodies surrounded the actors, a few lanterns on the ground, struggling to illuminate.
Luo Muge quickly scanned the scene, unable to find Aunty Li. Some men swung objects frantically, blood and bones flying as a claw scratched a man’s neck, leaving a large wound.
Tao Zhai on the stage kicked away a corpse, unaware that another attacked the guarded Tao Ming, biting onto her neck with broken teeth.
Seeing this, Luo Muge’s heart sank. As he moved, a faint blue light gathered in his palm, droplets swirling along his fingertips.
Before he could step forward, someone descended from above, a powerful gust of wind sweeping the thick snow away. Numerous bodies and screaming people were lifted into the air.
Caught off guard, Luo Muge was also swept away by the force, only to be caught in the arms of Ning Shaosi behind him.
Thank You for the new chapter (੭ु ›ω‹ )੭ु⁾⁾♡♡
Thank you for the chapter! 💖
I’m not sure if it only happened to me, but the chapter’s first half is repeated in the second half of the chapter (・・?)
Yeah I noticed that too… I was a bit confused.
Yes, likewise 🙂
Half of the latter part of this chapter was repeated twice. And smth tells me Aunt Li was also being controlled by the demon gu