After a long climb yesterday, the players with lower strength felt their legs ache as they descended. The rain had left the road muddy, and the clacking sound of shoes hitting the ground effectively masked the conversation between Su Er and Wei Jun.
At no time did the white fox give up the possibility of escape. She even tried to bite her tongue and pretend to be dead. However, no matter what tricks she used, Ji Heng ignored her and concentrated on walking on the road ahead.
"I want to go to the toilet." As he spoke, blood dripped onto the hair on his neck, leaving a few blood plums, which looked so pitiful.
What the monster lacks is humanity, not shame. Seeing that Ji Heng ignored it, the white fox actually urinated in mid-air.
Ji Heng frowned and loosened his grip a little. Su Mei was delighted and wanted to break free and escape in one go.
It was a good idea, but unfortunately Ji Heng didn't give her the opportunity. He quickly stretched out one arm and lifted the white fox into the air, keeping a certain distance from his body.
The attempt failed, and the white fox bared its sharp teeth, making a strange sound from its throat. It then tried to stretch out a claw to scratch him, but being held like this, its body could not maintain coordination, and to the eyes of others, it looked more like a random kicking.
Witnessing this scene, Wei Jun offered a lecture: "Look! Monsters are monsters. Avoid them as much as possible and don't be fooled by any of their gestures."
Seeing his serious look, Su Er suddenly thought of the serious Taoist priests in TV dramas, and nodded solemnly in agreement.
When they were almost halfway up the mountain, they suddenly asked Ji Heng in front of them, "What do you think?"
Ji Heng gave a somewhat unexpected answer: "All things are equal."
After he finished speaking, he turned around and added to Su Er's slightly surprised gaze: "I don't believe in people, nor do I believe in monsters."
To round it off, his attitude towards different species is always consistent.
"…"
When I was on the mountain, I could barely catch a glimpse of the prosperity in the distance. When I actually walked in that direction, I found that Tianji City was more lively than I had imagined.
Almost as soon as they entered the city, they were stared at from all directions. The pedestrians around them were all wearing loose robes and their hair was neatly tied up. Compared to them, they seemed like aliens.
"Is it a demon?"
After the first murmur, similar discussions became more and more intense like boiling water.
Ji Heng calmly walked to the front and picked up the white fox in his hand. "We are monks who came down from the mountains to gain experience. In order to catch the evil fox demon, we dressed according to the fox demon's preferences and worked hard to lie in wait for several months."
After saying that, his eyes flashed and he ordered the white fox to speak.
Su Mei really wanted to refute that there was nothing wrong with her aesthetic taste, but she chose to keep her mouth shut.
Ji Heng exerted force on his hands and suddenly laughed: "If you don't say anything, I will send you to see the King of Hell now."
Su Mei trembled and said, "Slave, slave..."
As soon as she opened her mouth, a gust of fragrance blew, and instantly the hearts of several men who were watching were excited.
Ji Heng pressed lightly on the wound, and Su Mei screamed in pain and had to stop using the magic.
The person who had been bewitched came to his senses: "It can speak human language! It really is a demon!"
The people of this world believed in fate but feared demons. Some renowned masters even held very high positions. Once the white fox was confirmed to be the Demon Queen, those skeptical eyes turned to admiration.
Ji Heng said calmly, "Master said to do one good deed every day. We will find a person who is destined to be with us and help him see if there are any evil spirits haunting his home, so that he can keep his home safe."
Su Er asked in a low voice: "Isn't this just free food and drinks?"
Wei Jun corrected: "It's just a scam to eat and drink."
"…"
Su Er gained another wonderful knowledge by witnessing the dangers of society too early.
Wei Jun was not surprised: "The story backgrounds in the dungeons are all different. If you don't know how to adapt, you will suffer sooner or later."
Just like they are now wearing "strange clothes", always pretending to be arrogant, and anyone who disobeys them will be taken away as a monster.
After just a few minutes of chatting, many people were vying for Ji Heng to go there. Ji Heng picked out a man in fancy clothes, who looked very excited and kept clasping his fists to express his gratitude to the master.
Gradually breaking away from the encirclement of ordinary people, there are fewer prying eyes.
The man who invited them was named Wang, with a single character "Xun" in his given name. He was considered a wealthy man in Tianji City and had three beautiful concubines.
"Foxes love to absorb Yang to replenish Yin," Wang Xun said with a smile. "My concubines are all very attractive. If one of them turns out to be a fox, it will be troublesome."
Being so afraid of death has attracted the attention of many players.
Wang Xun also knew that what he said was not very polite, so he quickly changed the subject: "What's wrong with this gentleman?"
Cao Ledao is now being carried by a strong player and is very weak.
Ji Heng: "Unfortunately, I was injured by the white fox."
Seeing Cao Ledao's pale face and thin body, as if he had indulged in excessive sexual activities, Wang Xun shuddered and sighed, "It's hard to guard against monsters."
The palace is far away from the hustle and bustle of the market and is large and spacious.
After a night of fear and anxiety, the sudden change to a pleasant environment made everyone feel more at ease. Wang Xun specially ordered people to prepare new clothes, and after a series of rituals such as bathing and burning incense, the players finally washed away their fatigue.
Cao Ledao woke up shortly after being placed in the hospital and was able to walk with difficulty, but he was not in good spirits and spent most of his time lying in bed recuperating.
Wang Xun was very considerate, calling in a doctor and offering them a night's rest. He would come back the next day to check the house for any dirt. However, this suggestion was quickly declined. Wei Jun's prediction predicted "drowning in three days," while Song Jiayue's prediction of "a certain night" seemed more like a guillotine hanging overhead, threatening to fall at any moment.
Time is life these days.
The result of everyone's discussion was to focus on the real business during the day and just pretend to investigate the mansion before sunset.
At lunch, the women of the palace did not sit at the table. When Wang Xun learned that they had no dietary restrictions, he had a sumptuous meal prepared.
Ji Heng guided the conversation in the direction needed and inquired about the news about Tianyi Gua.
Wang Xun asked in confusion: "You want to see a fortune teller?"
Ji Heng: "I am not good enough in Taoism, so I want to find a master to convert this white fox."
"Conviction?" Wang Xun's eyes widened upon hearing this. "Aren't monsters like this usually just reduced to ashes?"
"All things are equal, and it is best to transcend nature."
The face that looked like Buddha was merciful almost made Su Mei's injuries worse. She had only met elegant scholars in her life, and she had no idea that when humans became shameless, they could be even more shameless than monsters.
Wang Xun complimented him, "Your compassion is beyond the reach of mortals like us." Then, with a sigh, he spoke of the Tianyi Gua: "The master lives in a haunted house in the east of the city."
Ji Heng raised his eyebrows: "Haunted house?"
Wang Xun nodded. "The master has established a rule that anyone seeking help must first enter the mansion and seek him out. If someone dies, it means their fate has ended. But if someone survives and sees him, it means they are still alive and can be saved."
Based on past experience, this requirement sounds like it's meant to trick players into death, but you still have to do it.
Tianji City's public security was far from perfect, with unsolved murders occurring almost every month or two. Demons and demons roamed the world, and ordinary people were reluctant to get involved unless a master was willing to assist.
Fortunately, there are many tall people in the city, and ordinary dirty guys dare not stay after doing evil, so there have not been any exaggerated serial murders.
After dinner, everyone hurried to the east of the city. This haunted house was very famous in Tianji City and could be found by asking two passersby.
Half an hour later, the group stood outside the deserted house. The door was not closed, and the vermilion door was covered with dust, looking very dirty.
The one who reacted the most upon stepping into the threshold was the white fox, whose fur was about to stand up. Su Mei had done many things to replenish her yin by taking yang, but the yin energy in this place was abnormally heavy, which meant that there was a more powerful existence inside.
It was normal for demons and ghosts to devour each other to grow stronger. Su Mei seemed to have foreseen the scene of herself being eaten alive.
The trees in the house hadn't been pruned for a long time, and they were growing wildly. Their shadows cast on the ground were strangely terrifying. Although he knew it might not be very effective, Li Li still brought a spool of string from Wang's house before coming. He tied the end to the tree outside the door and wrapped the remaining end around his hand.
Ji Heng took out the jade pendant and said that he came here at the scholar's request.
However, there was silence all around, and no one responded.
Li Li gnashed his teeth in hatred: "That scholar deceived us."
"Not necessarily." Wei Jun analyzed: "The jade pendant must have an effect."
The scholar's words before his death were probably half true and half false. The jade pendant should be able to be made by a master, but they have to meet the person first.
Several minutes passed, and they still hadn't even reached the main house.
"We seem to be going in circles." Wei Jun glanced around and stopped.
"Is this a ghost wall?" Li Li muttered to himself and subconsciously pulled the string in his hand. It was just a slight pull, and the string suddenly swung towards him from mid-air.
A black shadow fell from top to bottom in the shape of a parabola, becoming clearer and clearer in the pupil... It was a bone, with several colorful snakes wrapped around it.
The colorful snakes entangled with each other and squirmed, and fell in front of everyone along with their bones. One of them was placed on Li Li's neck, and the slippery touch made Li Li pale with fear, and she couldn't help but scream.
Ji Heng was quick-witted and quick-handed. He grabbed the snake by the skin and threw it away.
Most of the snakes fell from mid-air and had not yet recovered. Once the flower snakes on the bone scattered, the trouble would begin.
Ji Heng's eyes moved, and he picked up the white fox: "Lead the way."
Li Li recovered from his shock and clapped his hands, saying, "That's right! Ghost Wall may not be effective against monsters."
Su Mei wished they could all die in there. She appeared obedient, but in reality she was trying every possible way to find a way around them. After walking halfway around, the flower snake was still around, spitting out its tongue and hissing.
Ji Heng stopped and suddenly looked at Su Er: "Time."
"Um?"
Ji Heng: "Count to one hundred and tell me. If you're still wandering here..." His gloomy eyes locked on the white fox, and the deep meaning behind his sneer was self-evident.
Su Mei wisely suppressed her thoughts for the time being.
Suer had just counted to sixty when the scene before him finally changed. He looked up and saw a clean corridor. An old man with a goatee was sitting at a stone table, brewing tea. He glanced at the person who came and shook his head. "It can't be saved."
Ji Heng looked at him and suddenly took out the scholar's jade pendant. The old man's expression changed slightly.
At this time, the wind blew over, bringing with it a faint fragrance.
One player couldn't help but say: "This tea smells so good!"
The white fox shuddered: "That's not tea."
She was good at creating illusions, so she could see through them. The old man was clearly cooking corpse fluid. Su Mei had no doubt that he wanted to kill them all, herself included.
The sense of danger posed by the old man was even stronger at the moment, so Su Mei chose to tell them about the corpse fluid without hesitation. Everyone's expression changed slightly, and they more or less took a small step back.
The old man ignored it, took a sip of his tea slowly, and asked with a satisfied look on his face, "Who wants to go first?"
Being the first one out is often equivalent to giving away one's life.
No one responded, so Suer suggested softly, "Why don't we let this white fox explore the way first?"
Su Mei: "...Beast!"
With these words, Suer's determination to send her away became even stronger.
Ji Heng shook his head and said something to reassure Su Mei: "It's not appropriate."
The white fox is better in their hands than in the old man's hands, otherwise it would easily increase the variables.
Seeing them pushing each other away, the old man smiled strangely, "If you don't change your fate, you will die. Changing your fate only requires a small price to pay."
Waiting like that wasn't going to work. Wei Jun was about to step forward, but he only had one day left anyway. But then Su Er took the initiative and said, "Let me do it."
After saying that, he walked over and sat down opposite the old man.
The old man shook the corpse fluid in the cup, tapping his skinny fingers back and forth on the table. After a while, his face was uneasy: "What kind of miserable life is this?"
Su Er: "Can it be changed?"
The old man said coldly: "People must learn to accept their fate."
After he said that, Suer felt relieved. He was afraid that the other party would say that he could change, but would make him pay a price he could not afford.
The old man seemed quite dissatisfied with the result: "Is there anything else you want to calculate?"
Su Er thought for a moment: "The future."
The old man pushed the cup over and said, "Write something."
Su Er suppressed his nausea and dipped his finger into the corpse fluid, then scribbled down his last name.
The old man took a quick look and concluded, "Half a foot has already stepped into the Avici Hell. The further you go, the greater the disasters."
Soul: "How can I get out of this vicious circle?"
As soon as the question was asked, many players became nervous. The conversation between the two sides seemed to hint at other ways to escape the game.
The old man did not give an answer immediately this time. Every time he counted with his fingers, he would drink a mouthful of corpse fluid. After drinking the entire pot of corpse fluid, he looked at Su Er deeply and slowly gave him an eight-character warning: "Don't forget your original intention, and you will succeed in the end."
At this moment, everything was quiet.
In the pin-drop silence, Wei Jun was the first to speak: "What was his original intention?"
Regarding the Suer ghost marriage, the "high opinions" on the scale of the game, and the unexpected "operations" instantly emerged in everyone's mind.
Song Jiayue hesitated: "'Saucy'?"
Li Li pursed her lips: "Wave?"
The white fox endured the pain and said with gritted teeth: "Bitch!"