A few seconds before he finished speaking, Ji Heng glanced at Wei Jun, who nodded slightly.
Sur was close and could clearly see that several players with higher combat power were ready to escape.
In the dungeon, some ghosts can fight to the death, and some... like the old man, the possibility of being defeated is extremely small.
Ji Heng made arrangements last night. The old man was very fond of these snakes. Once the other party made a move, they would immediately attack the snakes and then disperse and escape.
The old man's anger level was about to reach its peak due to them.
"You don't know what death is." With a low growl, the old man was stimulated by the image of the dead snake floating in the well. One of his hands was instantly covered with scales and he grabbed towards Sur.
"…"
Su Er was confused. Why did they choose him?
He tried hard to calm himself, raised his head to the sky and shouted, "Master, save me!"
The old man froze in mid-air after shouting this, not for any other reason, but because Su Er seemed too confident. Finally, feeling humiliated by being intimidated by a junior, he came to his senses and sneered, "Today, the King of Heaven has arrived..."
Before he could finish his words, he was hit hard and took three steps back.
Wei Jun glanced at Ji Heng who was about to help Sul, wondering when the other party's props became so powerful that they could fight ghosts from a distance.
"It's not me." Ji Heng shook his head.
Wei Jun was startled and looked ahead, where he saw another figure.
The fortune teller, still wearing tattered clothes and holding a small stool in his left hand, shook his head in disapproval: "God is merciful and should be respected. It's not good to talk about being the king of heaven."
Fear flashed across the old man's eyes, and the scales on his hands disappeared. He argued cunningly, "I just wanted to teach them a lesson. I had no intention of killing them."
The fortune teller smiled slightly, not knowing whether he believed it or not.
Soul turned around and reunited with the main force. Several gazes were directed at him, making him feel as if he was surrounded by spotlights. He couldn't help swallowing, "...Why are you looking at me like that?"
Song Jiayue had a complicated expression: "What is your relationship with the host?"
Su Er probably understood her doubts and replied, "In fact, even the Ghost King is restricted by rules. If we want to kill people, we have to create conditions. Otherwise, there is no way for us to survive."
For example, the red paper the skeleton handed out served as a vote to save their lives, but it also attracted ghosts at night and became a death warrant. While the old man's previous attack was provoked by them, it was not legal, as the player's actions did not directly trigger the conditions for killing.
Maintaining the rules is one of the host's responsibilities, so naturally he has to stop it.
Song Jiayue opened her mouth, unsure what to say. Seeing this, Ji Heng shook his head. The brochure needed some revisions. Many excellent, high-level players were overly afraid of the host, but they forgot to exploit it properly. Even if the host selfishly wanted the players dead, they still had to protect them in practice.
The fortune teller smiled and held up a finger: "There won't be a next time."
The old man was not angry, but he endured it because he was in the wrong.
"Go on." The fortune teller walked out the door and disappeared completely.
As soon as he left, the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
The old man originally had the image of a fortune teller who was a hermit, but now he had to pretend even though his reputation was broken. He glared at everyone with hatred.
Ji Heng's expression remained unchanged: "The snake has drowned. What should I do with my friend?"
The word "drowning" once again rubbed the old man's IQ on the ground. He glanced at Ji Heng and said: "With your abilities, raising snakes is too unfair."
At the same time, Sur murmured, "No, snakes love me, and I love raising snakes."
The voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible, but the old man turned around to look at him immediately.
"…"
Ji Heng sighed softly, and before the old man's anger could fill up again, he spoke to draw his attention back: "We want to choose again."
The old man stared at him for a long moment, the sullenness on his face gradually fading, and he suddenly said, "Okay."
With the samples from last night as a reference, when everyone was selecting today, they all focused on those that were about to form a relatively complete human face. Some flower snakes even took the initiative to move closer to them.
Li Li looked at the large flower snake following behind him and got goose bumps all over his body. "Will it scare passersby when walking on the street?"
The old man actually gave an answer: "Everyone knows that I raised him here, so they won't object."
Just as he said, a group of people walked out of the door with the snake. When passers-by saw them, they not only avoided them but also looked envious.
"What good luck! It's obvious that I'm a match for Master Tianyi's taste."
Similar whispers could be heard from time to time.
As one of the members envied by passersby, Li Li felt a lingering fear: "I don't know when I can get rid of this thing?"
The old man didn't ask when the snake would return, only saying that when its fate was over, the snake would crawl back on its own. Thinking of that sinister gaze now, I feel a chill run down my spine.
Su Er suddenly said, "I'm afraid Cao Ledao will be in trouble."
Li Li: "Why not bring him here again?"
As soon as he finished speaking, several people shook their heads at the same time.
Song Jiayue, who was walking beside her, said, "Snakes must be fed with their own blood."
According to Cao Ledao's current condition, he simply couldn't bear it. Even if he could barely bear it, this kind of yin-rich thing would always follow him and would have a greater impact on him.
Li Li: "But if he doesn't fight, he won't even have the hope of surviving."
"Daydreaming." The white fox flicked its tail. "This snake has obviously gained some intelligence. If it encounters something weaker than itself, it will definitely eat it as food."
Wang Xun was talking to someone at the door. Seeing them, he was overjoyed: "You are still alive!"
He realized he had made a mistake and scratched his head to make amends: "You didn't come back all night. I thought something happened to you." He suddenly saw the white fox and took a step back in fright: "Why is it still here?"
Ji Heng: "Master, you have more important things to do. Let's wait a few days."
The white fox frightened Wang Xun, but when he saw the flower snake, he showed no fear at all and complimented him, saying, "The master must really appreciate you."
Ji Heng didn't want to have any more conversation, so he promised to rest for a while and went to see if there was anything unusual in the mansion.
Wang Xun tactfully said no more.
On the other side, Cao Ledao was still weak. He was originally very happy to see them come back. He held the door frame and looked out. The next second, he saw several snakes swimming towards him. He was so scared that he stumbled and fell.
The flower snake was almost out of control, and even though it was pinched by seven inches, it still rushed in that direction.
Cao Ledao had no choice but to close the door, and the situation was temporarily contained.
The white fox gloated: "I told you long ago that he is a great tonic for snakes now."
Ji Heng glanced at her wound, and Su Mei was forced to shut up.
Through the door, Ji Heng asked the fortune teller for his fortune.
Cao Ledao's voice was quite depressed: "There is still one day left before he falls to his death."
Ji Heng only told him to have a good rest and didn't promise anything else.
They each went back to their rooms to wash up, and then wandered around the mansion pretending to be a demon catcher. With the white fox around, Wang Xun didn't dare to follow him, but just ordered the servants not to disturb the master.
Passing by an empty pavilion, Wei Jun said, "We have to find a way to break through."
So far, we have been led by the nose, which is quite fatal.
Ji Heng was the most powerful among them. Everyone subconsciously looked at him first. Ji Heng did not hide anything and said directly: "The Tianyi Gua looks like a ghost, but he also gave the scholar a blessed jade pendant many years ago. It's inconsistent."
It sounds funny that a ghost consecrated a jade pendant.
Su Mei raised a paw: "If I answer, will you let me go?"
Ji Heng shook his head and glanced at her.
Su Mei had learned her lesson and stopped asking for favors. She took the initiative and said, "Tian Yi Gua was truly an extraordinary master in the past, but his mentality became distorted. He believed that demons were so cruel and insane that they could live much longer than humans. It was really unfair."
No one dared to believe everything the white fox said.
Su Mei added: "For a period of time, Tianyi Gua captured many monsters and brought them back for research, among whom were my kind."
What she said barely connected with the information we have so far.
Su Er murmured, "When Tian Yi Gua tried to kill me, his arms were covered in scales. He was probably half human, half snake."
Song Jiayue felt a little regretful: "Snakes are afraid of the cold. It's a pity that summer is almost here, otherwise we..."
Ji Heng waved his hand to interrupt, his gaze suddenly flicking towards a large tree in the distance… A child of three or four years old somehow managed to climb up the tree, holding onto a low branch, his body swaying.
Seeing that it was about to fall, Song Jiayue quickly ran over and reached out to catch it.
Before he could check if the child was injured, the housekeeper rushed over and slapped the child: "Why are you running around?"
The child didn't cry even after being beaten, but smiled foolishly with his fingers in his mouth.
Song Jiayue frowned: "Is this your child?"
"He's the master's youngest son," the butler said with a wry smile, "I'm sorry for offending you all."
The child's clothes were dirty. I originally thought he was just playing around, but now I see that even a housekeeper can beat and scold him at will. I guess no one cares about him.
The housekeeper pushed the child forward, cursing.
Song Jiayue felt strange and stopped a servant to ask a few questions.
If someone else asked, the servant would definitely keep his mouth shut, but since the master had specifically told him that this was an expert, his attitude was completely different: "Do you see that there's something wrong with that child?"
Song Jiayue hummed perfunctorily.
Household servant: "When he was born, his mother died. Not only do the servants who serve him often get into accidents, but last year even the child's wet nurse accidentally fell into a well."
Song Jiayue was surprised: "Is it so weird?"
"That's right!" The servant gasped, "The master is contacting the temple and is planning to send the young master there next month."
Song Jiayue looked at Ji Heng, who was looking in the direction the housekeeper had left. "Go and take a look."
Before, I could still see some maids and servants, but the further I walked, the less people I could see.
They found the child under a tree. The housekeeper was not at home. The child was eating the roots with his hands. When he saw someone coming, he just smiled foolishly and stretched out his hand, as if to share the food with them.
The scene is very sad, but in the copy, no one dares to act rashly.
Su Er suddenly walked over and handed him a piece of candy, then touched the child's head.
After a while, the child stuffed the tree roots into his sleeves and ran back to the room through the open door.
Song Jiayue: "This child... should be a human."
At least she didn't notice anything now.
Soul: "I just took a puff and didn't feel anything."
"…"
The flower snake seemed hungry, hissing non-stop. Everyone returned to their rooms to feed on the snake's blood. This delay meant they missed lunchtime. Wang Xun had food delivered to each room individually.
Ji Heng only gave the flower snake two drops of blood. The snake was spitting out its tongue at him in dissatisfaction, but Ji Heng ignored it and gently flipped the fried rice with chopsticks. After seeing the red stuff the size of soybeans mixed with the meat, he picked it out separately and crushed it with a plate.
After staring at it for a few seconds, he walked out the door and was met by Wei Jun: "The food is poisonous."
Apparently the same discovery was made.
Wei Jun used the fastest speed to notify others, but two players were still affected and their strength points were reduced by half due to forced vomiting.
His face was grim. "I went to check and found this next to the firewood in the kitchen. I just don't know where the poison came from."
In the center of the palm was a small piece of tree root covered in mud, which reminded people of the child they met in the morning.
Ji Heng said, "There are rat poisons in many places in the mansion." He looked up and said, "Where's Su'er?"
Wei Jun: "I just went to his room and there was no one there. The food was left on the table untouched."
Ji Heng thought for a moment and pointed in a direction.
Wei Jun was startled: "If Su Er really feels pity and goes to find him, it will be bad."
Now I think the servant was not exaggerating. This kid might really be a bad person.
·
Through the green shadows of the trees, Su Er's expression was particularly gentle inside the window: "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
The child was neglected since childhood and no one taught him to speak, so naturally he couldn't understand. He lowered his head and concentrated on chewing on the tree roots.
However, when the flower snake squirmed, he let out a hissing sound.
Sur took out some boiled eggs that he had asked the housekeeper for before, and the child put down the tree roots with a longing look in his eyes.
"Want to eat?"
The child didn't understand and followed his inner thoughts to reach out and take it.
Soul: "Home."
Repeat a word over and over again.
After a long time, the child repeated it vaguely. When he read it correctly, Sur would feed him a bite of egg.
The mottled sunlight shone in obliquely, bathing them in the sunlight, giving the illusion of a loving father and a filial son.
A group of people walked over from a distance, and a warm scene came into view.
Wei Jun sighed softly: "When we went down the mountain to chat earlier, Su Er accidentally mentioned that his parents had passed away."
Right now, I'm probably pinning some of my fantasies about family on this child.
No matter how smart you are, you are still young and soft-hearted.
As I got closer, I could clearly hear the voice coming from inside——
"My father, Sur." This was the first complete sentence the child learned from Sur.
Every time he said something, Suer would give him a bite of egg. Later, the child seemed to have formed a habit and would say something after every bite without any further requests.
Su Er stroked the child's head and said, "When I was taking a nap earlier, I knew it was you who wanted to set my room on fire with a tinder."
Although he slipped away quickly, the smell on his body would linger in the air for a long time because he had not taken a bath for many years.
The child didn't understand what he was saying. After eating the eggs, he smiled foolishly, then began to hiss like a snake. The gaps between his nails were covered with mud and wounds from digging.
Sur lowered his eyes and peeled the last egg.
"My father, Sule."
The children took this sentence as a catchphrase, as if they knew they would get food if they said it.
Suer did not disappoint him and handed him the egg.
As the child devoured the food, Su Er said with a gentle expression: "You want to burn me to death, but I can't do anything to you for a while..."
Killing a defenseless child, even if you know they are not as innocent and harmless as they appear, is difficult to remain calm and stab them. Moreover, if the child is a powerful evil spirit, if they really attack, they will definitely be the one to die.
She helped him wipe the residue from the corner of his mouth: "But it doesn't matter. As long as you often keep this sentence in your mouth in the future, you won't have to worry about revenge."
The host travels between different copies, and one day in the future this child may meet Gentleman Rose, Mr. Book Sea and others.
As the number of times you participate in dungeons increases and you come into contact with more and more hosts and ghost kings, this probability will also increase.
Su Er smiled slightly: "One day, you will be beaten by society."
After the child had eaten his fill, he began to focus on the snake.
Sur let him get close and touch the flower snake, but surprisingly, the snake didn't bite him, curling up obediently. The sticky and cold touch spread from the palm of his hand, and the child squinted his eyes in enjoyment.
He wanted to touch her again, but was forcibly stopped by Sur.
A cold light flashed in the child's eyes, but Soul was not frightened and began to repeat one sentence: "Everyone here is garbage."
With previous experience, the child learned quickly.
Every time he said it, Suer let him play with the snake. The clearer the pronunciation, the longer he played.
After half an hour, the effect began to show. Whenever the child wanted to eat or play, he would say something incoherently: "My father Suer, everyone here... is... garbage."