Central District of the Ancient Town.
Li Xianzong stopped before a large courtyard. The courtyard's gate was peeling with age, riddled with wormholes, and its plaque was weathered and covered in cobwebs. Through the dusty plaque, the characters "Zhao Residence" could faintly be discerned.
Li Xianzong stepped onto the stone steps and approached the gate, giving it a gentle push.
Creak...
The long-neglected gate groaned open with a teeth-grinding sound.
The group crossed the threshold into the courtyard. After a quick survey, they found the place had long fallen into disrepair. The front garden was overgrown with weeds, and the flowerbeds lay abandoned.
At the eaves of the outer hall, a large water vat stood half a man's height. These vats were standard equipment for wealthy households, serving as emergency water sources in case of fire—akin to modern fire extinguishers.
As they passed through the front courtyard and reached the outer hall, a putrid stench wafted from the water vat, assaulting their nostrils.
The young man with a missing left ear frowned and cautiously approached, peering into the vat. He cursed under his breath, "Fuck."
A bloated corpse floated in the water.
"Be careful," Li Xianzong warned, "the things here might be even more dangerous than Blacksmith Wang." He pushed open the door to the outer hall.
Inside the hall, rotting furniture lay scattered across the floor, the only sights were decay and dust.
A corpse lay slumped by the door, severely decomposed. Judging by its tattered clothing, it was likely a servant from the Zhao Residence.
Li Xianzong crouched beside the body, showing no hesitation as he used his butterfly knife to slice open the corpse's garments. After a thorough examination, he declared:
"Her heart and liver have been removed."
The group of six turned away from the corpse and ventured deeper into the inner courtyard, encountering more bodies along the way. Each corpse had its heart and liver missing.
The bodies were scattered throughout the residence, all facing outward, as if they had been killed while trying to flee.
The Zhao Residence appeared to have been the site of a horrific massacre.
The young man with the missing left ear scanned the surroundings and muttered, "I don't understand this plot at all."
The Ancient Town was eerily deserted. Blacksmith Wang, a key figure in the storyline, had been cursed, and the Zhao Residence had clearly met with some misfortune as well.
There must be a reason for this, but with so few clues, it was impossible to deduce the truth, leaving them with an unsettling feeling.
Of course, this didn't prevent them from progressing through the storyline. Based on the current situation, it was clear that the Zhao Residence had encountered some malevolent entity, and their next task would undoubtedly be to eliminate the evil lurking here.
However, the lingering confusion was beginning to erode their morale, leaving them feeling vulnerable and insecure.
Li Xianzong said calmly, "In situations like this, there are typically two possibilities: either the Yin-Yang Town instance has a hidden quest, or solving the story's mysteries grants additional rewards, increasing our gains."
"But this inevitably comes with increased difficulty. For teams of average strength, it's best to simply follow the main storyline."
The gaunt middle-aged man asked, "Should we try to solve the hidden story?"
Li Xianzong pondered for a moment before replying, "We can, but not now."
"Why not?" the young man with a missing left ear asked.
"Based on the information we've gathered from Blacksmith Wang, we can deduce that each character has their own corresponding 'story.' Even if we collect all the available information, we won't be able to fully solve the mysteries, because the other half of the information lies with the Orderly Faction," Li Xianzong explained, his reasoning clear.
"Yin-Yang Town is a symmetrical instance. Half the content is on our side, and the other half is on theirs. To unlock the hidden story, we'll likely have to wait until the final battle."
"At least that's the case on our side. Whether the Orderly Faction can independently solve the story remains unknown."
The gaunt middle-aged man licked his lips. "I can't wait any longer. I wonder if there are any pretty women in the Orderly Faction."
The others were more concerned about whether the Orderly Faction had any powerhouses like Li Xianzong.
Without delay, they crossed the inner courtyard and arrived at the entrance to the main hall.
Li Xianzong stopped outside the door, his hand frozen mid-reach as he was about to push it open.
A low, muttering voice drifted through the crack in the door: "No one will take my treasure... no one will take my treasure..."
The Captain behind him tensed as if facing a formidable enemy. The gaunt middle-aged man whispered, "He's inside."
Li Xianzong took a deep breath and forcefully pushed open the hall door.
As the wooden door swung open, the group's eyes widened in astonishment at the sight before them.
The spacious hall was dominated by a towering mountain of gold, composed of gold bars, silk fabrics, coins, calligraphy, porcelain, and other priceless artifacts.
At the foot of this golden mountain knelt a corpulent figure dressed in the robes of Squire Zhao, oblivious to the intruders behind him, his lips moving in the same repetitive mutter.
Huff... huff...
Li Xianzong heard heavy breathing behind him.
His five companions stared intently at the golden mountain, their eyes gleaming with greed. They silently widened the distance between them, each wary of the others.
They all coveted the treasure, yet none wanted their companions to claim it.
Seeing this, Li Xianzong's heart sank.
These fools have been seduced.
The golden mountain concealed a seductive power, and the only reason he remained calm was because he himself was a Seductive Demon, possessing a degree of immunity.
With the dangerously unpredictable Squire Zhao ahead and his companions on the verge of infighting behind, one wrong move could lead to their total annihilation.
Just then, Squire Zhao turned around, revealing a hideously decayed face crawling with maggots. His eye sockets were empty, the eyeballs dangling down his cheeks.
"Hungry... so hungry..."
Squire Zhao opened his mouth wide, the corners splitting to his ears, and roared, "I'll devour your hearts and livers!"
Queen nearly jumped out of her skin and whirled around. Sure enough, clinging to her shoulder was a ghastly infant with pale, black skin and eerie white eyes.
"I... I can actually see a Vengeful Spirit? Have I become this weak?" Queen's face grew even paler.
As a member of the Official Organization, her knowledge far surpassed that of Wild Spirit Realm Walkers. She knew that without a specialized profession or skill, seeing Spectral Entities required extreme physical weakness and diminished yang energy.
Guan Ya said in a low voice, "Don't move!"
She reached into the Void and pulled out a rifle about 1.2 meters long, its barrel adorned with intricate golden patterns. The rifle's craftsmanship was reminiscent of the previous century, blending ornate elegance with rustic simplicity.
Guan Ya raised the rifle, bracing the stock against her shoulder. She spread her long legs, her boots gripping the ground firmly, and aimed at the dark blue Infant Spirit clinging to the Queen's shoulder. She squeezed the trigger.
Bang!
The powerful recoil jolted Guan Ya's right shoulder sideways.
The high-velocity bullet pierced the Infant Spirit's head, leaving a deep crater and cracks in the wall behind it.
The Infant Spirit tumbled from the Queen's shoulder, writhing on the ground, clearly wounded.
It had been struck by the bullet's Bane-Breaking effect. This rifle was a high-level Item for the Scout class, its sole function being physical lethality.
Scouts, upon reaching advanced levels, develop a crystalline clarity of mind, allowing them to pierce illusions and dispel malevolent spirits.
"A temporary fix," Guan Ya muttered, pulling back the bolt to eject the spent cartridge. "To truly deal with Vengeful Spirits, we need a Nightwalker."
She lowered the rifle's muzzle, re-aiming at the Vengeful Spirit.
Just then, the Infant Spirit on the ground let out a piercing wail, its cries filled with anguish.
In the next moment, wails erupted from all around. From the river, the alleyways, and the rooftops of the street-facing houses, one after another, dark green Infant Spirits crawled forth.
Soon, Guan Ya and the Queen were surrounded.
"This is bad. Where did all these Infant Spirits come from?" The Queen scanned the area, spotting seven or eight ferocious spirits.
"Isn't it obvious?" Guan Ya said, dragging her gun barrel into position, ready for action. "We triggered Widow Xu's storyline. They're clearly connected to her."
"You mean these Infant Spirits are hers?" The Queen exclaimed, startled. That sounds far-fetched, she thought.
Just then, an Infant Spirit ambushed from the side, rapidly crawling toward Guan Ya.
The Veteran Driver sidestepped and fired, shattering the green stone pavement. Shards flew as the spirit let out a piercing shriek.
The Queen removed a ring from her earlobe and hurled it at another Infant Spirit. The ring transformed into a water hoop, attempting to bind the spirit, but failed.
Water, being a tangible substance, couldn't restrain an intangible Spectral Entity.
"It's useless!" the Queen cried urgently. "We need Primordial Heavenly Venerable here. As a Nightwalker, he could easily deal with these Vengeful Spirits."
This powerful and terrifying Vengeful Spirit had already reached the level of a Primary Spectral Servant, something virtually unheard of in the real world. Moreover, in reality, they had Nightwalker colleagues and official teammates. Against such a formidable spirit, they would at most face trouble, not mortal danger.
Encountering it within an Instance, however, was a far more perilous situation.
Guan Ya calmly pulled back the gun's slide, ejected the spent cartridge, and said, "Primordial isn't coming. If his enemy were a Vengeful Spirit, he would have already dealt with it and rushed to assist us. The fact that he hasn't means his opponent isn't a Vengeful Spirit, and he's likely struggling to survive himself. These spirits are targeting only the two of us."
As she spoke, she fired again, forcing another Vengeful Spirit to retreat.
"Why?" Queen asked, realizing she could only stand by and watch, serving as a mere straight man.
Guan Ya paused thoughtfully before replying, "Perhaps because we're beautiful."
"Huh?" Queen stared in disbelief.
"Haven't you noticed? The trigger for Widow Xu's storyline is separating men and women. We've already entered the storyline, yet instead of Widow Xu, we're facing these Infant Spirits. This is likely Widow Xu's arrangement to kill us. As for her, she's probably dealing with the men in our group."
Despite the dire situation, Guan Ya's mind remained sharp and clear.
"How could a widow have so many Infant Spirits? Did her husband leave them behind before he died? Unless she's a sow giving birth to eight piglets at once. Considering Widow Xu only targets men, Primordial might have been wrong. The one who cursed Granny Wang's son wasn't Widow Xu. How could a harlot harbor resentment over losing her virginity? She should be delighted to spread her legs for lechers."
"Are you still making crude jokes at a time like this?" The Queen, finally understanding, snapped angrily. "Are you implying the men in our group are likely enjoying themselves with that harlot? Men really can't be trusted. What should we do now?"
"We can only wait for Primordial to rescue us. Let's trust him, even if he's a pervert." Guan Ya fired another shot.
The eight Infant Spirits circled their enemies like hunting hyenas, poised to pounce.
Just then, the Queen whispered, "Guan Ya, there's another Infant Spirit behind you."
Guan Ya startled and whirled around.
On the riverbank beside her, a plump, adorable Infant Spirit lay on its stomach, its head submerged in the water, its chubby bottom facing them.
Compared to the other Infant Spirits with their dark, bluish-black skin and savage, frenzied aura, this little infant radiated a pure, untainted energy. Guan Ya detected no malice in its presence.
When had it gotten behind her? What was it searching for in the water? Guan Ya instinctively swung her gun around, aiming at the Little Infant Spirit by the riverbank.
A dark-green Infant Spirit seized the opportunity, paddling with its limbs to crawl swiftly toward her, latching onto Guan Ya's calf.
An icy chill instantly enveloped her body as she felt her vital energy draining rapidly. Her heart sank. She lowered the gun and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The bullet struck the Infant Spirit, shattering the green stone slab beneath it. The ricochet tore into Guan Ya's calf, leaving a grotesque wound that exposed bone.
This gun really has cursed me with bad luck, Guan Ya thought, staggering back to the riverbank with the Queen.
"Are you alright?" the Queen asked, her expression shifting slightly.
"Not great," Guan Ya replied, ignoring the bleeding wound. "If Primordial doesn't get here within five minutes, we're doomed."
Such alluring beauty... such a ravishing woman.
That was the only thought racing through the minds of the four men present.
A faint fragrance drifted through the air as the woman by the window, draped in a sheer veil, revealed glimpses of her body beneath. She turned her head, her smile as radiant as peach blossoms, and murmured softly:
"Gentlemen, this humble woman has been widowed for many years, languishing in lonely seclusion. Would you grant me your mercy and leave me with a child?"
The men's breathing grew heavier, and the Huode Star General murmured, "Good, good."
Though he spoke of approval, his feet remained rooted to the spot, his legs trembling slightly as he desperately fought the urge to move forward.
The hesitant and composed Wood Spirit Youth showed signs of inner struggle, but eventually, the clarity in his eyes was gradually replaced by desire.
Li Chunfeng muttered under his breath, "Giant view, giant view," yet his gaze remained fixed on Xu Xiuer, the lust in his eyes burning ever more fiercely, scorching his reason.
Zhang Yuanqing's mouth went dry, his desire surging like a tidal wave. He yearned to seize the beauty by the window and unleash his pent-up energy without restraint.
But the last shred of his rationality fought back fiercely.
I can't go. The hidden quest is to resist temptation. Food and sex are human nature—how could I miss such a captivating woman? The quest be damned. I'm being seduced! Quick, transfer this lust to Little Goofball!
Guan Ya and the Queen are still outside, in danger. I have to save them. But why should I? They won't let me sleep with them. Get a grip! This trial isn't just about beauty—sleeping with her could mean our collective doom. "To die beneath the peony, even as a ghost, is still romantic." If I can have her, death would be worth it.
Reason was like a fragile boat, tossed about in the ocean of desire, sometimes swallowed by the waves, sometimes stubbornly resurfacing.
The last vestiges of his reason had been completely consumed by mental exhaustion, leaving him unable to formulate any practical response.
The four men were each desperately fighting their desires in their own ways.
Xu Xiuer glanced at the motionless men and sighed softly. She rose from her dressing table, her lotus-like steps carrying her gracefully to the bedside, where she sat down.
Throughout this movement, Zhang Yuanqing and the others' eyes remained fixed on her vibrant, alluring figure.
Her eyes shimmered with a captivating tenderness as she pursed her crimson lips and whispered, "What are you gentlemen waiting for? Do you find this humble servant's appearance too plain to bear looking at?"
With that, she raised a delicate hand and gently lifted the thin veil draped over her snow-white shoulder, letting it slide down her smooth, fair skin.
Her full beauty was revealed.
Gulp.
Zhang Yuanqing heard someone swallow hard, unable to tell if it was his own throat or a teammate's.
His remaining reason was completely submerged. With bloodshot eyes, he lunged at Xu Xiuer, pinning her down on the soft, intricately carved bed.
Behind him, his companions followed suit, their eyes burning with the same crimson frenzy.
The men transformed into frenzied beasts of lust, their reason completely abandoned. Driven by primal urges, they tore off their clothes, pants, and shoes, scattering them across the floor.
Zhang Yuanqing stripped off his T-shirt, his head throbbing. His gaze greedily swept over Xu Xiuer's delicate figure, and as he was about to get down to business, his eyes caught sight of her round, full hips. An uncontrollable thought flashed through his mind:
Such a beautiful ass... why doesn't it have a pig's tail?
The moment this thought surfaced, a strange sense of disgust washed over him. He suddenly felt that the woman on the bed didn't align with his aesthetic preferences. A man shouldn't—or at least, shouldn't—lust after a woman without a pig's tail.
The surging desire abruptly subsided, and reason resurfaced. Zhang Yuanqing snapped back to full consciousness.
Xu Xiuer's breath came in ragged gasps, her cheeks flushed crimson. She reached out with her slender, lotus-like arms to pull him closer, urging impatiently, "Gentleman, hurry."
Zhang Yuanqing's hard-won rationality began to crumble once more.
Meanwhile, the Huode Star General had already stripped naked and was impatiently shoving Zhang Yuanqing aside, like a wild beast vying for mating rights.
Zhang Yuanqing leaned to the side, attempting to transfer the "lust" to Little Goofball, but he failed. It was as if a hazy veil separated them.
Is it because I'm inside the narrative (the room) while he's outside? Zhang Yuanqing wondered, his thoughts racing. He recalled the Demon Subduing Pestle, an Item with Purification and Demon Subduing effects, but he wasn't sure if it would work on desires.
The pestle's sharp, triangular spikes pierced his thigh, drawing out torrents of vital essence and blood, and erupting with a pure, dazzling golden light.
The combined effects of Demon Subduing and Purification dispelled the mind-clouding temptation, allowing reason to reclaim its dominance.
Yet the desire didn't vanish entirely. This wasn't an external force; the pestle's Purification and Demon Subduing couldn't transform him into a monk with a heart as still as water.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Zhang Yuanqing swiftly struck down three teammates, knocking them unconscious to prevent their descent into the abyss.
After dealing with his frenzied teammates, Zhang Yuanqing waited patiently, but no notification of completing the hidden quest appeared.
Sensing something amiss, Xu Xiuer opened her eyes. Her cheeks flushed crimson, her snow-white skin tinged with rosy hues, and her eyes glistened with a dewy, tearful light.
Her crimson lips parted slightly, releasing a sweet, sultry voice:
"Gentleman... give me..."
Huh? Why isn't the hidden quest prompt appearing? I've already resisted her charms, Zhang Yuanqing thought, frowning inwardly.
The failure to trigger the hidden quest meant there must be a reason. He decided to probe the plot further.
After a moment's deliberation, Zhang Yuanqing averted his gaze from Xu Xiuer's alluring figure, suppressing his own desires, and said:
"Widow Xu, let's talk."
Hearing the word "widow," the desire in Xu Xiuer's eyes momentarily receded, only to be quickly replaced by a renewed surge of lust. She responded softly:
"Gentleman... what do you want to ask? Please, be kind and give me what I crave~"
"Answer my questions, and I'll satisfy you," Zhang Yuanqing promised, dangling a carrot. "Do you know Granny Wang's son?"
Xu Xiuer giggled coquettishly. "Yes, he's my lover~"
What? Zhang Yuanqing was stunned by this revelation. He hadn't expected such a relationship, which contradicted Granny Wang's hatred for her.
"Why was he cursed? And why are you here?" Zhang Yuanqing pressed.
Xu Xiuer fell silent, offering no reply.
After a tense standoff, a seductive moan escaped her lips as she reluctantly yielded. "Oh, Gentleman," she pleaded, "don't tease me so. Please, show me some kindness."
Zhang Yuanqing remained unmoved. "Who is she?"
Xu Xiuer's tearful eyes suddenly flashed with venomous hatred. Gritting her teeth, she spat, "The descendant of the Yin-Yang Wanderer, the true ruler of Yin-Yang Town."
"Why did she curse Granny Wang's son?"
Xu Xiuer fell silent again, clutching at Zhang Yuanqing's trousers and begging, "Gentleman, I'm in such agony! Please, have mercy and give me what I need!"
The Demon Subduing Pestle had purged the woman's seductive aura, but even without that terrifying allure, a woman of such exquisite beauty and alluring figure, pleading for intimacy, would stir desire in any normal man.
Trying to test my endurance? The Pestle's effects only last a few minutes. If necessary, I'll just stab myself a few more times. Zhang Yuanqing forced himself to avoid looking at her body, his expression impassive.
Realizing she could no longer seduce him, Xu Xiuer surrendered, her voice filled with sorrow.
"I was born beautiful, yet I was married to a sickly man. He died within a few years, leaving me alone and vulnerable to scorn and abuse.
"Granny Wang's son was a hooligan from town, always idling about. One night, he sneaked into my home and... and violated me.
"As a weak woman, how could I resist? Having been alone for so many years, I eventually... fell for him. But as time passed, that heartless man grew tired of me and began constantly mentioning her name."
Xu Xiuer gritted her teeth, tears streaming down her face. "That hooligan didn't even know his place! She's a descendant of the Yin-Yang Wanderer, skilled in magic. The townspeople revere her like a goddess—how dare that hooligan defile her?"
Though her words praised the woman, the jealousy in her eyes surged like a tidal wave.
"One day, that hooligan came to me again, giving me a bottle of poison and instructing me to secretly add it to her tea. We're about the same age and were childhood friends, so getting close to her wouldn't be difficult.
"At first, I hesitated, but the hooligan assured me he had already secretly arranged everything with Squire Zhao to ensure she couldn't retaliate."
"So you poisoned her?" Zhang Yuanqing narrowed his eyes.
"Yes!" Xu Xiuer didn't deny it, her eyes burning with resentment and jealousy as she ground out:
"After my husband died, she came to see me every day, offering comfort. But the more she pitied me, the more I hated her. I was no less beautiful than she was, so why was my fate so cruel? Widowed at twenty, harassed by hooligans, while she was born into nobility, revered by the townspeople.
"Why? Why did she remain untouched by the world's filth, why did she wear pure white? I wanted to drag her down to my level, to see her defiled by hooligans and scorned by all."
"And then?" Zhang Yuanqing asked.
"And then..." Xu Xiuer giggled. "And then I never saw her again. That vile man said she was dead. Good riddance, good riddance!"
So that explained the curse on both of them, and Granny Wang's hatred for Xu Xiuer became understandable. What was wrong with a son lusting after a woman? The blame lay with the widow, who had seduced him and turned him into a monster, neither man nor cat. This was a mother's natural perspective.
But if Xu Xiuer wasn't a Witchcraft Master, who had arranged the talismans in Granny Wang's home?
Granny Wang's son had colluded with Squire Zhao, who had hired a sorcerer. What roles had Squire Zhao, Blacksmith Wang, and the sorcerer played in this affair?
How truly vile, to abandon all conscience out of jealousy. Zhang Yuanqing lowered his gaze at the woman, whose allure was bone-deep, and felt not a trace of desire.
At that moment, a Spirit Realm notification chimed in his mind:
[ Ding! You have triggered the hidden quest: Unquenchable Lust (2/3) ]
[ Unquenchable Lust: Driven by jealousy and lust, she has fallen into darkness, becoming a demonic entity capable of unforgivable sins. Resist her seduction at all costs, or you will be dragged into the abyss. ]
[ Note: I will drown her in desire, turning her into a whore for all men to use. ]
[ Quest Item: A Fragment of Jade ]
So that's it. Only by completely resisting her allure can I gain recognition. The Demon Subduing Pestle can't help me with this.
Zhang Yuanqing checked his Inventory. The two fragments of jade had combined into a complete jade pendant.
The quest items were collected, but the quest progress still needed one more step.
Xu Xiuer laughed hysterically for a moment, then her lust surged back. Stroking her thighs, she clutched at Zhang Yuanqing's trousers, pleading:
"Gentleman, I can't take it anymore! Please, have mercy, have mercy..."
"This is her curse on you!" Zhang Yuanqing said. "One last question: before we arrived, did another fat man come up here?"
Xu Xiuer hesitated, then glanced under the bed.
Zhang Yuanqing immediately bent down and saw Chi Ou lying there.
Under the bed lay a emaciated body, his cheeks sunken like those of a starving peasant who hadn't eaten properly for years.
Zhang Yuanqing dragged him out and examined him carefully. He breathed a sigh of relief: the Little Fatty had transformed into a skinny bamboo pole, his breathing faint but still present—he was alive.
Xu Xiuer sneered. "Useless man. He only managed a few thrusts before collapsing."
Zhang Yuanqing silently apologized to his comrade.
He had sent Chi Ou ahead to scout for two reasons: first, Earth Fiends possessed high endurance and strong defenses; second, the demon lord had still managed to clear the level despite being distracted by lust, suggesting the danger here was less severe than Granny Wang's level.
The reality proved him right—Chi Ou hadn't died.
However, it now seemed he had misjudged the situation, underestimating the demon lord and overestimating Chi Ou.
Fortunately, they had arrived in time. Otherwise, the Little Fatty might have succumbed to exhaustion.
Zhang Yuanqing leaned down, grabbed his teammates by their ankles, and tossed them out the window one by one.
"Gentleman, don't leave! Don't leave!" Xu Xiuer rolled off the bed, scrambling after him on her hands and knees. Her pain was evident, a desperate plea for a man to alleviate her suffering.
"Stay here and endure your Curse," he said without a second glance at her body. Bracing his hands on the windowsill, he leaped down.
Xu Xiuer's scream echoed behind him.
"What happened?" Huode Star General murmured, groggily waking up and rubbing the back of his neck. "My whole body aches, like I've been beaten up."
Grass on the Plain and Li Chunfeng stirred awake soon after, moaning softly.
After a few dazed seconds, the three gradually recalled their memories from before their unconsciousness. They looked around in astonishment, utterly bewildered by what had transpired.
"Widow Xu's storyline is complete," Zhang Yuanqing announced.
Meeting their blank stares, he briefly explained the situation, his tone scathing: "You three useless fools! Have you never seen a woman before? A mere widow had you all bewitched and utterly lost your minds!"
Huode Star General and the others hung their heads in shame.
"How did you manage that?" Li Chunfeng asked, grateful yet still bewildered.
"If my fetishes are too twisted, women can't seduce me," Zhang Yuanqing said, unsure whether to feel pleased or saddened. He added calmly, "I have my own methods."
Huode Star General stared at the emaciated Chi Ou and asked, "Who's this?"
"Chi Ou," Zhang Yuanqing replied.
Li Chunfeng and Grass on the Plain were shocked. They leaned down to examine Chi Ou, exclaiming in disbelief, "How did he end up like this?"
"This is the price of succumbing to beauty," Zhang Yuanqing said with a shake of his head and a sigh.
The three fell silent, staring at the unconscious Chi Ou.
They finally realized they had truly walked on the edge of the Ghost Gate Pass.
If Primordial Heavenly Venerable hadn't resisted temptation and led them away, Chi Ou's fate would have been theirs. No wonder he's a genius who clears S-Rank levels consecutively. Having such a teammate truly puts one at ease, Li Chunfeng thought with genuine admiration.
Huode Star General and Grass on the Plain exchanged grateful glances with Zhang Yuanqing.
"We should find Guan Ya and the Queen now," Zhang Yuanqing said, closing his eyes to calm his emotions and sense Little Goofball's location.