Book 5: Chapter 33: The octagonal building

Book 5: Chapter 33: The octagonal building

He had already investigated all three graves at the time and confirmed his theory. The people who were killed after mistreating their parents had all been afflicted by a type of Gu refined from a mixture of plants and animals. This type of Gu was extremely strange and wicked. The ingredients were most likely a black cat and a poppy.

Therefore, those who died in the city all seemed to have overdosed on drugs and dug out an eyeball under the influence of hallucinations or the black cats enticement.

As for the people in the mountains, the Gu caster seemed to be very familiar with the situation here. He knew the matter wouldnt be investigated in detail. Therefore, the Gu used here was simpler and even more vicious. The three brothers had all died due to their stomach being split open. It could be assumed that a plant had suddenly burst out from inside them.

If this was really the case, it wasnt something peculiar since Gu spells were usually rumored to be capable of such things. What was most impressive was how the Gu could exhibit symptoms of a drug, and how the plant could still move, grow and stubbornly thrive after the victim had died.

Furthermore, why use poppies to make the Gu? Poppies were narcotics. What did they have to do with Huang Bo Hengs sudden rise to power?

To find and thoroughly destroy the roots of those plants, he had dug large pits around the three brothers graves, ignoring the mutterings of the inhabitants. What surprised him was that the Gu technique had been so strong that the spirits of those three unfilial sons had been completely devoured. Their father, that frail and weak spirit, kept looking pleadingly at him, yet didnt dare approach and speak due to his power.

Raising a son for a hundred years meant worrying for ninety-nine.

He had heard this saying before. However, from the looks of the pitiful father, it turns out that the love of a parent could transcend death. Although the old mans spirit also didnt seem to know the details of this matter, he was afraid and respectful of Ruan Zhans power. Therefore, he wanted to beseech Ruan Zhan to save the souls of the three scumbags.

Ruan Zhan wasnt able to refuse. Although he wasnt at all sympathetic towards the three fellows who deserved to rot in hell, he had always had a soft spot and a sense of gratitude towards kindhearted ghosts. After all, he had been abandoned by humans yet saved by a ghost!

After he finished restoring two of the graves and was about to work on the third, he suddenly felt a sense of unease in his heart. He could feel Xiao Xia was in danger. Therefore, he immediately put everything down and used the space-warping technique. However, he discovered Xiao Xia was already gone. The village chiefs wooden building was a mess, with only the chief and his family who were unnaturally fast asleep and an unconscious Wan Li remaining.

He guessed Xiao Xia must have run off into the woods. While he was panicked and unsure of how to find her, he felt the danger around her vanish. It seemed she had been saved by someone.

This gave him a few minutes to ponder. He swiftly tidied up the room. Taking a bit of blood from Wan Li and mixing it with his own, he applied it underneath both their eyes.

He did this because Wan Li was currently unconscious and weak enough to be harmed by the slightest thing. He couldnt stay here to protect him and couldnt rely on the formation that only guarded against ghosts. Therefore, he had to use a bloodspell to strengthen their connection.

He and Wan Li were friends who had gone through life and death experiences together. However, he hadnt strongly missed him before so they didnt have the telepathic connection that he and Xiao Xia shared.

After arranging everything, he entered the deep woods once again. However, he couldnt find any trace of Xiao Xia. He wasnt adept at tracking others and the feeling he was getting from her was erratic. This meant that she was still encountering danger yet managed to escape at the last minute each time.

This situation meant that he alternated between worry and relief in the hours before dawn. Only at the end, when Xiao Xias telepathic connection sent over a strong, dense Yin aura did he recall that the place with the heaviest Yin aura was the graveyard. He had arrived there in a single step.

Ruan Zhan! Ruan Zhan! Xiao Xia cried out as she awoke.

Here. Ruan Zhan stretched his hand over.

Xiao Xia grabbed it without hesitation. Only then did she realize the sky was already getting bright. She was lying between gravestones in Ruan Zhans arms. The bloodwood sword which had been dropped near the pit was now silently lying next to his legs.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

At that moment, she felt as if she were dreaming. Ruan Zhan was rarely this intimate with her. She was also hoping that the recent events hadnt been real.

However, Ruan Zhans sturdy heartbeat and her aching body told her that this was no dream. There was no use in trying to pretend otherwise.

We have to go back quickly. Wan LiWan Li, he.

I already know. Dont worry, Ill save him.

You know? Xiao Xia asked doubtfully.

Did I cause trouble again? Xiao Xia looked at his furrowed brows and asked worriedly.

No.

You arent just saying that to comfort me, right?

Believe me, Im not. Ruan Zhan answered her seriously.

Sometimes, problems needed to be resolved this way. There needed to be someone unpredictable stirring things up, causing unexpected events, bravely forging forwards, gathering evidence and digging up new leads within danger. Xiao Xia was such a person. Her pursuit of the black cat last night had raised several questions.

Some examples: the weirdo was a woman. She kept talking about the bride. This was a connection to that raincoat ghost. The black cats behavior indicated that the person behind the scenes was extremely interested in Xiao Xia. Huang Bo Heng was someone who was after Xiao Xia. The weirdo said that person was very powerful. This meant she was familiar with him. If that person really was Huang Bo Heng, this proved that he was indeed born here. Furthermore, the speaking cat and the set of footprints proved that their enemy had already arrived at their side!

They were getting close to the truth! Although the answer to the riddles still seemed to be veiled by mist, Ruan Zhan knew that mist would soon disperse. Who would be the person that appeared in the end? Huang Bo Heng? Yang Mu You? Or was there still someone else?

Thatthe footprints that chased me, was that a person? Xiao Xia asked.

That was a person. However, he is very powerful and knows how to become invisible. Thats why you could only see his footprints.

I say, why didnt the bloodwood sword glow? Xiao Xia let out a breath. I thought perhaps it couldnt be bothered to respond to me!

How can that be? It will definitely react when encountering evil. However, since Gu techniques are popular here, those werent just simple spirits. Therefore, the swords glow wont be as bright. Ruan Zhan explained patiently.

But it also didnt glow when the old man who made me fall into the pit appeared.

Lady, you were sitting on his doorstep at that time. You felt someone patting your shoulder and saw a figure appear. You might have just been seeing an illusion, not an actual spirit. It was almost dawn already. Besides, he was a benevolent one and wasnt trying to harm you. Ruan Zhan understood that the old father of those three brothers just wanted his help. Therefore, he had taken the risk of being harmed by the invisible person and saved Xiao Xia.

That invisible person was most likely Huang Bo Heng, who was particularly interested in Xiao Xia. He was also the black cats master. When Xiao Xia inadvertently escaped into the graveyard and was directed towards Ah Mus grave by his dad, that person must have thought Ruan Zhan was nearby since the grave was dug up. He might even have suspected Ruan Zhan was lying in ambush inside the grave. Therefore, he chose to leave for his own safety. His paranoia saved Xiao Xia.

That personis he Huang Bo Heng? Xiao Xia asked. Thinking of that persons impure motives in chasing her at night, and even forcing her to undress for his pleasure, Xiao Xia felt indescribably humiliated.

Ruan Zhan nodded.

Then I understand why he hates Wan Li so much. Xiao Xia said in disgust. You said that casting such a serious Gu requires an intense emotional response.

Why?

Becausehe was bothering me at Guan Zhengs memorial service so Wan Li pretended to be my boyfriend.

No wonder. Ruan Zhan said in a low voice. Only now did he realize that Gu was intended for Wan Li. Their opponent must have discovered Wan Lis curious nature and set up a clever trap. Even if he failed that day, he would have tried a different method to harm Wan Li.

Yet how was such a fiendish Gu refined? Had they ended up encountering a genius in the Gu arts?

Thinking of this, he turned to look at Wan Li who still lay unconscious in bed, the black aura still lingering around his face.

What do we do about him? Xiao Xia was worried sick.

He will remain unconscious until I manage to save him! Ruan Zhan lightly rubbed Xiao Xias ankle.