Chapter 351: The Haunted Village
Zhao Mingyue’s identity issue was something Bai Yu had no intention of researching. She just wanted Zhao Mingyue to wait at home like yesterday, ready for her good news. But it looked like there was no avoiding it; her identity had unexpectedly become a key factor.
After chatting with Chen Yunshi for a while, they saw the two sisters return, still buzzing with excitement at noon.
They were having so much fun that they’d forgotten who they were celebrating for in the first place.
It was like someone else’s birthday, and the birthday person was left standing on the sidelines while everyone else went wild.
Bai Yu didn’t mind much. For her, the equipment was dull; Zhao Mingyue’s favorite devices were stimulating, and she tried sitting on a few. The entire experience was as thrilling as sitting on a park bench.
Seeing Bai Yu, Zhao Mingyue suddenly remembered something and rushed over, handing her ice cream.
“Hey, hey, sorry! I got carried away! Here, this is for you.”
“Let’s go grab some food together,” the Dragon Lady said casually, knowing Bai Yu wouldn’t get into these activities.
Zhao Mingyue scratched her head awkwardly. She cast a glance at Chen Yunshi, unsure of what to say. After all, her father had died the night before, with not even a complete corpse left behind.
Chen Yunshi remained silent. After Qian Mu returned to her body, she shot Zhao Mingyue a look, suggesting she avoid bringing up her father, even though Chen Yunshi didn’t harbor strong feelings for him. The last time she saved him in Hejiang City was already a mercy.
After lunch, Chen Yunshi took her leave.
Bai Yu had her redemption tasks to complete. There was nothing she could help with; issues Bai Yu couldn’t handle were clearly beyond her reach too.
In the afternoon, Bai Yu contacted Shen Shuyun, who swiftly sent over a list of the eleven people Bai Yu had requested. Eight of them had clearly been working towards redemption tasks but had just never taken the initiative.
Redemption tasks didn’t exclusively require Bai Yu to trigger them. They would continue without her as well, but that meant skipping the assignment entirely. Even if they met the necessary requirements, there’d be no benefits.
These eleven were chosen precisely because they hadn’t engaged with the redemption tasks, each for various reasons. Some, like Shen Shuyun, were constrained by location, while others, like the Dragon Lady, faced risks they couldn’t pinpoint and didn’t dare approach. There were even those who had found the location but refused to confront it.
For these madmen, redemption tasks represented their past.
Not all memories are pleasant, and when faced with them again, their preferred option was often escape.
Bai Yu glanced over the list and settled on the nineteenth figure, a mechanic.
She recalled the mechanic – a devotee of mechanical ascension. Apart from their soul, they had replaced all replaceable parts with machinery, greatly boosting their strength while also being a “summoner.”
They had created mechanical pets and even a biomechanical weapon. Their most famous creation was a mechanical dragon resembling the Dragon Lady’s draconic form.
Back then, the Dragon Lady had threatened that if she ever caught this mechanic, she would dismantle that mechanical dragon and force-feed the parts to them.
After all, it was a knock-off; the strength gap was huge. Even if the mechanical dragon boasted flashy attacks with missiles and lasers, it wouldn’t even scratch the Dragon Lady’s dragon scales. Even if it did, the damage dealt would be far outweighed by her healing speed.
Besides, the Dragon Breath was a natural nemesis for this mechanic.
“Ah, it’s this person. I can’t believe they’re still alive,” the Dragon Lady scoffed, having been irked by the mechanic for ages but not having had a chance to take them down.
“That’s right.”
The mechanic’s redemption task involved an evil god, which they referred to as their “wife.”
Zhao Mingyue was puzzled by the quotation marks, but Bai Yu and the Dragon Lady understood immediately.
Most likely, like them, the mechanic had resumed their previous identity after entering this world and even met their past wife. Unfortunately, something had happened to her in the previous world, and the same calamity struck in this one.
The specifics would only become clear upon meeting the mechanic. What was evident was that the mechanic’s relationship with Shen Shuyun was so-so, meaning Shen Shuyun would only play the role of intermediary. Whether the mechanic agreed remained to be seen.
They were on this list because Shen Shuyun believed the mechanic’s consent didn’t matter. As long as Bai Yu showed up, even a reluctant agreement would have to happen.
No sooner said than done; that evening, the Dragon Lady drove them to Shen Shuyun’s neighborhood.
“Boss,” Shen Shuyun greeted, flashing a radiant smile as she got in, sticking a band-aid on her face. But it seemed that one band-aid wasn’t enough to cover her wound.
“I’ve sent you the address. Just head there directly; I have ways to reach this person.”
Shen Shuyun was unsurprised that Bai Yu chose the mechanic. Among the eleven, the mechanic’s task was the most straightforward. Knowing their location and details, they might simply need to eliminate an evil god to end things. It could set a good tone.
“Long time no see, Mingyue.” Shen Shuyun waved to Zhao Mingyue in the passenger seat.
“Long time no see.”
Zhao Mingyue replied politely, though she wasn’t very familiar with Shen Shuyun; she’d first met her through Lu Liangting.
As they approached the mechanic’s residence, Shen Shuyun said, “This mechanic is named Zhou Wan and lives pretty far out. She typically has emotional issues, unlike us. She hardly ever seeks out Lu Liangting and seems averse to it. The only thing we have in common is the info I sent you.”
“I checked it out too; there’s indeed an evil god involved. The village is a bit strange. I can’t say it’s like Eternal Life Village, but it’s certainly eerie, and most people who venture in probably never make it back.”
“So she’s been stuck with this issue, hoping for a solution that never came.”
“Her abilities are rather unique. Now, she’s practically a mess, moping around as if she’s someone else entirely.”
The mechanic’s greatest ability was her mechanical transformation and her machine body. For her, switching bodies wasn’t just a 90% downgrade; it was more like 95%. Without her machinery, she was nothing.
Unlike Shen Shuyun and Chen Yunshi, who could keep some skills, the mechanic’s abilities were completely unfeasible in this world, leaving her with no room for growth.
Her profession was weak early on and only hit its stride mid to late-game, requiring substantial investment.
“Why does this mechanic sound so much like a game character? Is she one of your gamer buddies?” Zhao Mingyue couldn’t resist speaking up.
That title was indeed bizarre.
Not to mention, she had critiqued Bai Yu’s “Doctor” title long ago, finding it absurd; given Bai Yu’s appearance, how could she possibly be a doctor?
“Also, isn’t she a girl? How does a girl have a wife?”
At first, she assumed the mechanic was a guy, but upon hearing the name Zhou Wan, something felt off.
As her words escaped, the Dragon Lady shot her a sidelong glance.
“Why should you even pose that question about a girl having a wife?”
“Why can’t I…?” Zhao Mingyue paused, suddenly realizing, her face flushed as she diverted her gaze, her awkward smile betraying her embarrassment.
“Alright, alright, no more questions.”
Yeah, why couldn’t a girl have a wife?
Shen Shuyun exchanged glances between Zhao Mingyue and Bai Yu, and many unspoken things passed between them.
Of course, she wouldn’t bring it up. Clearing her throat, she shifted topics. “Now we need to confirm two things, mainly regarding her wife. Did her wife become an evil god, or was her wife’s body used as an embryo by the evil god?”
“Though that’s not too important; I trust the boss’s strength!”
The mechanic Zhou Wan lived in Guan Village, a good forty kilometers from Tianchang City, in a small county town below.
By the time they reached their target, it was already seven-thirty.
In the summer, even at seven-thirty, night was just settling in.
Under the influence of the evil god’s power, looking at Guan Village from a distance gave off an uncomfortable vibe, a foreboding intuition that made them want to flee.
The car could only be parked by the roadside; the road leading into the village was just too narrow. The bridge showed signs of human tampering—only two wooden planks lay across it.
The river below looked deep and dark, and they could vaguely see something swimming in it.
“The god worshipped in this village is the Black Water Goddess. I haven’t dealt with this too much, so I can’t specify the evil god’s curse power.”
“That village is quite eerie, not as bad as Eternal Life Village, but still difficult to handle.”
“Yeah… tough for me.”
Standing at the edge of the bridge, Shen Shuyun glanced down, speaking honestly. But she wasn’t entirely helpless; the risks were just way too high. If she were hit by the evil god’s curse, that would spell trouble.
Just like this bridge—definitely had issues.
Before she could elaborate, Bai Yu’s bl**d Threads shot out, and with a dull thud, two swollen, terrifying evil ghosts were yanked from the river, drained of life within two or three seconds, leaving nothing but goop behind.
Shen Shuyun took a few steps back in shock at the ghastly appearance of the ghosts. After witnessing their swift demise, she silently gave Bai Yu a thumbs up.
It wasn’t a matter of Bai Yu’s strength but rather a testament to her unpicky appetite—they looked so horrifying that she couldn’t fathom how Bai Yu managed to consume them.
Forget about taste; they were downright grotesque.
It was like a cake that turned out looking like a lump of dung—who would want to eat that?
Bai Yu didn’t care at all; for her, an evil ghost’s appearance didn’t matter. Ugly or not, it wouldn’t affect her absorption. Even tiny bits still counted as meat.
“Let’s go.” This time, Bai Yu used her embryo body and couldn’t slip into Zhao Mingyue’s shadow. So, she ended up leading the pack.
After the two evil ghosts were dispatched, the two wooden planks on the bridge vanished, replaced by a temporary wooden bridge that appeared nearby.
Those planks were merely a trick. Anyone who attempted to walk on them would undoubtedly plunge into the water and be killed by the two evil ghosts, becoming the third.
Bai Yu crossed over effortlessly, her bl**d Threads forming a path beneath her feet.
Shen Shuyun stood behind, marveling. With this backdrop, the girl looked downright cool.
As they crossed the bridge, the scene subtly shifted.
The path leading into the village was lined with numerous tombs, both new and old. A gust of wind carried paper money drifting through the air, immediately setting a chilling atmosphere.
For some reason, the flashlights in their hands seemed to emit dimmer light compared to outside, as if a little ghost was sitting on top, blocking the beam.
Though it was only seven-thirty—not late at all—the surroundings were unnervingly dark. No moon could be seen in the sky, and a distant rumble of thunder layered the ambiance with an oppressive weight.
Especially with the night breeze brushing against them—though light, it bore an eerie chill that raised goosebumps on their skin.
In the distance, Zhao Mingyue and the others heard someone shouting, though they couldn’t make out the words, only the increasingly desperate and sharp tone. It sounded frantic.
The louder the shouts, the more paper money was swept towards them by the wind. Sometimes, an entire gust would carry three or four sheets their way.
These paper notes felt decidedly off—they didn’t drift anywhere, only heading directly for them.
Curious, Shen Shuyun reached out to grab one, then opened it in her palm, recoiling as she discovered a bloody handprint on it.
“Holy cr*p!” She quickly tossed the paper away and instinctively looked for someone to wipe her hand on, glancing between Zhao Mingyue and the Dragon Lady. In the end, she could only wipe it on her pant leg.
They walked quite a distance, with Zhao Mingyue feeling like they had covered three or four kilometers.
“Wait, who’s that!” Zhao Mingyue pointed her flashlight ahead and spotted a man dressed in a hemp robe kneeling in a nearby field, softly sobbing. The beam revealed something unsettling about the man; his skin was far too pale, and his clothing appeared paper-like.
“Was that voice we heard coming from him?” Zhao Mingyue rushed closer.
A person crying over graves in the dead of night? That seemed all kinds of wrong.
The night wind howled as the white soul-calling banner by the man whipped around. He dramatically scattered paper money into the air, exclaiming, “Mother!”
The flashlight in Zhao Mingyue’s hand flickered—a few times before it went out entirely.
The only remaining light source was the burning basket of paper in front of the man.
The dim flicker of flames illuminated the man’s shadowy, bloodless profile. As Zhao Mingyue approached, his sobbing abruptly halted.
Zhao Mingyue paused as she noticed the flames in the basket shift to a dark blue-green. The man twisted his head, nearly at a horrifying angle, without moving his body, and faced Zhao Mingyue, revealing large patches of dark red bl**d on his face.
He looked grotesque; one side of his head was caved in, revealing the gruesome insides.
“Hahaha! You finally came!” His voice was raspy and grating.
Suddenly, the soul-calling banner next to the grave snapped, crashing straight toward Zhao Mingyue.
Finally looking up, she realized that it wasn’t a soul-calling banner but rather a broken, withered tree.
Without needing Bai Yu or the Dragon Lady to intervene, Zhao Mingyue remained unfazed. She raised a hand and effortlessly caught the tree trunk, about the width of a basketball, then threw it aside, sending it crashing into the opposite direction.
The male ghost stood shocked, his body disappearing completely.
Looking back at the grave, Zhao Mingyue spotted a photo of that very man on the tombstone.
“That was quite the performance,” Shen Shuyun nearly laughed.
Though, to be fair, the ghost had some skills. That eerie atmosphere was well conjured, and transforming the soul-calling banner into a tree was clever—if an ordinary person were there, they’d surely have been crushed!
Thick bl**d Threads tore open the grave mound, burrowing into the coffin below and dragging out the previously terrifying ghost that had intimidated Zhao Mingyue like a rag doll, hanging it upside down in mid-air.
“You really know how to pick ’em, huh? With so many folks around, you chose us?” The Dragon Lady stroked her chin. “How odd! We didn’t conceal our aura at all—what gives these little ghosts the courage to act?”
Tentacles wrapped around the evil ghost’s body, squishing it until it exploded, then absorbed the remnants. Bai Yu looked up at the dark village ahead.
“That evil god doesn’t want us here.”
“Ah, now it makes sense why these ghosts are so bizarre. This aligns perfectly with my stereotype of evil gods; they never concede even when outmatched, not even uttering a kind word. We haven’t done anything yet!”
The Dragon Lady initially thought this journey would be bland, but it proved interesting—like visiting a haunted house. The immersion was way better than those theme park haunted houses!
“How does it feel, Mingyue? Exciting?”
“It’s alright. I’m starting to get that nostalgic feeling from when I first entered this world. I really didn’t see that soul-calling banner was a tree—my focus was entirely on that ghost.”
Zhao Mingyue’s enthusiasm was infectious; she was getting interested.
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