Chapter 19: CH 19

Ch19 - Your esteemed self’s body has begun to mutate

“To the spirits of the sky, and the spirits of the land, we are driving corpses in Xiangxi. May the living please run away——”

“Bang——”

“Bang——”

The monotonous and harsh sounds of the gongs hitting sounded on the mountain road during the rainy night like the cawing of crows, giving listeners chills.

The orange-red “lights” fluttered and flickered, like the ghost fire that levitated around mountains, forests, and wild graves, illuminating the rugged and narrow mountain road——Unlike when they went up the mountain, they were walking on another mountain road now. This road was narrower and more difficult to walk on. It was built close to the mountainside and was only wide enough to accommodate one person to walk through at a time.

On one of their sides was a mountainside, while the other side was a steep valley. If they fell, they would lose their lives!

The cold wind blowing from the mountain stream sounded like ghosts crying and wolves howling, and the ferocious shadows of the trees crisscrossed, appearing like sharp, thin claws, caging everyone’s head. Wuluo mountain was remote and sparsely populated. It was full of large tracts of primitive forest land. The path they took was opened up by a corpse driver many years ago. Now, it was overgrown with weeds, and moss had grown on the slates. Rain was still falling, and the road was extremely wet.

Yu Hean didn’t dare to look up. His shoulder was stiff, and he could not feel any sensation from it. His entire body trembled, his gaze shifted forward, and what appeared in front of him was a corpse. A corpse was also behind him, and only the sound of the monotonous gong could be heard.

After walking for a long time, Yu Hean had even developed a misconception that his teammates had all disappeared long ago, leaving him alone in the middle with a group of corpses!

He finally couldn’t help it. He urgently stretched out his neck to look ahead to see if his teammates were still there. But suddenly, a dark shadow came down from the cliff beside him soundlessly. Like a hanging rope, it hung in front of Yu Hean, appearing as if Yu Hean had hung a rope around his own neck!

“Ah——!!!”

“Bang!”

Wei Xun noticed the noise coming from the rear of the tour group. After a while, he heard Lin Xi send a message to Miao Fangfei, saying that Yu Hean had thought a rattan vine was a hanging rope and fell down in fear. Nothing major happened.

Miao Fangfei didn’t ignore any “trifling matters” and said calmly, “Everyone, let’s place a cooling pill in our mouth and raise our spirits for the next part of the road!”

The cooling pill was Miao Fangfei’s self-made Miao tribe medicine made with peppermint, madras carpet, snake strawberry, and other herbs. The effect of any prop would be weakened in the Intoxicating Xiangxi series tour. On the contrary, this self-made Miao tribe medicine would have a greater effect.

Wei Xun also got a small bottle from Miao Fangfei. The black pill was as large as a jelly bean and had a cooling scent.

After squandering some time, the speed of the tour group inevitably slowed down. Wei Xun rarely had the experience of walking at night in the mountains. But now, perhaps it was due to his body’s mutation, but Wei Xun felt full of strength and was not tired after walking for so long. He was as excited as if he were taking a group of primary school students on an outing. He directed the flag in his left hand and held Pingping’s blood grudge dagger in his right hand.

The dagger was burning, and the corpses following the corpse driving team were getting closer and closer.

Although they were afraid of Pingping’s resentment, from the Little Dragon Farmstead until where they were now, Wei Xun wasn’t sure if the resentment on the dagger was weakening or the resentment of the corpses was getting stronger and stronger, but the distance between them and the tour group was shrinking. He was afraid that there might be a battle between the two sides before reaching the Ferocious Bone-made Plank Road.

Hm?

Suddenly, Wei Xun stopped moving. Miao Fangfei, who followed behind him, also braked suddenly, and soon the whole tour group stopped moving. Suddenly, the sound of gongs disappeared, rendering the entire Wuluo mountain more gloomy and silent, and the sound of the rustling rain was like the whispering of ghosts.

“Miao Fangfei, do you see it?”

Miao Fangfei, who only cared about following behind III-9, was on guard as she observed her surroundings. Her heart tightened, and she hurried to look ahead of III-9’s Tour Guide’s Flag, but the sight made her scalp numb.

“What, what’s that?”

A sinister dark shadow stood in the depths of the mountainside, lying horizontally in front of the mountain road like a dark, withered, thin giant claw protruding from the cliff, with long, narrow, and ferocious fingerbones. It was stopping everyone who tried to leave Wuluo mountain!

Miao Fangfei’s scalp turned numb. When she looked carefully, she found that it was a strange wild pepper tree growing in the stone cracks of the mountainside.

What scared her most was that the dead tree was densely covered with thin chains, with pale bones locked at the end of the chains. They looked like human finger bones!

When the cold wind blew, the bones shook, sounding like wind chimes, and causing a chill to creep up all over their bodies.

But there were rotten corpses blocking the road behind them. They couldn’t retreat and find another pathway. They had to pass through here!

“Ufqqfg agff, qtjijcz, qtjijcz, qtjijcz——”

Zljb Mjcuofl rbbc klatvgfk ogbw atf rqlgji bo qjclm rtf kjr reoofglcu ogbw, ojiilcu lcab vffq atbeuta jr rtf weaafgfv ab tfgrfio. Vevvfcis, tfg fsfr yglutafcfv. “Ktf wlrrlcu wlvvif olcufg ybcf bo atf gbaafc mbgqrf!”

“Ebaafc mbgqrfr mjc’a ifjnf Qeieb wbecajlc. Ktlr, atlr lr j megrf.”

Legend has it that wild pepper trees grew on a large patch of land in front of the forgetful river, blocking the souls who wanted to escape back to the mortal realm who did not drink Grandma Meng’s soup. The pepper trees, especially one-hundred-year-old wild pepper trees, were good materials for making witchcraft tools when placed in the hands of a Miao tribe’s old chief. It was said that pepper trees could trap the soul.

Although this was just a legend, the clever Miao Fangfei immediately linked the legend with reality. The rotten corpses were missing finger bones, and there were finger bones hanging on the wild pepper trees. This curse was targeted at the corpses behind them. As long as they passed here, the corpses might be stopped by the trees!

“Not bad.”

III-9 whispered. Hearing his approval, an unprecedented emotion surged through Miao Fangfei’s heart, a complex combination of pride and fear. She felt that she wasn’t doing enough to match up to III-9’s praises——III-9’s sudden praise of her had to be intentional!

“Miao Fangfei, you are really not bad.”

Without waiting for Miao Fangfei to react, Wei Xun praised her slowly, “I’ll be relieved to hand over the tour group to you.”

What, what??

Miao Fangfei felt her entire body grow taut. She couldn’t believe her ears. III-9 meant——

“All of you, go first.”

III-9’s chuckle sounded like a demon whispering. “I’ll join you later.”

He was leaving the tour group!

Miao Fangfei’s pupils suddenly shrank. At this moment, her inner fear weighed on her more heavily than the time she saw her corpse being replaced! III-9 was leaving the team at such a time! He, he said, he said he would hand over the tour group to her. Was this III-9’s test? Was he testing her loyalty to him?

She should refuse. No matter what reason, she couldn’t do it. How could she——

“Miao Fangfei, I believe you can do it.”

He said he believed her, but, but she——

Heave——

At this time, the wind and rain suddenly grew heavier, like someone breathing out a puff of air. The smell of rain and rotten branches and leaves rushed towards her face. The wind shook the wild pepper trees violently, the thin chains on the branches collided, and the human bones rang akin to wind chimes. Suddenly, a thin branch was seemingly unable to bear the weight. It broke apart from a wild pepper tree, rolling into the canyon along with several chains, disappearing in a blink of an eye.

“Bang, bang, bang!”

The sound of the hurried gong came from behind the tour group. Zhao Hongtu was anxiously urging her. Sure enough, as the curse began to collapse, the group of corpses behind them also began to act. Miao Fangfei’s face turned white first before she forced herself to calm down. The wild pepper tree was shaking in the strong wind. They had to pass through here quickly before it completely snapped and distance themselves from the group of corpses behind them!

III-9 retreated to the side and made way for them to walk along the mountain road. The corners of his lips were slightly hooked up as if he was staring at her.

III-9 trusted her!

Miao Fangfei bit her lower lip hard, and the sharp pain calmed her down in an instant. Miao Fangfei rarely looked up and met III-9’s eyes. Currently, their eyes were gazing at each other, and an unprecedented emotion filled her heart.

It was like a shepherd dog was trusted by its owner and given the duty of guarding sheep. It was also as if, as if something she never dared to dream about. The tour guide and tourists were uniting together to break through many difficulties together.

“I’ll wait for your esteemed self to return.”

As if she was making an oath, she nodded towards III-9 and took the Tour Guide’s brooch from him, before striding forward without hesitation.

Wei Xun stood quietly by the roadside holding the Tour Guide’s Flag and watched the corpse driving team members walk ahead. The night rain pelted his bronze mask, causing the temperature to dip lower. He slightly removed the mask to breathe a sigh of relief. The water marks and pressure from the mask being pressed against his skin caused him to appear pale, giving him a sort of ghostly charm, as if he were a mountain spirit that sucked human souls in the old forest.

“To be honest, you guys aren’t playing fair.”

Wei Xun shifted the Tour Guide’s Flag to his left hand.

Moments ago, he thought about leaving the tour group to allow the tour group to continue forth. Would this be counted as the tourists going ahead of the tour group?

If this was counted, he would have more good ways to use the Tour Guide’s Flag in the future.

However, the dogshit Travel Services would not let him make use of this loophole.

[Tour Guide III-9, please return to the tour group within 15 minutes. Otherwise, your salary for this tour will be deducted!]

[Tour Guide III-9, please return to the tour group within 15 minutes. Otherwise, your salary for this tour will be deducted!]

“Only fifteen minutes, that’s awful.”

Wei Xun stood on the mountain road with the Tour Guide’s Flag, and the corners of his mouth slightly hooked up.

“Forget it, you’d better come together. If you come one by one, I won’t have enough time to deal with all of you.”

“Wa——!”

“Wa——!!!”

On the branches of the wild pepper tree, more than ten pairs of scarlet eyes lit up in the dark. Their gazes full of resentment burst out and were directed at Wei Xun. On this wild pepper tree, there were more than ten zombified flying foxes!

Most of the zombified flying foxes had chains wrapped around their claws. They were integrated with the curse on the wild pepper trees, binding the rotten corpses, and were unable to leave for the time being.

But——

The huge shadow flew silently from the tree canopy, like a piece of black cloth floating in the wind. With a buzzing sound, the Tour Guide’s Flag suddenly became heavier, and the bright light dimmed instantly.

Drip.

Drip.

The smelly saliva fell along with the rain, and lightning cut through the sky. Under the bright lightning, its tendon was exposed. The monster that was as scarlet as blood perched on the tip of the Tour Guide’s Flag, stared at Wei Xun, and suddenly opened its mouth.

“Wa——!”

[Random task: Battle the zombified flying fox left commander]

[Task level: Extremely urgent]

[Task description: Heavens, the zombified flying fox left commander came for “Pingping’s blood grudge dagger”! Please protect the dagger and kill the zombified flying fox left commander! Note that the more “Pingping’s” items you get, the more rewards you will get when opening up the new scenic spot!]

For a moment, an illusion suddenly appeared in front of Wei Xun’s eyes. He was surrounded by relatives who were tortured by ghosts and monsters. Right in front of him was a bloody scene, but among the scarlet depths, Wei Xun’s eyes were as calm as ever. Suddenly, he swung, and the flagpole rebounded as if it hit a hard wall. Although he hit the target, the recoil’s force made Wei Xun stagger back a few steps before he stood still.

What powerful strength!

“Wa——!”

The zombified flying fox left commander was cunning and wise. After discovering that the visual and auditory hallucinations were useless on Wei Xun, he began to attack him using the most common and savage methods, attacking right at Wei Xun’s gate of vitality!

Wei Xun’s body couldn’t resist the large attack force of the zombified flying fox left commander. He tried to attack it with the blood grudge dagger, but the sharp dagger couldn’t cut the hard skin of the zombified flying fox left commander, as if the dagger couldn’t hurt it.

“Ptooey.”

Wei Xun vomited a mouthful of bloody foam. The zombified flying fox left commander hit him repeatedly and had injured him internally. Although he blocked every attack it made, each hit and bite made Wei Xun’s blood surge, so he had to retreat. Suddenly, he found that his heels were stepping on emptiness. Wei Xun found that he had retreated to the edge of the mountain road.

If he took one more step, he would fall into the canyon. The zombified flying fox left commander lunged towards Wei Xun again! A shadow of death enveloped him, and its crimson body full of violent power was about to plunge him into the abyss. At this highly critical moment——

“You want this, don’t you?”

Wei Xun, who was forced into a desperate situation, laughed. There was no panic in his eyes, only excitement!

“If you want it, then go get it!”

In the next moment, he threw the blood grudge dagger out using his greatest might. Sure enough, at this critical moment, the dark shadow swept over his head, hurried after the dagger, and swallowed the dagger in mid-air!

“Wa——!!”

Creak, creak——

He heard the shrill sound of muscles and bones grinding and growing. The dagger that carried resentment seemed like a panacea. After swallowing it, the body of the zombified flying fox left commander expanded instantly, growing to the size of a calf. It used its inertia to rush to the mountainside, and its sharp fingers and claws dug deep into the stone wall, as easy as cutting tofu.

The scarlet eyes were like two little red lanterns. The eyes were full of hatred as they stared at Wei Xun, carrying slightly more tinges of ridicule and banter, like a cat playing with a mouse.

It was getting stronger. If it could deal him another blow, it could tear this hateful man into two!

But while the zombified flying fox left commander was chasing the dagger, Wei Xun took out a knife from his pocket, stabbed himself in the heart like a madman, and shouted:

“Falling to zero——”

“Ah, great, it hasn’t yet fallen to zero!”

In the storm, Wei Xun laughed, but the blade deviated, stabbing himself in the lung. If he really stabbed his heart, Wei Xun would die within a short period of time. That would truly cause his health to fall to zero, and he hadn’t had enough fun yet!

Wei Xun felt that his chest was cold, and he had difficulty breathing. Although he couldn’t feel pain, stabbing his lung with a knife would cause air and blood to invade his chest cavity. Even though his life wouldn’t be in danger for a short period, it was a thoroughly serious injury. If he was not treated in time, he would eventually die due to respiratory failure.

Wei Xun coughed up a mouthful of blood. The countdown to death was falling rapidly because of his serious injury!

[Countdown to death——23:56:01]

[Countdown to death——19:48:16]

[Countdown to death——11:32:25]

[It is detected that your countdown to death is falling too fast, and so, you will develop problems with your mentality. Please deal with it in a timely manner. Otherwise, you will suffer horrible consequences!]

Wei Xun’s SAN value also began to decrease due to the impact of the sudden drop of his countdown to death, which was caused by his serious injury. But this was exactly what he wanted!

[SAN value: 85]

[SAN value: 76]

[SAN value: 69]

Beep——

When the SAN value fell below 60, a warning of the color of scarlet blood appeared in Wei Xun’s mind.

[Your esteemed self’s body has begun to mutate!]

His forehead and scalp began to itch, and the small horns were growing outward. However, his fingertips felt itchier. Wei Xun lowered his head and glanced at his reflection in the puddle of water.

Dark, sharp claws, horns appearing like bamboo shoots, and scarlet eyes that were cold and indifferent, bereft of any emotions. Wei Xun grinned, and the reflection smiled back——

Like a demon who finally climbed out of the abyss and came to the world.

The author has something to say:

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T/N: There is a summary of the author’s other novels. But I’ll not translate it, since it has nothing to do with the novel. Anyone interested can check the author’s jjwxc page.

The next chapter onwards will be the start of the frequent 10k-12k+ Chinese characters. It will be split into parts of 3 to be posted, because it’s really too long for me to post in parts of two.