Chapter 77: Fortune Inn (Part Twelve)

Chapter 77: Fortune Inn (Part Twelve)

Within the city.

In the basement of the city lord's mansion, a man adorned in luxurious silk robes and a woman in a goose-yellow gown stood beside an altar, the latter covering her nose and mouth with a look of disdain on her face.

Lamplights, small as beans, dispelled the surrounding darkness, revealing countless pairs of bewildered eyes of young children peering at them through the yet to recede waters.

The city lord put his arm around her shoulders, "Once my lady brings our son back, we shall ascend."

As he spoke, a "creature" emerged from the corridor to the west.

That "entity" appeared somewhat normal while in the water, but upon leaving the aquatic confines, pairs of eyes on its face opened, and its abdomen sprouted countless arms and legs.

Initially attempting to walk upright like a human, its bloated, enormous belly, which nearly occupied half its frame, forced it to fall backward, displaying its grotesque abdomen to the sky while its limbs twisted at unimaginable angles as it crawled forward.

"My lord," it spoke with a reverent tone upon reaching the city lord's side.

The city lord nodded, "Where is the child?"

Its slow-processing mind needed a moment to react before it sluggishly began to turn over.

Upon its back, a baby with closed eyes lay, immersed in a deep slumber.

If observed only from the upper half, the infant resembled a regular child nearing one hundred days of age, sculpted like a delicate piece of art, with chubby cheeks and sucking its finger in the midst of a dream.

Yet, shifting the gaze downward revealed that the child’s legs were devoid of flesh, with veins and bones starkly exposed.

The city lord furrowed his brows.

"It seems without the necessary sacrifices, the growth will indeed halt."

According to the original plan, all that was required was to successfully hold the hundred days feast and lure some children, to facilitate the regrowth of skin on his son's legs, transforming him into a wholly healthy child.

But now…

The celestial master spoke, "No matter, the lady is nearing childbirth. It should suffice for a time. Besides, these intruders won't linger here indefinitely."

Although unclear why she harbored such certainty, an inexplicable intuition told her that these sudden visitors would inevitably depart after a certain period.

It was as if... she had encountered similar situations countless times before. Though those memories had faded, a vague recollection lingered, akin to muscle memory.

Her confident assertion, despite lacking substantial evidence, somehow managed to instill belief in the city lord.

After all, his ex-wife had transformed drastically, as if her soul had been replaced. She now held knowledge of numerous mystical arts and her personality had shed its former dullness and blandness.

But who cared about the details? As long as she remained an ally, this stunning and tactful beauty was certainly a welcome presence in his life.

"Qingqing, with your remarkable abilities, I naturally trust your words," the city lord said with a smile.

Seeing his smile, Duan Qingqing couldn't help but reveal a charming grin of her own.

She was certainly different now.

Duan Qingqing recalled that in her previous life, she had been an ordinary urban office worker... though calling her a "white-collar" might have been a bit generous. Lacking adequate education, she had joined the workforce right after middle school. Despite years of struggle, her earnings barely covered her expenses until a relative arranged for her a position in a company.

But a year ago, a minor lapse in judgment, exacerbated by alcohol, led her to accidentally fall into a river while returning home from work.

When her eyes reopened, it felt as if mere moments and countless years had passed simultaneously... she had traversed time and space.

The individual she had become was also named Duan Qingqing, a young miss from a prominent family, betrothed to a strikingly handsome man.

However, this husband ascended to greatness, marrying the chancellor's daughter, and mercilessly annihilated Qingqing’s entire family with malevolent cruelty.

After enduring unspeakable hardships, the original host mastered mysterious and arcane arts, vowing to avenge her annihilated clan.

Duan Qingqing's arrival was impeccably timed, coinciding with the moment the original host was about to enter the city.

Initially, Duan Qingqing contemplated avenging the original host, but she was stunned upon laying eyes on the city lord.

He's so handsome!

Indeed, being chosen by the chancellor implied that he was a remarkable individual, both in appearance and capabilities, truly a dragon amongst men.

Duan Qingqing immediately changed her mind.

Isn't this precisely the trope found in trashy literature? Where the worthless male lead discards his wife and child for personal gains, only to have a change of heart and grovel at the feet of the female protagonist in the end.

Now, she is about to become that pursued "female protagonist".

Fortune truly smiles upon her!

Everything is unfolding as she had planned. Pretending to have lost her memory, she infiltrated the City Lord's mansion. The City Lord still harboured feelings for her, and with the discovery of her mastery in secret arts, his respect and affection for her deepened. As their relationship blossomed anew, Duan Qingqing manipulated secret arts to impregnate herself. After feigning the recovery of her past memories and staging an emotionally torturous drama with the City Lord, she ultimately succumbed to the bonds of love and chose to stay by his side.

Later, the City Lord's wife was found to be pregnant. Initially, Duan Qingqing considered eliminating this gentle and somewhat dull noble lady. But realizing the convenience of having someone to manage the household chores, she decided against any drastic actions.

However, when the fetus in Duan Qingqing's womb reached five months, unable to bear the pains of pregnancy, she used her secret arts to transfer her child into the womb of the City Lord's wife.

As for the original fetus within the City Lord's wife... it was just a forming embryo, which Duan Qingqing sacrificed alongside other children in the city as an offering.

The City Lord was, of course, aware of this.

But what did it matter? Since Duan Qingqing's arrival, their initial use of the city's children as sacrifices was not for the sake of a child.

Duan Qingqing's secret arts could not only resurrect stillborn infants but also grant them eternal youth and unparalleled powers, unimaginable to the average person.

However, when a child eventually came into the picture, Duan Qingqing felt no attachment, while the City Lord desired an heir to continue his lineage.

Together, they deceived the City Lord's wife—a truly foolish woman. Unbeknownst to her, the child she nurtured in her womb was Duan Qingqing's. She cherished it as her own, oblivious to the usurpation.

Yet, what wasn't truly hers couldn't be feigned forever. The fetus soon began showing signs of rejection and was miscarried.

As the City Lord's wife drowned in grief, Duan Qingqing and the City Lord presented her with a method to resurrect the fetus.

Though the process required the sacrifice of many innocent lives, the City Lord's wife hesitantly accepted Duan Qingqing's dark secret arts transformation, gradually metamorphosing into her current state while confined underground.

Now, her memory is nearly erased, retaining only the instinctive desire to protect her supposed child fervently.

Everything could have progressed according to the plan—

The City Lord had no desire to behold the grotesque creature before him. Concerned only about the child's status, he gestured dismissively, "Alright, take him back."

The lake water acted as amniotic fluid for this son, allowing him to absorb nutrients from other infants submerged within.

Duan Qingqing had even constructed a smaller sacrificial altar within the lake, serving as his sanctuary, his home.

But the usually docile wife shook her head this time.

"There are... people on the shore, many."

The City Lord exchanged a glance with Duan Qingqing.

"It's those outsiders again, isn't it? No matter, what's their number compared to us? Just stay out of their line of sight, alright?"

The lady repeated incoherently, "Many... many..."

What an imbecile.

The Lord cursed inwardly, yet acknowledged that this grotesque creature, transformed by the secret arts, was a potent weapon in his and Qingqing's arsenal.

He then found the patience to add, "So, you just avoid them, take a longer route. Besides, most of them are powerless, and the few capable ones are slow. You can simply devour them if necessary."

A hint of urgency appeared on the lady's face: "Many... too many!"

"Enough, stop wasting time with her." Qingqing signaled with a gesture of her hand, causing the lady to retreat a few steps as if electrocuted, letting out a roar.

Qingqing commanded, "Take the child and return."

With that, she and the Lord turned to leave.

The lady appeared frantic, wanting to retain them but couldn't bring herself to tarnish their pristine robes, her hand finally fell in defeat.

Looking at the child sleeping peacefully on her back, an odd maternal tenderness surfaced on her monstrous face.

"Take...back. Lan Jun, rest assured."

She couldn't remember anything, yet she recalled the name she had once chosen for the child.

—Lan Jun it is.

On a sunny afternoon, she caressed her slightly bulging abdomen, gazing at the blooming orchids painted on her fan.

She hoped the child would embody the virtues of an orchid, becoming an upright and kind gentleman.

The lady reached out, seemingly intending to gently stroke the child on her back.

But her nails were sharp, and her fingers rugged, fashioned for murder.

She withdrew her hand, her gaze turning towards the passage they had come through.

Return...

Just like before, the lady squeezed herself into the narrow passage.

The waters in the passage hadn't fully receded, a group of resentful infants trailed beside her, escorting her as she swam towards the lake.

Only one underdeveloped fetus stood anxiously in her path, letting out infantile cries, attempting to stop her.

Oblivious, the lady shielded the infant on her back, her massive and bloated body rolling over the underdeveloped fetus, moving languidly towards the lake, surrounded by a host of resentful spirits.

The fetus was pressed into the mud, but after a short while, it stubbornly wriggled free, determinedly chasing after the lady's retreating figure.

Approaching the lake, the water level gradually rose.

Yet, oddly enough, as they neared the supposedly dark and deep lake, light seemed to be streaming in from somewhere nearby.

It's fire.

On the shore, torches formed a continuous line, sporadically positioned, their brightness rivaling the dense, gleaming stars in the sky as seen from afar.

Torches distributed throughout every street brought the entire city back to life.

Men and women, young and old, dressed in ceremonial robes, carried bamboo baskets. The younger ones bore heavier stones, while the older and weaker ones carried lighter chunks of soil. They resembled a trail of ants relocating a mountain from the east of the city to the west.

No one knew the efficacy of this effort, how long it would take to fill the vast lake, yet the flowing line of torches resembled lifeblood returning to the veins of this once withered and dead city.

The firelight illuminated every nook and cranny, exposing countless resentful spirits lurking in the shadows, who covetously eyed the living, yet remained barred from the brightness by the flames.

The Lord and the Celestial Master were stunned as they emerged from underground.

"Why is it so bright? Steward! Steward?!"

Before his words fell, a shadow loomed overhead. The Lord sensed something, sharply twisting his body—

"Ahhhhhh!!" Following a series of screams, the Lord, with his maimed arm, sought refuge underground, only to encounter an abrupt wall of fire before him.

Nie Shuang formed seals with her hands, intensifying the flames of the firewall.

"What are you sealing? Quickly, restrain the Celestial Master as well!"

Xie Fangcheng furiously chased the fleeing Lord, offering unsolicited advice to Nie Shuang while in pursuit.

Nie Shuang snapped, "Don't you know that more powerful abilities require longer incantations? Do you think maintaining this firewall is simple?!"

Xie Fangcheng lacked speed, and it was imperative for Nie Shuang's wall to accurately block the Lord. As she was nearing her limit with the seals, he expected her to restrain another, as if she could effortlessly accomplish it.

Xie Fangcheng charged ahead relentlessly, finally creating a pincer attack with the firewall, raising his staff high before bringing it down heavily—

"Clang"!

The whole ground seemed to tremble; the Lord couldn't evade in time, another arm smashed to pieces, his entire being hammered into the ground.

Xie Fangcheng had controlled his strength; the blow, although substantial, causing the ground to crack open, did not penetrate the Lord completely, preventing his escape underground once again.

The Lord, whose fate was unknown, was stuck in the ground. Just as Nie Shuang remarked, "That was relatively easy," someone from below suddenly pulled the trapped Lord down the next moment.

"Damn!!" Nie Shuang quickly dissolved the firewall, joining Xie Fangcheng in staring at the hole, "He indeed managed to escape!!"

Before the duo arrived, Mr. Zhang had mentioned that their first cooperation might not successfully restrain the Lord; forcing him into the lake would be considered a victory.

His prediction had indeed come true.

"Let's go!"

Nie Shuang rolled up her sleeves, sprinting a distance outward first.

Jie Fangcheng struck the ground once more with the staff in his hands.

This time, with the staff in his hands as the epicenter, a thunderous rumble ensued, causing half of the City Lord's Mansion to collapse.

Coughing lightly, Jie Fangcheng hoisted the staff on his shoulder and began to renovate the City Lord's underground fortress.

On the other side, Nie Shuangshuang was also directing the NPCs, pouring baskets of soil and rocks into the City Lord's Mansion.

This expansive underground lair, resembling an anthill, was constructed under the guidance of Duan Qingqing and his wife, who, with the help of countless resentful infants, had dug for several months to complete it.

Now, as Jie Fangcheng descended directly, he saw no one — it was expected. These two NPCs must have entered one of the passages, most likely having fled to the lake.

Jie Fangcheng decisively proceeded to collapse each of these passage entrances one after another.

After collapsing them, he leaped up and announced, "I'm heading that way."

"Alright."

Nie Shuangshuang nodded, "If there's any trouble, I'll set off fireworks. Brother, rush back here immediately upon seeing them, alright? Our safety relies on you!"

"Understood." With that, Jie Fangcheng exerted force on his legs—

Given that he was stepping on the grounds of the City Lord's Mansion, he didn't hold back, causing another loud boom as even the western wall of the mansion sank.

In a blink, Jie Fangcheng shot up and disappeared from sight.

Nie Shuangshuang marvelled at the sight.

Who exactly was this person? So formidable, yet the figure that darted away seemed so slow.

Nonetheless, Jie Fangcheng had completed his mission. Nie Shuangshuang formed seals with her fingers, releasing a swarm of butterflies that fluttered around the entire City Lord's Mansion, leaving no corner unchecked.

This was to ensure that the City Lord and the Celestial Master could not escape again from this place. Leaving Nie Shuangshuang behind was a strategic move, leveraging her speed and skills to track these two NPCs, swiftly transmitting their locations and accurately summoning Jie Fangcheng.

Ideally, both the City Lord and the Celestial Master would be driven into the lake together.

"Come on! Bury it!" Saying this, Nie Shuangshuang heaved over a basket of heavy rocks and threw them in.

At this moment, the lakeside, devoid of Nie Shuangshuang and Jie Fangcheng, was lined with torches like a barrier.

Countless rocks were being dumped into the lake, turning the originally clear waters turbid. Some resentful infants cautiously emerged from the lake, only to be forced back by the flames.

Could it really be achieved?

The players on the shore wore somewhat bewildered expressions.

These NPCs resembled inconspicuous ants, devoid of power or remarkable features, and no one cared about their joys and sorrows... Yet these insignificant beings could unite and challenge a giant elephant.

A frail woman with streaks of white in her hair struggled under the weight of a basket filled with heavy rocks. As she stumbled, about to fall, a pair of hands steadied her.

Aunt Li took the basket from her shoulders.

"Let me help you."

Aunt Li found deep resonance in this instance.

Sun Yan might suspect that the townsfolk might seek revenge, but Aunt Li never harbored such doubts.

Because if her child was murdered, she would pursue the perpetrator relentlessly, even if it meant shattering herself to pieces.

This is the utmost principle for any parent.

Soon, Aunt Li joined the ranks of those filling in the lake, blending seamlessly among the NPCs.

"I'll help too!"

New players who had just entered the game were the easiest to be moved. Soon, five or six figures joined the lengthening queue.

The remaining players exchanged uneasy glances.

"Do we players have to engage in this too?" someone muttered, "Aren't these NPCs just background characters, if their kids die, they just die..."

But no sooner had the words fallen, they were sharply rebuked, "What background characters? Don't you have parents? Seeing these people dressed in mourning attire, fighting fiercely for their loved ones, don't you feel a thing?"

Having said this, the person turned to join the helpers.

The number of idle players diminished gradually until, in the end, even Sun Yan gritted his teeth and, albeit reluctantly, joined the group.

He still believed it unnecessary to engage in these deeds. What if all these NPCs died? It had nothing to do with him.

The more instances one cleared, the larger the gap grew between the players and the regular "humans".

But the flames before him, the determined faces streaked with tears, all seemed to form an immense, invisible hand that nudged him forward, pushing him into the soil labeled "human civilization".

Compassion, mercy, morality... elements that once seemed trivial, yet had once deeply etched into his bones, hadn't vanished after all.

The tradition of a civilization sedimented over millennia wasn't suitable for a barbaric society where the law of the jungle prevailed, yet most humans couldn't fully devolve into beasts.

As everyone was fervently working on filling the lake, suddenly, a scream rang out from the shoreline.

"Mother!" someone shrieked.

"Monster! A monster is coming!!"

"Be careful! Don't let it escape!!"

"Use fire against it... Ahhhhh!"

The lady ferociously bit down on the person obstructing her, advancing a couple of steps.

A peculiar, viscous "net" descended upon her from above. Although it seemed frail, it proved impossible to tear apart.

The monster roared twice, and Aunt Li drew her bow, her hairpin arrow shooting steadfastly into the monster's body.

Having garnered the attention of so many, the monster violently fell backward, submerging once again into the lake before swaying its immense form and heading into the distance.

Zhong Dao'an merely glanced at the lake before withdrawing his gaze.

At the shore, the relatives of the two or three individuals who had just perished were weeping bitterly, burying their bodies nearby before embarking once again on their mountain-moving journey.

But soon, the second wave of attacks commenced anew.

This time was different from the first; the moment the city lord and the celestial master took action, a gaping hole was torn at the lakeside.

"This is rebellion!" the city lord bellowed furiously.

He never anticipated that these lowly citizens, who were supposed to be exploited to the bone marrow, would dare to defy him!

Were they courting death?!

But almost instantly, from the section where the shadow had been extinguished, countless torches surged forward, the background NPCs, who he and the players had never taken seriously, filled the gaps in the defense line.

Innumerable voices echoed from all directions, akin to earth-shattering thunderclaps.

"It's them! Don't let them escape!!"

"Hold them back!! Hold them back!!!"

"Kill them!!!!"

The city lord couldn't help but take a step back, extending his hand in fury.

His arm violently split open, unveiling numerous twisted children's arms sprouting outwards.

"Die!!!" the city lord roared.

The next moment, that sticky net appeared again.

As the net draped over him, the city lord felt as if he had suddenly plunged into a quagmire. The force surrounding him in this net wasn't strong, but it was dense, imparting a relentless feeling of stickiness.

It was evident that the city lord's movements had slowed down. The celestial master beside him furrowed his brows, about to make a move, when he saw a figure rushing out from the city from afar.

Due to the crowd, everyone was transporting rocks and blocks of soil, the previously open suburbs were now packed with people. Despite the orderly arrangements under Zhong Dao'an's coordination, there was definitely no spacious path allowing Xie Fangcheng to charge forward without restraint.

——It didn't matter.

Duan Qingqing watched, eyes wide, as he leaped vigorously amidst the crowd like Super Mario, springing two meters high, practically sprinting a distance in the air before landing, then leaping up and falling down again...

Duan Qingqing hurriedly grabbed the raging city lord.

"Let's go!"

The city lord also noticed the Super Mario figure, without a word, he and the celestial master submerged back into the lake together.

Despite the City Lord and the Heavenly Master taking away a dozen lives in their brief appearance, a spirited roar erupted from the shoreline.

"We've held them back! We can do it!"

We can do it!

We can avenge!

Soon, the river formed by points of light began to surge once again.

Upon reaching the lakeside, Xie Fangcheng took a stance at the very edge of the lake with a stick in hand, resembling a goalkeeper ready for action.

The reluctant City Lord and Heavenly Master lurking in the lake watched for a while before finally departing.

"How did it go?" Xie Fangcheng asked.

Zhong Dao'an shook his head, "Once the thread entered the water, it couldn't keep up anymore."

His skill, "Thousand Li Red Thread", could track, but once in the water, the City Lord and Heavenly Master accelerated, making the thread unable to catch up.

"However, I've found another clue," Zhong Dao'an stated.

"Oh? What is it?"

Zhong Dao'an looked towards the lakeside.

The people who had just died were buried at the shore, forming several small mounds of graves.

One could imagine, once the entire lake is filled, these graves would serve as milestones, declaring the resistance of the background NPCs.

The City Lord and Heavenly Master killed dozens during their second onslaught, with the explicit intention of killing.

But the first time, the lady seemed more intent on drawing the attention of the surrounding people than on killing.

"The lady was drawing our attention, I suspect, to let the resentful infant take the child back into the lake. She cares so much for this child, it seems... the City Lord and Heavenly Master deceived her," Zhong Dao'an theorized.

"Ah..." Xie Fangcheng nodded in understanding.

Zhong Dao'an elaborated, "I mean, the unborn fetus you encountered in the water is probably the lady's child. However, the Heavenly Master and the City Lord deceived her with some method, making her believe she is protecting her own child. So, normal players might still have a chance of survival if they are lucky."

Realization dawned on Xie Fangcheng, "Oh."

Zhong Dao'an paused before continuing, "What I'm trying to say is, that fetus probably represents a cheat code that this instance offers to the players. If I'm not mistaken, this cheat code is provided by the Book of Life and Death."

"Huh?"

"The game creators wouldn't have so much free time to also provide a cheat for instances with high mortality rates. I suspect this cheat is offered by the Book of Life and Death. It has tried its best. But Manager Xie, if possible, you might want to inform it."

"What?"

"Give me something useful." Zhong Dao'an said, his gaze sweeping over the boundless lake, his expression tinged with a hint of disbelief. "It probably thinks that if players can communicate with this newly formed fetus, they can use it to awaken the lady, making her realize she has been tricked, hence swaying her to join the players' side. But did it ever consider, how would a regular player even encounter this fetus? You guys saw it in the underground of the City Lord's Mansion, can ordinary people even get in there? Even if they do, can they make it out alive?"

Xie Fangcheng scratched his nose awkwardly.

This book really is so flawed that even a human like Zhong Dao'an could spot it.

But this young man is truly amazing, capable of noticing even this.

"Ahem, I'll discuss it with it next time."

"Alright."

Xie Fangcheng hesitated again, "However... how about after this instance ends, I try to arrange a meeting for you with it?"

Having said that, Xie Fangcheng shook his head, "No, forget I mentioned it."

"Why?"

"It wouldn't be fair to you, you have already helped us a lot."

Zhong Dao'an just silently watched him, "Manager Xie, I think you have misunderstood."

"What?"

"I'm not helping you guys, I'm helping myself," he said with a smile. "I know you are a kind-hearted person, but I also know that not everyone in the underworld is as compassionate. You don't consider us 'players' as illegal entrants, but others might not see it the same way. Clearly, no matter how sugar-coated, the true purpose of this game is to resurrect individuals who shouldn't have been resurrected. You respect the players' desperate struggles, but I'm unsure if these efforts have already violated some rules in the eyes of other enforcers."

"I'm seeking your understanding and support as a compassionate underworld official, striving to win it over for myself, as a human being. You might not mind these matters, indifferent to the players' opinions, or whether you have received assistance from humans."

"But Manager Xie, while you might not care, I, as a human, do. After all, I cannot wait until the day you grow tired of witnessing humanity's ugly side, and then tell you that not everyone is like that, at least I myself am decent. If I don't want to be represented by others, then I should make a stand from the beginning. That way, when the time comes for me to seek your assistance, it wouldn't seem unreasonable or pathetic."

The flickering firelight illuminated his face as Zhong Dao'an softly stated, "Manager Xie, this is my ultimate goal."

Xie Fangcheng was stunned for a moment before patting his shoulder, "I don't understand."

Zhong Dao'an continued to stare directly at him.

Xie Fangcheng continued, "Write the report yourself when you return."

After speaking, Xie Fangcheng caught sight from the corner of his eye of a frail elderly person about to fall, and without a word, he rushed over to help.

Zhong Dao'an lowered his eyelids, adjusting his glasses slightly.

.

Under Zhong Dao'an's coordination, an endless stream of individuals dressed in plain white shrouds were busy moving mountains during both day and night.

A day passed, and the lakeside advanced a bit further, with only a slight reduction in the height of the mountain to the east of the city.

The City Lord and Heavenly Master in the lake also grasped what they were trying to do.

"This is utterly foolish."

The City Lord sneered.

This vast lake, almost endless at sight, was larger than Fulai City. Did these foolish individuals really believe they could fill in such a colossal body of water?

What a pipe dream!

Duan Qingqing couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling in her heart.

She glanced back; indeed, the lake stretched beyond her vision, yet she couldn't shake the sensation that something seemed amiss.

No matter, these people wouldn't stay here for long.

Once they departed, she and the City Lord would regain control over the entire Fulai City. At present, the efforts of these people were nothing but futile exertions.

The next day, the lakeshore shifted forward once again.

Unable to restrain himself, the City Lord surfaced and consumed a few individuals, nearly getting caught before hastily retreating back.

He dismissed them with disdain.

“Surely these foreigners don't actually think they can force us out like this, do they?”

On the third day, as the evening approached, the first stone appeared on the altar at the bottom of the lake.

The City Lord remained silent, casting a gloomy gaze upon the lake's surface, his thoughts obscured.

On the fourth day, under the cover of night, the City Lord attempted to sneak away from the farthest edge but was quickly forced to retreat back to the lake's depths under the illumination of torches, clutching his arm.

This time, his expression was particularly ghastly.

“Damn it! Lowly peasants! A bunch of lowly peasants!!”

The one who harmed him wasn't the fearsome foreigner wielding a stick, but the first person who spotted him.

It was a middle-aged woman in her fifties, a type he would have found too tedious to consume in the past.

However, upon seeing him, the woman seemed possessed, igniting herself before charging at him like a ball of fire.

“Return my daughter's life—”

Her eyes were filled with a resentful madness that sent a chill down the City Lord's spine, causing him to panic momentarily. In that brief hesitation, flames scorched his shoulder.

Despite his potent healing abilities, upon returning to the lake's bottom, the City Lord found himself instinctively rubbing his shoulder, the sensation of the burn lingering.

The fifth day.

The Heaven Master realized that the City Lord was staring at the lake surface, seemingly contemplating surfacing as he had done before - back when people feared him, and the common citizens of Fulai City would cower like quails, not daring to utter a word in his presence.

But not anymore...

From a distance, the City Lord peeked out above the surface of the lake, only for the first person who spotted him to hurl a stone at him promptly.

“There! The beast is there!!!”

The City Lord retreated underwater immediately.

He wondered... how did it come to this?

When he first became the City Lord, it seemed he had... aspirations of some kind.

He wished to be a revered leader, commanding respect and affection from his people.

But at some point, he lost sight of those aspirations... perhaps it started with the acceptance of the first bribe or the indulgence with his first concubine.

It wasn't that he couldn't turn back after taking that first step, but the thought never crossed his mind.

Wealth and luxury, a beautiful woman by his side, why would he possibly wish to turn back?

As time went on, those indulgences were no longer satisfying; then Duan Qingqing entered his life.

The City Lord shifted his gaze onto Duan Qingqing, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

Yes, that's it!

He could blame it all on this woman!

It was all her fault! She was the one who tempted him!

Who could resist the allure of eternal life?

He couldn't possibly be blamed for this!

It was all this woman’s doing!

In a fit of rage, the City Lord reached out and seized Duan Qingqing by the throat.

Duan Qingqing had never anticipated that her intimate partner would suddenly attempt to kill her, and she struggled violently.

“What are you doing?!”

“It's all because of you, femme fatale! How could I have come to this point without you? It’s you who have brought me to this state! I’ll kill you—”

The mud at the bottom of the lake roiled for a good while before finally settling.

Duan Qingqing, who had always perceived herself as the protagonist, lay in the mud, her eyes wide open in death, refusing to close.

She couldn't comprehend, hadn't she been following the script of a favored romance found in funeral parlors?

Why...

Perhaps, from the very beginning, she had been mistaken...

Over there, the City Lord, notorious for abandoning his wife and child and betraying those who were kind to him, opened his mouth and devoured her in one gulp, feeling a surge of renewed power within himself.

This woman was indeed naïve, not having kept anything hidden up her sleeve.

Beside him, the "Lady" held the child close, retreating two steps backward with a cautious demeanor.

Never mind.

The City Lord averted his gaze.

Now, all he needed to do was to resurface, offer a tearful apology, and conveniently pin all the blame on that woman.

Many saints and sages have employed this tactic before; he was merely following in their footsteps.

The City Lord adjusted his garments.

Just as he emerged from the water this time, a massive fishing net was cast down upon him.

"He's here!!"

Before he could react, a colossal fireball hurtled towards him.

Nie Shuangshuang.

Unfortunately for her, she was resting when the City Lord had surfaced earlier and missed him.

This time, she happened to be nearby. Following her fireball attack, the City Lord panicked and tried to dive back into the water.

Jie Fangcheng couldn't catch him given his speed, but Nie Shuangshuang could.

She resembled a fiery red fish, releasing a series of flame roses that blossomed in the water.

“Jie, hurry!!”

Jie Fangcheng dove into the water like a torpedo, and onlookers only saw a frenzy of waves before he dragged the City Lord to the shore with a powerful swing of his staff.

The City Lord, now half-dead, scrambled to his feet in an attempt to flee, but was immediately surrounded by a crowd seething with resentment.

“Kill him! Kill him!!”

Stones, mourning sticks, baskets... rained down upon him in a fury.

Never in his wildest dreams did the City Lord anticipate that his end would come at the hands of the "lowly commoners" he looked down upon.

"The celestial master is also dead," Nie Shuangshuang wiped the water off her face, "likely strangled by this City Lord."

"We're still one person short."

Zhang Daoan gazed towards the lake.

At the bottom of the lake, the lady cradled her child in her arms. Intent on swimming outward, she suddenly halted after covering only a few meters.

Although bereft of intellect, she could still perceive imminent danger before her.

Anxiously, she circled the invisible barrier twice before turning her gaze towards the surface of the lake.

The lady made a decision.

Soon, in the dead of night, another person was attacked.

"It's a monster!!!"

The creature dashed frantically towards the crowd.

Unlike humans, she lacked the capacity for thought. Her sole idea was... perhaps if she ran a little further, her child might have a chance to survive?

Before meeting her end, the lady cast a final glance at the lake, closing her eyes reluctantly.

Silence enveloped the lakeside.

At last, the first cries of lamentation resounded.

"My daughter—your mother has avenged you!"