“Senior Sister…” Luo Tangtang looked at Yun Shayi. The other’s eyes held some inexplicable emotion, something she couldn’t ask about. The scar was like aged wine; torn open, the spreading bitterness and despair were something neither of them could bear.
“Let’s go.” After standing still for a while, Yun Shayi led Luo Tangtang forward to continue their journey.
Soul Ruin Town was very remote, located in a small plain surrounded by mountains. The scenery was uniquely beautiful, and spiritual energy was rich. Although it was called a small town, it was a place of outstanding individuals, not lacking those with exceptional talent.
However, this was also one reason the town had been continuously contested by the cultivation and demonic paths for thousands of years.
Yun Shayi’s sword was lost somewhere; it wasn’t bonded to her, and having fallen from mid-air at the time, it was difficult to find.
However, Luo Tangtang looked at Yun Shayi’s somewhat unfocused eyes. Even if the sword hadn’t been lost, Yun Shayi likely wouldn’t have traveled by sword anyway.
Just like that, they walked for about half a day before finding a place with signs of life. Only then did a small town appear before their eyes.
How strange! Luo Tangtang watched the people walking by the road. Their steps were weak, their faces pale, and faint black mist lingered above the crowns of their heads—a very ominous feeling. What’s more, each person wore a black ribbon tied to their hand.
And it wasn’t just one person; most of the people Luo Tangtang saw walking by were like this.
Furthermore, when they saw Luo Tangtang and Yun Shayi, they looked away nervously, very flustered. After a quick glance, they left with expressions of fear.
“Elder, could I ask you something?” Luo Tangtang casually pulled someone from the roadside, wanting to inquire about the situation.
“Ah! Ah!” Seeing Luo Tangtang, the elder first cried out in surprise, then reacted violently, shaking off Luo Tangtang’s hand. He stumbled back several steps, muttering, “Don’t touch me, I don’t know anything.”
Then, his gaze seemed to fall on something elsewhere, and his face inexplicably turned red again, as if somewhat embarrassed and annoyed. He turned and ran away.
What? Why are they all acting like they’ve seen ghosts when they see us? Luo Tangtang’s hand, which she had extended to help the elder, paused in mid-air before she silently withdrew it.
“Senior Sister, do you know what’s going on here?”
After finding a few more people and getting the same result, Luo Tangtang finally couldn’t help but ask Yun Shayi.
Yun Shayi’s eyes moved slightly. Her hand gently touched the nape of Luo Tangtang’s neck. The cold touch made Luo Tangtang shiver slightly.
“It’s nothing.” Her fingers traced over, covering some marks. Yun Shayi’s eyes darkened. Her already extremely suppressed mood grew heavier.
“Oh.” Luo Tangtang nodded suspiciously, growing more and more puzzled inside.
[System, can you give me some information?] Luo Tangtang could only swallow her pride and ask the system.
[Actually, I don’t know either. The Main God didn’t give me the script this time.] The system’s voice also carried a hint of helplessness.
[No script? Why didn’t the Main God give you one? Even before, there were always hints.] Luo Tangtang’s eyes narrowed in confusion. A chill spread within her.
Hearing this, the system shook its head and said, [This time is different from before, Tangtang. You should have known from the start.]
[Everything I have was given by the Main God. This time, it has shut down many of my permissions, including part of the world-building and information for this mission. I can’t help you either.]
Luo Tangtang’s heart sank.
Yun Shayi, walking ahead, stopped at that moment. Luo Tangtang realized it late and almost bumped into her.
“This is where I used to live.” Before Luo Tangtang could speak, Yun Shayi spoke first. Her voice was a little hoarse, and her eyes seemed to hold memories before suddenly turning somewhat pale.
Luo Tangtang quickly reached out and hugged Yun Shayi, burying her face deeply against Yun Shayi’s neck, rubbing against her as if to comfort her.
What was called a dwelling before them was more like an abandoned, dilapidated temple. A worn-out lock hung on the peeling red door. Yun Shayi silently took out a bundle from her storage ring, then pulled out a key from inside.
With a click, the tightly shut door was pushed open, and a cloud of dust billowed out to greet them.
The space inside wasn’t large and was even more dilapidated. Several spiders crawled on the eaves and corners, and a thick layer of dust covered the ground.
Furthermore, at the very back of the room stood a stone statue. It seemed to be a woman, but the era was too distant, and the statue’s face had been eroded, its original appearance unclear. However, from the faint features, Luo Tangtang somehow felt a hint of familiarity.
“This is the place where I lived for seven years.”
In the silence, Yun Shayi said.
“It’s very rundown, isn’t it?”
“No,” Luo Tangtang shook her head.
“We’re staying here tonight?” she asked.
“Okay.” Yun Shayi’s eyes were fixed on Luo Tangtang. After a long while, she said.
And so, Luo Tangtang began to clean the room.
Having been uninhabited for a long time, it needed airing out. After sweeping for a while, the dust piled up into a small hill. Before long, Luo Tangtang was completely covered in grime.
She didn’t mind. This was the place Yun Shayi had lived for seven years; it seemed every corner held a trace of her.
By the time everything was done, it was already late at night. Luo Tangtang was very thankful she had the habit of keeping blankets in her storage ring.
Since there was only one bed in the room, Luo Tangtang slept together with Yun Shayi.
The dim lamplight shone in the dark room, casting a shadow on the side of Yun Shayi’s face. She lowered her eyes, quietly watching Luo Tangtang without blinking.
Even someone as oblivious as Luo Tangtang could sense that Yun Shayi had been constantly staring at her lately, her eyes always carrying sadness.
Thinking of this, Luo Tangtang felt a pang of pain in her heart.
She buried her face in Yun Shayi’s embrace, hugging her waist tightly as she whispered, “What happened? Can you tell me about it?”
Yun Shayi’s body trembled slightly, and the hand holding Luo Tangtang tightened.
After a long while, she said in a low voice, “I was already seven when my Master took me back.”
“Before I was seven, I always lived here, with a mute old woman.”
“Although Soul Ruin Town was mixed, it was quite peaceful.”
“But one day, everything changed.”
Yun Shayi raised her eyes, which were filled with darkness.
She said quietly, “Many people came that day, looking for something. The townspeople hadn’t seen it, so they were thrown into a huge blood pool.”
“Everyone. Nothing remained of their bodies.”
What? Luo Tangtang was stunned.
The air around them turned cold, and a sense of horror spread.
She asked with difficulty, “What about the people here now?”
Yun Shayi paused. A hint of pity seemed to flash in her eyes. “Afflicted,” she said.
“If I’m not mistaken, those people seem to be sacrificing something, and they need a large amount of flesh and blood.”
“These people are trapped here, simply being used as nourishment.”
Hearing this, Luo Tangtang’s heart went cold.
“So the sect sent us here to resolve this matter?” Luo Tangtang suddenly asked. It was impossible for the sect not to know about such a huge matter.
But if they knew, why didn’t they save these people? Why didn’t they deal with this matter sooner? Instead, they waited all these years, giving those people a chance.
Luo Tangtang really didn’t understand. She couldn’t figure out what the sect was thinking.
“Those people have been afflicted with a Gu spell. If they leave this place, they will die immediately.”
Yun Shayi lowered her eyes again.
She suddenly remembered that when she first arrived at Misty Peak, she was single-minded about revenge. So, her Master had locked her in the ice lake, keeping her there for three full years.
She finally got a chance. Her Master had gone to the Northernmost Reaches and was likely unable to get away. This was her only opportunity.
A shadow fell, and something warm covered Yun Shayi’s lips.
“I will be with Senior Sister, forever.” Luo Tangtang whispered. This was the only thing she could do.
“Mm.” Something flickered quickly in Yun Shayi’s eyes as she responded vaguely.
On the tall, towering stone statue, the woman’s eyes gleamed with a strange light.
Her thoughts drifted away. Luo Tangtang was pulled into a strange space, completely white all around, without any color.
Where is this? Luo Tangtang looked at the unfamiliar place before her, suddenly becoming panicked.
Where’s Senior Sister? Why is she gone? How did I get here?
[System, are you there?] In her panic, Luo Tangtang called out to the system.
But the only response was silence.
No one was there.
“See, you can’t water it too much, it’ll drown.”
Suddenly, a somewhat familiar female voice came through.
The scene before her suddenly shifted. Almost instantly, a wild, blooming mountain landscape appeared before her eyes.
“Fusang Valley?” Luo Tangtang murmured unconsciously. How did I end up in this place again?
There was Yun Shayi, still in her red clothes, a shallow smile on her face. She held a small dish of pastries and offered them to the woman beside her.
“Have some first, or you’ll be complaining about being hungry again later when we go out.”
“What are you talking about? Last time, you ate just as much as I did, if not more!” The “Luo Tangtang” figure next to her said, sounding a little indignant.
“Alright, alright, my little sweetheart.” Yun Shayi squinted her eyes.
“We’re going to find our own place this time. We absolutely must not let those few boys know.”
The “Luo Tangtang” figure said again, “They cling to you all day, it’s so annoying.”
Hearing this, Yun Shayi smiled. “There’s nothing I can do, you see. Little Mu is someone I brought back, so naturally he’s close to me.”
“Heh.” The woman sneered, “But there’s another one.”
“Well…” Yun Shayi’s face also looked a little awkward. “Aren’t we going to find a private spot right now?”
“Right, it’s best to choose a secluded place, surrounded by mountains, so they can’t find us at all.”
“Okay.” Yun Shayi carefully offered a placating smile.
It’s them again. Luo Tangtang stared blankly at the scene before her.
What is going on? Her mind was a blur, and a wave of dizziness washed over her.
The scene before her changed again.
This time it was Soul Ruin Town.
However, the Soul Ruin Town here was completely different from the current one.
The small town seemed to have contracted a contagious disease, and many people had died.
Yun Shayi and the “Luo Tangtang” figure stayed here to treat the townspeople.
Luo Tangtang watched as they healed the villagers and settled here. In gratitude, the villagers built a temple for them.
“No, no, it’s alright. I’m just a cultivator. If we’re talking about deities, then it should be Tangtang.”
Luo Tangtang heard Yun Shayi say this.
And so, the stone statue in the temple had her face…