The thought had barely formed in my mind when Zi Ming's shimmering figure materialized before me. I saw him holding a human heart, flaunting it like a trophy.
I stared back impassively. Someone dying didn't concern me. What concerned me was the methods they would use to kill these people, or rather, what method they would ultimately use for me.
"Brother Mu Lin, aren't you going to check... Huh?" Dong Qingzi rushed to my side, trying to pull me towards the commotion, but with her keen spiritual senses, she couldn't miss Zi Ming.
Seeing someone approach, Zi Ming grinned and began eating the heart in his hand. I could clearly see the wounds I had inflicted on him slowly healing.
"This... this is too much..." Dong Qingzi stammered, her face pale.
"The lifeblood from a human heart is the best medicine for us," Zi Ming said with a smile before vanishing.
Dong Qingzi, unable to stomach it, ran to the side and vomited.
After she finished, she went to fetch Zhao Feiyu. He was still fuming, and I had no desire to talk to him just yet. But Zhao Feiyu dragged me over to the dead man's body, pointed angrily at the corpse, and demanded, "Are you hiding something from us! If you keep quiet, how are we supposed to know what we're up against! And what Qingzi just said, about a ghost eating Xiao Chen's heart right in front of you! Care to explain that! Why didn't you do anything?"
"Would acting have changed anything just now?" I didn't want to hear more from Zhao Feiyu. I shook off his hand and went to find my backpack. Then, turning to the others, I said, "If you don't want to die, you'd better pick up the pace."
With that, I walked away without looking back. But I could hear Zhao Feiyu's curses and Kong Yi's attempts to mediate.
I looked up at the mountain path ahead, convinced Mu Rongxing wouldn't let us proceed easily. I felt he was watching us from somewhere...
An hour later, another person had their heart ripped out. I pretended nothing was wrong, though this time it wasn't Zi Ming, but another ghost I didn't recognize. This one, however, wasn't so lucky.
The moment it appeared, Zhao Feiyu lunged with his horsetail whisk, engaging it in a fierce struggle. After a few exchanges, the ghost seemed hell-bent on killing its target before leaving, a behavior I found puzzling.
Kong Yi pulled me aside and asked in a low voice, "What's really going on?"
I shook my head, refusing to speak. Kong Yi grew anxious. Seeing his worried face, I finally said, "Trust me. I will keep the four of us alive."
"What about the others?!" Kong Yi's emotions were clearly getting the better of him.
"They are just pawns Mu Rongxing is using to test our limits. From now on, no stopping. We keep moving, constantly. We must reach the village by tonight." I looked at Kong Yi, my expression equally serious.
Kong Yi seemed torn, unsure whether to believe me. After a long silence, he went to discuss something with Zhao Feiyu. I knew he had chosen to trust me, for now.
After the second death, we never stopped again, no matter who died or how gruesome the death. I didn't allow it. Along the way, Zhao Feiyu's expression grew darker, and Dong Qingzi clung to Kong Yi's side as if fearing she would be next.
When only ten of us remained, we finally reached the village.
The village was shrouded in layers of spectral energy. Seeing this, Zhao Feiyu urgently gathered available Taoist practitioners to enter first and use a formation to disperse the energy before the rest of us could go in. However, the formation required five people, and Zhao Feiyu could only find three other Taoists.
Kong Yi stepped forward, offering to help. Zhao Feiyu nodded and began selecting from the remaining people.
"I'll go," I said without elaboration, stepping forward. "I'm an Onmyōji; I know some Taoist methods. I won't hold you back."
"Better not," Zhao Feiyu snorted coldly.
He produced numerous red strings and tied them around our right wrists. I knew this was to protect our Yang energy. The five of us were connected by one string, with a copper coin between each person, serving as a ward against evil.
I took the last position. Zhao Feiyu was first, Kong Yi was third. Zhao Feiyu's intention was clear; he knew the three of us were capable, hoping to minimize casualties.
I left the mask containing Bai Ji with Dong Qingzi. I believed that while we were inside, Mu Rongxing wouldn't relent in his attacks. Bai Ji could also gather intelligence for me, to find out why Mu Rongxing needed so many hearts.
Zhao Feiyu, holding his whisk in one hand and connected by the red string with the other, led the way in. Upon entering the village, I could feel the presence of numerous vengeful spirits. They incessantly whispered of their suffering, and I could only frown and focus my mind.
We moved very slowly. I didn't know what Zhao Feiyu was doing at the front. When the Taoist in front of me stopped moving, I grew impatient.
"Why have we stopped?" My tone betrayed my irritation.
The Taoist was trembling slightly. He turned to me and said, "Brother Mu Lin... the string... the string is broken..."
Hearing this, I grabbed the Taoist's wrist. Sure enough, the red string connecting him to Kong Yi was severed.
It seemed something in the surroundings had set its sights on him and me.
I drew the Meteor Iron sword,警惕地scanning the area. Thick fog, condensed from spectral energy, limited visibility drastically. I could vaguely make out a dilapidated hut ahead. The Taoist whispered to me, "Should we go inside?"
I nodded, and we slowly made our way into the hut. After struggling to close the door, I saw the hut was empty. I found a spot and sat down. I had forced everyone to march relentlessly; even I felt exhausted. I checked my phone; it was already past midnight.
"What should I call you?" I asked the terrified Taoist, trying to distract him.
"Gao. Just call me Xiao Gao," he said, forcing a weak smile.
"Xiao Gao, get some rest. I'll wake you later. Set an alarm for one hour. Everyone needs to relax a bit." I offered him a slight smile.
Hearing this, Xiao Gao pulled his clothes tighter and curled up in a corner to sleep. I also felt drowsy and found a wall to lean against, holding the Meteor Iron sword in my arms as I drifted off.
In my hazy state, I sensed something moving nearby. I cautiously half-opened my eyes, perceiving a dark shadow flitting past.
There were no lights in the hut. Turning on a light now would just reveal our position. I wasn't that foolish. I quietly drew the Meteor Iron sword, pretending to still be asleep.
I could feel something gradually approaching me. My right hand tightened around the sword's hilt, waiting for the fish to take the bait.
When a pair of icy cold hands touched my skin, I instinctively frowned. But I still made no major movement. I continued waiting...
The hands slowly moved from my wrist towards my chest. A contemptuous smile touched my lips. It seemed the ghosts Mu Rongxing raised only knew how to dig out hearts. In that case, I'll take yours instead!
The moment his hand touched my chest, I swiftly drew the sword and slashed at his arm. But the ghost reacted quickly, retracting its hand sharply. For a moment, both sides were trying to gauge the other's next move.
I remained警惕, waiting for the next opportunity. Soon, I heard the sound of footsteps. I frowned. How could a ghost make footsteps? Was Xiao Gao awake?
"Xiao Gao?" I called out tentatively, but there was no answer. Only the continuing, chaotic footsteps replied.
眉头皱得更深,摸不清小屋内的情况.就在这时,我的手机闹钟响了.我疯狂地按下电源按钮,发现自己的位置完全暴露了!
"我不想死...你愿意为我而死吗?"突然,这句话在小屋里响起.
这声音,毫无疑问是小高的声音.我一听,就明白是怎么回事了.混乱的脚步声还在继续.我一动不动地站着,准备打开手机的手电筒.
脚步声越来越近.我猛地打开手电筒,朝背后挥去.只见小高一脸惊恐,手持断魂符对着我.
他曾经离我很近,足以杀死我,但在那一刻,他犹豫了.我想都没想,就将流星铁剑刺入了小高的胸口.就在这时,原本紧闭的小屋门突然打开了!
"幕林哥哥...为什么...?"小高眼中的光芒渐渐暗淡.我收回剑,随意擦去脸上的血迹.
无数的手电筒光束照射在我身上.只见赵飞宇,孔乙等人站在那里.他们亲眼目睹了我杀了小高.我无意解释.我只是默默收剑.
"游戏规则变了."子铭的声音突然在我脑海中响起. "主人说,你必须亲手杀死所有人."我没有回答,只是冷冷地看着他们.
"愿意解释一下这里发生了什么吗?"赵飞宇的双手紧握成拳,目光中充满了仇恨.
"他着魔了,神智混乱.他试图攻击我.我的行为是出于自卫,"我平静地说.
"幕林,你变化太大了...我现在怎么相信你?告诉我!萧尘等人的死都是你的错吗!你想做什么!幕林!给我一个解释!"赵飞宇已经不再听理了.他向我挥出一拳.
我敏捷地躲开,出鞘的剑砍在了赵飞宇的肩膀上.他失去平衡,重重地摔倒在地.我可以看到他试图站起来继续战斗.我再次拔出了流星铁剑,抵在了赵飞宇的脖子上.
"我给你们一个建议,如果你们想活命,就哭着爬回鬼塔吧.接下来的事情我不需要你们了."我的话里充满了威胁.
我冷哼一声,挤开人群,走了出去,只带着我的流星铁剑.