90: Chapter 90 Lustful Demon

"You demonic monk!"

Qiu Chuanxing roared from his throat. As his long sword left its sheath, a cold light flashed, thrusting straight at the Flowery Monk's heart.

Just as he moved, hum—an invisible wall slammed into his chest. Qiu Chuanxing was sent flying as if hit by a battering ram, his back smashing hard against the wooden pillar of the temple.

The wood groaned under the weight. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, which splattered onto the bluestone, blooming like a demonic red flower.

"Useless," the Flowery Monk said, stroking his bald head. His mouth stretched to his ears, revealing a row of yellow teeth. He stepped on Qiu Chuanxing's sword and ground it down. "This is my Five Emotions and Six Desires Array. As long as you still have a shred of humanity in your hearts, you will never break it. The more you struggle, the deeper you sink."

He turned and walked to The Old Woman, patting her hunched shoulder.

"Old hag, well done. Once this is finished, I will reward you with the soul of an eighteen-year-old lad so you can have fun every night."

The wrinkles on The Old Woman's face instantly smoothed out, like a blooming chrysanthemum. She bowed and scraped, drool almost dripping from her mouth. "Thank you, King! Thank you for your grace, King!"

The Flowery Monk walked over to the middle-aged woman, his gaze sweeping over her twisted face.

The Flowery Monk laughed heartily and patted the Man in Long Robe on the shoulder.

"You are the most sensible one. Once I have drained their Qi, I will impart all their martial arts to you. At that time, you will be the Second King of this Land of Ghost Erosion."

The Man in Long Robe bowed deeply, his forehead almost touching the ground. "This subordinate swears loyalty to the King until death!"

Finally, he walked over to A-He.

The young man kept his head down, his hair covering his eyes.

The smile on the Flowery Monk's face vanished instantly, and he kicked A-He in the stomach. A-He let out a muffled groan and curled up on the ground.

"Don't think you're special just because you've made a contribution," the Flowery Monk spat. "When this is over, you are still just a dog of mine. Do you remember?"

A-He said nothing.

The Flowery Monk looked at him with disgust, turned, and walked over to the Fat Ghost.

The Fat Ghost was huddled in the corner, shivering all over.

"Useless trash!" The Flowery Monk kicked him over. "If it weren't for the fact that your fat is still somewhat useful, I would have chewed you up and swallowed you long ago!"

The Fat Ghost wailed like a beaten pig. He didn't dare to lift his head, his eyes filled with fear.

Just then, Wu Xi began to chant.

The Fat Ghost's eyes widened, his pupils shrinking to the size of pinpricks.

"No—!"

A scream that didn't sound human squeezed out of the Fat Ghost's throat.

His skin began to crack, and dark green sap gushed out from the fissures, carrying a pungent, fishy stench. His body expanded at a speed visible to the naked eye, like an inflated balloon. His skin was stretched so thin it became transparent, and one could see the wriggling blood vessels beneath.

Bang!

The loud noise shook the entire temple.

The Fat Ghost's body exploded.

Countless thick Tentacles burst out from his chest cavity, waving crazily in the air. These Tentacles were even more disgusting than those of King Xianlian, covered in suckers and barbs, each one as thick as a water bucket.

The Flowery Monk's face instantly drained of color. He stumbled back a step, pointing at Wu Xi, his voice trembling. "You... what exactly are you?!"

Wu Xi turned his head. "The one who will kill you."

Before the words faded, Wu Xi had already vanished from his spot.

The Flowery Monk roared and raised his Zen staff, smashing it in front of him. The staff carried a whistling wind, and the air crackled with the impact.

But he hit nothing. A cold aura appeared behind him.

Ssh—the sound of skin being sliced.

The Flowery Monk's left arm was severed at the shoulder, falling to the ground and still twitching.

Fresh blood gushed out like a fountain.

"Ah—!"

The Flowery Monk let out a heart-wrenching scream, clutching his wound and retreating repeatedly.

The light of the Five Emotions and Six Desires Array dimmed instantly.

Niu Fei was the first to come to his senses. He picked up the Xuanhua Axe on the ground, the axe dragging across the floor with a harsh sound.

"Old fraud!"

He roared and charged at The Old Woman. The Old Woman was terrified and turned to run. Her small feet moved fast, but how could she outrun Niu Fei?

The Xuanhua Axe was raised high and brought down.

Splat, The Old Woman's body was split in two from the top of her head. Her internal organs spilled all over the ground, and the gray light dissipated from her body, turning into a wisp of blue smoke.

Qiu Chuanxing wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and picked up his long sword.

His gaze fell on the Man in Long Robe.

"Earlier you said I was colluding with demons, what is the punishment for that?"

The Man in Long Robe's face turned deathly pale, and he turned to run, but Qiu Chuanxing's sword was faster.

The long sword pierced through his back, emerging from his chest.

The black light dissipated. Ling Muxue flexed her wrists, her joints popping. A cold sneer curled the corner of her lips as she walked step by step toward the middle-aged woman lying paralyzed on the ground.

"Earlier you said you wanted to scar my face?"

The middle-aged woman was so scared she wet her pants, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing incessantly until her forehead bled.

"I was wrong! I was wrong! Spare me, Miss! I will never dare to do it again!"

"Too late." Ling Muxue moved her fingers, and a blood-red thread as thin as a hair slashed across.

The middle-aged woman's head rolled to the ground, her eyes still wide open. The yellow light dissipated.

Now, only A-He remained.

He stood in place, head bowed.

Red light flickered on his body, but it was already as weak as a candle in the wind.

Jiang Jiye walked up to him, looking at his thin back, feeling as if a stone were blocking her heart.

"A-He..."

A-He lifted his head.

The shyness and clarity in his eyes were gone, replaced only by endless pain and despair.

"I'm sorry," he said softly.

Just then, a sudden change occurred.

The Flowery Monk suddenly let out a beast-like roar and lunged at Jiang Jiye. In his remaining hand, he clutched a dagger shining with dark green light.

"Watch out!" Qiu Chuanxing shouted, wanting to rush over.

But it was too late; the tip of the dagger was aimed directly at Jiang Jiye's heart.

Everyone held their breath. A figure suddenly blocked the path in front of Jiang Jiye.

Jiang Yuehong grabbed the Flowery Monk's wrist. The Flowery Monk's wrist was twisted and broken, and the dagger fell to the ground.

Jiang Yuehong opened her mouth.

She bit down on the Flowery Monk's neck.

Fresh blood sprayed out, splattering her face.

The Flowery Monk let out a miserable scream, struggling desperately. He pounded on Jiang Yuehong's back with his remaining arm, hitting her until her bones rattled.

But Jiang Yuehong bit down tightly, a satisfied light flashing in her eyes, like a beast feeding.

After a full stick of incense had burned, the Flowery Monk's struggles grew weaker and weaker.

Finally, he stopped moving. Jiang Yuehong let go. She lifted her head, her face covered in blood. She licked her lips, revealing a satisfied smile.

Then, her body went limp, and she fainted.

"Yuehong!"

Jiang Jiye hurriedly ran over and held her. Jiang Yuehong's body was cold, and her breathing was weak.

Wu Xi walked over to the Flowery Monk's corpse and squatted down. He reached into the Flowery Monk's robes and fumbled for a while, pulling out a black bead.

The bead was ice-cold, carved with twisted patterns, and emitted a chilling aura.

"This is his Soul Pearl. Crush it, and he will suffer Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, never to be reincarnated."

"Don't... don't crush it..."

A weak voice rang out. It was A-He.

He walked to Wu Xi and knelt down with a thud.

"Please, don't crush it. I still have things to ask him." His forehead pressed against the cold bluestone, his shoulders trembling incessantly.

Wu Xi looked at him and remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

He pressed his fingers onto the Soul Pearl, and a black mist emerged from it, condensing into the shape of the Flowery Monk. He looked extremely weak, his eyes filled with fear.

"You... what do you want to do?"

A-He's eyes were bloodshot, as if they were about to bleed.

"I'm asking you," his voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible. "Was what King Zhengmu said true?"

The Flowery Monk was stunned for a moment.

Then, he suddenly began to laugh heartily.

He laughed so hard he doubled over, laughing until tears came out.

"Of course it was fake! You idiot! You actually believed it!"

A-He's body jolted violently.

"A year ago, King Zhengmu's ghost fog enveloped Xinghua Village, and all the villagers' souls were taken by him, leaving only you. Do you know why?" The Flowery Monk sneered. "Because you are the stupidest, the kindest, and the easiest to deceive. Only you could trick so many living people into coming here."

"He told you that as long as you tricked ten thousand people, he would return the souls of the whole village to you. You believed it. You stayed at the foot of the mountain every day, tricking those passing travelers. You said there were Treasure Troves in the mountains, immortals, and herbs that could cure all diseases."

"One year, a whole year, you tricked ten thousand and thirty-seven people." The Flowery Monk's voice was like a poisonous snake. "Some of those people were eaten by demons, some were refined into Medicinal Pills, and some were turned into Clones like you. Their parents, wives, and children were all waiting for them to return outside. But they will never be able to go back."

A-He's face turned as pale as paper.

"You completed the mission and went to find King Zhengmu. You thought he would actually keep his promise?" The Flowery Monk laughed even more smugly. "How could he spit out meat that was already in his mouth? You were just a tool of his. Once used up, naturally you should be thrown away."

"He gave you to me. He said the power of family affection and filial piety in you was the purest, perfect for refining into my Clone. It took me three months to turn you into what you are now. Do you think you are still you? You died long ago. You are just a dog of mine."

"No... that's not true..." A-He shook his head, tears streaming down. "You're lying to me... King Zhengmu wouldn't lie to me..."

"I'm lying to you?" The Flowery Monk sneered. "Why would I lie to you? You are of no use to me anymore. Let me tell you the truth: the souls of the entire village were eaten by King Zhengmu long ago. He loves eating such pure souls the most. Those old, weak, sick, and young people of Xinghua Village were all excellent supplements."

"Ah—!" A-He let out a heart-wrenching scream.

He lunged at the Flowery Monk's soul, but his hands passed right through.

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you!" He waved his arms frantically, but couldn't touch anything.

The Flowery Monk laughed heartily: "You can't kill me. Only he can kill me." He pointed at Wu Xi.

A-He turned his head. He looked at Wu Xi, his eyes filled with despair and pleading.

"Brother Wu... please... kill him... kill this demon..."

Wu Xi nodded and applied a slight force with his fingers.

Crack, the Soul Pearl shattered.

The Flowery Monk's soul let out a miserable scream, then turned into black smoke and dissipated into the air.

Silence returned to the temple, leaving only A-He's crying.

He knelt on the ground, crying his heart out.

"It was me who harmed them... I harmed the whole village... I am a sinner... I deserve to die..."

"A-He, don't be like this, this is not your fault. It was King Zhengmu who tricked you."

"No, it is my fault." A-He shook his head, tears mixed with blood flowing down. "If I hadn't been so stupid, if I hadn't believed his words, those people wouldn't have died. It was all my fault..."

He lifted his head and looked at everyone.

"I'm sorry. I tricked you all. I almost got you killed."

"It's okay." Qiu Chuanxing sighed. "We know you were also a victim."

"A victim?" A-He gave a bitter smile. "I am not a victim. I was an accomplice. I helped that demon kill over ten thousand people. I deserve to die ten thousand deaths."

He stood up and bowed deeply to everyone.

"Thank you. Thank you for killing that demonic monk and freeing me from his control. And thank you for not killing me."

His body began to turn transparent.

"A-He! What's wrong with you?" Jiang Jiye exclaimed.

"I was a dead person to begin with." A-He smiled, a hint of relief in his smile. "To have the chance to tell the truth, I am already very satisfied."

"Before I go, I have one thing to tell you." His expression became serious. "The last stage of this Land of Ghost Erosion is Lengzheng Mansion. Inside lives the most powerful ghost: King Zhengmu, and his subordinates, the Flattering Ghost and the Impudent Ghost."

"King Zhengmu is the king of the Domain of Wrongful Death and the master of this place. He is a thousand-year-old tiger demon who has already cultivated a Wicked Pill. You must have at least the strength of the Wicked Pill Realm to contend with him."

"The Flattering Ghost is best at sweet talk and can talk a dead person back to life. He will make up all kinds of lies to make you kill each other. Remember, never believe a single word he says."

"The Impudent Ghost is best at pestering. Once he latches onto you, it is very hard to get rid of him. He will harass you incessantly until you have a mental breakdown."

"You must be careful. Lengzheng Mansion is very dangerous. If you don't feel confident, leave this place immediately."

A-He's body became more and more transparent, almost invisible.

"Thank you all, really, thank you."

He bowed to everyone again. Then, he turned into countless golden specks of light and dissipated in the sunlight.

The temple was silent.

After a long time, Jiang Jiye wiped her tears and said softly: "He is so pitiful."

"Yes." Qiu Chuanxing sighed. "It was all caused by that beast, King Zhengmu."

Ling Muxue hugged her arms and leaned against a pillar. She looked at where A-He had dissipated, her eyes complex: "In this world, the most terrifying thing is never ghosts."

Niu Fei scratched his head and said in a muffled voice: "Then what do we do now? Are we really going to Lengzheng Mansion? That King Zhengmu sounds very powerful."

Everyone looked at Wu Xi, and he spoke slowly.

"Use your Magical Artifact to contact the Third Young Master and discuss the next step of the plan."

"I'll go outside and take a look, you all wait for my return."