35 - Dungeon Growth Log

"This scythe is so sharp!" Xia Ge clicked her tongue, slicing through the tree just now felt like cutting through tofu—it was incredibly satisfying! System: "..." Is that really the main point here? However, the current situation didn't allow Xia Ge to be caught up in her thoughts. Several dark shadows swiftly avoided the falling tree trunk and continued to advance on her, relentless and determined! The demonic energy in the back mountain began to surge uneasily, and a chill wind swept by from behind! Gripping the scythe with both hands, Xia Ge pulled and extended it. With a crack, the handle transformed into three segments connected by chains. Holding the middle segment, she swung the end back over her shoulder. There was a resounding "clang" as it seemed to strike metal, the reverberation unmistakable. Xia Ge then curled up, clutching the uppermost segment of the scythe handle, and kicked back forcefully, using the momentum to spin 360 degrees in mid-air. The massive scythe blade followed her spin, slicing the shadow behind her from bottom to top—eliciting a heart-wrenching scream as the shadow was cut neatly in half. —No blood. Moonlight filtered through the dense forest of the back mountain, illuminating the young woman with green hair holding the three-segment scythe. Her eyes glinted coldly as she landed on the ground, the bisected shadow falling with a "thud" on either side of her. The other shadows seemed to be intimidated by her decisive action, retreating into the darkness without further moves. With two "clang" sounds, Xia Ge restored her three-segmented scythe to its original form. Not bothering to closely examine what she’d just cut, she took a casual step forward, only for her foot to land on something unexpectedly. Looking down, she found half of a mask beneath her foot. A ferocious half-mask of bronze, its eyes hollowed out, mouth opened wide into a horrifying, blood-red grin filled with sharp fangs. The cut on the mask was smooth, a mark of her handiwork from moments ago. Xia Ge’s movements paused. Demonic puppets? Were those before her demonic puppets? Only demonic puppets wore masks—to prevent others from recognizing their faces when they were alive. Intimidated as they might be, it was time—no, it was imperative—to leave this place immediately!!! But before Xia Ge could take another step. "Eee..." That eerie cry echoed once more. Xia Ge tightly gripped her scythe! System: "Host... I think you're really in trouble this time." Xia Ge: "You pessimistic wretch, can't you ever say something positive?" The next moment, several heart-wrenching roars followed by even larger puppets emerged, surrounding her. They moved so fast that Xia Ge couldn’t even see how they had appeared! "The back mountain has that many demonic puppets..." Xia Ge’s green eyes flashed slightly, activating her puppet detection ability. [Guardian (Demonic) Level: C Status: (Controlled) Description: Once normal puppets meant to guard a soul, they were corrupted when their target disappeared, resulting in demonic transformation.] C-level demonic puppets, the same level as those that attacked the village before, but she couldn't see their weapons— Wait! Controlled? These puppets are being controlled? By whom? Who's controlling them? "Eee..." As if to answer Xia Ge’s question, the strange sound echoed again. That sound? Is it that sound— The surrounding demonic puppets moved. Xia Ge gripped the scythe handle tightly, her dark pupils instantly turning deep purple. [Soul Capturing Technique]. To her surprise, the puppets didn't attack her. They merely stepped back slightly, creating a pathway. Xia Ge’s eyes flashed, she activated her Ghostly Movement skill, scythe in hand, preparing to escape. But the next moment, a demonic puppet suddenly appeared in front of her. Its grotesque mask had eye sockets burning with a ghostly blue flame, blocking her path in the blink of an eye! Xia Ge swung her scythe in a reverse grip! "Clang!" Sparks flew as Xia Ge widened her eyes in shock. The demonic puppet had blocked her scythe using just a single iron arm! [Puppet Detection]! [Guardian (Demonic) Level: A Status: Controlled] "Get out of my way!" Xia Ge glared at the soul fire in its eyes, her own eyes glowing a deeper purple, as she exerted all her strength. "I told you to—get out of my way!!" "Clang—slash—" Sparks burst! The arm that blocked her scythe was chopped off! The puppet's soul fire wavered, and the deep blue flames turned purple for an instant. With her black hair flying, Xia Ge activated her Ghostly Movement, hooking the puppet by its iron neck with her scythe and throwing it back to where it originally stood— "I command you to hold them off!!" "Boom!" Xia Ge took one last look at the A-level [Guardian] puppet with the severed arm that had fallen back into the circle of demonic puppets before preparing to make her escape. At that moment, a faint glimmer flickered beside the fallen Guardian. It caught the harsh moonlight yet retained a jade’s warm luster. Wait! Xia Ge’s eyes widened in realization, her hand reaching her waist to find it empty. —Ghost Dragon Jade! The puppets didn't pursue. She could escape now. —I can no longer take care of you. Xia Ge’s pupils contracted slightly. The next instant, the green-haired youth reappeared within the circle of demonic puppets. But before she could pick up the Ghost Dragon Jade and quickly leave, a soft clattering of hooves drew her attention, accompanied by a gentle "Eee" sound. What is this sound exactly? The surrounding puppets did not attack; instead, they retreated a step in unison. Something seemed to be approaching. Instinctively, Xia Ge glanced towards it. Just before her fingers touched the Ghost Dragon Jade, she saw what the puppets had made way for—a four-legged creature with a graceful stride, covered in ghostly blue plum blossoms, sauntering leisurely towards her. —A Lost Deer, unknown and unreturnable. The plum blossom deer was exceptionally beautiful, like a dream or an illusion, so mesmerizing that one couldn't look away. As if spellbound, Xia Ge stared and lost herself in its presence. "Eee..." The deer’s soft call filled the air. The plum blossom deer reached her side, nudging her face gently with its soft, furred cheek. In her daze, Xia Ge saw that the creature also had a pair of purple eyes. Beautiful, mesmerizing purple. Deeper, enchanting, its purple eyes seemed to hide a galaxy of stars. Even though it couldn't speak, Xia Ge felt as though she understood its intent. Demonic energy swirled around them. The System’s voice was urgent, "Host!! Host, you need to leave!! That's a Lost Deer!! Don’t look into its eyes—" Xia Ge faintly heard the System’s warning, yet her mind remained blank, incapable of thought. —A Lost Deer, unknown and unreturnable. A Lost Deer. …So it wasn’t a road, but a deer. —Follow me. “...Jade…” Xia Ge looked into those eyes, the purple in her own eyes dimming. She instinctively tugged at her hair, trying to struggle, “...Ghost…” “Eee.” The Lost Deer’s purple eyes twinkled like stars, “Eee—” —You don't need it anymore. —You had planned on abandoning it from the start. —Follow me, I’ll take you somewhere. Xia Ge stood up sluggishly, shoulders burdened by her scythe. Step by step, she followed the Lost Deer deeper into the back mountain. A stray branch caught hold of the green hair band on the young person’s head, pulling it askew. Without the hair band’s hold, ink-black hair cascaded down her shoulders. Under the fragmented moonlight, her profile, now with loose hair, took on a delicate, almost feminine grace. —Bones lay in sorrow, awaiting your return. = = Another abrupt awakening. Gu Peijiu had grown accustomed to these episodes. She massaged her temples and got up. With the peach blossoms long gone, two sprigs of soft fountain grass now decorated the white porcelain vase on her table. A cluster of round, red hawthorns lay around the base, their chubby forms endearing under the moonlight. Uncharacteristically, the table also bore a flask of peach blossom wine and a white porcelain wine cup. Walking to the table, Gu Peijiu poured herself a cup of wine. Her hand trembled as she poured, causing the wine to overflow. An inexplicable sense of unease suddenly seized her. Pausing slightly, she pushed aside the green curtain, letting a night breeze carry in an unusual scent, mingled with the fragrance of tuberose. Though faint, Gu Peijiu detected a whiff of demonic energy in the wind. This direction... Again, it's from the back mountain! Her eyes narrowed coldly. Setting down the wine cup, she donned her red and white robes, tucked her crimson camellia sash into her sleeve, and swiftly disappeared from sight. Demonic energy churned in the back mountain. Upon arrival, Gu Peijiu found the disciples meant to guard the back mountain sprawled on the ground, deep in unconscious slumber, not one of them awake. Indeed, something was wrong! Determined, the girl in red and white didn’t bother with the sleeping Sword Peak disciples and headed directly into the depths of the back mountain. This place was the burial ground of Lingxi Ancestor—in his era, puppet techniques were at their zenith— Now, the back mountain teemed with demonic puppets and ghostly creatures, no one entered without peril! Who could it be? With a flash, Gu Peijiu darted towards the densest concentration of demonic energy! Giant cedars lay toppled, one of them cleanly felled at its midpoint with precise and efficient technique. Before the tree, a few old swords were implanted neatly in the same spot. A bisected demonic puppet lay broken on the grass, its fragments scattered. Two halves of a ferocious bronze mask rested on the ground, their cuts smooth and clean, evidencing the decisiveness of the person responsible. ...So, someone had indeed been here. But who? As the demonic energy swirled with the wind, Gu Peijiu paused briefly in contemplation before heading in a certain direction. Upon reaching a nearby clearing, she noticed something hanging from a tree trunk, swaying slightly with the night breeze. She took a few steps closer, only to unexpectedly step on something hard. In the deep, cold moonlight, Gu Peijiu took a step back and glanced down, her pupils constricting slightly. A dragon-shaped jade pendant with a missing right corner lay on the ground, its gentle luster reflecting the moonlight. The red camellia sash delicately lifted the jade, allowing it to fall into her hand—a jade pendant, vivid and lifelike, but missing its right corner. Clutching the warm jade tightly, Gu Peijiu stiffly looked up at the tree branch not far away, where a green hairband with a missing corner hung—she remembered clearly the image of a young man with a green hairband tying his ink-black hair, a broken jade dragon at his waist, holding a wine cup with a radiant smile on his face. Holding the jade tightly in her palm, her heart felt momentarily hollow. The person who came here was... —Xia Wu Yin!? Author’s Note: Serves you right for being reckless. You got into trouble. (shrug) = = Alright, alright, second update~ Love you all =w= I’m super cute and super diligent, please don’t wait to binge-read me =w=