Evil As Humans

Chapter 203: Broken Cocoon

At that time when Mr. Qiu launched an attack on the Fu residence, Fu Xingchuan was punished and demoted to a combat consultant. He looked at the list of potential successors provided by Shian and dialed Li Nian’s private phone number.

“Lao Li, I want Xiang Jiang to replace me,” Fu Xingchuan said, exhaling a puff of smoke.

“He’s not on the candidate list,” Li Nian replied. “In the execution mission, he seemed to have leaked information to Sunken Society and his performance wasn’t satisfactory. From what I gathered, they’re considering transferring him out of the Emergency Management Department—without you, it will be difficult for a newcomer to handle the pressure.”

“Well, they want to send him to a cold palace until retirement. I get it.”

That night, Fu Xingchuan sat in the long corridor of the Fu residence, gazing at the full moon in the night sky.

“According to the regulations, this is indeed the most secure approach.”

Li Nian on the other end of the phone fell silent, and after a few seconds, he spoke calmly, “What are your plans?”

“I want to see what Xiang Jiang is planning.”

Fu Xingchuan pressed his cigarette butt against the stone decoration.

“By leaking information during the execution missions, Xiang Jiang wanted us to die in Gengsheng Town. Once the wind gets out on his side, we’ll catch him red-handed… It seems he’s not very skilled either. Don’t you find it intriguing, Lao Li?”

“Xiang Jiang and Sunken Society don’t have a long-standing close cooperative relationship,” Li Nian responded.

“Right, I’ve been keeping an eye on him. His accounts are clean—he doesn’t take private jobs. But then he suddenly pulls out a killer move on us. How can I not feel that the mastermind behind this isn’t Sunken Society?”

“That’s just your speculation,” Li Nian said. “It’s also possible that Sunken Society made him a promise. After the Gengsheng Town incident, Hao Wenzhe couldn’t find any abnormal communication from him. He can’t simply be labeled a traitor without evidence.”

“Right, it’s just my speculation—my intuition.”

Fu Xingchuan sighed bitterly.

“In any case, there are only two possibilities—”

“Either Xiang Jiang was just momentarily confused and has become honest after his failure. As a minister, he’ll be under closer supervision, and he has to follow the regulations. Keep an eye on him for me, and he won’t cause any major trouble.”

Professor Li remained silent.

“Or Xiang Jiang is in contact with ‘other forces’, but he’s hiding it well. We’ve just experienced the power that can break through space and make contact with people out of thin air, haven’t we? I was just taken down by Shian. If I were him, I would definitely take advantage of the situation.”

“…You want to expose his motives through deception, of course, assuming he actually has any ‘motives’.”

“Don’t put it so harshly.” Fu Xingchuan chuckled. “It’s only because you’re partnered with him that I can use this plan with peace of mind. Anyway, I’m going to recommend Xiang Jiang. His rank and abilities are sufficient, and he would be in compliance as an interim minister.”

“Just because of your intuition?”

“Just because of my intuition.” Fu Xingchuan blinked at the moon in the sky while replying in a brisk tone. “Everyone else follows the rules to make judgments. What do they need people like us for?”

“Tell me, what do you need me to do?” Li Nian pondered for a moment before replying in a steady voice.

“Two things.”

Fu Xingchuan lit another cigarette.

“First, during work hours, keep an eye on him. If it’s a regular decision, he definitely needs your approval… If it’s you, you’ll surely be able to discern if things aren’t right. Arrange accordingly when the time comes.”

Li Nian: “And the second?”

“When he goes on field assignments, give me a heads up.” Fu Xingchuan slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, which lingered in the air, obscuring the moonlight. “I must be nearby.”

“I understand,” Li Nian said. “You owe me a favor.”

“Well, that means I owe you 178 favors, and you owe me 173. I’m keeping track.”

“Nonsense.” Li Nian dismissed his old partner’s banter. “I have one more question.”

“Go ahead.”

“If you want to monitor Xiang Jiang’s movements, removing him from the picture is also an option. But instead, you’re promoting him. Fu Xingchuan, are you giving him another chance?”

“…Lao Li, you and I both know his situation.”

Fu Xingchuan held his cigarette and gazed blankly into the void.

“What if I say I am?”

……

At this moment, Fu Xingchuan’s worst speculation was coming true.

“…Why, of all people, did you choose to cooperate with the Other Side?” Fu Xingchuan stared at his “half-student”.

Xiang Jiang still wore exaggerated earrings, designed to attract the attention of evil creatures and protect the surroundings. Shian didn’t have specific dress requirements, and this was undoubtedly an imitation of Fu Xingchuan.

However, now he was leading the fierce legion of ghosts and stood in opposition to Fu Xingchuan.

Upon hearing Fu Xingchuan’s question, a fleeting look of surprise crossed Xiang Jiang’s usually emotionless face. He made a gesture, and the surrounding ghosts dispersed, surrounding the sealing spells and making it impassable. Ghostly figures hovered around, their elongated limbs ethereally extending. Xiang Jiang stood among the dead, his face seemingly no different from a corpse.

As the sun rose, the mist on the mountainside surged even more.

Fu Xingchuan stood still as the mist engulfed the back of his feet. Countless skeletons emerged from the ground behind him. Brown and yellow animal carcasses pieced together, forming two massive skeletons.

Yellow talismans ignited between Fu Xingchuan’s fingers, turning into ashes. In an instant, the surrounding ghosts wailed, and pale ghostly figures emerged from the mist, entwining themselves around the two assembled skeletons. Within a few breaths, four blue lights ignited, and two giant white tigers, with carcasses as bones and fierce spirits as flesh, crouched on either side of Fu Xingchuan.

Their eyes burned with blue flames as they roared silently. Freezing ghostly energy surged from their fangs, instantly turning the surrounding mist into ice shards. Dark ghostly spells flickered around the claws of the two giant tigers, poised to strike.

“What does it matter even if you know? It’s already too late.”

Xiang Jiang raised his eyelids and asked calmly.

“The situation with Shian, the situation with the Other Side, the rules of the world… Over the years, the Other Side has already figured you all out.”

Behind Xiang Jiang, the fierce spirits stretched their limbs, embracing and pulling at each other, forming an incredibly large cocoon. Xiang Hai floated in front of the cocoon, like a recently emerged poisonous butterfly. Countless spells revolved around Xiang Jiang, all of them defensive in nature.

“I’ll tell you what will happen next.”

Xiang Jiang spoke softly.

“After the battle inside ends, there will be nothing that can truly resist the Other Side. When the source of corruption goes out of control, just playing hide and seek with the Other Side will deplete Shian’s energy.”

“Sunken Society will have a wild celebration, and the authorities will fall into chaos… As the chaos continues, everyone will reveal their true nature. Isn’t it great? No need to pretend to be a civilized society anymore. It’s nauseating just to think about it.”

“I guess humanity won’t go extinct, and the world will continue to spin. Internal strife or war, which do you think will come first? Well, of course, this tense ‘peace’ is also quite interesting.”

After speaking, a hint of longing appeared on Xiang Jiang’s face.

Fu Xingchuan chuckled. “Anyway, as long as everyone goes crazy and all emotions become extreme, it will be a bountiful harvest for the Other Side, right?”

Flames gradually flickered in the mist, revealing golden light. The two white tigers scratched at Fu Xingchuan’s feet, as if they could pounce at any moment.

Xiang Jiang smiled. “No, no.”

He adjusted his asymmetrical collar and raised the corners of his mouth, revealing an icy and chilling smile.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re crazy or not… People themselves haven’t changed; I’m just helping everyone reveal their true nature. Just like you, Minister Fu. Haven’t you realized that you’re already insane? Don’t you resist?”

Xiang Jiang opened his arms, and Xiang Hai fluttered his butterfly wings behind him, wearing the same smile as Xiang Jiang.

“You’re spouting so much nonsense because you don’t want to attack me proactively and save the cub inside. Let me think. If it were to escape directly, it would bring forth a great Evil Force, corrupting the surroundings—it’s a school, a residential area. Even if you know that the cub is the hope to fight against the Other Side, you still can’t bring yourself to trade the lives of these people for its survival.”

“What big picture and righteousness? You’re just a hesitant mortal. As the former leader of Shian, isn’t it crazy that you’re making this judgment?”

The two white tigers at Fu Xingchuan’s feet roared more urgently, digging up countless clumps of dirt with their claws. Fu Xingchuan sighed heavily as his face showed some fatigue.

“I can still break the seal and take control myself.”

“Just go ahead and try.”

The white tigers pounced. At the same moment, Xiang Hai dove toward Fu Xingchuan, his butterfly wings trembling. A chilling wind blew, emitting endless despair from the crying faces. The size of the white tigers swelled, and they pounced toward Xiang Hai from both sides.

Fu Xingchuan trembled and produced two rows of talisman papers with both hands. The talisman papers were stiff and straight, with edges as thin as razor blades, transforming into two long swords. Crimson flames covered the surface of the talisman papers, creating streaks of fire in the air. Xiang Jiang reached into his pocket and took out a handgun without hesitation. The gun was engraved with chilling symbols, and Xiang Jiang raised the barrel and began firing wildly.

Bang! Bang! Bang! The talisman papers intercepted the flying bullets, diverting their trajectory as if effortlessly. Fu Xingchuan rushed towards Xiang Jiang like a cannonball, and the flames seemed to be about to touch Xiang Jiang’s chest—

Ding!

Xiang Jiang swiftly swung the cloth bag he carried with him, blocking Fu Xingchuan’s blade made of talisman papers.

The bag was burned by the talisman fire, revealing a fist-sized sphere covered in human skin talismans.

The talisman papers created a small notch on the human skin talismans, and in the next instant, the talisman papers quickly decayed, turning into ashes. The human skin talisman, centered around the notch, rapidly withered and wrinkled, revealing a faint glimmer of golden light.

It was a brilliant, translucent bubble.

It emitted an extremely stable Evil Force, as if it was “alive”.

Without stopping, Fu Xingchuan swung another talisman paper longsword. However, Xiang Jiang didn’t dodge, ignoring the long sword that pierced his shoulder and directly pouncing at Fu Xingchuan, who held the sword.

With his left hand tightly grasping the bubble, he pressed it against his chest. Xiang Jiang threw away the gun in his right hand and directly grabbed Fu Xingchuan’s wrist.

“I’ve got you…”

Blood dripped from his wounds, but Xiang Jiang’s smile became even more radiant. Xiang Hai smelled the scent of blood and let out a roar, instantly pouncing back to Xiang Jiang’s side but abruptly stopping three or four steps away. The two white tigers followed suit and, as if fearing something, whimpered and retreated a few steps.

“What Ghost General, what Ghost Master. We’re just maggots on their rotting flesh.”

Holding the bubble tightly, black blood oozed from Xiang Jiang’s seven orifices. Under the influence of Evil Force, he gasped rapidly, and countless dark purple blood vessels bulged on the hand holding the bubble.

“Teacher, you know… that praying to the gods for their attention… sometimes grants even stronger abilities…”

Xiang Jiang grinned, squinting his eyes.

“Teacher… I…”

“What bullshit ability. You’ve been corrupted.”

Fu Xingchuan made every effort not to look at the seemingly creature resembling an Elemental. He frantically manipulated his right hand, and the skin on his left wrist began to ripple. With a slide of Xiang Jiang’s hand, only a layer of bloody human skin remained in his grasp.

In the next instant, Fu Xingchuan had already retreated dozens of steps away. The previously grasped left wrist had lost its skin, appearing bright red and glaring.

This man didn’t waste the blood that gushed out. Blood talismans and flames exploded together, and in the air, hundreds of bloody javelins appeared, emitting a gruesome scent, descending like meteors towards Xiang Jiang.

Xiang Jiang wiped his face full of black blood, burst into laughter, and threw out a blood talisman with one hand. The brilliance of the spell flashed, and Xiang Hai flashed in front of Xiang Jiang, shaking countless tears of blood from his wings. The javelins diminished and disappeared with a hissing sound, ultimately failing to reach Xiang Jiang.

There were only a few remaining human skin seals on the bubble, yet Xiang Jiang kept holding the bubble with both hands. In his hazy eyes, a reflection of golden light shimmered. Xiang Jiang clearly stared at it, yet he remained unharmed, as if it were a part of his own body.

“They are watching me.”

Xiang Jiang said almost relaxedly.

“How wonderful. ‘Resonance’ suits me better than ‘Charon’.”

His asymmetrical clothes were stained red with blood, and both sides of his face had their own roles—one side filled with endless sorrow, the other with a mad smile. The exhaustion and aging in his features vanished, replaced by a hint of abnormal purity.

“Teacher, I will explain everything to you now…” Xiang Jiang ignored the incoming talismans and reached out with both hands.

Fu Xingchuan had no interest in chatting. He took out a bunch of talismans once again. Amidst the blazing flames, the two tigers intertwined and merged, forming a circular giant shield that was about to envelop him—

Brilliant golden light filled the heavens and the earth.

Countless fragments carrying intense emotions entered Fu Xingchuan’s mind.

“Be good, and mommy will give you a kiss!” In front of a kindergarten, a young mother held two identical children in her arms, with a face full of happiness. “Be good today and listen to the teacher!”

“Okay~” The two children shouted together.

…Is this Xiang Jiang’s memory or Xiang Hai’s memory? Light and pure joy echoed in his chest, while Fu Xingchuan struggled to stay clear-headed.

Regardless of whose memory it was, Fu Xingchuan knew what would unfold next.

Over twenty years ago, there was a child abduction case in Haigu. A pair of twins snuck out to play in the rain and one of them went missing. This story wasn’t unique; like countless other families, the parents never gave up searching for their child, succumbing to pain and self-blame early on.

The remaining child named “Xiang Jiang” became an orphan, relying on the elderly in the family for survival. He dropped out of school early and entered the workforce.

Whether it was obsession or a curse, Xiang Jiang took care of his critically ill grandmother while continuing to search for his brother, just like his parents did—these were summarized in official records, but Fu Xingchuan didn’t know the details.

He only remembered that the child excelled in his studies. If there hadn’t been any mishaps, if that family had continued to prosper and live in harmony, Xiang Jiang might have become an outstanding university student.

It was a great pity.

At this moment, another wave of happiness swept over.

Now Fu Xingchuan could confirm that it was Xiang Hai’s memory. In Xiang Jiang’s recollection, there shouldn’t be a secluded and dilapidated mountain village like this. Yet, within that dusty setting, radiant happiness flowed.

“Tell me more about the outside world.” A girl with a limping foot faced Xiang Hai.

“Let me talk about the movies I’ve seen. What do you want to hear?”

The girl’s eyes were youthful, but her features showed premature roughness, making it difficult to determine her age. When she spoke, a faint glow of youthful vitality flickered in her gaze, but it lacked luster and liveliness. Xiang Hai appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old, with a withered and emaciated face that bore the signs of malnutrition, and his eyes were unnervingly clear.

They wore worn and dirty clothes, hiding in the darkest corner. The girl vividly described the world outside, and Xiang Hai listened with fascination, his eyes filled with longing.

These scenes flowed by, and Xiang Hai transformed from a young boy into a frail adult.

“I was too young when I arrived, so I don’t remember much. But I remember that my name is Xiang Hai, and I have a brother.” One day, Xiang Hai said with conviction. “I will find my family sooner or later.”

“Haha, no wonder they call you an unfamiliar dog.” The girl laughed. “I told you before, right? I came here after middle school. Compared to others, I’m lucky, only having my leg broken—though in this cursed place, you can never be too careful. I’ve been observing you for three or four years before daring to talk to you.”

“Talk to me?”

“One person definitely can’t escape, but two people can.” The girl’s dark and rough face revealed a sharp and piercing paranoia in her eyes. “I’ve been trapped here for nearly ten years, and I know a few ways out of the village.”

Xiang Hai’s joy flowed like a clear and bright river, murmuring incessantly. Even if it was only through words, the joy of freedom swelled in his chest, flowing through his veins.

“Your adoptive family doesn’t like you. Once they had their own son, they treated you like a beast of burden, not allowing you to study or leave the village. I’ve seen it all.” The girl straightened her dry hair and lowered her voice. “If you still side with them, I’ll blame myself for being blind. So, do you want to escape together?”

Xiang Hai looked at his slightly older friend, and his eyes began to well up with tears.

“Of course!” Xiang Hai answered firmly.

“Sister, what do you want to do after we get out?” He immediately asked, his voice filled with almost overflowing anticipation.

“I don’t know. I used to be good at dancing, but now I can’t anymore.” The girl paused for a moment and revealed a somewhat inexperienced, soft smile. “But I used to have excellent grades, so continuing my studies shouldn’t be a problem. How about you?”

“First, learn how to read.” Xiang Hai scratched his head. “If I study, I won’t catch up to you… Maybe I’ll open a small business. As long as my parents and siblings don’t reject me, it’ll be fine.”

“Ambitious!”

“I heard you have four children…”

The girl’s face instantly turned ugly, and her dry lips trembled for a moment. “The children of a rapist, it’s none of my damn business.”

“That’s true.” Xiang Hai pondered for a moment, nodding in agreement.

With a companion who shared the same aspirations and a way to escape, the happiness they felt was indescribable. The so-called “family” in the village was filled with pain, contrasting the overwhelming sweetness of happiness in their hearts.

The joy of the desperate was enough to dissolve everything. Fu Xingchuan’s mind grew foggy, and his thoughts became fragmented. He… He knew what would happen next.

Outside the mountains, relatives from the village received the news and came to intercept them. Caught between two groups of people, with freedom within reach, the two young people found themselves trapped.

“I’ll lead them away, alright?” Xiang Hai said.

“The road outside is clear, but I don’t know how to ride a bike. Once you escape, come back and save me.”

“But you…”

“Sister, I know. If you’re caught and taken back, you’ll definitely be killed,” Xiang Hai replied with a smile. “I’m still a young man. Even as a sacrificial animal, I might be of some use. Who knows, maybe I can survive.”

“What if you guessed wrong?” The girl’s lips trembled. She clenched her fingers, her features twisted with fear and worry.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it… Besides, I’m in good health. I might be able to hold out in the mountains for a few days.”

Xiang Hai patted his chest, his voice lighthearted.

“The fastest runner should go first. Who told me I can’t ride a bike?”

The girl closed her eyes.

“I’ll bring people to rescue you as soon as possible.” She promised.

……

Xiang Hai guessed wrong. The family of the “kidnapped wife” was especially furious, and Xiang Hai was beaten within an inch of his life on the spot. The subsequent “family members” saw him injured and immediately turned back, clamoring for compensation along the way.

Xiang Hai’s body was indeed strong, so strong that he survived with serious injuries in the desolate wilderness for an entire day. When the people from the outside world found him, he had just breathed his last breath.

Xiang Hai returned home as he had wished—he turned into a small urn of ashes and returned to his brother’s side.

However, that urn of ashes was always surrounded by a faint obsession. Over time, as news spread throughout the country, those obsessions slowly gathered, becoming the faint shadows in Xiang Jiang’s dreams.

Two months after the incident exploded, that slender young man appeared in the dreams of his brother. Xiang Hai hid in the distance, so frail that he could dissipate at any moment. He shyly observed his unfamiliar blood relative, cautiously confirming his own obsession.

The memories of joy abruptly ceased, and darkness descended along with it—

[Where are Mom and Dad?]

[They’re no longer here.]

[What about my friend? The sister who escaped with me.] A hint of confusion appeared in the question, and the resentment on Xiang Hai’s body grew slightly stronger.

[She…]

Even in a hazy dream, Xiang Jiang still knew that this was a topic that shouldn’t be brought up. However, whether it was the connection between twins or the overwhelming power of his deceased brother, Xiang Jiang’s memories were directly ripped out.

Xiang Hai couldn’t read, but he could directly sense Xiang Jiang’s thoughts, and unnumbered sentences rushed into his mind.

[Did you see, brothers? This is what happens to a lickspittle.]

[I think it was the woman who seduced him first, finding a little lapdog to do the work.]

[You don’t understand the thrill of taking someone else’s wife?]

[This is what happens when you take a woman seriously.]

Shortly after the incident, the comments in the comment section became “lighthearted”.

[I’m a mother, and even I think it’s not right. After all, she considered cheating, right?]

[They willingly sacrificed themselves, how romantic.]

[Some people won’t let you say anything? The criminals have been caught, what’s wrong with expressing a few feelings? Her being trafficked doesn’t conflict with her taking advantage of other people’s feelings.]

[Don’t just gossip. My acquaintances have insider information.]

……

The news was highly dramatic and attracted national attention, with discussions on various websites lasting a long time. People tirelessly speculated, and after the incident was resolved, regret turned into contemplation, and contemplation turned into curiosity.

Xiang Jiang had visited the girl at the center of the storm. Her mood wasn’t very good, but she had expressed a positive desire to continue her studies. Unfortunately, after ten years, her parents had given up, each starting their own families.

She never got to continue her studies.

Perhaps because of her age, her classmates were already active in the workforce. Perhaps because of her current awkward status, her parents were concerned about other people’s opinions. Perhaps because the “’relatives’ children” in the mountains kept harassing her. Perhaps because of those never-ending topics.

Two months after being rescued, she leaped from the rooftop of her residence, just as determined as when she had escaped. Only this time, she was alone.

Xiang Hai silently absorbed all the memories.

He didn’t understand, he didn’t comprehend. She could endure so much; she had escaped from hell.

Xiang Hai embraced his obsession and fell into greater and deeper confusion. Perhaps that mountain had been etched into his blood and embedded in his nerves. On the day he struggled in agony before his death, he heard the wailing of countless lost souls in the mountains. They left with his body and had nowhere to go.

Xiang Hai pondered day and night, until a chilling and ferocious joy swept over him.

…So that’s how it is. This place must still be a part of the mountain, and they haven’t successfully escaped yet. There would always be people smiling happily, their gazes sweeping over as if they were some kind of inhuman object.

Inside and outside the village, objects were still objects, just with a difference in usefulness and interest.

Xiang Hai wasn’t good at thinking. His thoughts had long been buried under the daily chores. Things were too complicated, and now he didn’t want to know the reasons or bother to understand the motives. He just knew that the ending shouldn’t have been like this.

He just didn’t want them to laugh anymore.

Countless grievances gathered in his dreams, breaking through the wings of the human-faced butterflies. On that day, the most powerful and fierce ghost in recent years was born. From the depths of golden joy, black mildew began to grow.

From this point on, he knew the rest. Fu Xingchuan had experienced all of this, but who…

Who was he?

Memories and emotions surged. His name should be Xiang Hai… right?

Beyond the illusion.

“Teacher, when they were watching me, I couldn’t help but think—”

Xiang Jiang picked up the gun from the ground again.

“—I couldn’t help but wonder; I want to know how he lived before. After all, my life seems to have so little meaning. And then, I was told this.”

Xiang Jiang muttered, pointing the gun at the absent-minded Fu Xingchuan.

His brother had become obsessed after his death. While he had only had this one obsession while alive. If a vengeful spirit lost its obsession, it would disappear, but what about a living person?

“I understand your feelings. It must be confusing, right? Even now, I often can’t distinguish who I am… But I am certain that every time I see you all earnestly maintaining this ‘civilized order’, I feel uncomfortable.”

The white tigers weakened, and Xiang Hai was busily destroying them. Xiang Jiang took a deep breath and slowly pressed the trigger.

Bang!

A human body hit the ground with a heavy thud. Xiang Jiang fell forward, still tightly holding the bubble in his arms. As the Ghost Master fell, Xiang Hai couldn’t help but hesitate for a moment. In that instant, he was pounced on by two white tigers whose breaths were barely there.

Where Xiang Jiang fell, two figures wearing red veils, acting suspiciously, were revealed.

“I’ll take care of Fu Xingchuan!” Ge Tingting swiftly dashed out, frantically applying a reinforced tranquility talisman to Fu Xingchuan’s body. Huang Jin retracted his club and kicked Xiang Jiang on the ground with the tip of his foot.

“I hope we didn’t kill him.” He murmured, still trembling with fear.

Around Huang Jin’s wrist was a strand of pitch-black hair, and his body was covered in red veils adorned with sealed spirit weapons, erasing all traces of sound. Now Huang Jin hastily removed the red veil and covered it over Xiang Jiang—there was a strong Evil Force swirling around Xiang Jiang, in desperate need of isolation.

Without Xiang Jiang’s command, the surrounding ghostly figures scattered. Not far away, Fu Xingchuan, covered in applied talismans, sat up and stayed on the ground for a while to recover. Before he could stand up, a chain of fire shot out and bound Xiang Hai securely.

“Are you both okay?” He wobbled as he got up.

“We’re fine.” Ge Tingting also removed her red veil. “What about you…”

“Everything that needed to be confirmed has been confirmed.” Fu Xingchuan glanced at Xiang Jiang, who was covered by the red veil. “Zhang Hejun and Dr. Sun are also under the control of Shian. Their situation is a bit different from Qi Xin’s and Qiu Fang’s. They have been affected to a lesser extent, making the situation a bit difficult to handle.”

Ge Tingting sighed, feeling a bit down.

“You both continue with the plan. I’ll take care of this thing. Don’t you both have a strand of Yin Ren’s hair? If it’s okay, then he’ll be okay.”

Fu Xingchuan pinched his brow and looked at the protective spell left by Xiang Jiang. He took a deep breath and deliberately lowered his voice.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”

……

The interstitial space.

Countless giant feet stomped down fiercely, and the terrified cub struggled beneath the lifting and dropping steps. The escape route was sealed from the outside, turning this place into a complete dead end.

Mr. Le accelerated the movement of his giant foot.

Mr. Qiu had been too indecisive before, attempting to fight with only a portion of his body. Facing him was the cub of ‘Fear’—the Fear that annihilated everything.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Accompanied by the impacts, his companions briefly connected to the other side to assist him. Mr. Le mustered his strength and squeezed most of his body into this narrow interstitial space. He had to crush this cub into mud, consume it completely, and eliminate any possibility of “Fear” regenerating in a short time.

Unfortunately, under his trampling, that small patch of darkness was slippery and elusive, wriggling like an eel. The wings on its surface opened and closed, occasionally cutting out large chunks from the adjacent giant foot. Once it succeeded, it would quickly devour the spoils, becoming even more enormous.

No matter what kind of emotional disturbance was inflicted upon it, it remained undeterred, only madly wreaking havoc and feeding.

A dead end.

Mr. Le was quite patient. He carefully synthesized toxins within his limbs. To avoid alarming the “Fear” cub, he administered a very mild poison.

This cub named “Zhong Chengshuo” parasitized a human body, so even if it could consume his own Evil Force, it would still react to biological toxins!

He wanted it to gradually become numb, slow and sluggish, and eventually turn into a black paste.

[How does it taste?]

Zhong Chengshuo’s clothing had transformed into red garments, and his hair had been elongated by the illusion. He remained in human form, securely enveloped within Yin Ren’s body.

[It’s spicy, but it doesn’t have much effect.] Yin Blade responded with his thoughts. [There are no living components inside me anyway.]

In order to isolate emotional influences, he decisively abandoned most of his perception. Just like in the Valley of Bones in the world of dreams, within endless emptiness, there was only him and Zhong Chengshuo. Naturally, he couldn’t fight normally in this state—retaining only a slight sense of touch, he didn’t even know the enemy’s position.

The premise was that he was alone.

Currently, beside him, Zhong Chengshuo opened his pitch-black eyes, and the remnants of his original body continued to operate within his eyeballs. He couldn’t exert any power… but he could still see, touch, and transmit his thoughts completely to the other party.

For example, taking over this battle in terms of consciousness.

[Alright, continue.]

Zhong Chengshuo embraced his lover’s body.

[Everything is still going according to plan.]