Chapter Sixteen: The Enchanted Ones

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Amidst the shade of trees, Steward Zou emerged furtively from behind a trunk.

“Master, it’s me.”

“You’re unharmed? That person didn’t hurt you?” Lin Mao shifted his feet in silence, his gaze toward Zou instantly changing, a subtle glint within.

Even the Divine Maiden could not escape the hands of a brigand—how did you manage it?

Steward Zou, sweating under Lin Mao’s scrutiny, lowered his head uneasily. “I was prepared to die, but that scoundrel only seized me, he didn’t kill.”

“So simple as that?” Did he take him for an ignorant child? Who would believe someone would spare the cricket in their palm when they could so easily crush it?

“This... I speak truthfully, with no intent to deceive you, Master. Only, only—”

“Hmph, only what?” Lin Mao’s eyes blazed with anger, his imposing aura surging like a tidal wave, forcing Zou to collapse to the ground.

Steward Zou knew well it was nearly impossible to gain Lin Mao’s trust. The mounting pressure nearly suffocated him.

His mind raced. Suddenly, his gaze darted to a certain spot, and he lunged urgently, clutching someone’s leg, wailing pitiably, “Master, save me!

If you cannot, then kill me instead. At least it would honor our years together and spare me the shame of being forced to betray you in the future...”

With every sob and tear, he rubbed his snot and tears all over Lin Mao’s trouser leg.

Lin Mao shuddered in disgust, immediately trying to yank his leg free, but the man clung on with a death grip.

He tried several times, but to no avail.

If a beauty were clinging to him, he’d surely be pleased. But an old man? He could have sworn he’d rather slap him dead.

Still, the time was not yet right... Forcing down his murderous urge, he frowned. “I only asked you two questions, how did it come to this life-and-death display?

You’re fine—what do you need me to save you for?”

Unable to extricate himself, he let the man cling as he pleased.

Steward Zou wiped his eyes with his sleeve, the tears only flowing more. Old as he was, he sobbed and sniffled, “That fiend placed a restriction on my heart’s meridian, forcing me to submit.

He demanded I reveal your whereabouts and the origins of the Divine Maiden.

I... I have enjoyed your favor, Master; how could I ever betray such kindness?

So I refused, even if it meant death, and escaped when he was off guard.

If you don’t believe me, you may see for yourself.”

With that, he released Lin Mao and stretched his neck, closed his eyes, and suppressed all his inner energy.

He left himself wide open, offering no resistance at all.

“Oh, why say such distant words? After all these years together, though we call it master and servant, I have always regarded you as an elder brother.

The roles are just for show before others.

But times are changing—surely you won’t blame me?” Lin Mao bent down and helped him up from the ground.

Taking advantage of the contact, he sent a hidden force through key acupuncture points, reaching the heart’s meridian.

With spiritual sight, he saw several strands of power entwined there. They appeared ordinary, not harmful at first glance.

Could it be this old man was making excuses, or even faking? Such a restriction should be easily broken.

Thinking thus, he pressed the force forward. Unexpectedly, the dormant power suddenly flared like a wild beast, devouring the hidden force in an instant.

Startled, Lin Mao quickly withdrew his hand, his breath unsteady as he glanced aside.

Steward Zou seemed oblivious, still wiping his aged tears, deeply grateful. “How could I ever blame you, Master? I only hope you never cast me aside.”

Lin Mao patted his shoulder and sighed, “It’s been hard on you.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Steward Zou folded his hands and shuffled alongside, glancing around. “How come Madam is nowhere to be seen?”

“Hah... Haha, Madam received advice from a sage and took on a fine opportunity. When all is done, you and I will share in the rewards,” Lin Mao forced a laugh, secretly wishing he could strangle the man.

Truly... always touching on the sore points.

Steward Zou hurriedly offered congratulations: “Congratulations, Master, truly felicitations.”

“Yes, just wait patiently.”

Feeling at ease, Lin Mao cast Zou a sidelong glance, then looked out to the Bridge of Solemn Shadows.

He thought with some satisfaction: Yes, congratulations are in order. Once this is accomplished, marrying the beauty Qingfu will be more than just a reward.

“Yes, sir,” Steward Zou breathed a silent sigh, his inner garments already drenched with sweat.

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Though today was perilous, at least he’d survived this ordeal. He quietly tossed the pepper hidden up his sleeve into the low shrubbery behind him.

But it really did burn...

He wiped his eyes, cursing Su He’s ancestors eight generations back—if not for that heartless wretch, would he have needed to take such risks?

Yet cursing was no use.

Lin Mao’s probing had been subtle but left traces. Of all that transpired, Zou understood perfectly.

Otherwise, Lin Mao would never have let him off so easily. But this also meant that Lin Mao had no way to break the restriction.

In other words, from now on, he was truly under another’s control.

Though unwilling, he had no choice but to submit... yet resignation gnawed at his spirit.

For a time, master and servant nursed their own secret thoughts, silent between them.

At the far side of the bridge, the woman had narrowly survived the ordeal of the hurricane.

Next, she had to find the residence Qingfu had mentioned, secure some food, and release the prisoners in the dungeon.

But as she walked, her heart grew more and more uneasy, fear deepening with every step.

Yet, with no way back, she had no choice.

Fortunately, after about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, she finally arrived at the lakeside residence.

Rumors claimed that Yin Mountain Lake was rife with serpents and insects, foul stench filling the air. But now, it seemed not entirely so.

At the very least, aside from an eerie gloom, she saw none of those horrors.

As she pushed open the wooden door, a strange gust chilled her to the bone. Hugging her arms to herself, she stepped inside timidly.

She’d barely entered when the door suddenly shut behind her.

Her heart leapt into her throat. Tiptoeing, she searched the front yard for some time before finding the kitchen in the rear.

Qingfu had said the guards mustn’t know—she must hurry.

She steeled herself, pushing open the door with trembling hands.

Unexpectedly, the kitchen door swung open and a burly cook, wiping his hands on his apron, eyed her up and down. “You’re the one sent by the Demon’s Faction?”

Seeing her hands still raised in the air, the woman blushed deeply. “Yes.”

“Eat something here first. Later, come find us in the front courtyard.

If you were coming, why not come earlier? You had to show up at mealtime—don’t you know any manners?” With that, he snorted coldly.

“Th-thank you.” She bowed, both angry and embarrassed.

All her life, save for that heartless Lin Mao, no one had ever scolded her to her face.

But now, under someone else’s roof, she had no choice but to endure.

Then again, she thought, perhaps this was for the best, making it easier for her to act.

She stepped aside, waiting quietly until the cook left before slipping into the kitchen. As they passed, the cook’s lips curled into a sinister grin.

But the woman did not notice.

In a hurry, she packed some food haphazardly into a lunchbox and, closing the lid, hurried out of the kitchen.

She glanced at the locked iron gate nearby. “It must be here.”

With that, she flickered and passed straight through the bars.

Carrying the lunchbox, she strode swiftly toward the dungeon.

The way was smoother than expected. With little effort, she found the three prisoners.

There were both men and women, none knowing how many years they’d been held captive.

Seeing a living person enter, they smiled in a way that made her skin crawl. “Which family’s wife are you? Have you truly thought this through, coming here?”

The woman was baffled by the question, but she had no time to dwell on it. She just wanted to finish the task quickly, cross the Bridge of Solemn Shadows again, and confront that faithless man.

Even now, she hoped she might still return alive.

She didn’t know that the moment she set foot on the bridge, her fate was sealed.

The prisoners’ question held that very meaning.

She didn’t understand, but they did all too well. Because she was, in truth... their food.

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“Enough talk, all of you. Once you’ve finished this food, come with me.

If we’re late, we might be discovered.” The woman swiftly unlocked the cell, and the three prisoners, dragging their shackles, strolled out at an unhurried pace.

They exchanged glances, then their chains and fetters fell aside. In a flash, they pounced on the woman.

“What are you doing?” she cried out in terror, her brocade handkerchief instantly transforming into a sword.

“What are we doing? Why, eating, of course.” One of them parted his tangled hair, revealing a few rotten yellow teeth.

Another stretched the skin on the back of his hand, and countless sesame-sized black bugs crawled out from under his skin.

Thud, thud—they dropped to the ground, then sprang up like lightning, landing on the hem of her skirt.

In an instant, they flickered and vanished into her flesh.

Her sword clattered to the ground as agony like fire gnawed her bones and heart. She wished she could tear out her own chest to escape the pain.

“Kill me, kill me...”

“See? It’s just a meal—no need for so much fuss. Hurry up and eat. Don’t blame me if I don’t leave you any.” After so many years of famine, they were impatient for food.

The man let his hair fall. “The bugs are right.”

With that, he opened his mouth and spat out a flower-patterned snake over ten feet long, with a triangular head topped by two fleshy lumps.

In a flash, it slithered to the woman’s feet, wound up her calf, and slid into her fragrant mouth.

Her eyes went wide, bulging nearly from their sockets. If pain was not enough to kill, then this was a terror worse than death.

An old woman who had stood by all along cackled wickedly. “Deadly Sash, you’re as disgusting as ever.”

“Oh, Red Widow, and you’re any better?” Sash’s eyes slanted with disdain.

The Red Widow chuckled, turning to summon her darling—a blood-marked spider the size of a palm.

It landed on the woman’s cheek, its furry legs peeling off a piece of skin, which it then popped into its mouth with a crunch.

“One must eat the best, most delicious parts, of course.”

A woman’s face, so delicate and small—this is the true essence.

“Mmm... I think that warm handful still stirs my very soul,” the bug, now perched beside the woman, inhaled rapturously.

“Oh, spare us your nonsense. Hurry up and eat. There’s work to be done after, and someone’s still waiting outside.” The Red Widow twisted her waist, admiring her black nails.

The bug sat up with a gulp. “Red Sister is right.”

But the Red Widow slapped him. “How many times have I told you to call me ‘Elder Red’?”

“Yes, Red Sister.”

“…”

Sash was unmoved, not even bothering to raise his eyelids. He called his flower-patterned pet to finish off the woman’s viscera.

Thus, each of the three had their own task.

The Red Widow devoured her face, then spun a new, beautiful one from spider silk.

The bug replaced her blood, making it and her skin into deadly weapons.

When Sash finished, he replaced her organs with venomous insects.

Once it was all done, it would depend on whether the woman’s soul could endure. If so, the creation of the Gu-woman would be complete.

After several hours, the woman lying on the ground finally stirred.

The moment she opened her eyes, she realized she had never escaped the clutches of devils. Having brushed death, she returned to this hell on earth.

The Red Widow knelt gracefully by her, reaching out to touch her cheek, nearly scaring her out of her wits.

“Spare... spare me.”

“Silly girl, your fortune lies ahead.” With that, she glanced at the bug and Sash:

“Take her away.”