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墨書 Inktalez
I glanced outside at the dark sky, feeling a chill run down my spine. I swallowed hard and hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn’t dare to step out, for the night in the Underworld was far too terrifying.
The black sky resembled spilled ink, thick and oppressive, with not a speck of dust to be seen. In the pitch-black darkness where I couldn’t even see my own hand, the sounds of wailing and howling echoed endlessly. Each cry seemed to resonate in my ears, tearing at my heart and making my eardrums throb painfully, buzzing incessantly. My heart raced in response, pounding faster and faster, as if it were about to explode from the sheer frustration of those sounds. Deep down, a bloodthirsty madness threatened to erupt.
The boundless horizon occasionally flickered with flashes of lightning, and more Clamor of Battle drifted from that direction. I felt a twinge of worry but knew I was powerless; staying here was the best choice.
I sensed something outside calling to me, luring me to venture out. The icy Wind Sound grew louder, and even while huddled in this cave, I felt a biting chill. I curled up tightly, clutching my head with my hands, trying not to listen to that voice. My body trembled uncomfortably.
Starving and freezing, I truly experienced an overwhelming sense of panic this time.
Time passed slowly, second by second, yet the Giant Bug had yet to return. The sounds outside continued unabated—one after another—an endless torment for me. I silently recited the Heart Sutra I had learned from my mother, desperately trying to calm myself, but it was of little use. My memory of it was already shaky; the more I recited it now, the more frantic I became.
Only the sound of my heartbeat quickened, threatening to leap out of my throat at any moment.
At that moment, the Qilin Hairpin flickered with light. I quickly pulled it from my grasp; though its glow was faint, it was my only source of hope right now.
I closed my eyes against the uneven walls of the cave, waiting for the Giant Bug’s return. I didn’t know how long had passed when a delicious aroma wafted through the air—a scent so enticing it reminded me of braised pork—drawing me toward it and stirring my ravenous stomach.
I couldn’t see it, but I could smell that fragrance in the darkness.
When someone has been hungry for so long and can no longer endure it, such a scent is undeniably captivating. Following that aroma, I stumbled forward; my legs felt weak from squatting too long, yet an unseen force compelled me onward.
“It smells so good; I'm so hungry. I need to eat.”
Endless delusions tightened my nerves to their breaking point—just one more tug would snap them completely.
I saw a table full of delicious food at the entrance, with all sorts of dishes that looked incredibly appetizing. The aroma was so enticing, it felt like an invisible hand was teasing my nostrils, the exquisite scent permeating every part of my body. There was also a warm fireplace, making the atmosphere as comforting as home.
I swallowed hard, wiping the drool from the corner of my mouth, and rushed forward eagerly. The food was right in front of me—“Just one more step!”
I felt my eyes redden; I was so close to a feast. But then, a cold hand gripped my wrist tightly, holding me in place and forcing me to watch as it destroyed the entire spread of food.
“No—”
I struggled desperately, wanting to save what little remained, but that hand was too strong, preventing me from getting any closer. Then a roar like that of a beast echoed through the air, shaking the ground beneath me.
“Damn you, Death! I was so close to eating, so close!”
“You think a mere illusion can fool me? You’re asking for death!”
Qin Ling suddenly yanked me back, drawing his sword and marking a circle on the ground beside me. He coldly warned, “Don’t step outside this circle; otherwise, I won’t save you a second time.”
I stood there dumbfounded by everything before me. My hunger clouded my thoughts as I blinked at the massive figure at the entrance. It had countless antennae like a centipede and a grotesque face with Azure Fangs. Its eyes were as big as eggs, nostrils flaring as it exhaled yellow mist that made the already foul air even more nauseating.
I covered my nose with my hand and watched as Qin Ling moved like lightning. In the darkness, only the white glow of his sword stood out vividly amidst the flashing lights, dazzling and overwhelming. Unable to bear it any longer, I simply sat down and closed my eyes.
When sight is lost, hearing becomes acutely sensitive. I began to hear the distinct sharp voice of the Giant Bug becoming clearer amidst its roars. Thinking it had been injured, I opened my eyes just in time to see Qin Ling strike down with his sword, cleaving the monster in two.
As its body shrank gradually, it transformed into two halves of a Giant Bug. It struggled to crawl on the ground but ultimately couldn’t escape Qin Ling’s sword. He pinned it down with another strike, its piercing scream ringing in my ears. Only then did I realize that this monster was the very Giant Bug that had promised to find food for me.
“Why is it you?”
The Giant Bug struggled to lift its head from the ground, spitting out a mouthful of black blood, then laughed, "You are the Lord of the Ghost Fetus. If I eat you, our clan can be free from the curse. It’s not every day that Stunning gives me such a big opportunity; how could I not take full advantage of it?"
I felt a shift in Qin Ling when it mentioned the Lord of the Ghost Fetus, but he remained still.
"So all that kindness was just a lie? You were waiting for me to be powerless enough to fall into your trap?"
"Of course. When greed takes over, it's the best time to strike. I planned to let you starve until you couldn't bear it anymore, but then this grim reaper suddenly appeared! It ruined my plans, and I won't accept it! Why should our clan suffer like this? It's all Jun Rui's fault! I hate him, I hate the unfairness of fate, I hate Jun Rui! Now that you're by his side, if you die, the Lord will surely go mad. At that point, we won't even need to lift a finger; Jun Rui will die too! Hahahaha... ah—"
The Giant Bug's laughter was abruptly silenced as Qin Ling turned it to dust with a cold indifference. I stood frozen, staring at the remains on the ground, feeling a mix of emotions.
I never expected such intentions from him. The initial friendliness had led to such betrayal; it was something no one could bear!
There were no tears in my eyes, but my heart ached. I pressed my hand against my chest and asked softly, "Is Jun Rui really the King of Hell?"
"Yes." Qin Ling sheathed his sword and pulled me up forcefully. My body felt weak; his sudden strength made me dizzy, and I nearly fell over. He caught me with a frown, looking at me with clear disdain. "You really are a troublemaker."
With that, he bent down and lifted me up. I smiled at his furrowed brow. "You can put me down anytime; go on your way. I won’t hold it against you."
"You think I want to carry you?" Qin Ling snapped irritably, gripping me tighter as he walked quickly forward. "If it weren't for finding you, I'd have gone straight to the Cave without searching everywhere for you!"
"…"
I pouted in silence, unsure why he disliked me so much. But for Jun Chong's plan, I had to endure it. At that moment, I was too exhausted to argue with him; my hunger was becoming unbearable. Not long after Qin Ling picked me up, my stomach growled loudly. He suddenly stopped and looked down at me.
"Um... I'm hungry. Is there anything to eat?"
I thought he would refuse or just let me starve, but to my surprise, he found a quiet and safe place for me to sit down. Then he pulled out a piece of bread from a small pouch at his waist.
"I have a Spirit User ability that can stave off hunger. I don't have much, just this."
I glanced at him and snatched the bread, fearing he might change his mind. "Thank you," I said before devouring it ravenously. I was so hungry that even though the bread was cold and hard, I still ate it in large bites, only to choke dramatically on it.
I pounded my chest desperately, trying to swallow whatever was stuck in my throat. Unfortunately, it wouldn't go down or come back up, and my face turned red from the effort. Finally, Qin Ling handed me a jug of water, allowing me to catch my breath.
"Haah—" I patted my chest and gasped, "I thought I was going to die from a ghost only to be choked by this bread."
"Idiot."
"You’re the idiot!"
I shot back, feeling as carefree as when I used to bicker with Molin.
Qin Ling shot me a glare before sitting down beside me. He placed his sword on his right side, leaned against a rock, bent his left leg while stretching out his right, and closed his eyes.
Seeing him like that, I hurriedly nudged him. But before I could touch him, his icy gaze from his opened eyes froze me in place.
"Don't be so fierce. I just wanted to ask if you're planning to sleep here?"
"Is that not allowed?"
"It's really cold here, don't you feel it?"
Qin Ling shook his head and turned to look at the dense sky, devoid of any twinkling stars. "I have never felt anything."
"What do you mean?" I asked, but he didn't respond. It was so cold that I could only quietly inch closer to him. Although he was cold too, it felt warmer compared to the chill around us. Seeing that he didn't pull away, I took the opportunity to press against him and asked again.
"Do you not have any sense of touch?"
He didn't answer. His indifference was completely different from Molin's. Now that I was close, I noticed that his hair seemed a shade darker than before. I also saw blood on his clothes, yet the wound appeared perfectly healed.
Suddenly recalling what the King of the Underworld had said last time, I felt a pang of worry. Biting my lip, I asked, "Why has your hair color become darker? The last time I saw you, it was still gray."
"Because he is about to die." Qin Ling suddenly glanced at me, his icy demeanor softened by a hint of a smile, carrying a provocative undertone. "When my hair turns completely black, he will never return."
I froze, my body jolting back as I widened my eyes at him in shock. "Molin."
I remembered asking him if he had a brother because he resembled a friend of mine. He had replied, "I am who I am; there is no one else."
At that time, I thought he was denying any knowledge of Molin's existence, but now his words clearly indicated otherwise.
I pointed at him in disbelief. "You know Molin, don't you?"
A cold smile crept across Qin Ling's lips, and the temperature seemed to drop sharply. "Yes, but don't think you can save him. This time he must die. From now on, there will only be Qin Ling; there will be no Molin."
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