Chapter 37: Ghostface Maggots (1/2)

“So you finally show yourself.” Lu Yun wasn’t at all surprised to hear the voice.

It didn’t appear often, but every time it did, an illusion led Lu Yun and the others astray at a critical juncture. Thankfully, he’d seen through the illusions every time.

When the owner of the voice finally showed itself, the visage that appeared took his breath away. His heart skipped a beat upon seeing a face worthy of launching a thousand ships.

Silver hair ran down to a shapely waist and hip, framing perfect features that stirred the soul. A long, loose robe of silver silk covered a lanky, limber body. The arresting sight fulfilled all standards of beauty in the world. There were no words worthy of describing this being. Even Yuying and Mo Yi paled in comparison. Flawless, second to none, unequaled...

But damn, it’s a man, sighed Lu Yun.

Indeed. This mesmerizing, sublime creature who could seduce all living souls was a man.

“Has it shown itself, sir?” asked Yuying. She knew there was something in the burial mound that could create illusions, but it had stayed hidden until now.

“You can't see it?” Lu Yun asked after collecting himself.

Yuying shook her head slightly, her delicate eyebrows knitted together.

“No one other than you can see me, not even the immortal ghost. But why are you an exception?” His voice was a soft murmur straight out of one’s dreams.

“You’re not a ghost, so what are you?” Lu Yun asked without much thought.

“Me?” The man paused and shook his head with a lost expression. “I don’t know what I am. And why am I here?” He frowned, struggling to find an answer.

“What’s your name?” Lu Yun reached out to touch the man, but his hand went straight through the other body. The man seemed more like a shadow than a living soul.

“My name? It seems to be Miao.” He continued with uncertainty, “It’s been too long since anyone called me by name, but I think it’s Miao.”

“Do either of you know someone called Miao?” Lu Yun asked Yuying and Yueshen. The woman and ghost shook their heads.

“Go back,” Miao said abruptly. “You’ve obtained what you want. Go back the way you came.” The air around him rippled, painting a faint path leading to heaven in front of Lu Yun.

“Stop it with the illusions!” hectored the Dusk governor.

Miao trembled, and the illusion disappeared.

Lu Yun’s expression lightened. “That’s the only thing you can do, isn’t it?”

Miao smiled wryly. His illusions were almost flawless. Many had entered the burial mound throughout the course of history, but all of them had ended up disoriented by his tricks. They either turned back and left, or were trapped in here forever.

This freak called Lu Yun, however, wasn’t affected at all.

“Go back,” Miao cautioned seriously as he watched Lu Yun. “If you go in any further, you’ll die, and you’ll drag me down with you.”

“I want the Formation Orb,” responded Lu Yun. “I’ll leave after I get it.”

The response elicited a pause, then a smile. “That’s fine enough. The thing called the Formation Orb isn’t stored in that most dangerous place. I’ll lead the way,” volunteered Miao.

Lu Yun cast a suspicious look at the newcomer.

Miao knew he was being overeager. He awkwardly explained, “Your current path leads to the center of the burial mound. Only death awaits if you go there. Things won’t end well for me then, either.”

Lu Yun nodded. “Lead the way. If you pull any tricks, I know a hundred ways to take you out.”

A paper talisman appeared in his hand. It didn’t belong to the world of immortals; it was an exorcism talisman from his world. He’d drawn it with the black flame in his dantian, and it could suppress any evil spirits or beings of yin.

Miao shuddered at the talisman. He didn’t know why he was afraid of it, but he was.

Tunnels clustered along the cliff, bringing to mind the notion of an ants’ nest covered in holes. Miao picked one out and entered it.

“Do you know who’s buried here?” asked Lu Yun. He trailed after the man with Yuying on high alert. Yueshen controlled Li Youcai’s body and brought up the rear.

Miao shook his head. “This place is a hodgepodge of creatures and monsters. Fights break out every single day. Whenever one batch dies, another enters and takes its place. Who knows who was the one first buried here?”

“How did you get in here?” Lu Yun was surprised. There were fights all the time? That was likely due to the Duality of Dragon and Tiger.

Lost, Miao shook his head. “I don’t know. What a strange person you are.” Self-infatuation flooded his voice as he stroked his face. “You’re not enthralled by my looks.”

“No matter how beautiful you are, you’re still a man,” Lu Yun huffed.

“Who—who are you talking to?” A weak voice came from Lu Yun’s back; Qing Han had regained consciousness.

“You’re awake.” Lu Yun turned to smile at him.

Face flushed, Qing Han said in a panicked tone, “Put me down!”

“Oh? You can walk on your own now?” Lu Yun stopped to drop the envoy from his back.

As soon as Qing Han’s feet touched the ground, however, his knees gave out. Only Lu Yun’s quick reflexes saved him from planting his face onto the ground.

“Don’t touch me!” yelled Qing Han.

An irritated Lu Yun pulled away and called out for Yueshen, “Fatty, you carry him!”

Under Yueshen’s control, Li Youcai waddled toward Qing Han.

“You stay away from me as well!!” Qing Han just about lost his mind. He turned to Yuying, “Help me up.”