Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 515 Blood Nightmare Flower Street, Gentle Tomb

The lanterns glowed, revealing her half-hidden, crimson lips.
Behind the vibrant colors lies a chilling, menacing glint.

Spring nights are fleeting, but bloody nights are endless.

—From "A Chronicle of Flower Street"

As the fog dissipated, the ruined street before us seemed to be shrouded in another layer of curtain, completely transforming into a Blood Nightmare Flower Street.

On both sides of the street, vermilion lanterns are lit one after another, and rows of old Edo-style wooden houses stand in rows, with cloth curtains hanging from the eaves swaying gently in the wind.

The air was filled with the scent of perfume and cherry blossoms. Petals fell from nothingness, drifting and scattering, yet carrying a strange, damp, and fishy smell.

On the street, prostitutes walked slowly with paper umbrellas, their faces painted with pale white powder, their lips bright red, and their laughter melodious, as if whispering, or perhaps seducing.

The sound of silk strings came from the void, intertwining with their light footsteps, making the whole street seem like a festival that never ends.

In the middle of the street, a towering mahogany building stands majestically, its curtains hanging in crimson and gold patterns, like blood-dripping brocade.

Before the brothel, a long street was covered with red carpet, and a magnificent yet enigmatic procession of courtesans slowly moved forward.

A dozen or so young girls led the way, holding golden candles high above their heads and hands. The candlelight flickered, but the flames carried a cold, bluish-white hue.

On both sides, the paper umbrella geishas stood in neat rows, their bloodshot eyes gazing at anyone who approached as the umbrellas flipped open.

At the center of the procession stood the elegantly dressed courtesan—Karakoin Kira.

Her steps were extremely slow, each step seemingly measuring time, the rhythmic "thump-thump" of her wooden clogs striking the red carpet like a spell.

Her kimono was embroidered with crimson cherry blossoms, the intricate patterns seeming to breathe, gently undulating with her swaying.

Her hair was piled high, adorned with gold hairpins and pearl flowers, its luster like black water flowing under the moonlight.

Her gaze was half-lowered, a cold smile played on her lips, and the folding fan in her hand swayed gently.

Each time the fan unfolds, faint whispers drift through the air, like unseen vengeful spirits murmuring amongst themselves.

She was stunningly beautiful, almost too beautiful, as if the bustling street was only there to highlight her.

Her dignified demeanor exuded an almost indescribable aura of power—not the pleasure of mortals, but the stage of gods and spirits.

Every stringed instrument, every petal, and every red lantern on this flower-lined street seemed to rise and fall with her steps.

She was a courtesan, a priestess, and the ruler of this illusion.

Si Ming and Xin Nai stood at the street corner and witnessed this scene.

This is not just a parade—it is a ceremony, an opening ceremony for Blood Nightmare and Illusion.

The parade in front of the redwood flower house gradually came to a halt.

Si Ming and Xin Nai stood side by side in the center of the red carpet, facing the courtesan's path.

Accompanied by the crisp "thump-thump" sound of wooden clogs, the procession slowly parted, circled around the two, and then closed behind them.

Paper umbrellas, young girls, courtesans, and pageboys encircled them within the central red carpet, as if they were the protagonists of a stage play, having been pushed to the center of the lights.

The courtesan, Qiluo, slowly raised her eyes.

Beneath the white powder, her face was so beautiful it was almost eerie; her lips were as red as blood; and the gold hairpins adorning her temples glittered under the red light.

She gently raised her hand, her folding fan obscuring half her face, revealing only the cold, alluring curve of her eyes.

Her voice rose slowly, like the dialogue of a courtesan on a theatrical stage, alluring yet irresistibly seductive:
"The lights here are dim, the music is melodious, and the wine is poured out for the guests."

She walked slowly forward, each step landing on the red carpet, seemingly affecting the entire network of the illusion street.

The courtesans behind him chuckled softly, their laughter carrying a chilling undertone, as if the alluring women and vengeful spirits were chanting in unison.

"Lord of Destiny—"

Qi Luo gently closed her fan, parted her red lips slightly, and slowly looked at Si Ming.

"Why not come with me to the brothel? Let's drink a cup of strong liquor and dance through the night in the mortal world?"

Her voice grew softer and softer, tinged with a murmur and a seductive allure, as if licking one's earlobe: "The spring night is too short... how can we waste it?"

The paper umbrella dancers around them lowered their eyes simultaneously and tapped their umbrellas in unison, like drumbeats, as if urging each other on.

A sultry yet oppressive atmosphere enveloped everything, as if, in that instant, they were not truly entering a battlefield, but rather being ushered into a sultry hell.

Nobuna's hand involuntarily fell on the katana, her eyes cold and sharp, yet she also felt a sense of oppression amidst this hypocritical prosperity.

Si Ming simply watched silently, his expression hidden behind the mask, only a soft laugh sounding jarring in the blood-red flower street.

The courtesan Kira's smile was like silk threads, alluring yet oppressive, and the entire red-light district seemed to breathe with her voice.

The paper umbrella girls tapped on their umbrellas, their laughter and soft murmurs blending together, as if they were truly welcoming guests to a banquet.

Si Ming merely glanced at her, then shook his head, his voice beneath the mask carrying a lazy, cold laugh:

"To be honest, as a normal man, there's nothing shameful about occasionally spending a night in a woman's arms."

He paused, slightly raising his gaze as if carefully examining Qi Luo, but then abruptly changed the subject, his words becoming sharp and cutting:
"However, your face covered in white powder, coupled with your black teeth... really doesn't interest me at all." The air in the red-light district froze instantly, and the laughter of the prostitutes stopped abruptly.

Si Ming's tone suddenly softened, taking on a flirtatious, nonchalant air, as if he were genuinely teasing the courtesans in the brothel:

"If one day I could wash this face clean and brush my teeth white..."

He shrugged and chuckled, "Perhaps I can seriously consider it."

These words were sarcastic and witty, yet unrestrained, like a lie that teased her, or a blatant slap in the face.

Si Ming turned his head to look at the girl beside him who was already furious, a faint smile in his eyes: "Then let's collect some interest first."

Nobuna had already gripped her katana, her eyes cold and sharp, her breath revealing a murderous intent.

Her voice was crisp and cold: "Of course."

The entire Blood Nightmare Flower Street seemed to be ignited, and the low laughter of the courtesans and the oppressive ghostly aura surged back at the same moment, pushing them completely into an inevitable battle.

Nobuna's eyes suddenly turned cold and sharp, and the voice that came from her lips was low and chilling, like a judgment from hell:

"May all ghosts wail, may the prisons cry out, may you waile—demons and monsters!"

Her katana was drawn instantly, the clanging of metal echoing between the red lights of Blood Nightmare Flower Street.

With a single slash, the sword energy, like thunder, tore through the air and the cherry blossom mist.

Within the sword energy, the phantoms of four ghosts simultaneously appeared:
The demons flew through the air, their wings menacing, emitting shrill cries like strange birds;

The shadowy figures lurked between the ground and the shadows of the umbrellas, dragging countless black chains behind them;

The cries of ghosts and the wailing of the prison rose together, as if hundreds of dead souls were screaming at the same time.

Blood Nightmare Flower Street seemed to be plunged into a hellish abyss at this moment.

The geishas around them, who were walking with umbrellas and laughing softly, all froze, their movements stiff. In the next instant, their disguises were completely torn apart.

The pink and white makeup cracked open, and her cheeks split like petals of a carnivorous flower, revealing rings of cold, sharp teeth.

Her crimson lips tore open, and her tongue stretched out, turning into a slippery tentacle, dripping with black liquid.

The sweet, cheerful voice that had been singing softly now turned into a terrifying scream and howl.

Their sleeves fluttered, no longer as courtesans greeting guests, but as demons slaying.

Hordes of Blood Nightmare Geishas swarmed in from all directions, claws raised, tentacles curling, roaring hoarsely, as if they wanted to tear Si Ming and Xin Nai apart and devour them completely.

The entire long street, which had been transformed into a glamorous scene of red lanterns and courtesans, instantly collapsed into a hunt for ghostly prostitutes.

The lights flickered on Blood Nightmare Flower Street, and the air was filled with a pungent, sweet scent of blood and perfume.

Qi Luo, standing at the end of the red carpet in Hua Kai Yuan, had her folding fan half-closed and her brows slightly furrowed. Her beautiful face appeared cold under the red light.

Her voice seemed to come from the stage, carrying a cold and mocking tone:
"How rude! The Lord of Fate is nothing but a boring, unromantic person."

He lightly tapped his lips with a folding fan, his smile suddenly turning cold, and every word he uttered carried a murderous intent:
"Since that's the case... let's perish in the Blood Nightmare."

At her command, the Blood Nightmare Maidens around her roared in unison, like hundreds of ghosts howling in the streets and alleys, as they pounced on her.

Without hesitation, Nobuna swung her katana horizontally.

Ghostly figures leaped from the blade, tearing through the sky; demons lurked in the shadows, their chains-like low rumbles vibrating the street bricks.

Her sword energy poured down like a torrential rain, weaving into a killing storm. The courtesans rushing towards her were instantly sliced ​​apart, their blood and vibrant clothes scattering in the air.

Before the Blood Nightmare Maiden's sharp teeth could even touch her, she was torn apart and devoured by the demonic shadows; as soon as her tentacles stretched out, they were nailed to death by the goblins from the shadows.

The entire street seemed to have become a river of blood. Amidst the flashing of swords, the wails of ghosts and the screams of courtesans intertwined, becoming increasingly mournful.

Before long, the center of the red-light district was a river of blood, with the corpses of beautiful women lying scattered about, their white faces torn apart, their bright red clothes looking eerily like blooming blood flowers under the lights.

Nobuna breathed slightly, her katana slowly lowered, but her gaze was coldly fixed on Kira.

Her voice was cold and hard, carrying undisguised murderous intent:
"All the henchmen are done? Your turn next, right?"

Qi Luo watched quietly, lightly tapping her lips with her folding fan, a smile more vibrant than blood appearing on her lips.

She slowly closed her fan, her eyes suddenly turning cold. There was no longer any mockery in her smile, only chilling intent and murderous intent.

The air in Blood Nightmare Flower Street froze completely.

Red Street Blood Dance
A beautiful woman turned into a nightmare.

The flash of a sword cleaved through the spring night.

The flower's beauty has not yet faded.

—From *Night Talks on Flowers*

(End of this chapter)