Forbidden Zone of Deception

Chapter 222 Vegetarian Meal
The air around the ancient well seemed to freeze.

The horrifying scene just now made Jiang Jin subconsciously touch his head, remembering the SAN value test he had to do every three days!
Were the helmets they wore back then, used to measure SAN values, the same equipment that the cleaners used?

Were their memories and personalities ever corrected by the cleaners?
In an instant, countless classic American TV series and Hollywood movie plots flashed through Jiang Jin's mind: The Matrix, The Truman Show, Westworld...

Suddenly, his finger landed silently on the trigger of the shotgun, his muscles taut like a bow.

Jiang Jin turned his head and said coldly, "What do you want from me?"

A young man emerged from the shadows of the corridor—it was Zhou Chen!
However, Jiang Jin's hunter's intuition could not detect any killing intent emanating from Zhou Chen at this moment.

The boy was dressed in ordinary black sportswear, his hands were empty, and he even gave Jiang Jin a smile that could be considered friendly.

"Long time no see, Jiang Jin." Zhou Chen stopped five steps away. "Don't worry, the Bloody Team and your Nirvana have reconciled, haven't they?"

Jiang Jin lowered his shotgun slightly: "Is your Bloody Team also interested in this dungeon?"

“I was demoted to LV2, and Blood Lord said I should come here to gain some experience.” Zhou Chen walked to the ancient well and peered into the dark water. “Of course, the key is to find out why this temple was able to kill the Gu worms. As you know, our Bloody Team and the Insect Nest Team are mortal enemies.”

The two figures were reflected in the well water in a blurry way.

“We killed so many of your Crimson people,” Jiang Jin said, still wary of Zhou Chen. “Don’t you hate us?”

“We wanted to kill you, and you killed us in return. That’s only natural,” Zhou Chen suddenly turned to look at Jiang Jin. “Besides, you and Commander Yu saved me in the Headball Balloon dungeon. I, Zhou Chen, am not a beast who can’t distinguish between gratitude and resentment.”

Jiang Jin remained silent for a moment, unsure whether Zhou Chen's words were true or false.

"If we're talking about hatred, we're mortal enemies with the Insect Nest. We will never let this provocation go unpunished." Zhou Chen's voice was firm and powerful, filled with killing intent.

"The Insect Nest Team..." Jiang Jin slowly began, "I heard that the person who impersonated the priestess reincarnator Qi Na to enter the wedding venue and assist Li Yuanxiu in the assassination was Bai Miya, the daughter of Bai Ye, the vice leader of the Insect Nest Team."

Zhou Chen's face instantly darkened: "Yes. Even Blood Lord didn't expect that she had been so close to him."

His fingers unconsciously traced the edge of the well: "Lady Baiye and her daughter, and Lady Pustules, are all enemies whom the Blood Lord is determined to kill."

A gust of cold wind blew through the ancient well, causing eerie ripples to spread across the water.

"Blood Lord doesn't know about your relationship with Qin Mei, does he?" Jiang Jin suddenly asked.

Zhou Chen's body stiffened visibly: "I don't know. Although Shadow Blade and Crimson are both Bloody Squads, Qin Mei... Blood Lord doesn't like his subordinates dating, saying it will affect work efficiency."

"Wu Ge later told me, 'You are not a bad person. I hope we can turn hostility into friendship.'"

“I am the child of a sinner,” Zhou Chen said with a bitter smile. “My mother gave birth to me only to escape the death penalty. Blood Lord gave me a second life, so I serve him.”

The two fell silent. Suddenly, a faint gurgling sound came from the ancient well, as if something was breathing underwater.

“This well…” Zhou Chen frowned.

"More than one of you reincarnators has explored this ancient well, but none of you have found any clues."

Zhou Chen nodded, then suddenly lowered his voice: "Be careful, it's possible that the Insect Nest will also send people in. Since Bai Miya dared to show herself, and the Old Core has also made big moves in the Edo Special District, I estimate that the Insect Nest won't stay quiet either."

Just then, a woman's voice called from afar: "Zhou Chen?"

Zhou Chen's body trembled, and Jiang Jin understood, leaving immediately.

Soon, a woman walked over quickly—it was Qin Mei.

"How did you end up here?" Qin Mei glanced around warily. "You'd better watch out for this well."

"Okay, let's go."

At the corner of the corridor, Zhou Chen and Qin Mei strolled slowly.

Qin Mei was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Why did the Blood Lord send us here this time? Was it just to find a way to control the Gu worms?"

"The Insect Nest may also be eyeing this instance. They might hope that we can lure out Bai Mia, or even Lady Bai Ye."

Qin Mei's smile vanished, and she said, "When Blood Lord summoned us this time, his expression was terrifying. This is the first time Bai Mia has dared to leave the Insect Nest home world and come to Muxu City since Blood Lord advanced to Soul Master LV4 Soul Prison Master. So, does he think Bai Mia will show up at Lanruo Temple?"

"It should be that Blood Lord wants us to capture Bai Mia alive and then lure out Lady Bai Ye."

The wind around them suddenly became mournful, as if countless wronged souls were wailing.

Zhou Chen felt a bone-chilling cold; this was not the cold of the material world!
"Back then..." Qin Mei's voice was hoarse, "Was it really Lady Baiye and her daughter who framed Blood Lord... that he sexually harassed them, leading Lady Pustules to demote Blood Lord to a branch unit?"

Zhou Chen nodded: "In this day and age, for a man to be falsely accused of sexual harassment is an indelible disgrace. Blood Lord, as a highly talented Soul Master and one of the founding members of the Insect Cave team, originally had a good chance of obtaining sufficient resources. Lady Pussy unconditionally stood by her own gender, and even though Lady White Night had no evidence, she still chose to punish Blood Lord. It was only because he was demoted and lacked sufficient resources that he chose to use forbidden techniques to advance..."

The Soul Reaper class requires a lot of resources to advance. In particular, advancing to LV3 requires absorbing five fragments of resentment, which deters many people!
However, there is no other way to replace this step. The profession of Soul Reaper requires absorbing a large amount of resentment, which is eventually transformed into powerful karma, in order to become the Lord of the Soul Prison or even the Thousand-Faced Guest! Therefore, ordinary people do not even dare to kill Soul Reapers head-on, as the powerful backlash from the resentment alone may lead to their own death.

When Jiang Jin killed Wu Qin, if it weren't for using the rules of the forbidden zone to kill him, the backlash from Wu Qin's death would have taken him down. As for Li Yuanxiu's assassination attempt on Ye Xiu, it was because Ye Xiu's removal of the [Turtle of Achilles] would lock all his class skills, preventing the release of his resentment even if he were killed.

The Soul Stealer profession allows one to enslave others and even control evil spirits—who wouldn't want to choose this profession? But the price is that resources can severely limit advancement. Blood Owl, once a founding member, has been reduced to a low-level reincarnator in a sub-group. Wanting to obtain five Resentment Crystals? That's a pipe dream.

"Madam Baiye framed Blood Lord because..."

"Yes. It's because of... resources. Bai Mia, the daughter of Lady Bai Ye, chose the Soul Stealer profession just like Blood Lord. To advance, you need Resentment Shards."

Back then, Blood Lord's talent as a Soul Stealer far surpassed Bai Mia's. Although Madam Bai Ye was powerful, her daughter's aptitude was mediocre, which naturally worried her. At that time, the Insect Nest team had just been established and resources were limited, so priority had to be given to those with talent.

Only by causing the Blood Lord to lose power can his daughter, who has ordinary talent, be given priority access to resources.

"Although I am not very clear about it, it is said that Sima Jin was the only one who believed in the Blood Lord at that time."

After hearing Zhou Chen's explanation, Qin Mei understood why the Blood Lord hadn't killed Sima Jin yet.

"I never expected that Lady Baiye would send Bai Miya to meet Li Yuanxiu and Di Nanyin... That dagger containing Lady Pustuca's poison must have been given to Li Yuanxiu by her."

"If we can capture him alive, then the Blood Lord might give us a chance to advance again..."

"But I'm afraid it's not that simple..."

Zhou Chen turned around and glanced in the direction of the ancient well.

This Lanruo Temple seems even more sinister and terrifying than I imagined.

"Oh, right, I brought you lunch."

Qin Mei took out a warm wooden lunchbox from her Reincarnator watch and handed it to Zhou Chen.

"Thanks." Zhou Chen took the lunchbox, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against Qin Mei's hand.

Qin Mei smiled and said, "Eat quickly when you get back, or it will get cold."

As the midday bells rang, Huikong could already smell the unusual fragrance wafting from the dining hall.

Upon entering, Huikong was completely stunned.

This is by no means the usual plain soup; it is a blend of fried and roasted aromas that make your mouth water!
"What day is it today?" Huikong stopped Huiming, who was hurrying past. "Did they change the chef in the kitchen?"

Huiming rarely smiled: "The pilgrims who came today donated a lot of money for incense oil, and the senior brother said he would improve everyone's meals."

Upon entering the dining hall, Huikong was stunned by the sight before him.

The table was laden with rare delicacies: golden and crispy fried vegetarian goose, glistening braised vegetarian eel, steamed vegetarian fish belly drizzled with sauce, and even a bowl of milky white "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall"—a top-grade vegetarian dish made with various mushrooms and tofu to imitate meat.

"This...this will cost a lot of money..." Huikong muttered to himself.

On ordinary days, vegetarian meals consist of white rice with one vegetable dish and a soup. Even a few vegetable leaves floating in the soup are considered an extra meal.

A fellow disciple named Huizhi warmly greeted him: "Huikong, come quick! We have Buddha Jumps Over the Wall today!"

Huikong immediately filled a bowl to the brim with rice and added a little of each dish.

The fried vegetarian goose was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the braised vegetarian eel was smooth and tender, and the most amazing dish was the "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall" soup, which was so delicious that he almost bit his tongue.

"If only it could be like this every day," Huikong couldn't help but sigh.

My fellow disciple Huijing, sitting next to me, laughed and said, "Dream on. But I heard those pilgrims are staying for quite a few days, maybe..."

"Don't talk while eating." Huiming suddenly interrupted, but then lowered his voice and asked Huikong, "Have you done what I told you to do? Have you memorized the faces of all the female worshippers?" Huikong was taken aback, then remembered the instructions from that morning: "About... four or five? There was a lady in black, and..."

Several senior students around him pricked up their ears to listen, exchanging glances from time to time.

Huikong grew increasingly puzzled—why was there such a focus on female worshippers? Could it be related to the "Nie Xiaoqian" mentioned in the first temple rule?
"Wait!" Huikong suddenly pointed at the bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup that Huizhi had filled, "Senior brother, what's in your soup?"

Huizhi looked down and noticed several dark-colored things mixed in.

"Is it tofu?" Huizhi was about to put it in her mouth when Huikong suddenly froze.

That wasn't tofu at all! It was a piece of flesh and skin... a finger joint!
Not only that, but dark red blood was seeping from the broken joint!
Suddenly, Huikong looked at his soup bowl and was surprised to find a finger joint lying inside!
"Pfft—" Huikong threw the spoon back into the bowl, her stomach churning violently.

"What's wrong?" Huizhi asked with concern. "Your face is so pale?"

Huikong pointed tremblingly at the soup bowl: "Hand...finger..."

Huizhi leaned closer to take a look and laughed, "Junior brother, are you seeing things?"

He picked up the "knuckle" with his chopsticks, easily split it in two, and said, "That's how tofu that's been cooked for a long time is."

Huikong stared intently at the torn "tofu," clearly seeing the white bone fragments and muscle fibers at the break!

But the monks around them continued eating as if nothing had happened, as if it really was just ordinary tofu.

Not only that, he suddenly noticed that the fried vegetarian goose that the monks were eating was also bleeding from the bitten parts.

"Then...why is the vegetarian goose bleeding?"

The entire dining hall suddenly fell silent.

All the monks stopped eating and stared at Huikong expressionlessly.

Huizhi slowly put down the bowl, his voice unusually calm: "Junior brother, what are you saying? That's a vegetarian goose made of tofu, how could it be bleeding?"

"And this!" Huikong pointed frantically at the "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall" soup, "There are fingernails in it! I saw them! Human fingernails!"

A young monk suddenly laughed: "Brother Huikong is really joking, that's clearly tofu."

“Yes, yes,” the others chimed in, “The food is good today, and Brother Huikong is so happy he’s gone mad.”

Huikong felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

He could clearly see half a complete fingernail floating in the "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall" soup, with torn edges!
But these fellow students who spent every day with him were all lying through their teeth!

The seventh temple rule flashed through my mind like lightning!

All meals in the dining hall are vegetarian. If you find meat in your food, please eat normally and tell yourself that it is just tofu. Even if the tofu starts to bleed, you must continue eating.

"It seems Junior Brother Huikong is exhausted." Huizhi sighed, placing the "vegetarian chicken" from his bowl onto Huikong's plate. "Eat more to nourish yourself. This is just ordinary braised tofu, look—"

He took a big bite, making a clear tearing sound as he chewed: "What tender tofu."

Huikong looked at Huizhi's chopsticks—there was clearly a piece of raw meat with skin on it!

The chunks of meat were oozing blood and were even trembling slightly!

But Huizhi ate with relish, her lips smeared with dark red "sauce".

"I...I'm not feeling well..." Huikong staggered to his feet and tried to escape, but Huiming grabbed him and held him down.

"Finish your meal." Huiming's eyes were unusually cold. "Don't let the pilgrims' offerings go to waste. Otherwise, you know the consequences."

Huikong sat down again, picked up her chopsticks with trembling hands, and stared at the "vegetarian goose" in the bowl.

Even if you strictly follow the temple rules and make him eat this, he just can't do it!

But if I don't eat...

Could there be even more terrible consequences?

"Eat up," Huizhi urged with a smile, "It'll get fishy if it gets cold."

Huikong closed his eyes and silently recited the seventh rule: "This is tofu...this is just tofu..."

He tried to put the piece of meat in his mouth, but he just couldn't get it down.

At this moment, Huiming grabbed his hand and shoved the chopsticks directly into Huikong's mouth!

"Senior brother! You..."

"Very good." Huiming patted his back. "Drink some more soup. Your senior brother is doing this for your own good!"

Huikong trembled all over, feeling as if he had lost his soul.

Isn't this a pure and tranquil Buddhist sanctuary? The Bodhisattvas and Buddhas are watching! Aren't they afraid of going to the Avici Hell after death?
Should he...should he call the police right away?
No, no, no... Can the police handle what happened in this temple? Perhaps we should call in the Master of Longhu Mountain?

But faced with the stares of his fellow students, he could only mechanically scoop up a spoonful of "soup," muttering to himself, "This is tofu, this is tofu," and tilt his head back to gulp it down.

Warm liquid slid down my esophagus, carrying a nauseating, fishy smell.

"That's right." Huizhi nodded in satisfaction. "Junior brother, you'll get used to it."

The dining hall returned to its lively state, and the monks continued to enjoy their meals.

After a long time...

"Ugh—" Huikong finally couldn't hold back and vomited.

The "food" I had just swallowed, mixed with stomach acid, splattered all over the floor; it was clearly undigested chunks of meat and bone fragments!

All sound ceased abruptly. The monks all turned to look at him, their eyes glowing an eerie red in the shadows.

“It seems Junior Brother Huikong needs a rest.” Huiming slowly stood up. “I’ll take him to refresh himself.”

Huizhi also stood up: "I'll help too."

The two men grabbed Huikong from both sides. Their hands were as strong as iron clamps, making it impossible for him to break free. Huikong was half-dragged and half-pulled out of the dining hall by his two fellow disciples.

"Senior brother... I'm alright..." Huikong struggled, "I can walk by myself..."

Huiming's voice was unusually gentle: "Don't be afraid, it will be over soon. Once you get used to it, you will be just like 'us'."

At this moment, Zhou Chen returned to his residence, opened the box, and a rich aroma wafted out—white rice, braised pork, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, stewed seafood, and even two pieces of golden fried tofu.

Zhou Chen muttered to himself, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat heartily. The braised pork was stewed until tender and flavorful, rich but not greasy; the vegetables were cooked to perfection, maintaining their crisp and tender texture.

Just as he was shoveling the last few mouthfuls of rice, his chopsticks suddenly poked something hard.

"Bone?" Zhou Chen frowned.

Qin Mei was always meticulous when cooking; he always deboned and cut the braised pork into chunks. He used his chopsticks to stir the rice grains, but his movements suddenly froze.

That's not a bone.

That's a human toe!
The cut was jagged, as if it had been forcibly torn off, and dark red blood beads were slowly seeping out!
Zhou Chen's stomach contracted violently.

He abruptly threw down his chopsticks and covered his mouth to prevent himself from spitting out.

"Ugh—" He gagged a few times, forcing himself to calm down.

The seventh temple rule came to mind!

"It's just tofu, just tofu..." he repeated the rule, trembling, trying to hypnotize himself. But the visual and olfactory impact was too real, and the food in his stomach surged up wildly.

"You have to eat it..."

Zhou Chen stared intently at the toe that was beginning to turn black and swell, cold sweat soaking his back...

(End of this chapter)