I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 177 It turns out Jiang Hongyue was on my back all along! (Seeking monthly votes)

Chen Mo was looking at the fiery clouds that filled the sky when he suddenly heard that Xiao Ye was going back to the capital the next day. He was surprised and turned around to see Nangong Ye staring at his back in astonishment.

Chen Mo was taken aback: "Xiao Ye, what are you looking at?"

Nangong Ye blinked and looked again.

She blinked again.

Not right.

I just clearly saw something.

Dazzled?
Seeing Nangong Ye's expression, Chen Mo couldn't help but feel a little flustered, and he patted his back with both hands.

No abnormalities were found.

It just doesn't feel very comfortable on my back.

Just then, Nangong Ye spoke up, "Young Master, can you feel something on your back?"

Chen Mo touched his back again.

Nangong Ye shook his head: "It's not touching, it's feeling."

Chen Mo shook his head: "No. My back just feels a bit stiff and sore. What's wrong?"

Nangong Ye stared at Chen Mo's back for a long time before looking away. "It's nothing. Perhaps I've been too stressed lately and am hallucinating. Young Master has been working especially hard lately, so back pain is nothing to worry about. Just rest and recuperate."

Chen Mo thought so too, so he didn't think much of it. "Xiao Ye is going back to the capital tomorrow?"

Nangong Ye said, "With Jiang Hongyue back in the world, I'm afraid things will become quite turbulent. The capital and the palace, in particular, are Jiang Hongyue's primary targets. As a member of a powerful family that suppresses demons in the capital, I should return as soon as possible."

Chen Mo felt a pang of emotion.

But I also know that life is long and complicated, everyone has their own life, and many things cannot be forced.

Chen Mo said, "In that case, I'll take Xiao Ye for a stroll through the streets of Honghe County. After all, this is my hometown. Xiao Ye has been through life and death with me, so I should treat her to a meal."

Nangong Ye wasn't particular about food, nor did she particularly enjoy shopping. However, since Chen Mo had spoken, Nangong Ye reluctantly agreed, "Alright. Let me go and get ready."

After saying that, Nangong Ye went to the side room to do her hair and makeup.

Chen Mo wasn't particular about etiquette, so he sat in the pavilion in the courtyard and waited. He casually touched his back, but it still felt a bit uncomfortable. He then went back to his room and looked at himself in the mirror.

He saw that he looked quite handsome in the mirror. Perhaps because the matter of the dragon-walking incident and the human-dragon sacrifice was over, Chen Mo's expression was no longer so cold.

Because his level of Transcending Dust was relatively low, he could barely maintain the balance between being half-human and half-dead. This resulted in his body being extremely cold and devoid of warmth.

As for his back, there really wasn't anything there.

"It seems that he injured his back while walking the path to the underworld in the mirror world..."

Just then, Nangong Ye's voice came from outside.

"Son."

"coming."

Chen Mo put down the mirror, got up, and went out. When he saw Nangong Ye again, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

In fact, Nangong Ye was a woman with exceptional beauty and figure. In addition, she had seen the world and cultivated the Taiping Jing Jingxin Jue, so she always possessed a gentle and quiet aura that other women did not have.

Nangong Ye is not usually someone who pays much attention to his appearance, but this time he actually dressed up in a special way, which is quite rare.

She was wearing a light purple, waist-length ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).

Women in the Great Qian Dynasty still pursued a slender figure as beauty. The Ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) consisted of an upper garment and a lower garment. The ordinary Ruqun was high-waisted, with a silk upper garment from the chest up to the skirt. It was similar to the clothing of women in the Tang and Song Dynasties of the previous life, exposing half of the chest and showing off the cleavage. It was a relatively daring outfit, with the focus on the chest.

A waist-length ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) emphasizes a slender figure, so the waistline is highlighted. Therefore, the skirt is let down and tied at the waist. It's paired with a short-sleeved top or a strapless top. The bottom is a fitted flared skirt.

Nangong Ye's top was lined with light purple silk, and she wore a dark purple fitted skirt and embroidered shoes.

She has lost some of the air of a chivalrous heroine and gained more of the gentle grace of an ordinary woman.

Seeing Chen Mo staring at her, Nangong Ye smiled and said, "Didn't you say you wanted to invite me to dinner, young master?"

Chen Mo recovered from his daze and smiled, "Then I'll be going."

Outside the Fulai Inn, you'll find yourself in a bustling red-light district.

The incense hall of the Red Lantern Goddess used to be on this street, as was Shuiyunju. However, the Chen family later moved and sold Shuiyunju.

Several months later, walking the streets of my hometown again, I still felt the vibrancy and liveliness of the place. The shouts of peddlers could be heard everywhere.

As they passed a tofu pudding stall, Chen Mo said, "This tofu pudding stall is an old brand, the taste is guaranteed. Xiao Ye, come with me to try it."

"Ah."

The two sat down at the outdoor seats of the stall and ate a bowl of tofu pudding.

While eating, Chen Mo would occasionally glance at both sides of the street, looking rather nostalgic. He noticed that Nangong Ye would frequently look at Chen Mo's back, making Chen Mo feel somewhat uncomfortable.

When it was time to pay, Chen Mo reached into his pocket.

Embarrassed.

Hey!
I forgot to bring money.

Since his transmigration, Chen Mo had always been a young master, constantly attended to by maids. Whenever he went out to buy something, a maid would pay for it. Chen Mo himself rarely carried money.

Just then, Nangong Ye took out a few pieces of silver and placed them on the table. Then he got up and left.

Chen Mo followed up, "Now I owe Xiao Ye another sum of money. How much did I owe you before?"

Nangong Ye smiled and said, "This concubine doesn't remember. Young master, just give me whatever money you have in the future."

Chen Mo: "Fine, consider it as me borrowing Xiao Ye's."

Next, Chen Mo took Nangong Ye to eat at several well-known snack shops, and before they knew it, they arrived at the former site of the Red Lantern Temple. They saw that the temple gate was bustling with people coming and going.

Many worshippers lined up to go in and offer incense.

However, the plaque at the entrance of the temple has been changed to Jin Guang Temple.

Chen Mo couldn't help but sigh after reading it...

There was a time when I would tremble with fear every time I came to this Red Lantern Temple, terrified of being harmed. But now, without even realizing it, I have become the Golden Light Lord and have even taken over the temple of the Red Lantern Goddess.

Nangong Ye paused at the door for a moment. "I remember this used to be a Red Lantern Temple?"

Chen Mo said, "Yes. Later, my servant converted this place into a temple for Lord Jin Guang."

Nangong Ye couldn't help but laugh and said, "Since we're already here, why don't we offer some incense to Lord Jin Guang?"

Chen Mo was quite embarrassed: "This is unnecessary. Who burns incense for themselves... But if Xiao Ye insists, then let's go."

The two entered the Golden Light Temple.

Chen Mo originally intended to lead the way for Nangong Ye, but found that... Nangong Ye seemed quite familiar with this place, walking through it as if he were at home.

This piqued Chen Mo's curiosity.

After offering incense, the two left the Golden Light Temple.

Chen Mo asked curiously, "Has Xiao Ye visited the Golden Light Temple before?"

Nangong Ye was taken aback, then shook his head: "No."

Chen Mo didn't ask any more questions. He borrowed some loose silver from Nangong Ye, then bought some local specialties from Honghe County along the street, filling several bottles and jars. Nangong Ye asked him what he was doing.

Chen Mo then said, "Xiao Ye is leaving tomorrow, and I don't have anything worthwhile to give her, so I'll just buy some local specialties as a token of my appreciation. I'll ask Xiao Ye to take them with her."

Nangong Ye said, "Actually, it's enough that you have this intention, there's no need to go to such lengths."

"Don't worry, I will pay back the money I borrowed."

"..." Nangong Ye was speechless, thinking to himself: Who cares about a few coins? It's just that these bottles and jars are inconvenient to carry.

It was already midnight when they returned to Laifu Inn. Chen Mo carried the bottles and jars into Xiao Ye's room and said, "I also bought some local sweet potatoes. I'll cook them first thing tomorrow morning, wrap them in mulberry paper, and give them to Xiao Ye to take on the road."

Nangong Ye looked at the bag of sweet potatoes Chen Mo was carrying and said, "Young Master is not a meticulous person. He usually forgets to bring his money when he goes out. This time, however, he has thought things through."

Chen Mo said, "That's natural. Xiao Ye is different from ordinary people. It's rare for her to come to Honghe County, so I have to do something to show my appreciation. I can't let Xiao Ye's trip be in vain. Xiao Ye's journey to the capital is long and tiring. You should rest early, and I'll go wash these sweet potatoes."

After saying that, Chen Mo turned to leave.

Just as they reached the door, Nangong Ye suddenly spoke up, "Young Master, please wait."

Chen Mo turned around: "Is there anything else, Xiao Ye?"

Nangong Ye asked, "What are your plans next, young master?"

Chen Mo said, "What plans could I possibly have? Born into this chaotic world of demons and monsters, just surviving is a miracle. My only wish now is to diligently practice martial arts and cultivate my skills to the point where I can protect myself. I'll also spend more time with my family. That's all."

Nangong Ye said, "Young Master is only sixteen years old, the perfect time to make your mark. Nanyang Prefecture is too small. Why not come with me to the capital? That is where heroes gather. Once in the capital... you will see that heroes from all over the world are as numerous as fish crossing a river. That is your stage."

Chen Mo laughed and said, "Xiao Ye thinks too highly of me. In this chaotic world of demons and monsters, I am content with a life of plenty, three acres of fertile land, and several beautiful wives and concubines. Besides, Xiao Ye also said that I am a zombie, a ghost. The capital city is a gathering place for heroes; how can it accommodate a zombie? I'd better not go, lest I cause trouble and be framed."

After hearing Chen Mo's words, Nangong Ye suddenly felt a bit emotional.

Once upon a time, this was also Nangong Ye's dream.

But... it's all just wishful thinking.

That's it.

Nangong Ye said, "Young master, there's no need to be so self-deprecating. You will eventually understand that the life you yearn for now is nothing but a dream, a pipe dream. Enough, enough, it's useless for me to tell you now. Everyone has their own path, and I can't force you. One day, you will come to the capital. Moreover, even if you are a corpse demon, there are ways to enter the capital in the future."

Chen Mo was taken aback: "What method?"

Nangong Ye said, "Once you enter the capital, great scholars will be there to debate the classics for you."

Chen Mo suddenly said, "A great Confucian scholar debating the classics... can he even make black seem white?"

Nangong Ye nodded: "Mm."

"That sounds good, but we'll talk about it later. As for Xiao Ye, be extremely careful when you get to the capital. After Jiang Hongyue comes back to life, her first stop will probably be the capital. I know Xiao Ye is highly skilled, but if you see Jiang Hongyue, don't be reckless. You should play it safe."

Nangong Ye smiled and said, "The capital city today is not what it was in Jiang Hongyue's time. Even if Jiang Hongyue came to the capital, she wouldn't be able to act recklessly. However, I will remember your words, young master."

After saying that, Nangong Ye took out a three-foot-long jade flute with a purple tassel at the end.

"This jade flute is my favorite flute. I always play it when I'm alone, when I'm in a good mood, or when I'm in a bad mood. Now that you've given me so many local specialties, I don't have anything to offer. So I'm giving you this jade flute. If you're in a bad mood, playing it will bring you some peace."

Chen Mo actually had no interest in musical instruments.

It was only after meeting Nangong Ye that she developed a feel for musical instruments in order to calm her mind.

After listening to Nangong Ye play beautiful flute music for a long time, I developed an interest in musical instruments.

He picked up the instrument and examined it; it felt wonderful to the touch, cool to the touch. It felt fantastic to hold.

"I traded some bottles and jars for a precious jade flute from Xiaoye. I really made a great profit."

Nangong Ye laughed and said, "Young master owes me more and more. You've been making money all along."

"Haha. I'll take this flute for now. Xiao Ye, get some rest. I'm going to wash the sweet potatoes. I'll cook them for you to take on the road tomorrow morning." Chen Mo took the flute, picked up a bag of sweet potatoes, and went out the door.

He tucked the flute into his waistband, went to the ancient well, drew a bucket of water with the well pulley, poured in a bag of sweet potatoes, and squatted down to carefully wash one sweet potato at a time.

Nangong Ye stood by the window of the side room, watching the boy carefully washing the sweet potatoes through the half-open window.

As she looked on, a hint of reluctance appeared in her eyes, and she murmured:

“My lord, I know you are good to me. However, you are a corpse demon, and I am the head of the Demon Suppression Division. In the end, we are destined to be apart.”

"I'll leave tonight, lest I take your taro tomorrow and then be reluctant to leave."

……

Chen Mo carefully washed the taro and then placed it on the windowsill to dry, waiting to cook it the next morning.

After finishing all this, Chen Mo returned to the main bedroom and stretched lazily.

"This is exhausting. Wan'er and Qiulan used to take care of my daily needs. I didn't feel tired at the time because they were so familiar with each other and busy. But now, taking care of someone for the first time is such a tiring job."

"I've only been busy for a short while, but my back and waist are already aching. I'll take a nap first."

Chen Mo took off his coat and went straight to sleep.

I quickly fell asleep, and in my hazy state, I had a nightmare. I don't know what happened in the dream, but I felt extremely tired. I vaguely felt something pressing me down and rubbing me against the ground.

When I woke up again, it was already the next morning.

Although he regained sensation in his body and consciousness.

But... I'm so tired.

I really want to just fall asleep like this and never wake up.

Then, remembering that Xiao Ye was leaving today, Chen Mo mustered up his strength and got up.

Thinking that Xiaoye had resisted the curse's corruption but followed him on his adventure, he couldn't leave without saying anything.

hiss!
Chen Mo suddenly opened his eyes and saw the familiar bedroom.

His lower back ached, and his neck was also extremely sore, as if something was constricting it. He rubbed his neck hard before it slowly recovered.

After getting out of bed, Chen Mo went to the windowsill, took some taro, and started cooking it.

Once the decoction was ready, Chen Mo took out the mulberry paper he had prepared beforehand, wrapped it up, and then went to the side room and knocked on the door.

dong dong dong.

"Xiao Ye, the sweet potatoes are cooked. I brought them to you so you can take them with you on the road. I tried one, and it tastes pretty good."

No one answered.

dong dong dong.

Chen Mo knocked on the door again, this time with increased force.

There was still no response.

Ok?
Chen Mo kicked the door open.

The room was quiet and empty. The bedding was neatly folded, indicating that everyone had already left.

However, a sheet of Xuan paper was left on the long table.

Above, written in neat handwriting, were eight large characters:

The journey through the world is long, young master, take care.

"Leaving without saying goodbye?"

Chen Mo looked at the steaming sweet potato in his hand, feeling a pang of disappointment. Looking around... he didn't see the bottles and jars anymore. It seemed Xiao Ye had taken them with her.

Chen Mo returned to the long table, picked up the Xuan paper, and turned it over to look at it.

Although Xiaoye Ren was gone, Chen Mo still wanted to see if she had left behind any more letters.

However, it did not.

He seemed very resolute.

“Ah, women…” Chen Mo said.

Then Chen Mo sat down at the long table and suddenly felt an emptiness and loneliness in his heart. An unimaginable sense of loneliness swept over him, making him feel very uncomfortable.

Chen Mo sat down in the chair, feeling dejected. He took out the sweet potatoes wrapped in mulberry paper and started eating them one by one.

Eating the hot sweet potato made me feel a little warmer inside.

Finally, Chen Mo comforted himself: Oh well, that Xiao Ye doesn't seem like an ordinary person either. Maybe she's already someone else's Xiao Ye... Damn those scoundrels.

Fortunately, Chen Mo was not a coy person and quickly adapted.

"Xiao Ye is gone, so there's nothing left to miss in Honghe County. I have to go back to Nanyang Prefecture too. It's been so long since I've seen Xiao Yu'er." Chen Mo composed himself, returned to the main room to pack his luggage, slung a mirror over his shoulder, and went out to the front yard to meet the innkeeper.

The innkeeper was a plump man in his forties. When he saw Chen Mo, he put on a big smile: "Young master, you're up. Your wife has already paid for the inn. She paid for a whole month's worth of expenses and even told me to take good care of you. Oh my, you've really married a good wife. She clearly loves you very much."

Chen Mo: "..."

A villa can be very expensive.

A month's salary... that's quite an expense.

Chen Mo said, "I'm leaving today. Could you give me the extra money I owed for the room to buy a horse, along with some dry rations and some loose silver?"

"If it's your decision, young master, then of course it's possible. I'll go and prepare it for you right away."

Before long, Chen Mo borrowed a horse, took some dry food, and rode out of the city, heading straight for Nanyang Prefecture.

drive! !

……

Nanyang Prefecture.

It was September, and winter had arrived.

This year's cold wave arrived earlier than usual. In mid-September, heavy snow began to fall, turning the entire Nanyang Prefecture into a silvery white landscape.

The Green Wolf Gang.

Baicao Garden.

The entire courtyard was covered in white snow.

Li Huabai, dressed in a mink robe, stood under the eaves of the front yard gate, watching the heavy snow falling from the sky, his face solemn.

"Sister Bai, you've been standing here for so long, are you worried about Young Master Mo?" Bai Ye walked over with a hot water bottle and handed it to Li Huabai.

Li Huabai took the hot water bottle and murmured, "Yes. Young Master Mo and that Xiao Ye went to the Great Yin Mountain to participate in the Dragon-Walking Sacrifice Ceremony. I wonder how it went."

At that moment, Li Qing'er's coughing could be heard coming from inside the room.

Over the past two weeks, Li Qing'er's health has been improving, but the freezing weather has slowed her recovery. She has only recovered about 70-80% so far. Therefore, Li Huabai is not in a hurry to set off for Nanzhou.

They planned to wait until Li Qing'er had fully recovered before setting off. After all, Black Mountain Tower was currently being targeted by the Hua family of Nanzhou and was in a precarious situation. Taking a seriously injured Li Qing'er back would add to the danger.

On the other hand, Li Huabai also wanted to wait for news from Chen Mo before making a decision.

Not long after, Li Qing'er called out from inside.

Li Huabai then entered the room, sat down on the edge of the bed, and took Li Qing'er's hand: "Qing'er, you're not fully recovered yet, you need to rest more."

Li Qing'er's expression had improved considerably. "Sister Bai, has there been any news of Young Master Mo?"

Li Huabai shook his head: "No. The entire Green Wolf Gang is waiting for news from Young Master Mo. That Tang Binghu has also come to the Green Wolf Gang to take charge, and he's sending people everywhere to Honghe County to inquire about news."

Eh.

Li Qing'er sighed: "Young Master Mo was chosen by Jiang Hongyue to be a dragon-walker, and he has to participate in that human-dragon sacrifice. Sister Bai, do you think Young Master Mo has any chance of surviving?"

Li Huabai frowned: "Although I don't know much about human-dragon sacrifice, I do know that human-dragon sacrifice... is a forbidden technique of sacrifice. It involves sacrificing oneself. There is a high probability that one will not survive. After all, that was the sacrificial ritual that brought Jiang Hongyue back to life."

Li Qing'er's face showed sadness. "Young Master has done me a great favor. If it weren't for your help, I'm afraid I would be living a life worse than death. Even if I were left with only half a body, I wouldn't want to live anymore. I truly hope that Young Master is well."

Li Huabai said, "I know Xiaoqing is sensible and grateful. The kindness you have shown me is also the kindness you have shown me. I also hope that you will return safely. However, life is cruel, and I'm afraid we won't get any good news. Recently, there have been strange occurrences at the Rakshasa Temple in Nanzhou."

Li Qing'er asked, "The Rakshasa Shrine?"

Li Huabai said, "Yes. On the surface, Nanzhou is controlled by the seven great demon-suppressing families, but in reality... the seven great demon-suppressing families are nothing more than dogs of the Rakshasa Shrine. The Rakshasa Shrine is the most terrifying existence. Moreover, Jiang Hongyue's fall was inextricably linked to the Rakshasa Shrine."

Li Qing'er asked, "What does Sister Bai mean?"

Li Huabai said, "Even if you survive, the Rakshasa Shrine will not let you go."

Li Qing'er frowned and said no more.

Eh.

Li Huabai sighed, "Our Black Mountain Tower is in a very bad situation right now. The Hua family is leading the charge against us, and other aristocratic families are also kicking us while we're down. It's not easy for us Black Mountain Tower to survive. If Young Master were still alive, we could still rely on him and have a better chance of survival. But even if Young Master survives, the Rakshasa Shrine will not let him go. Our Black Mountain Tower... is in a difficult situation."

Just then—knock knock knock.

There was a knock on the door.

Tang Wan and Lu Chengzhuang are not in the Hundred Herbs Garden today... because Tang Binghu has fallen ill, so the two of them went to take care of him. Only the three Li sisters remain in the Hundred Herbs Garden.

At first, none of the three paid any attention to the knocking.

After all, they weren't the owners of this place; they were just visitors.

But the knocking kept going on and on.

Bai Ye sensed something was wrong and said, "Sister Bai, I'll go open the door."

Li Huabai stood up warily: "Wan'er and Lu Chengzhuang both have keys, and the front door isn't bolted. Who's been knocking on the door? You stay here, I'll go check it out."

After saying that, Li Huabai left the room and went to the front door.

Click.

Li Huabai opened the door and was surprised to see that the person who came in was Chen Mo.

"Young Master Mo!!"

Li Huabai was taken aback. He had just said that Chen Mo couldn't possibly have survived. He never expected to see Chen Mo return so soon. It was a shock to Li Huabai's worldview. However, Li Huabai keenly noticed that Chen Mo's complexion was terrible; he looked exhausted and seemed lifeless.

"Young master, you must be tired from your long journey. Please come in."

Chen Mo nodded, walked through the gate, and without saying a word, went straight to the central courtyard: "Where is Wan'er?"

Li Huabai knew that Tang Binghu had fallen ill and Wan'er had gone to take care of him. However, seeing that Chen Mo looked extremely tired, she did not say anything, only saying, "Wan'er has gone out and has not returned yet. If you need anything, please just tell me."

Chen Mo strode forward: "Then... I'll trouble Miss Hua Bai to fetch me a few buckets of water. I need to take a bath and go to sleep."

Chen Mo was really exhausted.

The journey from Honghe County to Nanyang Prefecture is only two thousand li, which Chen Mo should have covered in two or three days with his current cultivation level. However, it took Chen Mo a full eight days.

There's no other reason than I'm just too exhausted.

And even a little bit of grooming makes me extremely tired. Especially with back pain, neck pain, and other aches and pains.

It felt like I was possessed.

Although Li Huabai was an outsider, Chen Mo couldn't care less about formalities.

Upon hearing this, Li Huabai also felt it was inappropriate, but without much thought, he agreed: "Please wait a moment, young master, I will go and prepare hot water."

"Thank you for your trouble." Chen Mo thanked him politely, and then went into the main room.

Before long, the bathtub in the room was filled with hot water. Chen Mo took off his clothes and lay half-reclined in the wooden tub, feeling the scalding hot water soaking him. As the steam filled the room, Chen Mo's thoughts began to wander.

"What's wrong with me? I'm a cultivator with six incense sticks and six patterns, and in Nanyang Prefecture... no one can surpass me. How come my body is even worse than an ordinary person's, and I'm constantly tired and sleepy?"

Chen Mo rubbed his back vigorously but found nothing unusual.

However, after taking a hot bath, I felt a bit more refreshed.

Chen Mo stepped out of the bathtub, put on a brand new undershirt, and then went out into the living room. He saw Li Huabai still standing in the living room, looking quite ready to serve.

Chen Mo then sat down in the chief's chair and asked with concern, "Has Miss Xiaoqing recovered from her illness?"

Li Huabai said, "I've recovered about 70-80%. I think I'll be fully recovered in a few more days. Thank you for your righteous help back then, young master."

Chen Mo waved his hand, "It was nothing. I thought you had already left Nanyang Prefecture for Nanzhou. I didn't expect you to still be here."

Li Huabai truthfully explained, "It's freezing cold, so Xiaoqing's injuries are healing slowly. In addition, my Black Mountain Tower is currently facing full-scale suppression from the Hua family, making survival difficult. So I thought I would wait until Xiaoqing's injuries were fully healed before setting off. I also wanted to wait for news from you, young master. Fortunately, you have returned safely. It's truly a blessing."

Chen Mo nodded: "Yeah, I was lucky. That's how I escaped with my life."

"May I ask if Miss Xiaoye is well?"

"I'm fine." Chen Mo didn't let Li Huabai continue asking questions, and instead said, "By the way, Miss Huabai, I have a question for you. Your Black Mountain Tower gathers information from the entire Southern Continent, do you know the specific origins of the Rakshasa Shrine?"

This Rakshasa Temple made Chen Mo feel somewhat uneasy.

I asked Nangong Ye before, but Nangong Ye is from the capital and hasn't been in Nanzhou for long, so he doesn't know the origin of the Rakshasa Temple.

Li Huabai said, "I know a little bit. On the surface, the Southern Prefecture is controlled by the Seven Great Families, but in reality, they are all controlled by the Rakshasa Shrine. The Seven Great Families are nothing more than lackeys of the Rakshasa Shrine. However, the Rakshasa Shrine is very well hidden, and my Black Mountain Tower has not yet found out much information."

I see……

Chen Mo said, "Alright. Do me one more favor."

"Please give your orders, young master." Li Huabai knew that his Black Mountain Tower had no way out and was already tied to Chen Mo. Naturally, he was willing to help.

Chen Mo said, "Go and search through the ancient books to see if there is a type of possession with symptoms like these... excessive sleepiness, lower back pain, especially in the back."

Li Huabai was taken aback: "But does the young master himself have these symptoms?"

Chen Mo didn't hide anything: "Yes. Ever since I came down from Dayin Mountain, I've been experiencing backaches, neck pain, and other aches. I get tired and sleepy after just a little activity. At first, I thought it was because I was too tired from Dayin Mountain and that I would be fine after a few days of rest. But instead of getting better, it got worse."

Upon hearing this, Li Huabai was also quite surprised: "Young Master's cultivation level has probably reached the sixth level. Logically speaking, it's not easy for Young Master to be possessed by evil spirits... Besides this, has Young Master noticed anything else unusual?"

Chen Mo shook his head: "No. I've tried everything, but nothing works."

"I understand. I will take care of it immediately."

"Go, and be quick."

Chen Mo waved his hand, dismissing Li Huabai. He then returned to his bedroom, placed the mirror containing Su Yuqing on his desk, and lit three incense sticks with an incense burner.

I wanted to wake Su Yuqing up and chat for a bit.

After all, Nangong Ye was by his side when they were at Dayin Mountain, so Chen Mo didn't say much to Su Yuqing, lest Nangong Ye find out.

Now that he's finally back at his place, he wants to chat for a bit.

Just as I was about to speak, another wave of backache and neck pain washed over me, and an unimaginable fatigue surged through my body, making it almost impossible for me to keep my eyelids open.

"Never mind, let's go to sleep."

Chen Mo used the last of his strength to climb onto the bed and then fell asleep immediately.

I had another nightmare.

The dream was hazy and indistinct; I didn't know what was happening. I felt something pressing me down and rubbing me against the ground, leaving me extremely exhausted.

Chen Mo tried to wake up, but found that he couldn't.

too tired.

What Chen Mo didn't know was...

brush!
The incense burner on the desk continues to burn, and the smoke keeps flowing into the mirror.

Slowly, the ordinary mirror revealed the scene of the bridal chamber. Inside, the ghost bride was sitting in front of the dressing table, slowly doing her makeup.

Unlike usual, Su Yuqing seemed to be in a very good mood.

He even started humming a little tune.

However, it wasn't a pleasant tune; rather, it was eerie and quite frightening.

The next moment, the ghost bride slowly stood up and walked slowly toward the mirror.

Getting closer.

Finally, it touched the mirror.

"Hehe! Second Sister has returned to life, and the curse has been lifted. I can now leave. All thanks to Young Master's help."

After saying that, the ghost bride slowly raised her slender fingers and reached them little by little towards the mirror.

Then, that finger... somehow came out of the mirror.

It appears in the real world.

hiss!
The moment her fingers touched the real world, a strong burning sensation immediately shot through her. Startled, Su Yuqing withdrew her fingers.

"It's been so long since I've been in contact with the real world that I'm starting to feel a little scared."

Soon, the ghost bride composed herself, raised her right finger again, and slowly approached the mirror.

This time, when I stuck my finger out, the burning sensation lessened considerably, and I gradually got used to it.

Then, the second finger came out.

The third finger...

The entire right hand extended out of the mirror.

Then, the other hand also extended the mirror.

Then, the head covered with a red veil also came out.

Finally... he completely climbed out of the mirror.

Immediately afterwards, a woman dressed in a red Xiuhe dress crawled out of the mirror, slowly climbed down from the desk, onto the floor... and then onto Chen Mo's bed.

If Chen Mo were conscious and saw this scene... he would probably be scared half to death.

Meanwhile, the ghost bride climbed onto Chen Mo's bed, lifted the quilt, crawled into the bed, and even took Chen Mo's right hand, resting it on his hand as she looked at him closely.

She kept her red veil on and moved very close to Chen Mo's face.

Chen Mo didn't know...

The ghost bride stared for a long time, then finally laughed and reached out to pinch Chen Mo's nose.

Chen Mo pursed his lips and went back to sleep.

“Young Master looks so adorable when he sleeps. I was able to get out of here thanks to you. I brought you to the Mirror World because I also know how to use some of the Mirror's power. It was Second Mother who taught me. Although you have always looked down on me, I consider you my husband. After all, the ghost marriage was already halfway done.”

"It's a pity that my red veil can't be lifted, because my husband is from the mortal world, while I was in the mirror at the time, not a mortal. Only my husband can lift my red veil. From then on, I can completely return to the mortal world and become a mortal."

Su Yuqing slowly rested her head on Chen Mo's arm, watching and smiling.

I was laughing, and then I started crying.

"I was originally the eldest princess of an imperial family, possessing imperial blood and protected by the auspicious dragon energy. However, I suffered a calamity and lived a life of misery. It was only through meeting you, sir, that I was able to return to this world. I will always remember your kindness..."

"Also, I deceived you, my lord. In truth, my abilities extend far beyond the Shadow Ghost. I was just afraid that revealing the truth would be a blow to you. I am content as long as you are well."

"I wonder if you would be willing to help me lift this red veil. Otherwise, I cannot stay outside for long and will soon have to return to the mirror. That place is too small and uncomfortable."

"..."

Su Yuqing muttered to herself, tears streaming down her face.

Chen Mo, who already felt like he was being rubbed and ground into the ground in his dream, felt the rubbing and grinding even more intensely because of Su Yuqing's presence.

……

The next morning.

hiss.

Chen Mo woke up in pain.

so tired.

I feel like my body doesn't belong to me anymore.

It took a lot of effort to open my eyes.

My lower back aches, my neck is sore and stiff. My arms are numb too. It feels like something is pressing down on them.

"Damn it, I feel terrible. The possession is getting worse and worse, and I could die at any moment," Chen Mo muttered to himself. He got up, looked in the mirror, and didn't find anything wrong. Then he went out to wash up.

Just then, they saw Li Huabai standing in the courtyard, holding a brocade box in his hand.

After washing up, Chen Mo invited Li Huabai into the living room. "Miss Huabai, if you have something to do early in the morning, you can just come to the living room and wait. There's no need to stand outside in the freezing cold."

Li Huabai was quite polite: "I know you must be tired from your journey, and I'm afraid of disturbing your sweet dreams."

Chen Mo had noticed Li Huabai's attitude and, despite his exhaustion, asked, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Have you found any relevant texts?"

Li Huabai presented a brocade box: "I searched all night and found a record with a very high degree of matching. This is a book left by an exorcist from Nanzhou. When he was traveling in his early years, he passed through Nanyang Prefecture and encountered a similar situation, so he left behind the book and old objects. It just so happens that my Black Mountain Gang kept it at its station in Nanyang Prefecture."

Oh?
Chen Mo took the brocade box, opened it, and found an ancient bronze mirror and a book inside.

Chen Mo picked up the mirror and looked at it. It was just an ordinary bronze mirror, but the surface was special. It wasn't bronze or glass, but a special material. It was engraved with special runes around the edges and inlaid with a circle of five-emperor coins.

Chen Mo asked curiously, "Is there any special meaning behind this mirror?"

Li Huabai said, "This is a bone-revealing mirror. It was made by polishing the spine of a powerful exorcist until smooth. The five-emperor coins inlaid around it are for suppressing ghosts. The carved runes are manifestation runes. Just drip your blood onto the mirror, and you can see if there is anything unclean on your body."

Chen Mo nodded: "Interesting. What is this booklet?"

Li Huabai said, "Ordinary impurities can be detected by following my instructions. However, some powerful impurities cannot be detected. It is necessary to follow the ritual procedure in the book for it to be effective."

"What could possess me must be no ordinary ghost. Let me take a look." Chen Mo opened the book.

The above statement is largely consistent with Li Huabai's statement.

The ritual is not too complicated. Sprinkle a circle of black dog blood on the ground, then use your own blood to draw a talisman for the Six Ding and Six Jia in the circle. Sit in the middle of the talisman and light three red candles around it.

Chen Mo said, "Miss Hua Bai, would you please go and fetch some black dog blood? And three red candles as well."

Li Huabai said, "I had Bai Ye prepare it a long time ago. Bai Ye is waiting outside. I'll let Bai Ye in."

"Ah."

Soon, Bai Ye came in carrying a large black dog and took its blood directly into a large bowl. He sprinkled the blood in a large circle in the bedroom, then Chen Mo bit his finger and drew a talisman for the Six Ding Six Jia on the ground, and lit three red candles around the circle.

Li Huabai then said, "Young master, I will wait outside. If you need anything, please feel free to call me."

"it is good."

After dismissing Bai Ye and Li Huabai, Chen Mo sat in the middle of the Liu Ding Liu Jia talisman with a mirror in his hand.

"I'd like to see what's wrong with me. Logically, I shouldn't be in this state. The one who died was my main body, but my clone is exactly the same as the main body. My grudge with Jiang Hongyue has been settled. How could this happen..."

Suddenly, a sentence from the end of the cheat system deduction flashed through Chen Mo's mind:

[Summary: You can survive by using an avatar.]

To eke out a living?

Chen Mo sensed something was off about that overall assessment at the time. But he only thought it was because the avatar would be severely damaged after the main body's death, losing ten years of lifespan. He didn't think much of it. Even later, when he and Xiao Ye arrived at the inn in Honghe County, Chen Mo simply assumed it was due to overwork and the aftereffects of losing ten years of lifespan…

But what happened next was clearly not right.

"To merely survive?"

Chen Mo's pupils contracted, feeling a strange sense of dread.

Chen Mo knew that the Golden Finger never exaggerated. On the contrary, he was very cautious, only revealing about 60% of what he was absolutely certain about. This was the Golden Finger's consistent style.

The "survival of the fittest" mentioned by the golden finger... well, the actual situation is quite serious.

Could it be that the cheat code deduced something back then?
It's just that there wasn't enough information to fully deduce the result.

and many more……

Chen Mo suddenly realized: his true form and his avatar were exactly the same. Any cause and effect that was applied to his avatar would also appear in his true form. But Jiang Hongyue and his true form... had swapped souls.

In other words, even one's own incarnation cannot avoid this process.

"But... my physical body is dead. Shouldn't cause and effect vanish with the death of my physical body?"

Right?

The man's dead. What more do you want?
Even if Jiang Hongyue wanted to do something to him, there was nothing he could do. After all, he was already dead.

"Forget it, I shouldn't scare myself. I'll check what's going on first. Maybe it's because I went to that twin demon's tomb and got infected with some kind of evil."

Click.

Chen Mo bit his finger and dripped blood onto the mirror.

hiss~
The mirror absorbed its own blood, turning somewhat red, and became connected with the surrounding ritual.

Because the mirror is relatively small, it cannot reflect one's full appearance.

Chen Mo had no choice but to take pictures little by little.

First, they took a picture of both legs, and they looked normal.

Another abdominal scan showed normal results.

Both hands, normal.

I also took photos of my chest and face, and they were all normal.

"Phew, everything's normal..."

Before Chen Mo could finish speaking, he saw a red shadow flash by behind him.

Ok?
Chen Mo then carefully looked at his back.

A chill ran down my spine!

hiss!
A woman dressed in a red traditional Chinese wedding dress was lying on his back.

Damn it!

What is this thing?

No wonder I've been feeling terrible back pain lately; turns out there's a female ghost in red clinging to my back!
Chen Mo felt a chill run down his spine, but he still mustered his courage and slowly shone the light on the woman's face.

Her face was covered with a red veil.

"Su Yuqing? What the hell are you doing on my back? Trying to scare me, huh? Get down here!" Chen Mo instinctively thought it was Su Yuqing.

That's fine.

After all, Su Yuqing was a female ghost who had been married to him for over ten years. They knew each other well, so she wouldn't harbor any ill will towards him.

And that makes perfect sense.

Su Yuqing had been inside the mirror. Perhaps because Jiang Hongyue had returned to life, the curse had disappeared. So Su Yuqing ran out.

call!
Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright, alright, I've neglected you lately. Don't play pranks anymore. Come down now."

However, the woman with the red veil remained motionless.

Just then——

Chen Mo saw that the two-foot oval mirror on the opposite desk had changed, slowly revealing the bridal chamber. Su Yuqing was still sitting at the dressing table doing her makeup, and she spoke with a resentful tone, "Young master, why did you call me?"

what?
Chen Mo's pupils widened.

Su Yuqing is still in the mirror... Then who is the woman with the red veil on my back?
Suddenly, Chen Mo recalled what Nangong Ye had told him about the scene after the human-dragon sacrifice: seeing a woman with a red veil covering her head, carrying a red lantern, walking from the underworld across the River of Oblivion.

The woman with the red veil said a few words at that time:
"Hehehe~"

"A century has passed, the world has changed, and I, Jiang Hongyue... have finally returned."

"I hate this world so much, I want to kill everyone in this world, everyone!"

"Hee hee~"

Thinking of this, Chen Mo felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

and so……

The one clinging to my back... is... Jiang Hongyue after her resurrection!?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: The story of the Demon King's Soul, Volume 4, has begun. I hope you all enjoy it. Please vote with a monthly pass!
(End of this chapter)