Don't mess with that Miao boy, he's sickly and perverted.

After the gap in the barrier was reinforced, the monsters retreated again.

Lucheng has once again enjoyed a brief period of peace.

Qiongqi, tightly bound by the red dragon, became a trapped beast struggling in vain.

After examining the demonic beast up close, Wu Li was finally able to confirm: "These demonic beasts are all controlled by Gu, the Gu of the High Priest."

The white cat, clutching the new whisk, angrily flicked its tail: "Blame your master, my true form was too short to completely eliminate him."

While listening, Chai Xiaomi's hands never stopped, diligently massaging Wu Li's fingers, sometimes pulling on his finger bones, sometimes rotating his wrists. His hands had barely rested during the days he was performing the bow-repairing ritual.

Wu Li glanced down at her without showing any emotion. Those soft little hands were rubbing together when suddenly, they got mischievous and lightly scratched his palm with their fingertips. His fingers stiffened slightly, then he casually looked away, pretending not to have noticed anything.

"Lili," Chai Xiaomi asked, looking up, "If the High Priest can cast spells on these demonic beasts, can you help them break free?"

"He's going all in," Wu Li said in a low voice. "He's poured all his Gu power into it; if he can eliminate these demonic beasts, he won't survive either."

"It seems these demonic beasts must be eliminated. My elixir is damaged, and the temporary barrier I just repaired probably won't last until tomorrow." The white cat looked up at the gap in the barrier and couldn't help but sigh, "I never thought you little brat could withstand this barrier I taught you for so many days. If it were your senior brother, he probably wouldn't last even a day."

Its kind gaze fell upon him, its tone filled with the heartache of an elder: "You've suffered these past few days, haven't you?"

Others may not know, but it knows how much effort it must have expended to maintain this barrier until now.

Wu Li pursed her lips, her voice nonchalant: "Bitter? It's clearly quite sweet."

He lowered his eyes and looked at the top of the girl's head in front of him. She didn't press it twice before she buried her head and started playing with his fingers, pinching them one by one, having a great time.

He had no choice but to obediently let her do as she pleased.

She wanted to help Song Yueyao, so he did.

She wanted to protect the city, so he did.

He was willing to be a tool in her hands, to be driven by her, and to do anything for her.

As long as she's by my side, what hardship is there?

Not to mention him, even Anan and Hongjiao are now like her pets, at her beck and call. He doesn't even know when Anan was sent out to deliver the message.

It was a complete waste of money raising them.

Despite thinking this way, he wasn't annoyed; instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

The white cat slapped its forehead with its paw, unable to bear the sight. How long had it been since they parted? How come this little rascal was getting more and more obsessed? Look at that gaze, glued to Xiaomi, as if he couldn't bear to be apart from her for even a moment.

"Alright, alright, let's not dwell on the bitterness and sweetness of it all." It stroked its whiskers and said seriously, "If we want to restrain these demonic beasts, it's obviously impossible for ordinary soldiers to fight them head-on. There are just too many of them. Even when I was young, I could only fight ten at most at a time. Unless there are people who are immune to injury and fearless of death."

Chai Xiaomi, who was engrossed in playing with her well-defined fingers, suddenly looked up.

A person who is not afraid of death?

"That's just a dead person." She blinked, her mind racing, and she perked up. "I know a forbidden technique! Old Ji, do you know it? Impure World Reincarnation!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a voice drifted into his mind: "Um... friendly reminder, host, you're not dressed up as a character from a Japanese anime."

Chai Xiaomi retorted inwardly, "I know, but I didn't say it had to be Japanese anime techniques. What if some righteous sects have secretly researched similar methods? Old Ji might actually know them!"

The white cat was stunned for a few seconds: "What's this?"

"Impure World Reincarnation!" Chai Xiaomi gestured excitedly. "It's that kind of thing, summoning the soul of the dead back from the underworld, then reshaping a body out of clay and stuffing the soul inside! After being resurrected, you can control it, making it do whatever you're told, even more obedient than a puppet!"

"Of course, I know this is forbidden art, against the laws of nature, and it would be disrespectful to the souls of the dead, but we're not doing anything bad, so it should... not be a big problem?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Li beside him subtly curled his lips, realizing he had the same thought. What had he been thinking before? How could he have considered her foolish? His wife was clearly incredibly intelligent.

"I can."

The word "light and airy" came from beside me.

A meme popped into Chai Xiaomi's mind: How many more surprises do you have that I don't know about?

"You can?!" She suddenly turned her head and stared at him, her eyes first showing a burst of surprise, then a deep worry settled over them.

Those eyes clearly said: You can't kill, even if you can.

Wu Li understood, and a slight smile appeared on his lips: "I only used the insect gu to summon the dead from underground, but it's not as powerful as you say. It can't reshape the physical body, nor can it insert a soul."

"They are just skeletons, acting on their own will, beyond my control. There is a group of people who are probably the most eager to drive away the barbarians in this world; even without souls, their will can command skeletons."

Chai Xiaomi was taken aback, then realized that he was referring to the Nie family army that had died at the hands of the barbarians.

"However, as you said, this method is disrespectful to the dead, and in the end, we might not even be able to preserve our bones. Mimi, if you agree, I will use the Gu."

Chai Xiaomi thought for a moment and said, "It's okay for me. I should ask Sister Yao if she agrees."

"I agree!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Song Yueyao's voice interrupted:

"If I die, and someone can dig up my bones to fight, I'll be thanking them profusely."

She had approached without her noticing, with Jiang Zhiyu following behind.

"Yaoyao, don't talk nonsense, how could you be dead?"

"Everyone dies eventually. Do you think I'm a madman like Song Hu who spends all his time thinking about immortality? Although I am his daughter, I did not inherit his madness."

The two had just met when Jiang Zhiyu pulled Song Yueyao to a secluded spot and said something to her. Both of their eyes were red at that moment.

Chai Xiaomi sighed regretfully, but unfortunately, only her eyes were red, not her mouth.

How come I didn't notice when I read it that this novel was so innocent? The male and female leads didn't even kiss once from beginning to end.

She almost wanted to rush over and force their heads down, but the moment was not the right time.

*

fifth day.

In the barbarian camp outside the city, a soldier rushed to the main tent, his face filled with uncontrollable elation.

"Khan! The barrier is broken! The barrier is broken!"

The tent flap was lifted, and a burly man with animal skins hanging from his waist strode out. Wolf teeth dangled from his filthy braids, colliding slightly with each step, and the iron ball he was holding suddenly stopped.

He looked up at the distant city, where the barrier that had held up for several days was crumbling inch by inch, its white light dissipating like the last breath of a dying person.

The anxiety of the past few days transformed into a wild, sinister joy at this moment.

"I thought some kind of deity lived in this city!" The Khan grinned, his laughter as rough as gravel. "The last day, I finally couldn't hold on any longer!"

He turned abruptly, his voice rising sharply: "Where's the strategist? Quickly, go and summon the new strategist!"

Before long, a figure slowly emerged from the depths of the camp.

The man was draped in a black cloak, with silver ornaments hanging from his neck. His footsteps made a soft rustling sound, and wherever he went, even the restless demon beasts fell silent for no reason, lowering their heads and emitting low moans.

His cloak's hood was pulled down so low that his entire face was hidden in shadow. His eyes, hidden in the darkness, were like lurking snakes, cold and deep, sending chills down one's spine for no reason.

He stopped before the Khan, nodded slightly, and remained silent.

The Khan, however, seemed unfazed by his silence. Instead, he grinned and pointed towards the crumbling city in the distance: "Strategist, you can lead your beasts in now. These starving bastards will tear the remnants of the Nie family's army to shreds in no time!"

"Yes, Khan." A deep voice slowly emerged from deep within the hood.

*

The barbarian army and the beast tide pressed forward like a dark cloud.

The two heavy city gates in the distance slowly opened as the soldiers inside pushed them open.

The Khan, mounted on his horse, was first taken aback, then, as if he had seen the funniest joke, he threw his head back and burst into laughter. He turned to the soldiers beside him, raised his chin, and said in a rough tone full of mockery, "What's going on? Are these cowards about to surrender?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of boisterous laughter erupted from all around. Some joined in the commotion, while others banged their weapons against their shields, watching like prey struggling in its death throes, waiting to see how the city's remaining soldiers would kneel and beg for mercy.

The city gates were wide open.

A tall figure emerged from the shadows.

Backlit, his face was obscured, but he walked slowly through the corridor.

The shadows gradually faded from him, from his ankles and waist to his shoulders, until he was completely bathed in sunlight.

Only then did everyone see his actions clearly.

He lowered his eyes and bit his finger.

The moment the blood seeped out, he knelt down and pressed his bloodied fingers heavily into the soil beneath him.

The knuckles sank into the yellow earth, as if knocking on a door that should never have been opened.

The young man raised his eyes and parted his thin lips slightly:

"I hereby decree: By my blood oath, I command the underworld; guide the way to the Yellow Springs, and let my decaying bones heed the summons—"

The fingers pressed against the ground slowly tightened, as if gripping a chain deep underground.

"rise!"