Curse Returns: What did the human-shaped wishing machine do wrong this time?

After Sugawara Kazuka left, only the mutilated bodies of his subordinates remained at the scene.

Warm blood still flowed from the dead body. The night was dark, and a cold wind swept in erratically, filling the room with an unbearable stench of blood.

"Xiaomei, shall we go find Yihe and Yao now?"

Alluka gently shook Rime's arm. He was slightly shorter than Rime, with a few strands of hair sticking to his cheeks. His eyes were innocent and he still looked harmless and naive.

Rime's hand paused in mid-air for a moment, then landed on Alluka's head and ruffled it.

"Let's wait until dawn..."

Nighttime is when the curses are most active, and with their combined strength, they would be torn to shreds by those monsters if they weren't careful.

If Sugawara Kazukazu's wish is true, then he can really do whatever he wants in the Higashiyama region.

They don't need to worry about anything.

Moreover... Rime had a bad feeling. He felt that Sugawara Kazuka was no longer the same person as before, and that if the two of them went up to that monster, they might get killed.

"Okay."

Alluka nodded obediently.

They circled around the temple entrance. The mountain was barren and there was nowhere to escape the cold. With no other choice, Rime and Alluka returned to this blood-stained place.

Fortunately, this place is filled with the curse and the remnants of curse power left by Sugawara Ichika, and no other curses dare to set foot here.

Rime and Alluka, like lost puppies, huddled together to spend the long night.

As the morning light shone dimly through the roof tiles, the two walked out of the dilapidated temple together.

The snow they had come from was no longer pristine white; the withered branches of the trees, the footprints of varying depths and potholes on the ground all reminded them that yesterday's events were not a dream.

"Shall we go and take a look?"

Rime turned her head and asked Alluka for her opinion.

Now there's no one to guide them, and neither of them knows which way to go.

They didn't know where the road led, just as they didn't know when the heavy snow would stop.

*

"Xiaomei! There's a sound up ahead!"

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Alluka heard some noisy voices ahead.

Alluka tilted her head behind Rime and saw a crowd of people in the forest ahead, with scattered firelight flickering in the dim night.

Those lights instantly brightened his eyes.

"Xiaomei, there's someone up ahead! Should we go check it out?"

"Don't go yet."

Unlike the optimistic Alluka, Rime felt that something was amiss with the current situation.

He could sense a dangerous aura ahead.

They are very strong, stronger than he can handle.

Rime's expression froze, and just as he was thinking of a solution, a person suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Hmm? Two little kids covered in blood? One's spell is ice freezing, and the other... a companion spirit? How interesting."

A young man wearing a black hat and a white hunting robe was standing in front of them, bending over slightly and looking them over.

A large group of people followed behind him, their armor bearing the distinctive Fei Mei family crest.

Compared to Sugawara Kazukazu, their attire was much more expensive.

"Sir! Where are you going?"

They held up torches soaked in tung oil, as if trying to illuminate the night.

But the white-clad youth who was leading them ignored them.

"This looks interesting, especially you... Is that strange thing on the mountain related to you?"

He pointed to Alluka, who looked bewildered, his azure eyes gleaming in the firelight.