The Thirteen Trials of the Deceptive Monk

2. It was of noble birth and immense power. It was one of the offspring of Typhon, the hundred-headed giant, and Echidna, the mother of all monsters, and had once gloriously served as one of Heracles' trials. Comparing it to the Hydra and the Nemean Lion, who were also trials, it's easy to imagine that Cerberus was at least roughly on par with them.

3. Its nickname is Keke. Besides guarding the gate, it also likes to carry a frisbee around and listen to classical romantic tunes.

Despite its venomous mouth, booming voice, bronze-like skin, and mane composed of various snake heads, the Keke is actually quite friendly. If you're willing to give it some raw meat, it won't mind enthusiastically licking your face with its large tongue. At this point, you'd better make sure you're wearing protective gear, in case it accidentally licks your head off.

Lu Wenjun learned the first and second facts about Cerberus through his reading, and gained a deeper understanding of the third fact while working. This is why, upon seeing those three large, furry heads, his first reaction was to raise his hands and shout desperately, "Cerberus, don't eat me!!!"

"Awooo!" "Awooo!" "Awooo!!!" Keke opened its three big mouths and responded with a roar like that of fifty soldiers.

This cute, docile little creature wriggled its mountain-like body, like three bronze-colored, super-large tunnel boring machines crushing through a residential area. Wherever it passed, buildings and apartments were crushed into dust, and boiling venom swept across like a torrential rain, turning the road into a dark green pool of poison.

One by one, the honest and simple deceased floated blankly in the ruins, letting the giant tail of the carve sweep across their heads, their faces bearing the simple sorrow of death.

"It's so lively today!"

"It seems that Lord Hades has forgotten to tether Keke again."

"Oh, a new face," a spirit said to Lü Wenjun from afar. "Why don't you sit down and chat?"

Lu Wenjun had already transformed and was sprinting away. The increasingly ferocious howls behind him made him feel like he was back in his dream of the day of the midterm exams. The difference was that even if Lord Jiujiumu was angry, he could only turn you into wood, but if Keke took a bite, you would be reborn in the Wanling Mansion on the spot!

He channeled all his magic into his sprint, activating his flying shoes for rocket-like acceleration. Even so, the distance between them was rapidly closing, and he seriously doubted he could even last five seconds. For Cecchus was not a tree; not only did it have all four limbs, but it was also a canine exceptionally good runner!

"Run faster if you don't want to die!!" Hisamitsu shouted.

"Is this a problem my legs can solve?!" Lu Wenjun was furious. "It's a legendary hound! A mage of my level has no right to deal with it!"

"Have some ambition! It's been beaten up by heroes from all walks of life several times, so it's no longer a legend. It's just that it's extremely senior, has a lot of magic power, is rich in combat experience, has home-field advantage, and is many times stronger than most other legends..."

"Does that stop it from biting a hundred dissenting newbies to death in one bite?!" Lu Wenjun screamed, "Senior, help me ahhhhhh!"

As he screamed in agony, most of his head was already embedded in the gaps between Ke Ke's teeth. And at that very instant, a familiar golden light flashed.

He realized he was a thousand meters away, now just a distant figure. Mingxiao, carrying him in one hand, stood atop a giant rock and confidently declared, "I've figured it out, the ruler of this area is Hades!"

"It's so useful, how come I didn't realize it?" Hisamitsu said.

"Can you shut that sarcastic tongue of yours? I was only gone for two minutes, who knew you'd run into a dog like that." Mingxiao casually put his junior down. "Let me think about how to deal with this dog..."

Out of consideration for basic diplomatic etiquette between secret realms, Mingxiao used a puppet with limited power for this trip. Its magical power, let alone legendary, was barely considered upper-middle tier even among the legendary-level beings. Cerberus, on the other hand, was a genuine hound capable of fighting a legendary being; the difference in their strength was obvious.

Cerberus turned its head, sniffing the scent. It lowered its upper body, its massive form convulsing with a spiritual quality, and the mane on its arched back stood on end.

That frenzied, bestial nature sent chills down Lü Wenjun's spine. He cautiously said, "Senior, should we retreat first?"

"Running away from the little boy I'm protecting?" Mingxiao scoffed. "That's so lame, I won't do it!"

Cerberus roared and leaped into the air, the muscles beneath its bronze skin bulging, unleashing a tidal wave of power that transformed it into a mountain range strewn with swords. At the same moment, Mingxiao vanished, appearing a thousand meters above Cerberus's head, the golden seed syllable flashing briefly on the sole of her boots.

Legendary Transformation, Divine Footwork that Cuts Through the Earth.

Originally a Buddhist supernatural power that allows one to travel wherever one's thoughts lead, it evolved in later interpretations and explanations into a near-instantaneous teleportation ability. Mingxiao combined the evolved meaning with the original scriptures to construct the technique of "traveling wherever one's thoughts lead," a speed that is considered top-tier even in legends.

She clenched her fist and slammed it down, and the wrathful form of the King of Light immediately manifested, smashing the three-headed dog's side with a giant, burning fist!

"Ow—!"

Cerberus took the blow head-on, then turned and snapped its jaws, its tough hide and bones more than capable of withstanding a direct assault. Mingxiao, however, had already moved on, flashing behind it and unleashing another powerful, burning strike. In a split second, she teleported eighty-one times, eighty-one bursts of light and fire striking out with imperceptible time differences, constructing a brilliant golden ring of fire above the Hall of All Spirits. Amidst the raging flames, the three-headed dog lost its balance and plummeted to the ground!

Mingxiao moved back to the ground, conjuring a talisman with a flick of her hand. This damage was nothing to the underworld's watchdog; all she wanted was an opportunity. She looked up at the descending giant dog and chanted an ancient incantation.

"The five stars shine brightly, illuminating the darkest realm. Thousands of gods and saints protect my true spirit."

"The five-day demon will perish and vanish. Wherever it goes, all the gods will worship it."

"—Hurry, hurry, as the law commands!"

After the incantation was recited, the talisman was unleashed, transforming into a five-colored divine light that illuminated heaven and earth. This light manifested as five majestic illusions, each a different color—red, blue, yellow, white, and black—representing the true forms of the Five Heavenly Emperors. These figures, wielding the divine light, surged like chains, transforming into a Azure Dragon, a Vermilion Bird, a White Tiger, and a Black Tortoise to bind the three-headed dog's limbs. Meanwhile, the North Star pierced down from above, firmly subduing the ferocious hound to the ground!

The Jade Immortal Ji Chuanjun personally transmitted his magic, which is used to overcome evil tricks and subdue heretical demons.

Legendary Assimilation: The Great Protector Fights Demons and Subdues Magic!

Cerberus was instantly suppressed by the Five-Colored Divine Light, unable to move. Mingxiao clapped his hands casually and returned to the dumbfounded Lü Wenjun: "Done!"

"Senior, you're amazing!" Lu Wenjun's eyes lit up.

Hisamitsu scoffed, "Violent maniac."

"Haha, I'm not called the best fighter in the whole school for nothing." Mingxiao turned her head. "Speaking of which, can this idiot just shut up? A couple of exchanges would have been enough, was it really necessary to fight to the death?"

The roar from nearby grew increasingly deafening as Cerberus's four claws dug deep into the ground, struggling fiercely against the divine light. The power of the subjugation spell, originally intended only for restraint, nearly pierced its flesh amidst its frenzied struggle.

The underworld was its domain, and the power of the avatar Mingxiao used was limited. If this continued, it would eventually break free of its restraints, but it would also end up covered in wounds.

Lu Wenjun found it increasingly strange. Putting aside the fact that they had no grudges against each other and there was no need to fight to the death, if Keke's temper was really that fierce, the great hero might lose control and turn the trial into "twisting off the head of Cerberus".

He tried to observe more closely, but was blinded by the burning gaze; the six bright, beastly eyes, each as large as a human head, were darting about erratically.

"That's strange..."

He squinted, noticing more details: Keke's back was still hunched, its mane bristling, and the venom in its mouth was thicker than when they last met. He felt an increasingly subtle sense of familiarity, and then suddenly realized the truth.

"Senior, wait a minute." He stopped Mingxiao, who was rolling up her sleeves. "Keke might be... frightened."

"Huh???" Mingxiao's face was full of disbelief.

“If you shrink it down to forty times the size, and then add a dog’s head, doesn’t it look like a dog that’s been scared and is running around in circles?” Lu Wenjun became more and more confident as he spoke. “I would never mistake that look in his eyes. That’s exactly how those wolves looked when they saw my father!”

"What exactly did your dad do to the wolf?!" Hisamitsu asked in shock.

"Back then, he caught a large group of wolves for me to use for survival training. I was chased by wolves in the mountains for two weeks."

Mingxiao was deeply shocked: "For a moment, I really can't tell which of you two, father and son, is more problematic..."

“My summer vacation isn’t the main point; the main point is how to deal with a crazed wolf… dog.” Lü Wenjun changed his tune. “In my experience, violence won’t work at this point. It’s already terrified; the more you hit it, the crazier it will become. Can you use an assimilation spell to calm it down?”

“I didn’t bring any mind control spells with me today…” Mingxiao had a sudden inspiration, “How about letting Jiuguang try?”

Hisamitsu rolled her eyes: "Wake up, I'm right here in my bedroom, okay?"

"Didn't you use a sympathetic magic tool? Since you can 'see' through Wenjun, you can also have Wenjun 'speak' for you, right?"

"This is really troublesome..." Hisamitsu sighed, "Fine, I'll just try making a random joke... Nerd, open your mouth."

Lu Wenjun sensed a faint magical energy drifting towards him, like a halo of light projected from a very distant place. He tried to catch the light with his magic, and then his mouth involuntarily opened, his stiff tongue moving in an unfamiliar way:

"Issued in the name of Jingyue Jiuguang, um... just roll around a few times and let me touch your belly."

Keke immediately tilted its head back and fell to the ground, rolling around like a giant caterpillar. Mingxiao rubbed the giant dog's belly with his fiery hands: "Sweetie~ Let me pat your head again~"

"Awoo~~" "Awoo~" "Woo woo..."

It lay comfortably in its cocoon, its long snake (its tail) thrashing about merrily behind it. Lu Wenjun, finally regaining control of his tongue, gagged, "Damn! How disgusting!"

"Ugh!" Hisamitsu also felt nauseous. "You dog Mingxiao, you've ruined me! How could my beautiful voice come out of this godforsaken place?!"

"I'm the one who's really unlucky! My voice just now sounded like a eunuch's!"

"Eunuch Lü, if you wish to clean yourself up as you see fit, I absolutely will not play that game!"

While the two were arguing fiercely, Keke was finally coaxed into calming down. It sat obediently in the ruins, its six big eyes drooping pitifully, looking as if it had suffered bullying in the canine world.

In the distance, an elderly man in a black robe ran briskly, shouting as he went, "Keke! Stop! Don't bite a living person!"

“You’ve arrived a bit too late…” Mingxiao dispelled the Mingwang Fire. “Long time no see, Mr. Hades.”

The old man, dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold and holding a cane that resembled a scepter, looked like a wealthy landowner enjoying a life of luxury. Upon hearing this, he first nodded solemnly, then said somewhat awkwardly, "Don't be so blunt. These days, people usually use pseudonyms when they're not on the mountain..."

"Sorry, sorry, it's been so long since I've dealt with you, I forgot." Mingxiao scratched his head. "Should I call him Mr. Death or Mr. Dark?"

The gentleman, who liked pseudonyms, thought for a while and said, "They all sound pretty bad. How about Hades? I quite like that transliteration."

"Wouldn't that completely expose us?" Lü Wenjun couldn't help but ask.

Hades smiled at him: "Oh, isn't this Dionysus's little helper?"

"You didn't cover for him either!"

“Oh dear, using aliases is such a hassle, let’s just leave it at that for now.” Hades conjured three enormous ropes to leash Zakkiel. “I’m sorry to have startled you, Zakkiel is usually very well-behaved, today was just a special case…”

Mingxiao asked curiously, "What did it encounter that scared it so much?"

"Sigh, you'll see once you come with me..."

Upon hearing this, they immediately stopped on high alert, their three large dog heads buckling like springs. Hades snapped irritably, "I told you not to go again! Have some self-respect! Lead the way!"

Keke then set off, coiling its long snake tail around Lü Wenjun and Mingxiao. Its powerful limbs stomped the ground, and it leaped up like a bronze cannonball. The monotonous, drab tombstone apartment building appeared as a gray blur in view, but only a few seconds later, that gray was covered by a large expanse of pale white. That was the color of the old, faded white stone exterior walls.

Mountain villa-style townhouses have replaced gray stone houses, and old chandeliers, flickering on and off, illuminate dirty windows. The villas are adjacent to early 20th-century American rural log cabins, and next to them are makeshift prefabricated houses from the post-war reconstruction period. These old buildings of different styles are pieced together in a distorted way, like a constantly mutating and multiplying building monster.

Lu Wenjun felt uneasy when he saw the complex of buildings. Anyone who had watched a few horror movies would have felt a familiar sense of unease. What was even more ominous was that the complex of buildings was expanding in the present tense. He watched as the straight stone road disappeared before his eyes and turned into a crooked path covered with scarecrows.

"Awoo!" "Awoo!" "Awooo!"

It stopped in front of the buildings, raised its three heads, and barked incessantly. Old Man Hades sighed sadly.

“You see,” he said, “this troublesome madman’s creation.”

Mingxiao gave an "oh" and casually grabbed Lü Wenjun's arm: "What's this?"

Lu Wenjun looked up and noticed an inconspicuous sign atop the building complex:

Stiller Cooper's Infinite Horror House

Chapter 98 What's scarier than a ghost is the girl who watches horror movies with you.

Old Mr. Hades sighed and began to recount the whole story.

“You should be familiar with the festival customs of the underworld, where the dead hold thrilling competitions. And this year’s contestant… how should I put it… is too good.” Hades seemed to have an endless sigh. “He built an unparalleled haunted house that will tailor the most suitable fear for each person. To increase the tension, he added a new design: the house will absorb fear and grow larger until the first visitor completes it.”

Lu Wenjun looked at the muddy road spreading towards their feet: "Could it be..."

“Just as you guessed. He terrified every dead person, frightened the Grim Reapers, frightened Kelvin, and even frightened me.” Hades pounded his cane repeatedly. “And by the time we realized what was happening, the Harvest Festival's grand prize had transformed into an unprecedentedly gigantic monster. And that wicked, heartless sorcerer, in order to enhance the suspense and attract tourists, made it impossible for us to utter a single word!”

"The terrified dead rush to the ground, the horrified Grim Reapers fall ill and recuperate, the peace of the underworld is gone, and the festival can no longer be celebrated!"

At this point, Mr. Hades suddenly adopted a passionate and impassioned tone. He was clearly an expert in this art form; his infectious voice and perfectly timed pauses were enough to qualify him for the opening remarks of a AAA game.

"Warriors from the earth! The King of the Underworld bestows upon you a glorious task: prove your courage and restore peace to the underworld!"

Miss Hisamitsu suddenly burst into a fit of maniacal laughter; she was undoubtedly rolling around on the bed laughing. Lu Wenjun didn't have time to delve into her rudeness, because his arm was aching; Mingxiao had gripped it a little too tightly.

He couldn't help but turn his head to look, and found that his senior's gaze was unusually wandering. She seemed to have suddenly developed a strong interest in the astronomy of Wanling Mansion, her head tilted back, her beautiful face slightly pale.

"...Senior?"

Mingxiao turned around abruptly: "Reconnaissance complete, let's head back to school now!"

"Senior sister???" Lu Wenjun's expression was just as shocked as the old man next to him. "No, shouldn't we be saying this now?"

"You need to prioritize your tasks!" Mingxiao said emphatically. "What tasks did the student council give you? Gathering intelligence! Is it appropriate for you to infiltrate enemy territory while gathering intelligence? That's a problem for professionals. We college students should just take a quick look and then hurry back to celebrate the holiday!"

"Damn, senior, your current expression is just like Faris has possessed you! It's like you've been possessed by some kind of shameless ghost!"

Old man Hades nearly dropped his cane: "Well, I also issued a quest, didn't I..."

Mingxiao retorted confidently, "Are you a school employee? No! You have no right to order me around."

Hades was furious: "How dare you disrespect Hades! I'm going to tell your mentor!"

"Go ahead and see if Professor Ji laughs at you first or scolds me first..."

Lu Wenjun felt increasingly strange; this shirking of responsibility was completely out of character for his senior. Shouldn't she normally pat her chest and say, "Leave it to me," then drag the screaming junior inside?

Why are you suddenly talking nonsense at the door... and you even seem a little guilty...?

He suddenly had a bizarre guess.

"Senior," he said cautiously, "you're not afraid of ghosts, are you?"

Mingxiao's ears perked up immediately: "How could that be! Your senior sister is incredibly brave and fearless, there's not a single word about me that I'm afraid of!"

Lu Wenjun calmly pulled his hand away, but Mingxiao grabbed it back with a snap.

Hisamitsu, far away, laughed wildly: "Cowardly, fat rabbit!"

"Nonsense! I'm worried that Wenjun will be attacked by ghosts!" Mingxiao said emphatically.

"You're so brave! Someone who's too scared to watch horror movies or play horror games and hides in their room is actually this brave. After living together for so many years, I really never saw that coming wwwww"

Lu Wenjun remained silent, then suddenly looked surprised: "Senior, behind you!"

"Alas!"

The fur on Mingxiao Rabbit's ears stood on end in fright, and it immediately turned around and threw a huge fireball. The fireball exploded and burned in empty space, causing Koko, who was nearby, to scream in fright.