According to Li Muyang’s numerous failed explorations, the villagers of Black Cloud Village could be roughly divided into two groups.
One was like Li Muyang, with purple bands wrapped around their wrists, following Steward Wu and other outsiders in practicing demonic path. The lifestyle and mindset of these villagers had diverged from that of the original inhabitants.
The other group lived according to the old ways, maintaining their ancestors’ lifestyle. They did not practice the demonic path with Steward Wu and the outsiders, but neither did they oppose Steward Wu leading the villagers in such practices.
These two different ways of life coexisted in the village, creating a strange balance.
And Granny Gu was one of the maintainers of this peculiar equilibrium.
She held high prestige in the village, appearing to be a kind old lady with a warm smile.
However, no one in the village dared to disrespect her, and even Steward Wu and his people were cautious around her.
When Li Muyang and Xiao Yecao arrived at the ancestral temple, they saw an old granny sitting on the wooden steps of the stilted building next to it, basking in the sun.
The old lady had a kind smile, and her head was wrapped in a long black cloth that spiraled around, resembling a black halo.
At first glance, this granny looked no different from the other elders in the village.The moment Li Muyang saw Granny Gu, a system dialogue box appeared in his vision.
【Ask Granny Gu for help and tell her the truth about Xiao Yecao’s situation】
【Maybe I shouldn’t go to Granny Gu, I should ask Steward Wu for help】
【- Note: Your choice will affect the main character’s future development path -】
Li Muyang had met Granny Gu several times before, but he had never encountered such options.
It was also the first time the system had issued such a serious warning.
This choice would affect Xiao Yecao’s development path?
Does it mean that seeking help from Granny Gu and seeking help from Steward Wu would lead to different paths?
Considering what the system said at the beginning, Xiao Yecao could become a fairy but also had the potential to become a witch… It’s quite obvious.
If she follows Steward Wu’s path, Xiao Yecao will definitely become more deeply bound to the demonic path.
Although Li Muyang is a demonic cultivator, he doesn’t have any fondness for the demonic path, especially for outdated demonic cultivators like Steward Wu from the old era.
Practitioners like Steward Wu from the old era were known to commit evil deeds and bring disaster to the region.
Without hesitation, Li Muyang chose the first option, asking Granny Gu for help.
“Oh? A sinister being that appears in dreams?”
After listening to Li Muyang’s story, Granny Gu’s kind smile slightly faded.
She beckoned Xiao Yecao to come closer, and then she sniffed and rubbed against Xiao Yecao like an animal while circling around her.
“There is indeed a strange and sinister stench.”
“Xiao Yu’er, you’re really lucky to have stumbled upon such a formidable thing.” (TLN: Xiao Yu’er=Little Fish)
The old lady chuckled as she looked at Li Muyang, saying, “Judging from the smell, this evil entity must be something very ancient, drawn here by the unique scent of a lost soul person.”
“It has a special origin, and its power is mysterious. Ordinary people and even ordinary cultivators would struggle to resist this monster.”
“Only those who have lost their souls, or those like that human trafficker, have the resistance against such evil entities.”
“If this old woman isn’t mistaken, you must have stayed awake all night, right? Were you too scared to sleep because of ghost stories?”
Granny Gu chuckled as she watched Li Muyang, saying, “You’re a lucky lad. You survived by sheer luck. If you hang around with this Xiao Yecao, you’ll also be targeted by that evil entity.”
“You would have been doomed if you had fallen asleep last night, as these kinds of evil entities love to kill people in their dreams.”
Li Muyang’s eyes widened at Granny Gu’s words.
That trafficker… could he actually be an expert?
But thinking about it, it made sense. A human trafficker who collects lost soul people from various places and delivers them to Black Cloud Village, encountering all sorts of strange incidents along the way yet remaining unharmed… He must be quite skilled.
Li Muyang asked, “Granny Gu, then how should we deal with this evil entity?”
The old lady smiled and said,
“Don’t worry, though this evil entity is eerie, our Black Cloud Village ancestors used to feed on such things.”
“Although most of the ancestors’ artifacts have been lost, dealing with this evil entity is still more than manageable.”
Granny Gu said, giving Li Muyang a deep look, then glanced at Xiao Yecao and continued,
“But this old woman can’t help you for nothing. Xiao Yuer, you have to promise me one thing, and then I’ll be willing to help you.”
The old lady proposed her condition with a smile.
In Li Muyang’s field of vision, a system dialogue box popped up.
【Granny Gu’s request… She wouldn’t make me her ghost slave, would she? No way! I can’t agree. If Xiao Yecao dies, so be it, but I can’t die】
【If I don’t agree to Granny Gu, I’ll die, but agreeing might also lead to death… Should I agree?】
The two options in his vision made the corners of Li Muyang’s mouth twitch.
This Granny Gu didn’t seem as kind as she appeared. No wonder no one in the village dared to provoke her—perhaps she was a hidden big boss.
If this were real life, Li Muyang would definitely hesitate.
But this is a game. He chose the second option without hesitation.
“I agree! Granny Gu, please help us remove this evil entity. I am willing to become your ghost slave!”
As soon as Li Muyang said this, Xiao Yecao beside him was taken aback.
She seemed to understand what a “ghost slave” was and instinctively looked at Li Muyang with astonishment in her eyes.
As for Li Muyang, he actually had no idea what a “ghost slave” was, but he could guess with his knees that it wasn’t anything good.
But then he saw the kindly smiling Granny Gu shaking her head.
“This old woman doesn’t want you, you skinny and dry little thing. Just remember that you owe this old woman a favor, and you’ll have to agree to one of my requests in the future.”
Saying this, the old lady looked at Xiao Yecao beside her and extended her hand with a kind smile,
“Little girl, come here. This old woman will take care of the evil entity for you.”
The little girl hesitated for a moment but eventually timidly took the old woman’s hand and was led by her into the gloomy ancestral temple.
Li Muyang also wanted to follow, but the old woman stopped him at the entrance.
Granny Gu said with a kind smile, “Xiao Yuer, just wait outside. You’re not allowed to come in.”
With that, the old woman closed the grand doors of the ancestral temple.
Li Muyang stood alone under the sunlight, glancing at the favorability bar in the upper right corner of his field of view.
【Xiao Yecao: 25 (She is terrified by your intense goodwill)】
Li Muyang was taken aback upon seeing the favorability number.
His favorability had inexplicably increased before, and now, after expressing his goodwill towards her and even going so far as to become a ghost slave for Granny Gu to help her, he thought that his favorability would rise once again.
But instead of increasing, the girl’s favorability didn’t just fail to rise. She was actually terrified…
What on earth is going on in Xiao Yecao’s little head every day!?
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