Gao Ming patted the only pillar in the house. It was like a human spine connecting the floor and the roof. Gao Ming’s action frightened the human face on the pillar. However, he couldn’t move. He could only look pleadingly at Gao Ming.
There was no wind but the ash in the house moved on its own. New words appeared. This was the house owner’s only way to communicate with Gao Ming.
“Friend, I’m building a level five spiritual temple. I’ve sacrificed my organs and used my blood and flesh as the foundation. I gave everything to provide a safe spot for everyone. Only the truly selfless will choose this thod of modification!” The human face on the pillar looked very honest. “You can trust . As long as you are willing to help , I’ll repay you handsoly! After all, there’s no way I can run. I can't even move.”
The man was anxious since Gao Ming still didn’t give a response. The dust was about to be blown away. “Friend, my teammate is about to be back. We can work together.”
“Your friend is not coming back. He has been turned into a pig. His face is down a pig’s throat.” Gao Ming took out the wax-sealed mud pill from his pocket. “He gave this to co see you.”
The human face smiled. However, he quickly realised he needed to hide his emotions better.
“How many of you are there? What is inside this pill? Tell the truth and I might give it to you and work with you.” Gao Ming’s attitude was firm.
After he saw the pill, the human face fully trusted Gao Ming, “The two testers and I t a long ti ago in the nightmare. There are three of us. We have survived many tests. About one month ago, when we were in a middle-level nightmare, we accidentally opened a path to a deep-level nightmare. Our leader entered it alone to help Lee Zhu and escape.
“Two weeks after that, Lee Zhu and I suddenly got a notice from Immortal Pharma that our leader had woken up. He had successfully escaped from the nightmare and gained level five access. It was our leader who arranged for Lee Zhu and I to participate in this test. He told us many secrets and picked the best modifications for us.”
The characters beca lighter as the ash dwindled. The human face trusted his captain fully. He wanted to use this last chance to explain everything to Gao Ming.
“The thing inside the wax is a piece of the sacrificial villager’s heart. To build a spiritual temple, you need to invoke the divine ghost. The greater the sacrifice, the more powerful the blessing.”
Gao Ming studied the pill, “What is a sacrificial villager? Did the three of us work together to murder a villager here?”
To save the ash, the human face nodded imperceptibly.
“I need information on your leader.” Gao Ming said but the human face didn’t respond. He looked at the pill greedily but he controlled himself. He didn’t reveal anything related to his leader.
Gao Ming didn’t force it. He placed the pill beside the pillar. “This is yours.”
“Thank you!” The man used the last bit of dust to say, “Feed it to the mud figurine to the north.”
“Is that the real you?” Gao Ming split open the wax. A horrible cloud of smoke leaked out. It was accompanied by screams.
“Quick!”
Before the smoke could disperse, Gao Ming had already shoved it into the mud figurine’s mouth.
The figurine previously looked listless and lifeless. However, after swallowing the pill, blood capillaries appeared on its clothes. Its expression beca more alive. Gao Ming could even hear the heartbeat. The black eyes moved. The man’s voice ca from the figurine. “Another step taken.”
The mud figurine was excited even though he was pinned to the spot and couldn’t even defend himself. Gao Ming didn’t get it. “Are you sure your leader is not using you? He turned you into a house and your friend into a pig.”
Hearing that, the figurine tried his best to look angry, “Our leader has saved us more than once. Our lives already belong to him.”
“You’re quite loyal.” Gao Ming knelt down. “What is your plan now?”
“There are nine steps to build the temple. I’m only at the fourth step. I will wait here for the leader to return. If you wish to rest, you can co here too.” The figurine added carefully, “But I can only provide you with a place to rest. I still don’t have any power. If you lead any ghosts here, both of us will perish.”
Gao Ming didn’t know what to say. The man was a bit too honest.
“My na is Lee Zu. Lee Zhu is very cunning. I don’t even know his real na. When we first t each other, he ca up with a fake na that was very close to mine.” The figurine beca chattier after he could speak. However, Gao Ming was not in the mood to chat.
“Don’t leave so soon. My leader is Tang Hu. He is Elder Tang’s new stepson. He has mastered…” Lee Zu didn’t want to say anything earlier, but when Gao Ming wanted to leave, Lee Zu said more to get him to stay, “I can’t tell you more about him. However, if you run into any trouble, you can go to help. He is a great person.”
“How great is a person who turns his teammates into a house and a pig?”
“He’s doing that to help us survive here.” The figurine beca serious, “You’ll eventually make the sa choice.”
Gao Ming left the house. He still needed to find Bai Feng. He turned back and realised Tu Di God was still smiling at him. He didn’t know if it was related or not, but Gao Ming noticed there was an extra layer of blood on Tu Di God’s clothes.
Gao Ming turned around. Before he could even leave West Street, he heard the gong sound. He quickly hid in the dark.
A flag moved in the dark. The thin hands repeated the sa actions. The night-watcher villager had a white lantern around his waist. He limped heavily. When he passed West Street, his head was turned to where Gao Ming was hiding.
Gao Ming held his breath. He saw that the village had no face. His head was hollow. Instead of a brain, there was a burning black joss stick.
The night-watcher entered West Street. He nodded at Tu Di God Temple. Then, he continued on his way.
“Has he been modified too? There are so many dangers in the dark, but he doesn’t seem to be scared of anything.”
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