Chapter 339: Returned Gu

Under the cover of darkness, Lu Yibei swiftly made her way back to the narrow alley where Ah-Hua was hiding. As she rounded the corner, she saw the girl enveloped in the golden glow of a defensive spell formation.

Ah-Hua was momentarily taken aback by the sudden appearance of a girl at the alley’s corner, draped in a tattered black robe and with her face wrapped as if she belonged to some obscure religious sect. It wasn’t until Lu Yibei pulled down her mask to reveal her face that Ah-Hua snapped back to reality. She hurriedly adjusted the spell formation, creating an opening just wide enough for one person to pass through.

The next moment, the sounds of fierce fighting and explosive booms from the station, along with the swiftly moving Lu Yibei, passed through the semi-transparent barrier of the spell formation.

Once the spell was sealed again, Ah-Hua turned to look at Lu Yibei, who was leaning against the wall, panting heavily. “What’s going on outside?” she asked, puzzled.

To better conceal themselves, Ah-Hua had added simple soundproofing and illusion effects to the defensive spell formation, so she wasn’t aware of the exact situation outside. She only knew that there were suddenly many psychic energy fluctuations within the station. She had even worried for a while that Lu Yibei might not make it back.

“The local gangs are fighting,” Lu Yibei said nonchalantly.

“Ah?” Ah-Hua was momentarily stunned, instinctively placing her hand on her waist where her alchemy firearm was hidden beneath her apron.

Lu Yibei caught her breath and added, “It’s okay. They’ve gone berserk now and won’t bother with us for a while…”

“Is that so?” Ah-Hua frowned, pressing further, “But why did they start fighting?”

“I provoked them!”

Ah-Hua, “???”

Lu Yibei glanced at Ah-Hua, noticing her peculiar expression, and explained, “Don’t worry, those guys have serious anger management issues. They lose their temper at the slightest provocation and haven’t realized it was me who stirred things up…”

Upon hearing this, Ah-Hua nodded slightly, just beginning to relax when Lu Yibei continued, “But, they really are after me…”

Ah-Hua’s tension returned instantly, her eyes widening.

“However, they don’t know yet that I’m the target they’re looking for.”

“….”

Ah-Hua held her forehead, silent for a few seconds, and said weakly, “Wang Buliuxing, I’m begging you, please stop with the suspense. Can you just say everything at once?”

“Uh, okay, but I’ve already said everything I wanted to.” Lu Yibei shrugged, “If you’re going to ask why they’re targeting me… I can only say, I have no idea.”

To be honest, Lu Yibei couldn’t fathom why someone like her-a righteous, optimistic, and kind-hearted citizen-would be hunted down.

She figured it wasn’t her problem; those drugged-up individuals had no logic in their actions. If you tried reasoning with them, they’d drag your sanity down to their level of madness and defeat you with their wealth of experience, Lu Yibei thought.

Ah-Hua watched Lu Yibei, her lips slightly parted, words on the tip of her tongue yet unspoken.

After a long silence, she sighed quietly and reached under her fluffy maid’s dress, pulling out two cheap plastic masks. She kept one for herself and handed the other to Lu Yibei.

“Since you’re sure they’re after you, why not wear this? It might help hide your identity a bit.”

Lu Yibei glanced at the masks in Ah-Hua’s hand, barely recognizing them as Ultraman and the Hulk, then looked at Ah-Hua and said emotionlessly, “Are you joking?”

“Wearing this will only draw more attention, won’t it?”

“What do you know?” Ah-Hua rolled her eyes. “These have a Face-Changing spell formation solidified into them. They’re meant for disguise.”

“I was planning to use them when we went to the Entertainment City, but we never did.”

Face-Changing? Lu Yibei took the mask, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Wasn’t that a spell from the knowledge of the Great Serpent God?

Where did they get these from?

Noticing Lu Yibei’s confusion, Ah-Hua explained, “We prepared these specifically before we set out.”

As Ah-Hua mentioned, before she and Jiang Li headed to Dream Come True Entertainment City, they had gone to the ghost market to find the girl who sold them the Face-Changing spell formation solidified masks last time and bought a few more as backups.

Normally, it’s a taboo for the same person to continuously win at a casino. Even without cheating, just by skill or luck alone, getting banned is the least of the consequences, and at worst, one might even be dealt with harshly.

Thus, Jiang Li and Ah-Hua had planned to change their appearances with each challenge against the Big Boss.

However, what they hadn’t anticipated was that Dream Come True Entertainment City was unlike any other casino outside. They seemed not to care about one or two patrons winning a large amount of chips.

Inevitably, 99% of the patrons who won a lot of chips couldn’t resist the temptation to challenge the Big Boss at No Return Place and ended up losing everything.

“So… how do I use this? Just put it on?” Lu Yibei tilted her head and asked.

Although she indeed had a special spell for changing appearances, she had not studied it closely and was unsure of how to use it.

She had previously focused all her energy on deciphering and completing the formula for an Alchemical potion.

“Yes, just put it on.” Ah-Hua nodded. “After you put it on, imagine the appearance you want in your mind, then infuse psychic energy into the mask, and it will work.”

“Any other questions?”

“Yes!” Lu Yibei nodded seriously. “If possible, could you help me change my appearance? It would save time.”

Ah-Hua tilted her head, puzzled, “Sure, but why?”

“Because…” Lu Yibei supported her chin with one hand, earnestly, “Changing faces like this usually starts at two hours for me!”

Not to mention the Face-Changing spell formation, which, apart from not being able to alter one’s physique, allowed complete freedom in altering any other parameters.

If time allowed, I could even spend a whole day on it! Lu Yibei thought.

Ah-Hua, “…”

Three minutes later.

Ah-Hua took her hands off Lu Yibei’s face, stepped back two paces, and looked over the face she had molded based on a mask seller’s girl, nodding in satisfaction.

“This should be about right. When do we leave?”

“Leave? Hold on a minute!” Lu Yibei said, turning her head to look at the vagrant pretending to be dead in the corner, his head covered with tattered cotton. “Just like that, you’re not worried he’ll run out and tip off those guys outside?”

Ah-Hua furrowed her brows, probing, “What do you suggest?”

“With my decisive nature,” Lu Yibei said coldly, “of course, it’s to…”

“Kill him? That doesn’t seem very nice.”

At these words, the vagrant’s body shuddered violently.

“You think it’s not nice either, right?” Lu Yibei shrugged. “Then let’s just knock him out and tie him up.”

Ah-Hua, “…” Who was it that claimed to be so decisive just now?

Inside the station, a brutal battle was still raging.

Upon learning that Calamity was dead and that the core entity of the haunting might be on someone or even the entity itself, the ambushers had completely lost control. Bloodshot eyes filled with ferocity.

As more ambushers entered the station, the struggle not only did not cease but intensified.

With no need for any incitement or guidance, newcomers threw themselves into the fray.

Eventually, these emotionally driven psychics and entities of haunting even forgot why they were fighting, simply desiring to tear everything before them apart.

Soon, the platform was drenched in blood.

Hydrangea, hidden high in the station, looked down at the gruesome scene, shaking her fluffy little head, muttering, “The owner and the guy from the Entertainment City have a point in banning guests from bringing drugs from Cinnabar Pharmacy into the venue.”

“Look at these emotionally out of control folks, what’s the difference between them and wild beasts? The owner is right, these addicts are terrifying alone and ridiculous together.”

“It seems that Celestian underestimated Calamity, probably thinking that, like the usual foes, faced with a multitude of ambushers, she would tremble with fear and surrender easily.”

As she spoke, her gaze drifted towards where Lu Yibei and Ah-Hua were hiding.

From afar, she saw two figures sneaking out of a narrow, winding alley, taking advantage of the chaos to run towards the platform, climb onto the tracks, and then follow the tracks away from the station.

“Oh? That’s actually a good choice,” Hydrangea affirmed Lu Yibei’s action.

Although, without any special tokens and without the Giant Train’s transport, it was impossible to reach Lanruo Inn Customs Shop or Dream Come True Entertainment City via the tracks.

But, in the chaos inside the station and with no way to leave the station, walking some distance along the tracks to temporarily avoid danger was already one of the best choices.

If they were even more clever, they could stay along the tracks far from the station until just before the Giant Train was due to arrive, then come back, board the train immediately, and make their escape.

“Interesting, if the Celestian has no other tricks up his sleeve, it seems Calamity might manage a clean escape tonight,” Hydrangea murmured.

As Hydrangea spoke, the carnage at the station was nearing its end, with dozens of Ambushers dwindled down to a few psychics still alive.

Suddenly, two hauntings ceased their attacking motions as if petrified, standing stiffly in place with glowing patterns like lilies blooming amidst thorns emerging on their chests.

Then…

A roaring explosion occurred, their bodies violently detonated, turning flesh and bones into debris scattered across every corner of the platform.

Scenes like this were happening all over the platform, unnoticed by any psychic or haunting.

Amidst the chaos, the torn flesh seemed to come to life, wriggling and intertwining with each other, creeping over the blood-stained platform.

Hidden beneath the tainted blood, the rampaging flesh quietly traced out bizarre, twisted incantations, emitting filthy and faint psychic energy fluctuations.

Subsequently, the blood on the platform appeared to boil, bubbling up and blooming into the shapes of lilies, with faint moans echoing intermittently.

Catalyzed by the incantations, a substance separated from the tainted blood, transforming into strands of colorless, odorless gas that gradually filled the entire station.

Perched high in the station, Hydrangea inadvertently inhaled a tiny amount of the gas, feeling a drunken euphoria and a pleasure as if from her soul, making her almost want to cheer joyfully.

In the next moment, she snapped back to reality, her pupils constricting slightly. She quickly wrapped her body with abundant psychic energy, and from beneath her wings, she pulled out a device resembling a snuff bottle, uncorked it, and took a deep inhale, the powdery smoke dispersing the toxicity of the “treasure.”

“Damn it! That bastard Celestian! He never planned to use these creatures to deal with Calamity from the start!?”

“This is bad, I need to warn them quickly! Otherwise…”

Otherwise, they would be beyond saving!

Muttering to herself, Hydrangea immediately took flight, following the direction in which Lu Yibei and Ah-Hua had left.

Five minutes earlier.

In the wasteland outside the station.

A red-clothed foreman from Cinnabar Pharmacy had been covertly observing the situation inside the station. Only after the last Ambusher entered did he reach into his coat and pull out a palm-sized, bronze token engraved with the character “Gu,” into which he channeled psychic energy.

Soon after, the eerie voice of the Celestian rang in his ears.

“Are all the people in?”

“Yes, boss, they are all in,” the red-clothed foreman responded.

“How many have died?” the Celestian asked indifferently.

“Based on the number of psychic energy fluctuation sources, it appears more than half are gone,” the foreman replied again.

“Good! Then wait another five minutes before we start!” the Celestian instructed. “Also, once you’re done, come back immediately. Don’t let anyone catch on.”

“Understood, sir.”

After respectfully acknowledging, the foreman put away the token and looked toward the station, a cold smirk appearing on his face, recalling the words the Celestian had spoken to him before departure.

Several hours ago, deep within the Cinnabar Pharmacy factory.

The red-clothed foreman knelt on one knee before the Celestian, listening to its commands, a hint of confusion crossing his brow.

“Boss, just sending those poor souls to tackle the Calamity seems a bit precarious, doesn’t it? Besides, might a spot as a red-clothed foreman be a bit too…”

“Fool!” Before he could finish, the Celestian harshly cut him off.

“Of course I know they’re unstable, and yes, I know assigning them a red-clothed foreman’s position is a losing deal. Do you think I need you to tell me that?”

“But it’s just a verbal promise,” the Celestian said nonchalantly. “As long as all the psychics and hauntings are wiped out in the end, there’s no need to fulfill it. If there’s no need to fulfill it, I won’t be at a loss, will I?”

Not understanding, the foreman cautiously probed, “So what do you mean, boss?”

“Fool!” the Celestian cursed again. “You should know about the new technology developed in the factory recently, right? It’s time to test it on those guys.”

Hearing this, the foreman quickly bowed with folded hands, “Understood, my lord. I will take care of it immediately!”

Once the Celestian mentioned the factory’s new technology, the foreman instantly grasped its intent.

This so-called new technology involved the recovery of drug residues from the bodies of vagrants.

In fact, after these vagrants consumed the “treasure,” a substantial amount of drug residue would remain in their bodies and gradually integrate with their psychic energy.

Once the drug residue in their bodies reached a certain dosage, unless they completely abandoned their psychic abilities, the residue would stay with them until death.

However…

Turning into skeletons, letting the medicinal properties dissipate into the universe- in the eyes of the Celestian, this was a tremendous waste, akin to someone stealing its money.

Heartbreaking!

Previously, the Celestian’s solution to this pain, akin to being exploited, was to chop those corpses up and use them as compost for growing plants, but the efficiency of this recovery method was not high.

“Until recently, it had finally developed a more efficient method: a sinister Gu that combined the essence of Gu with potent curse magic, named the Returned Gu.”

Now, as long as those vagrants consumed the “treasure” laced with the eggs of the Returned Gu, once they died, the holder of the Returned Gu could easily separate the drug residues from their bodies.

Of course, if the targets were not yet dead, then why not just let them die?

“Go on, get out!” the Celestian said coldly, and then, thinking about the profits the Returned Gu would bring it in the near future, a sly smile couldn’t help but appear on its grotesque and ugly face.

In this world, was there any deal more cost-effective than this?

Cruel? The rules of the Cinnabar Pharmacy had always been this bloody…

…

Five minutes later.

Standing atop the desolate land, the red-clothed foreman withdrew his focus, silently pulling out a palm-sized urn engraved with strange incantations from his bosom.

Upon lifting the lid of the urn, a peculiar Gu worm was revealed inside.

Its body was almost entirely covered with malformed tumors, and in the gaps between these lumpy growths, intricate and twisted patterns interlaced, forming shapes akin to eyes.

As the Gu worm’s body slowly writhed, these eye-like patterns rhythmically lit up with a faint glow, as if condensing from the void, giving birth to tiny, pearl-like eggs.

This Gu worm in the urn was a new technology recently developed by the Cinnabar Pharmacy-Returned Gu.

At this moment, most of the ambushers inside the station had already consumed “treasure” infused with eggs of the Returned Gu.

Seeing that over half of them had perished, and those emotionally unstable individuals could no longer pose any threat to Calamity, the red-clothed foreman didn’t hesitate to activate the Returned Gu.

As he infused psychic energy into the urn, the incantations on it lit up with a dark green glow, causing the creature within to twist uncomfortably.

Then…

It suddenly raised its head, opened its mouth apparatus, and emitted a series of high-frequency shrieks, inaudible to human ears, as if calling out to something.

A sinister psychic energy fluctuation spread in all directions.

Soon, as if responding to the Gu worm’s call, a muffled sound of flesh bursting could faintly be heard within the station.

The ritual of separating the drug remnants had begun.

It wouldn’t be long before the “treasure” extracted from the bodies would permeate the entire station.

And Calamity, present in the station, would inevitably inhale an excessive amount of “treasure,” succumbing to the soul-derived pleasure, unable to extricate herself, manipulated at will, until drained of every last exploitable value…