Chapter 101: Return of the Bone Ash

Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Return of the Bone Ash

Just as Gu Su was focused on adjusting the internal layout of the Graveyard Demon, his fingers constantly dragging and optimizing the coordinates of various facilities on the system panel, Bone Ash and his Ash Squad finally completed their arduous journey to the outskirts of the Graveyard Demon. From a distance, they could already see the silhouette of the Graveyard Magic Wall.

When Bone Ash had set out, his expedition force hadn’t been weak. He led his Ash Squad of twenty-four, five Elite Skeleton Warriors, and over thirty Ordinary Skeleton Warriors.

But now, the returning party looked utterly battered.

Aside from Bone Ash himself and the five Elite Skeleton Warriors, who were still relatively intact, their own bones showed some minor wear and cracks, but their movements were unaffected.

The Ordinary Skeleton Warriors, however, had been all but wiped out. Only a handful remained, some missing arms, others with broken leg bones, all stumbling along at the rear of the group. It was clear they had faced many dangers and fought fierce battles along the way.

Despite the heavy losses, a hint of imperceptible certainty could be seen on Bone Ash’s face.

’He hadn’t failed Gu Su’s charge. He had successfully brought back the one thing Gu Su wanted most. In his eyes, these losses were entirely worth it.’

At the head of the party, Bone Ash tightly gripped a wheeled Treasure Chest with his two withered, bony hands. Gu Su had specifically instructed Tooth Bone to fashion it from the corpse of a Treasure Chest Monster, and its internal space was large enough to hold about a ton of heavy items.

One of the prizes from this expedition, a giant turtle egg, was nestled carefully inside this modified Treasure Chest. It was wrapped in soft, withered grass to protect it from the jolts of the journey.

Behind Bone Ash, the members of his Ash Squad were hard at work.

The twenty-four Skeleton Warriors had a clear division of labor. Some pulled from the front while others pushed from the sides, using thick vines to secure the trailer of a semi-truck, which they laboriously hauled forward.

The trailer was dilapidated, its body riddled with rust and its tires long since flat. However, it was the only decent vehicle Bone Ash could find near the giant turtle’s habitat capable of transporting large cargo. Having no other choice, they had to resort to this primitive method of dragging it back.

In the trailer’s cargo bed, a massive, desiccated heart was held fast by several thick vines.

The heart was as large as a van and deep black in color. Its surface had long since lost its original texture, becoming rough and hard. Some parts even showed signs of petrification. It emanated an eerie, heavy aura; one could feel the power of the creature it had belonged to just by looking at it.

The twenty-four Skeleton Warriors worked in concert, some pulling and others pushing. Although their movements were somewhat clumsy, they were perfectly coordinated. Their overall speed wasn’t actually that slow.

While it was nowhere near the speed of a functioning semi-truck, they at least managed to maintain a human’s walking pace. After an arduous trek, they were finally approaching their destination.

As the gates of the Graveyard Demon drew nearer, Bone Ash raised his withered arm and ordered the squad members behind him, "Put some more effort into it! Speed up, we’re almost there."

Finished, he turned to White Crow, who was keeping pace beside him, and added, "White Crow, fly ahead quickly and report to the Lord. Tell him we’ve reached the outskirts of the Graveyard Demon and will be home shortly."

Upon hearing the order, White Crow nodded, and without another moment’s delay, beat its bony wings. In a flash, it was soaring swiftly toward the gates of the Graveyard Demon.

Meanwhile, Gu Su had just finished adjusting the entire layout of the Graveyard Demon. He had arranged the facilities on the surface and in the basement in perfect order. Satisfied, he put away the system panel and stepped out of the core tent, breathing in the damp air of a light rain.

He glanced across the entire Graveyard Demon, taking in the brand-new scenery.

A straight road ran from north to south, flanked by neatly arranged Gravepiles. The Withered Wood Forest had been relocated, and the Yin Fire Heap was set apart by itself. Every single feature was placed precisely according to his plan, making the area almost unrecognizable from its previous chaotic state. He couldn’t help but nod in satisfaction as a sense of accomplishment washed over him.

After admiring his work for a moment, Gu Su turned and walked over to the Yin Fire Heap. It was emitting a ghastly green glow, dispelling the surrounding chill and providing the Undead with a continuous supply of Yin Qi.

At that moment, Tooth Bone was squatting near the Yin Fire Heap, busy processing scrap materials that the Skeletons had just hauled back. He held various repair tools, tapping and sorting through the pile.

He looked up, saw Gu Su approaching, and immediately stopped his work. In a raspy voice, he said, "Lord, I’ve finished repairing the Offering Candle you asked for."

"Let’s put that aside for a moment." Gu Su waved his hand, stopping Tooth Bone as he started to get up and present the Offering Candle. Gu Su’s gaze landed on the repair tools scattered beside the Yin Fire Heap. "Tooth Bone," he began, "there’s a lot of empty space in the basement now. I’m planning to set up a dedicated workshop for you, a place where you can store your tools and carry out repairs. What do you think?"

Hearing this, the spectral flames in Tooth Bone’s eye sockets flickered brightly. He nodded and replied, "That would work. I have more and more repair tools, and it’s inconvenient to access them when they’re scattered about. A dedicated workshop would certainly make things much easier."

After a pause, he added cautiously, "Lord, would it be possible to give me a spot near the basement entrance? It would be more convenient for fetching materials and for when others need me to repair things. It would prevent any delays."

"Of course," Gu Su said with a smile and a nod, his tone brisk. "The basement is full of empty space right now. Take your pick. Whichever spot you choose, I’ll reserve it for you."

Here, Gu Su’s tone shifted, growing more serious. "However, you’ll also need to stock up on more repair tools and familiarize yourself with the structure of all our facilities. From now on, all the maintenance work in the Graveyard Demon will be your responsibility—whether it’s repairing damaged structures, broken tools, or modifying this scrap we’ve collected."

"Understood," Tooth Bone replied respectfully, the spectral flames in his eyes burning even brighter. For someone like him, who possessed a Talent for repair and modification, having a dedicated workshop and being put in charge of all maintenance for the Graveyard Demon was undoubtedly the best possible arrangement.

With those minor details settled, Gu Su held out his hand, gesturing for Tooth Bone to pass him the repaired Offering Candle. He took it and examined it closely, finding that it had been restored to perfect order.

The body of the candle, once covered in cracks and even broken in places, had been carefully wrapped and reinforced by Tooth Bone with a special material, making it incredibly sturdy. The mud and rust had been cleaned from its surface, revealing faint traces of its original red lacquer.

And where the light bulb had once been, Tooth Bone had thoughtfully inserted a small vine. The vine emitted a ghastly green phosphorescence, serving as a perfect replacement for the original light and fitting in seamlessly with the eerie atmosphere of the Graveyard Demon.

[Repaired Offering Candle (Green): Originally one of a pair of perpetually glowing offering candles. An accident left only this one, which was damaged. After some unconventional repairs, it has now become a rather bizarre item.]

’A bizarre item?’

Gu Su paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow. He instinctively checked the Offering Candle’s Attribute Panel again and again, but found only that single, simple description. There were no specific instructions for its use, nor were there any attribute bonuses listed.

’He understood immediately. The Offering Candle clearly wasn’t a weapon or tool like the Plague Cutter or the Oil Sprayer, which could be equipped and used directly. It was a special item with an unknown purpose, and he’d likely have to figure out its function on his own.’

Since he didn’t know its purpose yet, Gu Su didn’t dwell on it. Without a second thought, he turned, took the Offering Candle, and walked straight over to the Deceitful Tree. He then bent down and securely planted the candle among the tree’s thick roots.