Chapter 199: I’m Here to Die

Black python!

Shui Miao was startled and instinctively dared not move, when she heard the young women behind her scream, “Snake! A big snake!”

They were extremely shocked—it was the largest snake they had ever seen in their lives.

Ma Po recognized this snake; it was the “Black Dragon God” of the Long Shen Temple. In Ma Po’s mind, this black snake was on the same level as the “Great Immortal,” although she had never personally witnessed the black snake demon’s power.

The “Great Immortal” was a female ghost who had died long ago in the village but had cultivated into a spiritual being. She shared a blood connection with Ma Po, and often told her stories about the black snake demon.

However, Ma Po was too frightened to speak.

When Shui Miao first saw the black python, her initial thought was naturally to run. But after a moment’s hesitation, she began to wonder—this snake must be highly venomous. Could its poison help break her seal? Yet the next moment, to Shui Miao’s and everyone else’s great surprise, the black python suddenly turned its head and slithered into a hole beneath the bushes.

The black python had made way for Shui Miao, causing everyone to experience a false alarm.

But Ma Po was deeply puzzled—seemingly, the black python had shown fear toward Shui Miao. Then why hadn’t the “Great Immortal” returned yet?

“Let’s go, find Lord Long Wu.”

Shui Miao glanced at the dark hole beneath the bushes, about half a meter in diameter, pitch-black and seemingly bottomless.

Since the black python hadn’t attacked her, there was no need to provoke further trouble. Shui Miao quickly urged the young women to lead the way westward toward the western village. Ma Po followed behind, anxious and uneasy, constantly turning to look back. Her original intention had only been to ask Shui Miao for help with the “Great Immortal,” but now that she had encountered the “Black Dragon God” while the Immortal was missing, she couldn’t help but suspect—had the Great Immortal been destroyed by the Black Dragon God?

The young women knew the general direction of the western village but had no idea exactly where Lord Long Wu lived.

Due to Lord Long Wu’s notorious reputation, the younger generation from the eastern village knew almost nothing about the western side.

But Ma Po did.

They asked Ma Po to lead the way. When they reached the edge of a forest, Ma Po stopped, pointing toward several bamboo huts, “It’s there. I—I won’t go any further.” She had witnessed the horror of poisonous insects before; she would rather die than allow those gu insects to enter her body—she’d feel as though she hadn’t even died peacefully.

“You all stay here, wait for me…”

Shui Miao had exceptional eyesight and from a distance spotted countless horrifying gu worms inside the mosquito netting—an utterly grotesque sight. Her skin prickled with goosebumps so violently that they nearly tore through her clothes. She thought to herself that she really should have brought a pesticide sprayer, loaded with extremely toxic chemicals to kill all the gu worms—and preferably Lord Long Wu as well. Even if it meant facing a decades-long prison sentence, it would still be more satisfying than watching him cause harm here.

But to her surprise, the friends of the young women pulled out various insect-repelling herbs—something they always carried.

“Even with herbs, you still shouldn’t go. These herbs can’t repel all types of gu worms. I advise you all to leave quickly,” Ma Po urged anxiously. The idea that herbs could repel insects had been passed down by the “Great Immortal,” but even so, Ma Po herself had no real confidence in their effectiveness.

“Alright, you all stay here. Let me go first.”

Impatiently, Shui Miao barked an order, then followed the path toward the bamboo huts. Along the way, she noticed droplets of blood and immediately slowed her pace, becoming more cautious. Lifting the curtain, she saw Lord Long Wu lying on a reclining chair with his eyes closed, chewing slowly on a piece of herb with his pus-covered hand…

Lord Long Wu’s face was deathly pale.

Shui Miao examined him, suddenly noticing bloodstains beneath the chair. Nearby on a bamboo stool lay a bloodied pair of scissors and a sewing kit. Though partially covered with herb leaves, the blood wasn’t fully concealed.

“Hmph!”

Seeing that the蛊巫 (gu巫) was merely an old wretch, Shui Miao coldly snorted and questioned him, “Are you the evil蛊巫 who, out of fear from a dog, killed Zhang Ling’s older brothers?”

“…”

At these words, Lord Long Wu’s eyes flew open.

He had just finished sewing his wound, applied medicine, dragged the corpse inside, and covered it with a white sheet. He had just sat down when he heard a stranger’s voice from outside. He originally thought pretending to be dead might scare the stranger away. But he hadn’t expected the stranger not only to stay but to enter the house and question him so rudely.

Opening his eyes, he saw that the visitor was actually Zhang Ling himself! This startled him greatly.

“Are you a ghost or a man?”

Lord Long Wu was naturally terrified. The last time Zhang Ling had come seeking revenge, he had encountered him on the road, used蛊 poison on him, and watched as Zhang Ling, in a dazed state, ran into the Shuilong River and drowned. Now seeing him again, it was beyond Lord Long Wu’s comprehension—he thought he was seeing a ghost. Yet he wasn’t entirely sure either, because he had the protection of the Black Dragon God and numerous talismans outside the house. Logically, ghosts shouldn’t dare approach.

Shui Miao narrowed her eyes, “So you killed Zhang Ling too?”

Observing his reaction, Shui Miao sensed something very abnormal about his nervousness.

“No! No! I didn’t kill him! Don’t accuse me falsely!” Not knowing the situation, Lord Long Wu denied everything, then asked Shui Miao, “Who exactly are you? Why do you look exactly like Zhang Ling?”

“Because I am Zhang Ling!” Shui Miao raised her hand deliberately, saying this on purpose.

Lord Long Wu shook his head in agitation, “Impossible! Then was the body I retrieved not Zhang Ling’s?”

“Oh…”

Shui Miao suddenly understood, “So it was you who dug up the body. Let me see—did you kill Zhang Juan’s entire family too?” Shui Miao stepped further into the house. Though dimly lit inside, she had already seen several white sheets covering something.

Shui Miao spoke casually, as if indifferent to the situation.

“I’ll ask you one final time—who are you, really?” Lord Long Wu felt ridiculed and grew angrier by the moment. Shui Miao’s sudden appearance had completely unsettled him, triggering a powerful sense of danger. He grabbed a bamboo basket beside him, revealing dozens of bamboo tubes neatly lined up side by side. Each tube contained a red rope connected to the mosquito netting outside. Pulling any rope would open the netting, releasing the revolting poisonous insects.

“Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is—why do you harm innocent people? And I also want to know just how powerful this蛊巫 truly is?” With a swift motion, Shui Miao pulled off one of the white sheets, revealing a corpse—Li Ermao’s body. Naked and discolored, the red spots had turned black.

Inside the house, there were six more bodies covered with white sheets.

Shui Miao pulled off each sheet one by one…

In total, there were seven naked corpses. Two had been dead for a long time, reduced to mummified skeletons wrapped in dried skin. Besides Zhang Juan, Li Ermao, and Li Gang, there were also two children’s bodies, crawling with insects—so revolting that Shui Miao didn’t even bother to look closely.

Yet strangely, the corpses didn’t emit any foul odor.

Besides the bodies, the house was filled with wooden shelves arranged in rows, each stacked with countless jars of various sizes and types. Additionally, beneath the beds where the corpses lay were bamboo baskets filled with medicinal herbs, and in each corner of the house stood potted plants with unusually large leaves. Moreover, the house had no windows, making it especially dark.

“So, you must be someone summoned by the Zhang family from outside the eastern village. As the saying goes, even a mighty dragon can’t overpower a local snake. What you’re doing here seems rather impolite. If it’s about money, we can talk.” Seeing Shui Miao acting as if she owned the place, Lord Long Wu realized this person was no ordinary visitor—someone who absolutely couldn’t be allowed to leave alive, “If you’re not after money and insist on humiliating me, then I’ll gladly give my life to keep you company. But young man, you’re still so young!”

“True, I’m young. But what of it? Since I’ve come here, I’m not afraid of you. Don’t try to scare me.” Shui Miao approached Lord Long Wu, noticing the red thread in his hand. Following the bamboo tubes outward, she saw they connected to the mosquito netting outside. She smiled slightly, “Old fool, besides releasing insects, do you have any real skills?”

“Y-you’re not afraid of the蛊 insects?”

Seeing Shui Miao’s relaxed expression, Lord Long Wu grew even more uneasy.

He felt that this young man must have come prepared, possibly possessing methods to counter his蛊虫.

“Please, stop wasting time. Do you even know any spells? Any dark techniques will do. Try them on me. Come on, show me what you’ve got!” Shui Miao was deliberately seeking someone powerful enough to help break her seal.

Lord Long Wu did know some dark magic—if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have survived his severe injuries. Yet he couldn’t figure out why someone would willingly seek him out like this. What kind of person was this? Was he a fool, a master, or just a madman?

“So you really want trouble?”

Lord Long Wu gritted his teeth. If someone wanted to die, he wouldn’t hesitate to oblige.

“Come on, even if I really am looking for death, go ahead and use your real skills. I won’t blame you. I’m practically begging for it!” Shui Miao squatted on the ground, staring at Lord Long Wu, clearly impatient.

“Fine, I’ll grant your wish…” Lord Long Wu furrowed his brow, paused, then slowly reached into the bamboo basket with his other hand. He pulled out a belt and handed it to Shui Miao, “Here, hold this belt for me first…”

“A belt!?”

Shui Miao licked her lips, puzzled about what Lord Long Wu was up to. She reached out to grab the belt, but the moment her fingers touched it, the belt suddenly transformed into a venomous snake and bit her finger fiercely!