Lost the Bet

"Yes, the death sacrifice."

The old man staggered to his feet, as if wanting to take out his tobacco pouch for a smoke, only to find that it had dropped somewhere long ago. According to ancient records, the Buddhist clan had a special sacrificial rite where 7 officiants and 1 elder would offer their own flesh and blood as a sacrifice on an altar, which could form a sealing effect.

Moreover, those who could be sealed by the death sacrifice were no ordinary people.

Wang Ye sank into thought. Indeed, the so-called eternal peace before the eternal night was nothing but a joke.

As he gradually learned more, Wang Ye sorrowfully realized that in his previous life, he too had merely been one of the masses led astray.

"Do you know who was sealed?"

Wang Ye looked at the old man.

The old man shook his head. "I only know about the death sacrifice, but whoever was sealed by it must have been the Buddhist clan's arch-nemesis. I just wanted to make some trouble for the Buddhists."

...

What a vicious man.

Wang Ye glanced at the old man as he picked up the wooden chair.

This man no longer needs to exist.

As if having anticipated Wang Ye's intention to attack, the old man showed no surprise at all. He calmly said, "I'm from Qingfeng Stockade. The stockade has a rule that whoever kills a villager will be pursued for a thousand li."

But I... I've killed one before. I'm sure you know that already.

After learning of Qingfeng Stockade's existence from Zhang ZiLiang, Wang Ye had instantly determined that Su Wenqian was from there.

So he was not threatened by this rule at all.

Besides, ever since that ghoul wearing his face entered the shrine, Luo Ping had looked at him with unconcealed hostility thirteen times.

And although this old man had concealed it very well, his gaze had repeatedly fallen on that ghoul, or rather, on Wang Ye twenty-one times!

Even more than Luo Ping!

If this old geezer claimed to harbor no ill intentions against him, even ghosts wouldn't believe it!

"I also know some secrets about the Ancient Domain. I still have value," the old man decisively said upon realizing Qingfeng Stockade posed no threat to Wang Ye.

In his current physical state, escape was impossible. He could only hope to be exploited for information and perhaps find a chance to turn the tables.

"Oh."

Wang Ye indifferently acknowledged him, seeming to relax.

The old man heaved a sigh of relief, his back already drenched in cold sweat. A smile crept onto his face.

The next second.

Wang Ye swung the wooden chair dispassionately, smashing it on the old man's head.

Blood trickled down the old man's forehead from the gash. His eyes bulged in disbelief, the nascent smile on his face forever frozen as he collapsed lifeless to the ground.

"Compared to intel about the Ancient Domain, I'm more wary of a knife in the back." Wang Ye remarked indifferently. He then searched the old man's body repeatedly, but aside from the bronze lamp he had pilfered from the middle-aged woman earlier...

Nothing.

...

Are all the people from Qingfeng Stockade this poor?

Wang Ye scornfully glanced at the old man's corpse, picked up the chair again, and headed back downstairs with his stiff gait.

Seeing Wang Ye return alone, Lin Nan's and Luo Ping's expressions subtly changed as they grew even more cautious.

Wang Ye nonchalantly approached the mummified monk, pondering slightly.

This monk had been untouchable for Lin Nan earlier, yet Wang Ye's desperate kick had sent him sprawling.

Could it be...

the blood pool's effect?

Thinking so, Wang Ye reached for the scripture in the monk's hand once more.

Sure enough...

He could touch the physical object this time.

Wang Ye's heart leaped with joy. He wrested the scripture from the monk's grip and pocketed it.

Watching this, Lin Nan's expression grew gloomy.

Just then, a mighty aura erupted from the skeletons as they radiated a brilliant golden light. The force concentrated on Wang Ye.

With a muffled grunt, Wang Ye flew backward and crashed heavily to the ground, his body seeming to fall apart from the intense pain.

Blood spurted uncontrollably from his mouth.

Seeing this, Lin Nan and Luo Ping's expressions changed drastically!

How could a ghost spit blood?

This guy... he's human!

Remembering how they hadn't dared make a move earlier out of fear of his supposed ghostly identity, fierce anger swelled within the two.

This man...

Must die!

They were wicked men to begin with. Now murderous intent consumed them.

Luo Ping was the most incensed!

Wang Ye had snatched what was rightfully his - the blood pool - his opportunity!

Moreover...

They had personally witnessed Wang Ye storing up massive amounts of fresh blood!

Greed and fury roiled within them as they charged at Wang Ye.

You think I'm that easy to bully?

A fierce light flashed in Wang Ye's eyes. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to stand, only to be pressed down by the skeletons' golden radiance again.

Is it because of the Buddhist scripture?

This scripture must be precious for Wang Ye to discard it so readily.

His gaze fixed on Xiao Si.

But...

Xiao Si's face had somehow regained a rosy flush. She stood motionless, her vacant eyes peering at Wang Ye.

I've lost this gamble!

The blood must have stimulated Xiao Si and lifted her seal?

No, that can't be!

If her seal was undone, the first person Xiao Si would kill is me!

So she can barely restrain herself?

But even that tenuous control posed an absolute threat to Wang Ye now!

After all, neither Luo Ping nor Lin Nan would be easy to handle.

Wang Ye clenched the scripture tightly, bellowing as his blood flowed rapidly, skin cracking!

Still, enduring that formidable pressure, he forced himself to stand!

Madness flashed in Wang Ye's eyes. Exerting all his might, he swung the chair to block Luo Ping's long saber.

But Lin Nan's punch landed on Wang Ye's back with a dull thud.

Wang Ye's body shuddered slightly as he turned to look at Lin Nan. The chair smashed into his arm.

Accompanied by the sound of shattering bone, Lin Nan's face paled. He silently retreated two steps, clutching his arm and glaring icily at Wang Ye.