I Went Crazy Killing in the World of Gods and Demons - Chapter 78

Chapter 78

That night.

The cold moonlight spilled over the hilltops, shrouded in a misty haze as if a thin veil had been draped over everything within sight.

The village ancestral hall still burned with an eternal lamp.

Incense offerings burned here ceaselessly day and night, the silently flickering candles in the darkness casting bean-sized flames that weakly illuminated a small patch of the world.

Village Chief opened his eyes in confusion.

He had slept soundly and comfortably.

It had been many years since he last enjoyed such deep slumber. Upon first waking, he felt dazed, as if every bone in his body had been softened by rest.

But when he stretched and his consciousness fully returned, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

How could he be sleeping here!

Village Chief gasped sharply as he finally remembered – today… today was the day for the River God to take a bride!

He had originally been in the ancestral hall preparing to preside over the wedding ceremony, praying to the ancestors for a smooth and safe proceeding. How… how could he have simply fallen asleep like this!

No, it wasn’t just falling asleep.

If it were merely falling asleep, why hadn’t anyone woken him?

Moreover, the timing was all wrong!

Village Chief stared sharply at the pitch-black darkness outside – this was clearly not how dusk should look!

The auspicious hour had passed.

The wedding? The bride? The sacrifice? The River God?

Disaster, complete disaster.

He never should have listened to Wang Laodian’s suggestion to find a stranger to serve as the bride.

Now everything had gone wrong!

Overwhelmed with regret, Village Chief rushed out of the ancestral hall, wanting to gather people and summon the villagers to ask what had happened and discuss countermeasures.

“Someone! Is anyone there?” Before Village Chief could even exit the ancestral hall gates, his hoarse shouts actually managed to summon someone.

“Old Ma, you came at the perfect time!”

Seeing Ma Qiaoqiao’s father, Village Chief immediately rushed forward with the expression of someone spotting their savior. “How could I have fallen asleep? Where is everyone? Why can’t I see a single person? How did the wedding go? Was the sacrifice conducted as scheduled? We already informed the River God in advance – if we can’t complete the wedding on time, we’ll be punished!”

“Village Chief, don’t panic, listen to me.” Ma Qiaoqiao’s father stopped him, offering reassurance. “This is what happened… the wedding proceeded very well, the River God was quite satisfied, and everyone has returned home to go about their business.”

“Really? Then quickly sound the gongs and gather everyone. I need to ask what happened.” Village Chief immediately began issuing orders.

“Alright, alright, I’ll call them right now, I’ll” Ma Qiaoqiao’s father suddenly pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it firmly against Village Chief’s face.

Village Chief froze for a moment, sensing grave danger, and struggled briefly before his body quickly went limp and quiet again.

“Pah! You’d better stay here and sleep peacefully! Don’t cause any trouble!” Ma Qiaoqiao’s father put away the handkerchief.

This had been left to him by Ye Anran.

Because the Ma family had been fully cooperative in the god-slaying matter, they were chosen as the village’s inside agents. While the others went out for the sacrifice, the Ma family remained in the village to keep watch.

Ye Anran had left them self-prepared knockout drugs, instructing that if anyone woke up midway, they should simply be knocked out again.

Following this method, Ma Qiaoqiao’s father managed to drug quite a few people that night, his movements gradually becoming more practiced. After knocking out the Village Chief, he even delivered a kick to the chief’s backside, venting his pent-up frustration.

However…

His heart remained uneasy.

Ma Qiaoqiao’s father pulled out a cigarette, wanting to light it for himself.

But whether it was the strong night wind or his trembling hands, the lighter failed to ignite after several attempts.

He gave up helplessly, gazing up at the Big Dipper in the sky. Following the direction of the dipper’s handle, he looked southwardtoward the village entrance. Ma Qiaoqiao’s father murmured, “They must… they must succeed… It’s already this late.”

Why hadn’t they returned yet?

Just as he was worrying, he suddenly heard Ma Qiaoqiaowho was guarding the village entrancerunning while panting heavily, her words slurred: “Dad, Mom, the bride is back! The bride is back!”

They’re back!

Overjoyed, Ma Qiaoqiao’s father fiercely tossed away his cigarette and hurried forward to meet them.

The village was quiet, except for the unusually loud, frantic barking of dogs, which sounded quite eerie.

Back at the end of the village, in the same short white houseMa Qiaoqiao’s home.

The six department members, plus the family of three, gathered in the living room, instantly filling it to capacity.

Yu Wei and Ling Fang each laid down the people they were carrying.

“Could you prepare some hot water for us?” Ling Fang said to Ma Qiaoqiao’s family. “Some are injured and need rest to recover.”

Seeing the two unconscious individualsuncertain whether they were alive or deadMa Qiaoqiao’s family wore expressions of fear and anxiety. Only upon hearing Ling Fang’s words did they snap out of it, relieved: just injured, not dead.

Still, their condition made it clear the mission had been extremely dangerous.

Thinking that if she had been the one married off today, she might already be dead at the river bottom, Ma Qiaoqiao felt a wave of relief followed by a shudder of lingering fear. She became more proactive in her actions.

“Ah, of course! Right away!”

As the two women of the household rushed out to prepare hot water, Ma Qiaoqiao’s father remained.

Summoning his courage, he asked, “I won’t ask who you people are, but… I’ll be boldwill the River God’s Sacrifice continue in the future?”

Ultimately, he wasn’t brave enough to mention “slaying the god,” fearing it might be taboo, so he phrased it more delicately.

“It won’t happen again,” Ling Fang said.

Hearing this confirmation, Ma Qiaoqiao’s father froze, his expression shifting to disbelief.

He stood there dazed for a moment, the muscles in his cheeks twitching violently as he fought back tears. After a long pause, he roughly wiped the corner of his eye and strode out of the room.

Once the family had left, Ling Fang said, “Ye Anran and Dai Xingyu will stay to care for the patients. Lao Yu and I will take advantage of tonight to thoroughly search the village and track down those three individuals.”

Early the next morning.

Xie Qingling woke up to find she still couldn’t move.

She had been changed into clean, fresh clothes. Aside from being paralyzed, physically exhausted, and short of breath, she wasn’t experiencing any major discomfort.

Overall, she could still liveshe just couldn’t move freely.

In the morning, after settling Xie Qingling into the chair, Ye Anran went out with Ling Fang and the others, saying they needed to tie up loose ends.

Before leaving, Ye Anran even placed headphones over Xie Qingling’s ears to ensure they could stay in contact at all times.

After all, this village wasn’t exactly safe.

Xie Qingling sat in the chair, trying to shift her position slightly, but it was no use.

Her lower body felt as if it had completely vanished, and her upper body was also affectedher movements were sluggish, her body stiff, and her limbs weary.

It was so difficult.

Fortunately, she wasn’t a Curse Caster; otherwise, being cursed by such objects every day would be truly agonizing.

Xie Qingling felt a deep sympathy for Ling Fang.

“Shen Huaizhou,” Xie Qingling called out loudly.

Soon, heavy footsteps sounded outside the door, and Shen Huaizhou appeared before Xie Qingling.

“You…” Xie Qingling paused, confused. Though she had heard the footsteps, she hadn’t actually seen anyone. Where was Shen Huaizhou?

The words she had intended to say changed at the last moment: “Where are you?”

Shen Huaizhou: “…”

“I’m right here,” Shen Huaizhou said, placing a hand on Xie Qingling’s shoulder.

He was standing directly in front of her.

Xie Qingling blinked in confusion before finally making out Shen Huaizhou’s formand noticing his entirely new outfit: today, Shen Huaizhou was wearing clothes that belonged to Ma Qiaoqiao’s father.

Loose black trousers and an old, sleeveless jacketnot much different from what the elderly men at the village entrance wore to cool off.

In addition, his long hair was tied up and draped down his back.

Now, Shen Huaizhou looked like a slightly artistic, melancholic young mandressed in male attire.

Xie Qingling stayed silent for a long moment before saying, “Did the River God scare you so badly that you’ve developed a phobia of wearing skirts?”

Shen Huaizhou: “…”

He seemed to have a lot he wanted to say, but in the end, he offered no explanation, only stating, “There are no skirts here that fit me.”

Oh, right.

Ma Qiaoqiao wasn’t particularly tallXie Qingling could barely fit into her clothes, let alone Shen Huaizhou.

“You look fine like this,” Xie Qingling said. “If you don’t like wearing skirts, there’s no need to force yourself.”

Shen Huaizhou shook his head. “If I don’t wear a skirt, you won’t be able to see me.”

“Huh?” What did that mean?

Shen Huaizhou removed his hand from her shoulder and sighed softly. “The talent I awakened allows me to lower my presence to the minimum.”

“During team missions, it’s troublesome if no one can see me. But wearing women’s clothing prevents thatplus, it helps me cultivate my Illusion abilities faster, since it confuses people’s minds.”

Xie Qingling: “…”

Understood.

So that’s how it was.

What a strange talenteven stranger than the rambling, mystical voice in her own head.

“Help me touch the groundjust with my feet,” Xie Qingling said.

Shen Huaizhou complied, crouching down to place her feet firmly on the floor.

At that moment, Xie Qingling heard Ling Fang’s voice through her headphones and murmured from deep in her throat: “Soul Return!”

As soon as the words left her lips, her Mystical Power radiated outward in all directions, spreading from the point where her toes touched the ground.

Meanwhile, Ling Fang, Ye Anran, and Dai Xingyu had taken position on a high vantage point.

This was a small hill not far from the village.

The hill was dotted with low graves, some new, some old, with occasional white paper money swirling on the ground.

From the tombstones, it was clear that generations of villagers had been laid to rest in this burial ground.

The Village Chief knelt on the ground, wailing: “Are you really going to dig up my ancestral graves? Damn you! What sins did my ancestors commit for you to treat me like this! If you dare touch my ancestors’ graves, you’ll… you’ll have to step over my dead body first!”

He rolled on the ground, throwing a tantrum, completely disregarding his dignity.

Nearby villagers stood guard with hoes and sickles, watching fiercely.

Digging up ancestral graves was a major taboo in the countryside.

Especially in broad daylight, so brazenly.

Ling Fang remained unmoved, saying only: “Last night, we already investigated thoroughly.”

“Your father died less than a year ago, and you suddenly rushed to move the grave. They say let the dead rest in peacewhy were you in such a hurry to disturb the earth? Were you trying to bury something in the grave? Like, say, a few poor travelers.”

“YouI don’t know what you’re talking about! Anyway, you’re not allowed to dig up my ancestral graves! Or I’ll curse you to be struck by lightning!”

The villagers also glared angrily at Ling Fang and his team, ready to fight at any moment.

They couldn’t let themselves be bullied like this!

“Who said anything about digging up your ancestral graves?” Ling Fang swept a cold glance over them. “We’re not digging.”

“We’ll let them come out on their own.”

He lowered his head and touched his earpiece. “Xie Qingling, you may begin.”

“Understood, Chief.”

A soft female voice responded, “Soul Return.”

Before long, faint rustling sounds emerged from the previously silent graves, as if someone were scratching at coffin boards from inside.

The noise grew louder and louder, and the freshly turned soil on the graves showed signs of loosening.

The villagers who had been holding weapons turned pale, with the Village Chief looking the most terrified.

“There’s… there’s something in the graves…”

“Ghosts… there are ghosts!”

The Village Chief’s legs went weak. He tried to run but was dragged back by Ling Fang.

Gripping the Village Chief’s neck, Ling Fang forced him to watch the cracking grave.

“Take a good look for yourselfexactly what is buried in there!”