[QT] The Villains Are All My Reserve Food - Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Ghost King 4

(T/n: Since the others think Su Tang is a girl, the pronouns used for Su Tang in this arc are a bit messy. Sorry for the inconvenience.)

The villagers suddenly knelt in unison, completely bewildering the group.

The word “sacrifice” was particularly unsettling.

The newcomers couldn’t help but take a step back, which naturally made Su Tang, who remained motionless, stand out prominently, as if he had deliberately stepped forward.

Yang Dong glared warily at the kneeling villagers and demanded coldly, “What sacrifice are you talking about? Who are you referring to?”

The villagers on the ground looked up. The one at the front stared directly at Su Tang, ignoring Yang Dong and his question. Yet this very act made it clear to everyone who the god’s sacrifice was.

Yang Dong, Shen Wenbin, and the newcomers instantly focused all their attention on Su Tang.

Yang Dong, in particular, narrowed his eyes, noticing something highly unusual.

Normally, Su Tang’s loose-fitting sweater with its long sleeves concealed most of his hands, leaving only the tips of his fingers visible. This naturally hid the ring he wore. But the moment the word “sacrifice” was uttered, a faint red thread materialized from the ring on Su Tang’s finger. It stretched out, passed through the Divine Temple, and disappeared behind the door.

It was obvious that the other end of the red thread was connected to the Ghost King.

Once Yang Dong noticed it, the more intently he stared, the clearer and more vivid the red line became, its presence glaringly undeniable.

Yang Dong’s expression changed. Shocked, he blurted out, “Su Tang, who gave you that ring?”

Su Tang glanced down at the ring, instinctively wanting to say “Bo Shang.” But he didn’t know Bo Shang’s real name in this world. If he said “Ghost King,” how would a newcomer like himself know who the Ghost King was?

Torn between options, Su Tang hesitated, unsure how to answer. To Yang Dong, this hesitation only confirmed his suspicion: Su Tang didn’t know where the ring came from, having been forced onto him by that treacherous ghost without his knowledge.

This thought filled Yang Dong with even greater pity. Su Tang was so frail; if the Ghost King had taken an interest in him, he would be utterly defenseless and surely suffer terribly.

As he thought this, an image flashed through his mind: Su Tang punching skeletons into dust with a single blow. He paused awkwardly, realizing the “frail” description might be a stretch. But when he looked again at Su Tang’s baby-faced, trembling, and timid demeanor, Yang Dong nodded firmly to himself. Su Tang was too vulnerable; the Ghost King would devour him completely, leaving nothing behind! He had to protect Su Tang!

With renewed resolve, Yang Dong stepped in front of Su Tang, blocking the villagers from approaching him.

The villagers’ faces turned cold as they realized someone was trying to take Su Tang from them. They confronted Yang Dong and Shen Wenbin, the two factions facing off in a tense, volatile atmosphere.

The newcomers couldn’t see the red thread on Su Tang’s finger, but Yang Dong’s mention of the ring instantly connected with his earlier warnings.

“Didn’t we warn him not to accept anything from strangers?” one muttered. “He took it himself. Why should we care? Don’t drag us into this.”

Another questioned, “Last night, the Skeleton took that guy away. We were told that once you’re targeted, there’s no escape unless you sacrifice a life for a life. Why didn’t we save him yesterday, but now we’re rushing to save Su Tang? Is this favoritism? Was yesterday’s explanation a lie?”

Huang Rui sneered, “Exactly! The two guides always favor this little sister. You panic when she’s in danger, but what about our lives? Don’t they matter?”

Yang Dong frowned, his expression darkening. He couldn’t deny his bias toward Su Tang. Her gentle, obedient nature reminded him of his younger sister in the real world. Unlike the other newcomers who ignored warnings and caused trouble, Su Tang had become a valuable asset, contributing significantly to their efforts. Moreover, the ring was clearly not something Su Tang had sought out; he was simply an innocent victim targeted by the supernatural.

The newcomers refused to support Yang Dong’s defense of Su Tang, and Yang Dong’s anger flared. “So you’re saying we should just throw Su Tang to the wolves? Let her become a sacrifice to the Ghost King? After she risked her life to protect you all last night, this is how you repay her?”

The newcomer who had suggested Su Tang as a sacrifice flushed crimson, then paled. He knew he was in the wrong, but the thought of being dragged down by Su Tang’s fate made him stubbornly insist, “I’m grateful for her help, but you said that once you take something from a ghost, you’re connected to it and can’t switch targets. What’s the point of resisting? Wouldn’t angering the Ghost King only make things worse? We could all die!”

Despite this, some newcomers disagreed. The fitness instructor, a college student, and a girl with a single ponytail had all witnessed Su Tang’s efforts firsthand. They knew he was terrified of ghosts, yet he had still trembled and stepped forward to protect them.

They stood with Yang Dong and Shen Wenbin, refusing to hand Su Tang over to the villagers.

This left Huang Rui’s group clearly in the minority, with the team’s true combat strength concentrated on Su Tang’s side.

Huang Rui and his group turned green with anger, but their shouts demanding Su Tang leave were nothing more than impotent rage, utterly useless.

Su Tang felt a surge of warmth seeing them all standing protectively before him.

Meanwhile, the villagers’ increasingly cold and furious gazes remained fixed on Su Tang, their determination to take him unwavering.

The situation had reached a tense stalemate.

Su Tang pressed his lips together. Though terrified, he gritted his teeth and said, “I’ll go.”

His words stunned everyone into silence.

Yang Dongsheng snapped angrily, “Su Tang, do you even know what you’re saying?!”

This was practically suicide!

Su Tang nodded solemnly. “I know. Thank you for protecting me. I’m willing to be the sacrifice.”

The villagers’ eyes immediately blazed with fervor, their faces radiating undisguised joy.

Yang Dong’s group, seeing Su Tang’s stubborn resolve, felt a pang of sorrow. The burly man nearly lost control, his eyes threatening to redden.

What a selfless and courageous young girl!

To spare them from harm, she was willingly offering herself as a sacrifice to the Ghost King!

No! If they let Su Tang go, could they even call themselves human anymore?!

The burly man waved his hand dismissively, his voice rough. “Sending a kid to die so I can live? What kind of bullshit is that?! I’m not agreeing to it!”

Yang Dong and the others nodded in agreement, refusing to let Su Tang pass.

Huang Rui and his group were surprised when Su Tang volunteered to be the sacrifice, but they also felt a wave of relief. Good, now we don’t have to be the bad guys. But then? Yang Dong and his group refused. Their expressions became even more complicated.

The villagers, who had been celebrating for less than two seconds, grew even angrier when they saw the human players trying to snatch their sacrifice again. They were on the verge of launching a full-scale attack to reclaim Su Tang.

Su Tang felt a mix of helplessness and exasperation. All this commotion had made him forget his fear. He said earnestly, “I think I’ve met the Ghost King before. He looks just like someone very important to me. I want to see him. I’m not being forced, and I won’t die. Please, let me go.”

Yang Dong frowned. “That’s a ghost from a horror world. It couldn’t possibly be someone you know. Don’t do something foolish.”

Su Tang grasped Yang Dong’s hand, which was blocking his path. “I know what I’m doing. Trust me.”

In the end, the others couldn’t resist Su Tang’s persistence and reluctantly agreed.

When Su Tang grasped Yang Dong’s hand, the villagers nearly exploded on the spot, charging forward as if they wanted to chop off Yang Dong’s hand. Fortunately, Su Tang voluntarily agreed to go with them, preventing a full-blown battle between the players and the villagers.

Su Tang was thus escorted away by the villagers, but they didn’t rush him straight to the Divine Temple.

The term “sacrifice” wasn’t just a figure of speech; they were genuinely preparing for a sacrificial ritual.

The villagers led Su Tang into a house and began dressing him up. They prepared a magnificent ancient costume, a vibrant red embroidered with intricate floral patterns. They had initially planned to style his hair into an elaborate updo, but since his hair only reached his shoulders, they settled for a simpler bun. Even so, the headdress was excessively extravagant and heavy, its golden splendor weighing down Su Tang’s head.

Once fully adorned, a villager pressed a hollow red ball, adorned with crimson tassels, into Su Tang’s hand.

Then, flanked by two villagers and followed by a large crowd, Su Tang was led to the entrance, where a lavish sedan chair awaited. The chair was also a festive red, intricately carved and embellished with gold, silver, and precious jewels.

When he emerged, the once-blue sky had already darkened, transforming into the fiery hues of sunset. The setting sun, like blood, cast its crimson glow upon the sedan chair.

A cold wind swept through the air, and two dark figures descended from the horizon.

They were the Qiongqi stone statues Su Tang had seen guarding the entrance to the Divine Temple. Now brought to life, they flapped their wings and landed before the sedan chair. A rope materialized from thin air, connecting the chair to the Qiongqi, allowing them to pull it forward.

Yang Dong and the others, worried about Su Tang’s well-being, kept a close watch from the sidelines. Huang Rui and his group were also present, all stunned by the surreal spectacle unfolding before them.

Someone couldn’t help but murmur, “Is this a sacrifice? It’s like a bride being carried in an eight-bearer sedan chair.”

The others nodded in agreement, unable to deny the resemblance.

As they continued to watch, the two Qiongqi turned their heads, their expressions fierce, and let out a deafening roar, sending the newcomers scrambling back in terror. Yang Dong, growing increasingly anxious, couldn’t resist asking again, “Su Tang, are you absolutely sure you want to go through with this?”

Before Su Tang could answer, the villagers, as if terrified he might change his mind and flee, swiftly shoved him into the sedan chair.

Su Tang lifted the curtain and spoke through the small window to Yang Dong, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

He had meant to smile reassuringly, but in the blink of an eye, the ordinary townspeople transformed into skeletons as darkness fell.

Su Tang shuddered violently and immediately dropped the curtain, unable to bear the sight.

Outside, the skeletons wore expressions of dejection.

Waaah, we’re being rejected… QwQ

As soon as Su Tang settled into his seat, Qiongqi flapped its wings, lifting the sedan chair into the air and carrying him toward the Divine Temple.

Inside the sedan chair sat Su Tang, resplendent in a magnificent ancient wedding gown resembling a phoenix coronet and embroidered robes. He clutched the red, hollowed-out embroidered ball in his hands, a sense of surreal incongruity washing over him.

How did this suddenly turn into a wedding? he wondered. I only wanted to see Bo Shang in this world. Is this how the sacrificial ritual is supposed to go? Are they really not tricking me?

And Yang Dong’s earlier behavior—he had acted like the perfect older brother, worried about his sister being mistreated after marriage. If Bo Shang dared to mistreat Su Tang, Yang Dong would rush over and beat him senseless.

As Su Tang thought about seeing Bo Shang again, his mood brightened, and the corners of his lips involuntarily curved into a slight smile.

But after a few seconds, he remembered he wasn’t just meeting Bo Shang, but the Ghost King of this world.

Su Tang’s face immediately fell, and he started to feel nervous again. He silently prayed that Bo Shang wouldn’t look too terrifying, hoping he wouldn’t be scared. Otherwise, that guy Bo Shang would definitely be depressed to death.

The Divine Temple wasn’t far, and the carriage was pulled by two ferocious beasts, so they arrived quickly.

The carriage stopped.

Outside, the Qiongqi let out a low growl.

Su Tang emerged from the carriage, clutching the hollowed-out red sphere, and walked toward the temple. Before he even reached the entrance, the intricately carved temple doors swung open automatically, revealing a pitch-black interior, dimly visible but indistinct.

It was too dark, almost like a haunted house.

And with its ancient-style architecture, the place felt eerily cold at night, as if something terrifying might suddenly appear at any moment.

Su Tang’s legs trembled slightly, and his pace slowed involuntarily.

This seemed to displease the ghost waiting inside the temple. In the next instant, Su Tang felt an invisible force pulling him forward, lifting his feet off the ground and forcibly dragging him into the Divine Temple.

As Su Tang stepped through the temple doors, they slowly closed behind him, completely separating the Divine Temple from the outside world, as if creating two distinct realms.

Suddenly, the lamps on the walls flickered to life, casting a dim, eerie glow. A long, dark shadow stretched out before Su Tang.

He flinched, his heart nearly stopping in fright. But after a moment, he realized… it was his own shadow.

How embarrassing, he thought, his face flushing crimson. He let out a relieved sigh.

He cautiously scanned the temple, searching for Bo Shang’s figure, but found nothing.

He immediately recalled that Bo Shang hadn’t revealed himself earlier.

Previously, it could be explained by restrictions—the Ghost King might not be able to appear freely. But now that they were inside the Divine Temple, Bo Shang should certainly be able to manifest. So why wasn’t he showing himself? Did he not want Su Tang to see him?

Su Tang pouted, a hint of disappointment tugging at his lips.

He considered calling out, but he didn’t know what Bo Shang’s name was in this world. Calling him by the wrong name could easily provoke the Ghost King’s wrath.

Trembling, Su Tang whispered, “…Ghost King?”

The next moment, a gust of wind enveloped him, forcefully pulling him toward the bed.

Su Tang collapsed onto the soft, plush bedding, his head spinning from the fall. Just as he tried to sit up, he realized he was pinned down. Looking down, he saw numerous long, dark shadows, like tentacles, coiling around his body, binding him to the bed and rendering him immobile.

Su Tang’s eyes widened in bewildered shock.

What is this? he thought, his mind racing. Why does this feel so much like those… explicit novels I used to read? The really censored ones, with all the beeping?

Reading them had been enjoyable, but having it suddenly happen to him in real life was… well, he didn’t even know how to describe it.

Pinned down like this, Su Tang truly felt like a sacrificial offering, presented to the Ghost King.

Throughout the entire wedding night, as the red candles burned down to their stubs, his cries and pleas never ceased. There were moments of silence when he passed out from exhaustion, only to be jolted awake and tormented anew, his body pushed to its limits.

Su Tang’s voice grew hoarse from weeping. In his dazed state, he accidentally called out Bo Shang’s name, igniting the Ghost King’s jealousy. The Ghost King punished him even more severely, his actions now tinged with a cruel, punitive edge.

Because the Ghost King remained invisible, the scene appeared as if Su Tang were alone on the bed, his body flushed crimson and trembling violently.

The next day finally arrived, the sun already high in the sky.

Su Tang was finally able to rest, but his body was so sore and weak he couldn’t move. He could only curl up in the soft silk blankets, his face pale with exhaustion.

He was half-asleep when the Ghost King carried him to be washed. He vaguely remembered opening his eyes briefly, then quickly burying his face against the other’s chest and falling back asleep.

Lying in the clean, comfortable bed, Su Tang slept for a long time. He woke up hungry, opening his eyes to find a neatly folded set of clean clothes, toiletries, and steaming hot food laid out before the bed.

However, the clothes were still a dress. No matter how exquisite, it remained a dress.

Su Tang sighed in resignation. He got up, intending to check the wardrobe for other options, but the moment his feet touched the floor, his legs buckled, nearly sending him sprawling. Fortunately, an invisible force caught him around the waist, preventing a fall.

Looking around, Su Tang saw nothing. Annoyed, he tugged the blanket around himself for modesty and slowly shuffled to the wardrobe.

The wardrobe was overflowing with clothes, a wide variety of styles—but without exception, they were all beautiful little dresses.

Su Tang: “……”

Does the Ghost King think I actually enjoy wearing women’s clothes?

Su Tang couldn’t find any other clothes, but he couldn’t go naked either, so he reluctantly picked one of the dresses and put it on. After that, he washed up and ate.

The dishes were all his favorites, including fragrant roasted meat, perfectly satisfying the cravings he’d had while gnawing on dry rations, constantly swallowing his saliva at the thought of meat.

After finishing his meal, Su Tang stared into the empty air and asked in a slightly hoarse voice, “Aren’t you going to come out?”

Two seconds passed, but no one appeared. Instead, the chopsticks he’d just used to eat began to sway left and right, as if answering.

Su Tang puffed out his cheeks, feeling a surge of anger.

Why won’t you show yourself?!

You were bold enough to do whatever you wanted last night, ignoring all my pleas for mercy. Now you can’t even show your face?

Furious, Su Tang repeated his question, only to receive the same swaying response.

He glared at the chopsticks, his anger boiling over. He reached out and snapped them in half with a sharp crack.

“Still shaking your head? I broke you! Now how are you going to shake?”

The invisible Ghost King sat opposite Su Tang in the air, watching the offering before him. For once, he remained silent, even unconsciously swallowing his saliva.

The Ghost King suddenly recalled the reports from his lesser ghosts: the person he had taken a liking to could knock their heads off with a single punch, leaving them scrambling on the ground to retrieve them.

The Ghost King merely chuckled, finding the person he had chosen not only adorable when crying but also fiercely endearing when angry. What a treasure I’ve discovered, he thought.

The first little Skeleton whose head Su Tang had knocked off felt a bit aggrieved. After reattaching his skull, it never sat quite right again, sometimes falling off when he ran, forcing him to chase after it.

The girl the master likes is so fierce! QwQ

Sensing the Skeleton’s resentment, the Ghost King corrected him: “That’s not a girl, it’s a boy.”

The Skeleton was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped off, and he quickly cupped it with his hands.

With a wave of his hand, the Ghost King channeled strands of yin energy into the Skeleton, invigorating him. The rattling skull stabilized considerably, and his entire body became more agile.

The Skeleton was overjoyed, his eyes gleaming. If getting his head knocked off by Su Tang meant receiving the Ghost King’s yin energy as a reward, he wouldn’t mind losing his head a few more times!

Returning to the present moment…

The Ghost King hadn’t merely heard tales of Su Tang’s ferocity from his Skeleton subordinates; he had witnessed it firsthand. That made all the difference.

Originally, the Ghost King had remained invisible because Su Tang feared ghosts. Now, he felt a sudden stiffness, wondering if his earlier decision had been a mistake. Would revealing himself now only result in a beating?

After some deliberation, the Ghost King decided to remain hidden.

Su Tang let out a cold laugh, clutching a broken chopstick in his hand.

As the Ghost King watched, he once again found himself thinking, Even when my darling is being fierce, he’s still so adorable! Even when he’s being fierce at me!

Completely unaware of the Ghost King’s complex inner turmoil, Su Tang only sensed a persistent, obsessive, and sinister gaze fixed upon him.

Though the Ghost King remained invisible, he had considered Su Tang might be bored in the Divine Temple and provided him with plenty of entertainment to pass the time.

That night, the shadowy tentacles reappeared, and Su Tang cried through the entire night once more.

When he woke up the next morning, his waist ached, his legs felt weak, and he discovered intimate marks on his body. Yet the bed beside him remained empty, without a single figure in sight.

Su Tang’s face flushed crimson with anger as he slammed his fist against the bed.

He pulled on a black shirt, the collar perfectly concealing the hickeys on his neck, and paired it with a black-and-red plaid skirt. Glancing down, he noticed numerous red marks on his exposed legs.

Gritting his teeth, Su Tang cursed, “That damn pervert!”

Left with no other choice, Su Tang pulled on a pair of long black socks that covered nearly his entire legs.

Only then did he stride menacingly to the temple door, determined to open it and leave.

But the door was locked.

It wouldn’t budge.

Su Tang turned to address the empty air, his voice sharp with anger. “I wanted to see you, but you refused to show yourself. Did you really think I wouldn’t try to escape?”

The Ghost King watched his furious darling, still admiring the flush on his cheeks and the clothes he had personally chosen—a perfect blend of cool and sweet, utterly adorable.

He remained completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

When Su Tang received no response, his anger flared. He channeled his unnatural strength and shoved against the door with all his might. But the lock was secured by the Ghost King’s power, not brute force.

Without hesitation, Su Tang mentally summoned the System.

The System, ever loyal to its Host, responded instantly and provided assistance in a heartbeat.

The very next second, Su Tang raised his foot and delivered a vicious kick.

The temple door shattered violently, flying off its hinges. Su Tang stormed out of the Divine Temple, abandoning the Ghost King.

Outside, Yang Dong and the others, who had been frantic with worry after two days without a trace of Su Tang, were desperately trying to figure out how to break down the door. They froze in shock as Su Tang emerged like a vengeful deity.

“…???”

What was going on?

Where was the Ghost King?

Had the “Iron Barbie” actually punched the Ghost King to death?!