[QT] The Villains Are All My Reserve Food - Chapter 65

Chapter 65: Ghost King 5

When Su Tang kicked the door off its hinges and strode out with an icy expression, he truly seemed like a wrathful deity descending, startling everyone present.

The newcomers were understandably stunned, but even Yang Dong and Shen Wenbin, the more experienced players, were momentarily dumbfounded. It was as if they had encountered an incredibly powerful high-level player—no, to be precise, even high-level players rarely possessed such overwhelming presence.

Su Tang had been chosen as a sacrifice, forced to confront the dungeon boss directly. As a newcomer, he was essentially walking into his own death. Even seasoned players struggled to escape unscathed from the Ghost King’s clutches, typically sustaining injuries while seizing opportunities to snatch items before retreating swiftly.

When Su Tang insisted on going, Yang Dong had braced himself for the worst. Yet, against all odds, Su Tang emerged from the Divine Temple unscathed, relying solely on his own abilities!

Yang Dong was both astonished and overjoyed. Though he couldn’t fathom how Su Tang had survived the Ghost King’s wrath, he was immensely relieved to see him unharmed.

He rushed forward, his eyes scanning Su Tang from head to toe with concern.

Su Tang’s heart burned with fury, but he refused to vent his anger on others. He simply shook his head, assuring them he was fine, and joined the group, leaving the Divine Temple without a backward glance, their footsteps carrying them further and further away.

From beginning to end, Su Tang could clearly feel a scorching gaze fixed on him, making the back of his neck prickle.

Under normal circumstances, Su Tang might have been frightened, but now, consumed by anger, he completely ignored the Ghost King.

Those who had come to the Divine Temple to rescue Su Tang were the same people who had opposed his sacrifice in the first place. Huang Rui and the others remained huddled in the inn.

While the Infinite World was dangerous, even the Newbie World wasn’t excessively harsh. Newcomers still needed to eat, drink, and rest. During the day, when the townspeople were in their normal state, newcomers could use Points to pay for lodging and meals at the inn. By spending Points on these necessities, they could use the townspeople’s services without establishing contact with ghosts.

However, these Point loans weren’t granted casually. They had to be repaid by the end of the Newbie World. Otherwise, even if they barely survived to pass the stage, insufficient Points would result in their erasure from existence.

Huang Rui and the others were munching on steamed buns when Su Tang returned unharmed. They were utterly shocked, having never imagined he would survive.

Their expressions instantly became complex, a mix of hesitation, suspicion, jealousy, resentment, and regret flooding their hearts.

Huang Rui’s dark eyes flickered with a hint of scheming. While others regretted antagonizing Su Tang after realizing his formidable strength, Huang Rui had already swallowed his pride, acting as if nothing had happened, and was now shamelessly currying favor with Su Tang.

Feigning relief, Huang Rui said, “Su Tang, I’m so glad you’re okay! I was worried sick. You must be starving, right? I have a steamed bun here, which I painstakingly earned with my Points. Go ahead and eat it!”

At times, one couldn’t help but admire Huang Rui’s shameless, adaptable, and utterly shameless behavior. Most people would find it impossible to so decisively slap themselves in the face, making a loud, resounding smack, and yet remain completely unfazed, his skin thicker than a city wall.

But Huang Rui truly could.

To anyone unaware of the situation, his overly affectionate attitude toward Su Tang would make it seem like they were close friends.

Yang Dong, who knew the truth, watched with disgust. He understood Huang Rui’s ulterior motives for ingratiating himself with Su Tang and worried that the younger girl might be easily deceived. Once again, he deliberately stepped in front of Su Tang, shielding him.

Shen Wenbin naturally stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his partner. “No need. If Su Tang is hungry, we have food.”

Huang Rui’s expression darkened slightly, but he maintained his composure, relentlessly trying to get closer to Su Tang as if oblivious to Su Tang’s cold demeanor.

During this exchange, Yang Dong’s sharp eyes noticed a faint hickey beneath Su Tang’s shirt collar. His pupils constricted sharply. Upon closer inspection, he also saw a faint ring of marks on the small stretch of pale wrist exposed at Su Tang’s cuff, as if it had been bound.

A storm of emotions raged within Yang Dong—a mix of heartache and fury.

How could the Ghost King be such a vulgar, despicable brute?!

After realizing what Su Tang had endured, Yang Dong’s demeanor softened even further. He made a conscious effort to conceal his knowledge, pretending not to have noticed anything, to spare Su Tang, who was already suffering, from further distress.

Yang Dong whispered, “Su Tang, you must be exhausted. Why don’t I get you a room to rest?”

Su Tang hadn’t slept properly for two nights and genuinely needed rest. He nodded and asked Yang Dong how to use his Points.

Just then, Huang Rui seized the opportunity to sidle up again, offering to “helpfully” guide Su Tang through the process while reaching out to put his arm around Su Tang’s shoulder. Yang Dong bristled with disgust and was about to intervene when someone moved even faster.

Before Huang Rui could react, a fierce gust of icy wind struck him, slamming him violently to the floor with a deafening thud. Every bone in his body felt shattered, his stomach churned violently, and a metallic sweetness surged up his throat, nearly causing him to vomit blood.

A tall, pale-faced man stood before him, towering over him with eyes as cold as death, as if Huang Rui were nothing more than a corpse or an insignificant ant.

The man’s sinister gaze and overwhelming aura of murderous intent terrified Huang Rui so much that he trembled uncontrollably, nearly wetting himself on the spot. He had no doubt this stranger genuinely intended to kill him.

Su Tang froze for a moment, then quickly recognized the man before him.

That utterly familiar face.

Warmth flooded Su Tang’s heart. Though they had encountered each other in this world before, even sharing the most intimate moments within the Divine Temple, he had never seen the Ghost King’s face until now. Strictly speaking, this was their first true meeting, and a wave of joy and a thousand other emotions surged through him.

However, Su Tang refused to forget how the man had angered him earlier.

Su Tang’s expression remained stern, but seeing the man’s fury and his merciless intent to kill Huang Rui, Su Tang had no choice but to step forward and grab the man’s hand, stopping him.

The man’s fury intensified, his eyes glowing with a mad, crimson light. His voice turned icy: “You’re protecting him?!”

Su Tang wasn’t siding with Huang Rui; in fact, he found Huang Rui repulsive. But that didn’t mean he wanted Huang Rui dead. If Huang Rui died by the ghost’s hand in the horror game due to the world’s rules, that was unavoidable. However, Su Tang couldn’t accept Bo Shang killing someone because of him.

Of course, if Huang Rui ever did something truly unforgivable, Su Tang wouldn’t hesitate to deal with him himself, without needing Bo Shang’s intervention.

So Su Tang clasped Bo Shang’s hand, shook his head, and said, “I don’t care about him. I just don’t want you killing people casually.”

The Ghost King lowered his gaze, staring at Su Tang. His eyes still blazed with crimson streaks, bloodshot and terrifying. Combined with his deathly pale face and menacing expression, he looked utterly terrifying.

Huang Rui, sprawled on the ground, frantically retreated backward as if facing a murderous fiend, his body trembling uncontrollably, on the verge of madness from terror.

Yang Dong and Shen Wenbin hadn’t noticed the stranger’s arrival. When they finally saw him, they were instantly alarmed, immediately entering a state of high alert, convinced he posed an extreme danger.

When they saw Su Tang boldly step forward to stop the man, both Yang Dong and Shen Wenbin felt a pang of anxiety. They feared the man might lash out at Su Tang with the same viciousness he had shown Huang Rui. Huang Rui was detestable and deserved a beating, but Su Tang—such a sweet and adorable girl—couldn’t possibly deserve to be bullied!

Yes, this married couple was undeniably biased. Shen Wenbin hadn’t been quite so partial at first, but after spending the past few days with Su Tang, he had grown increasingly fond of him. Moreover, Shen Wenbin had always adopted his beloved’s preferences as his own moral compass. Love me, love my dog—naturally, he had grown increasingly biased toward Su Tang as well.

They were already poised to intervene, their eyes fixed on the stranger’s dark, brooding face. But after a long moment of tense anticipation, the man made no move. Like a wild horse tamed by Su Tang’s gentle touch, he was calmed by just a few words.

Yang Dong watched Su Tang’s natural, affectionate demeanor toward the man, as if they were old friends. A flicker of doubt crossed his face as he recalled Su Tang’s earlier words. “I remember Su Tang saying he had a boyfriend…” he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible.

But the Ghost King was different. He wasn’t human, so the limitations of human hearing didn’t apply to him. He heard Yang Dong’s words clearly, and his expression darkened instantly.

A boyfriend?!

The Ghost King couldn’t accept this at all.

He even began to suspect that Su Tang had fled the Divine Temple because of this so-called boyfriend!

The Ghost King was so enraged he nearly resurrected himself.

Meanwhile, Yang Dong and Shen Wenbin, even without knowing the stranger before them was the Ghost King, remained highly vigilant. In the terrifying world they were in, even teammates couldn’t be fully trusted, let alone someone who had suddenly appeared. The man might even be one of the townspeople, preparing to attack them.

Yang Dong decisively pulled Su Tang closer, unwilling to let him stand even slightly near the Ghost King.

Having finished his attempt at persuasion, Su Tang was indeed planning to leave. He obediently followed Yang Dong to the inn’s front desk to check in.

But how could the Ghost King allow this? Su Tang was his sacrifice, his treasure.

In the next instant, the Ghost King struck, attempting to reclaim Su Tang.

Shen Wenbin, already on guard, immediately retaliated, engaging the Ghost King in a fierce battle. Each attack was sharp and brutal, stirring up a chilling wind.

The more Shen Wenbin fought, the more his expression grew solemn and grave. He was already using nearly ninety percent of his strength, yet his opponent remained evenly matched, even appearing to hold back, as if not exerting his full power.

This man was a ghost, whose daytime strength should be restricted by the world’s rules! Yet even with these limitations, he was still this formidable. One could only imagine the true extent of his power!

Shen Wenbin’s face gradually darkened, realizing this newbie world was far beyond normal difficulty—utterly abnormal.

In the end, Su Tang intervened, stopping the fight. As he stepped forward, his legs, still weak from recovery, faltered, causing him to stumble.

In the blink of an eye, the man who had been clashing with Shen Wenbin materialized beside Su Tang, catching him by the waist and steadying him.

Instantly, all eyes converged on the pair.

Su Tang’s ears flushed crimson. He pressed his lips together, awkwardly pushing the man away, then turned and hurried upstairs with the room key the innkeeper had given him.

As Su Tang ascended the stairs, the man immediately followed. Yang Dong and Shen Wenbin moved to block him.

The man whirled around, his gaze piercing them with profound yin energy. His eyes were like razor-sharp blades, like glacial ice, capable of pinning them to the spot with a single glance, paralyzing them with terror.

Yang Dong couldn’t help but think that this man had actually restrained himself somewhat when Su Tang was present. But the moment Su Tang left, he seemed to abandon all restraint, his eyes burning with murderous intent, as if he truly wanted to kill them. The fact that he hadn’t struck a fatal blow earlier might have been solely because Su Tang didn’t want him to kill.

The two men gasped for breath, their bodies numb with cold, barely able to twitch a finger. By the time they recovered, they were already watching the man follow Su Tang upstairs.

At that moment, Yang Dong and Shen Wenbin were drenched in cold sweat, nearly collapsing from terror.

Even Shen Wenbin, a man known for his boldness and fearlessness, couldn’t hide a flicker of dread in his eyes. He murmured, “Who exactly is he…?”

Yang Dong’s face paled slightly as he lowered his voice. “I asked Su Tang how he knew that man. Do you know what he said?”

Shen Wenbin turned his head, waiting for the answer.

Yang Dong slowly replied, “He said that man was someone extremely important to him.”

Shen Wenbin froze. “Impossible! That man is clearly a ghost from this world. How could Su Tang know him…? Wait, didn’t he mention before that the Ghost King looked very similar to someone important to him? Could that man just now… be the Ghost King?!”

Shen Wenbin’s face twisted in horror at this realization.

Yang Dong’s expression darkened, but he had to admit that Shen Wenbin’s theory was highly plausible. Su Tang and that man shared an inexplicable intimacy and understanding. Moreover, the man had only appeared after Su Tang had entered the Divine Temple as a sacrificial offering and then escaped. Everything suggested he was relentlessly pursuing Su Tang.

Yang Dong murmured, “So… they knew each other before?”

Shen Wenbin, ever perceptive, sensed that their relationship was far from simple. He nodded firmly. “Highly likely.”

Given this, they shouldn’t pry too deeply. After all, they knew nothing about what had transpired between Su Tang and the man, nor the depth of their emotional bond. Unless Su Tang explicitly asked for their help, they should avoid interfering.

Yang Dong and Shen Wenbin exchanged glances, both seeing the same resolve in each other’s eyes. They nodded in agreement and turned to leave.

Upstairs in the inn, Su Tang lay curled up in bed, buried under the covers.

Exhausted, he had barely settled down before his eyes began to droop, on the verge of sleep.

Suddenly, a chilling gust of wind swept across his back, and an ice-cold body pressed against him, pulling him into an embrace.

Su Tang jolted violently, startled and frozen by the sudden chill.

Unable to resist, he shrank forward, trying to distance himself from the massive ice block.

But the moment he managed to create a sliver of space, the Ghost King yanked him back, pulling him even closer. The hand around his waist tightened like an iron chain, binding them together.

Su Tang continued to tremble.

The Ghost King, thoroughly displeased, flipped him over, forcing him to face him.

With one arm around Su Tang’s waist and the other pinching his chin, the Ghost King demanded, “Do you know who I am?”

Still furious—he’d been about to sleep when the sudden chill jolted him awake—Su Tang’s anger flared anew. He kicked the Ghost King without hesitation, snarling, “No!”

Like hell he knew! Who was the one who refused to show his face all this time?!

The Ghost King’s expression darkened ominously, and he felt as if green horns were sprouting from his head.

At that thought, the shadowy tendrils reappeared, coiling tightly around Su Tang to help him remember exactly who he was dealing with.

Su Tang never imagined the Ghost King would be so shameless—in broad daylight, no less!

Before long, Su Tang’s face flushed crimson, as if he were drunk. His eyes grew misty and damp, his gaze hazy. Years of familiarity made him instinctively reach up to wrap his arms around the Ghost King’s neck. Overwhelmed by his own arousal, he became unexpectedly proactive, trembling uncontrollably in the Ghost King’s arms.

Su Tang groaned softly, murmuring indistinctly, “Bo Shang.”

Instantly, the Ghost King froze, his entire body stiffening like stone.

His eyes burned crimson as he gritted his teeth, his hands gripping Su Tang’s waist with a ferocity that seemed intent on crushing him to death.

“Look closely! Who am I? How dare you mistake me for a substitute?! You are my offering! My possession!”

Driven to the brink of madness, the Ghost King savagely conquered Su Tang’s senses, branding him with his mark to ensure he would never forget who he truly was.

Su Tang had unconsciously uttered the name, not even realizing what he’d said until the Ghost King’s sudden frenzy left him stunned. By the time he finally registered his slip of the tongue, Su Tang’s defenses had crumbled, and darkness swallowed his vision…

Before losing consciousness, Su Tang’s mind churned with conflicting emotions, desperately wanting to retort:

Bo Shang is you, you idiot! Why are you so eager to wear the cuckold’s crown?!

Throughout Su Tang’s transmigrations across multiple worlds, Bo Shang had always lacked his memories. Yet, a subconscious awareness seemed to linger within him. Upon meeting Su Tang, fragments of their past love—small details from their shared history—gradually resurfaced. Su Tang could sense it: this was the same person, his beloved from every world.

So, the fact that his lover had no memories was indeed a bit sad, but Su Tang wasn’t completely unable to accept it. They would soon be as intimate as before.

Yet, in that moment, a sudden doubt crept into Su Tang’s mind.

If he continued transmigrating like this, with each world’s lover having different names and identities, what if he accidentally called out the wrong name during sex? Seven, eight, even a dozen different names… Given Bo Shang’s obsessive and possessive nature… wouldn’t he be fucked to death in bed?

It sounded absurd, but Su Tang couldn’t help but harbor this deep suspicion.

After what seemed like an eternity, Su Tang finally opened his eyes. The Ghost King’s icy lips were pressed against his, transferring yin energy into his mouth.

The frigid, chilling energy surged through his lungs and heart, like gulping down an ice-cold cola straight from the refrigerator—a bone-deep chill that pierced his very core.

Normally, transferring yin energy to a living person would be harmful. But the Ghost King was the ruler of this world. As long as he didn’t excessively violate the world’s rules, he could easily alter many things.

After absorbing those strands of yin energy, Su Tang felt neither weakened nor any ill effects. Instead, the exhaustion and soreness that had plagued his body vanished instantly, leaving him feeling remarkably refreshed.

Even as the Ghost King tried to release him, Su Tang couldn’t resist greedily reaching out for more.

But the Ghost King gripped his chin, preventing him from moving forward. His voice, cold as death, hissed, “Say you’re mine. Say you’ll stay here with me forever.”

You are my offering. I will never let you return to that man named Bo Shang.

Su Tang froze, a flicker of helplessness in his eyes. Still clinging to this green hat, huh?

When Su Tang remained silent, the Ghost King took it as refusal. His fury surged, and he lowered his head to bite Su Tang’s lips, forcing another strand of yin energy into his mouth.

Dazed, Su Tang wondered if the Ghost King was trying to get him addicted.

In truth, Su Tang didn’t realize that while the yin energy did benefit his body, absorbing too much would gradually transform him into one of this realm’s inhabitants, making escape impossible. It was the same principle as eating the Ghost King’s food or wearing the clothes he provided.

Even experienced players like Yang Dong and Shen Wenbin were unaware of this. In the terrifying worlds they explored, players always avoided ghosts at all costs. Ghosts were nothing but dangerous game mechanics that could kill players; the two groups were inherently opposed. No one had ever heard of a human and a ghost falling in love.

Su Tang, completely oblivious, simply found the sensation of the ghostly energy entering his lungs to be incredibly soothing.

Finally, their lips parted.

Su Tang’s mouth had been kissed into a vivid crimson, like dew-kissed flower petals.

The Ghost King’s gaze darkened as he watched, unable to resist leaning down for another kiss.

Su Tang gasped for breath, thrashing in the Ghost King’s arms like a fish out of water. When he finally managed to breathe again, his face flushed crimson with anger, his cheeks puffing out into a dumpling-like pout.

Pervert! Su Tang cursed inwardly, his anger driving him to bite again.

He wanted to make it clear: he wasn’t biting because the Ghost King’s slender, jade-white neck looked so tempting as he lay beside him, or because he craved blood. He was simply furious and retaliating against the Ghost King!

As Su Tang mentally protested, he bared his sharp canine teeth and sank them into the Ghost King’s neck.

During the day, the ghosts in town assumed human forms, indistinguishable from living people.

So, the Ghost King did indeed have blood.

Su Tang bit down, and the fresh, sweet-smelling blood flooded his mouth, filling him with satisfaction. He narrowed his eyes slightly, wrapped his arms around the Ghost King’s neck, and hugged his “food supply” even tighter.

The Ghost King was somewhat surprised.

It turned out his sacrifice wasn’t a pure human after all, but a half-hidden vampire.

He had already been puzzled by Su Tang’s ability to break through the locks on his Divine Temple. Normally, even advanced players needed special tools to bypass his enchantments. As a newcomer, Su Tang shouldn’t have possessed such capabilities, yet he had accomplished it with apparent ease.

Now, knowing Su Tang was half-vampire, everything seemed to make sense.

Ghost King.

Vampire.

From this perspective, they were quite a fitting pair.

The Ghost King’s lips curved into a faint smile as he tightened his hold on the small sacrifice in his arms, indulging Su Tang’s blood-drinking. Far from being angry, he felt rather content. If Su Tang enjoyed his blood, that was all the better.

From now on, Su Tang would only be allowed to drink his blood.

If Su Tang dared to touch anyone else, he would kill them.