[QT] The Villains Are All My Reserve Food - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Ghost King 12

Su Tang lowered his head, looking at the candies in his hand, feeling a bit lost. The rabbit-eared hat on his head drooped slightly, brushing against his cheek with a ticklish sensation. He couldn’t resist reaching up to push it aside.

Xie Yu casually pinched one of the rabbit ears and said, “The candy’s fine. You can eat it.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Su Tang peeled open a piece and popped it into his mouth. The rich, milky aroma filled his mouth instantly, making it incredibly delicious.

Su Tang’s eyes lit up immediately, and the fear from the ghost earlier faded away, his attention completely diverted.

Realizing how delicious the old woman’s candies were, Su Tang’s first thought was to share them with Xie Yu and let him try one too.

Without hesitation, he offered the entire handful of candies to Xie Yu, asking with a smile, “Want some?”

As he spoke, the milky fragrance wafted out, as if Su Tang himself had been soaking in milk—sweet, fragrant, and looking soft and utterly delectable.

Xie Yu nodded but didn’t reach out to take any.

Su Tang tilted his head thoughtfully, then picked up one of the candies, peeled off its decorative wrapper, and popped it into Xie Yu’s mouth. His fingertip accidentally brushed Xie Yu’s lips, leaving it slightly damp as Xie Yu sucked on the candy.

Su Tang pursed his lips, pretending nothing had happened as he withdrew his hand.

The two continued walking forward, munching on their candies.

At night, the Mass Grave felt like a vast labyrinth. Despite walking straight ahead, they found themselves circling back to familiar paths, unable to find an exit.

Spending the entire night here meant encountering countless ghosts, and they might not even make it out alive.

Su Tang felt no pity or sympathy for the detestable Zhou Peng, who was being chased and attacked by ghosts. The man had shown cruelty not only to ghosts but also to his human companions, treating them as mere tools to be used. He was utterly cold-blooded and selfish.

Therefore, Su Tang didn’t care what fate awaited him. In fact, he secretly hoped the ghosts would make him suffer, tormenting him thoroughly.

At that moment, Su Tang was more concerned about Yang Dong and the others, instinctively scanning the area for any sign of them.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Su Tang spotted several ghosts surrounding a tall, slender figure. The player’s silhouette looked familiar, and Su Tang instinctively assumed it was someone from Yang Dong’s team. Without hesitation, he charged in, delivering a punch to each ghost’s head, sending them fleeing after their severed skulls, too preoccupied to attack the group.

Midway through the fight, to help the player evade a fatal blow, Su Tang grabbed him by the arm and shoved him aside.

Once the ghosts had scattered, Su Tang finally had a chance to properly look at the player.

To his surprise, it wasn’t someone from Yang Dong’s team at all, but the Heavenly Master Lin Yu. Likely due to overusing his spiritual energy while surrounded by so many ghosts, Lin Yu’s face was deathly pale, making him appear even more frail. His oversized robes hung loosely on his slender frame.

Su Tang realized he had saved the wrong person and frowned.

Though he didn’t harbor any particular animosity toward the Heavenly Master, he had witnessed Zhou Peng’s actions firsthand. Lin Yu’s willingness to cooperate under such circumstances essentially amounted to tacit approval of Zhou Peng’s methods.

As a result, Su Tang disliked him as well. After the unexpected rescue, he even felt a pang of regret.

But what was done was done. After all, it was a human life at stake. He wasn’t a judge and had no right to pass judgment. He turned and walked away.

Xie Yu had already grown displeased the moment Su Tang intervened. He disliked Su Tang focusing too much attention on others, and he especially didn’t want him to get hurt. The ghosts had fled so quickly partly because they were searching for their leader, but also because they were terrified by the Ghost King’s overwhelming aura, scurrying away like cowards.

Fortunately, Su Tang rescued the person swiftly and immediately tried to leave. Xie Yu seized his hand, pulled him into a possessive embrace, and whisked him away.

Lin Yu sat on the ground, not even having time to say a word before the man left, leaving only his retreating figure. He had saved him and vanished, like an anonymous hero.

As Lin Yu watched, a different kind of flutter stirred in his heart.

When they first met Su Tang at the inn, all the male players had been captivated by his beauty and felt a strong attraction to him. Lin Yu was no exception. But as a Heavenly Master dedicated to cultivation and demon slaying, he had to suppress his emotions. He had always maintained a detached demeanor, appearing utterly uninterested in romance. Yet the more he restrained himself, the more overwhelming his feelings surged when they finally broke through.

Lin Yu stared at Su Tang’s retreating figure, recalling how Su Tang had shielded him earlier, protecting him without hesitation, and how his hand had gripped Lin Yu’s. The brief touch left him struggling to recall the exact sensation; he only remembered that it wasn’t the boneless softness he’d imagined a girl’s hand would feel like, but rather pale, decisive, and strong.

A faint blush crept across Lin Yu’s face, his eyes gleaming with newfound light.

Though Su Tang differed from the delicate image Lin Yu had conjured—displaying surprising combat prowess earlier—this only deepened Lin Yu’s admiration and affection. In fact, Su Tang’s unexpected strength, contrasting with his appearance, made him even cooler and more captivating.

Lin Yu watched Su Tang’s figure disappear with reluctance, slowly catching his breath. His Yin-Yang Eyes, unable to perceive the restrained yet surging Yin energy within Xie Yu, instead noticed the dark aura swirling around Su Tang.

He was momentarily startled, but quickly reasoned that they were in the Mass Grave, a gathering place for ghosts. It was only natural for Su Tang to have inadvertently absorbed Yin energy, especially after fighting ghosts earlier.

As Xie Yu pulled Su Tang away, it was immediately clear that Xie Yu was in a dark mood, visibly displeased.

Su Tang shook Xie Yu’s hand gently and said softly, “I thought it was Yang Dong and the others. They saved me before, so I wanted to help them too.”

Xie Yu continued walking in silence for a few more steps before turning back. “If something like this happens again, let me handle it.”

Su Tang tilted his head. “But you’re the Ghost King. Wouldn’t it be inconvenient for you to intervene? That person was using talismans against ghosts—he seemed to be a Heavenly Master. What if he discovers your identity and tries to harm you?”

Hearing Su Tang’s concern for him, Xie Yu’s mood instantly brightened. He smiled and asked, “If he discovered my identity and tried to hurt me, what would you do?”

Su Tang immediately recalled the previous world, where a large group of Ability Users had cornered Bo Shang. His eyes turned cold, and he replied without hesitation, “I wouldn’t let him. If he tried to kill you, I’d kill him first.”

His tone was icy, and a clear murderous intent flashed in his eyes, making it clear he wasn’t just making an empty threat.

Xie Yu could sense Su Tang’s protectiveness. His lips curved into a smile, his mood soaring. He leaned forward and pulled Su Tang into a tight embrace, holding him close.

Xie Yu leaned down, resting his chin on Su Tang’s shoulder. Feigning weakness, he leaned against him and said, “Alright, Tangtang will protect me.”

Su Tang nodded, seeing nothing wrong with this arrangement.

It was absurd. Xie Yu was the ridiculously powerful Ghost King, the Big Boss of dungeons capable of driving players mad, yet here he was, acting like a helpless little thing. And Su Tang, of course, fell for it completely.

Not that Su Tang had forgotten how strong Xie Yu was. It was simply that, as his beloved, Su Tang naturally wanted to protect him, even if Xie Yu seemed so powerful he needed no one’s protection.

They walked among the wordless tombstones, the ground a chaotic mess of overgrown weeds. Patches of white bone peeked through the foliage, hidden among the weeds, and one could easily trip over them if not careful.

Just ahead, a group of ghosts crawled out of their graves like crabs crossing a road, marching forward in unison.

The sight was eerie and terrifying. Su Tang instinctively took a step back, only to stumble over a stray hand bone. Losing his balance, he fell backward, pulling Xie Yu down with him. By sheer coincidence, they both tumbled into an empty coffin.

The coffin lid slammed shut automatically!

Su Tang’s eyes widened in terror, his scalp prickling, cold sweat drenching his back. He nearly let out a pathetic scream.

Instinctively, he called out, “Xie Yu!”

Xie Yu responded almost immediately, gripping his hand. “I’m here.”

Su Tang finally exhaled in relief, his fear subsiding slightly, though his hand still trembled uncontrollably. He lowered his voice and asked, “What do we do now? Should we try to get out?”

Xie Yu wrapped his arms around Su Tang, gently patting his back to reassure him. “Mm-hmm.”

Inside the coffin, the cramped space made it difficult to exert force. But Su Tang possessed unnatural strength, and he could still manage to pry open the lid, though it would take longer than usual.

He braced his hands against the lid, ready to push it open.

Just then, a rustling sound came from outside, like something crawling across the surface.

Su Tang immediately imagined a horde of ghosts and, shrinking back in fear, withdrew his hands.

“L-let’s wait a bit longer,” he stammered, his throat dry. “It doesn’t sound safe out there.”

The real reason was simple: he didn’t want to open the lid and come face-to-face with a swarm of ghosts. That would be too much of a “surprise”—enough to stop his heart.

Xie Yu had no objections. After all, Su Tang was right beside him, nestled in his arms.

The coffin was only large enough for one person, making it cramped for two. They had to squeeze together, their bodies pressed tightly against each other. Any slight movement would bring their lips together, or even worse, their more intimate areas would brush awkwardly.

Xie Yu was naturally delighted. His only concern was that Su Tang might run out of oxygen if they stayed inside too long.

Su Tang was too terrified to notice the awkwardness of their position, his ears perked up, listening intently for any sounds outside.

Just as Xie Yu was about to speak, Su Tang clamped his hand over Xie Yu’s mouth, whispering urgently, “Don’t talk!”

He was terrified the ghosts outside would discover them.

Xie Yu froze for a moment, then his eyes curved into a smile. In high spirits, he obediently remained still and silent.

However, after a while, Su Tang, unable to hear Xie Yu’s voice in the pitch-black darkness, could only feel the hand on his waist and the cool body pressed against his. His mind began to wander again, and his courage faltered.

He hurriedly whispered, his voice trembling, “Xie Yu!”

Xie Yu moved his lips, his breath warm and slightly damp against Su Tang’s palm, tickling his skin.

“I’m here.”

Without thinking, Su Tang burrowed even deeper into Xie Yu’s embrace, wishing they could merge into one being, hoping that would make him less afraid.

In the pitch-black darkness, Su Tang couldn’t see a thing, but Xie Yu’s vision remained unaffected. Though Xie Yu relished Su Tang’s clingy dependence, seeing him tremble so violently tugged at his heart. With a thought, a small, firefly-like glow materialized within the coffin.

If Tangtang could see his surroundings, he wouldn’t let his imagination run wild and be so terrified, Xie Yu reasoned.

But the reality was quite the opposite. Su Tang’s face paled even further, and he shuddered violently before burying his face in Xie Yu’s chest, refusing to look up.

The light flickered beside Xie Yu’s face, leaving most of his features shrouded in shadow—a classic horror movie trope. Caught completely off guard at such close range, Su Tang was utterly terrified. The fact that he didn’t lash out with a punch was a testament to his genuine affection for Xie Yu.

Seeing Su Tang even more frightened, Xie Yu grew puzzled. He gently patted Su Tang’s back in reassurance and murmured, “What’s wrong, Tangtang?”

After a moment, Su Tang still didn’t lift his head. His muffled voice, tinged with tears, emerged from Xie Yu’s embrace: “Your face just now… it was so sinister. So scary…”

Xie Yu’s expression darkened instantly. He had meant to ease Tangtang’s fear, but instead, he had made him afraid of him! This was even worse!

Xie Yu, slightly displeased, instantly extinguished the faint glow, saying, “It’s nothing.”

Su Tang hesitated before slowly lifting his head. The coffin was once again plunged into pitch darkness, rendering everything invisible. Yet Su Tang breathed a sigh of relief.

Xie Yu, however, grew even more displeased.

He immediately shifted his frustration onto the ghosts. “Tangtang,” he said, “doesn’t it sound like the voices are getting closer?”

Su Tang listened intently and realized it was indeed true. The thought of a horde of grotesque ghosts crawling over the coffin lid, separated by only a thin layer of wood, sent shivers down his spine. He clung to Xie Yu even tighter, as if trying to snap his waist in half.

It was fortunate Xie Yu wasn’t human and felt no pain; otherwise, his bones would have been cracking audibly, perhaps even breaking.

Still, Xie Yu relished the moment. The tighter Su Tang held him, the happier he became.

They waited for what felt like an eternity.

Su Tang clutched Xie Yu’s lapels, trembling in his arms for an immeasurable length of time, before the noises outside finally ceased.

Unable to endure lying in the coffin’s terrifying confines any longer, Su Tang immediately pried open the lid.

Su Tang and Xie Yu emerged from within.

Had any players witnessed this, they would have been scared out of their wits, convinced some malevolent ghost had crawled out of the grave.

Having lain in the coffin for so long, Su Tang was still pale with fright, looking utterly pitiful.

Xie Yu stroked his cheek and said, “Tangtang, aren’t you a vampire? You’re supposed to sleep in coffins. Why are you scared?”

Su Tang froze.

Coffins? Right, vampires are supposed to sleep in coffins. But why wasn’t I ever scared of vampires in movies or their coffins? They’re still coffins!

Is it because one is buried in the ground for the dead, while the other is just a bed? But vampires are technically living dead, aren’t they? Wait… does that mean I’m also living dead? Like a zombie? Except vampires retain their consciousness.

Su Tang furrowed his brow in thought for a long moment before finally reaching a conclusion.

Vampires aren’t scary—it all comes down to looks. Modern vampires are nothing like the legends; they’re all stunningly beautiful men and women, each more gorgeous than the last. Everyone loves beauty, and people are naturally more forgiving of those with exceptional looks, especially when they possess godlike beauty.

Having figured it out, Su Tang finally remembered he hadn’t answered Xie Yu’s question. “Even though I’m a vampire, I’m newly born. I’ve never slept in a coffin before.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Yu’s expression suddenly darkened, his Yin energy nearly spiraling out of control. Black mist swirled around him, surging violently.

Su Tang was momentarily stunned. The next instant, Xie Yu glared at him with bloodshot eyes, his fury mirroring that of a wife who had discovered lipstick stains on her husband’s collar. “Who bit you and turned you into a vampire?!” he demanded, his voice trembling with rage.

His terrifying demeanor made it seem as if he wanted to devour the vampire alive.

Though Xie Yu was a ghost, he understood the intimacy of vampire feeding. He knew that vampires typically bit their victims’ necks, just as Su Tang did when he drank Xie Yu’s blood, their bodies pressed close in a vulnerable embrace. Biting the neck was an act of profound intimacy, reserved only for lovers.

That was why Xie Yu had always insisted that Su Tang drink only his blood. Possessiveness was the primary reason—he couldn’t tolerate anyone else even being Su Tang’s blood bag. But there was another reason: the act of feeding was too intimate, and he couldn’t bear the thought of Su Tang sharing such a moment with another.

Now, upon learning that a vampire had bitten Su Tang’s neck and drunk his blood, Xie Yu exploded on the spot, his only desire to tear that damned vampire limb from limb.

Su Tang was utterly stunned by Xie Yu’s outburst, staring at him blankly, unable to process what was happening.

After transmigrating through several worlds, Su Tang had begun to suspect there was a reason for his sudden journeys, his encounters with recurring villains, and his eventual romance with Xie Yu. He felt deep down that none of this was random.

His first transmigration had occurred immediately after being bitten by the Vampire Prince and biting him back. He had become a 2D character, and a System had appeared in his mind.

He wondered if the Vampire Prince might be the villain.

This suspicion made Xie Yu’s sudden interrogation even more bewildering.

Damn it, isn’t that lipstick on my collar from when you accidentally kissed me, wife?!

Su Tang couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of his own thoughts, letting out a soft “pfft.”

Xie Yu’s anger flared anew. “You’re laughing? Do you like that vampire?”

He remembered that after the initial embrace, newborn vampires would recognize their sire as their father, developing deep affection for them. Many vampire-human romances had begun this way.

The more Xie Yu thought about it, the more suffocated he felt, as if he could already see some detestable vampire trying to steal Su Tang away from him.

Su Tang was about to nod, thinking, If that vampire is one of you villains, then yes, I do like him. But Xie Yu had no memory of his past life. If Su Tang dared to agree, it would undoubtedly unleash a torrent of jealousy, leaving them both in a terrible state.

So, the words on Su Tang’s lips shifted. He declared firmly, “I don’t like him. I only like you.”

His dark, luminous eyes fixed intently on Xie Yu, seeing only him, allowing only him to exist within their depths.

It was this unwavering focus that slightly soothed Xie Yu’s simmering rage. Yet a knot of resentment remained, fueled by intense hostility toward the vampire who had first embraced Su Tang.

“Where is he?” Xie Yu demanded.

“He’s no longer in this world,” Su Tang replied.

Xie Yu interpreted this to mean the vampire was dead, which eased his mood somewhat. Still, a pang of regret lingered—he hadn’t been able to kill the creature with his own hands.

The vampire topic had reignited Xie Yu’s possessiveness, as if a trigger had been pulled, intensifying his grip.

He seized Su Tang’s hand, their fingers entwining tightly.

The two walked side by side among the tombstones, occasionally encountering ghosts high on spiritual energy. Xie Yu effortlessly made them scatter in fear, refusing to let any spirit disturb their solitude.

Thus, their perilous journey through the Mass Grave transformed into something akin to a romantic stroll through a secluded grove.

Su Tang found the situation both absurd and reassuring, grateful to avoid the sight of the ghosts.

Before long, they located Yang Dong and his group. After reuniting, the newcomers proved surprisingly helpful.

With Su Tang and Xie Yu present, the ghosts dared not approach, significantly improving the survival rate of the newcomers.

Throughout the night, Xie Yu, mindful of Su Tang’s fatigue and fear, took on most of the rescue and support tasks himself.

As a result, Yang Dong’s group witnessed Xie Yu’s formidable strength firsthand, far surpassing even experienced players like Yang Dong and Shen Wenbin.

Their conviction deepened: Xie Yu was undoubtedly a high-level player, possibly even among the elite within that tier.

The female newcomer, who had initially envied Su Tang for having such a powerful protector, now felt her desire burn even hotter. If only Xie Yu were protecting me, she thought.

Her gaze burned as she greedily stared at Xie Yu, her mind made up.

What does Su Tang have besides a cute face? she thought. A scrawny body, breasts as flat as an airport runway—nothing compared to my curves. I had men chasing me all the time in the real world!

The newcomer’s confidence swelled with each passing thought, her ambition fermenting like yeast. She could almost see the glorious moment when she would successfully steal Xie Yu away.

A smug smile curled her red lips.

After a night of fierce battle, dawn finally broke, painting the sky with a pale, fish-belly white. Sunlight streamed through the clouds, casting golden rays across the ground as the ghosts gradually reverted to their normal forms.

The fight had left everyone battered and filthy, their clothes torn and stained. Though Su Tang and Xie Yu were uninjured, their clothes were dusty and needed a thorough cleaning.

Just as they were about to part ways, the newcomer suddenly called out to Su Tang.

Confident in her ability to seduce men, the newcomer knew she had to employ a two-pronged strategy. She needed to showcase her own advantages to attract Xie Yu while subtly undermining her rival, highlighting her own superiority to make the choice obvious.

The newcomer, who had secretly wiped her face clean earlier, flashed a charming smile, her hands deliberately cupping beneath her ample breasts. With feigned kindness, she said, “Su Tang, we’re both covered in dirt. Why don’t we take a bath together?”

She pretended to be friendly, trying to get closer to her rival, all to impress Xie Yu. During the bath, she planned to flaunt her stunning figure, hoping to make Su Tang feel insecure and miserable by comparison. Then, she would offer superficial comfort, each word carefully crafted to twist the knife, deepening Su Tang’s distress.

This would inevitably cause Su Tang to lash out at Xie Yu, creating the perfect opportunity for her to swoop in and take advantage of the situation.

However, the newcomer’s plan died before it even began.

When Su Tang heard the female player’s invitation to bathe together, he was completely dumbfounded, his mind a whirlwind of question marks: “…???”

Xie Yu’s face darkened instantly, his murderous glare piercing the newcomer as if he were about to kill her on the spot.

The newcomer nearly wet herself in terror.

W-what’s going on…? I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?