Going Home

"Rewards!"

A sharp glint flashed in Xiao Ran's eyes, and he couldn't help but start looking forward to it.

At this moment, the blood-red text appearing before him began to change.

[Congratulations on completing the Lost City Trial, you have obtained the title of Lost City Envoy, and unlocked the Lost City space. You can store your personal belongings within it.]

[Completed Main Quest [Help Niujia Village] (F-class) and obtained F-class Curse Mark Contract · Trainee.]

[Completed Side Quest [Soul Snatching] (F-class) and obtained F-class Cursed Object · Black Swan Brooch.]

Trial Score: E

[You have received five spirit coins.]

The blood-red text before his eyes gradually disappeared. At the same time, Xiao Ran felt a strange sensation in his heart.

Immediately after, he opened his hand, and a heavy feeling struck him. Looking down, five bronze coins, resembling old copper coins, appeared out of thin air in his palm.

"This is my reward?"

Xiao Ran first weighed the copper coins in his hand. The greenish-blue patina had an oily sheen, and the words [Fengcheng Treasure Mirror] were inscribed on them.

Looking at the copper coins in his hand, Xiao Ran couldn't help but inwardly complain, "So stingy. Others at least give gold bars."

These coins were definitely unusable, but since they were a reward, they must have another purpose. He'd store them in his space for now and study them later.

Xiao Ran picked up the other item, a so-called contract, and held it under the oil lamp. The yellowed parchment was smooth, as if coated with an oily film, and bore a triangular flame pattern.

"Discovered F-class Curse Mark Contract [Trainee]. Given that you already possess a Curse Mark, you can make the following two choices."

Choice 1: Devour. Devouring this contract has a chance to strengthen your existing contract to a certain degree. (Only a chance)

Choice 2: Part-time. You can tear open the contract to obtain this Curse Mark, but each person can only possess three contracts simultaneously.

Of course, you can also keep the contract and trade it with others.

Note: Only by collecting and fusing contracts of the corresponding paths can you complete Curse Mark upgrades.

Looking at the prompt, Xiao Ran fell into thought.

Judging by the contract's grade, it was clearly far inferior to his Corpse Stitcher. If he sold this thing, he should be able to earn a lot of money.

After some thought, Xiao Ran temporarily put the item into his space.

Finally, he opened his hand again. This time, a black, swan-shaped brooch appeared in his hand.

The brooch was a black swan with its wings spread, shimmering. A red gem was inlaid where the swan's eyes were, making it look exceptionally dazzling.

"Discovered Cursed Object Black Swan Brooch, activate?"

"Activate!"

With a thought from Xiao Ran, a black curse mark flowed out along his fingers and burrowed into the black swan brooch. In an instant, information about this cursed object became clear in his mind.

F-class Cursed Object: Black Swan Brooch · Corpse Stitcher

The Black Swan's wings not only bring curses but also new opportunities.

Privilege 1: Adoration

When stitching a corpse, leave a special mark, which can turn the corpse into a servant for a short period.

(Note: The duration of control is determined by the stitching score. The higher the level of the controlled corpse, the shorter the time limit.)

Privilege 2: Composure

You can stitch a curse onto any target. When the host is attacked, the curse activates, causing the wound to rapidly solidify and preventing damage to the host. However, if the wound is not stitched within thirty minutes, it will form a burst-type trauma after thirty minutes.

(Note: Cannot defend against F-class or higher lethal skills.)

Looking at the new abilities granted by the Black Swan Brooch, Xiao Ran fell into a moment of contemplation.

According to the explanations of the Curse Marks, different Curse Marks combined with Cursed Objects would produce entirely different abilities.

Judging from the results of the Black Swan Brooch and the Calamity Suppressing Token, the abilities of the Cursed Object were ultimately based on the attributes of the Curse Mark, with the characteristics of the Cursed Object serving as an aid, thus deriving unique abilities exclusive to oneself.

In this light, he was actually looking forward to what kind of changes the Trainee Curse Mark in his hand might bring.

After all, although Corpse Stitcher was powerful, its abilities were mainly focused on corpse stitching. Even with different Cursed Object characteristics, they would still lean towards corpse stitching to some extent.

Having experienced this Lost City trial, Xiao Ran actually leaned more towards Curse Marks that could actively attack.

This way, when he encountered troublesome individuals like the Old Woman again, he wouldn't have to act subservient and resort to schemes the entire time.

As he was pondering, the vision before him gradually cleared. When he focused his eyes again, he found himself standing alone in the woods, facing a dilapidated house. It was the Mourning Hall from his memory.

"I'm back!"

Looking at the dilapidated house before him, he let out a heavy sigh of relief. He tossed the oil lamp in his hand into the Lost City space before stepping into the Mourning Hall.

He remembered his grandfather used to guard this Mourning Hall. Back then, coffins were lined up on both sides, and the stench of corpses could be smelled from afar.

This was also why trees were planted around the Mourning Hall; partly for shade, and partly to block the spread of odors.

Now, the empty Mourning Hall before him, apart from the broken coffin planks scattered in the corner, only had a dusty Buddha statue standing there.

Since the country implemented cremation, the Mourning Hall had been abandoned, and the coffins previously stored inside had long since been disposed of.

Xiao Ran scanned the area and suddenly noticed a pile of burnt-out fires in the corner, with a few visible sweet potatoes among the charcoal ashes.

He walked over to take a look and found three children huddled together, fast asleep, by the corner.

"Phew, looks like they're alright."

Xiao Ran sat down and lifted his shirt. He couldn't treat the wound on his back himself, but the one on his stomach needed attention as soon as possible.

Fortunately, with the Master-level Suturing Technique and the fact that his stab had completely avoided vital organs, only damaging flesh and skin, stitching it up wasn't difficult.

Additionally, Xiao Ran wanted to try out the Black Swan's ability.

With the needle and thread held between his fingers, Xiao Ran's hand moved rapidly over his lower abdomen, and in just a moment, the wound on his stomach was being stitched up at a visible rate.

"Calm!!"

As the wound was being sutured, Xiao Ran simultaneously activated the [Black Swan] privilege. A chilling power overflowed from the brooch, extending along his arm and onto his skin, finally leaving a black swan imprint at the location of the stitched wound on his stomach.

At first glance, the imprint looked like a tattoo, but upon closer inspection, it was a black swan embroidered onto his stomach, with even the swan's eyes appearing lifelike.

Xiao Ran felt himself for any discomfort and, finding none, packed his backpack. He then tossed the Calamity Suppressing Token from his pocket into the Lost City space.

Afterward, he paid no mind to the three brats nearby. He picked up a ready-made roasted sweet potato, blew off some dust, and sat on the ground, devouring it.

While eating, he mused, "In the future, I should try to avoid places like the Lost City as much as possible. If I can, I won't come back."

He mentally reviewed the entire ordeal and realized that his survival was sheer luck. If he hadn't had the [Calamity Suppressing Token], he would have surely died.

"Right!"

Just then, Xiao Ran suddenly remembered something. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a yellowed diary.

Looking at the diary in his hand, Xiao Ran's mood grew heavy.

"Thanks to your help... otherwise..."

Xiao Ran sighed, scanned the surroundings with his gaze, then stood up and walked to the Buddha statue. Holding the diary, he said, "Niujia Village is probably gone. I don't know if you've found freedom, but this is all I could bring out. I don't know if this counts as bringing you out."

With that, Xiao Ran gently brushed some dust off the Buddha statue's hands, placed the diary into the statue's palm, and recited Amitabha once more. He then grabbed the three sleeping children, one in each hand, and carried the third on his shoulder. With the 5-point strength boost from the [Corpse Stitcher], carrying the three children was effortless. He stood up and walked out.

"Hoo..."

A cool breeze blew.

"Rustle rustle..."

The diary on the Buddha's palm was blown open by the wind. The yellowed pages were blank, fluttering rapidly until they stopped on the last page, where dark red blood had neatly written two words.

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