Villagers

All candidates from the White Faction gathered outside the door, warily observing the west side, before someone kicked the tightly shut door open.

Dust flew.

The abandoned, dilapidated house was revealed in its entirety.

The surrounding light was dim, with a few scattered wooden tables and chairs inside, covered in a layer of dust. Towards the back, a conspicuous patch of red stood out: blood altars of various sizes were piled up, emitting a strong, sickly sweet aroma.

A youth in black hair and a red robe stood in the center. His tall, slender figure cast a long shadow as he indifferently wiped a scalpel, his gaze lowered.

The clear reflection in the scalpel mirrored the youth's sharp jawline, outlining a dangerous and mysterious aura.

After the main door was kicked open, the youth looked up, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"You're quite prompt."

In an instant, the few people at the forefront froze, their spines stiffening. The courage they had mustered moments before was deflated like a pricked balloon.

They were among those Bo Shuo had rescued from the Ghost Bride's dungeon and naturally understood the youth's terrifying nature.

Catching sight of the youth's familiar, exceptionally handsome face unexpectedly, they felt a momentary disorientation, as if transported back to the scene of fire and smoke.

Xu Ji Mo, who was leading, didn't interact much with Bo Shuo and thus had no idea what others were thinking.

He impatiently kicked aside the candidates blocking his path. A twisted, excited expression flickered across the face of the slightly immature, student-like youth.

"I remember you, Bo Shuo, is that right?" Xu Ji Mo met Bo Shuo's gaze directly, his tone flippant, carrying a condescending air of charity. "Hand over the sacrifice manuscript, and I'll allow you to join 'Flowing Light'."

"You've already completed the bonus question. Even if you fail this faction assessment, you won't fail and die. You can completely abandon this task."

Xu Ji Mo smiled, his slightly misty brown eyes fixed on Bo Shuo, half-threateningly, half-luringly: "As long as you hand it over, I'll recommend you to the guild for 'Flowing Light'."

At these words, the expressions of the surrounding candidates shifted subtly, showing a mixture of astonishment and deep envy.

This was 'Flowing Light', a top-ten guild on the rankings, a height they could never reach in their lifetimes.

However, the youth they envied showed no reaction. A faint smile touched his lips as he looked at Xu Ji Mo as if he were a cold, inanimate object.

"If 'Flowing Light' guild is filled with trash like you, then it's truly a pity."

Bo Shuo sighed softly, speaking in a tone so sincere it was almost guaranteed to ignite anger.

Before Xu Ji Mo could react with fury, a piercing alarm suddenly erupted from outside—

Simultaneously, villagers in various locations began to stir, and cries of despair rang out.

"Blood Altar! My Blood Altar is gone!"

"No! My family's Blood Altar is gone too! The sacrifice is imminent!"

"There are traces here! Search quickly!"

"..."

Looking down from the sky, the entire village was in turmoil. Torches were lit one after another, moving about, casting a red glow across the sky.

The massive, hurried footsteps seemed to shake the very earth as numerous monster-'villagers' poured out from all parts of the village, converging and following the traces Bo Shuo had left.

They charged furiously towards the abandoned house where the candidates were.

(Warning! NPC Villager Faction has entered berserk mode. The power gap between both sides is too large. Candidates are advised to evade as much as possible~)

As this system notification sounded, all candidates looked at the youth standing in the center with disbelief.

The roars of monsters echoed from outside.

"Bang."

A chopping sound came from behind the thick wall, followed by a chilling grinding noise, as if something sharp was scraping fiercely against the wall.

Another sound, crack, and the entire wall began to collapse.

A sharp axe blade broke through, getting stuck firmly outside.

This was just the first villager to arrive... there would be a second, a third, or even all of them.

"Madman!"

Xu Ji Mo was also startled by this sudden turn of events, his heart skipping a beat. His grey-brown eyes stared at the youth not far away in disbelief, gritting out each word.

"You did this."

"You're not going to gain anything by luring these monsters here! We'll all die here!"

Bo Shuo chuckled softly. His clear, beautiful eyebrows softened at this moment, and the scalpel glinted with a cold light, carrying the same unseeable madness as its owner.

"You're mistaken. I won't die here."

The youth's chilling voice echoed within the house.

"Only you will die here."

A sharp killing intent descended abruptly. Xu Ji Mo's pupils contracted, and he dodged the strike, but the sharp blade still left a deep gash on his neck.

Accompanied by a stinging sensation, Xu Ji Mo's expression turned grim. He covered his injured neck with his right hand, blood slowly staining his entire palm.

The curve of Xu Ji Mo's lips completely flattened. He looked at Bo Shuo expressionlessly and said, "You refuse the toast and insist on the penalty."

As the words fell, he also summoned his Ghost Tool, a long saber, and charged at Bo Shuo.

The villagers outside, stimulated by the smell of blood within, surged inside like madmen.