Granny Gu's Request

Based on Li Muyang's previous hundreds of failed explorations, the residents of Black Cloud Stronghold were roughly divided into two groups.

One group was like Li Muyang—those who wore purple bindings on their wrists and followed Steward Wu and his band of outsiders to practice demonic arts. The lifestyle and values of these residents had already diverged from those of the original inhabitants.

The other group consisted of residents who lived in the traditional way. They clung to the customs of their ancestors, refusing to follow Steward Wu's outsiders in practicing demonic arts, yet they did not oppose the outsiders leading others to do so.

These two groups with different lifestyles lived together in the same stronghold, forming a strange, fragile balance.

Granny Gu was one of the maintainers of this strange balance.

She held great prestige in the stronghold, and with her kind smile, she appeared to be nothing more than a benevolent old woman.

However, no one in the stronghold dared to show her any disrespect; even Steward Wu and his followers were cautious whenever they encountered Granny Gu.

When Li Muyang brought Little Wild Grass to the stronghold's Ancestral Temple, he saw an old woman sitting on the wooden steps of a stilt house nearby, basking in the sun.

The old woman wore a kind smile, her head wrapped in a long black cloth that made it look as if she were wearing a black ring.

Judging solely by her appearance, this old woman was no different from any other elder in the stronghold.

The moment he saw Granny Gu, a system dialog box appeared in Li Muyang's field of vision.

[(Seek help from Granny Gu and tell her the truth about Little Wild Grass)]

[(Better not approach Granny Gu; I should go seek help from Steward Wu instead)]

[Please note: This choice will affect the future development path of the heroine.]

Li Muyang had visited Granny Gu several times before, but he had never triggered such options.

This was also the first time the system had provided such a solemn warning.

This choice would affect Little Wild Grass's development path?

Did that mean seeking help from Granny Gu and seeking help from Steward Wu would lead to different routes?

Recalling what the system said at the beginning—that Little Wild Grass could become a fairy, but also had the potential to become a witch—the implication was obvious.

If he chose the path of Steward Wu, Little Wild Grass would undoubtedly be bound more deeply to the demonic path.

Although Li Muyang was a demonic cultivator, he had no fondness for the demonic path, let alone for old-fashioned, backward demonic cultivators like Steward Wu.

Demonic cultivators of Steward Wu's ilk were the type to commit murder and wreak havoc upon the land.

Li Muyang chose the first option without hesitation: seek help from Granny Gu.

"Oh? An evil entity that appears in dreams?"

After hearing Li Muyang's account, Granny Gu's kind smile faded slightly.

She beckoned for Little Wild Grass to come closer, then the old woman sniffed and rubbed against the girl like an animal.

"Indeed, there is a strange, evil stench here."

"Little Fish, you truly are lucky to have stumbled upon something so formidable."

The old woman looked at Li Muyang with a chuckle and said, "Judging by the scent, this evil entity must be something very ancient, drawn here by the unique scent of a Soul-Lost One."

"Its origins are peculiar and its power is sinister; ordinary people, and even ordinary cultivators, would find it difficult to resist such a monster."

"Only a Soul-Lost One, or an outsider like that Human Trafficker, would have any resistance to this evil entity."

"If this old woman isn't mistaken, you didn't sleep last night, did you? Too scared by ghost stories to close your eyes?"

Granny Gu looked at Li Muyang with a grin. "Consider yourself lucky, kid. You survived by sheer dumb luck. If you keep hanging around this Little Wild Grass, you'll be targeted by that evil entity as well."

"If you had fallen asleep last night, you would be dead. This kind of evil entity loves to kill in dreams."

Li Muyang's eyes widened at Granny Gu's words.

That Human Trafficker who sold children... was actually an expert?

But thinking about it, it made sense. A Human Trafficker who collected Soul-Lost Ones from all over and delivered them to Black Cloud Stronghold, surviving all sorts of bizarre occurrences on the road unscathed... he clearly had some tricks up his sleeve.

Li Muyang asked, "Granny, how should we deal with this evil entity?"

The old woman chuckled.

"Don't panic. Although this evil entity is sinister, the ancestors of our Black Cloud Stronghold used to feed on such things."

"Even though most of the ancestors' relics have been lost, we still have more than enough to handle this creature."

As she spoke, Granny Gu looked deeply at Li Muyang, then at Little Wild Grass, and said:

"However, this old woman cannot help you for nothing. Little Fish, you must agree to one request from me before I will help you."

The old woman stated her request with a smile.

A system dialog box popped up in Li Muyang's field of vision.

[Granny Gu's request... she wouldn't make me her ghost slave, would she? No! I can't agree. If Little Wild Grass dies, she dies, but I can't die.]

[If I don't agree to Granny Gu, I'll die; if I do agree, I might still die... should I just agree?]

The two options in his field of vision made the corners of Li Muyang's mouth twitch.

This Granny Gu didn't seem as kind as she appeared on the surface. No wonder no one in the stronghold dared to provoke her—she was a hidden final boss.

If this were reality, Li Muyang would certainly have hesitated.

But this was a game.

He chose the second option without a moment's hesitation.

"That works! Granny Gu, please help us remove this evil thing. I am willing to become your ghost slave!"

As soon as Li Muyang said this, Little Wild Grass, standing beside him, froze.

She seemed to understand what a "ghost slave" was, and she looked at Li Muyang instinctively, her eyes filled with shock.

As for Li Muyang, he didn't actually know what a "ghost slave" was, but he could tell with his eyes closed that it wasn't anything good.

However, Granny Gu, with her kind smile, shook her head.

"This old woman doesn't want a scrawny, dried-up little thing like you. Just remember that you owe me a favor, and you must agree to one request of mine in the future."

As she spoke, the old woman looked at Little Wild Grass and reached out with a benevolent smile: "Little girl, come here. This old woman will help you deal with that evil thing right now."

The little girl hesitated for a moment, but finally reached out timidly to take the old woman's hand, and was led into the eerie Ancestral Temple.

Li Muyang wanted to follow them in, but the old woman stopped him at the door.

Granny Gu said with a kind smile: "Little Fish, just wait outside. You are not allowed to come in."

With that, the old woman shut the doors of the Ancestral Temple.

Li Muyang stood alone in the sunlight, glancing at the favorability bar in the top right corner of his vision.

[Little Wild Grass: 25 (She feels terrified by your intense goodwill)]

"?"

Seeing the favorability number, Li Muyang was stunned.

His favorability had increased inexplicably before, and now he had expressed goodwill toward her, even going so far as to offer to become Granny Gu's ghost slave just to help her.

Li Muyang had expected another boost in favorability.

Yet, not only did this brat not increase her favorability, she actually felt terrified instead...

What on earth is going on in that little head of hers all day long!