Kill me.
He actually came to kill me.
Wu Xiaode struggled to keep himself calm and asked in a low voice, "Who wants to kill me?"
"I really don't know, we are just responsible for getting paid and doing the job. We can't ask more, that's the rule." the thug said.
No wonder someone had stabbed him in the chest from behind during an ordinary street brawl.
Bullying Xia Huilan at the entrance of the alley was just a distraction. They knew Xia Huilan was close to him, so they specifically used her to provoke him to step forward, and then took the opportunity to kill during the chaos!
This was a premeditated murder plot!
— That's why fate had sent him to the Death Demon Cave.
Countless thoughts flashed through Wu Xiaode's mind as he pointed at the female corpse and asked, "What's with this female corpse?"
"Don't know, she was already here when we started the fire."
The thug hesitated as he spoke.
"You seem to be holding something back?" Wu Xiaode asked.
"...This female corpse is a bit sinister. When we were discussing killing you in front of her, she lifted her head and looked at us. Everyone else was so scared that they ran away, only I stayed to finish the job." the thug said, his face turning pale.
Wu Xiaode saw deep fear in the thug's eyes.
No wonder as soon as he had left the thug alone here, he immediately spilled everything like a bamboo tube pouring beans.
Wu Xiaode pondered for a moment and walked back to stand in front of the female corpse, then slowly squatted down to face her directly.
The female corpse had an extremely ordinary appearance, her skin already showing mottled livor mortis and the temperature from the flames starting to curl her hair slightly.
They could hardly stay here any longer.
Wu Xiaode took a deep breath and was about to speak, when his cellphone rang in his pocket.
The phone automatically connected, and Zhao Junyu's voice came through:
"Wu Xiaode, I know this call is rather presumptuous, but I just received some information, so I must urgently warn you:"
"Do not investigate anything about Xia Huilan. If you do, you will surely die!"
"Understood." Wu Xiaode hung up the phone.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he reached out his hands to prop up the female corpse's drooping head and said solemnly, "Why does someone want to harm Xia Huilan?"
The thug was sneakily looking on and almost screamed at this moment, "Are you crazy? You're actually talking to this sinister corpse!"
"Be quiet." Wu Xiaode frowned.
— His own worldview had already shattered to pieces.
He had even seen the One-eyed Giant on the Corpse Mountain.
And had slapped it across the face.
What was a mere human female corpse in comparison?
He waited for a moment.
The female corpse slowly lifted her head, stared at Wu Xiaode with dull eyes, and uttered in a hoarse voice, "If you... meddle in her affairs, your only fate is death."
"She once paid my tuition." Wu Xiaode said.
"So, it's a debt of gratitude. I actually rather like killing such people." the female corpse said.
"Where is Xia Huilan?" Wu Xiaode persisted.
"...Want to play a game?" the female corpse asked, baring a sinister smile.
"What game?" Wu Xiaode asked.
"Each person answers a question from the other, taking turns, and this goes on until neither wants to ask anymore." the female corpse said.
Wu Xiaode was about to speak when he saw the Book of the Dead open in midair, revealing a few lines of ice crystal letters:
"This evil magic uses corpses and evil spirits to cast curses related to death, so this book can provide the relevant interpretation."
"The rules for the effectiveness of the evil magic are as follows:"
"You must answer each other's questions alternately before you can pose your own question."
"Those who lie during the questioning game will turn into new Corpse Puppets, to be commanded by the master of the evil magic."
One must not lie!
Wu Xiaode's heart skipped a beat.
The room was too hot, and he wiped the sweat from his forehead, asking, "Why is there a female corpse here?"
"Because I like to scare people this way, sometimes it really does shock the person involved," the female corpse said with a titter.
She was laughing one second and the next her expression suddenly turned grim as she asked, "Tonight, Xia Huilan was supposed to stay at home, why did she run away?"
Wu Xiaode said, "I told my sister during our conversation to be careful recently— who is going after my sister?"
As the female corpse answered, she asked, "The senior management of the Joint Manufacturing Company wants the technology she created—what did your sister say when you talked?"
"Your sister," said Wu Xiaode.
"That's not what I asked," the female corpse said with a pair of lifeless eyes, in a cold tone.
"I was not lying when I was answering your question, so your magic cannot kill me—tell me, what exactly do you want?" Wu Xiaode asked.
"The company leaders want to steal her technology and then kill her—I asked, when you told her to be careful, what was her response?" the female corpse asked.
"She said she was going back to the countryside—what is your relationship with their company?" Wu Xiaode said.
"A contractual relationship, they will build me a piece of technology I'm interested in after the job is done—where exactly is the countryside?" the female corpse asked.
"The countryside, spelled xiāng xià, generally refers to areas outside the city—what do I need to do to get you to stop pursuing her?" Wu Xiaode said.
"You are answering the wrong question!" the female corpse shouted.
"I am telling the truth!" Wu Xiaode also shouted, "—tell me, what do I need to do for you to stop pursuing her?"
While the evil magic continued, the female corpse had no choice but to reply:
"Only if the employer cancels the commission, or if the employer is unable to pay the fee—where was Xia Huilan born?" the female corpse said.
"The countryside—my turn to ask, how many people has your client mobilized?" Wu Xiaode said.
"More than 700 people, including some from the Defense Bureau—damn it, I asked in which place she was born, you need to tell me the name of that place!" the female corpse asked.
"Hospital! She was born in a hospital! I can assure you this is true—my turn to ask, how many of you are there?" Wu Xiaode asked.
"11."
After saying that, the female corpse's head lolled to one side, completely lifeless.
Wu Xiaode looked puzzled.
—Weren't we just having a good conversation?
Why aren't you playing anymore?
He looked towards the Book of the Dead, only to see lines of ice crystal letters appearing:
"The one controlling the corpse has given up this round of the evil magic questioning."
"Be aware, the opponent still has the right to ask one question, and if you give a false answer, the evil magic will take effect immediately."
The flames crackled.
Wu Xiaode fell silent.
Had the opponent temporarily retreated?
The Book of the Dead shook and continued to display lines of ice crystal letters:
"The one who was talking to you was not the soul of the woman."
"The woman's soul was sealed inside the corpse, manipulated by a practitioner of evil magic, to break this curse, you must cause it immense pain."
"If you fail, the body will transform into a ferocious creature whose sole purpose is to kill all living beings."
Wu Xiaode was somewhat surprised.
The Book of the Dead could also provide some insights and explanations about death and souls, which he had never considered.
—He had thought it was only capable of collecting praises.
The female corpse's one eye turned into a deep, lightless pit, while the other sparkled with spiritual light, continually shedding tears.
Wu Xiaode stepped forward, gently stroked the hair of the female corpse, and held her in his embrace.
"Don't be afraid, the pain will soon pass, we must not stray... Can I send you off?" he whispered.
"Yes, thank you," the female corpse said.
This was the woman's voice, not the voice from before.
This means—
It was her soul.
She had agreed!
Wu Xiaode reached out, gently tapped the top of the woman's head.
Iron Wire Fist: Destroying Power!
Destroying Power could shatter the interior of objects, this gentle tap shattered all the bones in the female corpse's body.
The brain turned into mush.
The female corpse slowly raised her head and said in a sharp, gritty voice, "It hurts... it hurts too much... Why couldn't you be gentler?"
—This was the practitioner of the evil magic controlling the body!
Wu Xiaode didn't want to talk to him at all, but at this moment, the evil magic was still taking effect.
He had to answer its question!
"Girls are to be cherished," Wu Xiaode sternly said.
The truth!
The female corpse glared at him, opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.
Bang!
A soft sound, and black blood flowed from all seven orifices of the female corpse.
Her lightless eyes returned to normal, the corners of her mouth slightly curved up, the resentment on her face completely dispersed, and she seemed somewhat happy.
"Thank you," the female corpse said softly.
—This was a woman's voice!
Suddenly, a sound "clang" reverberated through the air.
A shining star suddenly appeared.
New ice crystal letters immediately appeared on the Book of the Dead:
"You have liberated the soul from the sealed corpse, it is free now."
"The soul of the female corpse is extremely grateful to you, however, her power was too weak, she could only light up one star for you."
"You have gained some of her memories: Operative Guide for Culture Dish No. 92025."
Flames surged into the house.
The female corpse spoke, "I have been released, and before I leave, I can tell you that I was actually a colleague of Xia Huilan, and we had a good relationship. I died in the company, and my body was exploited and ultimately sealed here, nearly transforming into a non-human."
"Understood, thank you," Wu Xiaode sincerely said.
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
The female corpse slowly bowed her head.
This time, she truly died.
Wu Xiaode furrowed his brows.
Things had become complicated.
The joint corporation was a behemoth, incredibly powerful.
He and Xia Huilan in front of them were no more than lambs to the slaughter.
They had started to eliminate everyone related to Xia Huilan.
This woman was one, and he was another.
Wu Xiaode didn't have time to think further, nor did he have time to explore the knowledge newly added into his memory.
The flames licked at the windows, trying to invade the house.
The temperature had become nearly unbearable.
Yet, there was still one matter unresolved—
A thug nearby asked, "Dude, do you know what's going on with this corpse?"
"I don't understand, but I am greatly shocked," Wu Xiaode said.
The thug couldn't help but scream, "Are you insane? You were talking to a corpse, did you know that?"
He looked at Wu Xiaode, feeling like he had gone crazy.
The biggest failure of his life was taking on this task.
When I had a fruit knife, this guy had twin blades;
When I had a machete, he had a gun, and his fists were as hard as iron.
Now, he had effortlessly tied me up and could even talk to the dead—
What on earth was this situation!
Wu Xiaode turned around, took out a tissue to wipe the blood from the thug's mouth, helped him straighten his collar, and softly said:
"I had my college entrance exams a few days ago... I did okay, planning to attend a university, work part-time and study hard, striving to learn some useful skills."
The flames cast his shadow, smoke billowed on the ceiling like boiling water.
"After graduation, I'll try for a government job, and if that fails, I can still work in a technical field."
"I'd be able to support myself, and maybe save some money."
"Maybe even get married and have kids."
"Anyway, I had my plans ready, my foreign language skills were also pretty good, when I get old, I'd travel the world, see the great landscapes, and experience different cultures—"
"But when you stabbed me, all that went away."
Wu Xiaode sighed, patted the thug's shoulder, and said, "From now on, I won't hold your stabbing against me."
"—See you around."
He stuffed a rag in the thug's mouth, turned around, and walked out of the room.
The fire spread quickly, nearly catching him, fortunately, he shut the room door just in time to block some of the smoke and flames.
The corridor was also filled with thick smoke.
Wu Xiaode lightly jumped, crossed through the smoke, descended from mid-air onto a large tree branch, and looked back at the residential building.
The entire building was like a monster's torch, burning all bodies and souls to ashes.