"Can you do me a favor, Mr. Xip? The Great Demon King has something to tell me, can you help me get a car dealership?" I was a bit surprised as I watched the Night Demon Xia squat on the side and say, "This is the first time I've seen this man plead with someone in such a tone... Hmm~It seems not quite right, let's take care of him. The key is that this horse still hasn't thrown the Night Demon, which is really rare.
Lying on his crossed forelimbs, the eight legged horse only expressed dissatisfaction with a weak low hiss. Of course, a small obstacle cannot stop a man as shameless as the Night Demon Hero, but the Eight legged Horse's expression remains unchanged. I shook my head unconsciously, and the words "helplessness" expressed my current mood.
Finally, it has some effect. The Eight legged Horse seems to be a bit tired of the entanglement of the Night Demon Hero. It lifted its front hooves and wanted to stand up, but its head shook briefly before returning to its original position. Night Demon and I were both full of confusion, but following the eight legged horse's two pointed front hooves, I saw a super large six legged dog sitting not far away. My tongue is sticking out and occasionally sparks come out.
"Ah! Ajip, do you need any help?" Night Demon said happily as he saw the slight movement of the six legged dog's head. "That's great! I won't disturb you, old Xip." He then walked towards the six legged dog and waved to us.
Sigh~Looking at it all day today, I almost don't know what I've been doing for over eight years.
"Why do people still grow vegetables in the underground city?"
"Because the Mountain Pig people, along with a small group of people, are vegetarians. This is also why the Mountain Pig people guard the vegetable fields. They usually have to fight or patrol, and they can't even hire them. Moreover, they have a large appetite. Without the vegetables grown in the vegetable fields, they will have to go hungry."
"Combat, patrol? Do you all have these to share?"
"That's right! Basically, we have the qualification to attend banquets as adults. Those with stronger abilities will be selected to join the military..."
"Wait a minute, military, what is that? Was that group just now?"
"Yes! There are a total of 72 soldiers in the army, including the Great Demon King himself, his women, and some guards, totaling 36 people. These 108 people all live in the 34th floor of the alternate dimension residence. Members of the army can be selected as long as they meet the psychological conditions and strength, although they are from various races, they are still mainly human."
"Why do we have to gather that strange number? And why is it mainly human?"
"The question of the Great Demon King's interests. Besides, there are quite a few crazy people among humans, hehe hehe~"
"Oh my..."
"As for the others, they are responsible for some miscellaneous tasks, such as running errands in the dungeon or conducting routine patrols. Some people even ignore battles and only focus on growing vegetables like in the vegetable field. Oh! They don't necessarily have to grow vegetables, they also have other jobs. Each race has their own floor to live on, and most humans gather on the 33rd floor. The vegetable field is a special case, and she lives on the 35th floor with the mountain pig people."
"Planting vegetables... by the way! What are the sources of your other foods? Is that so?"
"Hehe~! That's right~We eat people."
"Really?"
"Fake."
"Spat! Damn it!"
"On the 36th floor, there is a pasture opened up. Apart from the difficult collection of grass needed for cattle, sheep, and horses, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, and other edible animals underground are also raised. Oh! Fish are also raised by underground rivers. But these are all slaughtered during festivals, weddings, funerals, and celebrations, which should be enjoyed at this banquet. Our most important source of meat is not those."
"What is it?"
"Mouse!"
"Mouse!? Evil~"
"Haha! That's right! The reproductive ability and adaptability of mice are as terrifying as those of cockroaches. Deliciousness with this talent is simply the most suitable animal for breeding and consumption. Unfortunately, cockroaches are not very delicious and require a lot of oil to fry. In the limited resources of dungeons, we cannot waste edible oil indefinitely. So we don't eat fried cockroaches."
"Oh my..."
"Haha! And according to the third XXX instruction, no one in the dungeon is allowed to eat people of the same race as themselves."
"Then you can eat from other ethnic groups."
"In theory, that's right. But even if someone really dies, we don't eat them. Those who will die either because the meat is too old or cut to pieces, and their appetite can't be boosted at all. But in order not to waste it, we give it to Old Red as food."
"What! You give the dead to the dragon to eat!"
"Dragon burial, as others say, is actually just a gift for Old Red's stomach. This is the highest funeral in our dungeon. By the way, Old Red is never picky about food. As for outsiders, they are thrown into the fifth level of the Hungry Ghost Realm to share food with those who will never be able to eat. Otherwise, letting the body rot in the dungeon can cause infectious diseases, although placing one or two skeletons in the channel is quite bold."
"Stop making trouble."
... really stop making trouble.
Along the way, only the chirping voices of Night Demon Hero and Lehua could be heard. I and the other two remained silent, not sure if they were thinking the same thing as me. Perhaps sometimes, like Lehua, not thinking too much is a kind of happiness. But I still can't let go of the attitude of the residents of the dungeon, from their seemingly emotionless attitude.
With the Japanese chariot that Apollo had once used, and the leading six legged dog that I had never seen or heard of, we not only saved a lot of effort, but also didn't have to worry about various traps. With these two things, I have walked through many wonders of the dungeon. A groundwater flow that flows through several layers; A lava channel constructed with powerful magical barriers; It also has the essence of various ethnic crafts, such as wooden automatic portraits and changing walkways operated by underground water; Even derived from distant Eastern knowledge, Night Demon Hero refers to it as the floor of the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams Formation.
I tried to use these external scenes to soothe my unhappy mood, but the result was quite unsuccessful. The more alone and quiet I am, the more uncontrollable my heart becomes. And once the thoughts start, they can't stop.
"Ah~" A scream caught my distant consciousness. I don't even know when the Japanese car stopped, but now the Night Demon Warrior who got off the car is talking to a girl. I think the sound just now was probably hers. Watching the Night Demon Warrior show a panicked expression due to her cry, I couldn't help but observe that girl.
Hands hanging in front of the waist, anxiously pinching each other. The two feet kept changing their positions and also changing their standing posture. With a lowered head and eyes fluttering everywhere, he dared not face other people's faces, but occasionally peeked at the expression of the Night Demon Warrior. That doesn't seem too shy or timid. It feels like I'm at a loss and a little confused, probably not knowing how to face the Night Demon Warrior Perhaps, that's because I don't know how to face others.
The Night Demon, who was trying to catch the girl's attention and even react with any words, drove me to calm down and listen to what the Night Demon said. From the beginning, it was all over the world, to later on, there were really many tricks and strange things that were told all at once. I saw the girl sometimes awkwardly smiling, sometimes with a sad face, her expression changing even faster than flipping through a book.
But the change was so fast, I don't know which sentence it was. The girl's movement turned into holding her head and shaking it desperately. The Night Demon Warrior's calm expression changed to anxiety, and the second scream was like a signal to start. When did the Japanese car quietly start moving under the seat, and the six legged dog pulling the car in front of us with an uneasy expression quietly led us to the corner of the passage. Driven by curiosity, I reluctantly stretched my body and poked my head, only then did I see what was happening on the other side of the channel.
The girl, who had transformed into a single expression, lowered her head, as if her face was covered with an ominous veil. That elegant mouth smiled the strangest smile I have ever seen, and a gloomy aura filled the entire channel. The Night Demon Warrior faced each other with a look of impending danger, cautiously retreating. Rarely, his mouth and tongue will stop when he is awake. As I watched him step back, I swallowed my saliva along with his movements.
"Hey... hey... hey!"
No good news! That's how I thought in my heart, the cold and murderous aura paused my thinking. The girl's originally gloomy face turned into ghostly pupils, and I had never seen such a terrifying expression before. My hands and feet were frozen in an instant, unable to move, I could only watch things unfold.
The Night Demon Hero is doomed! This is my only idea. As expected, one of the parties involved was unable to move in such a situation. The Night Demon Warrior only used cold sweat and trembling to illustrate his current feelings. I saw a move, and the girl slammed the face of the Night Demon Hero into the wall, dragging it horizontally for dozens of steps, leaving a bloodstain on the wall like this.
After letting him lie on the ground, she just looked coldly. But in no time, it was like realizing what I had done. Trembling hands embraced his head back, trembling all over his body. In the third scream, she turned and fled.
I'm not sure how long it has been, all I know is that when I come to my senses, the scene still hasn't changed. My companions and I are still frozen in the car, while the Night Demon still lies upside down in the same place. We quickly got off the car and gathered around the Night Demon Warrior. Looking at the fallen man, we squatted down trembling. Encouraged, Lehua reached out his fingers to the half alive person who didn't know if he was a corpse or if he only had one breath left.
"Hoo~Goddamn hyacinth, smashing so hard you're going to die! Hey! What are you guys doing around here?"
Staring foolishly at the sudden rise of the Night Demon Warrior, he only had two rows of nosebleeds on his face, in addition to his slightly apologetic gaze. This makes me wonder, who exactly is that obvious bloodstain on the wall?
Looking at our surprised expressions, the Night Demon wiped his face and cursed upon seeing the bloodstains on his sleeve, "Ah~stinky hyacinth, how could my handsome face be painted." After that, he quickly ran to the side of the Japanese carriage, polished the outer shell, and carefully looked at his own face.
"Are you okay?" Manhua stood up anxiously and asked.
Turning around, the Night Demon Hero, who had a puzzled expression on his face, seemed to have nothing to do with himself. After thinking for a while, he was surprised to realize that we were talking about him. He then waved his hand and replied, "It's okay! This time the hyacinth has only been hit once, so it's polite." After that, he shifted his attention back to his face.
"You... have you been beaten before?" Kayed asked this time. But the Night Demon Warrior just shrugged and stood up, saying, "I didn't remember that. Who has that spare time?"
Why does this sentence sound like "I've been beaten countless times" to me.
"Don't mention these things, it's taking some time. Let's go, everyone." The Night Demon Xia clapped his hands as if nothing had happened just now and greeted us.
Finally, there's no more noise. The Night Demon Warrior, who had endured the beating, only touched his nose and remained silent all the way. Due to the embarrassing incident just now, the five people in the car maintained an uncomfortable silence. Everyone seems to want to say something, but they are afraid of saying it out of place. But I don't care about so much, it's very sad to keep things bottled up in my heart. This feeling is something that no matter how much I have experienced or grown, I cannot adapt to. An impulse to ask continued to disturb oneself.
Why do you celebrate Wuruo's death? I finally spoke up and asked.
"Why?" The Night Demon looked back at me in confusion. After staring at each other for a while, he turned his head and said to me, "Is there anything bad to celebrate? It's definitely something worth everyone's happiness."
The death of a friend requires a lot of celebration, which is simply unreasonable. Even if I look at it further, I cannot achieve such a level. I loudly refuted.
"Don't be angry~Although it's you guys who claim to be ordinary people who are going against us, it's not us!" The Night Demon Xia said with a smile in his unique voice.
Kayed, who was beside me, seemed to understand my feelings. He also spoke up and said, "Where are we going in the opposite direction? Is your actions reasonable?" You could also get some anger from his tone.
"Don't get excited~. Being able to die on a glorious stage is the dream of most men. Besides, if you handle his affairs, leaving can be considered carefree. Isn't it worth celebrating?"
These words, although considered an explanation, I believe I still showed an expression of incomprehension. And my companions also face it with the same attitude, including Lehua who was still smiling and Manhua who was originally expressionless.
Looking back at our expressions, the Night Demon Hero turned his head away from us with a mocking laugh and cursed, "Hmph! When a person is born, the whole world is happy, and he is the only one crying; when a person dies, the whole world is sad, and he is the only one happy. Normal people, Hmph! Who dies and who lives is ridiculous."
Should... damn it! I hate opinions that I cannot refute! I... I... Sigh~
Kayed, who also sighed beside him, asked, "Do you, the Great Demon King, have the same idea?"
"No! I think he's probably just looking for reasons to celebrate, who knows. Life in the dungeon is not so colorful, and if you want to live happily, you always have to find your own fun. Although there are still many people who are the kind of weirdo who just daydream and feel satisfied all day long."
Damn it
Next is another silent journey. After understanding the thoughts of the residents of the underground city, I reconsidered my past. Do you remember when I left my hometown just to feel proud. Moreover, after a Black Sheep catastrophe, my home is no longer like home.
Honing oneself in battle. I was fortunate enough to make three companions during the journey. Fame has also spread widely on the mainland, although some despicable methods have been used to promote oneself.
But after facing the gap in reality, I realized that all power exists only for the purpose of what I truly want. Power, money, and swordsmanship are all the same. When they have nothing to do with what I think in my heart, then I don't need to have them at all. Just like Jack and Sally in the Seven Samurai, they live to live their own lives, not to let others get involved in their own lives. Or it can be said that they determine their strength through practice, rather than letting others tell them 'you are strong' No! Perhaps strength is not the word they need at all.
I thought that after learning about these things, my attitude towards life has become very harmonious, but I didn't expect that I still haven't seen them thoroughly enough. No wonder I appreciate and envy Wu Ruo, because he is one level higher in mentality than me. And the residents in the underground city are also the same. They may show different attitudes, but they reflect their thoughts through practical means.
However, in this kind of thinking, I vaguely feel that there is still a key point that I have not explored, 'Why can they live like this?' What is the environment of the dungeon like? No! The peaceful coexistence of different races is just a result, not a cause. There should be deeper reasons to create such a larger environment.
In the midst of continuous contemplation, the Japanese car under the seat stopped again. I explored the surrounding environment, as usual, consisting of stone walls, stone walls, and stone walls, except for a wooden door in front of me. The pattern on the door seems to have a special meaning, but that may require asking the two wizards next to you to understand. I can still understand the few big characters next to the wooden door.
'The Third Ancient Library'
Don't be shocked! Don't be shocked! There's nothing to be surprised about
Why is there a place here with the same name as the "Ancient Library" on the famous continent, but with a third place on it? Oh my goodness! I've been desperately trying to make it myself, but it's really
The sound of the gate opening echoed throughout the entire dungeon, indicating that some fuel needed to be added Not right! That's not the point! The key is... forget it, I don't know what the key point should be anymore.
"Ajip, take a break first. Come back to us in about three or four quarters of an hour," said the Night Demon as he untied the six legged dog and let it rest for a while. Watching the back of the six legged dog disappear into the darkness of the passage, the Night Demon Hero led us into the Third Ancient Library.
The space inside is not large, still surrounded by stone walls. There are only three to five cabinets of books, roughly estimated to be at most one or two hundred, all of which are hardcover black books. The arrangement of the book is clearly divided into two parts: internal and external; The book near the door was covered in thick dust, as if no one had touched it for hundreds of years; The inner part is unexpectedly clean, whether it's books, tables, chairs, floors, etc., it's like two worlds with the outer part.
There was an elegant woman sitting at the only long table. Although there were only ordinary wooden tables, chairs, and dim candles, the reading posture of this woman gave me a feeling of entering the aristocratic hall. It seems that the surroundings are surrounded by noble furniture and accessories, and the woman is wearing a luxurious dress, sitting quietly in her seat reading. A fragrance naturally passed by my nose, all of which was so unreal, but it still lingered in my mind. The source of these illusions is the woman in front of them.
"Auntie, the Night Demon Hero is here. They are guests who have come to the dungeon, named... Hmm. Except for the White Wizard named Lehua, I don't know the names of anyone else."
Oh my goodness! Night Demon did not mention it, I really forgot about it. Among the group, it is true that only Lehua mentioned his name when talking to his siblings Mo Sha and Wu Sha.
Based on politeness, I quickly introduced the names and occupational levels of the four of us one by one. The woman in front of me gave a shallow smile, and her demeanor really captivated me. Just before I realized I was about to make a mistake, I also realized that she was the wife of the Great Demon King... a woman. Does the word wife mean anything to them? I really can't infer their thoughts from the secular perspective of the term 'demon king'. Let's ask when there's a suitable opportunity.
"Hello everyone."
"Auntie, the Demon King asked me to take them around the dungeon on one hand, and also asked me to invite you back to the 34th floor. Later, there will be a banquet to celebrate Wuruo's death."
"Wuruo is dead!" Aunt was slightly surprised and closed her eyes, praying softly. Finally, someone had a normal reaction, and that's when I thought about it. My aunt looked up and said, "Then tonight, everyone might be going crazy all night. Hehe~"
The words spoken by angelic people are more despicable than those demons, what a world!
Closing the book, Auntie smiled at us and asked softly, "Guests of the dungeon, have you enjoyed all the unique places in the dungeon?"
Before we could even answer, the Night Demon Xia continued, "Auntie, I was just wandering around in a carriage. I used to walk before, and I walked straight to the 27th floor."
"Oh~I should have seen both the incredible natural and unnatural aspects of the dungeon."
"Nature? Non nature?" Lehua said in confusion. Of course, this is also everyone's question, how can a dungeon be divided into natural and unnatural.
The smiling aunt finally explained, "Non natural refers to the changes made by various races living in the dungeon according to their own customs, or the artificial channels, compartments, traps, and so on. Most of the dungeons belong to this category, all of which are traces of artificial excavation. However, there are ten incredible features that are not given by us, but inherent to the floor. We just dug them out. So they are naturally formed."
"Oh~! It's about those things," the Night Demon Warrior nodded and said with a sudden realization. After seeing our question mark on the face, he smiled and said, "It's the first layer of the Yellow Spring Channel and the wonder of stalactites; the second layer of the Dragon's Nest; the third layer of the Hell; the fifth layer of the Hungry Ghost Realm; the eighth layer of the Eternal Frontier; the thirteenth layer, which is the third ancient library here; the dark barrier on the twenty-first layer; and the alternate dimension residence on the 34th layer, which has a time barrier with the 55th layer."