“……”

The gray-haired half-demon known as "Wuyue" stared at Zero Spring calmly, without speaking or reacting.

"Well...... Now that you have recovered the split Lu Wu Neidan from the belly of the 'Scourge' in accordance with our request, then this 'Superior' test for you can be regarded as passing. ”

In the face of Wuyue's coldness, Zero Spring seemed to be no longer surprised, and he didn't mean to be angry.

"Now you are already one of us, from now on, you can follow us. ”

Ling Quan glanced at the black totem that flashed between Wuyue's neck, the corners of his mouth hooked slightly, and then he turned around as if he had a feeling, turning his gaze to the two black shadows that appeared behind him.

"Hmph, you two are finally back, and Jiang Yao's whereabouts have been found?"

"Yes. It's just a pity that the results are not what you expected. ”

A deep voice came from the tall black shadow among them, and it was seen that the two men in black who were known as the 'Black Shark Brothers' were the two men in black, and the two of them seemed to be no strangers to the zero spring in front of them, as if they had known their identities for a long time.

"Jiang Yao has already left the capital of Xu, and he is under the escort of the 'Spirit Imperial Divine Envoy'. We're afraid we won't be able to do it again. ”

"...... was escaped by that kid? Qiqi is a waste, even a human can't handle it!"

Ling Quan's beautiful face was slightly distorted for a moment due to dissatisfaction, and what she didn't notice was that at this time, there seemed to be a faint imperceptible wave in Wuyue's calm eyes, but they disappeared in an instant.

"Speaking of which...... What did that kid surnamed Jiang do to make you so angry, Lord Lingquan. Another short and fat black shadow on the side rubbed his hands and said with a flattering expression. "Lord Zeroquan, you are extraordinary, isn't it easy to deal with this kind of little minion, why do you secretly entrust our two brothers to infiltrate the 'ghost market' and secretly do it?"

"Why, don't you want to?" Zero Quan narrowed his eyes, a little displeased.

"It's an honor for our two brothers to be able to serve you, Lord Zero Spring!" the short and fat man nodded hurriedly when he heard this, and after several changes on his face, he finally squeezed out an indignant expression. "It's just that this kid has a big life, and he has avoided several opportunities to make a move, it's really hateful......!

The short and fat man pretended to sigh, and quietly glanced at Ling Quan's face, and the conversation suddenly changed:

"Although we didn't kill that kid this time, but according to the plan, we also pit out many disobedient Jianghu forces in the challenge, even if there is no merit, there is hard work! Look at the 'adult' in front of you, can you help with a few kind words~ Just say that we ......"

"As long as you are obedient in the future, 'that lord' will not treat you badly. Zero Springs' hand was raised, and he interrupted the short and fat man impatiently.

"This time, through the 'ghost market', a large number of underground rivers and lakes have been broken, and Na Tubo has also been 'cursed' in his body, and his strength has been greatly reduced, and the pattern of underground rivers and lakes will be reshuffled in the future. And this is also your chance, but don't forget the 'mission' that you are carrying. ”

"Of course!" What the 'adult' explained, our brothers will definitely go all out!"

The short and fat man cautiously smiled, while the tall man next to him noticed the crowded uniformed figures in the distance, and opened his mouth to get back to the point:

"Reinforcements from Lingyutai are here, it's time for us to go. ”

"However, the periphery of this capital has been enchanted by the God of Clearing, so I'm afraid it's not easy to do. The short and fat man tangled. "Alas, I just said that I shouldn't have watched that ghost send the toad to go outside, but now it's okay, it must be that guy who ran to report the letter to the God of Qingming, how to go now?"

"Hmph, that's not easy. ”

Ling Quan said, casting his gaze at Wu Yue in front of him, and the latter didn't say anything, just silently took out the Lu Wu Neidan in his arms and opened a portal beside him.

"This time Jiang Yao's kid escaped, but next time ...... He's not so lucky!"

Ling Quan snorted coldly, and then stepped into the portal without looking back, and the 'Black Shark Brother' also obediently shut up after glancing at the red glass in Wuyue's hand in surprise, turned around and left.

The hustle and bustle was accompanied by a group of figures gradually approaching from afar, Wu Yue lowered her eyes, and swept her gaze over the body of the bald man at her feet with an expressionless face, and then raised her head to look at the inky sky where the dawn was about to rise.

"Ginger...... ......"

Almost inaudible whispers drifted in the first rays of the morning light, and disappeared with the thin figure that disappeared with the wind......

--------------------------------

"Little Guy...... Little Guy?"

Not...... Who's talking......

Jiang Yao frowned slightly and opened his eyes gently.

"Xiaoyao, are you awake?"

The gentle voice was accompanied by the familiar brown eyes in front of him, and Jiang Yao couldn't help but be in a trance.

"Why are you falling asleep on the couch again? ”

Xiao Yuan smiled helplessly, leaned over and picked up Jiang Yao's coat that had slipped to the ground.

"Xiao Yuan, you ...... Where did you go last night?" The sleepy-eyed Jiang Yao looked up at the window and found that it seemed to be early morning, and the hazy morning light was just right to project into the house, which also shrouded the man in front of him with a faint halo.

"I'm sorry, I'm ...... I worked all-nighters last night and forgot to tell you......"

Xiao Yuan looked away slightly, his face seemed a little tired. He turned to the table and put down his shopping bag.

"That...... I just went to the convenience store to buy a boxed lunch, and I happened to buy one get one free, so let's warm up the meal and eat it together. ”

"Thank you...... I'm sorry for you. Jiang Yao saw that Xiao Yuan diverted the topic, so he didn't ask any more questions, and quickly stood up from the sofa.

"Hehe, we've been roommates for a year, and we don't see anyone who looks up and looks down every day, so what's polite. Xiao Yuan smiled gently and took the lunch box out of the bag. "By the way, there's something...... I'd like to discuss it with you. ”

"What's wrong?"

"I've recently ...... May be leaving the city. ”

"Alas, why did you ...... so suddenly," Jiang Yao said in surprise.

"Well, I'm sorry. ”

Xiao Yuan muttered in a low voice, and there seemed to be some kind of sadness and helplessness surging in the depths of his brown eyes.

“…… If she does end up leaving, there's no reason for me to stay here anymore. ”

"'She'?"

"Ah...... No, nothing. Xiao Yuan came back to his senses and hurriedly smiled and waved his hand. "That's it...... There may just be a job transfer, don't worry. ”

"That's right...... Then, will you come back in the future?" Jiang Yao asked cautiously.

“…… Well, it would. Xiao Yuan looked at Jiang Yao's somewhat sad appearance and couldn't help laughing. "Someday, we'll get back together again, after all, we're friends, aren't we?"

"Xiao Yuan......"

Jiang Yao looked at the smiling man in front of him, and wanted to say something more, but for some reason he always felt that his heart was blocked, and his complicated thoughts turned into a mess and tangled, making him unable to speak. And Xiao Yuan's figure in front of him began to become more and more ethereal unconsciously, and together with the surrounding scenery, it gradually faded away in the sudden black fog.

Xiao Yuan, Xiao Yuan, don't, don't go——!

Jiang Yao was in a hurry, he tried to run to Xiao Yuan in front of him, but he was never able to shorten the distance between the two. The thicker and thicker black mist engulfed everything around him, and in this black mist, Xiao Yuan's figure began to be shrouded in a layer of ink, and even the gentleness in those brown pupils gradually faded in the erosion of this darkness, turning into emptiness and wood.

What the!?

Jiang Yao looked at the man in front of him in shock, and the memories of the fault began to rush to his mind. The shouts of Qiqi, the howling of the wind, and the brown eyes that were exposed under the skull mask...... The friend who was once gentle and humble returned again at this time in the form of a 'puppet undead', and this was by no means the "reunion" that Jiang Yao wanted.

Who is it...... Who the hell turned you into this!

Jiang Yao trembled with anger, but he could only watch as the space in front of him cracked with a "bang", and a huge cliff appeared between him and Xiao Yuan, and at the same time, cyan lines climbed out from the depths of the cliff like poisonous snakes, gradually wrapping around his limbs, dragging him towards the bottomless cliff.

Damn, let go, let go of me!

Jiang Yao struggled desperately, but those cyan lines seemed to gradually drain the energy in his body, numbing his body, eating away at his consciousness, and slowly dragging him into the boundless darkness inch by inch.

Not......

Jiang Yao's vision was gradually impregnated with black mist, and his divine consciousness was also faltering on the edge of his coma. In a trance, he seemed to hear the familiar and gentle voice quietly coming into his ears again, crossing the boundary of time and space, floating from nothingness.

"Little guy, wake up, wake up......"

Xiao and Xiao Yuan's voices ......?!

Jiang Yao's consciousness suddenly sobered up for a moment, he reluctantly opened his eyes, and found that what was floating in front of him at this time was no longer the puppet-like 'puppet undead', but the friend with a smile on his face, just as he remembered.

"Someday, we'll be back together again...... But not now. 」

Xiao Yuan smiled softly and looked up behind Jiang Yao.

"Look, someone's coming to pick you up. 」

Come pick me up?...... Neck...... It hurts!

The sudden stinging pain in the back of his neck made Jiang Yao close his eyes in pain, but when he opened and closed his eyes, he suddenly felt a strange warm current flowing into his body from his neck, dissolving the numbness of his limbs. And at the same moment, dark purple flames suddenly broke through the walls of this black mist-shrouded ink-colored space!

"Rumble——!

The intertwined dark purple flames continued to tear apart the entire space, and under the scorching fire, the cyan lines that wrapped around Jiang Yao's body were also constantly forced back, and finally completely turned into ashes.

This is......

Jiang Yao recovered from his surprise, he quickly got up and looked ahead again, only to find that Xiao Yuan's figure had disappeared.

Xiao Yuan, Xiao Yuan, where are you!?

Jiang Yao yelled anxiously, his chaotic thoughts stirring the anxiety in his heart. It's just that under the blazing darkness of purple fire, those black fogs have long since dissipated, and even Xiao Yuan's shadow is no longer traceable.

…… Why......

Jiang Yao stood blankly in the dark purple fireworks, and his heart suddenly felt a little empty. The memories in his mind had risen and fallen several times, but his consciousness was still as if it was sinking under the surface of the water, and it seemed chaotic, which made him feel a little trance for a while.

[Woo-ah-ah——! monsters, monsters eat people!!]

A piercing scream suddenly crossed Jiang Yao's mind without warning, breaking his brief confusion.

What, what's the sound!?

Jiang Yao raised his head in shock, only to find that the dark purple flames around him were mixed with some noises that he had never heard before. The wails of despair mingled with the warm current that poured into his body, instantly rushing into his consciousness, flashing certain blood-colored images in his mind.

[Help——! I don't want to die yet......]

[It's—it's going to eat our whole village!]

[Who, who will save us——!]

The miserable pictures were soaked in overwhelming blood, and they flew by Jiang Yao's eyes like a marquee. For a while, the sound of fire, collapse, and roar were intertwined with grief and indignation, and rampaged in Jiang Yao's mind.

What's going on!?hmm......

Jiang Yao covered his ears and knelt on the ground in pain, but he couldn't stop the invasion of those voices at all. In his torn consciousness, he seemed to vaguely hear the words of a strange man floating in his ears.

[cough...... Ahem...... Do you remember...... Do you owe me a 'promise'?]

The man's voice was like a gossamer, but for some reason every word hit Jiang Yao's heart, and a pain and sorrow that obviously did not belong to him, but he couldn't help but empathize with him, filled his chest, making his heart gradually sink.

【…… Promise me that from now on...... No more cannibalism...... This is the last agreement between me and you......]

You...... Who are you?

"Whoa——!

The gushing tongue of fire destroyed the surrounding space, and before Jiang Yao could react, he felt that his eyes were dark, and then he was instantly swallowed by the surging dark purple flames, and was instantly swept into the bottomless void......