[4. The Hidden Darkness]

"My friend looked at me in amazement, and after a long time he spoke: 'What do you say, my brother?' I don't have a brother anymore, have you forgotten that he passed away a few years ago......" Xiaohui's voice was suppressed and whispered, "I was stunned, and my friend's voice became more and more distant. In the coldness of death, I could only ask myself - then, who is he?"

I shivered and took a sip of warm water. The huge stone table seemed to grow colder, and the lonely candle burned with a flickering yellow light that shook on everyone's face, making us all look like we had just crawled out of a thousand-year-old tomb.

It was midnight, and we were bored from shopping around and found this huge conference room in the mansion where everyone's voice sounded like it came from the sky, and then we turned off the lights and started a horror story meeting.

Alas, I don't like to hear ghost stories...... Even if I don't feel anything when I listen to it, I'll be scared when I go back to my room and sleep. Fortunately, Zhaohua looked more scared than me, so he was not so ashamed. Miss Rika has been listening to us with a smile on her face, but her beautiful face is getting weirder and weirder in the dancing candlelight...... Probably because of my psychology, not to mention that everyone looks like monsters now.

Horror stories with monsters and zombies will ...... Am I supposed to think that Sansheng is lucky or unlucky to get home?Next, Xuehe's younger brother Yunhe tells a hardcore story about zombies, which makes me get goosebumps all over my body...... I thought that the brothers Xia Zhen and Xia Yu would be angry, but their brothers still giggled, it was a false alarm.

Yun He didn't know in advance that the Xia brothers were special zombies, and his news was really ill-informed, so it seemed that he and Han Feng were not too familiar with each other. Yunhe apologized and said that he was worried about his pen pal in Dongzhou when he talked about zombies. Yunhe's pen pal is Abel Rettan, and Yunhe says that he thinks Abel, who can't attack magic, is too lucky. Dongzhou is now rampant with zombies, although I don't know him, but I wish Abel and his family well.

"Shouldn't we be ashamed to be in a safe place?" Harden sighed after listening to Yunhe's statement, "Is it on a small island on the borderlands...... He's going to have a hard time. ”

"Yes, Abel is going to cheer up, let's pray for him...... By the way, Miss Rika will tell us a story to hear!" shouted the enthusiastic Xiaohui.

Miss Rika waved her hand again and again: "I have nothing to say, I'm not good at this ......"

"Let's talk about it, Sister Rika!" Ivan also encouraged her, "You have been in the demon world for thousands of years, and one or two demon stories are not a problem, right?"

"Well, I also want to know how powerful the 'Speech Manipulator' is to tell a story. "Harden's statement was nothing short of forced.

"Why am I embarrassed to refuse that?" Miss Rika smiled bitterly, and then she fell into deep thought, "What kind of story do you tell......?"

She looked around us thoughtfully: "...... Have you ever heard of the 'Seven Emperors'?"

"That's your Japanese demon, right?" asked Harden after a moment's thought.

Miss Rika nodded, and began to speak with an expression that gradually became serious: "The Grim Reaper, or 'Seven Imperial Fronts', although there are various descriptions in legends, are generally evil gods who will die as long as they encounter them. ”

That sounds like a big deal......

"'Whoever sees death for a time will suffer a terrible death.'" Those who kill themselves and hang themselves are all bewitched by this demon.'" "Picture Book Hundred Things" seems to describe it like this. Miss Rika's gaze seemed to go back to her past through the long years, "At that time, I became a demon not long after, I was still immature and arrogant, I didn't know the state of the demon world, and I wandered around with ambition to do evil, so I would meet such an opponent......"

"In the usual legends, the 'Seven Emperors' would only tempt people to death with calamity or disease, rather than simply taking people's lives by means such as brutality. But I came across such strange monsters - I came to a small village, it was twilight, and I was going to tempt the man who came home alone as usual...... I hate it, I was indeed an evil demon back then, I don't deny it, I'm not afraid to admit it, I'm afraid to change it......"

"I walked alone in the fields at dusk, and I didn't meet a single person when it was supposed to be the farmer's home. The surroundings were surprisingly quiet, and there were no birds or insects, which made me feel frightened as a demon. By the time I felt the demonic aura spread, it was already night. As I walked into the village, I began to find that the whole area seemed to be a demonic realm—a thick air of death, almost condensed terror and murderous intent rising everywhere, and I was also uneasy. After being rejected again and again, I finally knocked on the door of an elderly man who lived alone and asked him about the situation under the pretext of staying overnight......

Perhaps because of loneliness and chronic nervousness, the old man did not mind saying everything he knew.

"'Girl, it's not easy for you to find your relatives alone, but get out of here as soon as the morning comes, this is no longer a place for people to live......,' he opened his mouth, and I thought, ah, his life is still in my hands, what can put me in danger. So I urged him to continue. And then he said—

"'Girl, we had people here a few years ago, and they died terrible...... Those were seven merchants who passed by, robbed, and skinned.'

"Seven people. I didn't notice it at the time, and then he went on - 'After that there was a year of purity, but another year passed, and another man was killed in our neighborhood, about a month before and after, ......and seven people died.'

"I thought to myself, and sure enough, 'Then the next year, there were seven people missing...... Later, people were found, but they all died in a miserable state......'"

"It's still seven. I pressed him to continue, and as expected, every year or two there were disappearances, seven people each time. This year is different, and by now, there are twenty-eight people...... Girl, those are all people from the nearby village or next door! mutilated deaths...... Everyone is living in this environment where cruel crimes can happen all the time, and gradually they are all changing......'"

Miss Rika's voice sounded more and more depressed and heavy, making me feel more and more resistant to my brain. As the story gradually entered a strange and tragic tense realm, my eyelids became heavy.

“...... I heard the cursing and the crying...... 'Coming, can't meet,' I said to myself, I thought...... Sleep until dawn...... And then...... The woman's screaming voice was heard...... Like a scream gnawed by thousands of snakes...... Creepy ......"

I'm getting sleepy, can I get rid of it, Miss Rika's terrifying personal experience......

...... Why, it's getting brighter......

What?city?

This is...... Where is this?

...... Isn't this the Big Wild Goose Pagoda? Wait, then here's ...... Xi'an?

I looked down at the ancient capital. The imposing imperial city was lit with candlelight as bright as day, as magnificent and majestic...... No, maybe this is the ancient city of Chang'an?

It was at this moment that the fog gradually spread in the night sky, and it was ...... Getting stronger and stronger?

The demon mist was piled up into a huge dark gray cloud, and on this demon mist, a gorgeous palace with workmanship and momentum that was not inferior to the imperial palace appeared!

I slowly approached the palace and before I knew it, I had entered it. The majestic pressure almost took me out of breath, and I wandered aimlessly through the palatial halls, overwhelmed.

I watched blankly as countless figures prostrate on the ground, bells and drums ringing in my ears...... Ah, I know, they're all demons.

Perhaps, they are waiting for their king......

King......

Suddenly, there was a flash of light, and I felt that with the thunder, a huge electric halberd was about to penetrate the entire palace, so I closed my eyes in a panic.

The bells and drums were still ringing in my ears, but when I opened my eyes, the lights were all extinguished, and the house collapsed! The darkness and the faint cry of a woman surrounded me, and I couldn't help but be conscious.

"This is ......," I said, trying to dispel my fears, "Now, it's the dream you created for the Demon King, the Colorless Demon Boy?......

"Are you the one chosen by the Demon King......" A young man's gloomy and indifferent voice came from the darkness, which made me tremble.

Wasn't it the Demon King's doing......

"Is it just a milky imp......" A woman's cold and rude voice came from the other direction, "It's really boring." ”

Who's that......

"You are ......"

"Ah, 'Swinger', that's what they call me. The woman's rough voice answered me without mind.

"Swinging Soldiers!" I felt a little more sober-

That's right, if it was a thousand years ago, the king that those demons were waiting for would of course be the 'Eighteen Kings of Kyushu'!

"Kuang Zhengtuan's Nine Demon Kings ......"

"Isn't it delicious...... "As soon as I cried, I felt something in the darkness pulling my sleeve and pinching my arm, a little boy of about four or five years old, giggling in an innocent tone!

I jumped away with a "wow" and tried to shake him off, only to find that his strength was much greater than mine!

"Ghosts, ghosts, gods, and children!"

"Senior, stop bullying children like this. "A sound that made people feel like spring water sounded nearby, like a boy a few years older than me.

Even though I knew it was the Demon King, I had a little hope after hearing the sound of this spring water.

A brief flash of electric light lit up, and I saw the silhouettes of two figures in front of me. One of them is a big boy with a beautiful silhouette, and the other is a little bit who is picked up by him.

"Are you the general chosen by the Demon King?" "The voice that is like spring water is very friendly, and I am used to the darkness, and I can see his deep and large eyes that make people fascinated, "Yukai." However, I'm the most junior 'ghost boy here'......"

This handsome boy who is taller than me is the "ghost boy boy"? What is the terrifying child he is carrying......

"Ah, my name is Zhou Xuesong......" In the face of those beautiful big round eyes, even if I am of the same sex, I have no ability to resist," uh...... By the way, is Mr. 'Inch Broken Feather' here? I'm a friend of his grandson! And what about Sister Teng Ji of 'Coffin Dancer'? I know Mr. Petra very well!"

The big magical eyes turned to the dark corner with a smile: "Yo." ”

"Is it a friend...... is the voice of a young man again, it sounds like a suave person, this is Harden's grandfather?

"It's not easy ......to be swept in," this time it's a beautiful female voice that sounds like it can be imagined with its peerless elegance, and it's a woman whom Mr. Petra regards as his mother - Teng Ji.

"Zhou Xuesong ......" seemed to be pondering, this time it was a woman with a blank but majestic voice, and my intuition made me believe that she also had a high status among the nine demon kings, "I can't see the value yet......"

"Wandering girl, don't cry!" The indifferent man who spoke at first scolded the woman who had been crying impatiently - that woman was the master of the water system spells introduced by Ivan earlier, "Deep Snow Wandering Girl".

"This kid has calmed down and can communicate normally, right?" another woman's mature voice sounded, making me think of my mother.

"yes. Boy, it seems that he likes you more. Tell me about it. It feels like the "swinging soldier" of the glamorous gangster sister, and she said with a smile.

"Understood. Actually, it's nothing, it's just to say hello to you first. The "Ghost Boy Boy" stared at me, his smiling eyes suddenly became cold, and his clear voice became ethereal and cruel, "The world we hope for is still not born, so we will eventually be resurrected......"

Resurrection! Is it really the ghost of the Nine Demon Kings in front of me!

"You ......," I didn't know what to say.

The ghost boy smiled.

"You don't need to say anything, we understand...... You've just come to the Demon King Capital, right?There's one thing I must remind you of, and that's - don't ask the monsters about the 'Dead Strange' easily, or you'll get into trouble. He smiled and whispered in a somewhat mysterious tone.

"The deceased?" I asked in confusion, but I heard the helpless sighs of the demon kings.

"Is the time up......

I suddenly realized that the color of everything in front of me was starting to fade -

I had woken up and everyone was looking at me in amazement.

"You say—'The dead are different'?" Miss Rika looked at me in amazement, and then asked me in a deep voice.

“...... Well. Miss Rika you know this is ......" I nodded, and as soon as I started asking, I remembered the warning of the "ghost fairy", "You can't ask, right?"

"Where did you hear that......" Harden asked me, "I don't know what it is, but Teacher Petra said it's classified, and most people don't know about it." ”

"It's a ghost! I just dreamed of the Nine Demon Kings of Kuang Zhengtuan! They said don't ask......

Harden looked at me with disdain: "Then do they speak ancient Chinese?"

"Ahh

"Sure enough. Harden sneered, "I wonder if you fell for someone's illusion." ”

"In other words, we are close to the murderer of the 'Death Difference' incident!" one of the Xia brothers clapped his hands with great interest.

"Xiao Yu, don't be so happy, if so many masters here don't notice the illusionist's magic fluctuations, then the opponent is definitely not a figure that can be easily dealt with. Xia Zhen, as an elder brother, said with a calm smile.

"Besides, this is the Demon King's Capital, and the guy who cast the illusion on the cedar may be mixed in with the monsters here. Alicia snapped.

"It's really serious, but why do you have to mention 'the deceased'? This year is not a disaster year for the deceased......" Miss Rika bowed her head and pondered, "warn against asking about the deceased?......"

"Then Miss Rika, what kind of incident is the deceased?" Xiaohui asked eagerly.

"This is a secret of the Demon King's Capital, I'm sorry......" Miss Rika shook her head with a wry smile, her beautiful eyes looked around at us with worry, "Remember, this is forbidden to be mentioned in the Demon King, it's a taboo, a taboo!"

"But is that good?" Ataya asked Miss Rika suspiciously, "Forbidden things are not allowed to be spoken, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist......"

"Yes, banning messages doesn't solve the problem. Ivan also said.

Miss Rika just smiled bitterly: "Everyone understands this truth, but this matter is not so simple to solve...... Everyone in the Demon King Capital has worked hard. ”

"So is that true? The dead are strange......" Selena asked her.

"Probably, everything is speculation. Miss Rika spread her hands helplessly, "Ellie, did your master tell me about this?"

The master said that he did not believe that it was a curse, and he did not seriously talk about the incident. It's just that he mentioned that the place where the most recent catastrophe of the dead took place was the opera house on the White Dragon Hill...... "Alicia was also at a loss.

"Yes, it was more than 40 years ago, that beautiful opera house, 'Flower Blossom Courtyard'. Miss Rika nodded.

"Are you talking about the year of the Death Change, that is, the Death Changer is not one event, but multiple events?" asked Harden perceptively.

"That's right, the horror of it is that it happens to be similar to the incident of the 'Seven Emperors' that I just mentioned. ”

"Successive killings every once in a while?" Han Feng asked in shock.

Miss Rika's eyes turned cold: "The incident is too bizarre and cruel, it is not a murder, but a curse with a lot of resentment...... But don't ask the whole story, it's taboo......"

Everyone was silent for a moment.

"You may think it's nothing, especially Harden, you don't think much of what I've told you about the Seven Emperors, right? Indeed, if you meet them head-on, a hard fight will solve the problem, but the point is - can you find them? If you can't find them, no matter how good you are, you'll be struck down by the pervasive fear and suspicion. Miss Pear Blossom looked at Harden solemnly.

Harden was silent for a moment, and nodded reluctantly: "Is this the case with the Dead? If it is similar to the incident in front of the Seven Emperors, then is its body the Nine Demon Kings who died with hatred?"

I looked at Harden in horror: "In other words, they are cursing and killing all the time......"

"Is it because of this power that the Avengers and Kuang Zhengtuan have spared no effort to try to resurrect them?" Tya pondered, "That's why Wu Anya has always been so concerned about the affairs of the Nine Great Demon Kings...... No, if you are resurrected, you won't be able to form a powerful resentment curse!"

“...... I...... I was scared...... "I now think that the demon king in my dream may also be real, because they may have wandered in the human world for a long time!

"That's right, everybody's scared. This is a dark legend and a disaster that eroded the Passage House. Miss Rika's expression was solemn, "You may say that not only am I not a relation, but I am also a disciple of the 'Shadow of Soul Palpitations', am I faking compassion?, but I am also a witness to this disaster, and the pain of that powerlessness is really unbearable...... The most important thing is that I like him to be involved in it, and every time that season of disaster, everyone will face that nightmare again. Legend has it that it is the Nine Demon Kings who have failed, and they have been calling for thousands of years - 'let me be reborn'......"

I felt a chill down my back.

"Don't ask about the deceased anymore, remember, even the names of the Nine Demon Kings are taboo, and their names are not allowed to be mentioned. Miss Rika's eyes were full of determination, "Harden, you are the bloodline of the 'Broken Feather', you must be more cautious, otherwise you will be killed as a threat!"

Harden snorted in surprise and dissatisfaction: "I know, the teacher also reminded me." ”

I don't know if it's good or bad to wake up from a dream. But I'm now convinced that in the darkness around us, there are countless monsters. Regardless of whether it is the Nine Great Demon Kings or not, they are definitely terrifying opponents!

Once again, I felt the darkness around me wriggle. There is no doubt that we don't have time for a good swim......

—

Preview: "Hello everyone, I am the most flamboyant and most vilified 'Phantom Puppeteer' among the Heavenly Punishers, Jean Ronners.

"Everything went smoothly according to plan, and Harden and the others arrived at the Demon King Capital without any problems. Then, if nothing else, the Last Supper will be served for us...... The Avengers' slaughter is out of control, and there is a murderous intent in every peaceful scene. But I'm not the man who gets knocked down like that! my story won't end there—

"So there's the next section: The Gathering of Suffering (5) The Banquet to the Yellow Springs! I will let those guys who are anxious know what a 'Heavenly Punisher' is!"