Volume One: The Soul-Guiding Gourd and the Soul-Burning Lamp Chapter 114: So That Is How It Is

Deep in the desert, a blood-red moon hung high above. A mountain of corpses and a sea of blood created an exceptionally sinister scene. Even the cold wind blowing through the area carried an eerie, unsettling quality.

Suddenly, the blood-stained Yu Kongcheng raised a fist the size of a sandbag and struck Li Hetang squarely in the chest. A dull thud echoed out, causing Gu Mo, Xiao Yulou, and Min Wenhua to instinctively step back, fearing they might be splattered with blood. Li Hetang shot a fierce glare at the trio upon seeing their cowardly behavior.

"What are you afraid of? He's one of our own!"

At that moment, the blood-drenched "God of Slaughter" chuckled at Li Hetang. "Brother Tang, aren't you being a bit too timid?"

Li Hetang could only offer an awkward smile, reaching into his tactical backpack to pull out some antiseptic wipes, which he handed to Yu Kongcheng. Then, acting like an older brother, he put on a stern face and scolded, "You brat, hurry up and clean yourself off. Every time you show up, you cause such a commotion!"

The latter didn't hesitate, shrugging his shoulders before quickly wiping the blood from his face. "Brother Tang, why did you steal my arctic combat suit as well?"

Caught red-handed, Li Hetang could only smile sheepishly. The feeling of being exposed was truly embarrassing. Moments later, after the blood was wiped away, Yu Kongcheng’s refined features were revealed once more.

At a glance, Yu Kongcheng was dressed in loose black clothing. His thick, black hair hung past his ears, and the skin exposed to the air was as fair as jade. As for his features, they were impeccably balanced: a broad forehead, slender willow-leaf brows, star-like eyes, a high-bridged nose, and thin red lips that looked ready to bleed at any moment. They all sat harmoniously on a handsome, sharp-angled, oval face.

It had to be said—not only was Yu Kongcheng mysterious and formidable, but he was also incredibly, maddeningly handsome. One might even describe his beauty as feminine. His appearance could easily outshine any popular celebrity by a hundred miles. It was truly a mystery why someone who could rely on his looks would choose to walk such a dangerous path and join the 749 Subsidiary Company.

...

A short while later, Li Hetang let out a heavy sigh, stared into Yu Kongcheng’s eyes, and asked, "How did you end up in the Well of Gods and Demons? Is there a special mission?"

Yu Kongcheng curled his lip, retorting with a hint of mockery, "Brother Tang, your armed forces are too incompetent. They couldn't even break into the Well of Gods and Demons. Otherwise, the higher-ups wouldn't have had to call me back from abroad."

Li Hetang’s expression darkened instantly, and he barked in anger, "There are others here. Can't you show me a little respect?"

Gu Mo and the others could only smile awkwardly. Yu Kongcheng just shrugged, looking entirely unbothered. Li Hetang rolled his eyes, his mind clearly cooking up some scheme. He reached out with a plastered-on smile, ready to engage in some "polite" social maneuvering, but Yu Kongcheng recoiled, looking at him with utter disdain.

"Brother Tang! You’re playing that trick again... is it really necessary?"

Seeing his scheme thwarted, Li Hetang could only smile awkwardly. Since Yu Kongcheng wouldn't let him probe his memories, he turned to the others and introduced them with a smile. "Brother Gu, Daoist Xiao, Brother Mao, this is a special operations agent from the Subsidiary Company, code-named K-Yu Kongcheng."

Before Li Hetang could explain further, the enigmatic youth smiled slightly. "No need to trouble yourself, Brother Tang. I’ve already reviewed the files on these three."

Hearing this, the three were taken aback. Just then, Yu Kongcheng licked his lips, staring at the chaotic battlefield as if struggling to suppress the restless blood within him. "Can we talk somewhere else? I can't calm my mind here."

Following this, Li Hetang urged Gu Mo and the others to go to the shaded side of a small sand dune to talk. Meanwhile, Li Hetang, that sneaky fellow, walked straight toward the mountain of corpses to use his ability to pry into the memories of the dead.

...

A few steps away, Gu Mo, Xiao Yulou, and Min Wenhua looked at the mysterious youth with a mix of excitement and fear. After all, his strength was terrifying; he had dealt with those ninjas as if it were child's play. The atmosphere was awkward, and Gu Mo was inwardly cursing Li Hetang.

'Li Hetang is really out of line. Why leave us with this God of Slaughter? To chat about killing and gore?'

Gu Mo felt immense helplessness. He had lost count of how many times he had been stunned today. First, he was left bewildered by Xiao Yulou’s cryptic ways, and then he had watched one bloody "movie" after another. This night was far too restless!

Just as Gu Mo was lost in his thoughts, the incredibly strange Yu Kongcheng reached out, shook hands with each of them firmly, and smiled. "Daoist Xiao, Mr. Gu, Brother Mao—I’m actually a fan of yours!"

The group was stunned. Yu Kongcheng then revealed a naive, innocent smile. "The scene where Daoist Xiao and Mr. Gu slew the dragon was explosive! Even though those are top-secret files, I really admire your courage."

The refined Xiao Yulou flicked his sleeves and replied humbly, "Ah, not at all. Brother Kongcheng’s skills are the ones that are truly masterful and awe-inspiring!"

Upon hearing these praises, Yu Kongcheng scratched his head like a child. He then turned to Min Wenhua and said respectfully, "Brother Mao, I’ve heard of your deeds for a long time. You are the ace among aces, a real man’s man!"

Min Wenhua, burdened by his past, looked into Yu Kongcheng’s eyes and smiled faintly. "I am a man who has made mistakes; there is nothing to praise..."

Yu Kongcheng looked at him with sincere, intense eyes. "Brother Mao, please don't say that!"

He paused, raised his eyebrows, and spoke with newfound intensity. "For a man who stands tall between heaven and earth, three things are paramount: protecting the land of his country, guarding his wife and children, and showing filial piety to his parents. If what happened to you had happened to me, I would have done exactly the same thing!"

Hearing this, Min Wenhua finally revealed a long-lost smile. Gu Mo then voiced his many questions. "Kongcheng, I’m curious. Could you explain something?"

Yu Kongcheng waved his hand openly. "Mr. Gu, please, go ahead."

Gu Mo smiled and asked, "Why do you use such strange movement techniques and combat styles? And... why can you tunnel through the ground like a ninja?"

Yu Kongcheng didn't hold back. "Because of my ability!"

The curiosity of the three was piqued. "Oh?"

Yu Kongcheng shifted slightly and explained, "Back then, Brother Tang and I were injected with different ability serums. Brother Tang can use his ability to probe memories, while I can fight like a wolf. Once I consume the blood of an enemy, I can briefly use their abilities."

Gu Mo finally understood. No wonder Yu Kongcheng could tunnel like a ninja! But this ability was truly heaven-defying. By comparison, Li Hetang seemed quite ordinary. Gu Mo even briefly wondered if the serum Li Hetang had been injected with was a defective product.

As they talked, Li Hetang returned, looking utterly disappointed. He squatted down and handed out cigarettes to the group. With a click, an orange flame flickered to life. After a few puffs, Li Hetang frowned and cursed, "Damn it, those bastards from the White Lotus Cult are using clones!"

The group was left completely bewildered.

"Brother Tang, do you mean to say that all those bodies were clones?"

Li Hetang took a deep drag, letting the nicotine and tar surge through his lungs. "Not only that, there is no memory in the brains of those clones! I have no idea what those bastards in the White Lotus Cult are planning!"

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines. They hadn't expected the White Lotus Cult to have such a grand scheme. Were they creating clones to research forbidden arts? If an army of clones were to fully materialize, it would be a terrifying force. Were they planning to use this army to overthrow the government?

That... was utterly inhumane!

Li Hetang looked toward the ruined warship, deep in thought. "Those Hattori clan ninjas were likely here for the 'Yin-Underworld Artifact.' The brain cells of the researchers were all destroyed by Hattori Hanzō. Even Hanzō himself swallowed a pill; his mind is a void, and nothing can be detected."

Gu Mo rubbed his chin and said faintly, "This is getting tricky!"

Clueless, Li Hetang turned to Yu Kongcheng. "Kongcheng, what is your mission, exactly? Is it to rescue code-named O?"

Yu Kongcheng looked at Li Hetang in surprise. "Brother Tang, Sister O has already been rescued by me."

Li Hetang was struck dumb, his voice trembling with excitement. "What? You saved Little O? Where is she now?"

Yu Kongcheng pointed comfortably in the distance. "Sister O is in a tent a few kilometers away!"

Li Hetang felt a mixture of shock and joy. He was glad that O was safe, but shocked that his romantic rival, Yu Kongcheng, had beaten him to the punch again. Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou let out a long sigh of relief. Regardless, once the mission was complete, they could go home. The Well of Gods and Demons was far too strange; they didn't want to spend another second there.

Li Hetang raised an eyebrow and asked, "Kongcheng, how did you get into the Well of Gods and Demons? Is there a way out?"

Yu Kongcheng nonchalantly pulled out a blood sample. "It’s simple. You just need to draw a black talisman of the Earthbound Master!"

Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou gasped. "What? You know how to draw the Earthbound Master’s black talisman?"

Yu Kongcheng looked at them blankly and smiled easily. "Is it hard?"

Instantly, Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou were left standing in the cold wind, thoroughly disheveled...

When Li Hetang saw the blood sample, a hunched figure appeared in his mind—the Earthbound Master, Old Yan.

'I really don't know what that old man is thinking!'

Just then, a gurgling sound echoed. The pitch-black, furry Gluttonous Ghost squeezed out of Gu Mo’s pocket. The moment the little creature appeared, it curiously examined its surroundings and the people.

Then, with a 'gurgle,' the Gluttonous Ghost spat out the Soul-Drawing Gourd and the Soul-Burning Lamp. Suddenly, the strange Soul-Burning Lamp hit the ground and immediately ignited a eerie green ghostly fire, and the Soul-Drawing Gourd popped its lid open on its own...