According to Li Muyang’s numerous previous failures in exploration, the villagers in Black Cloud Fort were roughly divided into two groups.
One was like Li Muyang, who had a purple band wrapped around his wrist and followed Manager Wu and others to cultivate demon techniques. This group of villagers’ habits and perspectives had already diverged from the original inhabitants.
The other group consisted of villagers who lived in the traditional way, still adhering to their ancestors’ lifestyle without following Manager Wu and his outsiders to cultivate demon techniques, though they didn’t oppose Manager Wu leading the villagers in this way.
Two groups with different lifestyles coexisted in one village, creating a strange balance.
And Granny Valley was one of the maintainers of this strange balance.
She held great prestige in the village, her smile gentle, appearing every bit the kind and elderly woman.
But no one in the village dared to disrespect her, not even Manager Wu and his group, who were very cautious around Granny Valley.
When Li Muyang took Little Wild Grass to the village’s ancestral temple, he saw an old lady sunbathing on the wooden stairs of the Stilted Building next to the temple.
The elderly woman’s smile was benevolent, her head wrapped continuously in a long black cloth, making it look like she wore a black ring on top.
To the eye, this elderly woman was no different from the other elderly in the village.
The moment he saw Granny Valley, a system dialog box appeared in Li Muyang’s view.
[(Ask Granny Valley for help, tell her the truth about Little Wild Grass)]
[(Better not go to Granny Valley, I have to find Manager Wu for help)]
[Please note, this choice will affect the future development route of the female lead.]
…
Li Muyang had visited Granny Valley several times before, but he had never triggered such an option.
It was also the first time the system issued such a solemn hint.
This choice would affect the development route of Little Wild Grass?
Meaning, seeking help from Granny Valley and seeking help from Manager Wu would lead to different paths?
Recalling what the system said at the beginning, that Little Wild Grass could become a fairy but also had the potential to turn into a witch… it was quite obvious.
If they took Manager Wu’s route, Little Wild Grass would definitely bind deeper with the Demon Path.
Although Li Muyang was a Demon Cultivator, he didn’t have much fondness for the Demon Path, let alone for Manager Wu and his outdated practices.
Manager Wu’s style of outdated Demon Cultivation involved murdering and creating misery.
Without hesitation, Li Muyang chose the first option, to ask Granny Valley for help.
“Oh? A malevolent spirit that appears in dreams?”
After hearing Li Muyang’s recount, Granny Valley’s gentle smile slightly contracted.
She beckoned Little Wild Grass over, asked her to come closer, then like an animal, she sniffed around and rubbed against Little Wild Grass.
“There is indeed some strange, evil spirit smell.
“Little fish, you’re really quite lucky to encounter such a powerful thing,”
The old woman cheerfully looked at Li Muyang, saying, “From the smell, this malevolent spirit appears to be something very ancient, attracted here by the unique scent of those who’ve lost their souls.”
“She has unique roots and weird strength, ordinary people, even normal cultivators, would find it hard to resist such a monster.”
“Only those who have lost their souls, or creatures like human-tooth children, have resistance against this malevolent spirit.”
“If this old woman isn’t mistaken, you must not have slept last night, right? Were you kept awake by ghost stories?”
Granny Valley cheerfully looked at Li Muyang, saying, “Consider yourself lucky, boy, to have survived by accident. You and this Little Wild Grass mingling together have also been marked by that malevolent spirit.”
“If you had fallen asleep last night, you would have been doomed, as these kinds of malevolent spirits love to kill in dreams.”
At Granny Valley’s words, Li Muyang’s eyes widened.
The guy selling the kids… turned out to be a master?
But thinking about it, it made sense. A human trafficker gathers lost souls from different places and delivers them to Black Cloud Fort, encountering all sorts of strange incidents along the journey yet remaining unscathed… He definitely had a few tricks up his sleeve.
Li Muyang asked, “Granny, how should we deal with this evil creature?”
The old woman chuckled.
“Don’t worry, although this creature is mysterious, our ancestors at Black Cloud Fort used to feed on these things.”
“Although most of the old ancestor’s things have been lost now, handling this evil creature is more than enough.”
Granny Gu said, giving Li Muyang a deep look, then glanced at Little Wild Grass, and spoke.
“But this old lady can’t just help you for nothing. Little Fish, you have to promise me one thing before I agree to help you.”
The old woman chuckled as she made her request.
In Li Muyang’s line of sight, a system dialog box popped up.
[Granny Gu’s request… She wouldn’t want me to become her ghost servant, would she? No way! I can’t agree. If Little Wild Grass dies, then so be it, but I can’t die.]
[If I refuse Granny Gu I might die, if I agree I might still die… Should I agree?]
The two options in his field of vision made the corners of Li Muyang’s mouth twitch.
This Granny Gu didn’t seem as kind as she appeared on the surface. No wonder no one in the fort dared to provoke her; she was a hidden big BOSS.
If this were reality, Li Muyang would definitely hesitate.
But this was a game.
He chose the second option without hesitation.
“Yes! Granny Gu, please help us exorcise this evil creature. I am willing to become your ghost servant!”
As soon as Li Muyang spoke, Little Wild Grass beside him froze for a moment.
She seemed to understand what a “ghost servant” was and looked at Li Muyang with a shocked expression.
As for Li Muyang, he didn’t actually know what a “ghost servant” was but he could guess it wasn’t anything good.
But the kindly smiling Granny Gu chuckled and shook her head.
“I wouldn’t want a scrawny little thing like you. Just remember that you owe this old lady a favor, and you have to agree to one request from me later—that’s all.”
Saying this, the old woman turned to Little Wild Grass with a kind smile and extended her hand: “Come here, girl. This old lady will take care of the evil creature for you.”
The little girl hesitated for a moment, but eventually timidly took the old woman’s hand and was led by her into the ominous ancestral temple.
Li Muyang also wanted to follow but was stopped by the old woman at the entrance.
Granny Gu said kindly, “Just wait outside, Little Fish. You’re not allowed in.”
With that, the old woman closed the big doors of the ancestral temple.
Li Muyang stood alone in the sunlight, glancing at the favorability bar in the upper right corner of his field of vision.
[Little Wild Grass: 25 (She is horrified by your intense kindness)]
“?”
Li Muyang was stunned to see the favorability number.
He had unexpectedly gained favorability before, and now that he had expressed his kindness, even willing to become a ghost servant for Granny Gu to help her.
Li Muyang thought he could gain some favorability again.
But instead of gaining favor, the girl was horrified…
What on earth was Little Wild Grass thinking about every day!