Just as the ghost claw swung upwards in another attempt to grab onto Mumu, Ah Dan suddenly sprung to his feet. Its four plump chubby limbs crossed in front of it as it unexpectedly held the empty shadow in a firm yet ferocious grip!
The ghost shadow abruptly made an ear-piercing noise akin to a baby’s cry. It struggled with all its might and the originally empty shadow shook vigorously before it soon melted swiftly into Ah Dan’s body!
All that, from the first moment when the brothers Bushuo and Buzuo were stuck onto the ghost’s flesh mushroom until the final moment when the ghost shadow was hugged into nothingness by Ah Dan, happened in only a short span of time. Even for someone as powerful as the Second Mother and a first-rate master cultivator like Chi Shuilie, the vision before their eyes were dazzling and confusing. They had utterly no time to react to the situation and rescue their friends while stopping the enemy.
Wen Leyang struggled free from the decayed mushroom’s flesh, he was in time to firmly catch a falling Mumu before she hit the ground.
There was a muffled banging sound and it gave everyone a good scare. Ah Dan swung his arms and legs as he slammed onto the ground face first. His face was flat on the ground while his buttocks pointed skywards, his body then stopped moving.
Little Chili Pepper’s body was limp as she lay in Wen Leyang’s arms feebly. She opened her eyes slowly, “Ah…Ah Dan…” She then fell face down directly into Wen Leyang’s arms, she had only just found out that the zombie baby had broken the red rope apart.
Wen Leyang related the entire scenario about Ah Dan and the ghost shadow to her and Mumu felt relieved. She struggled laboriously for a moment and laid her beautiful forehead gently upon his chest before smiling contentedly and closed her eyes. The red-colored bloodstain on the corner of her mouth was eye-catching.
The faint sound of decaying was slightly similar to the sound of the bubbling mud when the ‘Swarm of Bees’ of the Qing Miao clan were attacking. The ghost flesh mushroom rapidly disintegrated and melted into a puddle of black liquid in a short moment. The liquid seeped into the ground and disappeared, leaving behind a gigantic hole in the ground.
Wen Leyang could not check on Ah Dan yet but he was afraid that Ah Dan might turn hostile and injure others again. However, he could only hold onto Little Chili Pepper and stayed far away from Ah Dan as possible.
Mumu had been severely injured, her blood was surging and racing in her chest. She felt an agony as if the blood vessels in her entire body were in the process of rupturing. The Wen family favored poison while the Qing Miao clan arrogated spells. They all had distinguished abilities and an understanding of medical and medicinal knowledge above the level of regular human beings. All at once, her mouth was stuffed with all sorts of medicinal pellets, pills, powder, and paste.
The two brothers Bushuo and Buzuo too stood up with the support of the Qing Miao disciples. They groaned and moaned as they stood up, they were exhausted, their entire bodies were sore and weak but they were relatively unhurt. The muscles on Wen Buzuo’s entire body were lax, only his cheek muscles were still functional. This was the result of his lack of training on most days as he would babble on endlessly about big plans to rescue others.
Little Chili Pepper chuckled, she could only manage half a laugh before she wrinkled her eyebrows, and shook her head gently, “I will be well again after resting for a few days, it’s fine…” As she was speaking, she signaled for Wen Leyang to help her into a sitting position. She then utilized the family’s mental cultivation method to slowly heal herself. Gradually, the agonized expression on her face was reduced and her wrinkled eyebrows too started to gently relax.
The surviving disciples of The Centipede of the Luo family explained to Wen Leyang, “The countercharge of a destroyed Spirit Guiding Light is the most harmful one while the countercharge of the Necromancy Seal and the Spirit Needles are slightly less damaging. Based on Mumu’s cultivation level, her injuries shouldn’t be too bad. She would only need to rest quietly for a period of time to recuperate.”
All three spirit weapons of The Centipede had been annihilated, resulting in Mumu’s unknown level of severe injuries. Right now she was starting to recuperate gradually and Wen Leyang was slightly relieved to know that she will be alright. He then pointed towards Ah Dan who was still lying unmoving on the ground far away.
The Centipede disciples too did not understand what happened, they could only force a sheepish grin as they shook their heads. The ghost shadow had disappeared after being grabbed by a little zombie, this affair was equivalent to the battle between an evil ghost and an evil demon. In the end, the ghost had swallowed the demon, not even a movie would use this as its plot.
The Great Elder of Qing Miao clan Chi Shuilie brought along one of his men and walked swiftly to the gigantic hole left behind after the ghost’s flesh mushroom had melted away. They peeped down for a while before he nodded to the Second Mother. The two figures then jumped into the hole. The Second Mother waved her arm once and conjured a green-colored bonfire out of thin air.
Little Chi Maojiu, who seemed to like talking as much as Wen Buzuo, explained to Wen Leyang proudly, “Advanced sorcerers like the Second Mother and the Great Elder can move their own vital fire around at any desirable time.” As he was speaking, he looked at the Second Mother with admiration.
The faint dark flames burned and spat continuously. After flickering for a moment, the flames started to twist in a ghastly manner and formed into a miniature scene: A dim fiery glow was wrapped around two figures who were moving with cat-like stealth.
“The Second Mother is casting her witchcraft to protect them!” Little Chi Maojiu’s voice was full of adoration and pride.
Wen Leyang instructed the remaining Qing Miao disciples, “Please protect Mumu carefully!” Upon saying that, the skin on his entire body tightened once again as he walked cautiously towards the unmoving zombie baby which was still lying face-down on the ground.
One of The Centipede disciples immediately staggered and followed alongside him, “You don’t cultivate the art of Corpse Controlling, let me help you!”
Despite the brothers Bushuo and Buzuo’s aching limbs, they supported each other as they walked forward. Ever since they had entered the Miao’s territory, every single incident they encountered had been horrifying. As the last surviving disciples from the Death Trademark, they were charged with the great responsibility to never let Wen Leyang go through any danger alone. They didn’t care if they were of no help, they simply followed behind Wen Leyang with a determined expression.
Wen Leyang took a look at them, he didn’t speak but gave them a forced grin. His body was slightly slanted as he walked to the front of Ah Dan as if he was subconsciously blocking everyone behind him. He then stretched out his left arm cautiously and touched Ah Dan’s little shoulder while his right hand was clenched into a tight fist and raised in midair in preparation to strike a blow at any time.
The corpse-control master cultivator of the Luo family advised him in a fully professional manner, “Be careful there!” Following that he gulped anxiously.
Wen Leyang finally understood now that every family had its own qualified personnel.
He did not exert much strength onto his fingers yet he managed to turn Ah Dan over. Ah Dan’s eyes were shut tightly as he lay on the ground with his arms and legs out like he was making a snow angel. Two trails of blood had flowed out of his nostrils and down his face in bends and curves.
If one were to land face-down onto the ground, it would be completely expected that one would get a bloody nose. However, the disciple of Luo family mused in a highly professional manner once again, “Yikes, it’s having a nosebleed!”
Wen Buzuo too nodded with all apparent seriousness, “Yup, it’s having a nosebleed.”
Wen Leyang frowned and looked closely at Ah Dan who still had a smirk on its face. He could sense that something was wrong with the zombie but he couldn’t figure out what it was.
The Luo family’s disciple still persisted and repeated his words continuously, “It’s having a nosebleed. It’s having a nosebleed. It, is, having, a, nosebleed!” His tone of speaking gradually became more and more strenuous, the final few words were squeezed out between his gritted teeth.
Wen Leyang too cried out softly as he finally noticed what was wrong – Ah Dan’s dark eye circles were very slowly fading away, it already appeared slightly lighter than before.
At the same time, the disciple of The Centipede spoke with an incredulous and trembling voice, “The zombie corpse…has no blood. Even if it were to be injured its skin will only break, but it will not bleed!”
Wen Buzuo’s eyes were filled with curiosity, as he questioned closely without any standards, “What if it is bleeding?”
The Luo disciple’s answer was unusually brief, “If it bleeds, then it is no longer a corpse!”
Wen Bushuo, who cherished his words like gold, spat out a word from his chest, “Sun!”
At this moment Ah Dan’s body shuddered abruptly, he then opened his eyes and blinked. Wen Leyang felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise as his left fist hanging in the air made as if to throw a punch. If it weren’t for Ah Dan who had smiled at him naively, he would have punched the zombie baby without any hesitation.
Wen Leyang’s heart softhearted, he did not throw the punch. Instead, he stood up and guarded the other three as they retreated rapidly. Ah Dan stumbled around as he tried to stand. He then used his sleeve to wipe off the nosebleed, his round head turned this way and that way as he searched for Little Chili Pepper. He cheered with a clear and articulate voice as soon as he’d found her.
The Centipede disciple cried out in alarm once again, “He…a zombie corpse should not speak with such a voice!” He paused for a moment before adding, “To be able to speak with such a voice means that he’s no longer a zombie corpse!”
Back then, Wen Leyang had heard the zombie baby’s voice. It had only been able to make a babbling sound similar to the sound of two pieces of leather rubbing together. That was utterly unlike his voice now which sounded childish and sweet. Wen Leyang did not know what to do all of a sudden.
A weak yet familiar voice sounded from behind them, “Don’t hurt Ah Dan!”
Little Chili Pepper, who had been recuperating, suddenly opened her eyes, her huge eyes had lost their former shine.
At the same time, a whooshing sound was heard as well as the sound of sleeves flapping in the wind. The Miao clansmen who had followed the Great Elder suddenly leaped out of the hole with a joyful expression. He informed the Second Mother, “There’s a way out; we could hear the sound of running water flowing below us! Great Elder wanted to continue exploring the place and he sent me back to deliver the message so that the Second Mother and the Big Dragon’s Root can be at ease!”
Wen Leyang’s expression suddenly changed as he warned with a loud voice, “Be careful, behind you!”
Ah Dan, who had been staggering as he walked forward, suddenly found his way blocked by the Qing Miao lad who had just leaped out from nowhere.