Chapter 6: The Poison Village 5

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Zhou Shan led the group deeper into the Gu Village. The mountain path remained rugged and treacherous, but with Zhou Shan, the village chief, guiding them, the journey, though steep and eerie, ended without incident. Along the way, the players encountered villagers from the settlement. These people were truly unsettling. Each had a pale complexion, their features frozen like wax statues—rigid and sinister. They bent over the winding riverbanks, seemingly engaged in some unknown activity, holding something writhing in their hands. A constant buzzing echoed from the dark waters, sending chills down the spine.

When the villagers noticed the players passing by, their dark eyes shifted unblinkingly toward them, staring intently. Had the players not endured so many trials before, their nerves would have surely shattered. “Village chief... are these newcomers?” one whispered eerily. Zhou Shan said nothing, merely gesturing for them to mind their own business. Watching Zhou Shan’s expressionless face, the players’ sense of danger intensified.

After several more minutes, they arrived at a narrow, low-lying, damp house resembling a water prison. “Here we are,” Zhou Shan announced, stopping before the door. He produced a key, unlocked the iron chain, and pushed open the door, revealing a chilling, cold smile. “You may enter now,” came his malicious voice. The players peered inside and froze.

“God, so many insects!”
“Do you think the name ‘Gu Village’ is just for show?!”
“These aren’t mere insects; they are Gu...”
“Those curled up in the corner must be the visitors who arrived this morning.”

Inside, the dim, humid room housed several wooden beds. The headboards and floor were lined with countless jars, each teeming with worms, crawling creatures, flying insects of black, white, and iridescent hues—swarming together in a grotesque, terrifying mass that made one’s skin crawl. By one bed, a group of four—three men and one woman—huddled weakly. The woman, around forty, pale and delicate-featured, seemed terrified and dazed by the insects and the day’s ordeals, muttering desperately, “Save me... please save me... I don’t want to stay here...”

Beside her, a man in his thirties or forties, exceptionally handsome and commanding, stood and gently moved her away from the insects. Calmly, he said, “Sister, stay calm. Open your eyes and look clearly—we’re fine. Those insects can’t touch you.” The woman was Ning Rong, his elder sister. Hearing his deep voice, she seemed to awaken, trembling as she whispered, “Ji Dong?” Ning Jidong glanced at her. Though pale, she was barely coherent. Relieved, he advised, “Don’t think about anything. Rest first.”

Zhou Shan watched them coldly. “Such touching sibling love,” he sneered. Ning Jidong returned a cold glare and asked, “Zhou Shan, what is the meaning of locking us up like this?” Gu Village was mysterious, and Ning Jidong’s group had long been curious. They had planned to explore and relax here for a few days. But this morning, after arriving and preparing to inquire about lodging, an accident occurred. The village chief, conspiring with villagers, had bound them. Outnumbered, they could not resist and were beaten severely.

Ning Rong, a noblewoman from a wealthy family, had never encountered such horrors and was utterly frightened, lost in a daze. The saying, “Poor mountains and rivers breed wicked folk,” felt painfully true. They should never have come to Gu Village. After their failed resistance, they were thrown into this low, insect-filled house, locked in for a full day. Ning Jidong could not fathom Zhou Shan’s intentions.

“You don’t need to know the reason,” Zhou Shan said coldly. “And to correct you, this isn’t locking up; it’s merely enforcing the rules of our Gu Village.” The early arrivals worried Zhou Shan, fearing they would cause trouble, so he confined them to the insect room. But by tomorrow, they would no longer be needed—later arrivals, with more valuable flesh and numbers, were coming. Of course, Zhou Shan would not let Ning Jidong’s group go. Since they came to Gu Village, they would serve as fodder for feeding the Gu gods—making full use of them.

Hearing this, Ning Jidong naturally did not believe him.

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Now in the hands of others, with their phones confiscated, they could not call for help. They were like fish out of water, helpless and restrained. Ning Jidong clenched his fists, his face darkening. Despite holding high office for many years, he had not felt so powerless in a long time.

The two young men curled in the corner lifted their heads—Ning Jidong’s sons, eighteen or nineteen years old, tall and handsome. One was aloof, the other shy. Both stared coldly at Zhou Shan, clearly having suffered much.

“Aren’t you afraid of being arrested?” the more indifferent son asked. “We have no grudges. It’s not too late to release us now.” Ning Jidong thought his son was right, but kidnappers rarely reasoned. “Village Chief Zhou,” he said calmly, persuasively, “I advise you to reconsider and release us. I promise I won’t pursue this matter afterward. If you want money, power, or anything else, we can negotiate. But if you don’t let us go...” Ning Jidong’s voice turned cold, “The Ning Group is no pushover.”

The Ning Group was the industry leader in City A. As its chairman, Ning Jidong naturally suspected this was no simple kidnapping but rather the work of hidden powers. That meant betrayal and rebellion were possible. Zhou Shan’s expression remained unchanged; he sneered, “We’ll talk when you’re out.”

“Village Chief…” Chu Mingxiu looked on with a low, cold voice, “Are we supposed to stay here with them?” Zhou Shan replied, “What, you don’t want to?” Chu Mingxiu’s eyes darkened briefly, not out of disdain but because he had a strange premonition—something ominous was bound to happen here.

[Haha, no choice, after all, this is a dungeon room...]
[Hey, look! Great God Liang Ye is missing... Ah, why is he running back?!]
[Really? What’s going on? Maybe he’s going back to find the little beauty...?]
[No way! Everyone knows Liang Ye’s brain is missing a few screws when it comes to romance—he’s hardly interested in women...]

The “unromantic” and “simple-minded” Liang Ye slipped quietly back to the girl’s room. “Huh...?” Zhou Zhou was confused. Why had he come back? The girl looked almost lost and helpless, bewildered and defenseless, appearing very easy to bully.

Liang Ye felt a bit restless. Suppressing the strange feelings, he looked at the girl and whispered softly, “Your name is Zhou Zhou? Why do you look so dazed...” “I’m not!” Zhou Zhou glared, feeling indignant. Who said she was dazed? She was trying hard not to be, but her character was just like this—what else could she do?

Liang Ye asked, “Can’t speak?” His tone was mild, but the girl’s eyes immediately reddened, tears welling up. “...You’re mean... why are you being mean to me...” Zhou Zhou’s ears flushed with shame, her face still innocent yet filled with tears.

“Wuwu...” Though outwardly aggrieved, inside a proud little voice nodded eagerly for praise.

[022, is this okay...?]
The system genuinely praised her:
“Yes, very good. Very true to the character.”

Zhou Zhou blushed, embarrassed, secretly asking in her heart, [Really?]
[Yes, really.] The system’s voice affirmed her. Zhou Zhou felt happy.

Liang Ye, however, was uncharacteristically stunned. Ah... really? She cried so easily? He felt he hadn’t said anything harsh. Just a casual remark—and yet it made her cry? He hadn’t meant to make her cry. Are girls really all this sensitive? Liang Ye couldn’t figure it out.

Forget it. Why bother with a little fool? She was already so pitiful.

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This dummy loves sweets, right? After a moment’s thought, the young man rummaged in his pocket and pulled something out.

“Hey, little dummy, don’t cry anymore.”
He coaxed, “...Want some chocolate? If you want it, just listen to big brother.”

Liang Ye’s tone was like coaxing a child, but his words were clearly deceptive. Zhou Zhou wasn’t very bright and didn’t need such tricks. “Little dummy” Zhou Zhou was speechless but eventually took it. She tore open the wrapper and, with pale fingers, pinched the chocolate and put it in her mouth.

“Wow, so sweet...” She closed her eyes happily, like a cat. Her pale pink lips parted slightly. Liang Ye felt a sharp pang in his heart. So cute—he wanted to pinch her.

“If you like it...” Liang Ye’s eyes involuntarily traced her alluring, slightly full lips. He asked casually, “Big brother wants to know, where does the village chief usually go?”

“Village chief big brother...?”
“I-I don’t know...” She had just entered this dungeon herself and knew little.

The little fool mumbled with chocolate in her mouth, speaking unclearly. Her soft lips glistened with a hint of moisture. Liang Ye’s heart fluttered again. His voice grew hoarse, “...Really?”
“...Really...” The girl’s voice was like a kitten’s. Liang Ye’s gaze deepened. His normally cold and arrogant eyes softened with gentle teasing. “Forget it, I won’t ask you anymore...”

He slowly pulled out several strawberry-flavored chocolate balls from his pocket. With a wicked smile, he peeled one and, under the girl’s longing eyes, shamelessly popped it into his own mouth.

“Chocolate...” The girl stared at Liang Ye’s pale, thin lips, voice soft and pitiful. “You like it that much?”
“Yeah... I like sweets...” Zhou Zhou thought: actually, not that much. The system told her “she” loved sweet things. Poor her, having to pretend to be such a fool for the sake of the character.

“Want some?” He saw her nod and assumed he would give her some. Liang Ye smiled. The boy’s arm circled the girl’s slender waist lightly. So soft, it seemed fragile enough to snap with a pinch. It made one wonder—how tiny was that waist?

Her fair, delicate face bore reddened eyes. Her sharp chin rested against his lean, muscular chest, causing him an uncontrollable gasp. The boy’s skin gleamed with sweat; strands of silver hair on his forehead were damp.

“If you want it, come and get it.” He parted his lips slightly; the chocolate, not yet melted, pressed between his sharp, pale teeth. He clearly meant for her to take it from his mouth.

[Do I continue?] Zhou Zhou felt she had encountered a pervert. [He’s so disgusting.]
System: [Yes... a bit.]

Indeed, it was a bit disgusting. Even 022 had not expected the famed “Ghost” Liang Ye to be this kind of person. Zhou Zhou hesitated but decided to reach out.

Her soft, delicate fingertips glowed a faint pink, like cherry blossoms touched by dew. Liang Ye gently caught her hand, stopping her movement.

“Don’t use your hands, use your mouth.”