Chapter 161: Total Solar Eclipse, David Arrives, Fear of Clusters

Fat-reducing worm, heretic of the Slant Sect.

This Mr. Jeff has wide connections; now, he's left himself two things—neither clearly dangerous nor clearly advantageous.

The fat-reducing worm is tomorrow's matter, and the heretics are also happening within these two days, but Louis deeply doubts whether a cult that needs someone like Jeff to supply human bodies could possibly have enough power to find him.

Unless they truly control some mysterious force.

Louis thought about it and decided it was just a matter of blocking water with earth—just be more careful and vigilant.

Actually, he wanted to take the initiative, but who could blame him? Jeff was such a useless fool he didn't even know where they were—he just left people at fixed locations—and yet he dared supply them with human bodies. No wonder his goddess didn't like him.

As Louis was thinking, Haley walked over. "Done. All traces erased."

"Then let's go celebrate with a big meal?"

"Of course, but first I need to call the school. This is my twelfth day of skipping class—if it weren't for the biology teacher covering for me, I'd already have been called home."

"Oh? Going to school? Haley, have you ever considered transferring?"

"No, I just want a quiet life. Sure, my classmates are stupid, but I've already gotten used to this place."

"Alright then."

The two of them, with Jiali, slowly returned to Haley's house.

Haley asked not a single word about Jeff's matters. Louis understood her mindset—not everyone enjoys excitement and mystery.

Then it was a pity.

Evening. The living room.

Dinner was indeed lavish. Though Haley wasn't a good cook, she had money—she just ordered from a nearby restaurant and had it delivered.

The three ate while watching TV.

An advertisement suddenly interrupted, announcing that a total solar eclipse would occur tomorrow and urging viewers to prepare for viewing.

This caught Louis's attention. A total solar eclipse—this too was a celestial phenomenon; in ancient times, it was called "the heavenly dog devouring the sun," usually an omen of misfortune.

Could it serve as a celestial sign for the Ascension Ritual?

Louis thought it wouldn't work—it was too weak. After all, it targeted only the sun. Better wait for the millennium.

After dinner.

Louis called David, but was told he hadn't finished yet—he'd give Louis a surprise.

After hanging up, Louis sighed. He hadn't expected David to avoid the horror plot entirely. Looks like all those things I encountered on the trip were my own fault—the Transference Curse.

Damn Transference Curse. Is this what they call dynamic balance?

Ugh. Transference Curse. Not even dogs use it.

Hanging up, Louis noticed Haley frowning at her phone, speaking in a stern tone—something about being called to school?

Louis didn't pay much attention. After all, going to school was what students were supposed to do.

"Louis, aren't you a student too? Did you take a long leave?" Haley asked after hanging up.

???

Did he?

He couldn't quite remember. Probably did.

……

Elsewhere.

After hanging up, David received another call. "Hello?"

"Oh, Teacher? Louis?"

"Ah, he didn't take leave?"

"Sorry, I'll scold him when I get back."

"Mm-hmm, I'll attend the PTA."

After hanging up, David rubbed his head. "That Louis—he forgets even this? We'll see how his grades turn out. If they drop, hmm."

Though he said that, David was smiling. That kid Louis—making such a silly mistake.

The merchant beside him raised his glass. "David? What's got you so happy?"

"Oh, nothing. Just my kid's school business."

"Hah! Let kids play around with school—they learn real knowledge in college anyway. I never bothered mine. He's having a blast at Calabasas High."

David didn't agree, but didn't argue. He changed the subject. "Shall we head straight to the Sloan Skin & Body Center tomorrow?"

"Yes. My inside source says—if we get even one or two samples, we'll make a fortune."

"Then, good luck."

"Good luck."

Clink!

The red wine swirled, reflecting the white lights twisting.

……

The next day.

Early morning, Haley left with a grim face—off to endure the torment of school.

Louis and Jiali didn't leave until just after nine.

"Sloan Skin & Body Center, a subsidiary of Xire Company. Found it. This way."

Soon, the car stopped. Louis and Jiali walked inside. Jiali glanced at the people at the entrance holding invitation cards, then at her own empty hands, then at Louis.

But Louis walked forward without a flicker of hesitation.

Could Louis know someone here? Of course—he came from a wealthy family. Wealthy people understand each other…

Before she finished thinking, Louis led her past the guard—and the guard acted as if they weren't there at all, eyes straight ahead, utterly oblivious.

Jiali glanced at Louis. He patted her shoulder. "Keep walking."

With magic power enhancing the Concealment Technique, he could lower others' awareness of their presence.

Soon, they reached the fifth floor.

Many people were already there—reporters, staff, and outsiders—but not a single fat person among the staff—all were slender, well-toned.

Onstage, a handsome man, Dr. Sloan, stood beside a very fat man, speaking. The fat man was unmistakably obese—easily over two hundred pounds by sight.

Beside them, something covered in a white cloth lay on a table.

Louis and Jiali stood to the side, observing. Louis activated the Spirit Sight Technique, scanning the room. His expression subtly changed—he detected an abnormal soul fluctuation on Dr. Sloan.

As if something had been mixed into his soul.

Soon, the event began. Staff started closing the doors.

At that moment, two people rushed in, barely making it before the doors shut.

"Pant… pant…"

"That was too close. Next time, never drink so much again."

"Enough. Hurry up. Get ready—the show's about to start."

David and his companion quickly adjusted their ties and walked calmly into the crowd.

In the corner.

"Louis, it's Uncle David!"

"Mm. I see." Louis stared intently at David, his gaze weary.

Louis now knew for certain—this televised weight-loss drug event would go wrong.

Why? Because David was here. The confirmation had arrived.

Wait—was this the surprise David mentioned?

Suddenly flying from Los Angeles to attend a horror event just to confirm this place was dangerous?

Last night I thought all those things you encountered were my fault. Now it seems…

Hmm. Hard to say.

This time, I didn't use the Transference Curse. We're in different cities. Yet here you are. So your bizarre luck is your own damn fault—not mine!

By the way—if I ever need more monsters, should I just drag David out on trips again? Like this one…

Louis's mind wandered as his feet moved closer to David.

At that moment—

The show began.

First, a lame joke. Then, a live connection to the TV station. "Oh, confirmed—today is the total solar eclipse. Of course, it has no effect on the human body."

"So it affects animals, then?"

"Yes. Especially insects and small animals—they become agitated."

"Oh～～ I don't understand at all! Hahaha!"

But below, Louis understood. He'd already predicted what would come next.

The total solar eclipse would agitate the special fat-reducing worms, causing them to burst from human bodies and become monsters. Yes—that's exactly how it would unfold.

Very American horror.

Then…

Louis grabbed David and pulled him backward.

"Louis?" David startled—before he could even shout, he realized it was Louis gripping him.

Seeing Louis's expression, David instantly understood. His face turned green. "Something's going to happen again?"

When Louis didn't deny it, David fell silent and obediently followed Louis all the way to the corner.

At this moment.

"Humans have always cared deeply about their appearance, but…" Dr. Sloan delivered an impassioned speech, his demeanor electric.

"Our drugs have all been inspected by the Yaoguan Bureau. Of course, this drug may surprise some of you, but I want to say: do not panic. Just as celebrities use beef tapeworms to digest nutrients in their bodies, this is entirely usable for weight loss."

No more expensive drugs! No more tedious procedures! No more painful dieting!

Just one—

"Oh!"

"I—I—I think something's in my eyes?!" the slender staff member suddenly screamed. Inside her eyes, an extremely thin fat-sucking worm, no thicker than a chopstick, writhed desperately.

Sensing the host's disturbance, it violently opened its three-lobed mouth and burst out of her eyeball.

As the eyeball ruptured, a flood of juvenile fat-sucking worms exploded outward through the opening—her head burst apart under the pressure.

Boom!

Blood mixed with juveniles and flesh fragments sprayed everywhere like red bean porridge.

"AAAAAAHHHH!!!"

After a brief silence, piercing screams erupted.

The entire scene instantly descended into chaos.

Everyone clutched their stomachs, as if something inside them churned and scurried like headless flies.

Then came one explosion after another.

Vast amounts of red bean porridge splattered across the floor. Countless tiny fat-sucking worms writhed on the ground, opening and closing their three-lobed, toothed mouths. One glance filled the onlookers with inexplicable dread.

(End of Chapter)