[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-becoming-a-god-through-horror":3,"chapter-becoming-a-god-through-horror-becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-2":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Becoming a God Through Horror",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2273545,4441,"Chapter 2: Side Paths and Left Ways","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-2",2,"\u003Cp>Louis snatched the book and examined it closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mary looked at him with a pout, huffed, then turned to Emma beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma slightly furrowed her brow, waved to summon Mary over, and began a friendly conversation to comfort her, her peripheral vision always fixed on Louis—yet she noticed nothing unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she failed to notice that the girl across from her, whose expression had returned to coldness, was also secretly observing her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis stared at the book in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Chinese characters—simplified Chinese—and the texture felt real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this is my transmigration cheat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis flipped through it eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the dense ancient script at the opening twisted and warped into simplified Chinese in an instant…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five thousand years of civilization, passed down through endless generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since ancient times, countless cultivation methods have declined, been replaced, and vanished—but birds leave echoes, people leave traces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They never fully disappeared; instead, they seeped into the folk through various means, becoming strange customs, local folk techniques, secret arts of fringe trades, and even mysterious professions… Yin-Yang Masters, Old Mute, Witch Doctors, Corpse Fetchers, Carpenters…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most possessed only techniques without true doctrine, relying on just one or two unorthodox spells. Even the few who did possess true doctrine were not of the orthodox Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hence, collectively called: Side Paths and Left Ways!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The author of this Left Way Folk Codex intended it as his legacy and proof of his path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He compiled most folk techniques from ancient times to the present on that land, refined and annotated them, and even added some ancient Left Way spells as its core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its characteristics: eclectic, unorthodox, easy to learn but hard to master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the author… four characters were written in the corner of the first page—Left Way Divine Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning to the second page, it was a table of contents, divided into two major sections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was the General Side Path section, with four subsections beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Folk Folk Techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Folk Strange Arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thieves, Beggars, Prostitutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao-Dai Witchcraft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was the General Left Way section, with no subsections listed after it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning to the third page, it was the Folk Folk Techniques section of the General Side Path, listing several folk methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Folk Folk Techniques were mostly odd customs: rolling eggs to expel illness, striking ghosts with willow branches, carrying killing blades for protection, yang energy to break evil (child’s urine, saliva, middle finger blood), loud cursing (stirring essence, spirit, and vigor to drive away weak spirits), using filth to repel evil…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most were easy to source and simple to apply, patterns accumulated over generations through daily life, or influenced by minor Taoist or Buddhist knowledge. But such simplified methods… their effectiveness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Killing blade for protection, loud cursing, willow branch to strike ghosts, blood iron latch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What use are these?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Am I supposed to use them against a witch?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you kidding? She’s not a ghost!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this is overseas—will these folk methods even work here?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the Folk Folk Techniques section is only for safeguarding homes and thriving in rural areas—useless when real trouble strikes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis was about to turn the next page, but the paper stuck like glue, refusing to budge—and a sudden clarity arose in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a legacy book, progress must be gradual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either master everything fully to unlock the next page automatically, or kill a demonic entity or powerful cultivator—this serves as a blood offering to the magic treasure and proves your strength, qualifying you for higher-level inheritance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis glanced at his small arms and legs, then at the enclosed space, and decisively abandoned the second method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A blade that has killed for over ten years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Emotion must be dominated by rage—the cruder the curses, the better; the louder the voice, the better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Willow branches grown in dark, sunless places, soaked in saltwater before use—more effective when paired with loud cursing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Find an iron sliver two inches long and the thickness of a pinky, cut your pinky once to let blood drip into the lock, silently recite the name of Master Lu Ban, and it will be complete in three days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seems only the second one can be practiced and used immediately?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the fourth… lockpicking…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap-tap-tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clear, loud footsteps echoed down the corridor, followed by repeated sounds of doors opening and closing, and people coming and going.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis knew—mealtime had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Correct. Though they’d been kidnapped, their captors had consistently provided food and drink, never forced them to work, and even occasionally let them walk in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A normal trafficking family wouldn’t do this—no trust, and they’d paid money to extract value. But if this witch had other motives, it made perfect sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the noise, Mary—who had just seemed slightly lively—paled instantly, shrank back, fell silent, while Emma, ever smiling, showed no change in expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the cold girl, her eyes shifted, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, the footsteps reached their door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nuel entered carrying a tray, glanced coldly at the four of them, and placed down four meals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four meals differed greatly: Louis and the cold girl received only mashed potatoes, three thin slices of ham, and a cup of water; Emma and Mary’s meals were entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soft white bread spread with blueberry jam, a spiced fried chicken leg, and a glass of milk—food fit for children of the wealthy class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why such differential treatment…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eat! Quickly! Don’t make me wait—or I won’t mind adding a few more pretty marks to your face!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nuel raised his palm menacingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mary flinched, ate timidly, while Emma stared directly at him. “Brother Nuel, does Lady prefer that combination?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nuel’s expression shifted slightly. “Hmm. Acceptable. You’re still somewhat useful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two began chatting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Louis ate quietly, listening to their conversation—no surprise at Emma’s flattery of Nuel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Emma and Mary, the two companions he’d met on the trafficking cart, weren’t ordinary children—or rather, none of the kidnapped kids here were ordinary!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each had some degree of cleverness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mary was the youngest, only five, but a learning prodigy—the Portuguese she’d just spoken proved it. Even if she’d only learned fragments temporarily, that was extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emma, a year older than him at seven… but this girl was sinister, skilled at disguise and observation. He’d only realized this after re-examining their interactions since regaining his memories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the cold girl, she’d always been deeply wary, refusing even to reveal her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, he felt a strange unease—Emma seemed familiar, but he couldn’t recall where he’d seen her before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clever, slightly dark, skilled at disguise, beautiful girl…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he thought, the more familiar she felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mashed potatoes were mediocre—boiled in plain water, mashed, and sprinkled with salt. The ham slices were overcooked, dry and salty, utterly tasteless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Louis ate every bite, placed his utensils neatly, and set them aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nuel seemed genuinely pleased, even smiling slightly. He collected the trays and left, but before departing, he shot Mary a cold glare that turned her face white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1179,"2026-06-19T23:34:28.869Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9e7f8d55833aa8771481c528417dc5734d8321323a85563097e5a17b9bdcdf62","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-3","becoming-a-god-through-horror-chapter-1",253,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbecoming-a-god-through-horror-cover.jpg"]