Chapter 4: The Eerie Village

Fortunately, after this one broke free from the Ghost Mourning Clothes, it had no intention of attacking Zhang Hao and Dried Corpse Bride.

Accompanied by dense darkness, the faceless Fierce Ghost quickly vanished by the Highway, leaving only Zhang Hao and Dried Corpse Bride.

"What should we do next?"

Zhang Hao looked at Dried Corpse Bride.

Perhaps because it no longer had a target, Zhang Hao felt his own freedom was much greater than before.

Dried Corpse Bride is not forcibly controlling Zhang Hao's body now, but when Zhang Hao moves away from her, he instinctively feels uneasy.

Zhang Hao guessed that if he stayed away from Dried Corpse Bride for a long time, he might fall into some undesirable condition.

Just like Wang Shanshan, after becoming Yang Jian's Ghost Slave, she instinctively wants to see Yang Jian.

When Zhang Hao looked at Dried Corpse Bride, her face, covered by a Red Cap, also turned.

Even though the Red Cap separated them, Zhang Hao could truly feel her gaze upon him.

While Zhang Hao was a bit bewildered, Dried Corpse Bride stepped forward.

Seeing this, Zhang Hao hurriedly followed her.

Although he didn't know where Dried Corpse Bride intended to go, having a destination was better for Zhang Hao than staying in this Ghost place.

Given Dried Corpse Bride's current strength, Zhang Hao thought it would actually be best to enter the Reality World.

Whether embroidered shoes or ghost paintings, they must be in the Reality World to be found.

Even a ghost chef, which might be a Ghost of Dried Corpse Bride's Puzzle, also exists in the Reality World.

As for what impact Dried Corpse Bride's entry into the Reality World would cause, that is not within Zhang Hao's considerations.

He is now Dried Corpse Bride's Ghost Slave; whether in mindset or anything else, he instinctively prioritizes Dried Corpse Bride's interests.

Unless, someday, he can manage not to be forcibly controlled by Dried Corpse Bride, cutting off this spiritual influence.

At that time, Zhang Hao might finally shed this Fierce Ghost‑like mindset.

"Speaking of it, given Dried Corpse Bride's strength, the Spiritual Realm she will encounter in the future will become increasingly terrifying."

"Moreover, Zhang Xianguang and his group will try to capture Dried Corpse Bride, so I need to boost my own Combat Power."

"Whether to prevent Dried Corpse Bride from being seized by Zhang Xianguang and others for He Yuelian to wield, or to avoid my own death, both are necessary."

Following Dried Corpse Bride for a long while, Zhang Hao began contemplating future developments.

Having mastered the Ghost Mourning Clothes, its Puzzle surprisingly bears a Ghost Crying Face.

He needs to go to the Reality World to retrieve the Ghost Crying Face.

And Dried Corpse Bride also needs to go to the Reality World to take that pair of embroidered shoes.

Because he is a Ghost Slave, after mastering the Ghost Mourning Clothes, Zhang Hao doesn't need to slowly test its abilities like an ordinary person.

Once successfully mastered, he instinctively knows how to use this garment's spiritual powers.

According to Zhang Hao's understanding, the Ghost Mourning Clothes' ability is roughly Kneeling Death.

Those who kneel before Zhang Hao will die, and those who kneel around him will also die.

Moreover, beyond that, as long as Zhang Hao kneels, the people nearby will be compelled by the garment to start kneeling as well.

Although the techniques he employs lack flair, the ability is still very strong.

However, the current Zhang Hao doesn't care about such flair.

His emotions now barely fluctuate, which is why he was previously able to calmly strip the Ghost Mourning Clothes from a Crying Tomb Ghost.

If it were an ordinary person, who would dare to take a Ghost's clothing off the first time they encountered such a scene?

While Zhang Hao was pondering, he followed Dried Corpse Bride to a Village. The Village's style was very old, like the Old Mansions of rural villages from the last century.

The muddy Road was pitted with holes, apparently from recent rain, and each depression held a puddle of water.

Around the Road, thorny fences intermittently enclosed patches of vegetable gardens.

"Village?"

Zhang Hao was somewhat puzzled; he looked left and right, and aside from its retro style, the Village didn't seem like a Spiritual Realm.

However, in such a place, having a Village like this feels inherently abnormal just to look at.

Zhang Hao looked toward the Village at the end of the muddy road.

The Village's buildings were mostly fence walls, with earth‑yellow or dark‑black facades, and just looking at them evoked an old‑aged atmosphere.

As Zhang Hao and Dried Corpse Bride approached, movement quickly arose within the Village.

A woman in plain cloth stepped out from the nearest house.

"Are you people coming from outside the Village?"

The woman curiously glanced at Dried Corpse Bride beside Zhang Hao; although such a bride outfit should be eye‑catching, she seemed to pay no attention at all.

After that glance, her gaze shifted to Zhang Hao.

Those eyes stared at Zhang Hao like a wolf seeing meat, burning with desire.

Just being stared at, Zhang Hao could feel the unabashed heat in her eyes.

Clearly Zhang Hao wore a set of Funeral Clothes, his complexion pallid, looking very eerie.

On the other side, Dried Corpse Bride needed no further description; from afar she looked like a newly emerged bride.

But up close, one could see Dried Corpse Bride's dark‑brown, gaunt, yellowed arms.

Even moving nearer, one could smell a rotting meat odor emanating from her.

If any normal person saw this youth in Funeral Clothes, pallid and bloodless,

with a bride whose palm was withered by his side, they would instinctively be frightened.

But the woman, instead of being scared, leaned in even more.

"Are you fleeing disaster? Would you like to rest a night in the Village?"

"Is this your wife? Walking in wedding attire isn't easy."

Upon hearing that, Zhang Hao glanced at the bride beside him.

The bride had no intention of attacking that woman, nor did she control Zhang Hao's body.

After a brief thought, Zhang Hao nodded.

"Alright, we'll rest in the Village for one night."

Although the Village looked quite ordinary, Zhang Hao felt this place should be a Spiritual Realm.

It's just that some supernatural influence prevents him from seeing through it.

Since the bride brought him here, perhaps something she needs exists here.

Or perhaps there is a way to reach reality here, or something that can enhance Zhang Hao.

After all, with Zhang Hao present, the Dried Corpse Bride can clearly understand from him what actions would benefit her.

Although she still lacks intelligence, she will not, like an ordinary Fierce Ghost, wander aimlessly triggering the Killing Rule.

(End of Chapter)