Chapter 246

In the bowl, the clear liquor soaked an eyeball, which slowly rose and fell.

The liquor is full of good things; drink up quickly.

Grandma poured herself a bowl, gulped it down happily, and even started chewing on that eyeball, making a grating squeak that set one's teeth on edge.

Baiyi retched and quickly covered his mouth.

It's... so disgusting!

For a moment, no one moved those bowls.

On the contrary, Nanyu stepped forward interestedly, picked up a bowl, sniffed it carefully, dipped a fingertip in the liquor, and tasted it on his tongue.

It's no different from ordinary liquor.

He muttered, poked the pale eyeball again, felt its strange texture, and held the bowl up to Jin Chen.

You try it first.

Jin Chen took it, lowered his gaze, and said, "Let me test for poison?"

Come on, drink up, hurry up! Nanyu urged excitedly, seemingly hoping to see a hint of fear and resistance on Jin Chen's face.

But it was obvious he would be disappointed again.

Jin Chen drank the liquor without changing his expression.

He could sense that the liquor contained some kind of detoxifying agent, possibly related to the later task.

As for the eyeball,

Jin Chen left it in the bowl and didn't eat it.

Grandma only said to drink the liquor.

Nanyu pouted, as if regretting they hadn't managed to tease him, then picked a bowl and drank the liquor, rubbing their belly in satisfaction.

The remaining five exchanged glances, had no alternative, and forced themselves to finish the drink.

"The liquor, the thing in the liquor—drink it."

Seeing that each person's bowl still contained an eyeball, the old woman angrily set down her own bowl, her expression suddenly turning stern.

"What's in the liquor?" Nanyu tilted their head, flung the empty bowl to the ground, crushed the eyeball with the tip of their foot, looking innocent, "What is it?"

Old woman: "......"

She was furious, but ultimately didn't say much more, letting out a huff.

"Since you've come to Qing Shan Stronghold, you must abide by its rules."

The elderly voice spoke slowly, "Tonight at dusk is the funeral of Awa the Fourth; you must attend, and also exchange for the Colorful Whip here—no entry without it!"

Seeing the NPC finally bring up the quest topic, Zhoucheng hurriedly asked, "Just tell us what we need to do."

"You four..." the old woman pointed at Jin Chen, Nanyu, Zhoucheng, and Hexian, her tone flat, her arm stiffly extended.

"Go fetch a Snake Gallbladder; I need to put it in the liquor. The snake is behind the dense forest path at the mountain's summit."

Her arm then pointed to Zhaoling and the other two, "You three, go find Mugwort, outside that mountain summit."

The mountain the old woman referred to lies behind the liquor shop; even in broad daylight it looks extremely gloomy and dark.

"Remember..." the old woman suddenly flashed a weird smile, her teeth stark white, "Don't get entangled by other strange things, or you won't be able to get out."

"Oh wow, such a tall mountain."

Nanyu looked up and sighed a little.

Everyone set off immediately.

——

The mountains were intensely cold and yin.

Just stepping inside made their whole bodies feel cold; the seven of them were still walking together as they went up the mountain.

After walking for about ten minutes, Baiyi shivered, hugging themselves.

"How... how is this place... even colder than at night!"

He sneezed.

"Look over there!"

Zhousan, having recovered, exclaimed and pointed to the side of the small path.

All that could be seen were several statues, some lying, some reclining, in various poses, the only similarity being their identical weeping, tear-streaked faces.

Unlike the ones in their cabinet, these statues were all female figures.

Suddenly appearing in this old, dark, gloomy forest, they looked even more terrifying.

Jin Chen glanced over and suddenly heard the voice of 0731.

【Congratulations, Host, you have triggered a key plot clue; the original plot for this segment is as follows:

After entering the mountain forest, Hexian, feeling cold, requested to rest on the spot to warm up, inadvertently triggering the female statues' attack; Baiyi was killed, and the flowing blood sacrificed to the ghost formation beneath your feet; Nanyu tried to stop the formation, was severely wounded and fell unconscious, and upon waking became the sacrifice in the coffin……

0731 didn't mention the later plot, after explaining said "good luck" and quickly hid.

"What are you thinking?"

Seeing Jin Chen staring blankly at the female statues, Nanyu narrowed their eyes dangerously, "This person has a secret."

"Wondering if this thing might be triggered to attack."

Jin Chen took his arm and stepped back a few steps, then heard Hexian speak.

"Zhoucheng brother... it's really cold here, everyone's freezing; let's make a fire to warm up before we continue onward."

Hexian's delicate face turned slightly pale, they clung to Zhoucheng's arm like a spoiled child, shaking it, their faintly glowing eyes locking with his.

"Alright, let's rest first."

Zhoucheng nodded, hugging him affectionately.

"Uh... but we've only walked less than twenty minutes." Zhaoling glanced at their watch, face full of speechlessness, "How about we just keep walking?"

"But Zhaoling, everyone is tired." Hexian shook his head in disagreement.

Zhaoling: "……"

Who is tired? Looks like you're the most tired right now, isn't it?

Jin Chen took Nanyu's hand and continued upward, sneering.

"Even though you know this statue is weird, and grandma warned you, you deliberately chose to rest here—what a rare brain circuit."

Baiyi and Zhaoling exchanged a glance; since someone had taken the lead, they didn't want to stay behind—just in case something happened, it was better to go up.

"How can you be like this? Aren't we partners!"

Hexian couldn't stand their cold attitude, stepped forward a few steps wanting to confront them, but suddenly stepped on a protruding bone.

He let out a cry, was flung by an immensely powerful force, dizzy and fell into Zhoucheng's arms.

In an instant, a visible barrier enveloped everyone.

Jin Chen: "……"

【……Host, it seems you still have to face it.】

0731 is also speechless.

"Oh dear, you look so unhappy."

Nanyu poked Jin Chen's shoulder, secretly urging, "Why don't you kill him? I support you!"

"The statue! The statue moved!"

Zhousan shouted loudly, panicking and trying to flee backward, but there was no way out.

Only saw the stone fragments on the two statues crumble and fall, revealing a ghastly pale face, as if fished out of water, with foul-smelling damp hair clinging to their bodies, eyes completely black, they let out a sharp scream.

"It's all your fault!" Zhousan angrily scolded Hexian.

"I didn't mean to… it's not my fault; if, if you hadn't gone, I wouldn't have triggered it."

Hexian's tears came out instantly, wronged and leaning against Zhoucheng's chest.

The statue responded to the sound, its sharp nails grew enormously, and it lunged at everyone.

"Watch out!"

Zhaoling shouted, immediately took out his paintbrush, drew a blade out of thin air, and held it in hand for defense.

"Spirit-Shadow Movement, Spirit Communication Confinement!"

When Baiyi uttered the Spirit Communication Incantation, his speech became extraordinarily eloquent, his hands formed seals, yet he realized that within this barrier he could not use the incantation at all.

He turned pale with fright, staring helplessly as the statue lunged toward him.