Chapter 253

Night.

In the sky, a river of stars stretched across, moonless, cloudless, windless.

Only the sounds of various insects chirping.

In a sheltered spot stood a modern three-story cottage, beside which several fine horses were tethered, occasionally letting out a loud snort.

This modern cottage seemed somewhat out of place against the entire scene.

A faint light leaked from the window, casting outward, yet it transformed into an eerie darkness, enveloping the cottage and rendering it hazy and indistinct.

In the living room on the first floor, Jin Gang laughed and said: "I never expected the Master to have such fine equipment; no need to suffer the hardship of wind and dew lodging."

Gods and demons traveling to complete missions in task worlds, enduring wind and dew lodging is commonplace.

We have all come through countless crises; sleeping outdoors in clothes is certainly not unacceptable, but to have such lodging is naturally a good thing.

In the Bei Yuan region, it is not like the Great You, where they could find inns or the like to rest.

"This is actually a haunted house." Tang Luo said with a smile, "When you two rest tonight, if there are any disturbances, do not panic."

This house, of course, can serve as a 'tent'—a cursed house.

Though it now appears empty, inside are all manner of evil ghosts and vengeful spirits; if an ordinary person entered, they would be torn to shreds upon setting foot.

Jin Gang and Tang Yu Han are guests invited by Tang Luo, so naturally they will not be attacked by those ghostly entities.

But after all, two living people moving about inside the house, the ghostly entities occasionally reacting is a perfectly normal occurrence.

The ghostly entities within the cursed house are muddled and confused; only Chuan Shang Jiang Zi possesses any semblance of spiritual awareness.

"I know, I know." Jin Gang nodded in agreement, stood up, and said, "Then I'll go rest first." Saying so, he went to the adjacent study.

The cursed house actually amounts to two and a half stories; the third level is a sloped attic or similar, filled with piles of useless junk.

The second floor has two bedrooms: the master bedroom and the guest bedroom; additionally, the first-floor study has a small bed where one can rest for a while.

Jin Gang chose the first-floor study, being very gentlemanly—or very cleverly—yielding the second floor to Tang Yu Han.

Regardless of whether Master Xuanzang and this beautiful young woman will develop something, he certainly cannot afford to be an annoying lightbulb.

Even without that small bed, sleeping on the ground is not a big deal.

After Jin Gang left, Tang Yu Han looked at Tang Luo and said: "Master, regarding my issue from today's daytime, is there any way to resolve it?"

Since we are speaking among our own people, there's no need for stiff formality—just speak as comfortably as possible.

The issue Tang Yu Han mentioned is that during combat, she sometimes finds herself unable to control her bloodthirsty, slaughterous desires.

Put in advertising slogan terms, it's like "just can't stop."

Describing it this way may be somewhat exaggerated; Tang Yu Han does not truly lose control, but it is indeed not easy to stop.

Tang Luo said: "If there truly is a problem, resolving it should not be difficult; I, the poor monk, will grant you an empowerment, and it should be fine."

"Trouble the Master, then." Tang Yu Han said, "These are the healing items the Master requires."

Yet he directly produced a small transparent bottle, inside which swam a liquid like a clear spring, though no one knows what it is.

But since Tang Yu Han could produce it directly, it is likely a good thing.

Tang Luo also did not stand on ceremony, directly taking it in: "Lady Bodhisattva, please sit properly; the poor monk will now empower you."

"... Very well." Tang Yu Han sat upright, and saw Tang Luo raise his hand, a beam of light falling upon her, her entire body instantly feeling as if immersed in a hot spring.

Utterly relaxed, light as if about to become an immortal, for a moment she nearly could not help but utter a sound of comfort.

Fortunately, although Tang Yu Han struggles to control her killing urge, in other aspects she is still quite capable of restraining herself.

"Ah, I see." Tang Luo observed Tang Yu Han's body, a surge of blood energy rising, which under the empowerment dissolved like snow and ice, and said: "Lady Bodhisattva, you likely possess an ability similar to absorbing human blood and qi?"

Tang Yu Han nodded slightly.

She has a passive skill named "Blood Oath," already reaching the third level or higher in the state of complete integration and penetration.

It can coat her weapon or herself with a layer of blood qi, enhancing killing power during attacks, and most importantly, it can absorb the enemy's blood and life force.

Against the weak, merely breaking a wound is enough to take the opponent's life.

The absorbed blood and qi can also be transformed for one's own use, applied to healing wounds.

"That makes sense," Tang Luo said, "absorbing too much mixed blood and qi, causing blood qi to surge, there must naturally be an outlet for release."

"Is that really the cause?" Tang Yu Han blinked in surprise.

"Yes." Tang Luo said, "The poor monk today empowering the Lady Bodhisattva with Buddhist law is like pouring oil on fire; at this moment, wanting to release, being unable to stop is perfectly normal."

The Spartan War Cry inherently stimulates power, and combined with Tang Yu Han's condition, makes it difficult to cease.

Using a metaphor, it's like originally really wanting to let one out to relieve tension, holding it in with great difficulty, and then Tang Luo suddenly handed over a copy of 'Liu Bei'—how could one possibly stop?

Tang Luo's earlier empowerment, however, expelled all impurities from the accumulated blood and qi within Tang Yu Han, leaving only the purest, harmless portion.

It is akin to refining through repeated forging, turning iron into steel.

Tang Yu Han set down her burden, naturally feeling utterly refreshed; not only that, her strength will also increase somewhat—of course, not overnight, but gradually becoming apparent.

"Then, Master, do you have a solution?" Tang Yu Han asked.

The Blood Oath is Tang Yu Han's extremely important means of offense and attack; she certainly will not abandon it due to a minor flaw.

"What needs solving?" Tang Luo laughed, "It's merely human nature."

Even if blood and qi accumulate, in reality there is no real hindrance.

This matter is like having the urge to release—it's a normal phenomenon.

Upon external stimulation or having a channel, letting it flow naturally is fine, as long as one does not become addicted; moderation is key.

Moreover, if injured, the accumulated blood and qi used for healing will be naturally consumed, so it cannot even be considered a problem.

From this, one can see Tang Yu Han's strength is quite extraordinary; she likely has not suffered any serious injury for some time, leading to excessive consumption of blood and qi.

Hence, she has been holding it in.

"But..." Tang Yu Han hesitated for a moment, then said: "Actually, I myself also enjoy this killing to some extent."

"It is not mere release, but inner pleasure."

Saying that, Tang Yuhan's face showed a strange smile: "Sometimes, hearing the enemy's screams, seeing them fall, the blood flowing out, I would feel..."

"Just a sadist, right?" Tang Luo said.

Sadistic personality, no wonder she has the nickname Blood Queen; speaking of which, in the real world, Tang Yuhan is also a decisive and strong-willed female powerhouse, a domineering older sister type.

"In terms of personality, it's not something this poor monk can resolve." Tang Luo said, "Unless this poor monk spiritually transforms the female bodhisattva."

"Spiritual transformation?" Tang Yuhan understood Tang Luo's "transformation" to some extent, purely physical means.

I don't know what this spiritual transformation is either.

"But after transformation, you might not be yourself anymore." Tang Luo said, "Just face your true heart."

"But I'm afraid that one day my reason will snap, I won't be able to restrain myself, and become a killer." Tang Yuhan said.

"At that time, this poor monk will transform the female bodhisattva, would that be good?" Tang Luo said, first reserving a share of merit.

Tang Yuhan was stunned, not expecting Tang Luo to answer like that.

After a moment, she broke into a smile: "Also good, then I'll trouble the master when the time comes."

"Eh, why does it feel like I've set a flag?" Tang Luo said.

Tang Yuhan laughed helplessly; looking closely at Tang Luo now, she realized he was actually extremely young, recalling the materials she had read before, this person is only twenty-five or twenty-six, a few years younger than herself.

It's just that his strength is ferocious, and he has a striking head of white hair, making it easy to forget his age.

Calculated by age, he's basically just a newcomer to society who has been out of school for one or two years, struggling to make his way.

Becoming a demonic wanderer, life's path has become completely different.

How could I be any different?

If I hadn't become a demonic wanderer, I should now be just an ordinary rich and beautiful girl, refusing my parents' blind date suggestions everywhere, just loafing around.

I definitely wouldn't be like now, having completely taken over the family business, known for my tough methods and means, making many people fearful, a female powerhouse.

Having dealt with the hidden danger, Tang Yuhan also went upstairs to rest.

After a while, Chuan Shangjiangzi came out of the painting and poured a cup of water for Tang Luo.

This water, however, was formed by the ghost of the Cursed House extending its "hand" outside the house, collecting water vapor from the air.

After drinking the bone-chillingly cold water, Tang Luo stood up and also went to rest.

This world has heavenly and earthly qi, and the dew formed by ghosts collecting it also has some effect, similar to cultivation.

But ordinary people simply cannot bear it, the harm outweighs the benefit.

It's like drinking poison; although it can quench thirst, the side effects are greater.

But for Tang Luo, it's just simple healing.

Returning to the room, after drinking all the medicine Tang Yuhan gave, Tang Luo silently thought: "This effect is not bad."

This unnamed "clear water" has an effect far better than he imagined.

The Merit Jade Lotus trembled slightly, disappeared without a trace, and then appeared above Tang Luo's head.

Since the effect is good, let's strike while the iron is hot; simply use the Merit Jade Lotus together with healing, the two superimposed, injury recovery can reach 20%.

In future battles, if the force used does not exceed 20%, it will not aggravate the injury.

That is, the injury-free limit reaches 20% strength, which is already the level before cultivating the Diamond Glazed Buddha Bone.

But the current strength is stronger than before.

After healing, there remains a small amount of merit power in the Merit Jade Lotus, probably usable only a few times.

Tang Luo also doesn't care; this time entering the Northern Wilderness, the most important purpose is to complete the mission, but also has the intention of "ceasing war."

Once the great shaman's emergence is blocked, the Northern Wilderness wanting to fully invade the Great Seclusion will be indefinitely postponed, considered avoided, at least delayed, a disaster of blades and soldiers.

Naturally, merit will also be gained.

If encountering that sinister and vicious priest from daytime, with hands stained bloody, transforming him would also yield merit.

And such people, in the Northern Wilderness, are probably not few; the Northern Wilderness priests' methods are many and strange, bloody, and those who harm heaven and unite are not few.

Among the Northern Wilderness tribes, they often kill each other, frequently having various captives; for the tribe's priests, these are the best "materials."

Thus some priests still incite tribal leaders to actively provoke wars.

Such people, after transformation, will certainly not lack merit power.

The vast Northern Wilderness, to others, is a dangerous place.

But for Tang Luo, it's a good merit harvesting ground.