Chapter 631: Black Death God

At the forest's edge, the cave's dripping sounds echoed with unnatural emptiness. The air reeked of decaying moss and the sour stench of a terrified rat urinating in fear.

There, at the center of the emerald moss, Xixi sat demurely on a flat stone slab, both hands offering up the iron can bound with leather straps.

Like presenting a crown.

"Respected Majesty, your humble servant has not failed you."

On the ground not far from the Queen of the Nightmare Realm lay a living thing wrapped tightly in white silk, like a dumpling.

Shi Laike revealed only a narrow, monkey-faced head, his tiny green eyes spinning wildly with terror. The resilient silk bit deep into his flesh, making even the slightest twitch a luxury he could not afford.

Luo Yan reached out from within the cave and took the can.

It was light—less than a kilogram—but radiated a bone-deep chill.

He did not immediately inspect it. After weighing it briefly, he stowed it away, then placed a recording crystal upon a nearby flat green stone.

A faint orange glow materialized, illuminating the dark cave—and Shi Laike's pale, rat-like face.

"Speak."

Luo Yan's voice echoed through the cavern. His gentle expression etched itself into Shi Laike's eyes—yet it felt like the gaze of a demon from the deepest hell.

"Spill everything inside that skull of yours. If you lie—even if I think you're wasting my time—"

He paused, his fingertip lightly tapping the can's surface.

"I'll shove you inside this."

Shi Laike shuddered violently, swallowing hard against the saliva in his throat.

He knew exactly what was inside that can. To be locked in there would be a fate far more desperate than death—ten thousand times worse.

"I'll tell! I'll tell! It's Mo Ke! Mo Ke the Soul-Shredder!"

Shi Laike shrieked out the name of the Foul Flesh Clan's leader—but Xixi, seated nearby, yawned with utter boredom.

Everyone already knew that.

Startled by her yawn, Shi Laike trembled and hastily corrected himself, screaming on.

"N-no, not just Mo Ke! He has backers! There are Gravekeepers from the Kingdom of Lein—I remember that's what they're called! And the Xuebang too! Yes! Big shots from Xuebang were involved!"

His words were jumbled, but the information was rich.

Luo Yan's eyebrows lifted slightly.

As he suspected, Xuebang was entangled in this. The gray-robed mage he'd first encountered was indeed an insider.

No wonder the ratmen's frontline bristled with so many magic scrolls—and more rune crossbows than even the Dwarf Kingdom possessed.

As the front deepens, worse things will surely emerge.

"Do you know the name of the Xuebang bigwig?"

"I—I only know one name," Shi Laike stammered. "He's Professor Edgar Kaufmann!"

Luo Yan had never heard the name.

But he had many contacts in Xuebang. Asking Professor Hector to look into it would be no trouble.

Watching the silent mystery figure, Shi Laike racked his brain, spilling every last detail he knew.

"Lord Mo Ke ordered me to assist this professor—dig more tunnels, run experiments, guard the captives. I… I don't know what he's researching! But they've produced some powerful things—something called Holy Water."

"As for the attack on Count Spinor's territory—it was Lord Merlin's order! As for who Lord Merlin answers to… I swear, I truly don't know! What am I, a little rat? How could I dare ask about Lord Mo Ke's friends?"

He wept, nose running, tears streaming—desperate to tear out his heart and show it to this mysterious lord, though no one wanted to see it.

Luo Yan said nothing, merely pondering in silence.

Only when Shi Laike's sobs faded did he raise the iron can.

"And this?"

Shi Laike shrank back, eyes darting away.

"It's called 'Black Death God'… Lord Merlin gave it to me. I don't understand the details!"

"Tell me what you know."

"Y-yes! He said… if you pour it into the water supply of Crow's Cry City, it'll send half the town straight to hell! Oh, and he mentioned—it holds over ten thousand spirits of Lein people. Apparently, a byproduct of the lab."

Even he couldn't suppress a shudder.

Even the cruel ratmen felt primal dread at such pure malice—especially when they were the ones caught in its grasp.

Xixi sighed softly.

"Humans are truly terrifying… except, of course, for the Demon King."

Hm?

Wait—should he be excluded?

The Queen of the Nightmare Realm hesitated. She vaguely recalled that in the Demon Capital, "terrifying" was sometimes a compliment.

But Luo Yan didn't care for such nuances. He fixed his gaze on Shi Laike's eyes, piercing through the terror in his soul.

Fear couldn't be faked.

This rat was utterly broken. His mind was empty—every last secret spilled. If the Wanren Mountains were a latrine, he was barely a cleaner.

With his lab and materials lost at Burial Peak, he was already a corpse—only the manner and master of his death remained undecided.

Luo Yan tucked away the recording crystal, stood, and brushed nonexistent dust from his robes.

Seeing the gesture, Shi Laike's eyes flickered with hope. He writhed like a worm, forcing a groveling smile onto his face.

"My lord! Great lord! I've told you everything! I'm still useful! I can guide you, show you Mo Ke's nest! Even as a watchdog, I'm more obedient than any other rat!"

Luo Yan looked down at him, a wry curve touching his lips.

"What would I need a rat for?"

North lies the Dusk Province. South, the Campbell Duchy. West, the Hell Dwarves. East, the true Dwarves… all around are allies.

What use is keeping you as a buffer?

Shi Laike's smile froze—like a mask cracked by ice.

Then came the despair, the madness of betrayal.

"You broke your word! You said if I confessed, you'd—"

"—spare you the agony of living death," Luo Yan replied coldly, turning toward the cave's mouth. "But I never said I wouldn't kill you."

As for now?

You're the one who broke your word.

Luo Yan didn't even turn back. He merely waved his hand toward the shadows in the corner.

"Arakdo, yours."

The shadow stirred. A massive cave spider crawled slowly into the light.

Eight compound eyes glinted with cruelty. Its dripping fangs opened and closed with a chilling click—

Time to eat!

"No! Don't come near—"

Shi Laike's scream was cut off as a foul, viscous venom sealed his mouth shut.

Then came the crisp crunch of bone, the wet tearing of flesh.

Even with Gold Rank power, bound and helpless, Shi Laike could only watch as the maw descended.

The cave's echoes lasted only seconds—then fell into silence.

The rat warlord who once ruled the underworld, striking terror into countless rats and hillfolk, died thusly in the damp, gloomy cave—becoming Arakdo's meal.

Yet compared to his crimes, this death was almost merciful.

"Demon King, shouldn't we keep a witness?" asked Youyou, hovering beside Luo Yan, watching Arakdo devour his meal.

Luo Yan replied silently in his mind.

【Unnecessary.】

A witness might suffice.

Should we call the police next?

This is fundamentally different from dealing with Elder Zhaokuo. Behind the Holy Water stand not one family—but many.

Luo Yan studied the iron can. The intricate runes glowed with a cold, faint light under the demonic radiance—like silent weeping.

Behind "Soul-Shredder" Mo Ke stood Xuebang. Behind Xuebang—no one knew who.

First, deal with the Kingdom of Lein.

"Demon King."

Xixi leaned in, staring curiously at the can. "Does it really hold ten thousand human souls?"

From the outside, nothing suggested it.

"Not souls."

Luo Yan's fingertip traced the cold metal surface, sensing the restless energy within. "More precisely—it's filtered spiritual residue."

Xixi blinked.

"What's that?"

"Simply put—it's the trace of a person's existence in this world."

The ones they loved, the things they hated, the memories they couldn't let go, the regrets at death's door—and the karmic weight tied to them.

Or, you could call it "personality."

To those who don't care, it's as light as a feather. To those who do, it's heavier than the entire universe combined.

If Holy Water is "liquid divinity," then this is "liquid abyss."

If holy water is "liquidized divinity," then this stuff is "liquidized abyss."

Even a demigod might not withstand a few drops.

Luo Yan couldn't help but fall into thought.

Perhaps he should talk to Taf about this…

…

Night ended, dawn broke.

The next day's sun rose over the Wan Ren Mountains, emerging from the east of Han Ya City.

Citizens pushed open their windows, stretched their arms, and gazed at the distant dawn.

They would never know who had watched over their dreams in the darkness last night, nor how many filthy things had turned to ash before dawn.

Outside the city, the refugee camp presented another scene entirely.

After a long night of work, Vivian had changed into a nun's habit and now walked gracefully beneath the morning light, inspecting her domain.

Last night, the front line sent more rescued survivors, some of whom were injuries even the priests couldn't handle.

They were mainly injured by ratfolk toxins—some with lung infections, others with blisters, all looking terribly pitiful.

But to Lady Vivian, these were trivial matters.

Her mentor, Professor Aedonia, the greatest poisoner and antidote-maker in all of Hell, could even resolve issues beyond the Blood Knights' capabilities by simply writing a letter to the Magic Capital.

For the unfathomable Lady Vivian, her unlimited resources extended far beyond pocket money—it was a privilege even the Blood Clan of Colyn Principality had never enjoyed.

It was a bargain for these humans.

Thanks to the bizarre doctors of the "Holy Colyn Knightly Hospital," the vast majority of survivors brought here had their lives saved.

Many could already walk on their own.

And every single one of them was filled with gratitude toward Prince Colyn and his sister.

"Lady Vivian!"

A ragged boy suddenly burst from the crowd and knelt heavily before Vivian, his forehead pressed against the dusty ground, his voice trembling yet resolute.

"Please let me join your service! You saved my life. Though I have no money and no education, I am willing to serve you as your beast of burden, to repay your kindness!"

That "Lady" nearly made Vivian burst into song.

Oh—

By Baelith!

What a sweet voice!

Louder!

She stopped walking and looked down at the boy, not much younger than herself, her smile still immaculately saintly.

Yet the suppressed chuckle in her throat betrayed her inner delight.

"Kukuku… Your devotion is touching, but alas, Vivian has no need for beasts of burden."