Chapter 123: Human Pen

Fishy stench hitting the nose, pus and blood staining the ground...

In the cramped stone cage, it could barely accommodate two adults lying on their sides with their legs curled, and the thin layer of dirty cloth blanket below, which could no longer be seen clearly, was also full of holes of various sizes.

Perhaps due to the years of blood water pouring, even the original blue-grey large stone was now covered with furry dark red long moss, two fingers long, extremely lush and dense.

When brushed by the wind, it swayed and made a sound.

It was as if hundreds of dark red worms were struggling to move their limbs, making one's heart feel a chill at a glance.

In the center of the stone cage, a narrow opening was opened, just enough to allow the living person being raised inside to reach out a hand to take the food basin inside.

Chen Hang looked, and the food basin was just some wild grass and some strange paste of unknown origin, even mixed with a few pieces of living human limbs left over from the ghosts' eating, all mixed together.

The thick fishy smell surged up in waves, and combined with the miserable appearance of the stone cage itself, it made Chen Hang frown slightly, shaking his head in his heart.

"Chen Chen Shidi..."

In the stone cage, Yu Wanchou's face was twisted, tears rolling down one after another.

Her arms were gone, and from the severed ends, one could clearly see white bone stubs and blurred flesh and blood that had already turned grey and defeated, extremely ferocious.

"Wang Ying has already been eaten alive by them, and there are Guan Jing and Zhou Erzhi, my hands..."

She struggled to stand up, but pulled the wound on her arms, and the heart-piercing pain spread, making Yu Wanchou groan in her throat, the veins on her forehead jumping wildly, sweat pouring down like rain.

As she tremblingly looked at her tattered sleeves, there was only emptiness inside, and looking up, she could even see a few dead fat white maggots lying stiffly on the wound, not moving at all.

"My hands are gone, and my Dao foundation is destroyed..."

Yu Wanchou felt a sudden surge of grief, closed her eyes tightly, and held back her tears.

She wanted to wail loudly.

But she suddenly remembered that she was still in the human pen, forcibly holding back her grief, only letting out low sobs from her throat.

After a long while, she barely recovered.

Silently looking up at Chen Hang standing outside the stone cage, she was stunned and speechless for a time.

One was trapped in prison, not even having complete limbs, facing death at any moment, while the other was clean and tidy in clothes and ornaments.

Suddenly waking up from the daze.

In the dimness.

Yu Wanchou thought Chen Hang had also been captured by ghosts and locked in this human cage to keep her company, not feeling despair.

At this time, her mind was slightly clearer, and she realized she had thought wrong.

For a time, besides self-mockery, a sense of joy at having narrowly escaped death surged in her heart, only hoping that this person could help her escape from this living hell and flee to life.

"Chen Chen Shidi, I..."

Yu Wanchou said, but before she could finish her words, she choked with sobs again.

"Yu Senior Sister, please restrain your grief."

Chen Hang sighed.

He and Yu Wanchou could barely be considered old acquaintances.

As early as when Chen Hang was just released from the water prison and had not yet attained Embryonic Breathing, Yu Wanchou and he had met once, and she had even brought him along.

That time, it was when Ai Jian was distributing Small White Yang Pills at Huiyue Peak, giving out the life-selling money for the disciples to go down to the Earth Abyss.

At that time, Chen Hang was still a mortal body, and his blood Qi was even lower than that of ordinary mortals.

With his foot strength at that time, wanting to walk from Luoxia Peak where he lived to Huiyue Peak where Ai Jian distributed the rewards, if he walked from noon until dark, he might not have succeeded.

It was Yu Wanchou who helped him casually, bringing Chen Hang to Huiyue Peak.

At that time, this woman had just attained Foundation Establishment, and was in a spirit of high spirits and sharp progress.

But unexpectedly, they met again.

Yu Wanchou was not only imprisoned in the human pen by ghosts, but even her arms were gone, shaking her true foundation, and from then on, she had no connection with the orthodox immortal Dao.

The impermanence of the world.

It was truly elusive...

"I don't know what Yu Senior Sister encountered after descending from that 'Luo Xian Lead Boat', and why she fell into such a state."

After Yu Wanchou slowly stopped sobbing, Chen Hang asked warmly:

"The nearby ghosts have been temporarily deceived by me, Senior Sister need not worry."

"It's because of the Human-Face Mushroom, it was us who overestimated ourselves..."

Yu Wanchou felt a great grief in her heart again, her eyes reddened, and she spoke.

"Human-Face Mushroom?"

Chen Hang frowned.

It turned out that the "Luo Xian Lead Boat" Yu Wanchou took was not the same as the one Chen Hang was on.

She was not alone in the sect, having some close friends, and after discussing it, they naturally decided to travel together to pick external medicines.

This way, if something really happened, they would at least have someone to look after them.

And Yu Wanchou's group had good luck; after a few days of hard work, they actually found a Human-Face Mushroom that had not yet matured in a hidden valley.

Ai Jian's reward was not ungenerous.

Even if it was just one, it was enough for Yu Wanchou's group to benefit from it.

However, at the moment of picking, the movement provoked the eruption of yin Qi, actually stirring the changes of the earth essence and ghostly essence within several miles, creating a desolate and strange scene of thick clouds and miserable mist.

This strange scene initially only attracted the peeping of a few wandering small ghosts, and Yu Wanchou and others were not afraid, easily killing them back.

They took the Human-Face Mushroom, hurriedly covered their tracks, and left.

But they did not expect that only half a day later, they would attract a siege of groups of fierce ghosts, biting them and not letting go.

Yu Wanchou and others fought and retreated, although they killed many, they were ultimately outnumbered, and all seven of them were captured.

To this day, out of the seven.

Only Yu Wanchou and another Foundation Establishment true cultivator named Shi E were still alive, locked in the human pen, prepared as dishes to treat guests during the wedding of Miss Yue.

And the remaining five Qi Cultivators had long been used as rewards, eaten alive by the group of ghosts.

"It was us who underestimated the intelligence of these ghosts too much, not killing the first group of small ghosts who came to peep, only thinking they were no different from birds and beasts, only chasing blood food."

Yu Wanchou lowered her head silently, her voice filled with regret, every word weeping blood:

"One small ghost escaped, and we didn't care much... Now that I think about it, it must have been it who went to report, attracting that group of fierce ghosts..."

The distinction between spiritual ghosts and murky ghosts—

Although it was recorded in Daoist books and classics.

But Yu Wanchou and others had never entered the Earth Abyss, and had never seen ghosts with their own eyes, so they ultimately held a few points of contempt in their hearts, not regarding them as living beings with the same intelligence as themselves.

And it was precisely because of this thread of arrogance that Yu Wanchou's group fell into such a miserable state.

In fact, after being locked in the human pen, Yu Wanchou had also used secret arts to call for help from fellow disciples in the sect.

But those who received her message.

Either cherished their own lives and were unwilling to take risks, just pretending not to hear, ignoring it.

Or they were fascinated by Yu Wanchou's beauty, their blood Qi surging, and they actually mustered the courage in their hearts to kill their way over.

It was a pity that their strength was insufficient; coming was just sending themselves to death in vain.

Not only did they fail to turn the tide and win the beauty's favor, but they also implicated themselves in becoming meat food for the group of ghosts, watching themselves being scrambled for and eaten by the group of ghosts, dying with their eyes wide open...

"Senior Sister underestimated them too much; not to mention spiritual ghosts, even ordinary murky ghosts are not so easy to deal with."

After listening to Yu Wanchou's words, Chen Hang's gaze flickered, and he slowly opened his mouth:

"But I came here today because there is one thing I don't understand, and I want to ask Yu Senior Sister for help."

Yu Wanchou was stunned upon hearing this.

"Just today, I heard a spiritual ghost named Ziying mention that many cultivators from the sect were locked in this human pen; hearing their names, there is Senior Sister, Wang Ying, and Xiao Xiao Shixiong Xu Zhi..."

Chen Hang's gaze sank, saying:

"But I just walked around this human pen, and in hundreds of stone cages, I didn't find Xiao Xiao Shixiong Xu Zhi...

May I ask Yu Senior Sister, is Xiao Xiao Shixiong still alive?"

"Named Xu?"

Yu Wanchou pondered for a moment before slowly shaking her head:

"This Chen Chen Shidi seems to have received my message, and he was concerned about the friendship of fellow disciples, breaking into the human pen alone the day before yesterday, wanting to save us, but ultimately there were too many ghosts, and the odds were against him."

Yu Wanchou lowered her head apologetically, silently saying:

"An hour ago, that spiritual ghost called Miss Yue wanted a midnight snack, and Xiao Xiao Shixiong Xu was twisted of his four limbs and taken away; now I'm afraid—"

"What are you saying?!"

Chen Hang was shocked.

For a time, he rarely lost his composure, and the killing intent in his eyes grew.

"Chen Chen Shidi Xu..."

Yu Wanchou was startled, her voice hesitant:

"Chen Chen Shidi Xu he..."

"No."

Chen Hang suddenly reacted at this moment, lowered his eyelids, suppressed the killing intent in his heart, and slowly opened his mouth:

"This is definitely not Xiao Xiao Shixiong, he doesn't have such guts! It's not that I underestimate Xiao Xiao Shixiong, he..."

Yu Wanchou did not understand.

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong Xu Zhi perhaps has a heart of compassion, but he definitely does not have the guts to save people alone among a group of ghosts, not that I underestimate Xiao Xiao Shixiong, he..."

Chen Hang shook his head and continued:

"And, Yu Senior Sister has always called him Xiao Xiao Shixiong, how did he become Chen Chen Shidi? It seems we are not talking about the same person?"

"Xu Zhi? Wait... are you talking about the Xu Zhi who once studied under Elder Gu Jun?"

Yu Wanchou's face was strange; after a while, she shook her head and said:

"The one I mentioned is that Chen Chen Shidi Xu from the Service Room; the two of them have the same name, so it seems it really isn't the same person."

Chen Hang felt slightly relieved upon hearing this.

And at this time.

Yu Wanchou, who could no longer endure it, raised her head, tears streaming down her face, and finally opened her mouth to say:

"Chen Chen Shidi, since Xu Zhi is safe, can you save my life? I really can't stand this miserable torment anymore! Seeing people being eaten alive by ghosts in front of me every day, I am really terrified!"

Her arms were chewed off alive, and all her talisman artifact means were searched clean.

And the murky yin in the Earth Abyss was not suitable for cultivators to stay for a long time.

Even before Yu Wanchou's Dao foundation was broken, she had to take Small White Yang Pills daily to protect her internal organs and prevent the yin cold from invading her body and finally killing her brain god.

And now her Dao foundation was broken, her blood Qi was declining, and she was only slightly better than mundane living beings.

Even if these ghosts didn't come to eat her flesh and blood.

With murky yin entering her body continuously.

I'm afraid she wouldn't live for many more days...

"Senior Sister, rest assured, I won't just stand by and watch."

Chen Hang waved his hand and answered.

He looked around, only to see hundreds of stone cages like Yu Wanchou's, dense and packed, with living people raised inside, the cramped space only allowing them to curl up their bodies, eating dirty food like dogs and pigs.

Inside, occasionally, flesh and blood of the same race would be mixed in, forced to be eaten by ghosts for amusement...

This was still the cage for the so-called grade-A meat goods.

As for grade-B and grade-C, it was an even more unspeakable scene.

And the location of the worst grade-D meat goods.

Was an even more bloody scene like hell on earth.

Because the yin Qi in the Earth Abyss was dense and majestic, reaching an extreme point, for mundane living beings, it was undoubtedly like a fierce poison, absolutely impossible to live in for long.

These ghosts often used strange drugs to raise living people, making women shorten their pregnancy period, and one pregnancy could often produce many children.

Although the children born this way had incomplete nature and spirit and could not live long.

But for ghosts, whether blood food had intelligence was clearly an irrelevant matter...

Skeletons like ridges, bones like forests.

Corpses piled into mountains, blood flowing into rivers...

Even Chen Hang was moved by this scene, and killing intent surged.

"As the saying goes, eliminate evil completely; there is not a single ghost in this mansion that should not die."

Chen Hang sighed and said:

"It's just that if I take action now, it will be difficult to do it all, and some will escape, which would not be beautiful."

"What does Chen Chen Shidi mean?"

"When the wedding date of that so-called Miss Yue arrives, I heard Ziying say that all the ghosts in the mansion will enter the banquet, and perhaps some guests will come to offer gifts."

Chen Hang's eyes flashed:

"Only on that day will it be the best time to take action!"

Yu Wanchou was stunned; seeing Chen Hang speak so lightly, her heart was chaotic, and she couldn't help but advise:

"Chen Chen Shidi, don't be too arrogant; that group of ghosts is not easy to deal with, you..."

Chen Hang smiled slightly, just took out that "Floating Water Mirage Pearl" from his sleeve, held it in his palm, and said nothing.

And Yu Wanchou, upon seeing this pearl, her pupils shrank, as if she remembered something, and she was stunned, closing her mouth, her face instantly showing joy.

"Senior Sister, please endure for a few more days."

After giving Yu Wanchou a few Small White Yang Pills.

Chen Hang bowed and said goodbye, walking toward the quiet room where Ziying had placed him.

Several ghosts guarding the grade-A human pen were all dazed, as if they didn't see him, just looking obsessed, as if they had dreamed of something.

Not until Chen Hang returned to the mansion to rest did they wake up, but they just scratched their heads, didn't think much, and soon threw it to the back of their minds.

Chen Hang had long used the "Floating Jade Mirage Pearl" to quietly control these ghosts.

This time.

The talisman artifact in Yan Jia's hands had made a contribution...

And time passed in a hurry.

Soon, it was the wedding date of Miss Yue.

And during this period, Ziying also frequently came to look for him a few times; seeing Chen Hang always waiting peacefully in the room, she was finally relieved and no longer doubted him.

"It's quite lively today, I wonder how many guests have come?"

Ziying led Chen Hang toward the main hall of the mansion, hearing only the sound of gongs and drums along the way, looking quite festive.

"Not many, just invited a few old neighbors from around; actually, Miss Yue is not very favored... I don't know if Lord Shanhu and Flying Flower Granny will send servants to express their condolences on the day of the young lady's wedding."

Ziying sighed and replied, worried.

In these few days, her favor for Chen Hang had increased day by day, especially after her doubts were gone, she wished she could stick to him, and would even tell him some hidden matters in the mansion.

Chen Hang was thoughtful upon hearing this, and before he could speak, after turning around a small garden, he suddenly heard a burst of scolding and chasing sounds.

The wind suddenly became urgent.

Chen Hang slightly stepped aside to let it pass.

The next breath, he saw a black shadow flying from afar, heavily brushing past him and smashing into the ground, falling out several zhang like a rolling gourd before stopping.

The black shadow slowly got up with a wail; it was a young man wearing a black robe.

"Is the brother alright?"

Seeing him looking over with a dazed gaze, Chen Hang asked casually.

"Nothing... nothing?"

Song Rupu only felt pain everywhere in his body.

He wiped his face in a daze, turned to look at Chen Hang, just about to bow and apologize, when his expression suddenly froze, and then he showed wild joy!

"How can it be so beautiful? This is what it means to be beautiful! What am I, Song Rupu, just a fart! Mansion Lord, eyes opened! Finally opened my eyes today!"

Song Rupu burst into tears, ran toward Chen Hang, and shouted:

"No need to get married! Finally don't need to get married! Finally someone is here to replace me! Hahahaha!

I have accumulated virtue and done good deeds all my life, and today I finally met you—"

"Brother is joking."

Chen Hang kicked the rushing Song Rupu away calmly and said faintly:

"You are beautiful, how can I compare to you?" ===== CHAPTER 124 =====