Chapter 548: The Wendigo's Death

There's nothing I can do; who made me this compassionate, soft-hearted, sentimental, and indeed deeply emotional?

So I reluctantly agreed; you also stay clear-headed, don't act foolishly at this time, got it?

Ma ersha didn't answer; instead, she first looked at Ji Ming, then at the Wendigo he held.

Alright.

Only then, in the fading soul fire, did he set down the staff in his hand.

Seeing that, the Wendigo's soul fire dimmed a bit, like relief after being reassured, or like a sigh.

And Ji Ming had already turned his finger's direction, pointing at the last member of the Spirit Council whose fate was still undecided.

Oh right, there's also her—what is this blood clan lady to you?

Probably realizing her status was far inferior to Ma ersha's, Bolona was frightened and knelt on the spot.

Sir! I'm merely a spy, a plaything; I've really done nothing wrong, please...

Bolona is just a useless ornament; I planted her as a spy beside the Wolf King.

The Wendigo indeed didn't speak ill of her; rather, perhaps because he was about to die, he even rare-ly complained.

I originally wanted her to incite the Wolf King to become foolish, but it was useless anyway; instead, she almost sold me out.

Fine, reduced to just a skin-deep otherworldly version of Daji, right?

Alright, as a reward for your honesty, I'll spare them for now.

He loosened the lightning chains wrapped around the lich's and blood clan's necks, and Ji Ming refocused his gaze on the big deer head he held.

Anyway, if they're obstinate and dare to cause trouble, it's just a matter of me striking them with lightning, right?

Wendigo: ……

Right, this world has reincarnation, so since you're leaving anyway, I'll give you one more piece of advice.

Next time you pick a side, be sure to stay clear-headed, don't make mistakes again—one mistake leads to another, and the result of error is death.

However, upon hearing this, the Wendigo neither agreed nor objected, nor even spoke; instead, he made his soul fire flicker quickly.

Ji Ming understood, then drew out a large patch of shadow, covering the two of them.

Seeing that they had fully entered the secret chamber, the Wendigo then felt safe to speak.

Perhaps I really picked the wrong side this time, but if I tell you, the reason I picked the wrong side is because I didn't want to pick a side before?

He muttered a rambling riddle; probably Lao Yang Tou himself felt his words were like a fart, so he then threw a clearer piece of information at Ji Ming.

Tell you this: someone has been watching us.

But Ji Ming didn't have the doubt he imagined; he simply nodded in deep agreement.

You mean that thing up in the sky? I already knew.

The Wendigo's soul fire flared up suddenly, then immediately dimmed with relief.

Indeed, you're a high-dimensional existence—how could you not know?

Silence fell for a moment.

But I want to tell you that it's not just them; there's another force, a group that should have died long ago but didn't, and they're watching us!

Having said that, though they had clearly taken full concealment measures, the Wendigo's voice still uncontrollably dropped.

I'm not entirely clear on more details; some things are uncertain, possibly misleading, so I won't say them.

But one thing is clear: you must be careful of the Deep Forest people! Their backers are very likely that group.

For example, that Deep Forest envoy—I pretended to curry favor, claiming I wanted to ally with the Deep Forest, just to keep her so I could kill her after this is over!

And you—even if you don't believe me, don't want to kill, don't want to invite disaster from the Deep Forest, but after I die, you absolutely must not let her go! Otherwise there will be big trouble!

This big deer head is starting to speak in riddles again……

Ji Ming felt somewhat helpless, so he simply laid out the matter plainly.

Let me guess? The people you say should have died but didn't—could they be those from the Dark Flame Imperial Clan ten thousand years ago?

I previously talked thoroughly with the Magic Dragon Chief Patricia from long ago at Godfall Peak, so I roughly know some of these things.

Now the Wendigo was completely bewildered.

No, I originally wanted to……damn! I originally wanted to rely on this intel to regain some face, sigh!

Seeing that Ji Ming understood perhaps even better than himself, Lao Yang Tou simply admitted his own shameful past of refusing an olive branch out of fear.

However, since he was only developed because he possessed legendary bloodline, and the people he met weren't of high caliber, he couldn't learn much.

All he knew was that, according to the Deep Forest Archbishop, their leader had participated in that ancient Light vs. Dark Flame event and was quite famous.

But that was three thousand years ago; back then the Deep Forest was just a minor border deity, and Wendigo thought this guy was bragging, so he refused.

Who would have thought that later the Deep Forest turned its fortunes around, by assisting a young man named Giuseppe to gain immense wealth, eating a nation's incense and becoming a true god.

By morning he was a rustic immortal, by evening dwelling in the Zhen Shen Hall; formerly insignificant figures overnight became the clang clang of clang clang, and the missed-opportunity Wendigo felt sour and numb.

What about me? I want it too!

With the mindset of seeing thieves steal people but not seeing thieves get beaten, Wendigo also began cultivating incense, establishing the Strange Council, and seeking his partners.

And amidst the extreme hardship of entrepreneurship, he also conducted an investigation, speculating on several possible identities for the 'President'.

First place goes to the Dark Flame Emperor; it's said he possessed his daughter's body, though he was soon torn apart by the Iron-wrist Holy Maiden, but who knows if he has other incarnations.

After all, this Magic Emperor's harem is arguably the strongest in history; even the First Lionheart King and all successive Sun Kings combined can't match it, and one even has to kowtow and shout 'old ancestor' to get the right flavor.

Second place goes to the Dark Flame Grand Protector, a super spellcaster second only to the Magic Emperor, whose most famous creation is the legendary Magic Dragon Legion.

So, since even giant dragons can be feminized and darkened into Magic Dragons, leading the deep-V gothic black silk clothing trend for an entire era, has he himself truly died completely?

Third place goes to the Dark Flame Demon Lord, chief of the Magic Dragons, and among the few high-level Dark Flame beings of old, she is confirmed to have survived the cataclysm.

But unfortunately, she reappeared in bright splendor before the world a few months ago, confirming her legend, and then she and the resurrected Purple Lightning God were instantly slain at Godfall Peak.

Really dead?

Really.

What a pity, I really miss the magic of those years; it was a wonderful legendary age, alas, a world war caused most of it to be lost...

Um, think positive—maybe the emperor and the grand guardian aren't dead yet, and they might even plan to tie you up, this deer, in the courtyard as a pet.

Wendigo: Holy shit, blocked the sand and wind.

After telling a joke that wasn't funny at all, Ji Ming turned and asked.

Wait, that doesn't seem right—this group of dark flame remnants surviving to today must be up to something big, how...

Wendigo chuckled sheepishly.

I think I'm not that extreme compared to them; that earlier thing... was just to show off in front of the Wolf King, nothing more.

Well, thanks for sharing the intel, then I won't delay your reincarnation.

Okay, goodbye... uh, no, probably not...

Ah, who knows? I feel... maybe we'll really meet again, maybe not, so...

I remember, next time when you take a side, be smarter—don't make an enemy of someone like you.

【Good heavens, how did you guys even start chatting?】

Right, exactly, so I... uh, should I light it?

Okay, okay, but uh, I'm afraid of pain, so remember to burn it quickly.

Don't worry, I have experience—I've burned over a dozen magic dragons in one breath, it won't hurt.

【Let me guess, this wouldn't be some new method of counting water characters, would it?】

Alright, I'm leaving.

Um, goodbye.

After letting Lao Yang Tou experience the taste of five‑cauldron cooking with scorching lightning, Ji Ming kept his promise and released the little lich and the blood‑clan sister.

However, while seeing them off from that chaotic battlefield, he still gave them a couple of pointers.

The road is under your feet, fate is in your hands—I can let you go once, but never a second time; if you run into others, you won't even get one chance.

So, if we happen to meet again, whether you're human or ghost, eating chaff or meat, it's up to your fate—don't waste Wendigo's goodwill.

During this period, Marsa maintained her noble silence, while Berona was nearly apologizing for three people's worth.

But after Ji Ming shrugged and turned into a streak of escaping light and left, the two remained silent on the snowfield for a long time.

Only when the sun touched the horizon again did Berona pick up Marsa's bone hand, which was stored in her glove.

Come on, he should really have let us go.

Wendigo died, and the last two sprouts, being sensible, fled at light speed; the already retreating undead army thus had no hope left.

Thus this large‑scale battle, involving up to millions and lasting a month of front‑line fighting, ended in the complete victory of the High Tower Community.

However, as a joint organization made up of many factions, the Community, though possessing thunderous means, did not carry out a total purge of all its enemies.

Instead, it selected some who had a change of heart, willing to join the High Tower, assist it, and help build it—these wilderness forces became internal members.

This included the Nine‑Tail Court of the Fox King, the Earth Court of the Ox King, and also the Frost Forest Court built by Mandalatu after integrating the scattered forces on the grasslands and bringing them all under his command.

With the help of these native wilderness people, the zombie seeds that Wendigo had previously released were promptly recovered after the war, averting a human tragedy.

And the geographical term 'Wild Wasteland' was given a new meaning, finally becoming a large force capable of speaking with one voice to the outside world.

But all that is later; after seeing off the two deceivers, Ji Ming's first action was to respect Lao Yang Tou's suggestion.

Halt, where do you think you're fleeing!

The Deep Forest emissary, who thought she had successfully escaped but had in fact already been marked by him for soul capture and could be re‑caught at any moment, was seized again.

At first, the emissary lady resisted fiercely.

What are you going to do?

Hmph, what can you do even if you catch me?

I've undergone extremely professional training—I won't say a thing! Don't even think you'll get anything from me!

Unfortunately, after Ji Ming merely applied a few methods...

No! No! No! Let me go!

I can at least tell you a little something—please, make that disgusting thing stay away from me!

Ah! Your Holiness the Pope, save me!!!

Although classmate Bai Li Xiang is still engaged in dangerous behind‑enemy‑lines work, as a deep‑cover agent hidden deep within the Forest Church, she hardly ever contacts Ji Ming.

But as an outstanding reform exemplar, having completely shed the Forest Church's habits and become a snake of the farming faithful, she can still take part in this interrogation.

Cut the crap—do you call this breaking free of the Forest Church's habits?

Afraid of scaring the prisoner to death, Ji Ming quickly pulled the cockroach‑like poisonous snake down from the emissary's body.

Stop, stop, stop—why are you manhandling the prisoner? Release her hair, quick! It's utterly unbecoming!

Can't help it, hehehe—just thinking about how the usually high‑and‑mighty Rose ended up in my hands makes me unable to resist, hehehe.

……

Um, looking on the bright side, compared to Bai Li Xiang, who's so crazy she'd experiment on herself, and Mo Xing Lan, who's practically the reincarnation of the Great West King and loves to kill anyone she sees, the snake's surface vigor is already rather mild.

Since this so‑called Deep Forest emissary can use spores of various mushrooms as weapons, her identity is obvious—she is naturally one of the twelve flower‑rank emissaries of the Forest Church.

But unlike the research‑oriented Bai Li Xiang, the combat‑oriented Mo Xing Lan, and the dirty‑work‑oriented snake, as the Rose, her main focus is diplomacy—or, to put it bluntly—propriety.

And to better maintain that propriety, she—who is neither a demon eye nor an angel—created hallucinogenic mushrooms that can control others' minds, thereby forcibly boosting her charm in others' eyes.

Ji Ming: 'Damn, I'm really envious—I've never had this kind of trouble before.'

Rose: ……

So, as a total nutcase, upon crossing over to Gotham that very night she could become a flower‑rank emissary who is a professional talent for Arkham, benefiting one side.

This lady, who looks mysterious and elegant and can even think with normal logic—where exactly is Rose crazy?

The answer is that every inch of her body has had its flesh replaced by a fungal mimic; calling her a spirit of a gigantic see‑hand blue mushroom is not an exaggeration.

So, her (unspeakable) is already inside our bodies now!

Shut up, or I'll vomit on you.

Great, great, I can't wait, right here? Do I need to open my mouth...

Shut up, Viper!

Afraid the venomous snake would provoke Shenhe's killing with its own limitless dirty talk, Ji Ming directly used 【Suggestion Technique】 to mute her mic.

(End of chapter)