Corpse Recovery Diver

And all of this, you can understand as... not easy to deal with.

"When I was young, I traveled outside, and I have heard many versions of her story. She might be one, or a kind."

Some say she is a woman who suffered grievances in life, and after death, her resentment gathered and gave birth to a Corpse Demon. This kind is collectively referred to as her.

Some say she was once a noble girl, reduced to a slave after her family was destroyed and village annihilated, suffering endless torment, and finally taken to be buried alive. She dug her way out of the grave with her own hands, becoming neither human nor ghost.

Some say she was originally a Holy Maiden who went down the wrong path, attempting to nurture a ghostly parasite with herself. In the end, the parasite backfired, mother and child became one, naturally full of resentment, and bloodthirsty by nature.

There are so many stories about her, I don't know which one is correct.

However, there is one thing in common.

She,

likes to eat children."

When saying this, the old man looked at Li Zhiyuan with a slightly flickering gaze.

"Especially kids like you who look clean and refined, that's her favorite."

Li Zhiyuan smiled politely.

The old man pursed his lips, truly amazed by the boy's spirit and courage.

But soon, the boy's next words made the old man's evaluation of him rise another notch:

"That's good, I was afraid she wouldn't come."

The old man nodded stiffly.

After that, the old man mentioned a few other things.

Firstly, when his three disciples set out to deal with her, they took several generational ritual artifacts from the village. The result was heavy casualties, and the artifacts were completely destroyed.

Ordinary mountain spirits and ghosts couldn't even get close to those artifacts, but with her, they seemed to have no effect at all.

Secondly, one night after the incident, the old man personally stayed at a wounded disciple's house, trying to wait for her arrival.

She came, silently, leaving traces inside the house.

Throughout the process, the old man noticed nothing, which meant that if she wanted to kill him, it would be easy.

Thirdly, when some villagers went down to the town to buy supplies, they hitched a ride home on a nearby villager's tractor at night.

A grandma waved for a ride along the road, and the villager let her on.

The old lady was disheveled and dirty, with tattered clothes. After boarding, she seemed very hungry, eating something with relish.

When asked what she was eating, she said chicken feet, and gave two to the villager. The villager ate one, found it tasted good, and put the other one in his pocket, intending to take it home for his child. But after getting off the tractor and walking back to the village under the light, he saw that where they were chicken feet, they were actually bloody, intertwined fingers.

Li Zhiyuan inquired about how the villager who ate the "chicken feet" was doing now.

The old man replied: after becoming seriously ill, he died. His funeral was just held before the new year.

Li Zhiyuan asked who the villager driving the tractor was.

The old man said his surname was "Ran." Every now and then, he would drive his tractor to the village to sell goods, and he would also take some mountain goods to town.

Li Zhiyuan thought that the one driving the tractor was most likely Ran Dacheng.

However, from what he observed, Li Zhiyuan didn't sense anything amiss with him. He had been to his house, and everything seemed normal.

Typically, those who have long been in contact with Evil would leave some traces on themselves or their residence.

But there was nothing.

So, it's not necessarily that Ran Dacheng and that Old Transgender are linked; it's most likely just luck. Though he had contact with Old Transgender, he wasn't tempted to eat anything from her.

In the end, the old man really had no more clues to offer.

Li Zhiyuan stood up, ready to take his leave.

The old man said, "Sorry, child."

To preserve the village, he chose to lower his head, avoiding direct conflict, which was understandable.

Because the Old Transgender evidently had the power to destroy the village.

Li Zhiyuan smiled slightly, saying, "You've tried hard enough; leave the rest to me."

Old man: "If it's resolved, after it's done, our village will surely..."

Li Zhiyuan raised his hand, interrupting the old man's words.

"I'm not doing it for this."

Old man: "I know, but it's a token of our village's appreciation."

"I'm not doing it for you all, either."

The old man fell silent.

The girl asked, "Young man from afar, then why are you doing this?"

Li Zhiyuan: "I'm doing it for myself."

The girl curiously said, "But you're not from here?"

The old man gently tugged at his granddaughter, saying:

"When I was young, I met some people who liked to say something, and every time they said it, they had a solemn expression.

Sir,

it's for the Righteous Path, isn't it?"

This time it was Li Zhiyuan's turn to fall silent; he hadn't said such a thing.

The old man sighed, "Sir, you are always welcome to visit our village. Not for gratitude, but out of kindness."

"Okay."

Li Zhiyuan turned around, and Run Sheng squatted down, carried the boy on his back, and walked out of the village.

The old man stood there, watching their figures disappear.

"Grandpa, they're gone, and you're still watching."

The old man sat back down, holding the bamboo pipe in front of him.

The girl laughed, "Grandma often said, Grandpa was handsome when he was young, and that's why Grandma chose you at first sight. Wasn't it like that young man just now?"

The old man laughed and then shook his head, exhaling a puff of smoke, slowly saying:

"When I was young, I was far less than him."

...

Li Zhiyuan lay on Run Sheng's broad back.

When Run Sheng runs, he deliberately maintains the balance of his upper body to reduce the boy's bumps. Li Zhiyuan could even take a nap on Run Sheng's back during this time.

He did fall asleep.

Because he had a premonition that this Old Transgender would be hard to deal with, he must always ensure his best state.

To some extent, Evils that only go on a killing spree are actually easier to handle.

But those with strength and restraint pose a higher danger.

Because that means, she has a brain.

"Xiao Yuan, look quickly."

Run Sheng's voice woke Li Zhiyuan; the boy opened his eyes.

The two of them stood on a mountain top, and further down was the fork where they parted ways with Brother Liangliang and Ran Dacheng.

It was agreed that whoever finished first would wait there, then take the tractor back to the village together.

Now, they stood on the hillside, and could see in the distance, a tractor already driving by.

Driving the tractor was Ran Dacheng.

Behind were four people, respectively Xue Liangliang, Lin Shuyou...

As well as Run Sheng and himself.