I'm modifying myself into the ultimate demon.

Chapter 78 Surrogate Motherhood, Spiritual Infant Descends into the World!
After bidding farewell to Guo Ziyu and the other two, Chen Mo headed straight for the Li residence.

Walking through the bustling black market, Chen Mo saw a peddler selling candied hawthorns. A group of children surrounded the peddler, shouting that they wanted to eat candied hawthorns.

The image of Chen Yuer immediately came to Chen Mo's mind.

I was thinking of buying a few skewers for Xiaoyuer to take back with her.

Having been away from home for half a month, Xiaoyuer must be looking forward to it. If he goes back empty-handed, he will feel ashamed of his status as "brother".

Chen Mo took out a few loose silver coins from his pocket and was about to approach when he suddenly saw a familiar little girl rush towards the peddler. Upon seeing the little girl, the surrounding children scattered as if they had seen a plague, seemingly terrified of her.

The little girl bought the candied hawthorn and skipped away.

is her?

Chen Mo remembered...

This little girl is the one who bumped into me at the entrance when I first went to Lei's Martial Arts School.

At first, Chen Mo thought the little girl was just someone who had come to watch the fun and accidentally bumped into him, so he didn't pay much attention. Later, after being affected by the Nightmare Spell, he realized that the little girl had taken the opportunity to stick paper figures on him.

However, the little girl was never found.

I never expected to see her in the Blood Ridge Black Market now.

This place is not far from the Li residence; you can already see the gate of the Li residence.

Chen Mo happened to see the little girl skipping and hopping into the gate of the Li residence.

Chen Mo suddenly paused for a moment, then immediately categorized and summarized the complex information in his mind, and made a deduction.

"I understand!"

Now that Chen Mo has entered the realm of spiritual cultivation and has studied talismanic arts with Guo Ziyu for a long time, he naturally understands the principles of the Nightmare Suppression Technique. He also understands Granny Li's original intentions.

It means drawing blood.

The reason I was able to remove the red wax from the well was because I was a symbiote of madness, and because of the system, I was a perfect symbiote.

The core of a symbiotic organism's function is its bloodline.

Therefore, Granny Li attacked me twice not only to abduct me, but also to extract my blood.

Liu Mazi was controlled by the Nightmare Spell. Although he injured himself, his body was burned by Chen Mo. Obtaining his blood was impossible... so the only possibility was this little girl.

She had taken the opportunity to bump into him, not only placing the paper figure on his clothes but also taking the chance to draw his blood. Perhaps his martial arts skills were not up to par at the time, while the little girl was quite capable, and he hadn't noticed the blood-drawing process.

Li Bingxiu's methods are truly remarkable.

Being stared at by such a cunning and wicked woman is never pleasant.

This person cannot be allowed to live.

Chen Mo cleared his mind of distractions and lost interest in buying candied hawthorns. Instead, he walked up to a little boy who had just run away and showed him a shiny piece of silver.

"I'll ask you something. If you answer it well, this silver is yours."

The child was dressed in tattered clothes, his face covered in dust. He was clearly the child of a peddler's assistant from the neighborhood, born into a poor family. Upon seeing the loose silver in Chen Mo's hand, he showed an expression of intense longing and nodded emphatically.

Chen Mo asked, "Why were you so afraid of that little girl from earlier?"

The little boy said timidly, "That little girl is called Little Sugar, and she can use evil magic. Everyone is afraid of her, afraid of upsetting her and falling under her spell."

really……

Chen Mo patiently asked, "Have you ever seen her use evil magic?"

The little boy was a bit hesitant to speak, but after seeing the loose silver coins dangling in Chen Mo's hand, he mustered up his courage and said, "A while ago, a big boy snatched her candied hawthorn, and she sent him flying more than ten meters with just one look, hitting his head and bleeding profusely. That big boy was really tall and strong; the four of us kids couldn't even push him away."

It turned out to be the case.

The method of preserving the spirit involves the outward expression of the spirit.

It's truly remarkable that she could master the art of preserving the spirit at such a young age. I wonder which method she's learning, and which evil deity she's visualizing.

Although it surprised Chen Mo somewhat, it wasn't exactly frightening.

Only Chen Mo himself knew how terrifying the spiritual overflow of the Second God was.

In the entire Red Lantern Sect, only the Great Master of Fate has reached the level of the Second Existence God.

Moreover, Chen Mo has now mastered the use of the Two-Spirit.

No matter how terrifying Granny Li's family is, surely they wouldn't have a master on par with the Great Master of Fate?
Of course, Chen Mo was only using Da Siming as a reference. If he really met Da Siming in person... he would still have to back down.

"Here's the money."

Chen Mo gave the little boy the loose silver coins and then walked towards the Li residence.

Soon, Chen Mo arrived at the Li residence.

The scene at the entrance was as familiar as ever.

Two large trees and an ancient well.

The courtyard door was ajar.

A chilling wind blew out from inside the door, sending a shiver down one's spine.

Chen Mo mobilized his inner energy to dispel the attack, then stepped forward and knocked on the courtyard gate.

dong dong dong.

A short while later, the door opened with a creak.

A small head peeked out; it was indeed Little White Sugar from before. She was eating a string of candied hawthorns, and upon seeing Chen Mo, instead of being afraid, she showed a hint of anger. But Little White Sugar quickly suppressed that anger, replacing it with an innocent smile.

"Hehe, it's you. Grandma knew you were coming and was waiting for you inside. Come on in with me."

After saying that, Little Sugar skipped and hopped ahead to lead the way.

Chen Mo followed him inside.

The scene inside was similar to last time: the yard was full of weeds, desolate everywhere, and smelled of grass. The lighting was poor, and it was dark and gloomy.

However, when they crossed the yard and arrived at the living room door, the scene changed dramatically.

A red carpet was laid on the floor, and two festive red lanterns and red ribbons hung at the entrance of the hall. Two paper figures dressed in red dresses were placed at the entrance. The hall was decorated with a joyous atmosphere, with even the dining table and chairs covered in red cloth, and a table full of delicious food, clearly a wedding setup.

However, the living room was empty and quiet.

Chen Mo had been here before and wanted to go to the backyard, but Granny Li wouldn't let him in.

Upon returning to the living room, Chen Mo stopped and asked the little girl, "Is someone getting married at the Li residence today?"

Who's getting married?
Old Master Li?
That's impossible. Old Master Li is no longer human; whether he still has that function... is another matter. Besides, his legal wife, Li Bingxiu, is still alive; there's absolutely no question of remarrying. As for taking a concubine... in ancient families where the man is weak and the woman is strong, that's even more out of the question.

Little Sugar didn't answer, but smiled and said, "Since you're here, you're a guest, and your mother-in-law should treat you well. Come with me to the backyard. The wedding banquet is all set up, just waiting for you to take your seat."

After saying that, Little Sugar ignored Chen Mo and skipped off to the backyard.

Chen Mo activated his six senses, opening both Yin and Yang, mobilizing his true energy, and cultivating his spirit, vigilantly observing any subtle changes in his surroundings. Only then did he follow them to the backyard.

As soon as Chen Mo entered the backyard, he was stunned by the scene before him.

The backyard was covered with a red carpet and hung with red lanterns everywhere. In the center was a large table laden with delicious food. A large red sedan chair stood at the entrance to the living room, and shadowy figures could be seen moving inside. A chilling cry of "First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to the parents" could also be heard.

There is an ancient well in the southeast corner of the courtyard.

Chen Mo recognized the well the moment he saw it.

The well I saw in the ghost town back then... was this very well!
That's right! It's so familiar.

Li Hongxi crawled out of that ancient well in the first place. Although the red wax on it had disappeared, it left behind marks of being scraped and some red wax residue.

Grandma Li, dressed in a festive red robe, was fetching water from the ancient well and then lighting a fire next to it to cook a pot of meat, which emitted a wonderful aroma.

Grandma Li wasn't surprised at all by Chen Mo's arrival. Without turning her head, she said, "You've come. Find a seat. The banquet will begin after the wedding. You're the first guest. Have a good drink with the bride and groom later. You're a great benefactor to our Li family, and we should thank you."

Chen Mo, carrying the knife, found a place to sit down.

Chen Mo was surprised by how calm Granny Li was.

"Little Sugar, our honored guest has arrived, why haven't you poured tea yet?" Granny Li said as she cooked the meat.

Xiao Baitang said "Oh" and poured Chen Mo a cup of tea.

The tea is red.

Although tea leaves, ginseng, and goji berries were added, a faint smell of blood still lingered.

Chen Mo didn't drink it. "What kind of tea is this?"

Little Sugar said, "Grandma said this is the best blood tea. It's very nourishing. My sister and brother-in-law drank this blood tea before their wedding ceremony. Most people don't have this kind of luck."

Chen Mo didn't ask any more questions, glancing at the two people in the living room who were getting married.

Because the living room was dimly lit, it was impossible to see people's faces clearly.

But Chen Mo sensed something was wrong.

Something's not right... but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Perhaps Little Sugar really does have an older sister.

Before long, Granny Li finished cooking the pork and brought it out in a large iron basin.

It's braised pork ribs.

These ribs are a bit small, not like pork or beef chops, but more like lamb chops.

It was cooked to medium-rare, and traces of blood were still faintly visible.

"The wedding ceremony won't be over for a while yet, let's have some tea first." Granny Li wiped her hands with a handkerchief like a housewife, then sat down opposite Chen Mo. "I heard that Young Master Mo is very interested in the play script arranged by Elder Xie?"

Chen Mo wasn't in a hurry. "Hmm. Granny Li insisted that I had to step in before she would sell the opera scores."

Granny Li took out a yellowed booklet and placed it on the table. "Young Master Mo is a regular customer. I don't trust that Li Qingniu. I'm afraid the opera score won't end up in Young Master Mo's hands. It's more reassuring to do it hand in hand."

Chen Mo glanced at the booklet and said, "Grandma Li is indeed cautious, that makes sense. I'm here now, please name your price."

Granny Li said, "I don't want money. I want to borrow something from Young Master Mo. That will be the end of the transaction."

That sounds familiar...

Chen Mo narrowed his eyes, "I wonder what Granny Li wants to borrow from me?"

Granny Li didn't explain further, but instead handed the opera score to Chen Mo directly, saying, "Young Master Mo, please inspect the goods first."

Chen Mo took the booklet and glanced at it; his pupils contracted.

The cover has five large characters: Qinghe Liyuan Opera.

The term "Liyuan" generally refers to opera troupes, so there's not much to say about it.

It was the name "Qinghe" that caught Chen Mo's eye.

The cover is made of animal hide, and it shows signs of wear and tear over time, with numerous cracks, which suggests it is not a forgery.

Just as Chen Mo was about to open the book, Granny Li said, "Young Master Mo, don't rush to open it. Let me tell you a story."

Chen Mo guessed that the story the other party was about was probably related to this opera, so he said, "Please tell me, Granny Li."

Granny Li recounted the story in detail: "Long ago, there was a scholar named Li Qing who, having repeatedly failed the imperial examinations, returned to his hometown in despair and spent his days frequenting brothels and theaters. One day, while watching a play, he fell in love with a young actress named Shen Yujun. The two quickly became lovers. Li Qing wanted to marry Shen Yujun, but his father strongly opposed it. Does Young Master Mo know why?"

Chen Mo immediately became interested in the story; didn't this match the script of a shadow puppet show?
It should be the same story.

"Because most of the leading actors in the opera troupe were of low social status, and Li Qing was, after all, a scholar from a family of scholars, it was understandable that his father looked down on opera singers."

Granny Li shook her head. "If Shen Yujun were just an opera singer, that would be understandable. Li Qing's mother was a lead actress in an opera troupe. This shows that Li Qing's father was not a pedantic person."

Chen Mo became even more interested. "Why is that?"

Granny Li said, "The opera troupe that Shen Yujun belongs to is a troupe that performs 'ghost operas.' So-called 'ghost operas' are not for the living."

Chen Mo felt a chill run down his spine.

There's a folk custom where, when someone dies, a theatrical troupe is hired to perform. This is called "ghost opera," and it's considered taboo for the living to watch.

In his previous life, in the Xiangxi region, when someone died, a music and dance troupe would be hired to sing and perform. Chen Mo was young then and happily went to watch. Because it was a relatively modern area, no one seemed to have any reservations. Later, when Chen Mo grew up, he realized that the music and dance troupe's performances… were actually just for the dead.

After that, Chen Mo stopped going to see it.

Grandma Li continued, "Because of Li Qing's father's obstruction, the two had a falling out. But coincidentally, Li Qing's father suffered a stroke that very night. And the place where he had the stroke happened to be the opera troupe. After that, Li Qing inherited the family business and married Shen Yujun."

"What then?"

"Li Qing's mother also disagreed, but women had a low social status and couldn't resist her insistence. She demanded that Shen Yujun give birth to a child as soon as possible to continue the Li family line. But strangely enough, after Shen Yujun married into the Li family, she couldn't conceive. They consulted many doctors, but none could find a solution. Finally, Shen Yujun came up with a method." At this point, Granny Li paused, her expression becoming somewhat panicked. After a long while, she continued, "I don't know which ancient book Shen Yujun read about, but there was a saying called 'the spirit child who brings children.'"

Chen Mo asked, "What is a spirit child who delivers a child?"

Granny Li said, "The so-called 'child-giving spirit child' is to find a pregnant woman's corpse, cut out the dead baby from her abdomen, and place it in the family shrine for worship. Then you will receive blessings and be able to conceive a child."

Chen Mo felt a chill run down his spine.

It is precisely in this bizarre and chaotic world that so many filthy things exist.

"What then?"

Granny Li sighed. "Shen Yujun told Li Qing about this idea. Li Qing, being a scholar, naturally disagreed. But he couldn't resist his mother's urging, and with his father's health deteriorating, he wanted to have a child for the family before his father passed away. So he agreed. However, they hadn't found any deceased pregnant women in the town, so Li Qing and his wife went to the mass graves in the mountains to search. Finally, they found a pregnant woman's corpse. It was said that the woman had been dead for sixty years, yet she was as if she were still alive. Li Qing dug out the baby from the woman's abdomen. The baby was also very alive. The couple then placed the baby in the family shrine."

Sure enough, not long after, Shen Yujun became pregnant, much to the delight of the whole family. They simply awaited the ten months of pregnancy and the birth of the baby.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo felt a chill run down his spine, vaguely sensing that the story Granny Li was telling... was not entirely unfounded.

This could very well involve the details of the birth of that yellow-robed baby.

Thinking of this, Chen Mo held his breath and asked, "Was the baby born safely?"

Granny Li took a sip of blood tea to moisten her throat before continuing, "It's strange, really. Most pregnancies last ten months, but Shen Yujun's belly was already quite large after only ten days. They specifically called a doctor to check, but the doctor said the baby was ready to be born. That night, it was dark and windy, with thunder and lightning. Shen Yujun gave birth in her room, and even had a midwife..."

Gulu!

Granny Li swallowed hard before continuing, "The midwife asked the maid to bring hot water and burn mugwort to prepare for the delivery... but they found that the baby had run out on its own. It rushed off the bed and disappeared in a flash. Even more strangely, the stillborn baby that had been enshrined in the shrine was also gone."

hiss!
Upon hearing this, Chen Mo gasped.

If this story is true, then...it means that the yellow-robed infant...was born again through a surrogate mother!

Could it be that this yellow-robed baby really came about in this way?
After careful consideration, Chen Mo felt that the story was full of detail and did not seem to be fictional.

Thinking of this, Chen Mo slowly raised his head, stared at Granny Li opposite him, and said, word by word, "I see that Granny Li is over sixty years old, the time matches up. So... who are you?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: Just finished writing, so I'll just post it now. Still writing 10,000 words a day, please vote with monthly tickets! Every monthly ticket is incredibly precious.

(End of this chapter)