Don't mess with that Miao boy, he's sickly and perverted.

"What a pity, we've been discovered." Wu Li's smile widened, revealing the purest malice. "What should we do now?"

He ignored those people and instead grabbed Chai Xiaomi's chin and lifted it up.

The black, sharp nails, like the claws of a demon, poked at her soft cheeks, causing a slight stinging pain.

Just as Chai Xiaomi was about to cry out in pain, she saw Wu Li looking down at her with an extremely focused expression, but his pupils were churning with an almost manic, sinister light: "Tell me, if the secret is discovered, how will you handle the situation?"

Her chin was pinched painfully, and her speech was somewhat unclear:

"Each person will receive a boxed lunch."

Wu Li paused for a moment, not understanding her meaning, and loosened her grip slightly. "You're not allowed to use your Central Plains slang. Say it again."

This isn't a common saying from the Central Plains; it's internet slang. Chai Xiaomi immediately waved her hand and translated for him: "It means, kill them all."

A flicker of excitement mixed with surprise flashed in his alluring heterochromatic eyes. Wu Li seemed somewhat skeptical of Chai Xiaomi's words. He raised a finger and casually pointed at Meng Lu. "You mean—"

"Like this?" He pointed down with his fingertip.

As soon as he finished speaking, the strange writhing in Menglu's throat suddenly stopped. He shuddered, as if his last bit of strength had been drained away. His body quickly withered and turned black, finally turning into a clump of inconspicuous ashes that fell softly into the air.

This speed is faster than a tree demon sucking a person dry!

"Wu Li! You...you've planted the Marrow-Eating Gu in all of us?!"

No one dared to call someone a bastard anymore.

Those men were already deathly pale, as if they had seen a ghost, their legs trembling so badly they could barely stand.

They looked at Wu Li in horror, then at Meng Lu, who had turned to ashes on the ground. They wanted to run away, but their feet seemed to be rooted to the spot.

He hid himself so well that everyone mistakenly believed he was merely a vessel for the high priest to cultivate poison, a monster in the process.

No one realized that the boy before them had long since become a more dangerous being who controlled powerful Gu magic.

Wu Li glanced at them, his gaze icy, as if looking at inanimate objects.

With a flick of his fingertips, the remaining people were reduced to ashes before they could even beg for mercy, their ashes piling up on the ground.

He acted as if he had merely dealt with a few unsightly odds and ends.

"Did I do the right thing?" Wu Li's lips curved into a smile as he looked down at Chai Xiaomi, who was still clinging to his clothes.

"Yes, yes, that's it." Chai Xiaomi nodded haphazardly, her scalp tingling. It was the first time she had witnessed Wu Li's true strength. She suddenly realized that his ability to control her so that she couldn't speak was just child's play.

"Since you did the right thing, what are you afraid of? Why are you keeping your eyes closed?" Wu Li turned her shoulders, forcing her to face the pile of ashes on the ground. He bent down and whispered in her ear, tempting her to open her eyes. "Look, why aren't you looking? Do you think your eyes are dirty?"

Chai Xiaomi shook her head.

Forgive her. She's someone who needs "high-energy warnings" even when watching horror movies. Such a shocking scene without any buffer will really leave her with psychological trauma.

Since she came into this world, she has never gone a night without dreaming.

It's either nightmares or erotic dreams, I've really had enough.

However, Wu Li persisted, clearly indicating that his malicious nature had resurfaced.

"I command you to open your eyes." His voice was even lower, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe. "Otherwise, I will turn you to ashes too."

If he were really going to change, he would have done so already. He's just trying to scare her!

Chai Xiaomi thought angrily, her eyes were indeed wet when she opened them.

"Wu Li..." she whispered, "Next time you do something like this, could you at least let me know beforehand? Don't scare me, okay?"

The boy tilted his head, scrutinizing her eyes, which were reddened with fear, his voice laced with a morbid pleasure: "Not good."

"Millet--!"

Jiang Zhiyu's shouts pierced through the morning mist at that very moment.

"The horses are ready. How's it going on your end?"

"Huh?" Jiang Zhiyu took a few steps closer, holding the reins, and looked around. He had just clearly seen Wu Li talking with several clansmen, but in the blink of an eye, they had all disappeared.

"Wu Li, where are your people?" He was about to step forward.

Chai Xiaomi swiftly kicked the pile of ashes on the ground, then lightly leaped to block the area: "They're gone! We're done too!"

Her voice was clear and crisp, and her smile was flawless.

Wu Li lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the gray-black stain on the tip of her shoe. Deep within his pupils, something dark and sinister slowly surged.

Jiang Zhiyu stopped in his tracks: "That's good. Yao Yao is waiting ahead, come with me."

"Let's go, don't keep them waiting." Chai Xiaomi called to him, her tone relaxed as if nothing had happened.

She bent down to pick up the bundle she had left behind.

A pale, slender hand, however, lifted the two heavy packages easily before she could.

Chai Xiaomi was taken aback and looked up at him.

Wu Li had already turned around, casually slinging his bundle over his shoulder. The lines of his profile appeared somewhat hard in the thin morning sunlight. He took a couple of steps, then, seeing that Chai Xiaomi hadn't followed, tilted his head slightly, his tone flat and emotionless: "Aren't we in a hurry? Keep up."

Chai Xiaomi hurriedly jogged to catch up, walking closely beside him, her mind in turmoil.

Am I scared? A little, but more of a feeling that's hard to describe.

A sense of frustration and anger welled up inside him. If only he could treat her with the same gentleness and brightness he showed to the female lead.

Why do I always enjoy seeing her get frightened?

I hate it, I really hate it.

The mountain road was rugged, and the morning mist was gradually dissipating.

Chai Xiaomi suddenly stopped and looked at the boy's back in front of her.

The morning mist hadn't yet dissipated, leaving a cool, damp layer on his shoulders and slightly wetting the ends of his tousled hair. His silver ornaments swayed gently, and in the hazy light, his figure appeared as frail as a wisp of a ghost that might dissipate at any moment.

This capricious and unpredictable guy...

like......

It's not that annoying anymore.

She quickened her pace to catch up, reaching out to take the bundle from his shoulder: "Let me carry it!"

Wu Li continued walking, his eyes fixed ahead, his tone devoid of emotion: "No need, lest others say I'm mistreating my 'pregnant wife'."

He paused, then added casually, "If you don't want to act in this anymore, then take it."

Chai Xiaomi immediately withdrew her hand, showing no politeness whatsoever.

After walking a few steps, she stared at the dew-dampened grass at her feet, and finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Those people just vanished into thin air. What will you do if the clan chief and the high priest investigate?"