Chapter 144 - 143: I Can’t Resist Temptation

Chapter 144: Chapter 143: I Can’t Resist Temptation

He Xiaotian decided to lie low for now. Killing everyone would be simple—he could just grab his Big Hammer and go on a rampage.

But the reasons behind it all, the organization they belonged to...

What exactly were they trying to do? What was their true purpose?

At the moment, He Xiaotian was completely in the dark, with no clue what was going on.

So, he would play along with their script for now, then sneak out later to see if he could overhear any useful information.

The maiden supported He Xiaotian—who appeared so drunk his legs could barely hold him but was in fact perfectly clear-headed—all the way up to the third floor.

This floor seemed to be for guest rooms, each door marked with an ancient-style numbering character.

He had no idea if this was how things were actually categorized in ancient times.

But in the present day, it looked quite convincing.

CREAK!

The maiden pushed open the wooden door and helped the staggering He Xiaotian lie down on the bed.

He squinted, his eyes scanning the room.

The entire room’s layout was also in an ancient style.

There were no modern items in the cabin; household appliances were completely out of the question.

Inside the antique room, there was also a beautiful maiden with a graceful and slender figure.

Anyone not in their right mind would have probably turned into a werewolf by now.

Unfortunately for her, He Xiaotian wasn’t interested. He just wanted to see what the maiden would do next.

A faint scent of blood suddenly wafted into his nostrils.

The maiden opened a wooden cabinet in the room and took out a wooden bucket.

And the smell of blood was coming from that very bucket.

SHING!

By the time she turned around, the gentle expression on her face was long gone, replaced by a ferocious look.

The skin on her right hand split open, and five gleaming white bones burst out from within.

They shimmered with a cold light under the flickering candlelight.

A scratch from those would be enough to disembowel a person.

TAP! TAP!

The maiden, her true face revealed, walked toward He Xiaotian step by step.

He could clearly sense her gaze fixed on his neck.

It looked like she was planning to slash his throat.

To send him to his grave!

As the sharp presence drew near, He Xiaotian’s eyes snapped open without any warning.

"Hic! Wh-what... what are you doing?"

A cloud of alcohol-laced breath washed over the maiden, startling her. The bone claws on her hand instantly retracted, making it look like a normal hand again.

But seeing He Xiaotian’s glazed, unfocused eyes, she breathed a sigh of relief.

She’d almost forgotten—this guest had drunk a lot of the spiked wine.

"Guest, I’m here to wipe you down and help you get to bed, of course."

Her voice was as sweet and delicate as a songbird, truly pitiable.

’But the bucket you use for water reeks of blood?’

"Oh, th-then... you t-turn... turn... around. I... I’ll take... my c-clo... clothes off..." He Xiaotian slurred, his breath reeking of alcohol.

"Oh, are you shy? Alright then, I’ll turn around. Be quick about it."

That tone, this environment...

It was enough to make any man lose control.

The moment the maiden turned her back, a sharp glint flashed in He Xiaotian’s eyes. He instantly transformed into a predatory tiger and pounced.

His movements were fierce and swift, like a sudden clap of thunder.

Even though the woman sensed something was wrong and was about to scream...

...a large hand clamped over her mouth, while another grabbed the crown of her head.

He Xiaotian applied a bit of force. CRACK.

In the blink of an eye, he had snapped her neck.

’Something’s not right!’

The body didn’t feel human at all. It was like a skeleton stuffed inside an inflatable doll, with no flesh and blood underneath.

Before the woman could counterattack, He Xiaotian acted decisively, pulling her into a bear hug.

He squeezed with all his might!

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

[Ding! You have killed a White Bone Anomaly. Gained 100 Experience Points.]

And to think he’d been so cautious. Turns out it was just a worthless mob.

Of course, part of the reason was that He Xiaotian didn’t want her to alert the others.

If that happened, he’d have to pull out his Big Hammer and just smash his way through.

Getting exposed wasn’t the scary part; the scary part was the boss running away early.

He looked at the crumpled form on the floor, which looked like a tattered ragdoll and hadn’t spilled a single drop of blood. He licked his lips and said, "I’m the kind of person who can’t resist temptation. So, if you don’t mind, please go and die."

TAP! TAP!

Outside the door, the sound of dense footsteps approached.

He Xiaotian immediately darted over and pressed his ear against the door.

After the sounds faded into the distance, he carefully opened the door a crack.

He saw numerous maidens with graceful figures, each carrying a wooden bucket with both hands, descending toward the grand hall on the second floor.

The figures vanished completely, leaving behind a thick, metallic scent of blood in the hallway.

It was obvious what the buckets contained.

’Don’t tell me I’ve run into another organization that performs blood sacrifices.’

The last time he took down the Gourmet Kitchen, he ended up getting cursed.

To be honest, it left him with a bit of trauma.

’Who cares! As long as there are Experience Points, a curse is nothing. Besides, I’ve cultivated the Nine Yang Divine Skill. Even if it’s an incomplete version, its power is nothing to scoff at. Didn’t I get rid of the Gluttonous King’s curse just fine?’

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

As the thought crossed his mind, a series of cracking and popping sounds echoed from his bones. His entire body immediately shrank down to about 1.4 meters tall.

He used the Bone Shrinking Skill to minimize his chances of being exposed.

The moment he saw the boss, he would erupt and go for the kill!

Thanks to his abilities—borrowing force, lightening his body, and staying airborne—He Xiaotian’s pursuit was completely silent.

Over a hundred maidens, each carrying a bucket full of blood, passed through the second-floor hall and entered the lowest deck.

They didn’t speak to each other, their expressions serene.

It was clear this wasn’t the first time they had done something like this.

’Vicious.’

’Mass murder... the mastermind behind this really doesn’t see people as human.’

BANG!

The iron door to the lowest deck slammed shut, and the entire ancient ship fell into silence, save for the swaying of a few candles.

He Xiaotian arrived before the door, extended his right hand, and stuck out his index finger.

A layer of cyan flame ignited on it, and he jabbed his finger at the iron door.

Thanks to his special attribute—Flame of Metal Dissolution—his finger pierced through the door with ease.

TSSSSS!

Luckily, the iron door wasn’t too thick, barely a finger’s width.

He Xiaotian pulled his arm back and peered inside.

And then he saw a sight he would never forget for the rest of his life.

In the center of the lowest deck, there was a massive pool.

No, it should be called a blood pool.

Every maiden was pouring blood into it. The overwhelmingly thick stench of blood assaulted his nostrils.

Above the pool of blood, a blood orb the size of a human head was constantly churning.

Bubbles would occasionally form on the orb’s surface before popping.

In contrast, the maidens—every single one of them—had expressions of pure enjoyment.

"Sisters, it’s time to wash our human skins. Don’t forget, if we fail to bathe in fresh blood within twenty-four hours, they’ll become useless. And how will we lure those men onto the ship then?" The speaker was the announcer from the grand hall.

In response, the hundred-plus maidens giggled charmingly.

Unconsciously, He Xiaotian got a nosebleed.

’I’m the kind of person who can’t resist temptation, so please, all of you, go and die!’