"Come on, damn it! Quit acting like some grieving widow, coming and going all day. Speak! What did you do to Daphne?" I glared menacingly - who would dare cause trouble for her here?
Nuwa's Forsaken Shade shifted slightly, her flimsy nightgown slipping off her perfumed shoulders. But then came two sharp whooshes as my tattooed needles flew across the bed with uncanny accuracy, embedding themselves in the wooden headboard.
"Don't move. Next time, I'll aim for your heart," I threatened.
Having suffered and been fooled before, I'd learned one thing - I wouldn't even give her a chance to move. Let's see how she plays her tricks now.
"Oh? My little brother has grown up, daring to treat his elder sister like this." Nuwa's Forsaken Shade truly didn't dare move again. My expression and tone made it clear I wasn't joking. This was the Lam family residence. If anything happened to Nuwa's Forsaken Shade here and Mr. Lam found out... even if I weren't killed, I'd be crippled. What does a man hate most? Being cuckolded!
"What exactly did you use on Daphne? Why does that monkey's bite make hair grow all over the body with no cure?" I demanded sternly.
Nuwa's Forsaken Shade tittered. "Fool, that's no monkey. That's a human-like demon."
"Human-like demon? What's that? I've never heard of such a thing." I frowned, genuinely unfamiliar with the term.
Nuwa's Forsaken Shade explained that so-called human-like demons are mountain spirits resembling humans with some simian features - covered in red hair with long fangs. They make mountain travelers lose their way, then devour them after they starve to death.
The Dai family's human-like demon had been captured by Mr. Lam from Mount Zhongnan. Most who returned with it either died or went mad - only this one remained.
But Nuwa's Forsaken Shade realized the creature wouldn't live much longer. As its body failed, she placed sorcery upon it, then controlled it to bite Daphne.
The human-like demon's teeth carry ghostly resentment. Its bite causes victims to grow red hair like itself. However, the hair is easily removed - burning it with talisman-fire prevents regrowth. Shaving or cutting is useless; the hair only grows back thicker and faster.
"You lied to her?" I clenched my fists in anger. There was no need to search for any spiritual herb called Polygonatum sibiricum - the whole thing was a scam. Nuwa's Forsaken Shade had tricked Daphne into going to Mount Zhongnan so I would follow!
"Yeah, so what? You brought this on yourself by refusing me. If Daphne dies, the blame rests solely with you!" Nuwa's Forsaken Shade threw all responsibility squarely at me.
"Bullshit! You're twisting the truth!" In my rage, I launched three needles aimed at Nuwa's Forsaken Shade's vital points. They wouldn't kill her - just leave her bedridden for a month with serious injuries.
I heard a few sharp whooshes as my tattoo needles shot toward every vital point on Nuwa's Forsaken Shade's body—only to pierce straight through her.
"A body that thin? A paper double?" I thought in disbelief. But when had she switched to a paper effigy? She'd been speaking just moments ago.
"No need to guess. I've been a paper double since before you even stepped in here!" Nuwa's Forsaken Shade's voice suddenly came from behind me, followed by a sharp slap.
"So, this one too?" Without turning, I flicked my wrist, sending the Copper Coin Sword slashing backward from under my sleeve. It struck the figure behind me with a slicing sound.
Sure enough, this was also a paper double. Nuwa's Forsaken Shade had done so much evil that she was more cautious than anyone. Finding her real body wouldn't be easy.
"Hmph. With so many paper doubles, Mr. Lam must be thrilled," I sneered, my eyes scanning the room. Where the hell is she hiding?
"That old bastard isn't as easy to fool as you are. Did you think I'm the only Erebus-profiteer around him?" She laughed coldly. "Luckily, he's been obsessed with some little starlet lately and hasn't touched me in ages. But you—oh, I've been craving your body. That tattoo your grandfather inked on you? Delicious."
The curtains rustled as her voice shifted. Now she lounged on the windowsill, one long leg exposed, smirking down at me.
"Two-Tailed Little Fox Demon. Martial Saint's grandson, Antonio. Heh, not bad. No wonder you dared to barge into the Lam family to settle scores with me—you've got some decent help." Her gaze flicked outside, as if spotting Antonio and the others.
I'd deliberately kept them downstairs. With Mr. Lam absent, I didn't want them caught off guard if he returned suddenly. Having backup keeping watch was smarter.
"Three Pure Ones' Holy Bronze Sword—so you've been riding your luck for a while now," she mused, eyeing the Copper Coin Sword in my hand.
I ignored her. This woman was vile, ruthless, and cunning—willing to risk Daphne's life for her schemes. Tonight, I would teach her a lesson. With the Holy Bronze Sword, her paper doubles were nothing. One slash, and I'd find her real body.
"Don't look away. I'm the real deal now. Go on—shoot me with a needle if you dare." She tilted her chin up, grinning wickedly. Her black sarong nightgown rode up deliberately, making my face burn.
"Shameless. You think I won't?" I wouldn't hold back. I raised another tattoo needle—this time aiming for the spot between her eyebrows, the Hall of Seals.
A solid hit there would turn her into a fool or a vegetable. Those two points could shatter both mind and heart.
"Aigoo~ Don't miss your shot. What if I accidentally move and you hit my stomach? If I happen to be carrying your child right now, you'd be killing your own flesh and blood with your own hands..." Nuwa's Forsaken Shade suddenly twisted her waist, making it clear she wouldn't just sit still waiting for my needles.
"It's..." I hesitated. Twice already—if she really was pregnant this time, that would be...
"What? Not willing to try again?" Nuwa's Forsaken Shade smirked.
At that moment, her shadow suddenly stretched unnaturally, slithering like a snake before coiling behind me. I stiffened—since when could shadows move on their own?
But before I could react, Nuwa's Forsaken Shade had already swapped places with her shadow, appearing instantly at my back.
Is this sorcery? The technique was bizarre enough to send chills down my spine.
Technically, even my Tattoos of Gods and Ghosts fell under sorcery—it had originated from those dark arts before evolving into its current form.
"Don't come closer." I pressed the Copper Coin Sword against her, keeping her at bay. After all her tricks, I wasn't taking chances.
"Fine, I'll keep my distance. But you are going to Mount Zhongnan."
"Overthinking it. I'm only going for Daphne—don't assume that means I'm on your side." I sheathed the sword. "Forget tonight. From now on, stay out of our lives. Consider this matter settled."
I strode out without another glance. Nuwa's Forsaken Shade didn't stop me, but her parting words lashed like a whip:
"Settled? You think it's that easy? You gave my first time to that old man. I'll haunt you for the rest of your life—unless you find me the secret of immortality."
I shook my head with a cold laugh. Hmph. Crazy bitch.