Exploring the Illusory Tomb Part 1 [Ancient Times Version] - Chapter 47: Heart-Devouring Gu

Chapter 47: Heart-Devouring Gu

Luo Shen paused in thought for a while. She then stepped forward to investigate. She unsheathed Giant Que and walked all the way to the eerie man.

My heart leaped to my throat. Luo Shen stopped a distance away. She was observing carefully. She then suddenly turned and said softly, 

“It’s a corpse. He’s dead.”

We quickly stepped forward. Sure enough, we saw a man’s corpse kneeling on the ground. His long hair hung down. It was covering his face. His clothes had long decayed. It made it impossible to recognize him. It looked like many years had passed, and he was about to turn to ashes.

I looked him up and down. I suddenly noticed that although his clothes were badly rotted, the exposed skin was still intact—honey-toned. It was glowing like that of a living person. He looked like someone who had just died. However, his clothes and the many decayed ropes around him clearly indicated that he had died long ago. This shocked me greatly.

Normally, a freshly dead body starts to smell after a short time. It’s known as corpse stench. But this body had no scent at all. It was as if it were a wax figure. It was frozen here in this underground passage, kneeling for who knows how many years.

What made my scalp tingle the most was the posture of the corpse: both hands touching the ground, knees pressed to the floor, and back arched high. It was as if something were about to burst out from inside him.

The strangeness of it was indescribable.

Luo Shen used Giant Que to gently lift the tattered clothes on his back. The fabric turned to dust the moment it touched the sword tip. It revealed his back. I saw a shocking hole in the middle of his back. Dried bl00d was congealed into a dark brown—clearly something had pierced straight through his heart.

His death had been gruesome.

Luo Shen stared at this strange man and murmured, 

“The corpse hasn’t rotted. Why?”

She was turned sideways. Her long hair was covering her face. So I couldn’t see her expression. But I figured she must be as shocked as I was. I focused my gaze and noticed two pale marks above the wound. Each was about the size of a thumbprint—seemingly some kind of mark.

The longer I stared, the more a chill crept from my feet to my scalp. It made my back tremble involuntarily. I clenched my fists in fear.

Illusion—it must be an illusion.

I shook my head slightly to dismiss the strange sensation. But then Yu Linxing, unreliable as always, stepped forward. She used her scarlet sword to lift the man’s hair. She gasped, 

“Wow, didn’t expect this mummy brother to be such a handsome young man. What a pity he’s dead!”

I was exasperated by her behavior. I thought, “He’s already a mummy, what does it matter if he’s handsome? You want to marry this mummy prince?”

As I thought this, I saw the man’s face revealed under the lifted hair—stunningly handsome, skin clear like jade. His thick brows were furrowed as if he had endured immense pain in death. On his forehead was a golden crescent moon. It was exactly like the one on that child Changsheng’s forehead!

The moment I saw his face, it was like lightning struck my heart—I nearly collapsed.

I knelt down. I was overcome by a strange sorrow. Reaching out to touch his face, Yu Linxing quickly called, 

“Shishi, don’t touch him!” 

But my hand had already made contact. His cheek was ice-cold. It was smooth like fine jade.

Suddenly, a floodgate burst open in my heart. A torrent of sounds and images surged forth—

—Brother Yuan, why don’t you grow a beard? Guys your age should already have one.

—Because I’m afraid it’ll poke your hands. So I shaved it off, silly girl.

—Brother Yuan!

—Run! Don’t let them catch you! Don’t come back!

Flames raged all around. More and more people died. Their faces were twisted in fear. A flock of large black birds circled low in the sky. It was thick and oppressive. It was making my eyes sting.

The vision receded. But the man who had shouted to me was pierced through the chest. His body staggered and fell. But even as he dropped, he still wore a gentle smile.

His smile mixed with the bl00d and became blurred—

—Never come back. Run.

Those strange images churned in my mind. It was whipping at my heart until sorrow overwhelmed me.

He died. He had died for so many years. I didn’t even know him. Why was I grieving?

Why was I grieving?

It hurt so much. My head felt like it would explode.

When I looked up, everything before me was awash in red. Yu Linxing and Ah Que were bathed in a crimson haze. I instinctively gripped Jin Se and stood up. Yu Linxing looked shocked and screamed, 

“Shishi, your eyes!” 

Everyone else backed away in fear.

I twirled Jin Se into a sword flower and forced a smile. 

“What’s wrong? Why are you all so scared of me? Am I a ghost?”

My body started trembling. Deep down, I didn’t want to smile. But I couldn’t stop it. I must’ve looked terrifying—no wonder they were so scared.

I spun in place, lost, not knowing what to do.

Suddenly, a warm, fragrant body drew close. Hands rested on my shoulders and gently pulled me into a soft, fragrant embrace. That familiar cold fragrance overwhelmed me.

“Don’t overthink it.” 

A soft voice whispered by my ear. It was like the gentlest wave.

Hearing that light and steady voice, I opened my eyes wide. It felt like I’d found solace. I couldn’t control it—the tears began to fall.

“Luo Shen.”

“I’m here.”

“Luo Shen, I’m dying… it hurts so much.”

“I know. I’m here with you. Don’t be afraid.”

She held me tightly. I clung to her like a lifeline. I buried my face in her chest. I was greedily breathing in her cold scent. After a long while, I finally calmed down and pulled away. She looked down at me. Her eyes were deep and dark. Her hand still held my wrist tightly, not letting go.

Yu Linxing’s face was pale. Walking beside me, she said with concern, 

“Shishi…”

I forced an awkward smile. 

“Scared you, didn’t I? I’m weird sometimes, don’t mind me.”

“No…” 

She quickly waved her hand and said warmly, 

“I also have nightmares often—but not like you. Yours happen in broad daylight. If they happen in the day, they’re not really dreams, right?” 

She smiled like warm spring sunshine.

I rubbed my eyes. I knew she was trying to comfort me. Just as I was about to speak, Luo Shen’s hand suddenly trembled violently and turned ice-cold.

Startled, I turned to look at her. Then came a creepy *shhh shhh shhh* sound in my ears.

A rustling noise passed by. Then we saw a black tide surging through a tunnel—rolling toward us. I looked closer—this was no water. It was a swarm of black insects!

The bugs had red lines all over their bodies. From a distance, the swarm looked like a black-and-red carpet—it was the Heart-Devouring Gu that Qing Songzi once held in his hand!

The moment Luo Shen saw those Gu, her body trembled violently. She staggered back a few steps. She murmured, 

“How… how is this possible… It’s her… she’s here.”

Her eyes lost their light. Her expression faded. It was as if her soul had scattered. She looked utterly lost.

I’d seen how these bugs instantly turned He Lao Wu into a pool of bl00d. Without thinking, I grabbed Luo Shen’s wrist and used Shifting Flower Steps to dash into a side passage. I yelled, 

“Witch! Run! Don’t let those bugs touch you!”

Yu Linxing had never seen the horror of Heart-Devouring Gu. But my shout triggered her instinct. She and the disciples of Mo Yin Valley followed closely. They were running for their lives.

These Gu couldn’t be touched or fought—ten times more terrifying than those mummy beasts.

Luo Shen stumbled behind me. Her face was pale. It was like she’d lost her soul. Strong and composed as she was, this was her second breakdown—and again, because of the Heart-Devouring Gu.

There was no time to ask questions. I had only one goal—keep her safe. With that in mind, I sprinted ahead with all my strength.

But just as we reached a fork, another swarm of black bugs gushed out. They surrounded us.

My heart sank. I quickly pulled the dazed Luo Shen behind me and stopped.

Just then, one Heart-Devouring Gu grew wings and flew toward Yu Linxing. On instinct, she slashed with her scarlet sword. I didn’t even have time to shout—the bug was split in half. And black liquid splattered everywhere.

I waved to block it. But some of the liquid hit my sleeve. It was making a *ssss* sound. My sleeve instantly corroded into several black holes.

Yu Linxing turned pale with fear and came closer. She trembled. 

“These bugs are that strong? We’re done, Shishi, we’re going to die here.”

She held the scarlet sword to the side and added, 

“No one will hear my last words, and no one will clean up my corpse either!”

I was terrified too. But I stubbornly said, 

“What corpse? If they touch us, we’ll just melt into puddles!”

“Oh no, I wanted to take my beauty to the grave!”

I knew she was talking nonsense to stay brave. But at a life-or-death moment, her jokes added a tragic touch. As the Gu surged closer, Luo Shen suddenly stepped forward from behind me.

“Luo Shen!” 

I tried to grab her. But she was swift as a swallow and slipped away.

Then she suddenly slashed her wrist with her sword. Her pale face showed firm resolve. Bl00d dripped from her wrist onto the ground. It was blooming like red flowers with every trembling step.

Luo Shen spread her white arm. Bl00d dripped continuously. The Heart-Devouring Gu smelled her bl00d and went wild. They were swarming toward her.

I felt my knees buckle—I understood. She was feeding the Gu.

Gu obey their master’s will. And they must be raised with a lure—bl00d is essential to control powerful Gu.

“Luo Shen, come back!” 

I screamed.

She stood among the seething swarm like a blooming white lotus. Bl00d dripped down like living threads. It was weaving into the Heart-Devouring Gu mass. The insects surged but didn’t touch her. They were waiting for the bl00d to spread before feeding.

“I’ll feed them—let me do it! Come back! You’ll die!”

I took a step forward without hesitation.

Luo Shen’s eyes were red. Her thin shoulders were trembling from bl00d loss. 

“Only my bl00d… only my bl00d will work.”

Then she bit her lip and coldly shouted, 

“Step back! If you come closer, I… I’ll never speak to you again!”