Chapter 217 - 215: Aren’t You Afraid I’ll Kill You?
"What is your relationship with that Corpse Refining Sect member?" Song Changming continued the unfinished questioning.
"He was the one who took me away..." Although the little girl appeared to be only eight or nine years old, her mind seemed more mature than her peers.
At least she understood how to assess the situation, organize her words, and keep her thoughts clear.
No matter how terrified she was inside, she didn’t completely break down and cry, trying her best to control herself.
Song Changming was coaxing information out of her, and the little girl, guided by him, revealed many of her experiences.
She grew up in the Ancient Abyss Country and didn’t seem to be from an ordinary family.
About two years ago, her mother suddenly disappeared, and in a daze, she was sent by her family to a small town on the border of the Ancient Abyss Country, and then taken to the Outer Domain Land of Great Fog by the Corpse Refining Sect member.
"Why did the Corpse Refining Sect member keep you around? Was it just because of your Pupil Technique?" Song Changming asked after listening.
"I have a Yin Vein, and he wants to turn me into a Yin Puppet after I turn sixteen..." Su Qingqing said softly.
She accidentally overheard this, and although she didn’t know what a Yin Puppet was, staying with that Corpse Refining Sect member for so long made her realize it was probably no different from those Corpse Puppets.
She tried to escape several times but was always caught and almost starved to death.
Until she met Song Changming this time, she managed to escape the imprisonment of the Corpse Refining Sect member.
Song Changming observed the little girl, confirming whether she showed any signs of lying.
After all, she was just a child. No matter how clever, she couldn’t deceive him.
"When did that Corpse Refining Sect member acquire that corpse puppet?" Song Changming asked about the main issue after probing the girl’s background.
"According to him, it should have been twenty years ago..." Su Qingqing’s memory must be excellent, as she could recall many things irrelevant to her, even drunken words.
In the Corpse Refining Sect, being able to refine a Black Rock Corpse Puppet was something to boast about.
Therefore, during her time following him, the Corpse Refining Sect member mentioned this more than once.
"Do you know the whereabouts of the bodies that were taken away with the corpse puppet?" Song Changming asked with a mindset of just trying.
The little girl shook her head and did not know about this.
After all, she had only been with the Corpse Refining Sect member for two years, and such a long-past matter wasn’t something she could know in detail if he didn’t share.
The questioning concluded, and the air turned heavy.
Not getting the information he most wanted from the girl left him somewhat disappointed.
"In that case, I’ll have to seek information from other Corpse Refining Sect members..." Song Changming thought to himself while roasting bear meat over the fire.
The bear was a fierce beast from under the great fog, not a Fog Beast.
It was unfortunate to encounter Song Changming.
Rich oils dripped from the meat and bones, sizzling as they hit the fire.
The aroma quickly spread around.
The little girl swallowed, clutching her rumbling stomach.
Her dark eyes seemed glued to the meat and bones.
She was already pale, having not eaten in a long time and being unconscious for a whole day and night, leaving her malnourished.
Song Changming refocused his thoughts, gazing at the little girl eagerly watching the roasted meat, contemplating what to do with her.
If the little girl were a disciple of the Corpse Refining Sect, causing harm to others, it would be simplest to just strike her down with a single blow.
But ultimately, she was just a poor child abducted by human traffickers, making it a difficult decision for him.
He took a large bone with meat attached and handed it over.
"Eat," Song Changming said.
Originally weak and dispirited, Su Qingqing’s eyes lit up seeing the steaming bone meat in front of her.
Disregarding everything else, she opened her mouth wide and took a bite, almost rolling on the ground from the heat, tears welling in her eyes.
Song Changming realized that although the girl appeared clever, she was quite careless.
After a few bites, she choked, her cheeks flushed red, and Song Changming had to hand over a water bottle to help.
"Thank you...," Su Qingqing mumbled.
After filling her stomach, Song Changming extinguished the fire, stood up, and dusted himself off to leave.
The little girl blinked, a bit panicked, glancing around at the pitch-black surroundings, shivering.
She immediately tossed away the bone she had gnawed clean and cautiously followed Song Changming.
Falling behind him, she didn’t dare to get too close.
Song Changming glanced at the little girl from the corner of his eye and said nothing, allowing her to follow.
The night was so dark. Su Qingqing stumbled along, her steps uneven.
As it grew later in the night, she became more fatigued and wobbly, almost falling, unable to keep up with Song Changming.
Song Changming stopped walking.
"Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?"
He had previously threatened and intimidated the little girl.
Logically, he should appear extremely dangerous to her.
"Afraid," Su Qingqing confessed honestly.
"But if I don’t follow, I will die here too..."
The instinct to survive allowed her to overcome her fear of Song Changming. She knew how dangerous this thick fog was.
Alone here, she likely wouldn’t make it through the night and would most probably become prey for a Fog Beast.
Therefore, she had to follow Song Changming.
Right now, only Song Changming could protect her.
A moment later.
Song Changming found a cave within the rocks and took a brief rest inside.
He glanced at the little girl sleeping soundly in the corner of the cave, wrapped tightly in a gray cloak, resembling a disguised stone.
In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to drive her away.
He turned his head to look at the darkness outside the cave and sighed heavily in his heart.
Thinking of his elder and second brother, who were turned into Corpse Puppets and were restless in their deaths, he felt stifled.
He thought of his deceased parents and childhood memories.
"Corpse Refining Sect..."
Song Changming’s eyes were dark and cold.
When the next morning arrived.
Song Changming set off again. Su Qingqing, drowsy from sleep, heard the commotion and sprang to her feet without hesitation, hurriedly following.
Today, for her, was another day of fighting to survive.
As they moved to the bottom of a mountain, Song Changming saw several broken corpses.
From the torn clothes, it was clear that these people were the deceased disciples of Wangyue Pavilion.
Judging by the blood stains and the degree of decay, they had just died recently.
The surrounding devastation indicated that a fierce battle had taken place nearby.
There were traces of Fog Beasts rampaging, as well as remnants of sword fights.
It seemed Wangyue Pavilion’s team didn’t gain any advantage in the battle.
Song Changming unconsciously quickened his pace; he didn’t want to return without having seen Liu Yan’Er, only to bring back ill news.
After walking a bit further, he suddenly stopped.
Su Qingqing, following closely behind, nearly bumped into Song Changming.
"Wha-what’s wrong..." Su Qingqing asked weakly.
Song Changming just looked around.
Soon, a sense of chilliness engulfed them.
In the thick fog, pairs of eyes emitting eerie glows were moving restlessly.
With sharp perception, Song Changming sensed the scattering Scorching Mist Energy and confirmed that a group of Fog Beasts was approaching.
Su Qingqing quickly reacted and was quite scared.
"Wha-what should we do..."
As the Fog Beasts emerged from the fog, appearing before them, Su Qingqing panicked and nervously grabbed Song Changming’s sleeve, fearing he would abandon her and flee.
They were two-headed wolves with pitch-black fur, bodies as big as rhinoceroses, and jaws full of protruding fangs, looking rather fierce.
Song Changming stood his ground, seemingly unfazed or perhaps accustomed to such situations.
For him, this was just a minor scene.
With his powerful refined Spiritual Power, under spiritual perception, he could easily assess these Fog Beasts’ strength and judge their threat level towards him.
These two-headed wolves were merely equivalent to the threat level of a First Layer Qi Refining Martial Artist.
They were nothing more than small fry to Song Changming.
What concerned Song Changming wasn’t this pack of two-headed wolves.
Instead, it was the Outer Realm Evil Cult Members who drove the two-headed wolves to approach them.
About three or four of them emerged slowly from behind the wolf pack.
With their attire instantly recognizable as Outer Domain style, they held several Mist gold pieces.
Approaching, they began observing Song Changming.
"Hey, doesn’t seem like a Wangyue Pavilion disciple?"
"No matter, this guy getting here must also be quite capable. Killing him and selling him to the Corpse Refining Sect should fetch a good price."
"Indeed..."
Hearing this, Song Changming slowly drew his long blade, his Sword Intent surging around him, and the wind roared!
"Just right, I’m also looking for people from those two sects. Kindly point me in the right direction..."
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