You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

Chapter 452: Meeting Wu Ya Again (2 in 1 order required)

In a village ravaged by famine and nightmares, Zhong Wuye once again met the mysterious girl Wu Ya.

The village was a scene of desolation and ruin. The remains of starving people lay scattered among the shattered walls. Sparse smoke rose from the villagers' makeshift huts, but it was powerless to dispel the stench of decay in the air.

A group of black-clad figures slowly emerged from the rain and fog, led by none other than Zhong Wuye and the mysterious young woman Wu Ya, whom they had met before. The two exchanged a silent gaze, their eyes filled with heaviness.

Inside the shed, a farmer with a withered face was hunched over a corpse, his eyes lifeless and mumbling something. The corpse had long since decayed, and even the face was no longer clear.

Seeing Zhong Wuye and the other two arrive, the farmer seemed to come to his senses. He struggled to stand up, staring at Wu Ya with his bloodshot eyes, and choked out his words: "Wizard Wu, please save my wife. Save her."

Wu Ya nodded solemnly, then produced a staff inlaid with strange patterns and slowly drew a circle in mid-air. As she chanted softly, the patterns on the staff began to glow faintly green.

"Stop it! Stop it now!"

At this moment, the rotten corpse covered by the sheet suddenly twitched and a low and hoarse voice came from it. The farmer shrank back suddenly with fear on his face.

Zhong Wuye frowned and strode over to the corpse. Hidden beneath the black sheet, he saw a pair of scarred, withered hands twisting and twitching constantly, as if about to burst out of the body.

"The Nightmare Demon is indeed so hateful," Zhong Wuye murmured, his right hand already tightly gripping the sword at his waist.

"Senior Sister Zhong, let me do it," Wu Ya said in a deep voice, the green light from her staff growing brighter. She pointed the staff at the rotting corpse and shouted, "Evil spirit! Let go of this innocent soul and leave immediately!"

“Hahahaha. Hahahaha!!!”

A ridiculous, wild laugh erupted from beneath the covers, like the wailing of countless dead creatures. Then, as if coming to life, the corpse suddenly shuddered beneath the covers, and a foul-smelling black smoke gushed out!
Smoke swirled in the air, quickly converging into a shadowy humanoid figure. It was a tall, sinister black figure, its eyes bloodshot, and its body shrouded in flickering, ghostly flames. It was terrifying beyond measure. Wu Ya frowned, raised her staff again, and gritted her teeth, "Nightmare Warrior!"

"You meddlesome fool!" The terrifying black shadow roared, its will-o'-the-wisp flames suddenly blazing to a blazing blast, revealing a pair of ferocious fangs. It brandished its massive claws and lunged straight at Wu Ya.

Wu Ya's expression was solemn. The green light at the tip of her staff surged, forming a shield of light to block the attack. However, the black shadow's power was so astonishing that the shield was instantly torn apart. Wu Ya took a few steps back with difficulty.

"Wu Ya!" Zhong Wuye shouted, his sword already unsheathed, and a stream of sword energy slashed forward. The black shadow was immediately twisted by the sword energy, and seemed to have suffered a minor injury.

At this moment, a wailing sound came from the rotting corpse. Wu Ya and Zhong Wuye could not help but stare at the sheet, only to see a faint white light gradually condensing under the sheet.
"It's too late! This corpse has been possessed by me!" The nightmare warrior laughed fiercely, a cloud of black smoke rose from his body, and he attacked the white light madly.

"No!" Wu Ya hurriedly cast her spell again, sending out a burst of green flame to wrap the smoke, but she was still a step too slow. The white light gradually dimmed under the tearing of the smoke.

"Ah ...
"No, no." There was a dead silence all around. Only the farmer covered his face with his hands, tears streaming down his face. He trembled and choked and repeated over and over again: "Wife, wife, wife"

Wu Ya's expression was gloomy as she slowly put away her staff. She glanced at the Nightmare Warrior, who was laughing wildly, sighed deeply, and slowly walked towards the weeping farmer.

"Please calm down, uncle," she said. "Your wife's soul hasn't truly left her." The farmer looked up in surprise. Wu Ya continued, "The reason your wife can't be saved is because you're so obsessed with her."

“What?”

"It was our misunderstanding," Wu Ya said seriously, "Your wife has not reached the Pure Land because you are too obsessed with her and don't want to be separated from her. If you can put aside your selfish thoughts, she can..."

"No!" The farmer suddenly interrupted Wu Ya, his eyes suddenly fierce. "No! I won't let my wife leave like this! I must see her again!"

Wu Ya shook her head helplessly, turned, and walked over to the staff. She slowly raised it, muttering something. Ripples like water rippled across the tip of the staff, and soon, an illusory figure emerged from it.

The figure looked just like the farmer's wife of the past, with a thin body, a haggard and pale face, and infinite sadness in her eyes.

"Husband," her voice was as light as sedge, but with a hint of sob.

"Wife, wife!" The farmer was overjoyed. His knees gave way and he knelt on the ground in embarrassment, gazing at her with tears in his eyes. "It's me, I'm right here."

"I can't stay with you anymore. You have to take care of yourself." The illusory figure showed a bitter smile and slowly walked towards him.

"No! Wife! Please don't leave!" The farmer choked and clenched his fists tightly. "I'm not going anywhere. I must wait for you."

"Husband." The illusory figure walked closer to him and reached out to touch his cheek. Although it was an illusory existence, the farmer felt a warm feeling all over his body. He subconsciously closed his eyes and tears welled up in his eyes.
"Goodbye, my dear." A light breeze blew, and the illusory figure vanished into nothingness. The farmer opened his eyes and stared fixedly at the open space before him. His gaze had become more resolute than ever before, and filled with peace.

"Thank you, Miss Wizard." He said softly, with a faint smile on his face.

Wu Ya nodded and raised her staff again. The ripples at the tip of the staff suddenly expanded, transforming into a massive vortex. Countless faint white lights shot out from all over the village, eventually plunging into it.

"Are these souls all the villagers who suffered from the nightmare?" Zhong Wuye glanced sideways with a serious tone.

"That's right," Wu Ya replied, her face full of vicissitudes. "Ever since the Nightmare Plague broke out, I've been doing my best to treat those poor souls haunted by the Nightmare. As long as they let go of their attachment to the real world, I can temporarily contain them within my staff."

"Good." Zhong Wuye nodded in approval.

Wu Ya said nothing more, instead raising her staff high and chanting a spell. The swirling water waves within the staff suddenly surged and churned, unleashing a powerful force that threatened to overturn the entire world.

The souls that had suffered the nightmare and lamented their protection, drawn by this power, seemed to be reunited, their faces showing peace as they merged into the waves surrounding Wu Ya. Everything around them also gradually quieted down.

A gentle breeze blew through Wu Ya's hair. With a determined look in her eyes, she stared ahead and whispered, "Have a safe journey."

……

A quiet breeze blew across the ruins, picking up the dry fallen leaves on the ground and circling and jumping in the air.

Zhong Wuye stared at Wu Ya's back, his brow furrowed. The phantom of his "deceased wife" that had just materialized from his staff, as well as the entire process of the salvation ceremony, seemed so ordinary and so different from a true ritual for the dead. Zhong Wuye couldn't help but feel suspicious. She looked around. Aside from the heartbroken farmer, there were no other witnesses in the vibrant village. Just as Zhong Wuye was about to ask more questions, her eyes stumbled upon the decaying remains of the farmer behind her, and she was suddenly startled.

The corpse's head was missing, as if it had been hollowed out, yet there were no signs of injury or tearing. Zhong Wuye silently turned his gaze towards the farmer, only to find that he seemed completely oblivious, still immersed in the despair of his "wife's" departure.

"Something's wrong with this situation." Zhong Wuye thought to himself, and suddenly shuddered.

She suddenly remembered the scene she had witnessed at the Jianjiaguan camp: a surviving villager was being chanted to save the dead, and countless ghosts of village women who were possessed gradually became visible under the influence of the mantra. But at that moment, Zhong Wuye saw the forms of those ghosts suddenly twisted and turned into a group of light white mist, which was eventually absorbed by Wu Ya one by one.
"Could it be..." A terrifying guess gradually formed in Zhong Wuye's mind. She turned abruptly and strode towards Wu Ya.

"Wu Ya!" Zhong Wuye shouted, grabbing Wu Ya's collar. "What are you doing? How did you create the phantom of the farmer's 'wife'?"

Wu Ya remained composed, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Senior Sister, you underestimate me. That phantom was naturally just a shadowy charm, used to soothe that poor man's heart and let him temporarily let go of his pain."

"What?" Zhong Wuye's eyes widened in disbelief, and then he roared angrily, "You actually deceived that farmer! What's even more terrifying is that during the ceremony just now, you also absorbed the 'souls' of those undead! Is this what you did in Jianjia Pass?"

Wu Ya's expression softened, and she nodded. "Indeed. However, Senior Sister, you should be able to see that these aren't 'ghosts' or 'souls', but rather a type of energy left after a person dies. With a little guidance, they will manifest as illusions."

"But..." Zhong Wuye's face was full of suspicion. He glanced around and landed on the rotting corpse. "The head of this corpse is really too strange. Could it be that you..."

"You're right." Wu Ya nodded with a smile, "I did destroy part of that body, just to absorb the energy within."

Zhong Wuye suddenly felt a chill down her spine. She had never seen such a cold and heartless person, someone who would even treat a dead person like this. Zhong Wuye suddenly threw her hand away, pushed Wu Ya away, and glared at her: "You are defiling the souls of the dead!"

"No, Senior Sister, you've misunderstood." Wu Ya remained unmoved and calmly explained, "Those so-called dead souls are simply a product of natural laws. Guiding and utilizing them is only natural."

"Stop quibbling!" Zhong Wuye couldn't bear to listen any longer and tried his best to suppress his anger. "Although I didn't see through your every move today, I will find out what you are trying to do! You'd better confess now!"

"Senior Sister," Wu Ya sighed softly, her expression gentle, "You are as simple as ever."

She paused, and suddenly smiled: "But it doesn't matter. You will be able to see my plan with your own eyes soon anyway." As she spoke, her figure gradually became illusory, turning into a breeze, and disappeared without a trace in Zhong Wuye's stunned gaze.

Zhong Wuye stood there stunned, her heart churning. Ever since witnessing the merciless slaughter by the Arogas army, she had been extremely wary of Wu Ya. Now, that wariness had been borne out.

She clenched her fists, her eyes determined. No matter what Wu Ya was planning, she would get to the bottom of it.

Regardless of whether someone is desecrating the dead, she will make the truth known to the world!
……

The blazing sun gradually faded into dusk, igniting a crimson hue on the horizon. Zhong Wuye and Jie Kong walked side by side, their long journey having slumped them both into a weary yet tranquil silence.

Suddenly, Jie Kong broke the silence and said, "Wu Ye, I should confess a secret to you."

Zhong Wuye glanced at him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. Jie Kong's expression was more solemn than ever before, and even his eyes, which always contained a faint smile, now revealed a rare melancholy.

"Do you remember where we first met?" After saying this, Jie Kong stopped, turned around and looked at Zhong Wuye.

"Of course." Zhong Wuye nodded. "That was in Ciji Temple. You were a poor little novice monk, and the abbot sent you to sweep the floor and clean the windows."

"Yes, I grew up in that temple." Jiekong sighed softly, "But you know, I'm not actually from the temple."

Zhong Wuye was slightly startled, and suddenly an inexplicable premonition surged in her heart. Seeing her expression change slightly, Jie Kong continued to speak:
"Back then, I was an abandoned baby. The abbot accidentally found me outside the mountain gate and brought me back to the temple to raise me. Unfortunately, the abbot kept my background and family history a secret until his death."

At this point, Jie Kong's expression darkened, as if he had a thousand words to say, yet seemed to be held tightly in his arms. Seeing this, Zhong Wuye couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy.

Jie Kong slowly exhaled and continued, "After years of investigation, I finally discovered that there might be someone who knows my life story. He is in a tribe on the border of the Northern Zhou Kingdom."

"So..." Zhong Wuye nodded thoughtfully, "So you've come all this way to trace your roots."

"Yeah." Jie Kong smiled helplessly, "I also want to figure out who I am and where I come from. I hope I can make a breakthrough this time."

Just as he finished speaking, a sudden sound of dancing footsteps echoed from the bushes beside the path. Zhong Wuye and Jie Kong jolted awake, keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings while slowly moving towards the bushes.

Suddenly, a monster burst out from the bushes. Its body was flaming red, its hands had sharp claws, and its foul-smelling mouth spewed corrosive flames. At that moment, a little boy, only six or seven years old, was grabbed by the hair by the monster and dragged to the ground, screaming in agony.

"Oh no! It's the Fire-hating Demon!" Zhong Wuye growled, his hand already on his sword, his face grim. "Looks like it's coming for that little boy!"

In a flash, the fire-hating demon suddenly charged forward, its fangs bared and its claws brandished, its sharp claws creating dazzling streaks of fire in the air. It grinned grimly as if it was about to tear the little boy apart!
Just as tragedy was about to occur, Jie Kong suddenly flipped over and flew out, his precious sword unsheathed, and the sound of metal clashing resounded through the sky!
"go to hell!"

Jie Kong shouted loudly, and the sword in his hand suddenly glowed with a golden light several feet long. A dazzling sword energy shot straight out and forcibly cut off one of the claws of the fire-hating demon!
"Ahhhhh!" The monster's painful roar spread far and wide, and a rain of fire rose up in all directions. Zhong Wuye saw the opportunity and immediately joined the battle, stabbing the monster with his sword continuously.

At this critical moment, the little boy who was dragged to the ground suddenly struggled to get up, and hid aside tremblingly. His whole body was covered with scars, but none of them were seriously injured.

Seeing this, the demonic creature clearly realized the danger of the situation and twisted its fiery red body wildly, trying its best to wave its claws and fangs in all directions. Jie Kong was quick-witted and swift-handed, and with a swipe of his precious sword, he dispelled the demonic flames one by one. But at this moment, Zhong Wuye suddenly discovered that Jie Kong had left a very obvious flaw at the critical moment!
"Be careful!" Zhong Wuye shouted urgently, his eyes flashing like lightning, and his sword had already blocked the fatal blow for Jie Kongkong.

But unexpectedly, Jiekong did not take the opportunity to kill the monster. Instead, he smiled slightly and put away his sword.

The monster suddenly seemed to be reborn. It grinned and swung its tail. With a flash of fire, it disappeared into the bushes in an instant, without a trace.

Zhong Wuye looked at Jie Kong with a look of surprise, only to see him walk straight to the little boy and comfort him with gentle words.

There was a hint of pity in his eyes.
(End of this chapter)