In the heart of the ancient town. Li Xianzong stopped in front of a large manor. The manor's gate, its paint peeling and dotted with worm holes, bore a weathered plaque, entangled with cobwebs. Through the hazy plaque, the characters could be faintly made out: Zhao Family. Li Xianzong stepped up onto the steps and gently pushed open the door. "Creak—creek—" The old gate emitted a sound so grating it was painful to hear, slowly yielding. The group crossed the threshold and entered the courtyard. After a moment of surveying the scene, they realized the place had long since fallen into disrepair—the flower beds in the front courtyard were now overgrown with wild grasses. At the eaves, where the outer hall opened, stood a tall water cistern, half a person's height. This type of cistern, designed to provide immediate access to water in case of fire, was a standard feature of larger households, akin to modern fire extinguishers. As the group passed through the front courtyard and reached the outer hall, a strong, foul odor began to rise from the cistern, filling the air. The young man, missing a portion of "Be careful—things here might be worse than Wang the blacksmith," Li Xianzong cautioned, pushing open the outer hall door. There must be a reason, but the clues are too sparse to make any solid deductions, giving one a sense of unease. Of course, this doesn't hinder their progress through the plot; given the current situation, the Zhao family's home seems to be plagued by ill fortune, and their next task is surely to eliminate the malevolent entity here. Yet, the sense of uncertainty can make people feel sluggish and insecure. Li Xianzong said calmly, "This situation boils down to two possibilities: either the Yin-Yang Town quest has a hidden task, or the story arc includes additional rewards that will boost returns. However, such rewards come with increased difficulty—especially for teams of average strength, who simply need to follow the plot carefully." The thin middle-aged man asked, "What if we try solving the hidden story elements?" Li Xianzong thought for a moment and replied, "That's possible, but not now." "How so?" the young man with a missing left ear inquired. "From the information gathered about Wang Tiejiang, we can infer that each character has their own corresponding 'story.' Even if we collect all available information, we won't be able to fully decrypt it, because half the information remains with the Lawful faction." Li Xianzong spoke with a clear and logical mind. "The Yin-Yang Town is a symmetric instance—half of its content is with us, and the other half with them. To unlock the hidden plot, we'll likely have to wait until the grand battle. At least, that's the situation on our side. As for whether the Lawful faction can independently decrypt the storyline, I'm not sure." The thin middle-aged man licked his lips. "I'm already eager—curious to know if there are any attractive women among them." The others, meanwhile, were more concerned about whether the Lawful faction contained strong players like Li Xianzong. They didn't hesitate, and proceeded through the inner courtyard to reach the entrance of the inner hall. Li Xianzong stopped just outside the door, about to push it open, when suddenly his hand froze. A low, murmured chant drifted through the crack of the door: "No one shall take my treasures, no one shall take my treasures..." The captain behind, a thin, wiry man, stood on edge, lowering his voice: "It's inside." Li Xianzong took a deep breath and pushed open the inner hall's door. Seeing this, Li Xianzong felt his heart suddenly sink. These fools had been manipulated... The golden mountain itself held a power of manipulation, and he had remained calm because he too was an entity of manipulation—an immaterial spirit—thus possessing a certain immunity. Ahead, there was Zhao Yuanwai, whose peril was still unknown; behind, his companions were prone to internal discord. A single misstep, and the entire group might be wiped out. At that moment, Zhao Yuanwai, standing before the golden mountain, turned around. His face was highly decayed, covered in maggot-like insects, his eye sockets hollow, his eyeballs dangling from his cheeks. "Hungry," he roared, opening his mouth wide, his lips cracked all the way to his earlobes, "I want to eat your hearts and livers!" ... The queen was startled and nearly jumped up, quickly turning around—sure enough, perched on her shoulder was a baby with a dark, bluish skin and pale, eerie eyes. "I... I've actually seen a spirit of resentment," she stammered, "am I already so frail?" Her face grew even paler. She was a member of the official organization, with a far greater understanding of the wild spiritual realm than ordinary spiritual travelers—she knew that without special professions or unique abilities, one could only perceive spiritual beings if they were physically weak and deficient in yang energy. Guan Ya said firmly, "Don't move!" She reached out and grasped at the void, pulling forth a rifle about 1.2 meters long, adorned with golden patterns—a model from the 20th century, elegant yet timeless. Guan Ya held the rifle steady, resting the stock against her shoulder, spread her long legs wide, and firmly anchored her shoes to the ground, aiming precisely at the dark-blue infant on the queen's shoulder, then pressed the trigger. "Boom!" The powerful recoil pushed Guan Ya's right shoulder slightly to the side. The high-speed bullet pierced through the infant spirit's head, creating a deep crater and fissures in the wall behind. The baby tumbled off the queen's shoulder and writhed on the ground, sustaining significant injuries. It was struck by the dispelling effect embedded in the bullet—the rifle is a high-tier item for the scout class, with a single function: physical damage. Scouts, at a high level, possess a clear and pure heart, capable of discerning illusions and dispelling malevolent energies. "This treatment only addresses symptoms; to deal with vengeful spirits, we still need the Night-Wanderer," remarked Guan Ya, pulling the breech, ejecting the spent casing, lowering the barrel, and reacquiring aim on the spirit. At that moment, the infant spirit on the ground emitted a sharp, piercing cry—lamenting and desperate. In the next instant, cries echoed from all around. From the river, the alleyways, and rooftops facing the street, one after another, dark, jade-green infant spirits emerged. Soon, Guan Ya and the Queen were surrounded. "Unfortunate—so many infant spirits?" the Queen scanned the scene, spotting several fierce ones among seven or eight. "This isn't obvious?" Guan Ya dragged her gun barrel, standing poised and ready, saying, "We've triggered the Xu widow's storyline—clearly, it's deeply connected to her." "Are you saying these infant spirits belong to her?" the Queen was startled, thinking internally that it sounded rather unconvincing. At that moment, one of the infant spirits launched a surprise attack from the side, swiftly climbing toward Guan Ya. Old Si Ji stepped aside, delivering a swift thrust with her lance that cracked the green stone floor, sending shards flying, and the spirit shrieked in agony. The Queen removed her circular pendant from her earlobe and threw it toward another infant spirit, where it transformed into a ring of water, attempting to encircle and bind the spirit—but it failed. "Water has form," the Queen exclaimed in urgency, "yet it cannot contain the formless spirits. This simply won't work. We must have Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun come—He is the Night-Wanderer deity, and he can easily resolve these restless spirits." "This powerful and terrifying spectral entity has reached the level of a junior spirit servant—something one rarely encounters in reality. In the real world, we have night wanderer colleagues and official allies; even if we face such a spectral entity, we'd only experience inconvenience, not life-threatening danger. But in the dungeon, it becomes quite troublesome. Guan Ya calmly draws her gun, ejects the spent casing, and says, 'Yuan Shi won't be coming. If his adversaries were spectral entities, he would have already defeated them and come to assist. But he hasn't. That means the adversaries he encountered were not spectral entities, and that he himself is in peril. The spectral entities are specifically targeting us two.' As she speaks, she fires again, pushing back one of the spirits. 'Why?' the Queen realizes she can only watch from the sidelines, merely serving as a commentator. Guan Ya pauses thoughtfully and replies, 'Perhaps it's because we two are beautiful.' 'Huh?' the Queen is utterly astonished." "You haven't noticed, have you? The condition to trigger Xu Guozi's storyline is for the men and women to be separated. We've entered the storyline, yet instead of seeing Xu Guozi, we encounter these spirit infants. This is likely a setup by Xu Guozi to eliminate us—her own presence must be engaged in dealing with the male members of our party." Though deeply in peril, Guan Ya remained mentally sharp: "How could a widow possess so many spirit infants? Did her husband leave them behind? Unless she's a pig that gives birth to eight at once. Considering that Xu Guozi only sees the men, Yuan Shi may have misjudged the matter. The curse upon the old woman's son isn't from Xu Guozi. How could a woman with such a reputation harbor resentment simply because of losing her virginity? She should be thrilled, surely, at the sight of such a desirable man." "By now, you're still driving!" the Queen understood, her voice rising in anger. "You're suggesting that the men in our party may well be enjoying themselves with that woman? Men truly are unreliable. Then what are we to do now?" "We can only wait for Yuanshi to save us. Believe him, though he's rather colorless." Guan Ya fired another shot. Eight infant spirits, like hunting wild dogs, circled the enemy, eager to pounce. At that moment, the Queen whispered, "Guan Ya, there's still one more infant spirit behind you." Guan Ya was startled and swiftly turned around. There, by the riverbank, a round, endearing infant spirit lay curled, its head submerged in the water, its bottom翘ing toward them. Compared to the dark-skinned, fierce, and frenzied spirits, this little one exuded a much purer aura—Guan Ya sensed no ill will. When had it appeared behind her? What was it searching for in the water? Without thinking, Guan Ya turned her gun toward the small infant spirit by the river. One of the dark spirits seized the opportunity, swiftly moving its limbs and climbing rapidly, wrapping itself around Guan Ya's leg. A cold aura surged over her body, and Guan Ya felt her vital energy rapidly draining. Her heart sank as she lowered her gun and pressed the trigger. "Bang!" The bullet struck the infant spirit, shattering the jade stone floor, then rebounded onto Guan Ya's lower leg, instantly tearing through flesh and bone with a dramatic, exposed wound. Indeed, this gun has truly brought me misfortune... Guan Ya, carrying the Queen, staggered back toward the riverbank. "How are you?" the Queen's face tightened. "Not too bad," Guan Ya said, ignoring the continuous bleeding from her wound. "If Yuan Shi hasn't arrived within the next five minutes, we'll be in serious trouble." The men's breathing grew heavier. The Fire-Deity troops murmured, "Excellent! Excellent!" yet their feet remained still, their legs slightly trembling, struggling to suppress the urge to advance. The composed, reserved young Wood-Deity youth showed signs of struggle, but ultimately, the clarity in his eyes gradually gave way to desire. Li Chunfeng softly recited, "Giant observes giant observes..." yet his gaze remained fixed on Xu Xiuer, his growing passion intensifying until it nearly overwhelmed his reason. Zhang Yuanqing felt his mouth dry and his desires surge like a tidal wave, yearning to embrace the beauty by the window, to pour out all his energy without restraint. Yet a faint thread of reason continued to resist. I can't go—there's a hidden task to resist beauty. After all, nature thrives on desire; how could I miss such a captivating woman? Then why not just leave the hidden task undone? I'm enchanted—I must swiftly transfer my longing onto this little comic. Guan Ya and the Queen are still outside, trapped in peril. I have to rescue them. Why should I save them when they don't even offer me a chance to sleep? Stay composed—this challenge is far from merely about beauty. The cost of sleeping with her might be total annihilation. Even if I die beneath the peonies, I shall still be remembered as a romantic. As long as I secure her, death itself becomes worthwhile. Reason floats like a boat upon the ocean of desire—sometimes swallowed, sometimes rising with strength. His remaining sense of reason has been entirely eroded by mental exhaustion, leaving him unable to act effectively. All four men are struggling in their own ways to resist their desires. Xu Xiuer glanced at the men standing motionless, sighed softly, rose from the dressing table, and moved gracefully to the bedside, sitting down. Throughout this process, the eyes of Zhang Yuanqing and the others remained fixed on the vibrant, lifelike figure. Xu Xiuer gazed softly and gracefully, her lips slightly parted, her voice gentle as she said, "What are the gentlemen waiting for? Do you find me unattractive, plain as reed and willow, unsuitable to your eyes?" As she spoke, she lifted her delicate hand and gently lifted the thin silk veil from her snowy shoulders, allowing it to slide down her smooth, fair body, revealing her full charm. The spring light shimmered all around. "Gurrrl..." Zhang Yuanqing heard the sound of someone swallowing, unable to tell whether it came from his teammates or himself. His last shred of reason vanished entirely. With his eyes blazing red, he rushed toward Xu Xiuer, throwing her onto the soft, carved bed. Behind him, his companions were equally flushed and passionate. The men transformed into wild, frenzied beasts, losing all sense of reason, their instinctive desires driving their bodies. One by one, they shed their clothes, trousers, and shoes, scattering them across the floor. Zhang Yuanqing removed his T-shirt, his head now as large as a drum. With greedy eyes, he scanned Xu Xiuer’s graceful figure, and as he was about to begin, his gaze fell upon her full, rounded buttocks. Without realizing it, a thought surged through his mind: Why doesn’t this so beautiful backside have a pig’s tail? Once this thought surfaced, an unexpected sense of disdain arose within him—he suddenly felt that the woman on the bed didn’t meet his aesthetic standards. A person, at least, shouldn’t be aroused by a woman who hasn’t grown a pig’s tail. The surging desire instantly subsided, and reason returned with clarity. Zhang Yuanqing suddenly became fully aware. Xu Xiuer breathed rapidly, her cheeks flushed, and reached out with her delicate arms to pull him closer, urgently saying, “Official, hurry!” The rationality Zhang had regained began to fade once more. At that moment, the Fire-Star troops had already stripped themselves bare, impatiently pushing him around, as if competing for mating rights like wild beasts. Zhang Yuanqing stepped aside顺势, attempting to shift the "passion" onto the more comic, lively character, but he failed—between them, there seemed to be a hazy, translucent veil. Was it because he was inside the scene (the room), while the comic character was outside? Zhang Yuanqing thought of the Vamapada杵, an object with purifying and magical power to dispel demons, but he wasn't sure whether it would effectively address desire. The sharp triangular tip of the Vamapada杵 pierced his thigh, drawing out substantial streams of vital essence, radiating a pure, brilliant golden light. With the combined effects of purification and demon-dispelling, the intoxicating allure that had blurred his consciousness gradually faded, and reason reclaimed the upper ground. Yet desire did not vanish entirely, because at its core, it was not merely an "external" influence—purification and demon-dispelling could not transform a person into a serene, meditative monk. Crack! Crack! Crack! Zhang Yuanqing swiftly cut down three teammates, knocking them unconscious to prevent them from descending into madness. After eliminating the teammates who had gone mad, he waited in silence, yet received no prompt indicating Noticing the anomaly, Xu Xiuer opened her eyes. At this moment, the rosy hue on her cheeks became more pronounced, her fair skin glowing with a delicate blush, her eyes shimmering with dew-like radiance. Gently parting her lips, she emitted a sweet, velvety voice: "Official, sir, give me..." Ah, why hasn't the hidden quest prompt appeared? I've clearly managed to resist the allure of your beauty... Zhang Yuanqing furrowed his brows in quiet concern. The hidden quest hasn't triggered—there must be a reason. He decided to delve deeper into the narrative. After pausing for a few seconds, Zhang Yuanqing deliberately avoided looking at Xu Xiuer's graceful form, suppressing his lingering desires, and said: "Xu widow, let's talk." Hearing the word "widow," a slight retreat of her desire was evident in Xu Xiuer's eyes, only to be swiftly replaced by a surge of passion. With a delicate, responsive tone, she replied: "Sir, what would you like to know? Please, just give me this—please..." "Answer my questions, and I'll grant your wish," Zhang Yuanqing offered, laying out a promise, and asked, "Do Xu Xiuer smiled softly and affectionately: "I know him—he's my beloved." Ah? What? This answer left Zhang Yuancheng stunned. He hadn't expected such a close relationship between them, which contradicted Wang Po's deep hostility toward her. "Why has he been cursed? And why are you here?" Zhang Yuancheng asked again. Xu Xiuer remained silent, offering no reply. After a brief pause, she emitted a soft, alluring sigh, finally yielding with a sense of resignation: "It's that woman... Sir, please don't tease me any longer. Treat me well." Zhang Yuancheng remained unmoved and asked, "Who is she?" Suddenly, a sharp resentment and hatred flashed in Xu Xiuer's eyes. She bit her lips and said, "The descendant of the Yin-Yang Dispenser—the one who actually controls the Yin-Yang Town." "Why would she curse Wang Po's son?" Xu Xi'er said nothing, clutching Zhang Yuanqing’s trousers and pleading, “Sir, I am so painful. Please, please, hurry and—” The Fumigation Staff had purified the allure from this woman’s body, yet aside from that terrifying enchantment, it was impossible for a normally minded man to remain unmoved when a graceful, slender woman pleaded for his favor. As for endurance? The Staff’s effect lasted only a few minutes—no matter, I could simply pierce myself a few times. Zhang Yuanqing forced himself not to look at her body, maintaining a composed expression. Seeing that she could no longer captivate him, Xu Xi'er yielded, and with a mournful voice said, “I have always been beautiful since childhood, yet I was married to a sickly man. Within a few years of our marriage, he passed away. For those years, I lived in loneliness and hardship, enduring constant neglect and mistreatment. My husband’s brother, Wang Po’s son, was a rough, idle youth from the town. One night, he slipped into my home and—well, he treated me terribly.” "How could a weak woman like me possibly resist? And how could I have stayed alone in this empty chamber for so many years, growing closer to her step by step?" Xu Xiuer gritted her teeth, tears streaming down her face, saying, "That woman doesn't even take the time to consider her own standing. She is a descendant of the Yin-Yang Dispenser, skilled in some magical arts, and the townspeople deeply admire and revere her—almost like a deity. How could such a person be within reach of that commoner?" Though her words were full of praise, the jealousy in her eyes surged like a tide. "One day, that woman came to me again, bringing a bottle of medicine, asking me to secretly add it to her tea. We are of similar age, and we used to be childhood playmates. I thought it wouldn't be difficult to gain her favor." "At first, I hesitated, but that woman assured me she had already quietly arranged with Zhao's family to handle everything properly, so that she would never be able to take revenge." "So you gave her the medicine?" Zhang Yuancheng narrowed his eyes. "Yes!" "Xu Xi'er didn't deny it; resentment and jealousy surged once more, and she gritted her teeth, saying: 'After my husband's death, she came to see me every day, comforting me. Yet the more compassionate she was, the more I hated her. My beauty is no less than hers—why have I suffered so much? While I, after the Double Tenth, was treated with contempt and bullied by the common folk, she has always been born into nobility and beloved by the townspeople. 'What right does she have? What right does she have to remain untouched by the dust, to stay so pure and white, while I must have her just as I am—played with by the common folk, scorned by all?' But if Xu Xiuer weren't a witch or a soothsayer, then who had arranged the preparations in Wang Po's household? Wang Po's son was allied with Zhao Yuanwai, and Zhao had hired a priest... What roles did Zhao Yuanwai, Wang the blacksmith, and the priest play in this matter? How cruel! Driven by envy, they had lost their sense of justice altogether. Zhang Yuanqing gazed down at the woman whose grace and allure were unrivaled, and within him, not a single spark of desire remained. At the same time, he heard a voice from within his mind: 【Ping! You have triggered a hidden quest—Unquenched Desire (2/3).】 【Unquenched Desire: Jealousy and desire have transformed her into a dark demon, leading her to commit unforgivable acts. Do not let her tempt you, or you will sink into the abyss.】 】 【Note: I want her to be consumed by desire, turning her into a woman who can be easily replaced】 【Task Item: A fragment of jade】 Ah, so only by completely resisting her beauty can I earn recognition—this, the Huomagi杵 cannot help me… Zhang Yuanqing checks his inventory: two jade fragments have now combined into a complete jade pendant. The items for the hidden quest have been gathered, but one more task milestone remains. Xu Xiuer laughs nervously, her desire surging once again. She strokes her legs and clutches at Zhang Yuanqing’s pants, pleading, “My lord, I can’t take it anymore. Please, please… do something.” That’s her curse! Zhang Yuanqing says, “One final question—before we arrived, did someone else come up, a stout man?” Xu Xiuer hesitates, then looks down at the foot of the bed. Zhang Yuanqing immediately bends down and sees the person eating lotus roots there. Beneath the bed lay a gaunt figure, with sunken cheeks, like a long-suffering peasant who had never known enough to eat. Zhang Yuanqing pulled him out, examined him carefully, and exhaled in relief—though the once plump young man had now become a thin bamboo pole, his breath faint but still present, indicating he was not yet dead. Xu Xiuer scoffed, "A useless man! He only managed a few shivers on my body and now he's gone." ...In his heart, Zhang Yuanqing silently murmured, "Sorry, brother." He had originally sent the young man, who had eaten lotus roots, to scout ahead—partly because the earth monster was strong and resilient, and partly because the魔 king, despite being overwhelmed by beauty, had managed to pass through, suggesting this trial was less severe than the one overseen by Wang Po. Indeed, the lotus-eater had survived. Yet now it appeared that his assessment had been flawed—he had underestimated the魔 king and overestimated the lotus-eater. Fortunately, he had arrived in time; otherwise, the young man likely would have succumbed to exhaustion. Zhang Yuanqing then bent down, grasped each of his teammates' ankles "Mr. Li, please stay—please stay..." Xu Xiuer tumbled off the bed, rolling and crawling after him. It was clear she was in great pain, yearning for the man to ease it. "You may just remain here, cursed as you are," he said, not even glancing at her form, as he placed his hands on the window sill and leapt down. Xu Xiuer's cries rang out behind him. "What happened to me?" Hu De Xing stirred slowly, brushing his neck, and said, "I feel sore all over—like I've been beaten senseless." Li Chunfeng and Li Lili also awoke, murmuring softly. After a moment of stillness, the three gradually recalled their memories before falling unconscious, then looked around in astonishment, unable to comprehend what had transpired. Zhang Yuanqing said, "Xu's story has come to an end." Facing their puzzled expressions, he briefly recounted the events, deeply saddened: "You three, so unremarkable—have you never seen a woman before? A mere widow has completely enchanted you!" The three officers of the Fire Deity Army looked pained. "How did you manage that?" Li Chunfeng said, filled with gratitude yet surprised. As long as XP was particularly exceptional, women simply couldn't win me over... Zhang Yuanqing didn't know whether to be delighted or saddened, and simply replied, "I naturally have my own way." At that moment, the officers of the Fire Deity Army turned to the thin, frail figure eating lotus roots and asked, "Who is this?" "Eating lotus roots," Zhang Yuanqing said. Li Chunfeng and Li Lili Yuan Shangcao were both stunned, bowing down and carefully examining the one eating the lotus roots, their expressions of astonishment clear. "How has he come to this?" "This is exactly what happens when one is won over by beauty," Zhang Yuanqing sighed. Now, gazing at the figure unconscious and barely breathing, the three officers fell silent. They finally realized that they had truly come close to death just moments before. If Master Yuan Shi hadn't resisted the temptation and brought us away, we would have ended up eating lotus roots—no doubt a true talent who consistently clears S-tier challenges. Having such a reliable teammate truly brings peace of mind... Li Chunfeng sincerely remarked. The Fire-Deity Army and Li Li Yuan Shang Cao expressed their gratitude toward Zhang Yuanqing. "It's time to go find Guan Ya and the Queen." Zhang Yuanqing closed his eyes, calmed himself, and sensed the position of the lively, cheerful one.