Chapter 72: The Forest of the Undead and a Mortifying Memory

After an entire night of intense sword-flight, Ouyang Xiyue finally reached the very edge of the Forest of the Undead Kingdom.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ouyang Xiyue stepped into the forest, feeling as if he were plunging headfirst into the maw of some colossal, dark beast.

Ancient, gnarled trees leaned haphazardly, their claw-like branches intertwining overhead, splintering the already scant sunlight into fragmented shards.

Thick layers of decaying leaves carpeted the ground, each step producing a soft crunch, as though unseen spirits beneath the earth were murmuring.

Every so often, an unknown black bird would suddenly burst from the dense canopy above, its sharp cry tearing through the deathly silence, sending a jolt of alarm directly to Ouyang Xiyue’s heart.

Ouyang Xiyue knew that despite leaving a note, Shangguan Yun’s nature meant the truth would not remain hidden for long.

He needed to act swiftly; a quick resolution was paramount.

He hoped to find something significant soon, especially since he was only at the forest’s edge.

Having only just entered this forest, Ouyang Xiyue had barely walked a short distance when an unsettling feeling crept over him.

Based on his visit several years prior, the fringes of the Undead Kingdom forest should never have been this eerily silent—a silence that was truly frightening.

This strange tranquility, especially with the ‘Blood of April 4th’ only two days away, was deeply unsettling.

Guided by the map and clues provided by His Holiness the Pope, Ouyang Xiyue swiftly located the exact spot where Chi Congyu had vanished.

The normally smooth forest floor was now marred by a chaotic web of gashes and scrapes.

Deep ravines carved into the earth resembled grotesque scars, as if a furious beast had raked its sharp claws across the very ground.

Nearby, massive, shattered trees lay strewn about, looking as though they had been violently ripped from the earth by some unseen, colossal force.

This scene of devastation stood in stark contrast to the oppressive quiet of the forest.

Not far ahead, nestled in a corner, Ouyang Xiyue’s gaze landed upon a horrifying pool of dark crimson blood.

The sight instantly sent a chilling premonition through him.

He sprinted forward, dropping to a crouch, and gently touched the viscous liquid on the ground before bringing his fingers to his nose to inhale its scent.

A wave of damp, decaying odor immediately assaulted his senses.

It was not the metallic tang of blood, but rather the distinct, macabre scent of the undead, unique to this very forest—a smell unmistakably belonging to the dead.

As Ouyang Xiyue examined the blood on his hand, his brow slowly furrowed.

Intertwined with the morbid scent was a unique, subtle fragrance—one he recognized as distinctly Chi Congyu’s.

One might wonder how Ouyang Xiyue could identify Chi Congyu’s blood merely by its scent, but the answer lay in a particular, rather mortifying, past incident.

Long before this moment, back when Chi Congyu still clung to Ouyang Xiyue daily, there had been a moonless, blustery night.

Ouyang Xiyue, lying in bed, had awakened with a hazy, suffocating sensation, as if his face were covered by damp paper, making it difficult to draw breath.

Slowly, Ouyang Xiyue’s consciousness sharpened.

He strained to lift his head, only to behold a startling sight: it wasn’t damp paper obscuring his face at all.

Instead, it was Chi Congyu, who was supposed to be sleeping on a makeshift bed on the floor, having somehow migrated to his own bed at some point during the night.

Moreover, this individual clung to him like an octopus, pressing so tightly that Ouyang Xiyue’s inability to breathe stemmed from her ample chest smothering his face.

What proved even more scandalous was Ouyang Xiyue’s realization upon fully waking that Chi Congyu, utterly shameless, was completely naked.

At that moment, Ouyang Xiyue was consumed by a mix of shame and a flicker of anger, though shame overwhelmingly dominated.

After all, there was a clear distinction between men and women, and despite Ouyang Xiyue’s undeniable status as a peerless beauty in both temperament and appearance—a fact often belied by his pitifully flat chest, which resembled an airport runway—the situation was still deeply embarrassing.

Clearing his throat, Ouyang Xiyue, whose body was growing increasingly feverish with shame, struggled frantically.

Yet, he quickly realized his efforts were futile; Chi Congyu, clinging to him like an octopus, held him too tightly.

After struggling for what felt like an eternity, leaving him breathless, he finally conceded defeat.

He then tried calling Chi Congyu’s name loudly, but to no avail.

Only then did Ouyang Xiyue discover that Chi Congyu was utterly unresponsive, like a corpse.

Had he not been able to feel her body temperature and faint breathing, he would have undoubtedly believed he was embracing a dead person.

Ouyang Xiyue, realizing his head was trapped firmly against Chi Congyu’s chest, made a desperate decision.

He bit down hard on her — ahem — impressive bosom.

Initially, perhaps Ouyang Xiyue hadn’t exerted much force, for Chi Congyu remained utterly still, clinging like an unyielding octopus.

Undeterred, Ouyang Xiyue steadily increased the pressure, biting harder and harder, until after several agonizing seconds…

Ouyang Xiyue tasted a distinct metallic tang of blood in his mouth.

Strangely, the flavor wasn’t unpleasant; it carried a faint, almost rose-like fragrance.

After his persistent efforts, Chi Congyu finally stirred.

Slowly, Chi Congyu loosened her grip on Ouyang Xiyue, then groggily pushed herself up, having finally registered the sensation of being bitten.

Chi Congyu rubbed her eyes, then instinctively stretched her body, only for a sharp, needle-like sting from her chest to fully jolt her awake.

“Eh?! Xi’er, you?! So you’re into that? You should have told me sooner~”

Completely disregarding her slowly bleeding wound, Chi Congyu immediately pinned Ouyang Xiyue, who had only just managed to break free, back onto the bed.

Before he could even utter a word, she pressed her lips against his, silencing him.

It was a long moment before they finally parted.

“Hehehe… Xi’er’s lips are so soft and fragrant.”

Releasing Ouyang Xiyue, who was now gasping for air, Chi Congyu then examined the perfectly neat circle of tooth marks on her injury, noting the lingering blood within them.

Chi Congyu stemmed the flow of blood with her spiritual energy, then, with a lingering, unsatisfied glint in her eyes, she licked her lips and turned her gaze back to Ouyang Xiyue.

Fearing that even a moment’s delay would result in being pounced upon again, Ouyang Xiyue hastily spoke.

“Stop! Chi Congyu! You utterly shameless person, why are you in my bed, and where are your… your… clothes!?”

As Ouyang Xiyue finished speaking, his face flushed with heat.

‘Her figure is truly remarkable,’ he thought, before quickly correcting himself, ‘No… no, what am I even thinking?’

He abruptly turned his head, refusing to let Chi Congyu remain in his line of sight.

Still somewhat bewildered, Chi Congyu scratched her head.

Her gaze then drifted to her own body, and only then did she realize she was completely naked.

Instantly, she snatched the nearby quilt and wrapped herself tightly within it.

“I… Xi’er, please let me explain… I might have been sleepwalking.

Ah, yes, that must be it!

My clothes… I probably felt too hot while sleepwalking and took them off myself!

Yes, that’s definitely it, Xi’er, you must believe me.

As for why I was holding you, Xi’er, it’s probably the aura you radiate that drew me in.”

“Sigh… honestly, you’re impossible.

There’s just no dealing with you.

Hurry up and put on some clothes, really…” Ouyang Xiyue slowly composed himself, a profound sense of helplessness washing over him.

“Xiyue… since you’ve… seen… seen my… body… then you absolutely must take responsibility for me to the very end!” Chi Congyu uttered, her voice laced with a noticeable lack of conviction.

“I’m clearly the victim here, yet you’re demanding I take responsibility… you utterly shameless creature!”

Ouyang Xiyue found himself caught between anger and amusement.

He decided it was best not to argue with a woman, a sentiment that often guided him.

“Sigh, forget about responsibility… anyway… you were always… my… my fiancée,” Ouyang Xiyue mumbled, his voice barely audible, laced with a hint of embarrassment.

“Hehe, well, if that’s the case, then my dear wife, could you perhaps let me have a look in return?

I’ve been craving my wife for a very long time, hehehe, hehehe.”

In that moment, Chi Congyu gazed at Ouyang Xiyue with shining, unblinking eyes, truly embodying the essence of a lecher.

Feeling the intensity of Chi Congyu’s fervent gaze, Ouyang Xiyue instinctively recoiled.

“Chi Congyu! You absolute menace, don’t… don’t push your luck too far!

I’m going to sleep.

Go back to your own spot and stay there!” Only when Ouyang Xiyue’s anger became palpable did Chi Congyu finally settle down.

The memory abruptly ceased.

Ouyang Xiyue stared blankly at the blood on his hand, a stark realization dawning on him: Chi Congyu was injured.

He had to accelerate his search; there was no more time for delay.

He needed to find Chi Congyu and swiftly escort her away from this perilous place.