Chapter 85: Hell on Earth

For a long moment.

"You... you really have no humanity! Aren’t you my brother? I’m so cute, kind, and enthusiastic, and you still managed to strike me!" The boy in peach-colored attire clutched his backside once more by the stream, lamenting.

Yu Daoyi frowned, finding the scene before him utterly bizarre. Why on earth was he holding his bottom? He had merely kicked him a few times just now, so why did he look so deeply aggrieved, as if he’d been gravely humiliated?

"Enough nonsense! The old cat’s not angry, and you think I’m on my deathbed?" Yu Daoyi replied irritably, though the exhaustion in his body and spirit had not faded. Just a few movements sent a cold sweat pouring down his back.

"Even if you really are my brother, you can’t hit me like this! And twice, too!" Xiao Qian said, aggrieved.

Yu Daoyi ignored him, resuming his trek along the path back to the village. This odd kid was clearly not reliable—he truly didn’t know much. It seemed he would have to ask the elders in the village, who should be more knowledgeable.

As he walked down the path where peach blossoms danced in the air, the villagers on either side watched the unfamiliar Yu Daoyi with curiosity. Still, they greeted him with their warmest smiles, though to Yu Daoyi, those smiles held a hint of irony.

Recalling the last moments before he lost consciousness in his second cycle, Yu Daoyi had almost doubted his own eyes. In the morning, Peach Blossom Village was like a celestial paradise: blossoms floating everywhere, warm and pleasant sunlight, evergreen hills and flowing streams, villagers full of warmth and vitality. It was a place where one could forget all worries and live carefree.

Until that night, when a blood moon hung in the sky and the pure white moon vanished. A sinister scarlet moon loomed high in the dark, its crimson hue slowly seeping across the land, shrouding the peaceful village in a bloody veil.

As Yu Daoyi wandered the village, he witnessed an image seared into his soul: the once amiable villagers transformed into wild specters with tangled hair under the blood moon.

In daylight, they were gentle and kind, but at that moment, they bared their teeth, devouring anything in sight—chickens, ducks, pigs, sheep, nothing was spared, not even the people beside them.

They became ravenous ghosts, as if crawling out of the depths of the underworld, tearing at the hair of those nearby and swallowing it whole, pouncing on others to chew their flesh, sucking out blood—whether it still flowed, he could not say. No one was exempt, not man, woman, elder, nor even children of four or five.

Worse yet, Yu Daoyi watched helplessly as a once-happy family of three was destroyed in a single night: the father ate his wife and child, and finally devoured himself, blood everywhere, bones exposed.

Under the blood moon, they had lost themselves entirely; they were disemboweled, torn apart, devouring voraciously, feasting greedily.

Their bellies swelled, but they remained oblivious; their mouths chewed, insatiable.

By day, Peach Blossom Village was an earthly Eden; by night, it became a living hell.

He slapped his head forcefully, trying to suppress these chaotic memories. Now was not the time to dwell on them. There was something he had to try for himself.

Within the village, a few elders chatted and laughed beneath a peach tree—a scene no different from what Yu Daoyi had seen before.

"Hey~ Grandpa Village Chief~"

Hmm, the kid’s lines hadn’t changed either.

After a few exchanges, the conversation shifted to Yu Daoyi.

"Grandpa Village Chief, it’s him! He says he’s my brother, and he even knows I have a sister at home," Xiao Qian said, pointing to Yu Daoyi.

"Oh? Is that so, young fellow?" The village chief smiled kindly, speaking slowly.

"He’s lying. I’m not, don’t frame me. My great mother only gave birth to me," Yu Daoyi turned his head aside, expressionless.

Xiao Qian: "??????"

"Then how do you know Xiao Qian’s name and other things about him?" The village chief asked curiously.

"I guessed! That’s right! I just guessed!" Yu Daoyi replied with righteous confidence.

Village chief: "??????"

"Enough with the nonsense, old man. I’m not from Peach Blossom Village. I came here specifically to find you. There are some things I want to ask you," Yu Daoyi ignored the village chief’s bewildered expression, cutting straight to the point.

"Well, what do you want to know?" The chief paused, as if recovering from the surprise.

"Everything about this village! Especially the nights!" Yu Daoyi stared intently at the chief.

"This village? What’s there to talk about? It’s just a simple place, and the nights are ordinary too," the chief replied as if it were obvious, showing no sign of understanding Yu Daoyi’s true meaning.

Seeing the chief’s expression, Yu Daoyi grew uncertain. From his demeanor, it didn’t seem like he was lying. Were they truly unaware, or deliberately hiding something?

"Then, you’ve lived here so long—have you ever seen a red moon?" As if steeling himself, Yu Daoyi asked cautiously.

"A red moon? Young fellow, you must be joking. The moon is always white. How could it possibly be red?" The chief laughed, and the other elders joined in merrily.

... Damn it! Do I look like I’m joking?

"Grandpa Village Chief, let me take him to see Sister. Maybe she knows something!" Xiao Qian said urgently.

"Alright, alright, it’s rare to have a guest in the village. Old Zhang, Old Li, let’s gather everyone and hold a feast!" the chief said jovially with a wave of his hand.

... Here we go again! Eat, eat, eat—is that all you people ever think about?

On the way to Xiao Qian’s house, nothing unusual happened, as before. Along the way, Yu Daoyi received plenty of warm smiles from the villagers.

A simple house, a long bench, a few chicks, and a stunning beauty with curves.

Ha! This time! I won’t let myself be seduced by beauty again!

Guan Zizai Bodhisattva, practicing the profound Prajna Paramita, saw the emptiness of the five aggregates and relieved all suffering. Shariputra, form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form; form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness are likewise.

For a long moment.

"Yao Yao, you’re so skillful!" Yu Daoyi watched as she deftly handled the dishes on the table, unable to help but praise her, like a lovesick puppy.

Ah, so much for men.

"When you do it often, you learn a lot. It’s nothing special," Yao Yao replied, a trace of embarrassment on her pale face.

Ah~ how I long for the sunshine of this young lady, Yu Daoyi’s gaze grew hazy. It’s not that I have changed my heart, I am just universally loving!

"Sis, Sis! Help me catch the chick! One’s run outside!" Xiao Qian shouted from outside.

"This kid, always causing trouble!" Yao Yao said helplessly.

"Yao Yao, go ahead, I’ll handle the cooking!" Yu Daoyi rolled up his sleeves, full of confidence.

"You’re a guest, how can I let you?" Yao Yao waved her hands, but Yu Daoyi pushed her out the door the next moment.

Returning to the kitchen, Yu Daoyi stared at the gleaming knife. Suddenly, as if making a decision, he picked it up and slashed hard across his own hand.

Blood welled up.

... Ouch, ouch, damn, damn, it hurts, hurts, oh my god...

The knife rose and fell, and a bloody line slowly oozed from his left hand. With his other hand, Yu Daoyi covered his mouth, stomping his feet in pain.

Damn it! I cut too deeply! It hurts like hell!

He tore off a strip of his clothing and wrapped it around his injured hand. Yet, he had accomplished what he set out to do. Watching the cloth gradually stain red, his weary eyes hinted at newfound understanding.

His body had endured countless “love-forged” trials through the Ancient Demon’s Nine Transformations—such resilience shouldn’t be bested by an ordinary kitchen knife. Surely this place didn’t even have artifact-level knives?