Chapter 8: Little Brother: Snack Time Underway

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In response to Zhao Yu’s inquiry, the voice in the darkness softened completely: “The previous paper doll was stained with meat juice. I was worried that the paper doll might eat people, so I threw it away.”

Zhao Yu immediately agreed, “Right, a creature that eats people must be thrown out, it can’t stay at home.”

However, he felt that something about what his wife said was off.

Oh, that’s right—it's been nearly ten months since they last ate meat. How could that paper doll have gotten meat stains before?

It must be that his wife accidentally damaged or dirtied the paper doll and was too embarrassed to tell the truth!

Zhao Yu didn’t want to overthink it, instead putting on a happy face: “Wife, I have good news for you.”

“Good news?” The voice in the darkness sounded puzzled.

Zhao Yu’s eyes lit up: “Someone came from outside and said he can definitely help me cultivate.”

Once he could cultivate, surely he would grow more limbs.

If two fists can barely handle four legs in a fight, then with four or eight fists, how would opponents respond? Just the thought was delightful!

Also, maybe he could even grow wings and then fly anywhere he wanted.

Flying without wings? That would be some kind of dark trick.

The more he thought about it, the more joyful he felt.

The darkness in the secret chamber fell silent.

After sharing the good news without any response, Zhao Yu felt a bit uneasy.

He had to speak again: “Wife? Are you listening?”

“As long as you’re happy, husband,” came the faint voice from the darkness.

...

The Courtyard

Ling Xuzi and the other two still huddled in the corner.

The faceless younger brother and Little Maruko continued staring each other down.

Suddenly,

The younger brother spoke: “Don’t waste time, he’s about to come out.”

Little Maruko sneered, “Let him come out then. I’m not some weakling who has to stay inside all day.”

“I want a snack,” the younger brother said as a face appeared on the back of his head, staring at Ling Xuzi and the others.

Little Maruko instinctively looked over, a droplet of saliva at the corner of her mouth.

Soon, she shook her head: “Brother-in-law said we can’t eat old, tough meat. If we don’t listen to him, Sister will be angry.”

The younger brother was indifferent: “He never told me that.”

Little Maruko fell silent, licking her lips out of habit.

“Throwing away a snack that’s given to you is such a waste,” the younger brother grinned darkly.

Ling Xuzi and the other two were horrified.

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The younger brother then tempted Little Maruko: “I think that purple-robed snack bears the mark of a contract. He must have signed some pact with that old man; he just doesn’t want the purple-robed elder to die.”

There were still two other snacks among the three.

Seeing Little Maruko hesitating, the younger brother continued to provoke: “Besides, they only look old, but their meat isn’t tough at all.”

Ling Xuzi and the other two felt a chill in their hearts.

They knew there was no way they would be safe.

The bald old man and the brown-robed elder exchanged glances: “Run!”

Since death was imminent, they had to escape before the two evil spirits moved.

Their internal energy surged, and they vanished like the wind.

Only Ling Xuzi hesitated... Apparently, the contract he signed earlier could protect him.

Not running?

That thought flashed through his mind, but he shook his head and transformed into wind to flee as well.

Although he didn’t know what Zhao Yu really was, Zhao Yu was certainly no ordinary person. If the contract made the two evil spirits wary, it would help him escape more smoothly... Staying here was a dead end.

“Can I really escape...” The faceless younger brother’s figure disappeared.

Little Maruko didn’t move, just narrowed her eyes coldly, staring into the distance.

About twenty breaths passed.

*Creak...*

My door opened, and Zhao Yu came out carrying an empty bowl.

His wife had finished eating, washed the dishes, and now could go to sleep.

Tomorrow, Ling Xuzi would teach him how to cultivate...

Thinking of this bright future, Zhao Yu paused and rubbed his eyes.

Where were they?

Why were Ling Xuzi and the other two elders gone?

He didn’t care if the other two left, but Ling Xuzi couldn’t leave.

Instinctively, he looked at his sister-in-law: “Little Maruko, where are Ling Xuzi and the others?”

“They ran away.”

After a pause, Little Maruko innocently said, “Maybe they were afraid of ending up on the dinner table.”

Zhao Yu was dumbfounded: “Sounds like I’d even want to invite them to dinner...”

Before he finished, he widened his eyes: “Wait... they all ran away?”

“Yes, they all ran,” Little Maruko nodded confidently.

Zhao Yu’s lips twitched, and he finally cursed loudly: “These guys, I better never see them again! Otherwise, I’ll definitely kill them!”

What happened to all those precious pills that were supposed to help him embark on the cultivation path?

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Although he knew people outside couldn’t be trusted, he never expected that even signing contracts wouldn’t be reliable.

Was his bright future shattered just like that?

Was the dream of cultivation over so soon?

However, Little Maruko’s eyes shone brightly: “Brother-in-law, since you want to kill them anyway, why not let me eat them? Otherwise, it’s just a waste.”

Zhao Yu hesitated: “Eating people isn’t very good, right? Maybe we shouldn’t eat them?”

“Brother-in-law, think about it. Those three have already started cultivating but haven’t grown any extra limbs or tentacles. They’re clearly different from my sister—they’re taking the crooked path.”

As she spoke, Little Maruko ran to Zhao Yu’s side and coquettishly grabbed his hand: “Since they’re not normal people, eating them won’t really count as eating people... Besides... we only eat meat once every year or year and a half...”

“Brother-in-law~”

Her face was full of pitiful expression.

Zhao Yu thought seriously for a moment and nodded: “That makes sense.”

After all, he was definitely going to kill those dishonest guys anyway. Since they weren’t normal people, using their bodies to help Little Maruko replenish her strength seemed reasonable.

“Brother-in-law, I’ll go fetch them back,” Little Maruko said, then dashed out immediately.

As soon as she took a step, she vanished.

Her speed was beyond incredible.

Zhao Yu couldn’t help but sink into a gloomy reflection: “I’m clearly older than my brother and sister-in-law. Why can’t I run as fast as Little Maruko?”

A normal adult’s head can turn freely, even their limbs can detach, and they might grow tentacles. But he was different—he had nothing and couldn’t do anything.

Sometimes, when catching rabbits, he even needed a machete to help; otherwise, he wouldn’t catch a single one... Zhao Yu often wondered, who was really the weakling here—his brother or himself?

He lacked all the characteristics an adult should have.

Looks like he had to rely on cultivation after all.

Carrying the empty bowl, he went into the kitchen.

After cleaning up the dishes and coming out, the courtyard was empty.

Zhao Yu couldn’t help worrying: “Why aren’t they back yet? Could they have met some man-eating creature?”

His sister-in-law was so cute and delicate... cough, clearly fragile. If she ran into a bad person or some man-eater, what would happen?

If something happened to her, wouldn’t his wife be heartbroken?

No, he had to check.

Zhao Yu rubbed his lower back, confirmed the machete was with him, and quickly ran out the door.

Stopping on the empty wilderness, he wondered... From which direction did his sister-in-law run?

He really didn’t know... She ran so fast he never saw which way she went.

He didn’t even know where to begin looking.