Chapter 12

Chapter 12

My whole body went rigid.

I didn’t dare open my eyes, praying it was just my imagination.

A hand pried my eyelid open, and Qiao Moyu’s face swelled in my vision.

“He’s awake. He’s fine.”

Lu Lingzhu spat into her palm and slapped it onto my forehead.

“Do you have a Band-Aid? Stop the kid’s bleeding.”

Qiao Moyu shook her head.

“Your dad.”

Lu Lingzhu snapped, “Why are you insulting him?”

Qiao Moyu said, “I said mud. The soil here is heavy with yin energy. It can help the blood clot faster.”

As she spoke, she casually scooped up a lump of mud, smeared it over my forehead, then grabbed my arm and pulled me upright.

Two pairs of eyes looked at me with deep sympathy.

“Kid, are you OK?”

Lu Lingzhu was displeased. “What are you showing off your English for? Does that prove you went to college?”

I was already too exasperated to get angry. My head was spinning, and I shook it as I answered,

“I never went to college.

“I didn’t even finish vocational high school. I took a leave and stayed home. Didn’t want to study. School was pointless.”

Lu Lingzhu was overjoyed.

“That’s exactly the kind of person I admire most. You and I are friends now, no question!”

I gave a bitter smile.

“Ladies, big sisters, grandmas, what exactly are you trying to do? Can you please let me go? I’m begging you. Go play somewhere else. I really have something very important to do!”

Qiao Moyu patted my shoulder and sat down beside me.

“Do you remember what I told you last night? To fish the Hidden Dragon Tomb, you have to use Blood Bait.

“Actually, I only told you half of it. Blood Bait is divided into two kinds.”

Blood Bait was divided into Upper Bait and bait offering.

People chosen as Upper Bait studied bitterly from childhood and had real skills. They knew how to save their own lives, and how to withdraw unscathed from the impact of the evil energy in the Hidden Dragon Cave at the smallest possible cost.

From the moment they could remember, they had been preparing for that day. Everything they learned was related to dragon fishing. But this art was extremely difficult to master, and very few ever succeeded.

Then there was bait offering.

Using one’s own vital blood as a sacrifice to lure the dragon out of the sea.

“Those who serve as bait offering are disposable. They communicate with the evil force underground and willingly offer themselves up until the life-bound blood in their forehead runs dry.

“If the blood on your forehead keeps flowing, you’ll be left with only one last breath of vital energy holding you up. Once the third day passes, you’ll either die or become a vegetable.

“No one is willing to die. That’s why people used as bait offering are basically all deceived.

“The Blood Bait Clan will look for collateral branches, or children who aren’t favored, then make up some excuse and brainwash them from childhood into coming here to scout the cave and fish for the dragon.

“The way Upper Bait handle dragon fishing is different from yours. Anyone can tell at a glance.”

Qiao Moyu sighed sympathetically.

“You’re that abandoned pawn.”