Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Seeing how calm they all were, I felt much more at ease and pulled my hand back from the mirror. The Tomb Spirit gripped my arm and was dragged out from the glass surface. In an instant, the mirror lost its smooth finish, becoming encrusted with copper rust, just like the bronze mirror unearthed in Qinghai.

The Tomb Spirit hung from my arm. It looked like a skinned monkey-purplish-red all over, slick and hairless, with mucus constantly dripping from its body. It had no other facial features except for a pair of massive eyes. There were no whites; its black pupils were larger than grapes.

Jiang Haoyan was standing right next to me, the first to be hit by the visual shock.

He gasped, and the Tomb Spirit’s black eyes immediately glared at him with ferocity.

Jiang Haoyan froze, then tremblingly took hold of my arm.

“Qiao Moyu, your arm is so white. It’s really beautiful.”

As he spoke, he stroked my arm twice. The Tomb Spirit was hanging right off my forearm, but Jiang Haoyan acted as if it didn’t exist, his palm passing through its body to stroke the back of my hand.

The Tomb Spirit tilted its head, studying Jiang Haoyan for a moment. Suddenly, it let out a “hee-hee” laugh, scrambled up my arm, and leaped onto Jiang Haoyan’s shoulder.

Its entire body was now exposed under the flashlight’s beam, and it was the others’ turn to be dumbfounded.

Zhao Sisi immediately covered her mouth, letting out a soft whimper.

All of us turned as one to glare at Zhao Sisi. Looking at Jiang Haoyan, she began to cry out of fear, reaching up to wipe the corners of her eyes.

“Boohoo… Xiao Yan, you and Qiao Moyu are finally together. I’m so moved for you both.”

Jiang Haoyan replied, “Sister, thank you for the blessing.”

After saying that, he walked over, intending to give Zhao Sisi a hug. Her expression changed drastically.

“Don’t come over here! Qiao Moyu will be jealous.”

I hurriedly shook my head, enjoying her misfortune.

“What are you saying, Sisi? We’re all family here. Why would I be jealous?”

Jiang Haoyan walked up to Zhao Sisi and made a move to hug her. The Tomb Spirit sat perched on his shoulder, curiously observing her. Zhao Sisi couldn’t take it anymore; she suddenly took a deep breath, crouched on the ground, and opened her backpack.

“I’m exhausted. I brought water. Does anyone want some?”

Just as Zhao Sisi unscrewed the cap of the mineral water, the Tomb Spirit beside her curiously stuck its finger in and stirred. Green mucus kept dripping into the bottle. Zhao Sisi’s mouth twitched uncontrollably as she handed the water to Lin Xin nearby.

“Lin Xin, here, have some.”

Lin Xin took the bottle, chanting frantically in his mind: *It’s an illusion. It’s all an illusion.*

He struggled to overcome the nausea and fear in his heart, bringing the bottle to his lips with the grim resolve of a martyr. At that moment, the Tomb Spirit suddenly flicked out its tongue. It was similar to a lizard’s-long, pointed, and forked at the tip.

The Tomb Spirit stuck its tongue into the water bottle and licked around. Lin Xin finally reached his limit. He let out a startled cry, his hand shook, and the bottle fell to the ground, spilling water everywhere.

The Tomb Spirit immediately leaned in close to Lin Xin, staring at him with a face full of ferocity.

The two were face-to-face, barely an inch apart.