Chapter 1 Torrential Rain

Heavy rain, torrential, mud flowing. As soon as the highly decomposed corpse was unearthed, Xiahou Aotian saw a thick black smoke rising from the ground, transforming into a ferocious ghost face, lunging towards him.

Xiahou Aotian didn't dodge at all, but raised his head and let out a sharp whistle.

Mental Strike!

The ghost face formed by the black smoke shook violently, as if suffering a severe blow in mid-air.

Once the skill took effect, Xiahou Aotian quickly retreated, took a deep breath, and issued another piercing whistle.

The ghost face formed by the black smoke let out an angry and unwilling, inaudible, shrill scream, and slowly dissipated.

Under two Mental Strikes, the vengeful spirit was completely reduced to ashes.

Whew!

Xiahou Aotian exhaled a mouthful of stale air and approached the corpse in the mud again. After a simple examination, he couldn't determine the woman's specific cause of death, but one detail stood out: the corpse had no clothes on.

A young woman died in the remote mountains and wilderness, buried in a dilapidated temple, without clothes on her body. After death, her resentment did not dissipate and she turned into a vengeful ghost. How she died was obvious.

Xiahou Aotian continued to examine the girl's remains and discovered another detail: the woman's left hand only had four fingers. He silently noted this detail, and then used his knife to fill the soil back.

In an S-class instance, every detail is worth paying attention to, especially the dangers encountered by Lingjing Xingzhe.

Lingjing Xingzhe are the most likely to trigger the plot, and the "stories" in the instance all revolve around Lingjing Xingzhe. Clues and details that can be gained won't happen in places that Lingjing Xingzhe can't reach.

The control of key plot points by Yuan Shitianzun in the Vanquished Monarch instance gave Xiahou Aotian a great example and inspiration.

After burying the corpse, Xiahou Aotian returned to the dilapidated temple, took off his boots and threw them into the rain to wash them. He sat barefoot beside the dying charcoal fire.

"It's definitely impossible to become an official through the imperial examination. If I want to participate in the war and lead the victory, I must have a certain status. In the Tang Dynasty, besides the imperial examination, I can also rely on recommendations from powerful nobles."

"When I get to Chang'an, I can copy a few poems by the Sage of Poetry and the Immortal of Poetry to make a name for myself, get in touch with the powerful nobles of Chang'an, and then show my unique scholarly skills, and become an official through their recommendations."

"Afterwards, when the An and Shi Rebellion breaks out, I will propose to go on an expedition. During the An-Shi Rebellion, the only generals who can fight are Gao Xianzhi, Geshuhan, and Guo Ziyi. Little Guo is still playing a supporting role; it's not his time yet. Geshuhan and Gao Xianzhi are both tragedies."

I only have half a month, so after the An-Shi Rebellion breaks out, it's best to find a way to get to the front line as soon as possible, attack the instance as soon as possible, and return to reality to help Yuan Shitianzun as soon as possible.

"Half a month should be enough to clear the instance. Even the time-consuming and long-lasting Dominator instance has been long enough."

Thinking, thinking, the rain stopped, the mud on the boots was washed clean. He collected his thoughts, used the Fire Master's Fist to dry the boots, put them on, and led the horse away from the dilapidated temple to continue on his way!

At the latest by noon tomorrow, and at the earliest by morning, he will be able to reach Chang'an.

The next day, Zhang Yuanqing woke up refreshed, with the sleeping girl Hérasini in his arms. Her skin was fair and crystal clear, her dark green hair spread out, and her body was full of vitality, extremely beautiful.

Her shoulders were rounded, her waist was slender, her chest was large, her arms were rounded, and her legs were long. She was plump where she should be, and slender where she should be.

Compared to the wild Helen, she was more shy and gentle during pleasure, and more affectionate.

Alas. This damn NPC physique forces me to do impure things again. God, you must bear witness for me, debauchery is not my intention, it is the instance that forces me to.

Zhang Yuanqing sat up vigorously and saw Hérasini rubbing her eyes as well. He smiled and said, "Girl, we should hand in our work."

Yesterday, they worked all night and finally completed the task of two thousand arrows. After driving away the craftsmen, they embraced and fell asleep in the haystack.

People in this era have not yet formed the concept of a bedroom. There are many places to sleep.

It can be your own room, it can be under a cool shade of a tree, or it can be a cave that shelters from the wind and rain.

As long as it is safe, comfortable, and can shelter from the wind and rain, you can sleep there. Hérasini leaned on him affectionately, wrapped her arms around his neck, and said coquettishly, "Amini, you have given me another unforgettable night. I never knew you were so amazing. My body is still full of fatigue, and I want to continue sleeping regardless. Hmph, you are too tiring, but also very fulfilling."

Your lover now is the skin of Amini; the core of a Night Wanderer is certainly different!

What was last night's intensity? If it weren't for the dangers in the instance and the inability to fully enjoy myself, I could have kept you going for a day and a night.

Because of your help, we were able to complete the work within the specified time. That Cupid who should have his butt kicked by slaves actually wanted me to fall in love with a ewe.

"Don't let me find a chance, otherwise I will definitely hit his butt hard with my boot. I swear I will really do that!"

The two put on their clothes and headed to the castle.

In the western garden yesterday, they saw Cupid again, as well as three new pitiful slave overseers.

Cupid was reprimanding the slave overseers. Seeing them coming, his eyes suddenly lit up. He dropped the slave overseers, flapped his white wings, flew over, and danced around the two of them. He teased, "Our Paphos God of Justice is here."

"Let me guess, you are here to beg for my forgiveness. Oh, that's impossible Amini. If you don't deliver two thousand arrows today, I will make you live with a ewe for the rest of your life."

A guard not far away said loudly, "God of Justice, Lord Cupid has already had us prepare a ewe. I'm lucky to tell you, it's a pure ewe that has just come of age."

As he spoke, he waved the rope in his hand.

At the other end of the rope was a white goat, not very large, just growing curly hair.

The guards burst into laughter.

The three slave overseers cast sympathetic, self-pitying glances at Amini.

Zhang Yuanqing said neither humble nor arrogant, "Respected Lord Cupid, two thousand arrows have been made."

Cupid was stunned, the teasing and excitement on his face froze. He suddenly approached Amini and glared at him fiercely, "You are deceiving me?"

Zhang Yuanqing lowered his head, "Great Cupid, no one on Paphos can deceive you. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to check."

In order to avoid stimulating the narrow-minded Cupid, he didn't dare to show too much pride.

Cupid immediately looked at the guard and roared, "Go and see!"

The guard who was holding the ewe dropped the rope and ran away in a hurry.

Cupid looked at Amini again and sneered, "Amini, you know the consequences of deceiving me. Not only will I make you fall in love with a ewe, but I will also make Hérasini fall in love with a ram."

The dark green-haired girl's pretty face changed, but she quickly calmed down.

She was not afraid of Cupid's punishment because the work had been completed, and the punishment was destined not to come.

What surprised her was the hidden meaning in Cupid's words, as if he knew about her and Amini's affair.

But how was that possible? If Cupid knew about the relationship between the two, he would have reported it to the goddess of beauty, who was nominally the master but actually the mother.

Are illegitimate children not human? Alas, in this era, blood and ethics are really not important! Zhang Yuanqing sighed in his heart.

Although he had only been in the instance for two days, he could feel that the class relationship on Paphos was higher than human relations and ethics. Not to mention half-siblings, even Cupid and his other siblings, who were gods themselves, didn't have a very good relationship from Hérasini's description.

Several direct descendants of gods (half-gods) ruled the people and demi-gods of Paphos.

About half an hour later, the guard returned. After counting the arrows, he brought back bad news: "Lord Cupid, two thousand arrows have been made. I have counted them."

Cupid's round and pitiful little face instantly turned gloomy. He stared at Amini without saying a word. After about ten seconds, he suddenly burst into a naive and lovely smile, "My dear Amini, you are an excellent slave. Well done. The God of Light is threatening the safety of Paphos. We should unite and overcome the difficulties together."

Zhang Yuanqing bowed and said, "You are right!"

With Cupid's permission, he pulled Hérasini away from the garden, out of Cupid's sight. The dark green-haired girl's steps became lighter, and she warned, "Amini, you must be careful. Cupid will continue to make things difficult for you. He didn't dare to deal with you before because he was protected by Lady Aphrodite. But now she is no longer on the island."

It seems that Aphrodite is still very protective of her children.

Zhang Yuanqing asked, "Hérasini, you said that Cupid's father is the powerful God of War. Doesn't he have the heart to watch his lover and children be ruthlessly killed by the God of Light?"

Hérasini frowned slightly and said helplessly, "Amini, why do you think I know the thoughts and actions of the gods?"

I was speechless! Now that the work is completed and the danger has not yet approached, I will take a stroll around the island today to collect some information. This island, which gave birth to a god, should be worth exploring!

Just as he thought this, he heard an urgent bell ringing in his ears!

Zhang Yuanqing and Hérasini looked up at the same time, looking in the direction of the bell tower. The urgent bell was coming from there.

Zhang Yuanqing's powerful eyesight allowed him to see the heroic goddess Mónia on the high bell tower, waving a bronze stick to strike the giant bell.

As the bell rang, the entire castle, as well as the "village" attached to the castle, came to life in that instant.

Women and children hid in the houses, warriors quickly gathered, and men hurriedly went to various equipment depots to collect their weapons.

Footsteps, noises, and shouts became one. Hérasini said in horror, "Enemy, enemy attack! It's the followers of the God of Light."

Zhang Yuanqing glanced at her and said, "Hide and protect yourself." He immediately entered Night Wanderer state, harnessed the wind, and flew into the sky.

From a height of a hundred meters, he saw more than a dozen rough and huge warships appearing on the golden sea, their sails billowing, heading towards Paphos at a rapid pace.

I don't know if it's the effect of the sunlight, but the dozen or so warships are shimmering with a faint golden light.