Chapter 1

Seven o'clock in the morning, the sky was not bright. A thick fog shrouded everything, obscuring the sun. Ruined buildings loomed in the mist, and garbage bags danced in the streets, swept by the wind.

Xichuan Town.

A series of cheers erupted.

"It's human time again! Today is the last day, the last hour!"

"We can only be human from seven to eight o'clock. After that, we'll turn into beasts and never be human again!"

"Chunhua, Cuiying, come on! Let's enjoy this last bit of happiness together. Don't be shy, and don't mention your dead husbands!"

People roared excitedly, venting their pent-up emotions.

Some weren't even dressed, grabbing their women in the street and starting to make love.

Others saw this and joined in, a wild orgy!

They reveled wantonly, tears streaming down their faces, their eyes full of madness. This was their last hour of being human. If they wanted this kind of joy again, they would have to resort to bestial acts.

But that would be bestial lust, not love.

On a street corner, an old man walked towards an old woman, his eyes filled with desire and excitement. He was about to pick her up when she nimbly sidestepped him. "Whoosh!" She flipped him over her shoulder and carried him into a ruined corner.

Inside a partially collapsed clothing store, a young man laughed as he dug out a pair of stockings and put them on.

"People always used to laugh at me for dressing as a woman. This is the last hour I can be human. I..."

Blood splattered.

"Damn ghost mist! It makes me cut it off again and again. I can't cut it off for good! It hurts so damn much every time!"

Liu Youshan grimaced, and Gao Xin hurriedly knelt down to apply medicine to his wound, comforting him. "Hall Master, every time you cut it off, it grows back when you become human again after the beastly transformation. What's the point?!"

Liu Youshan sighed, his eyes glinting strangely. "You don't understand!"

"Black silk is so alluring. Even if I could resist if I were a man, would Snake Lord believe me? So, it's cleaner to cut it off, less trouble. I can focus on being my Liu Gonggong, and Snake Lord won't misunderstand me. Snake Lord, Snake Lord... Waaah!"

As he said this, he burst into tears, sobbing like a child.

Snake Lord was dead. There would never be another Snake Lord.

The future was uncertain. Xichuan Town was isolated from the world, and the ghost mist lingered. With Snake Lord leading the way, he only had to follow and lord it over others. But now, Snake Lord was gone. He felt pressure and despair, seeing no hope at all.

"I will do everything I can to protect Snake Lord's family, Zhang Youfu, and Snake Lord's child. I, Liu Youshan, will have repaid his kindness."

He sighed, then grimaced in pain as Gao Xin, who was applying the medicine, realized he hadn't cut it off cleanly and gave him another slice.

"Happy Home" Manor.

In a doghouse in the corner of the yard, a white husky's eyes darted around. Listening to the people's discussions in the street, he felt very excited and happy.

"That king cobra is dead? Does that mean I, Du She, am going to dominate these ancient ruins? Hahaha!"

Its eyes shone with excitement.

"With the king cobra around, I, Du She, could only cower at home as a guard dog. Now that the king cobra is dead, I, Du She, will go on a rampage!"

"This ancient ruin will be my hunting ground from now on!"

"Roar—"

It raised its head and roared. Its body suddenly transformed into a sixty-meter-tall Du She giant tiger, breaking free of its dog chain and rushing out of Happy Manor. A member of the dog gang at the entrance was about to bring it dog food, but it swallowed him in one gulp.

Enjoying the taste of blood and flesh, its eyes gleamed fiercely as it looked towards the wilderness.

"I heard that the head of that ferocious king cobra is still being worshiped. Hmph! Worship my ass! I love bones the most! Let me go swallow its head!"

The Du She giant tiger licked its lips, leaped into the air, and disappeared into the ghost mist, leaving a trail of腥 wind (xīng fēng - bloody stench).

In the wilderness.

A vast fog sealed the sky and the earth, creating a desolate and eerie atmosphere.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter."

The sound of horses' hooves came from the distance.

An old Daoist priest arrived on a dragon horse, his eyes deep and majestic. He instantly saw the Snake King Temple and the huge snake head enshrined in the shrine. His eyes immediately shone with a brilliant light.

"Demon King Bone?! Hehe, this poor Daoist's opportunity has arrived..."