Inside the wooden box, Leo Leaf's contorted face was unbearable to look at. Her piercing, agonized screams seemed to echo in everyone's hearts, sending a chill deep within. The pain and struggle she displayed looked as if they were meant to leave a permanent shadow in the minds of all who witnessed it.
These insects burrowed into the human body, crawling ceaselessly inside, gnawing away at flesh and blood bit by bit. No blood would spill, and when the organs were all devoured, only an empty shell remained—yet the victim was still barely alive. This was the unique cruelty of these bugs: they preserved life, never letting their victim die too quickly.
Slowly feeling one's body being eaten away was not just pain—it was the torment of knowing that hell lay ahead, yet being powerless to stop oneself from inching closer. Such an experience was enough to drive anyone mad!
Only those who have truly endured it understand what kind of torture it is. Onlookers might think the ordeal is brief, but for the victim, time stretches into infinity. All they can do is pray for a swift release, but even that is a luxury.
Lily Ling and Logan Qian looked pale, but their reactions were restrained. Quentin Soul merely furrowed his brow, his face as cold as ever. Ethan Gu and Maxwell Jing, though somber, seemed unfazed—perhaps because they hailed from Healer's Sanctuary, where inhumane drug trials were hardly better than this.
Morgan Shangguan gazed at Leo Leaf and sighed, a trace of regret flickering in her eyes—as if mourning something, though no one could guess what. Perhaps only Damien Gray understood.
"Ghostmaster, you are ruthless!" The words were spoken with a sigh, yet held no blame.
Damien Gray lowered his head and gently bit her earlobe, whispering so only the two could hear, "Mo'er, you're the only one who makes me hesitate."
Morgan Shangguan raised an eyebrow, glancing at him with a soft laugh. "Should I say it's my honor?"
Damien Gray merely smiled without answering, stroking her hair as he said, "The show is over. It's time for us to return and rest."
Morgan Shangguan glanced again at Leo Leaf. She felt no sympathy for her. To say Leo Leaf truly loved Damien Gray would be an exaggeration; perhaps it was just an obsession—unable to let go simply because she couldn't have him. Her feelings weren't selfless, so she always weighed what she could gain.
Morgan narrowed her eyes. In truth, she wasn't much nobler herself, and she didn't deny it. If Damien Gray hadn't fallen for her first—pursuing her relentlessly—she wouldn't have loved him. Even if she liked him, she wouldn't have opened her heart. She, too, thought first of herself, because she didn't want to get hurt.
Even now, if Damien Gray ever did something unforgivable, she wouldn't stay by his side out of blind devotion. But she knew he wouldn't—because his love for her surpassed his love for himself. That was why she could love him so freely. Maybe she was more selfish than Leo Leaf, but the only difference was, she had won Damien Gray's heart.
Damien Gray had made all the arrangements long ago. The moment something happened to Leo Leaf, someone immediately stepped in to take her place, so this incident had little effect on the Ghost Guild.
With Leo Leaf gone, the task of reorganizing Qin Fortress naturally fell to her successor. It was a test of leadership for the new Hall Master. But as the deputy, their abilities were hardly lacking, and after years at Leo Leaf's side, surely they could handle this.
As for Qin Yan, Leo Leaf's collaborator, he met the same fate as she did.
The next day, Damien Gray and Morgan Shangguan set out for the location of the treasure. Morgan chose not to go in her Cloud Guild identity, having realized that her current status made others less wary—there was nothing wrong with that.
Damien Gray didn't bother hiding his movements, drawing a crowd from all corners of the martial world—both righteous and unrighteous. After the losses at Healer's Sanctuary last time, most sects had few disciples left, and those who survived had only stayed behind, lacking talent and usefulness. So this time, everyone brought fewer people.
No one could tell how much the Ghostmaster cared about the treasure, since he brought only his two Protectors—not even the Four Hall Masters. He was accompanied by a stunning beauty, but in everyone's eyes, she was of little consequence. As for the Cloud Guild, its leader showed even less concern, sending only two elders and not appearing in person.
Naturally, some speculated that the Cloud Guild leader had some scheme, but seeing the Ghostmaster so calm, everyone relaxed. After all, the Ghost Guild and Cloud Guild were sworn enemies—if the Cloud Guild leader was plotting something, the Ghostmaster would surely be the first to sabotage it.
The only one unable to remain calm was Liam Duanmu—and of course, it was because of Morgan Shangguan.
Noticing the persistent gaze fixed on Morgan, Damien Gray's expression grew colder and colder. The chilling aura he exuded kept everyone at a greater distance than usual, and people lowered their voices, afraid to disturb him and risk his wrath.
Damien Gray's murderous stare finally had its effect—Liam Duanmu turned his gaze toward him, eyes full of contemplation. Liam hadn't become Martial Alliance Chief through family connections, but through his own merit. Seeing the Ghost Queen by the Ghostmaster's side, he couldn't help but wonder.
He didn't think Morgan Shangguan was a frivolous woman, so the only explanation was that the Ghost King and Ghostmaster were the same person. For others, such a theory would seem too bold and easily dismissed, but Liam didn't reject his own suspicion—because it was the only logical answer!
This also explained why, after Morgan fell from the cliff, Damien Gray jumped after her and emerged unscathed. With the Ghostmaster's unfathomable skills, of course he would be unharmed!
Morgan paid no attention to the stares directed at her, instead focusing on what lay ahead. The treasure hunt was causing a stir, and their actions were no secret. Those after the treasure weren't limited to the martial world; the court would surely join the fray. Sophie Qiu feared Damien Gray and might act with restraint, but the Azure Kingdom had no such qualms. Last time, their treasure hunt in the Snowpeak Mountains was rushed, and Azure Kingdom had no time to respond. But now, with so much commotion, they must already be prepared to act at any moment.