It had to be said, Damien Gray was a master at manipulating human psychology.
Leo Leaf's eyes suddenly widened, as if she had seen something terrifying. She stared fixedly at Damien Gray, her lips repeating the same two words over and over: "It's you... it's you..."
Morgan Shangguan glanced at the somewhat deranged Leo Leaf, reached out and pinched Damien Gray's chin, and smiled lightly, "Ghost Lord, you've scared someone!"
Damien Gray rubbed against her palm, but before he could say anything, sudden laughter erupted in the dungeon. Leo Leaf laughed wildly while staring at Damien Gray, her gaze unwavering.
Damien Gray frowned slightly, clearly displeased that she had interrupted his tender moment with Morgan Shangguan.
The laughter lasted a long time before slowly fading. Leo Leaf continued to stare at Damien Gray, her eyes filled with obsession as she murmured softly, "No wonder you are the Guild Master!" After a pause, her face turned mournful and she pleaded, "Guild Master, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me, won't you? I just want to stay by your side. Even if I have to become her substitute, I don't care. Please don't drive me away..."
Everyone could tell that Damien Gray's intentions were far more than simply driving her away. Leo Leaf surely knew it too. Perhaps what she truly wanted was not to leave Damien Gray, no matter life or death. Yet from the hope in her eyes, it was clear—she wanted not only to stay by his side, but also to survive!
"Become her substitute?" Damien Gray's lips curled into a mocking smile. It was as if he'd heard something amusing; he couldn't help but chuckle. But when his gaze returned to Leo Leaf, it turned icy, sharp as needles, piercing her with a chill down to her bones.
Leo Leaf's face turned pale. She moved her lips, wanting to say something, but no words came out.
In the silent dungeon, only Damien Gray's cold, mocking voice echoed: "You? Worthy?" His arm tightened around Morgan Shangguan's waist as he spoke in a deep voice, "No one is qualified to become her substitute!"
He wasn't saying this for Morgan Shangguan's sake; he was merely mocking someone who overestimated themselves. In this world, there was only one Morgan Shangguan—no one else could ever replace her.
Leo Leaf stared at him, stunned, for a long while before she reacted. Her expression twisted, and she laughed grimly, "Is it only if she dies that you'll finally see me?" Leo Leaf's state was clearly unstable, tinged with madness as she muttered repeatedly, "I want to kill her... kill her..."
Damien Gray narrowed his eyes, the coldness in them so intense it was hard to meet his gaze. Leo Leaf had already angered him, and now his fury was on the verge of erupting.
Morgan Shangguan, unfazed, kissed the corner of his mouth. The coldness in Damien Gray's eyes lessened, but he had no intention of letting Leo Leaf off so easily. He was never one to show mercy, especially to those who hated Morgan Shangguan.
"Ethan..."
Ethan Gu understood immediately and had someone bring in a large chest, its top covered with a black cloth so its contents couldn't be seen. Logan Qian and Lily Ling wore somber expressions; though curious, they didn't ask. Quentin Soul, of course, remained silent, while Maxwell Jing already knew what was inside.
Ethan Gu reached out and pulled off the black cloth, revealing something inside that writhed and made people nauseous. Morgan Shangguan glanced at it calmly, then looked away as if unaffected. Lily Ling, however, couldn't remain so composed; after a single glance, she covered her mouth, her face pale, and even Logan Qian turned white.
Inside the chest, the little bugs were pitch black and looked plump, but as they crawled, their bodies stretched until they were thinner than a needle's tip. A single bug wasn't so frightening, but with half a chest full of them crawling around, who wouldn't turn pale at the sight?
Of course, the Four Hall Masters of the Ghost Guild weren't so weak as to blanch at such a sight. What truly frightened them was their knowledge of just how terrifying these bugs were. They remembered how those tormented by them would struggle desperately, unable to escape their agony.
When Leo Leaf saw what was inside the chest, her eyes filled with terror and her face turned ghostly pale. She trembled all over, her lips quivering as she shook her head repeatedly, "No... I don't want this... Guild Master... I know I was wrong... please forgive me..." She begged for mercy while struggling, trying to retreat as Ethan Gu approached, wishing she could shrink away and disappear.
Morgan Shangguan simply leaned against Damien Gray's chest, her expression calm, as if she were watching an inconsequential performance—though a glimmer of interest showed in her eyes.
Ethan Gu approached Leo Leaf with a blank expression, about to reach out his hand when Damien Gray suddenly called out, "Wait!"
At his words, Ethan Gu withdrew his hand. Leo Leaf breathed a sigh of relief, drenched in sweat. "Guild Master..."
She wanted to beg for mercy, but Damien Gray ignored her and looked at the woman in his arms. "Mo'er, isn't this a bit too disgusting? Should we choose a more elegant method of punishment instead?"
No matter how calm Morgan Shangguan was, she couldn't help but twitch her lips at his words. Seeing Damien Gray's serious expression, she found it amusing, patted his cheek, and smiled, "I've seen far worse."
Damien Gray raised his brows slightly and said no more. He knew Morgan Shangguan wasn't a sheltered noble lady—scenes like this probably meant little to her. Still, deep down, he instinctively didn't want her to witness too much ugliness—not because he feared she'd despise him, but because he worried it might stir up bad memories. After all, no one is truly indifferent to cruelty.
He gestured for Ethan Gu to continue, then lowered his head and kissed Morgan Shangguan's lips. She raised her brows, responding briefly before pushing him away with a laugh, "Don't distract me from the show!"
Damien Gray frowned, a little dissatisfied. "Am I really less important than the show?"
Screams echoed through the dungeon. Morgan Shangguan smiled and shook her head, helplessly saying, "You're the most important!" If he wanted to hear it, she didn't mind saying it a few more times.