Chapter 72, "My Most Proud Child"...

Wenmao's eyelids twitched, his breathing slowed, and he lowered his head to rest in the warmth.

From an angle where Wen Conglan couldn't see, his eyes were filled with solemnity.

late at night.

The cold moonlight illuminated the figure beside the bed. Wenmao's face was devoid of any childlike innocence, and his eyes were as cold as ice as he looked at the dark shadows swirling on the bed.

The image of the corpse he had seen in the coffin during the day when he had sneaked into the Zhang family home while Wen Conglan was off guard flashed through his mind.

The body had been disemboweled, and the internal organs and the two hands bore bite marks, making it almost impossible to recognize its original appearance.

Regardless of what kind of monster is possessing Wen Conglan, he must eliminate this hidden danger.

A cold glint flashed in his hand, and his true form appeared in Wen Mao's hand.

He reached out and placed his hand on Wen Conglan's wrist, his spiritual energy probing into Wen Conglan's body, carefully flowing through the latter's meridians.

He had not learned human exorcism techniques, so he could only use the most basic method to find the possessing monster, force it out, and destroy it.

The spiritual energy, as fine as a strand of hair, circulated through Wen Conglan's body for several cycles along her meridians.

No! ?

How could it not be there?!

Wen Mao stood there, stunned, and unconsciously increased the pressure on his hands.

The faint black mist floating above Wen Conglan's body that he saw was definitely not his illusion.

However, he did not detect any other aura within Wen Conglan's body.

"Hmm..."

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sound, and the object in his hand was instantly absorbed into his body the moment the sound rang out.

Wen Mao lowered his eyes, his drooping eyelashes concealing his cold gaze.

The figure on the bed twitched its eye muscles, then opened its eyes after a moment.

Her sleepy eyes widened for a moment when she saw the figure by the bed, then softened as she recognized the face illuminated by the moonlight.

"Mao'er? What are you doing here?"

"Mother, I can't sleep." When Wen Mao looked up again, his eyes no longer held the cold expression he once had; he had become Wen Mao again.

"Did you sneak off to the Zhang family during the day?" Wen Conglan sat up, patted Wen Mao's drooping head, her words reproachful, yet her tone filled with heartache and pity:

"Were you scared? You can't do that again. Mao'er is a big boy now, he should be braver..."

Wen Mao squatted down and lay beside the bed, listening to Wen Conglan's gentle admonitions.

He was not afraid of the miserable state of Zhang Ding that he had seen during the day, nor was he afraid of the unknown monster on Wen Conglan.

The only thing that could make him feel terrified was the thought of losing everything he currently possessed.

He quietly felt the touch of his fingers through his hair, a sensation he hadn't experienced in many years.

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He wanted to stay by his mother's side forever.

Has he become more like Wen Mao?

Unbeknownst to Wen Mao, who was lying on the edge of the bed, a wisp of black mist had appeared in Wen Conglan's eyes as she comforted him.

...

"Later, in order to balance the monster inside my mother, I had to select some people from the village to feed on."

The reason I didn't make a move that afternoon, Master Xie, was because I had already chosen my target and sent Feng Laosan to the agreed-upon location beforehand, then had the monster go there as well.

Wen Mao spoke calmly, as if everything was a matter of course, and human lives were nothing more than nourishment to prolong the idyllic paradise in his dream.

"Wen Mao, is this really the truth?" Xie Heng asked, holding his sword.

"If this is not the truth, then what brilliant idea does Immortal Xie have?" Wen Mao retorted coldly.

"Dad, isn't what Brother Cat is saying true?"

As the two confronted each other inside the room, Xie Baoqiong, who was standing outside, quietly tugged at Xie Zhuo's sleeve and asked in a low voice.

Anyway, he believed it all.

Xie Zhuo lowered his eyes, saw Xie Baoqiong's curious gaze, pondered for a moment, and then, imitating Xie Baoqiong, lowered his voice and explained:

"It's not a lie, but it's not necessarily the truth either."

"?" Xie Baoqiong's curiosity turned into confusion. Xie Zhuo was speaking human language, but he couldn't understand it.

Xie Zhuo rubbed the flesh hanging down her cheeks as Xie Baoqiong tilted her head:

"The only ones who know the truth are the deceased, Yingniang, and Wenmao. The deceased is gone and cannot speak, and Yingniang is not yet of sound mind and cannot answer. Only Wenmao can tell the so-called truth."

In such circumstances, the truth ultimately depends on which "truth" the audience will believe.

After explaining, Xie Zhuo gave another example:

"For example, on the night Zhang Ding tried to murder Doctor Wen, the first one to realize it was actually Ying Niang. She craved flesh and blood, but was unable to do anything to Doctor Wen because of Wen Mao's presence."

He noticed when new flesh appeared alone in the hunting range.

By the time Wen Mao appeared in the courtyard, He might have already begun to devour Zhang Ding.

When Wen Mao saw Wen Conglan enveloped within Him, he attacked, but Yingniang neutralized and bound him.

Wen Mao himself is not the flesh and blood that Ying Niang desires. Moreover, as Xie Xianchang said, Ying Niang was born out of obsession. Ying Niang, who was born by absorbing Wen Conglan's obsession, will also be affected by his obsession and will not actively harm Wen Mao.

Later, Yingniang harmed people in order to devour flesh and blood, but Wenmao cleaned up the mess for her.

When Wen Mao's words are rearranged, this reveals a new truth.

Xie Zhuo gently lifted Xie Baoqiong's lazy head and asked:

"Xiao Bao, which one do you think is real, and which one is fake?"

Xie Baoqiong blinked slowly, and combining this with what Xie Zhuo had said, gave an extremely cunning answer:

"Well... anyway, Immortal Master Xie thinks what Brother Cat said is false."

Xie Zhuo squeezed the soft flesh in his hand and said helplessly, "It's a special answer, but Xiao Bao has his own judgment, which is good."

Everyone present was sharp-eyed and perceptive, and the hushed conversation between father and son went unnoticed by anyone.

Wen Mao's expression changed for a moment when Xie Zhuo revealed another "truth," but upon closer inspection, he still maintained that indifferent expression.

Xie Heng's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he was about to continue asking questions when the jade pendant at his waist suddenly emitted a halo of light and flashed.

Wen Mao noticed a flash of anxiety in his eyes:

Is there any way to save her?

The jade pendant swayed, and under Xie Heng's control, a weary voice emerged:

"Senior Brother, I've found the ancient book you mentioned."

The sound of pages turning, accompanied by muttered complaints, emanated from the jade tablet:

"These days, everyone in the sect uses jade slips, so where did you find this antique book, Senior Brother?"

The off-key voice genuinely touched Wen Mao's heart, and time had never seemed to pass so slowly to him:

"Found it! The solution to the Shadow Maiden's solid form without devouring its host..."

The voice on the other end of the jade pendant suddenly stopped, then exclaimed, "Senior Brother, it's evil magic! We can't do it!"

"What method is it?"

Upon hearing that there was a solution, Wen Mao naturally didn't care whether it was a wicked or evil technique. As long as he could save Wen Conglan, what difference did it make whether it was a righteous or evil technique?

An unfamiliar voice suddenly rang out, startling the voice on the other side of the jade pendant:

"Who are you? Where's my senior brother?"

"Amu, send me the method." Xie Heng's cold voice interrupted the conversation, and then he cut off the communication from the jade tablet.

After Xie Heng finished reading the information from the jade tablet, the light emanating from it shone on his face, casting an indelible shadow beneath his brow.

He glanced at Wen Mao, who seemed ready to snatch the jade token if he didn't reveal his method, and said coldly:

"Your strength is inferior to mine."

"What exactly is the method?" Wen Mao's body surged with spiritual energy, clearly not taking Xie Heng's reminder to heart.

Or rather, even though he knew this fact, he still did it.

"The Shadow Maiden has already taken shape and can no longer return to Doctor Wen's body."

Xie Heng's cold voice rang out, and Wen Mao's response was still a simple two words:

"method."

"Wen Mao!" Xie Heng suddenly raised his voice, "You should know that if it weren't for you back then, Doctor Wen wouldn't be alive today."

His voice lowered, taking on a persuasive tone:

"You've already extended her lifespan by these years; you should let her and yourself go."

"But I exist!"

As Wen Mao's voice rang out, his figure vanished from the spot, and he flicked his long sword.

Xie Heng sighed, released his grip, and the jade pendant flew through the air, tracing an arc before being caught by Xie Baoqiong, who reached out her hand.

Xie Baoqiong's eyes quickly scanned the information on the jade tablet, and as she looked at Wen Mao who had come before her, she gripped the jade tablet tightly with both hands.

"Xiao Bao, give it to me." Wen Mao held out his palm and handed it to Xie Baoqiong.

Xie Baoqiong glanced down at the information on the jade tablet, then looked up at Wen Maoshi with a conflicted expression, unable to utter the same words of advice as Xie Heng.

Aunt Wen is a good person, and if possible, he also hopes that Aunt Wen can live.

but……

"Brother Cat, the method above isn't good." Xie Baoqiong said, leaving her with no further explanation.

Xie Zhuo glanced at the blank jade tablet, patted Xie Baoqiong's flustered head, said nothing, and waited for Xie Baoqiong to make a choice.

"Xiao Bao, there's no right or wrong, just give it to me." Wen Mao's eyes were firm, unlike his aggressive demeanor when facing Xie Heng.

Xie Baoqiong slowly handed over the jade token.

The jade pendant he held in both hands became tiny when it fell into Wen Mao's large hands.

Once the Shadow Maiden is formed, it cannot return to its host. The only solution is to find a spirit, erase its intelligence, and then use this method again within three days of the Shadow Maiden leaving the body to transform it into a phantom and combine it with the one who has lost their shadow.

Wen Mao's hand tightened around the jade pendant, its rounded edges digging painfully into him.

He looked up at Xie Baoqiong, who was nestled beside Xie Zhuo, and a wicked thought flashed through his mind.

His gaze moved upwards, passing over Xie Baoqiong's innocent eyes, and finally settling on Xie Zhuo's concerned face, looking down at the person ahead.

Wen Mao tossed the jade pendant to Xie Heng behind him, his lowered eyes revealing no emotion.

"Let me become her shadow."

This doesn't seem so bad; he can finally stay with his mother forever.

He was born under Wen Conglan's command, and now that he has returned to nothingness, he can still stay by his mother's side. It seems that being extinguished of his intelligence and dying in the world is not so terrible.

He is indeed not Wen Mao, but he is also Wen Conglan's child.

She was Wen Conglan's first child.

It is the child that Wen Conglan has not yet had time to name.

It is the child that Wen Conglan buried and shelved after burying his long-cherished wish.

...

He was Wen Conglan's most prized child.