Xiao Feng did not answer; his gaze was drawn to a withered tree not far away.
The trunk of that tree was covered with name tags, each with a name engraved on it, the writing blurred yet exuding an eerie aura.
“These names…” Sima Yan approached the big tree and carefully examined the handwriting on the nameplates.
Suddenly, his expression changed drastically, and his voice was filled with excitement: "Xiao Feng, look at this! This is the name of the girl who went missing back then!"
Xiao Feng's heart sank, and he quickly walked to Sima Yan's side.
His gaze swept over the name tag and, sure enough, he saw that familiar name.
His fists clenched, and a flash of anger crossed his eyes.
"Could it be that this place is where those women are buried?"
Sima Yan's voice trembled slightly as his gaze fell on the tree again, and he suddenly discovered that countless human faces were sealed on the trunk.
The faces were all asleep, their expressions serene.
"These women... are they all sealed inside this tree?"
Sima Yan's voice carried a hint of disbelief as his gaze swept across the tree trunk, his heart filled with shock.
He reached out and gently touched the designer brands.
The instant their fingertips touched, a chilling sensation spread throughout their body.
The brand name suddenly emitted a faint buzzing sound, followed by a flashback of a memory.
The first memory flooded into Xiao Feng's mind like a tidal wave.
In the video, a young couple is having a heated argument.
The woman, tears streaming down her face and her voice choked with sobs, cried out, "You don't care about me at all! Let's call off the engagement!"
The man, looking impatient, waved his hand and said, "Fine, I'll back off! You think I care about you?"
Immediately afterwards, the second memory surfaced.
A middle-aged couple stood in front of their dilapidated house. The wife looked exhausted, her eyes filled with deep disappointment: "You went gambling again? You've lost all the money in the house. How are we supposed to live?"
The husband lowered his head, not daring to look his wife in the eye, and stammered, "I...I just wanted to win some money back..."
The wife gave a bitter smile, turned and left, her back view appearing particularly desolate.
The third memory followed immediately.
A young mother stands on the edge of a cliff, holding her young child.
Her eyes were filled with despair as she murmured, "I can't take it anymore... My in-laws need care, the child is still young, and all he does is gamble... What should I do?"
Her voice grew softer and softer until it finally turned into a sigh, and she leaped off the cliff.
Xiao Feng's heart sank. All the women in his memories had taken their own lives due to the pressures of life and the breakdown of their relationships.
Just then, a cold voice suddenly rang out in the air: "I didn't expect that you would break the illusion."
Xiao Feng suddenly looked up and saw a red figure descending from the sky, appearing before him like a ghost.
The woman in red had long, flowing hair and a face as pale as paper. Her appearance seemed to freeze the surrounding air, and a powerful sense of oppression swept over us.
Sima Yan's exclamation came from behind, but it was too late.
The vines of the tree suddenly grew wildly, coiling around Sima Yan's body like venomous snakes.
He struggled desperately but could not break free, his face filled with terror and despair.
Xiao Feng's heart tightened, and he was about to step forward to help, but the woman in red gently waved her hand.
A flash of red light appeared, and Zhao Yuwei suddenly appeared beside her, bound hand and foot.
"Xiao Feng, don't move." The woman in red sneered, her voice tinged with mockery: "If you dare to make a move, I will kill her."
Her fingers lightly traced Zhao Yuwei's neck, a cruel glint flashing in her eyes.
Xiao Feng's heart sank, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.
He knew that the current situation was extremely unfavorable to him, but he could not stand by and watch Zhao Yuwei fall into danger.
What exactly do you want?
The woman in red chuckled softly, a cold glint in her eyes: "What do I want? Now, put down your sword and obey me, or else..."
With a slight tightening of her fingers, a bloody mark immediately appeared on Zhao Yuwei's neck.
Xiao Feng's heart skipped a beat, and a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes.
"Xiao Feng, don't worry about me!"
Zhao Yuwei suddenly struggled and shouted, her eyes filled with determination: "You can't listen to her! She's a devil!"
The woman in red's face instantly darkened, her fingers tightened sharply, and Zhao Yuwei's face immediately turned pale, her breathing becoming rapid.
"Shut up!"
The woman in red coldly retorted, a hint of murderous intent flashing in her eyes: "Say one more word, and I'll shut you up forever!"
Xiao Feng's heart sank.
"Alright, I'll put down my sword."
Xiao Feng slowly raised his hands and gently placed the longsword on the ground, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes: "But you have to promise not to hurt her."
The woman in red chuckled, a hint of smugness flashing in her eyes: "That's more like it. If everyone behaves well, everyone will be better off."
Her fingers loosened slightly, and Zhao Yuwei's expression softened a little, but the fear in her eyes remained.
Xiao Feng kept a close eye on her, never daring to relax for a moment.
The woman in red's long hair moved without wind, dancing in the air as if it were alive.
"I want to see the ugliest side of humanity, to see you killing each other to survive."
Before she finished speaking, she gently flicked her slender fingers.
Zhao Yuwei and Sima Yan's bodies suddenly rose into the air and hovered in mid-air.
Vines emerged from the void, wrapping around the two people's limbs and torsos like greedy tentacles.
The vines glowed with an eerie red light and exuded a putrid stench.
Zhao Yuwei and Sima Yan struggled in terror, but the vines tightened their grip, almost digging into their flesh.
The woman in red turned to Xiao Feng, her eyes gleaming with a morbid excitement: "If you want to live, kill him."
Her voice was filled with indifference towards life.
Xiao Feng clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, saying, "What if I refuse?"
The woman in red chuckled softly, her voice as cold as a blade: "Then, you will be the one chosen."
A cruel glint flashed in her eyes: "Are you really willing to die for her?"
Xiao Feng fell silent, his heart filled with intense struggle.
Seeing this, the woman in red turned her gaze to Zhao Yuwei.
She waved her hand gently, and Zhao Yuwei suddenly opened her eyes.
Zhao Yuwei's eyes were filled with fear and confusion. She blinked hard, trying to understand her current situation.
The woman in red's voice rang in her ears: "Zhao Yuwei, do you want to live?"
Zhao Yuwei watched the woman in red warily, secretly on guard.
She could sense the evil aura emanating from this woman and knew she harbored no ill intentions.
Sure enough, the woman in red continued, "If you want to live, then kill your lover!"
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