Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses v4c1

Vol 4 —”The God of Malice is Watching the Land”

The God of Malice is Watching the Land: Chapter 1 Dream

Mid-1328, New Era.

A year after the second Calamity Tide, ten months have passed since the arrival of “Witch’s Night.”

The once glorious Noah was now much more desolate and quiet, not to mention the other mega-cities, which were even more bleak.

The bustling streets were no longer filled with noisy crowds. The occasional passerby hurried along, their faces etched with worry.

Gloomy dark clouds perpetually covered the sky, even the dazzling starry sky, usually visible at night, had dimmed, as if everything was on the verge of collapse.

All this indicated that this unimaginable Calamity was still brewing, hadn’t fully erupted yet.

However, even without a full eruption… the surging Calamity phenomena and the increasingly powerful and terrifying Calamity monsters were gradually approaching human civilization, causing considerable losses to human forces.

More than a dozen mega-cities had been swallowed by the Calamity Tide, and countless settlements in the Endless Wasteland had lost contact.

Over eighty percent of ability users were forcibly conscripted into the military and sent to the Endless Wasteland, attempting to contain the Calamity outside the mega-cities.

After all, mega-cities were humanity’s last line of defense, and constructing city defense systems was extremely difficult, they absolutely couldn’t be used unless it was absolutely necessary.

Even Dawn put aside their past conflicts with the Free Federation, joining forces with various human forces to protect the embers of civilization.

At this moment, in Yan City.

“Hey, hey, have you heard? The Twelve Saints were almost completely wiped out, and the Sanctuary, extinguished since the Calamity descended, must be beyond saving!”

“Isn’t that right? At this critical juncture of humanity’s survival, only Saint Shadow appeared among the Twelve Saints, even Saint Illusion, who organized the Ten Cities Council before, has disappeared without a trace!”

“Sigh, I don’t even know how much longer we can last…”

Hua Qiling listened to these ability users chattering about the Saints and Noah. She wanted to retort, but the words turned into a heavy sigh.

Indeed, since the outbreak of the Calamity last year, there hadn’t been any news from the Sanctuary, and they had even unilaterally cut off contact with the Noah Church.

His Holiness had tried countless ways to investigate the changes within the Sanctuary, but to no avail, he hadn’t received any information.

He knew part of the truth about the Sanctuary, clearly understood the reason why it couldn’t be entered, so he didn’t dare to send anyone in to investigate.

As for Saint Shadow, the Eleventh Saint, after accepting the mission to kill the Archbishop of the Church of the End Gods, she had left the Sanctuary in her true form.

Now, just like His Holiness, she couldn’t enter the Sanctuary, and even Illusion couldn’t contact her.

Let alone Miss Luo Yan. Everything about her was sealed off along with the Sanctuary. No one knew what she saw on the peak of the Holy Mountain, or whether she could even return.

Therefore, Shadow became the only one among the Twelve Saints supporting humanity in this Calamity, barely leading human civilization in resisting this Calamity Tide.

Shadow was very anxious, but there was nothing she could do, she could only brace herself and carry on alone.

Shadow had specifically come to Yan City to tell Hua Qiling about these things.

Because Hua Qiling had a good relationship with Miss Luo Yan, and she was the one who brought Miss Luo Yan out of Ghost Town, Shadow came to see if she could contact Miss Luo Yan through Hua Qiling.

Unfortunately, Hua Qiling also didn’t have a way to contact Miss Luo Yan.

“Miss Luo Yan…”

Hua Qiling sighed. She was currently only a “Ruin” level ability user, insignificant in the face of this human catastrophe.

Actually, this wasn’t strange. From her encounter with Miss Luo Yan in Ghost Town until now, it had only been less than two years. Unless she had a great opportunity, Hua Qiling would remain at the “Ruin” level for another ten years or so.

Ever since learning that Miss Luo Yan was taken into the Sanctuary by the Saints, there hadn’t been any news, and Hua Qiling had been feeling melancholic.

Miss Luo Yan’s appearance in her memory had gradually become blurred. She only remembered beautiful, long silver-white hair, and a face so beautiful it was dazzling.

“It’s a pity that Anna is trapped in Noah and can’t come back now.”

Hua Qiling shook her head and took another sip of the strong liquor in her hand.

The Lifeline had long stopped operating. Relying on the Teleportation Array, she could only travel between large mega-cities, and only powerful figures like Shadow could traverse the Endless Wasteland.

But due to safety concerns, they couldn’t bring Anna, who wasn’t even an ability user.

“And my sister,” remembering her rarely seen older sister, a sense of longing arose in Hua Qiling’s heart, and she sighed softly, “Sister… there’s no news from her either.”

The tavern was currently filled with ability user squads returning from missions. Even in remote Yan City, many Calamity monsters had set their sights on this place.

The ability user squads in the Yan City Calamity Response Department had suffered heavy losses recently, and Lin Cheng and Li Ping, despite their old age, had participated in many battles, their bodies covered in wounds.

But this was already considered fortunate. It was said that the ancestral city of Yan City’s founders had suffered the most severe Calamity attack, more than one-third of its walls collapsed, and several districts were completely overrun, becoming a paradise for Calamity monsters.

The current Calamity monsters weren’t ordinary Calamity monsters. Wherever they went, they left behind an ineradicable contamination, and anyone who got close would be assimilated into indescribable monsters.

Even though Yan City hadn’t encountered this kind of terrifying Calamity Tide, the pressure was still immense, and the ability user squads sent out on missions also faced life-or-death situations.

This small tavern, converted from a cafe, was one of the few places where ability users could relax.

Just then, a sharp voice suddenly sounded,

“Speaking of which, do you know about our Yan City’s ‘Ice Coffin Weapon’? Damn, she was actually a partial incarnation of a Primordial Demon!”

“Hiss… is that true? Where did you hear that?”

“Absolutely true, my uncle saw it with his own eyes!”

“Nonsense, you don’t have an uncle!”

“Then my cousin’s uncle, anyway, you know there’s such a person…”

The discussion became heated, but Hua Qiling’s hand trembled slightly upon hearing this.

Had… this matter been leaked?

At the same time as the Calamity Tide erupted, a familiar Primordial Demon alarm sounded in Yan City, and the aura detection pointed towards the supposedly empty Wall of Resentment.

Lin Cheng and Li Ping immediately took elite ability user squads to investigate, but unexpectedly, the one who emerged was the “Ice Coffin Weapon,” whose body Miss Luo Yan had previously possessed.

And what surged from her was an extremely strong Primordial Demon aura, already at the level of a true form.

At that time, both the old man and the City Lord thought Yan City was doomed. After all, Yan City wasn’t qualified to face a Primordial Demon directly, even Lannister would struggle, only mega-cities like Dragon City and Noah could handle it.

But to everyone’s surprise, she just glanced at everyone present and instantly vanished.

The aura warning also stopped at the same time, and everything in Yan City returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

But the open Wall of Resentment told everyone that this wasn’t a dream, it was reality, a Primordial Demon had indeed descended upon Yan City.

The City Lord had issued a gag order on this matter; it absolutely couldn’t be leaked.

Unfortunately, gag orders didn’t have much effect during these times of panic. Even this small tavern was filled with such rumors, let alone other places.

Hua Qiling could only sigh inwardly, stood up, and was about to pay,

“Miss Elise!”

“Yes?”

A tall figure behind the bar counter looked up, her indifferent gaze falling on Hua Qiling.

“The bill, please.”

Hua Qiling waved the bottle in her hand and then tapped the almost empty plate of snacks in front of her.

“Mm.”

Elise walked over, tidied up the slightly messy table, and counted Hua Qiling’s expenses.

While waiting, Hua Qiling, out of boredom, inadvertently glanced at the coffee machine on the bar counter and the artworks placed nearby, suddenly remembering that this small tavern used to be a niche cafe.

Looking at them, she asked with interest,

“Elise, I remember you used to run a cafe here?”

“Yes.”

Elise nodded indifferently.

“Why did you change it to a tavern? You don’t seem to be short of money.” Hua Qiling asked again.

Those artworks looked quite valuable, but Elise casually piled them in the corner.

If she changed it to a tavern because she was short of money, it would be better to sell these artworks.

The way Elise haphazardly piled the artworks on the floor didn’t seem like someone who valued them.

“A change of style, a bit more lively, the cafe was too quiet.” Elise answered Hua Qiling’s questions, but her tone was always cold. “The total is twenty silver coins.”

“One gold coin, keep the change for next time.”

Hua Qiling tossed a gold coin, and Elise caught it and put it in her pocket.

“Thank you for your patronage, please come again.”

Elise stiffly recited the polite words used by shopkeepers, but her expression remained indifferent, as if she was forced to say them.

This scene looked rather comical, and Hua Qiling almost couldn’t help but laugh.

But she twitched the corners of her mouth and still couldn’t bring herself to smile.

It seemed to be because of the previous conversation…

The drunken ability users were still chatting away in the tavern, but a hint of worry flashed through Hua Qiling’s slightly tipsy eyes.

For some reason, perhaps due to the influence of alcohol, she suddenly, impulsively asked Elise,

“Everyone is saying that the Twelve Saints have been completely defeated… do you think it’s true?”

“False.”

Elise answered without hesitation.

“Then why, with the Calamity Tide threatening humanity to this extent, haven’t the Twelve Saints appeared?” Hua Qiling looked up, her eyes slightly dazed and unfocused. “There hasn’t been any news from the Sanctuary, even Miss Luo Yan…”

“She should be fine.” Elise said.

“Uh… who are you talking about?”

Hua Qiling was stunned, her drunkenness fading slightly.

“I’m talking about Miss Luo Yan,” Elise said indifferently, “Although she hasn’t returned since going to the peak of the Holy Mountain, with her character, she wouldn’t be so fragile as to be broken by the truth.

“As for the Twelve Saints… they are also trapped in the Sanctuary.”

“Wait, you… are you saying…”

Hua Qiling’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.

How did Elise know this? Why did she know Miss Luo Yan? And she even knew that Miss Luo Yan went to the peak of the Holy Mountain!

This secret information was told to her by Saint Shadow. It was said that even His Holiness the Pope didn’t know the details, only because of her relationship with Miss Luo Yan.

More importantly, even Saint Shadow didn’t know the situation of the Twelve Saints, but Elise…

“Don’t you understand? I’m speaking human language.”

Elise frowned slightly, seemingly puzzled.

“No…”

Hua Qiling was too shocked by the news to speak.

Unknowingly, the surroundings were no longer the tavern. Hua Qiling was now in a bizarre illusion.

The words spoken by Elise were within this illusion, an isolated illusion, another world, where no one else could see or hear, only Hua Qiling.

“She will return.” Elise said softly, an almost imperceptible glint appearing in her indifferent eyes. “When she returns… everything will be resolved.”

Hua Qiling took a few deep breaths, also noticing the unusual environment around her.

Her expression became serious, and she asked in a deep voice,

“…Who are you?”

“I’m Elise.” Elise, on the other hand, looked puzzled. “I’ve been running this shop here for so long, don’t you know?”

“I mean, the real you.”

Hua Qiling stared at Elise’s face. She had a premonition that the woman before her wasn’t the real one, her true identity was definitely someone else.

When did she come to Yan City…

“The real me is Elise.”

Elise spread her hands helplessly,

“Miss Hua Qiling, if there’s nothing else, I still have work to do.”

At some point, the bizarre scenery around them had dissipated, the noisy chatter of hawkers rose and fell, and the ability users at the next table seemed to have started rolling dice.

“Miss Elise! The bill!”

Another voice called out, and Elise nodded slightly to Hua Qiling, then turned and left.

Only Hua Qiling, completely sober now, remained standing there, stunned, everything that just happened like a dream.

But… could it really be a dream?

Hua Qiling looked at Elise’s busy figure, silent for a long time.

The image of Miss Luo Yan in her memory seemed to become clearer.

“…It’s really like a dream…”

She had revisited it countless times, whether it was her encounter with Miss Luo Yan, or the experiences during that time, recalling them now felt like a dream she couldn’t awaken from.

But after this real yet illusory “dream,” Hua Qiling realized how real everything Miss Luo Yan left behind was.

Miss Luo Yan… existed.

A sense of joy welled up in her heart, and a smile appeared on her face as she turned and left the tavern.

As Hua Qiling left, a gaze seemed to follow her from within the tavern, and a silent sigh, unheard by anyone, echoed.