The Demonic World I designed-Chapter 60 - 57 Insect Eggs_2

60: Chapter 57: Insect Eggs_2

60 -57: Insect Eggs_2 freёwebnoѵel.com

As I was musing, suddenly, a bright light shot up to the sky from the city gate ahead, startling the scholars who had never seen such a spectacle, causing them to retreat in panic.

Most of them knew of the existence of demons and monsters, but since the rise of the Great Jin dynasty, none had witnessed such boldness from these creatures daring to show themselves at the city gates in broad daylight.

“What kind of demon dares to violate my Lyuzhou!”

The phantom image of the White Wolf had grown much larger than on the first day, reaching four to five zhang in height, and its voice was deep and powerful.

The scholars standing more than a hundred meters away could hear it clearly, yet the voice wasn’t harsh to the ears, instead carrying an inexplicable majesty!

Some familiar faces among the crowd knelt in worship, while newcomers, although puzzled, weren’t overly frightened.

It felt as though, despite its menacing and mighty appearance, the huge White Wolf actually gave them a sense of security, instinctively, they weren’t afraid…

But there were exceptions, in particular the malicious being that the White Wolf was staring at!

A flamboyantly dressed, rotund wealthy man fell to the ground trembling, with a foul-smelling yellow fluid starting to leak from his ears and nose, prompting the people around him to back away.

The next second, a shrill, piercing scream rang out.

The rich man’s fat head burst open with a blood hole, and a half-meter-long strange maggot wormed its way out, letting out a shriek before swiftly fleeing towards the back!

“Violent and murderous and you think you can run?” the White Wolf bellowed, “Seize it!”

“Yes!”

The two guards at the gate immediately dropped their spears and chased after the maggot.

The maggot was fast, moving along the ground like a water snake, making it difficult for many to keep up with it, especially as it headed straight for the gathering of scholars, who, being genteel Great Confucians, staggered backward in their fright.

However, the panic didn’t last long.

In just a few breaths, the two guards, like predatory beasts, pounced and caught the maggot before it could reach the scholars!

With a shriek, the maggot opened its mouth, revealing densely packed, serrated, sharp teeth, but before it could act, the guard who had caught it crushed it into pulp with a single squeeze!

Green fluid exploded outward, causing the scholars to scatter back, but a few of the more experienced and knowledgeable ones calmed down at that moment.

“Is this an Insect Demon?” Master Feng asked in a low voice, looking at the maggot that had burst into pulp.

“You recognize this thing, sir?” the guard wiped the fluid from his face and asked with a smile.

Suppressing his disgust, Master Feng bowed and said, “Thank you, General, for your timely assistance!”

He was familiar with such creatures.

In the Jiangnan Water Town, the most common incidents along the Provincial Government Office were those involving Water Ghosts and Insect Demons.

Water Ghosts loved to hide among merchant convoys, while Insect Demons preferred to hide in seafood.

Those who were fond of raw fish were the most susceptible to infection.

Once parasitized, they appeared no different from normal people on the outside, but in reality, their brains were hollowed out, making them like walking corpses, manipulated by the Insect Demon.

Over time, as the demon laid eggs, it could bring disaster to the entire family!

Knowing the inside story, the scholars did not follow the nouveau riche in their pursuit of the so-called delicacies of seafood and raw fish.

But although such creatures were pervasive, they were the most difficult to handle, precisely because they were hard to detect.

“You flatter me, sir!” the soldier quickly returned the gesture, “Just a humble soldier at the city gate, how dare I claim the title of general?”

At this, Master Feng felt puzzled; he had been meaning to ask why someone with such skills was merely a city gate soldier.

Certainly, it would be hard to find even personal soldiers or Colonels of noble families with such capabilities, wouldn’t it?

“Are you gentlemen seeking to enter the city?” the other soldier stepped forward and bowed, “Judging by your attire, you must be scholars.

The Prefectural Governor has decreed that scholars may be given priority to enter the city.

Please…”

Great Jin had strict guidelines for clothing, although merchants were allowed to wear silk to encourage consumption, they were not permitted to wear blue robes or white clothes, as those were reserved for scholars and medical practitioners.

Any merchant caught dressing so was committing a serious crime.

The soldiers guarding the gate, upon seeing this group of elder men in white, instantly knew that Gu Bei and his company must have completed their task.

“Very good, very good!” Master Feng nodded with a smile.

It seemed that he had underestimated the newly appointed Prefectural Governor, who apparently had a backup plan.

As the group approached the door, the soldier presented the twitching corpse of the Insect Demon, saluted, and said, “The demon has been vanquished, please, Gate God, return to your post!”

“Please, Gate God, return to your post!” the other soldiers also shouted.

“Wait a moment!” This time, however, White Wolf did not return to its position right away, but rather turned its gaze to the seafood that had been pushed in by the servants of the wealthy man behind them.

“Still dare to hide?

Reveal yourself!!”

A sharp command was issued, and the once-frozen fish and shrimp began to squirm.

In the next moment, hundreds of maggots the length of a thumb burrowed out, carrying with them a strong stench, causing the onlookers to cover their noses and retreat!

These maggots were obviously not as robust as the larger, flesh-eating maggots seen earlier, barely surviving a few breaths under the sunlight before they twisted and died on the ground, to be promptly stomped into a mush by a cohort of soldiers.

Instantly, White Wolf then turned its attention to some people by the door, saying, “Your bodies have worm eggs, which must be expelled quickly, or your lives are in danger.”

The individuals who were pointed out went pale and, thinking of their friend’s gruesome fate just moments before, fell to their knees, while those who reacted faster immediately kowtowed and pled, “Save me, Gate God, please!”

“I am powerless to help; this requires the healing power of the Mountain God of Nanshan’s spring water.

You may seek an audience with the Mountain God through the Provincial Government Office referral, which might offer you a chance of survival!”

The Gate God disappeared with the wind before the kneeling supplicants could even process the response.

Upon seeing this, the crowd knelt and prayed fervently, while strands of white light gathered on the city walls, and the soldiers felt themselves filled with added strength.

Master Feng and the others remained stunned in place.

This series of events was too shocking for their worldviews, and even these somewhat knowledgeable masters could not readily comprehend what had just happened.

“Government officer, sir!” The merchants who were identified as hosting worm eggs stepped forward, pleading, “Is what the Gate God just said true?”

“What the Gate God said is naturally true!” The gatekeeping soldier, with his belief, would not tolerate any doubt toward the Gate God and frowned, saying, “Do you really think the great one would deceive you?”

“No, no…” Those few merchants shook their heads rapidly, “Where can we find this Mountain God spoken of by the Gate God?

Can you lead us to pay homage?”

“That would need to be vetted by the government office.” The soldier looked at them and said, “You few are carrying worm eggs, which is highly dangerous.

Once inside the city, you must follow the government officer closely.

Do not wander off, or if caught, you will be forcibly expelled from Lyuzhou.

Do you understand?”

“Understood, understood!” The merchants nodded in unison.

“Alright, Qi Da, take these few to the office.”

He then looked at the masters and said, “Gentlemen, please enter the city.”

Master Feng nodded and once again glanced over the spot where the supposed Gate God had vanished, his mind brimming with questions.

Seeing how busy the soldiers were guarding the city, he decided not to delay them and thought it best to simply enter the city and witness for himself.

“Master Feng, what do you make of this?” The other masters looked to Master Feng, evidently just as intrigued.

“Let’s go!” Master Feng took the lead, following behind the group of merchants troubled with worm eggs, “Let’s go and see!”