38: Chapter 38 Blood Butterfly
38 -38 Blood Butterfly
Zhang Xiaoman felt refreshed and invigorated, as if he had just experienced the fullness of having a good meal.
However, this sensation was not in his stomach but on a spiritual level.
He guessed that this might be because he had used the Soul Absorption Technique on that human face monster and had obtained 20 points of energy as a result.
Moreover, Zhang Xiaoman seemed to have gained a kind of intuition, as if he could sense some changes in the surrounding environment.
This wasn’t to say that he had acquired any sharp sensory abilities.
It was just that he could now sense that inside the Su Mansion and in the surrounding yard, there seemed to be some scattered remnants of energy similar to what he had encountered while absorbing the human face monster.
“Is this what the Skill description referred to as ‘energy in the environment’?”
Zhang Xiaoman made this guess internally.
“Perhaps, because the human face monster had stayed here for so long, the nearby environment inevitably became contaminated with some energy?”
Zhang Xiaoman felt that there was an eighty percent chance that this guess was correct.
He looked at his watch and decided to try again after the cooldown of the Soul Absorption Technique had ended.
“Master, may I have a contact number?”
Seeing him return to his senses, Su Fu spoke up:
“If we encounter similar incidents in the future, I would like to request the Master’s help again.
Of course, the appropriate reward will still be provided.
Oh, and if you don’t mind, could you tell me your bank account number so I can transfer this time’s reward to you?”
Zhang Xiaoman happily added the other as a friend and shyly provided his bank account number.
“Mr.
Su is too polite.
Really, the money doesn’t matter to me; I just can’t stand to see these monsters wreak havoc, I can’t just stand by!”
Su Fu chuckled slyly, indicating that he understood, then glanced at the name on Zhang Xiaoman’s phone and exclaimed in surprise:
“Isn’t the Master’s surname Pei?”
Zhang Xiaoman was startled for a moment before realizing that his social media account was registered under his real name.
He awkwardly laughed and said,
“Haha, actually, it’s all a misunderstanding.
Brother Hei must have mistaken someone else for me, and as a result, I got brought here by accident.”
Su Fu hadn’t expected this and sighed, “It seems there is some destiny between the Master and me!”
Zhang Xiaoman nodded and then cautioned, “About today’s matter, I hope Mr.
Su can keep it confidential and not disclose my identity to others...”
“Of course, rest assured, Master.
I, Su Mou, always keep my word and stay tight-lipped; I won’t speak of this matter to anyone!”
Su Fu promised earnestly.
“However, I wonder if the Master could tell me what that thing on Changqing was, exactly?”
Zhang Xiaoman thought for a moment and then slowly said:
“As you may have seen, Mr.
Su, that thing resembled Young Master Su and could easily be mistaken for the kind of ghost spoken of in legends.
But as I have said before, there are no ghosts in this world; that thing is merely an energy body.”
Su Fu also became eager, promptly adopting a serious listening posture.
Zhang Xiaoman thought about the name prompted by the System and casually concocted a complete setting for it.
“This creature is called a Parasitic Spirit, which favors darkness.
When young, it exists as an energy body, very weak.
It searches for creatures to parasitize, constantly absorbing the host’s bodily nutrients to achieve its evolution.”
“Once a host is targeted by this monster, those with weak spiritual power will fall into a prolonged coma until their nutrients are completely drained, ultimately serving as nourishment for the monster.”
Upon hearing this, Su Fu visibly showed alarm.
Zhang Xiaoman continued, “The strength of the Parasitic Spirit increases with the length of time it parasitizes its host.
Once it fully evolves, it will use the host’s flesh and blood to reconstitute its own body, and like a butterfly breaking out of its chrysalis, it emerges from its shell as a fleshy, living monster...”
“This monster is the Blood Butterfly.”
“Blood Butterfly...?”
Su Fu muttered to himself, a look of both fear and astonishment on his face, he had not expected this creature to grow in such a bizarre way.
“Once the Blood Butterfly spreads its wings, it’s about the size of two people.
Its abdomen bears a mark similar to the facial features of its victims, hence it’s also called the Human Face Butterfly.”
“Unlike the weaker Parasitic Spirits, Blood Butterflies are extremely powerful!
They are fond of consuming brain marrow and possess very strong spiritual abilities.
Ordinary people who encounter them will lose their ability to resist under the massive Spiritual Shock in an instant, becoming a delightful meal for the Blood Butterflies.”
“Of course, they are not without weaknesses.
While possessing strong spiritual power, their bodies are relatively fragile in contrast.
If encountered, one should try close-range killing instead of running away.
After all, your speed could never surpass that of the mind.”
Zhang Xiaoman felt that he could now switch careers to writing novels.
It was the same last time when he fooled Brother Hero, always feeling unstoppable whenever inspiration struck.
Su Fu naturally believed this without a doubt.
No matter how outrageous Zhang Xiaoman’s fabrications were, the moment the latter truly demonstrated that extraordinary power and saved his son from despair, he could only believe that it all was true.
After all, the facts were right before his eyes.
What was there to question?
The two had arrived at the doorstep of the mansion during their conversation, and the group of old Taoists outside quieted down when they saw the homeowner emerge.
Master Liao stepped forward a few paces, firstly bowing to Su Fu, and then asked, “I just heard the fierce ghost’s roar from inside the house.
May I ask if Young Master Su’s condition has improved now?”
Su Fu looked at him with some disgust, but still answered,
“Thank you all for your concern.
Changqing has passed the critical period and is now resting inside.”
Master Liao heaved a sigh of relief and said, “Since that’s the case, I’m relieved.
Our efforts were not in vain.”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaoman raised his eyebrows slightly.
Oh ho, this old man spoke with hidden implications.
Indeed, another Taoist stood out next to him, bowing slightly towards Su Fu, and said,
“Mr.
Su, in my view, although Mr.
Pei captured the ghost, it was actually through the convenience provided by us, particularly Master Liao.”
“If it weren’t for Master Liao consuming a great amount of his cultivation and severely injuring that ghost, Mr.
Pei’s journey might have ended with more bad luck than good.”
This man was the Taoist who had been shouting about high technology in the courtyard previously.
He had never believed in Zhang Xiaoman’s so-called exorcism, thinking that the young fellow must have used some sort of sound system or the like.
And moreover, it was sheer luck that Mr.
Su was conveniently cured by those doctors, thus receiving the credit.
So, he had earnestly persuaded the others to await their turn to share a piece of the pie.
As he spoke, some people in the crowd immediately began voicing their agreement.
Zhang Xiaoman could now see plainly that these old folks were trying to steal credit.
But he was not worried.
From his interactions with Su Fu during this period, Zhang Xiaoman could tell that Boss Su was a keen and astute man.
The old tactics of these Taoists probably would not deceive him.
As expected, Su Fu looked displeased and inquired of the Taoist,
“Oh?
May I know what exactly is this ghost you speak of?”
The high-tech Taoist was taken aback for a moment, and after a brief silence, he said,
“This individual was a wrongful death ghost, named Li Gousheng, who died at the hands of Knife Thugs during the period of the Republic.
Later, a passerby woodcutter buried him in the forest and erected a solitary tomb, which was never visited for worship.
Due to the locust grove’s yin nurturing properties and his heavy resentment, he transformed into a fierce ghost that troubled the village.
Later, Mr.
Su encountered him while making a bet, and thus the ghost attached to him, drawing his yang energy.”
“All this I came to know through the memory of the ghost when I explored with my True Qi.
Mr.
Su, if you do not believe me, please feel free to ask the other Taoist brethren.”
The old Taoist elaborated without a single pause, leaving Zhang Xiaoman somewhat stunned.

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