TRWSB – Chapter 215 Cursed Night at Margdo Town

Goya sat at the dining table, glanced at Golin, and asked, “Didn’t I ask you to call those two over for dinner? Where are they?”

“They were just about to eat, so I came back first,” Golin replied.

Goya nodded. “I see.”

“Big sis, they’re just a pair of cowards. You don’t need to bother inviting them,” Golin muttered.

Goya sighed. “Alright then.”

With arms crossed, Golin grumbled, “I can’t believe we’re traveling with those two losers. What rotten luck. I’ve never seen anyone that timid before. Honestly, I don’t know how they’ve managed to survive this long.”

Goya looked at Golin and smiled. “Little brother, stop complaining. Not everyone in the world is as brave as Captain Kinge.”

Kinge, surprised by the compliment, said humbly, “Miss Goya flatters me. I merely did what I could.”

As soon as Kinge stepped away from Goya, Bal cornered him. “Captain, are we really staying here for the night?”

Kinge hesitated. “At this point, I don’t think we have much of a choice.”

Bal frowned. “But Captain, this place is cursed!”

Kinge shot Bal an annoyed glance. “Just some exaggerated rumors—nothing to worry about.”

“Captain—” Bal tried to protest again, but Kinge raised his hand to stop him.

“What’s a curse?” Qi Shaorong called out to Bal.

Bal turned around. “You believe in curses?”

“Why not?” Qi Shaorong responded without hesitation. “Tell us about it.”

“This town is called Margdo. It used to be quite prosperous until a necromancer performed a failed experiment here. Everyone in town died horribly. It’s said their resentment lingers, forming vengeful spirits that harm travelers.”

“Fortunately, these spirits only appear at night. As long as we don’t stay overnight, we should be fine. But… well…” Bal looked toward Goya and sighed.

Qi Shaorong patted Bal on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. They’re just vengeful spirits. With your build, they’ll probably avoid you.”

Bal gave him an awkward smile. “Young master, please don’t joke like that.”

Qi Shaorong grinned. “Good luck.”

…

Lying on the bed, Qi Shaorong swung his legs. “Hey, do you think vengeful spirits really exist?”

Zhuang Hao shrugged. “No idea! If you’re scared, I can hold you while you sleep.”

“Thanks, but just lying beside me is enough. Don’t crush me,” Qi Shaorong said coolly.

Zhuang Hao: “…”

As night fell, Zhuang Hao suddenly opened his eyes and nudged Qi Shaorong awake.

Qi Shaorong rubbed his eyes. “What is it?”

“Someone’s using magic,” Zhuang Hao said.

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Definitely a strange magical disturbance.”

Following Zhuang Hao outside, Qi Shaorong’s eyes widened at the scene before him.

In the moonlight, a skeleton in a black cloak rode atop a skeletal dragon eagle, hovering in the sky. Green flames burned in its hollow eye sockets.

“Eternal Night’s Descent”—a large-scale necromantic spell meant to induce sleep. At this level, it would probably only affect those below level seven.

Zhuang Hao raised his staff and engaged the cloaked figure atop the dragon eagle. After exchanging several blows and seeing no advantage, the figure retreated into the night.

“What kind of being was that?” Qi Shaorong asked in shock.

Zhuang Hao shook his head. “No idea. Necromancers are extremely unique. Even among them, there are many classifications.”

“Classifications?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“It’s hard to explain. The most common way is: alive, half-dead, and dead…” Zhuang Hao replied.

Qi Shaorong: “…”

…

Morning.

The mercenaries woke from their deep sleep.

“You two are up early!” Goya walked over cheerfully.

Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao exchanged a glance. “Not too early.”

“Maybe I was just tired, but I slept really well last night,” Goya said, tilting her head.

“That’s because you were cursed. That’s why you slept so soundly,” Qi Shaorong replied.

Goya chuckled. “You really like to joke!”

“Everyone says that,” Qi Shaorong said with a grin.

“Did you guys hear any fighting last night?” Goya asked.

Qi Shaorong shook his head and said, “No, I didn’t hear anything. I went to bed pretty early last night.”

“Is that so? Strange. Several of the nearby houses look even more damaged than before—it seems like there was a battle. But no one seems to have heard anything, and it’s not just me. Everyone seems to have overslept this morning,” Goya said thoughtfully.

Qi Shaorong chuckled, “I’m not sure either. At least no one’s gone missing.”

Goya folded her arms. “Yeah, I suppose that’s something to be thankful for.”

Golin came out, shooting an unhappy glare at Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao. He turned to Goya and grumbled, “Sis, why are you even talking to those two cowards?”

“We just happened to meet—just chatting a bit,” Goya replied casually.

“Sis, once we pass through this town, we’ll be right at the Fire Demon King’s tomb!” Golin said, clearly excited.

“That’s great news,” Goya responded with a smile.

After breakfast, the group resumed their journey. Many other mercenaries were also heading to explore the Fire Demon King’s tomb, and along the way, they crossed paths with three other teams with the same goal.

Around midday, their advance was halted.

Qi Shaorong saw soldiers in city lord’s uniforms, armed and driving back the approaching mercenary groups.

Goya frowned and walked up to Kinge. “Captain Kinge, why did we stop?”

“The road ahead’s been blocked,” Kinge replied.

“Blocked? Why?” Goya asked, confused.

“I heard the real Fire Demon King’s tomb has been discovered. The one found earlier was a fake,” Kinge explained.

Goya’s eyes widened. “Really? The real tomb? So the previous one was a decoy? Then we got here at the perfect time!”

Kinge looked at her excited expression and said helplessly, “But the city lord’s forces have sealed off the area.”

Goya put her hands on her hips. “The city lord’s people are way too overbearing. If there’s something good, why not share it? Hogging all the treasure isn’t fair at all.”

“The city lord himself is inside. He’s also invited seven ninth-level experts,” Kinge added.

Goya frowned. “I see… What a shame. Seems like this trip was for nothing.”

Golin, eager, said, “Sis, what if we mention Grandpa’s name? It might work.”

Goya looked conflicted. “But we snuck out, remember? If we bring up Grandpa, our cover’s blown.”

Qi Shaorong glanced at the siblings and thought to himself, So they snuck out. I was wondering which careless family would let these two roam around like this.

…

The city lord’s guards stood stern-faced, forcefully dispersing the gathering mercenaries.

“Move along, move along! The real Fire Demon King’s tomb is extremely dangerous. No one knows what might come out of there. You guys staying here won’t help anything—go on, clear out!” the impatient captain barked.

Golin, hands on his hips, grumbled, “Sis, that guy really looks down on people.”

“Sure does,” Goya agreed.

Just then, a bone dragon roared overhead, soaring through the sky. Its colossal form stretched hundreds of meters—an awe-inspiring sight.

“What is that?!” Goya exclaimed as she looked up at the flying skeletal dragon.

“Looks like a necromancer is riding it,” Kinge said.

“How can there be a necromancer here?”

“There are quite a few necromancers living in seclusion around Dilan City. They rarely appear, but big events like this bring them out,” Kinge explained.

Qi Shaorong turned to Zhuang Hao. “Is that the one from yesterday?”

Zhuang Hao shook his head. “Doesn’t look like it.” Yesterday’s figure had been a bare skeleton, but this one still had some human features—gaunt, skin clinging to bones. Plus, the mounts were different: yesterday was a dragon-eagle; today, it was a bone dragon.

Qi Shaorong nodded. “This one seems a lot stronger.”

The one from yesterday fled after a few clashes with Zhuang Hao. This one, however, radiated a terrifying saint-level necromancer aura and reeked of blood. Just looking at him gave people the chills.

“Is that necromancer Shi Zhan?” Goya asked.

Qi Shaorong looked at her. “Miss Goya, do you know who that necromancer is?”

“I’m not entirely sure if it’s Shi Zhan,” Goya said. “But if it is, then I do know about him.”

“What’s his background?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“He was once the imperial advisor of the Kingdom of Chengyuan,” Goya explained.

“Chengyuan? Never heard of it,” Qi Shaorong muttered.

“It’s been gone for several hundred years. When Shi Zhan faced the end of his lifespan centuries ago, he performed a blood ritual, sacrificing the entire population of Chengyuan to extend his life,” Goya said.

Qi Shaorong: “…” What a brutal lunatic. The world really is full of wild and dangerous things.

“Sis, if Shi Zhan is here, this place is way too dangerous. Maybe we should leave,” Golin said nervously.

Goya hesitated. “But this kind of opportunity is so rare…”

Kinge thought for a moment and said, “Miss, for safety’s sake, we should withdraw for now.”

“I’m afraid it’s too late for that,” Zhuang Hao said.

Suddenly, countless armored skeletons burst forth from the Fire Demon King’s tomb.