The Demon Lord is My Dark Moonlight [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 17

Gu Jinli didn’t care what Shen Chigui was thinking. Her eyes were fixed solely on the rocks; the shadows beneath them offered shade, and she was currently practically steaming from the heat.

Wait?

People.

The moment she rushed into the rock formation, she saw several battered individuals sitting in the center. Judging by their attire, they were people who had entered the Secret Realm with them.

“From the City Lord’s Manor?”

Before she could speak, someone beat her to it. Recognizing her uniform, the man asked, “Why are there only two of you?”

“And you are?” Gu Jinli asked cautiously, sitting down at a distance. She guessed they were likely from one of the clans in Gu City.

“We’re from the Song family! We were moving together yesterday, did you forget us that quickly?”

“Wait…” Someone finally noticed something off. The man tugged on the speaker’s sleeve, his voice full of suspicion. “Is she really from the Manor? I don’t recall seeing her face.”

“Looking closely, she is a stranger. But the clothes she’s wearing…”

Clothes didn’t necessarily prove anything; everyone knew that. This group had traveled with the Manor’s contingent for a while and were familiar with the faces. Seeing a complete stranger like Gu Jinli made them instantly wary.

“Who are you, exactly?!”

The first man stood up, gripping his weapon. His expression was grim. Since entering the realm, they had faced wave after wave of demonic beasts and trials; they were like birds startled by a mere bowstring. High-level monsters could shapeshift; in a deathtrap like this, one couldn’t afford a single moment of laxity.

“Don’t get excited, everyone.”

Gu Jinli quickly raised her hands to show she was harmless. She stayed put and gestured to the female lead who was just walking into the shade. “We truly are from the City Lord’s Manor, we just got separated from the main group right at the start.”

“Oh, right! I recognize that girl. She definitely belongs to the Manor.”

Someone in the crowd whispered, pointing at the young Shen Chigui. “The City Lord actually sent a child this small into the realm.”

As the only child in the expedition, the nine-year-old lead was far too conspicuous; it was only natural for people to remember her.

“I have an impression of the child as well. They probably did get separated.”

“She’s human…”

The presence of the lead added a massive layer of credibility to Gu Jinli’s words, and the tension in the air quickly dissipated. The man who had stood up sat back down, stowing his weapon.

“Since we’ve crossed paths, let’s travel together!”

*****

After resting among the rocks for a while, Gu Jinli managed to gather some information through subtle questioning. It turned out this group was part of the original massive convoy they had entered with. They had been scattered by various dangers, leaving over half their number dead or missing.

“There were four survivors from the Manor left with us last night, but they vanished this morning.”

The man reached into his tunic, pulled out a storage pouch, and tossed it to Gu Jinli. “They’re likely dead. I found this; consider it returned to its rightful owners.”

All the experts from the City Lord’s Manor were dead? Those were elite personnel.

Even knowing the Secret Realm was no walk in the park, Gu Jinli couldn’t help but feel a chill down her spine. It seemed she was truly riding on the coattails of the female lead’s luck; though their journey hadn’t been peaceful, they hadn’t encountered any insurmountable danger. All in all, it had been smooth sailing.

“Thank you.”

She accepted the storage pouch and did a quick check. Finding several flasks filled with water, she paused. “Did you find a water source ahead?”

Most people entering the realm brought supplies, but to have this much water in the Desert Zone was a luxury.

“We passed a small oasis three days ago,” the man replied. “We replenished our supply there.”

“No wonder.” Gu Jinli nodded in realization. At the same time, she felt a profound sense of just how unlucky she and the lead had been in their navigation.

******

Toward evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the temperature dropped to a bearable level, the group—having rested for a long time—began to leave the rock pile to continue their trek.

Gu Jinli naturally followed, intending to stick with the crowd. She didn’t forget to call for the lead. Considering Shen Chigui’s usual preference for acting alone, Gu Jinli had prepared a whole speech to persuade her.

But this time, Shen Chigui was unexpectedly agreeable.

“Let’s go.”

She actually didn’t refuse.

Huh? Something’s fishy.

“Let’s stick with the group!” Gu Jinli tested the waters cautiously. “Walking alone won’t be much faster anyway. It’s better to be with the team; it’s less exhausting.”

“Whatever you want.” Shen Chigui gave her a flat look but didn’t object, stepping forward to follow.

“Alright then.” Has the lead finally seen reason?

Filled with doubt, Gu Jinli scratched her head and hurried with the lead to catch up with the group.

*****

With the team’s addition, the journey became significantly easier. They sought shade during the hottest hours, trekked hard during the rest, and took turns standing watch at night. Humans truly were social animals; compared to her difficult life alone with the lead, this was the kind of travel Gu Jinli preferred. Her quality of life rose instantly.

“I can see the Crystal Tower!”

A cry of joy erupted from the front of the line, and the excitement quickly rippled through the group.

They reached it?

“Finally!”

Gu Jinli’s blisters had popped and reformed more times than she could count. She was fed up with living in the dirt. Although more trials awaited them inside the tower, at least she wouldn’t have to keep walking. She felt like she’d done a lifetime’s worth of walking in just these few days.

******

Rustle…

Scuttle, scuttle…

A strange sound mixed with the wind and sand. Gu Jinli’s footsteps faltered, and she instinctively tilted her head to listen.

Scuttle, scuttle…

“Hey, Shen Chigui, do you hear—” She turned to look at the lead.

“AAAGHHH!”

A scream of pure despair signaled the start of the slaughter. Gu Jinli didn’t even have time to see the lead’s expression before she was knocked to the ground by the panicked crowd scrambling in all directions.

THUD!

“Run! It’s Man-eating Ants!!”

“Stay away! Get away from me!! HELP…”

The group collapsed in an instant. Trapped on the ground, Gu Jinli had no chance to get up as people trampled over her. Once the crowd had cleared, she struggled to push herself up, only to be met with a black, undulating wave of massive ants.

The ants swarmed forward in a dense colony, each one the size of a basketball. Their pitch-black bodies, twitching antennae, and terrifying mandibles were proof of their ferocity. One bite would surely tear away a large chunk of flesh! With these numbers, a person would be stripped clean in a single breath.

Run! Get out of here!!

Her mind screamed, but her body was paralyzed with fear. After being trampled, her limbs were like lead; she couldn’t stand.

Closer. They were getting closer…

No! I don’t want to be eaten! It’ll be so gruesome!

“Big Sister!”

Suddenly, a massive suction force enveloped her. The next second, Gu Jinli’s body was swept up by a strange current of air, lifting her completely off the ground.

It was Shen Chigui’s Ghost Qi.

“Get over here!” the girl shouted.

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