Chapter 50: The Forbidden Ritual
The thief writhed in pain on the ground, his once proud right hand now swollen like a pig's trotter.
Serves him right.
Hua Mi remained highly focused, silently observing the reactions of his teammates.
After assessing the situation, the man in the gray robe was the first to lower his staff, giving the thief a disdainful glance and saying, "You can never understand the situation, can you?"
He gestured to the girl beside him.
The girl approached the thief, raised her staff, and a faint glow appeared at its tip.
But it quickly faded.
The girl furrowed her brow. "Don't move; I can't get a clear shot!"
In agonizing pain, the thief, using the last of his willpower, held his swollen hand high in front of the girl, making it easier for her to cast her spell.
The girl readjusted her staff, aiming it at the swollen hand, and a pale green glow formed a conical shape over it.
His hand visibly began to de-swell, and after about fifteen seconds, it was completely healed.
However, the thief's cries grew louder. "Damn it, it hurts even more! What have you done to me?"
The girl hesitated and looked at the man in the gray robe, saying uncertainly, "Toxin?"
The man in the gray robe showed no change in expression and simply said, "Dispel it."
The girl nodded and took a deep breath, raising her staff.
With a hiss, an "arc" of magic energy shot out from the staff.
It was uncontrolled magical leakage.
The thief screamed in agony, flipping over instantly and arching his body like a bow. "What are you doing?"
The girl blushed and said, "Shut up... it's because you were too loud. You distracted me."
"Haha! You two are idiots! Humans are truly idiots!" The dwarf slapped his thigh, laughing coarsely. "You've been bragging about being a legendary thief, but you don't even have a 'third hand.' Idiots, boasting idiots! Haha!"
In the end, it was a matter of strength.
"Similarly, if my mental power were high enough, I would be able to sense when someone is stealing from me," Hua Mi reflected silently.
Previously, with the boost from the Focus Ring, he had barely reached the level where he could control two swarms simultaneously.
Controlling the swarms was a great way to increase his mental power and practice concentration.
After practicing for some time, he had noticeably improved his mental power. However, he still had a long way to go to control three swarms simultaneously.
It turned out that his "Two Bee Power" was somewhat inadequate in this world; he couldn't even defend against a petty thief.
The man in the gray robe no longer paid attention to the commotion.
Turning to Hua Mi, he put on a softer expression and asked, "I hope this little incident won't affect the relationship we've finally established. May I ask, are you an alchemist?"
Finding toxins immediately led to thinking of alchemists.
Seems like I understand why alchemists have a bad reputation now.
Hua Mi replied, "I'm just a merchant."
"I understand. Many professions dabble in trade. For example, I sometimes sell the magical items I make." The man in the gray robe said cheerfully, "Let's get back to the main topic, the matter of joining us."
"If he refuses to join us, can I have him?" The dwarf, clutching a large hammer, said while staring at him with a sinister expression. His eyes were full of morbid possessiveness and aggression.
"..." This team was indeed peculiar.
An annoying thief, a bloodthirsty dwarf, and the reanimated corpse was something else altogether. Only the man in the gray robe and his apprentice seemed somewhat normal...
No, the man in the gray robe probably wasn't as simple as he appeared.
The ability to create reanimated corpses like that suggested he had his own issues.
"This isn't funny." The man in the gray robe scolded the dwarf with a glare and then turned to Hua Mi, asking, "Don't worry, he's just joking. That hammer is only meant for enemies, right?"
The dwarf chuckled, took a step back, but still had the same intense gaze on Hua Mi.
At this moment, the girl finally completed her dispelling magic, wiping the sweat from her forehead with a sense of relief.
The thief got up from the ground, looking pale.
"You owe an apology to our new friend," the man in the gray robe said, fixing his gaze on the thief.
"...My apologies," the thief said, seemingly insincere. His eyes conveyed something more like, "Just you wait."
As the saying goes, "Don't be afraid of thieves, be afraid of thieves planning something." This guy was probably planning something.
Hua Mi had to be cautious.
But now wasn't the time to think about that. The man in the gray robe seemed to be pressing for an answer.
No matter what, he needed to buy some time.
Hua Mi pondered for a moment and said, "As I mentioned, I'm just a merchant. In my eyes, profit is everything. If you can offer me what I desire, I will provide an equivalent service. So, try to persuade me."
The man in the gray robe put on a more amiable expression and said, "Why don't we find a comfortable place to sit down and talk about our partnership?"
...
About half an hour later, a campfire was lit in an open space.
The firelight illuminated the faces of those who harbored their own secrets.
"You now know about our reanimated corpse. It has only one purpose: revenge. Within the time frame for vengeance, it not only remains undead, but it also has another crucial ability. This ability is the key to dealing with the unicorn..."
The man in the gray robe added a piece of firewood to the fire. His voice was calm, slightly hoarse, like a grandfather telling stories to children. "When it returns from the realm of the dead, its soul carries a mark from the Nine Hells, which serves as a terminal. It can create a perfect connection, and through a contract ritual, it can receive a response from the Lord of the Nine Hells and, in turn, gain power from the Nine Hells - enough to vanquish the unicorn. It's a clever plan, isn't it?"
"Only a mentor can do that!" the girl complimented.
"Creating reanimated corpses and summoning demon contracts are both forbidden rituals. How did he master them?" Xiao Zi communicated her astonishment and doubt to Hua Mi through their telepathic link.
You're asking me? Hua Mi stared into the campfire, silent.
Things had taken quite a dramatic turn.
At first, all he wanted was 15g of rhino horn powder.
How did they end up with demons and such?
This guy in the gray robe was playing with fire, that's for sure.
"So, the key is to get a response from the Nine Hells..." Hua Mi tried to keep up with the conversation. "Are you sure it's not that simple?"
"It's not simple, indeed," the man in the gray robe said. "But with the right method, it can be guided to the only outcome. Perhaps you know that demons are lawful beings, and they shouldn't interfere in the affairs of the mortal realm.
"However, just like in the mortal realm, the strictest rules can give rise to rebellion. Not all demons are willing to accept the Lord of the Nine Hells' constraints. That gives us an opportunity."
The gray-robed man's eyes shone with the light reflected from the fire, like a restless desire.
...
Hua Mi took the opportunity to rest, leaning against a tree with his eyes closed.
Xiao Zi expressed her concerns, "Are you really going to join them?"
As a spirit of the Black Forest, she wouldn't oppose the natural order of creatures hunting unicorns or any other living beings. For lost lives, they could only feel sorrow. However, it was normal for these events to happen in their understanding. It was part of the natural evolution.
Survival of the fittest was a fundamental law of the forest.
But the premise was that they hunted through their own strength.
Summoning demon contracts was clearly a different matter.
It was an action that severely disrupted the natural balance.
It would cause irreparable pollution to the Black Forest.
In this regard, Hua Mi wasn't as sensitive as she was. But he had another consideration, a more practical one.
A more immediate one.
Underneath Black Castle Ruins, there was a vampire suppressed.
After the unicorn's death, would the vampire be revived?
He'd much rather have a unicorn as a neighbor than an evil bloodsucker.
But from another perspective...
"He's coming," Xiao Zi reminded.
The man in the gray robe approached him, sitting down casually in front of him, like an ordinary old man.
"The plan will go smoothly, and you'll get what you want tomorrow," he said.
"That's good," Hua Mi replied.
"There might be some risks, but as a merchant, you should know that risk is necessary for profit."
"Of course," Hua Mi said, looking at him. "May I ask why you're hunting unicorns?"
The man in the gray robe seemed lost in some memory. His gaze became somewhat distant as he answered, "Humans are a great race. Even in the harshest times of the giant era, we found our way. They were tenacious, and admirable.
"The biggest flaw of humans is their short lifespan, which limits the potential of many talented individuals. I won't deny my greed. I want to live longer, and the unicorn's heart is an essential ingredient."
Hua Mi listened in silence, refraining from making any comments.
"You have an extraordinary level of focus, which is evident from your eyes. I believe that one day you'll achieve feats that even bards will sing about. If we succeed, I will have more time, and I would gladly be your guide, helping you avoid many detours. We might be able to walk together and obtain eternal life."
The man in the gray robe smiled sincerely, though Hua Mi couldn't determine if it was genuine.
Judging by reason, it seemed like an attempt to sway him before their operation.
However, there was something about this man that felt genuinely convincing.
"Let's focus on tomorrow's plan for now. We can discuss other matters later."
"That's a wise choice."
The man in the gray robe laughed heartily, his laughter full of cheer.
Beside the campfire, the girl's face was half illuminated by the firelight and half shrouded in darkness.
The look in her eyes as she stared at Hua Mi carried an enigmatic and hostile meaning.
...
The next day.
Before setting off, the man in the gray robe waved his staff.
A golden birdcage appeared out of thin air, trapping Xiao Zi inside.
"Hey!"
Xiao Zi grabbed the cage's metal bars and shook them vigorously, but it was futile.
"Please accept my sincere apology, dear lady. It pains me to keep you here for a while."
The man in the gray robe showed great courtesy, then waved his hand, and the birdcage flew up to a tree branch, hanging there.
"Her telepathic abilities could be problematic. We can't control her thoughts. As a precaution, we can't bring her along," the man in the gray robe explained.
"That makes sense," Hua Mi nodded.
"Now, let's get going."
Hua Mi looked up and saw Xiao Zi sulking in the birdcage, her arms crossed.
He didn't receive any messages from her.
It seemed the birdcage was blocking her telepathic abilities.
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