NOVEL WEB Chapter 339: Night Of The Dead
"Why don't we go for a walk? Since this planet is under the Intergalactic Council's control, there should be some cities with people living in them, right?" Su Xiaoli suggested, her voice tinged with impatience as she glanced at the other two girls. She had clearly grown tired of waiting for Feng Fan.
They had been inside the same room cultivating for the past six hours. While such a duration meant little to cultivators, it wasn't as if they had come all the way from the White Crow Sect just to sit and train elsewhere. The boredom was starting to settle in, and Su Xiaoli wasn't the only one feeling it.
"Ah, that's perfect. I want to buy some clothes… maybe they have something interesting here," Xue Qiang said, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
She and Su Xiaoli then turned to look at Huang Xue, silently waiting for her response. Huang Xue gave a quiet nod, signaling her agreement.
Su Xiaoli grinned and wasted no time. She stepped out of the room and spotted a guard stationed just outside. Without hesitation, she called him.
"Excuse me."
The guard turned at the sound of her voice. The sight of Su Xiaoli standing in the doorway momentarily stunned him; her beauty was enough to make anyone falter. But he quickly shook the thoughts away. No one in their right mind dared ogle the woman of the tier 9 Array Master.
If anyone from the Intergalactic Council knew it, he would be dead. The Array Master wouldn't even need to do it, many people would be more than willing to do him a favor.
"Y-Yes, my lady. How can I assist you?"
Su Xiaoli couldn't help but find it amusing; a peak Return To Void cultivator, nervous just talking to her, a mere third-stage Dao Seeking cultivator.
"We want to take a walk," she said casually. "Is there a big city on this planet? Preferably one with a decent market."
The guard immediately understood and nodded. "There are many large cities on Red. People have lived here for thousands of years. If I may suggest, Starlight City would be ideal. It's quite far, but it has the best fashion market on the planet, and the food there is exceptional."
Su Xiaoli's eyes sparkled with interest at the mention of food. "That sounds perfect! Which direction is it?"
The guard straightened his posture and cupped his hands respectfully. "My lady, I'll escort you there myself, along with the other guards assigned to your protection. I just need to inform Master Xue Feng first, if that's alright."
Su Xiaoli nodded, satisfied. Having someone familiar with the area would definitely be more convenient and much safer, too.
"Alright, we'll get ready. Just knock when it's time to leave," Su Xiaoli said before turning around and closing the door behind her.
—
Night had fallen over Starlight City. A beautiful red moon hung high in the sky, casting a gentle crimson glow over the stone and wooden buildings. Its light bathed the rocky streets below, where pedestrians moved from side to side, their hurried steps echoing through the air despite the late hour.
Inside one of these buildings, a modest wooden house tucked away in the western corner of Starlight City, a couple lay asleep.
It began subtly. Their hands twitched occasionally, barely noticeable at first. But the tremors gradually intensified. Sweat poured from their bodies like rivers, soaking the bed and sheets beneath them.
"N-No… Mother, I'm sorry. Mother!" the man whispered, his face twisted in anguish and pain. "Don't kill me… Mother. I'm really sorry."
Tears streamed down his cheeks as his hand moved to his throat. He gripped his own neck tightly. Despite struggling to breathe, he didn't let go; his large hands continued to squeeze harder and harder.
His legs thrashed violently, kicking the bed and sending him jerking from side to side, crashing into the woman beside him. But she, too, was trapped in a similar nightmare. Both of them were killing themselves.
And then, silence.
Their bodies went still, and life slipped away.
But death wasn't the end. Not for this couple; not for the many others who died tonight.
Suddenly, their eyes snapped open—pitch black, empty. Like puppets on invisible strings, they rose from the bed and began walking toward the door.
—
"What a beautiful city!" Su Xiaoli exclaimed, her eyes gleaming as she took in the vibrant sights around her.
She walked through the heart of Starlight City, flanked by Huang Xue and Xue Qiang, while five guards followed closely behind. They moved like shadows chasing after light.
Lanterns swayed from wooden posts, glowing with soft hues of red and yellow. The streets were alive with energy. Dozens of shops remained open, and crowds moved along the stone pathways, laughter and conversation echoing between the buildings.
Musicians played soft melodies in street corners, vendors called out to passing customers, and the scent of sizzling meat and fragrant spices filled the air. Starlight City's nightlife was in full bloom—chaotic and colorful.
There were countless things to see, taste, and explore. But Su Xiaoli had her priorities in order. Her nose twitched, catching a whiff of something mouthwatering. Without hesitation, she dashed across the street, her eyes locking onto a stylish restaurant with warm lighting and a delicious aroma wafting from within.
"Excuse me," she said with a bright smile, addressing a sharply dressed waiter standing near the entrance. "Could I take a look at the menu, please?"
The waiter froze for a moment, caught off guard by Su Xiaoli's radiant smile. He couldn't be blamed, of course; there was hardly a soul in the universe who could resist the dazzling joy of a true foodie on the verge of indulging in something delicious.
And Su Xiaoli's smile? It wasn't just any smile; it was the kind that could topple empires and make kings stammer. Her excitement practically sparkled in the air, mixing an innocent charm with a hunger that could rival a beast's.
If not for the five peak Return To Void guards looming silently behind her, their presence unmistakable even to the dullest cultivators, the situation might have taken a more chaotic turn.
"Y-Yes, of course, customer!" the waiter stammered, finally recovering. He quickly extended the menu he had been holding, his hands just slightly trembling as he handed it to her.