Simultaneous Transmigration: From Japanese Anime to American Comics

Chapter 98: The Purest Ōtsutsuki Bloodline

Amidst the thick mist, a white shadow darted, startling Huang Rong and Mu Nianci. The latter instinctively threw hidden darts from her waist.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The concealed weapons missed the ghostly figure entirely.

"Mu Nianci, that's a ghost! How can regular weapons work against it?"

Huang Rong hid behind Chu Yang, muttering, "At the very least, you'd need to coat them with something like black dog blood..."

Having exhausted her courage with the darts, Mu Nianci froze on the spot, too afraid to glance around, dreading that a horrifying face might appear before her at any moment.

"Xiao Chu, hurry and deal with this! Can't you see Mu Nianci is scared stiff?"

Huang Rong, almost tearing Chu Yang's sleeve in panic, urged him anxiously.

"Next time you criticize someone, make sure you're not half-scared yourself." Chu Yang batted away her hand, annoyed, and activated his Observation Haki.

The white shadow was indeed swift, understandable for Huang Rong and Mu Nianci to mistake it for a ghost. But Chu Yang had already locked onto its movement—it was human. Even if it were a ghost, it wouldn't matter; after all, as a Shinigami, this was his domain of expertise.

His Observation Haki quickly pinpointed the target, which was now circling back at great speed.

The white figure flashed past again, sending Huang Rong and Mu Nianci into a shivering embrace.

Chu Yang felt puzzled. The entity seemed to harbor no ill intent.

It had the opportunity to attack but merely frightened them. Why?

"It seems like it's trying to drive us away... Could it be..."

Chu Yang's eyes glinted as he deduced the identity of the white shadow.

He had been wondering how to find the Tomb of the Living Dead in these mountains but unexpectedly stumbled upon a clue.

When the white figure passed overhead for the third time, Chu Yang used Conqueror's Haki to knock it unconscious.

"Ugh..."

The figure groaned as if struck by a blow and fell straight from mid-air, landing directly in front of Huang Rong and Mu Nianci.

"Ahhh!!!"

The two were so terrified that tears welled up in their eyes.

"I thought you weren't afraid of anything, Huang Rong. You never believed in ghosts and spirits, so what's with all this screaming now?" Chu Yang looked at Huang Rong, baffled by her reaction. When they first met, she was fearless and full of confidence.

"I didn't believe in such things before. But after meeting you, how could I not? You're living proof!" Huang Rong pouted in defense.

Chu Yang understood. To Huang Rong, if Chu Yang could perform magical feats, then the existence of ghosts and spirits wasn't far-fetched.

"Miss Huang, this seems to be a person," Mu Nianci said, rubbing her tear-swollen eyes. Upon closer inspection, the figure turned out to be a young girl dressed in white. She seemed even younger than Huang Rong.

Huang Rong approached with a frown, confirming it was a human, then immediately raised her foot, ready to kick.

"Miss Huang, what are you doing?" Mu Nianci grabbed her in alarm.

"This little brat scared me half to death! I'll kick her to death!" Huang Rong exclaimed, seething with anger, her face fierce.

Mu Nianci looked helplessly at Chu Yang for support.

Chu Yang held Huang Rong back, urging her to calm down. "Let it go for now. We'll need her help to find the Tomb of the Living Dead."

Huang Rong sulked but stayed her foot.

"Brother Chu, is this young girl the disciple of the Ancient Tomb Sect you mentioned?" Mu Nianci asked.

Chu Yang nodded.

"But how can you be sure? She's just wearing white; there's no identifying mark," Huang Rong argued.

Chu Yang chuckled. "Apart from the Taoists of the Quanzhen Sect, no one else is in these mountains. She's a girl, and she's dressed like this—it can only be someone from the Ancient Tomb Sect."

Huang Rong didn't argue further but made a mental note of the girl's appearance, likely plotting future revenge.

Based on her age, Chu Yang deduced the girl couldn't be Xiaolongnü, as she would be only three or four years old now.

The answer was obvious.

"Li Mochou, the Red Serpent Fairy."

The delicate, charming girl before him was difficult to imagine growing into a notorious villainess.

"Miss Mu, please tie her up and wake her," Chu Yang instructed.

Following his orders, Mu Nianci bound Li Mochou and gently pressed her philtrum.

With a soft groan, Li Mochou woke up.

Upon seeing Chu Yang, she shivered, the earlier sensation of being struck still fresh in her memory.

"Why... Why am I here?"

Li Mochou stammered nervously, trying to piece together her recollection.

"I have urgent business with the Ancient Tomb Sect's master. Miss Li, could you guide us to the Tomb of the Living Dead?" Chu Yang asked politely.

Shocked, Li Mochou asked, "How do you know my name? And about the Ancient Tomb Sect and the Tomb of the Living Dead?"

Chu Yang fabricated a story, claiming, "My family has ties with Quanzhen Sect's Wang Chongyang, so I've learned a few secrets."

Huang Rong whispered beside him, "Didn't you tell Uncle Yang you came from a family of con artists?"

"A Taoist is just a glorified con artist. Is it strange for two con artists to be acquaintances?" Chu Yang replied.

"Fair enough," Huang Rong nodded.

Recalling her master's stories of the founding ancestor Lin Chaoying and Wang Chongyang, Li Mochou recognized the Tomb of the Living Dead as a retreat built by Wang.

Though unsure of Chu Yang's claims, she dared not test his patience. Reluctantly, she agreed to lead the group.

As they followed her through the dense forest, Li Mochou schemed to lose them and inform Grandma Sun.

Huang Rong, ever sharp, silently observed Li Mochou's intentions, deciding to play along and see what she would do.

When Li Mochou finally leaped into the mist to escape, Chu Yang stopped Huang Rong from chasing her.

"She'll lead us to the Ancient Tomb Sect. Let her go."

"But how can you be sure we won't lose her in this fog?" Mu Nianci asked.

"I've locked onto her presence," Chu Yang reassured, thanks to his Observation Haki.

True to his word, Li Mochou led them to a barren area, its eerie ambiance marked by a large tombstone.

"Is this really the Tomb of the Living Dead? I thought it was just a poetic name..." Huang Rong murmured, inching closer to Chu Yang for comfort.

Chu Yang studied the tombstone, placing a hand on it.

Chu Yang was about to destroy the entrance when the tombstone in front of him suddenly began to shake.

He stepped back a few paces, and the tombstone slowly rotated. A ghostly figure emerged from it.

"Where does this rude visitor come from? Not only do you insult our Ancient Tomb Sect disciples, but you even dare to come here seeking trouble?"

The dark figure moved like lightning, reaching Chu Yang in the blink of an eye. Huang Rong and Mu Nianci only caught a flash and didn't even have time to shout, "Watch out!"

Years ago, Lin Chaoying had devised techniques to defeat Wang Chongyang by prioritizing speed over strength. Her Ancient Tomb martial arts sought swiftness because Lin believed as long as she could land a hit on Wang Chongyang, it counted as her victory, no matter the intensity.

In simpler terms, it was just a lovestruck woman trying to beat her boyfriend without really hurting him…

Unfortunately, while Wang Chongyang understood Lin's feelings, his life goal was resisting the Jin and Liao invasions, so he couldn't reciprocate her love.

However, mere speed posed little threat to Chu Yang, as his Observation Haki could predict attacks.

As the dark figure lunged, Chu Yang had already raised his foot for a counter-kick.

Barely finishing their words, the figure crashed face-first into Chu Yang's foot, let out a painful shriek, and was sent flying backward, landing heavily on the ground.

Only then did Huang Rong and Mu Nianci see the attacker clearly: a woman in her fifties or sixties.

"Oh no! Grandma, are you okay?" Mu Nianci exclaimed, covering her mouth and rushing forward to help the old lady.

Chu Yang also looked a bit embarrassed, scratching his head as he walked over. "Sorry, ma'am, I didn't mean it. Please forgive me."

The footprint on the old lady's face was so distinct that it almost looked like a tattoo. That accidental kick not only interrupted her attack but also caused her to strain her back. When Mu Nianci helped her up, the woman's face contorted with pain like she was wearing a mask of agony.

"Ouch! It hurts!"

The old lady's cries of pain made Chu Yang even more ashamed. He considered himself a good, upright young man raised under the red flag, and bullying the elderly wasn't exactly on his resume.

"Little Huang, hurry up and help her! What are you standing around for?" he said, signaling to Huang Rong, who was staring blankly at the tombstone.

"Chu, there seems to be a child over there…" Huang Rong pointed to a hole behind the tombstone, where a delicate little girl peeked out timidly.

"She's so cute, like a doll!" Huang Rong's eyes lit up, and she dashed forward like she'd found a cherished toy.

"Long'er, hide quickly!"

The old lady's expression changed as she shouted urgently.

Frightened, the little girl turned and ran into the dark entrance. Huang Rong hesitated and stopped by the tombstone.

"Ma'am, please don't worry. I mean no harm to the Ancient Tomb Sect or your people. I only wish to see the relics left behind by Wang Chongyang. Once I've seen them, I'll leave immediately," Chu Yang said, trying to sound as amiable as possible.

"I've lived here for over ten years and have never heard of Wang Chongyang leaving anything behind. Don't think you can fool me!" The old lady groaned in pain, clutching her back, but her glare at Chu Yang was no less intense.

Chu Yang shrugged. "Not everyone discusses their affairs openly. After all, you weren't part of the bridal entourage."

The old lady glared daggers at him, too angry to speak.

"Grandma, calm down. Let me massage your back," Mu Nianci said, placing her hands gently on the old lady's waist. The woman shuddered at first, then visibly relaxed, indicating the massage was effective.

Having spent years traveling with Yang Tiexin and nursing his injuries, Mu Nianci had developed a knack for it.

Seeing this, Huang Rong joined in to help. With her father, Huang Yaoshi, being a renowned polymath skilled in medicine, she had picked up quite a bit herself.

The two girls' gentle care quickly won over the old lady, whose attitude softened. After some hesitation, she introduced herself as Granny Sun.

Granny Sun wasn't Lin Chaoying's disciple but someone the founder had rescued. After much pleading, she was allowed to join the sect as a housekeeper.

Lin Chaoying's direct disciple was her personal maid, the mentor of both Xiao Longnu and Li Mochou. That mentor had recently passed away, which was why Granny Sun and Li Mochou were on edge.

Huang Rong, skilled in charming the elderly, soon got Granny Sun to talk about the Ancient Tomb Sect's current struggles.

Although their situation wasn't dire, their secluded and peaceful lifestyle meant that as long as they endured for a decade or two, a new generation of disciples would emerge.

For example, in about ten years, Li Mochou would become the infamous "Red Serpent Fairy" feared across the martial world.

Granny Sun had accepted the reality that, for now, they couldn't match others in strength. Chu Yang's earlier demonstration of power had also given her a reason to adopt a more conciliatory tone.

The group followed a long stone path downward. The dark and damp environment exuded a strong horror movie vibe.