If you can't eat grass, you will be eaten

"Where are we going next? Shall we go back to Master Seimei?" Yingcao asked while walking.

After walking out of Tianchi Lake, Ibaraki did not leave, but walked with Yingcao and others as before.At this moment, Ibaraki was taken aback when he heard Yingcao's question, wasn't he in a hurry to find his best friend?Why are you still with them after recovering your memory?

Ibaraki frowned and replied: "I have been delayed for a long time during the amnesia period, and I am going to find my friend Shuten."

Ibaraki stopped after speaking, distanced himself from the others.Yingcao stopped subconsciously, and grabbed Ibaraki's sleeve: "Don't go."

Yingcao's cheeks were flushed, and the hands holding his sleeves began to tremble. The words he just blurted out had exhausted all his courage, and he couldn't even utter a word at this time.

Ibaraki also froze, originally he wanted to leave immediately, but now he remained motionless, neither shaking off Yingcao nor speaking.Standing in place like a sculpture.

Han Xiu pondered for a moment, and said to everyone in a discussing tone: "Qingming and the others went to the underworld, and I don't know if they have returned. Instead of looking for Qingming who doesn't know whether they have returned, it is better to go to Shuten Doji."

Yingcao immediately let go of her hand when she heard the words, and said in a low voice: "That's great." Ibaraki said nothing, but he no longer put on a gesture of wanting to leave.

The little deer man also felt that Han Xiu's proposal was very good, so he didn't refute it.As for Banruo and Jiaotu, as long as they follow them, it doesn't matter to them the direction they are going.

Seeing that there were no objections from the crowd, Han Xiu took out a fiery red hair, which was the guiding sign Jiu Tun had given him.The hair is automatic without wind, and the ends of the hair are curled up to point out a direction.

Han Xiu and the others walked in the direction pointed by the hair. After some time, they saw a very tall building from a distance, which looked like a tower.

"Is there a village in front?" Little Deer Man asked hesitantly. He didn't really want to get along with humans. It would be better if he could avoid contact with humans.

Han Xiu didn't notice the hesitation in Xiao Lunan's words, and replied easily: "It should be, the tallest building should be a tower, and there will be a big bronze bell on it to tell everyone the exact time."

Yingcao was very curious: "Then why didn't there be such tall towers in the villages we walked through before?"

Han Xiu explained patiently: "The villages we visited before were not too big, so there is no need for a tower to tell the time."

"That means there will be a huge village in front of me, and I will meet many, many people." Jiaotu looked very excited, sitting in the shell and flicking his tail excitedly.

But Han Xiu was not as excited as Jiaotu. On the contrary, he was calm and rational.Han Xiu pointed to Jiaotu's tail and said: "We are in the wilderness now, and we hardly meet people, so it doesn't matter if you keep this form. But if we want to go to the human territory, then you should take the fish The tail is hidden."

Jiao Tu heard that the fish tail did not flick, and asked cautiously: "Is the relationship between humans and monsters very bad?"

"Well, you can put it this way." It was Yingcao who answered Jiaotu, "But to be more precise, human beings are afraid of monsters, and they hate monsters around them very much. If they find monsters, they will do whatever they can to destroy them. "

"Although monsters are stronger than humans, they will still be injured. If all humans unite, monsters will really be killed by humans. So generally speaking, monsters will not take the initiative to approach humans."

"But the road ahead is our only way, what should we do?" Jiaotu was very anxious, "What will they do to me when they see my tail?"

Suddenly, Jiao Turing had an idea: "Can we take a detour?"

Han Xiu didn't expect his words to make Jiaotu so anxious. He replied: "Human villages will be surrounded by people, and it will take a long detour. It's not worth it. We can enter the village. It’s good to hide the different places of human beings.”

Inadvertently, Han Xiu caught a glimpse of the little deer man, recalling what he had done to completely transform the little deer man, he couldn't help being in a daze, and unconsciously touched the corner of his mouth.

"How to hide?" Jiaotu looked at his fish tail, then at the shells under his body, and felt that no matter how he hid it, it was suspicious.

Han Xiu woke up from the memory, and before he had time to think about it, he replied directly: "Before, the horns on the little deer man and Izuku were wrapped in cloth. Your fish tail should be the same."

"Is this really okay?" Jiaotu always felt that such a method was deceiving himself and others.

Ibaraki on the side remembered that when he lost his memory before, he used to wrap his horns with a piece of cloth under their suggestion.Thinking about it now, he still finds it a bit unbelievable. After all, apart from the horns on his head, his own eyes are also bright yellow, definitely not human eyes.It is really lucky that such a clumsy method can deceive other villagers.

But you can't rely on such luck, Ibaraki hurriedly interrupted their conversation, saying: "It was good luck before, and this method can't be used much, because the chance of being discovered is too high. I am good at illusion, so I can do it." Help you confuse ordinary people's eyes."

Everyone looked at Ibaraki in surprise.None of them were good at illusion, so they never thought about it.Now that there is a ready-made shortcut why not?

Under the expectant eyes of everyone, Ibaraki felt uncomfortable for a moment.Even before he lost his memory, his subordinates would not look at him expectantly.I don't know how Ibaraki felt a duty-bound sense of responsibility, he clenched his left fist and put it to his lips, coughing lightly.A blush appeared on the pointy ears, Ibaraki pretended to be calm and said, "Close your eyes."

Everyone closed their eyes when they heard the words, and even the three who didn't need phantoms did the same.When everyone couldn't see, Ibaraki approached them, waved his left hand lightly on the little deer man's head, and quickly turned to Jiaotu's lower body.

"Okay." Almost emotionless words sounded again, and everyone opened their eyes.

At this time, the horns on the little deer man's head had disappeared.Jiaotu's fish tails covered under the thin blanket have also turned into human legs.But this leg was pale and thin, and it was obvious at first glance that it could not support Jiaotu to stand up and walk.And the shell that Jiaotu had been sitting on was also turned into a simple wheelchair by Ibaraki.In this way, they look like ordinary people and will not arouse suspicion from others.

"Huh? Ibaraki, are the horns on your head still there?" Firefly, who opened her eyes, asked in surprise.

Ibaraki's ears turned redder, but no one noticed.He subconsciously raised his voice and turned the topic in another direction: "Hurry up, it's almost dark. Arriving at the village in the middle of the night will make people suspicious."

The rest of the people didn't pay too much attention to Ibaraki's horn, after all, it was Ibaraki who knew the illusion, not them.He didn't apply illusion to himself just now, probably because he had other ideas.

Ibaraki walked behind the crowd silently, so he would not admit that he forgot to give himself an illusion just now, and then secretly transformed into a tall young man when everyone was not paying attention.And this young man is not like Ibaraki himself.

Now they shouldn't realize that they forgot about themselves just now, Ibaraki walked in the last, thinking so.

Yingcao walked in front for a while, and found that Ibaraki had not come to the front, and felt a little suspicious.Just now that she understood her intentions, Hotaru could not help but follow Ibaraki's gaze.Now that Ibaraki has come to the back of the car, he has no way to look at Ibaraki secretly.

The feeling of wanting to see but not being able to see is like an invisible feather, constantly stirring his heart.After enduring it for a while, Yingcao finally couldn't bear it any longer. He pretended to look back as if nothing had happened, and said in his mouth, "We're almost at the village, Ibaraki, are you disillusioned?"

However, when she turned her head, Yingcao found that Ibaraki, who was walking at the end of the line, had disappeared and was replaced by a strange handsome young man.Yingcao froze in place for a moment, and out of his voice came words that were incoherent: "You, you, who are you? Where's Ibaraki?"

Yingcao's words made everyone stop in their tracks, and they all looked towards the end of the line in unison.The strange young man raised his chin slightly, and looked at them with disdain: "I am Ibaraki, you can't even see this, you really don't."

Yingcao was not stimulated by Ibaraki's words, because he knew that Ibaraki had such a temper, and he sincerely admired: "Wow! Ibaraki, your illusion is really good, I can see your original appearance at all."

Ibaraki nodded slightly when he heard the words: "Of course! My illusion is almost unbreakable."

"But why did you go to such lengths to completely change yourself? But for Xiaolu Man and Jiaotu, you just covered up their parts that don't belong to humans?" Banruo asked curiously.

Ibaraki was caught off guard by this question. Before he could think of an answer, he snorted and didn't answer.

On the contrary, Yingcao replied with a matter-of-fact face: "Few people know Xiaoluo and Jiaotu, but almost no one does not know Shuten-douji's best friend and subordinate-Ibaraki-douji. In case anyone has ever met Ibaraki-douji What to do? That's why Ibaraki has completely transformed into another person. Am I right?"

After Yingcao finished speaking, she smiled at Ibaraki, like a child asking for a reward.Ibaraki felt guilty, but he didn't show it on his face. He said "um" to express his agreement with what Yingcao said.

The six of them walked towards the village. Although it seemed that the village was not far away from them, they walked for a long time, but the village was only a little closer.Everyone wanted to use black magic, but there were few people passing by them at this time, and they couldn't be sure that the process of using black magic would not be seen by others.He had no choice but to walk towards the village on both feet.

When they finally walked outside the village, the sky had already darkened.There were also many returning villagers at the entrance of the village. When they saw the unfamiliar Han Xiu and others, they greeted them enthusiastically, "Outsiders? What a coincidence that you came here. Today is our annual harvest festival. Let's go, let's go!" Let's go to the bonfire party together, everyone will love you joining."

Enthusiastic villagers grabbed Han Xiu's shoulders and led them into the village. They met other villagers on the way and introduced Han Xiu and others to them. The others also greeted them warmly.

Except for Jiaotu, who has not been involved in the world, the other five people feel very strange. Are the villagers here overly enthusiastic?Han Xiu asked the villager leading him, "Brother, the people here are very hospitable!"

"Yes!" The real villagers replied without hesitation, "Although we are usually very hospitable, but today is a special day, everyone will be more enthusiastic. You foreigners are very welcome today."

"Oh, and why?"

"Haha." The villagers laughed heartily, "After all, it is an annual harvest festival, everyone is very happy, and this year's harvest is very good, everyone will be even happier."

"But what does this have to do with your welcome to foreigners?" Prajna couldn't understand, and continued to ask along with his words.

"I don't know when, our village has formed a custom. Today, everyone stays up all night. First, we hold a bonfire party. Everyone sings, dances, drinks, and eats meat by the bonfire. It is very happy."

The villager smiled innocently and continued: "In the middle of the night, everyone will sit by the extinguished bonfire and tell ghost stories from all over the world. But it is precisely because ghost stories are told every year that we all share these ghost stories. I have heard it badly. So I am looking forward to the arrival of you foreigners, and hope that you will bring us some different ghost stories."

"Ah, that's right! One thing you must remember is that you can only tell up to 98 ghost stories. If you tell 99, something terrible will happen! There will be monsters crawling out of hell and taking everyone away. !"

After the villagers finished speaking, they led them to the bonfire, not caring at all how much their words caused waves among these outsiders.

Everyone sang and danced, and enjoyed the food and wine to their heart's content. Han Xiu and the others couldn't be too independent. At the same time, they were infected by the enthusiastic atmosphere and gradually blended in with the others.

In the middle of the night, everyone was exhausted and the passion had passed, so they sat down and started the test of courage.At this time, no one went to add wood to the bonfire. After all, it is better to tell ghost stories in a darker environment.

The crowd first encouraged Han Xiu and the others, wanting them to tell ghost stories.But helpless, they themselves are monsters, and they don't know what kind of stories are ghost stories for human beings.So they tried their best to refuse. Although the villagers were a little disappointed, they didn't have to force them to tell one.So as if ignoring their existence, they told ghost stories one after another.

"I heard this story from a traveler this year. I guarantee that you have never heard of it." A person said triumphantly, his tone full of pride, "Have you heard of Xue Nu? Haven't you? You all sit down All right, listen to me slowly."

"Snow Girl is a monster who is good at making ice and snow. Although she is a monster, she looks similar to a human being, and even has an amazingly beautiful appearance. She has snow-white skin, a beautiful appearance, and a virtuous personality. She is simply incredible. A much-asked beauty."

As the young man spoke, his face turned red.Someone laughed at him and said: "Don't make a mistake, what we are going to tell today is a ghost story, not a romantic affair from the storybook."

The young man blushed and retorted: "Don't interrupt, I haven't finished yet! This is indeed a horror story."

"It is said that there was a pair of woodcutters and his son who lived in the deep mountains and old forests. Stay overnight. This cabin is empty, and the father and son lived in peace of mind when they saw this."

"Unexpectedly, this small wooden house is actually the boudoir of Snow Maiden. In the middle of the night, a beautiful woman with white skin and wearing a white kimono broke in from outside the house. The little woodcutter was awakened, and seeing that it was the legendary Snow Maiden, he trembled and moved. No, I watched Xuenv walking beside the old woodcutter, bent down, and breathed, and the old woodcutter instantly turned into a lifeless ice sculpture."

"Then, Xuenv walked up to the little woodcutter again. Perhaps seeing the handsome little woodcutter, Xuenv's killing intent suddenly decreased, but she just warned the little woodcutter that if he told others what happened tonight, Xuenv would be killed." Will kill him. The little woodcutter agreed, and Xuenv released him according to the agreement. But before he left, Xuenv stepped forward and hugged him, and gave the little woodcutter a deep kiss."

The young man who interrupted before sneered again, and the young man who told the story didn't wait for him to open his mouth, and immediately said: "This is a ghost story, don't interrupt! I haven't finished yet."

The rest of the villagers didn't like others interrupting their story, so they all advised the young man not to interrupt.

So the story continued without anyone interrupting: "The little woodcutter has always remembered his promise. Even though countless people have asked about his father's whereabouts, he has always buried this secret in his heart and never told anyone. If The little woodcutter has never told this matter, so there will be no later events, but obviously the story is not over."

"A few years later, on another snowy night, a young girl who was as beautiful as a fairy but with a thin body knocked on the door of the little woodcutter. Her lips were blue and purple due to the long-term cold. After the little woodcutter opened the door, she was exhausted and passed out."

"The little woodcutter was kind-hearted, and he took this woman in. He brought her back from the brink of death, but when the woman woke up, she forgot who she was and where she lived. The little woodcutter saw that the woman was weak, but she looked extremely She is beautiful. If she wanders alone, she is afraid that something will happen to her, so she is left behind. Then they fell in love with each other for a long time, became a husband and wife, and had a smart child. But no one knew that this woman was the little woodcutter many years ago. The snow girl I met."

"The little woodcutter's wife is beautiful and virtuous, with a white complexion that doesn't look like the local village girls at all. Therefore, the little woodcutter's affair has become the envy of everyone in the village. The little woodcutter has become the envy of everyone. Every single Every raw man wishes to be like the little woodcutter, when there is a pretty girl knocking on his door on a snowy day."

"It's a pity that the little woodcutter, whom everyone envies, has a secret in his heart. He has been guarding this secret for many years, for fear that he will accidentally reveal it. But day by day, night has dreams. One night, the little woodcutter dreamed She babbled and uttered a few words. Xuenv lived with the woodcutter for so long and fell in love with the woodcutter. She was also afraid that the woodcutter would tell the secret, so she quickly shook the woodcutter awake."

"The woodcutter woke up from his dream, pondered for a moment, and felt that it was too painful for him to keep this secret. And his wife in front of him is absolutely trustworthy, and she would not tell this secret to others. So, Just woke up, the vulnerable woodcutter told his wife this secret. But how could he have thought that his wife was the Snow Maiden back then?"

"The Snow Maiden didn't have time to stop the woodcutter, so he told his wife about the horrible experience of that year. Unexpectedly, as soon as the little woodcutter finished speaking, the beautiful and virtuous wife suddenly turned into the ice-cold Snow Maiden. Xue Nu asked the woodcutter with tears streaming down her face. Husband: "Why did you say it? Didn't you promise me never to tell?" The little woodcutter was shocked, but he also found that Xue Nu had feelings for him, so he knelt and cried and begged Xue Nu not to Kill him."

The young man who told the story took a break, and didn't immediately say whether Xue Nu killed the woodcutter. Others asked anxiously, "Did she kill the woodcutter?"

Seeing that he had aroused everyone's curiosity, the young man smiled triumphantly at the young man who had interrupted before, and then continued: "Xue Nu also burst into tears: 'I don't want to kill you either. But rules are rules. Husband, I have already endured it. After so many years, why do you still want to tell this secret?' After saying that, the Snow Maiden turned the little woodcutter into an ice sculpture, and then left with her son in her arms. She has never appeared again."