Bizarre Honkai, a Wife-Chasing Crematorium

Changle and the others didn't see the twisted, grotesque reality; only Li Mo did.

Most likely because he hadn't made eye contact with the Seven Swords of Taixu when they suddenly appeared.

Li Mo slowed his pace, walking at the back of the group, keeping his gaze low.

If he continued like this, he would undoubtedly venture deeper into the Bizzare Entity's territory. Faced with the completely unknown, Li Mo's actions would be severely restricted.

Unobserved, he took out his notebook.

As usual, in completely unknown Bizzare incidents, he had to consult the notebook for general information, even if the notebook tended to create more questions than answers.

However, this time, the notebook's behavior was very strange.

Before Li Mo could even express his desired information, the notebook opened by itself, as if more urgent than Li Mo himself.

The second page tried to turn, but the first page held it down.

Finally, the notebook opened to the first page, which was still split in two.

[My name is Li Mo. Three days from now, I will die.]

[My name is Li Mo. If I don't die in three days, I will die during the Zhongyuan Festival.]

"..."

Three days from now, or if not, then during the Zhongyuan Festival. Very straightforward, without any superfluous words.

Li Mo didn't take it to heart, though. The notebook had said many times that he would die, but he was still alive and well.

The brevity of the information meant a lot was hidden, plenty of room for interpretation.

Li Mo looked at the other half of the first page. The handwriting was messy and scrawled.

[My name is Li Mo. Perhaps I should consider this question.]

[Bizzare rules can conflict, reaching a state of mutual restriction and balance.]

[I'm very concerned about the fact that I've been forgetting Changle these past few days. Only I, among the group, have forgotten him.]

[At first, I thought Changle was a Bizzare Entity with human consciousness. Even though his status seemed very high, and everyone around him trusted him implicitly, I didn't let my guard down.]

[Especially when he offered to keep watch, I didn't actually sleep, ready to draw my gun and kill him at any moment. Or throw the Bizzare Coin to interrupt his attack and quickly escape.]

[However, as we spent more time together, I gradually dismissed this idea. Neither the thermometer nor my Bizzare Bud left hand, including my own intuition, reacted to him.]

[He didn't exhibit any of the Bizzare behavior I expected.]

[After eliminating that possibility, I started suspecting myself.]

[If there's nothing wrong with Changle, then there must be something wrong with me.]

[With this question in mind, I followed the group up the mountain. After the climb, I encountered Elysia.]

[I'm not sure if she is the Elysia I'm familiar with, but she clearly isn't. The Elysia I know, after becoming the Herrscher of Human: Ego, her divine nature as a goddess could suppress Bizzare Entities without fail.]

[To a certain extent, she could even contend with a guiqi.]

[This Elysia before me, her body riddled with wounds, must be the Elysia of this world. She didn't die from the sacrifice, or perhaps… she's not Elysia at all.]

[I didn't respond to her plea for help because I was worried she might be an illusion created by the Bizzare Entity. If I interacted with her too much, I would only expose myself, putting myself in the Bizzare Entity's sights.]

[By doing nothing, I could minimize the chances of triggering Bizzare rules and avoid being attacked.]

[But doing nothing would only delay the inevitable.]

[If I can't find the key to breaking this situation, I'll get the people I love in my memories killed.]

[My name is Li Mo. When you see these words, there's nothing I can do.]

[I am someone who forgets people. I am someone who is forgotten. I have forgotten someone I shouldn't forget, and I will be forgotten by someone who shouldn't forget me. Therefore, I will die.]

[Wait… before I die…]

[Who is Elysia?]

"...?"

Li Mo stared at the last line, his mind blank.

Elysia?

Who?

Do I know her?

He had no memory of her. Why would the notebook give him a completely unknown name?

Li Mo memorized the name because the information provided by the notebook was usually useful, even the seemingly insignificant details.

Death again… This seemed to be the first time both halves of the first page had predicted his death.

One vaguely, the other in detail.

It even told him the premise of his death.

He would forget someone he shouldn't forget, and therefore be forgotten by someone who shouldn't forget him, leading to his death.

But…

Li Mo pondered for a long time.

Who have I forgotten? Elysia? Or someone else? But who is she? Why did I forget?

Get the people I love in my memories killed…

Li Mo clenched his fists, the veins in his arms bulging.

Could this Bizzare Entity kill the people in his memories by exploiting his memories?

He wouldn't allow such a thing to happen. If it came to that…

Li Mo would rather let the Kiana devour him alive than let this memory-related Bizzare Entity "kill" anyone he cared about.

After the first page finished displaying its content, the second page, as if finally escaping from a cage, quickly turned.

Freed from the first page's suppression, the second page immediately displayed its content.

It was even more anxious than Li Mo.

Li Mo's heart skipped a beat, a strong sense of unease washing over him as he watched the frantically writing second page.

The second page's rule was to protect his life, even if its methods were sometimes extreme.

Its current anxious behavior made Li Mo realize he might already be in a desperate situation.

One wrong step, and he would die.

But this conflicted with the first page's prediction of death in three days.

…

Perhaps it doesn't conflict, he thought. Because I have the restart ability. The second page doesn't take my restart into account; it simply wants me to stay alive. But the first page seems to be aware of my restart.

This meant… he was about to enter a dangerous situation, and a greater death trap awaited him in three days. As for the Zhongyuan Festival… that was the Ghost Festival in Shenzhou.

The Bizzare aura would surge, ghosts would roam freely, and countless rules would overlap. He could be killed by an instant-death rule just by taking a breath.

It was better to check the second page's hints first. With so little information, Li Mo couldn't figure out what the first page meant.

[After entering the main hall, avoid eating, avoid eye contact with Him, avoid drinking water, avoid talking to those who are eating…]

[After returning to your room, avoid staying too long, avoid spending the night, avoid getting injured, avoid leaning against the walls, avoid letting ghosts into the room…]

[At Xu Shi (7-9 pm), avoid being called to turn around, avoid standing under trees, avoid lighting lamps…]

[My name is Li Mo. I must remember all of the above information. If I trigger any of these rules… I will die, regardless of my strength…]

Li Mo's expression turned grim.

Regardless of strength. This meant the second page was listing instant-death rules.

But weren't there too many of them?

All instant-death rules? What had happened on Taixu Mountain?

Li Mo's unease deepened. If it weren't for the notebook's warning, he would have surely missed something amidst all the chaos.

What about Hua, without the notebook?

Li Mo could only pray that the instant-death rules didn't affect consciousness. That way, Hua might still survive.

For example, the previous rule of instant death upon opening a door wasn't a threat to Hua with the Fenghuang Down. She could store her consciousness within it and survive.

Death by eye contact with Him? Who was He? The Seven Swords of Taixu?

No, if it were them, Changle and the others would already be dead.

The Seven Swords of Taixu were more like Bizzare derivatives. Making eye contact with them only triggered incomplete Bizzare rules, not instant death, but it could trap them in illusions.

Just like now, everyone thought Taixu Mountain was a paradise, a fairyland.

The others were still caught up in the excitement of reaching the summit, seeing the beautiful scenery and their idol, completely forgetting Li Mo's previous warnings.

Or perhaps they thought Li Mo was just bluffing, trying to scare them away from the mountain so he could monopolize the benefits.

After all, the martial world was a human world, a world of interests.

Changle looked back several times, his eyes filled with confusion and perplexity.

Mingyue's confident demeanor and decisive actions on the Heavenly Path didn't match his current reserved and restrained behavior. What was he… afraid of?

Changle remembered Mingyue saying that the real danger was on the mountain, but so far, there hadn't been any danger at all.

Both the beautiful scenery and the friendly Seven Swords of Taixu seemed too perfect to be true.

If the Seven Swords of Taixu wanted to kill them, any one of them could do it easily. Was there a need to beat around the bush?

Therefore, Changle believed that the Seven Swords of Taixu had no intention of harming them. The only strange thing was the cruel killing of that little deer.

Speaking of the deer, it had been strange. It had looked at Mingyue pitifully from the moment it appeared, its lips moving, making some obscure, incomprehensible sounds.

The deer… Mingyue…

The look in Mingyue's eyes when he saw the deer's limbs being severed and its body being dragged away… it was a familiar look.

Changle struggled to remember. He seemed to have seen it before.

…

In the Heavenly Prison, an innocent scapegoat was about to be executed at noon tomorrow.

Yes, that was the look of a common man's rage.

The wrath of an emperor leaves a thousand miles awash in blood.

A common man was far inferior to an emperor, but… the wrath of a common man stains five paces with blood!

Was he planning to kill someone? Who? The Seven Swords of Taixu?

For a deer? Or for some other reason?

Changle pursed his lips, summoning his courage and walking over to Su Mei, asking politely, "Excuse me, Elder, what will you do with this deer?"

The corners of Su Mei's mouth curled upwards into a warm smile. "We'll roast it for your welcoming feast."

"Uh… Elder, my family believes in compassion. Eating meat is forbidden; it will bring divine punishment."

"Oh? I see. It's alright. We won't force you. What about the others?"

Su Mei looked at the rest of the group. Whether Changle and his companions ate meat wasn't important. If they didn't eat this time, there would be next time. If they didn't eat, there were plenty of other "fun" things waiting for them.

The black-clad guards didn't know why Changle had fabricated this sudden compassion, but they only needed to do one thing: obey Changle's orders unconditionally.

The four black-clad guards nodded. Together with Changle, they represented the majority.

Su Mei looked troubled, muttering thoughtfully, "Is that so… It seems like we've made too much. Alright, we'll save it for future guests."

She waved a hand, and Ma Feima approached, dragging the deer away.

A bloody trail remained on the ground.

Changle: "Future guests? Have there been other guests before?"

Su Mei: "Hehe, of course."

Changle: "Elder, is it true that those who reach the summit receive the Immortal's blessings?"

Su Mei: "Indeed. Don't worry, you all… will receive your share."

Changle: "Thank you for clarifying, Elder. I have one more question."

Su Mei: "Go ahead, don't be so formal."

Changle: "When can we meet the Immortal?"

Su Mei: "In three days. We will hold a welcoming feast for you during these three days. You don't need to do anything, just 'live normally' and stay on Taixu Mountain for three days. Then we will take you to the temple where our master resides and let you 'have your wishes fulfilled.'"

Out of courtesy, Changle bowed in thanks. "Thank you, Elder."

But from the corner of her eye, she noticed that Su Mei hadn't really looked at her, and it wasn't just Su Mei.

Almost all of the Seven Swords of Taixu had their eyes fixed on Li Mo at the back of the group.

Perhaps the martial artists and the black-clad guards hadn't noticed, but Changle had grown up in an environment of deceit and treachery. Her understanding of gazes was far beyond ordinary people.

That was the look of sizing up food.

The group followed Su Mei to their respective rooms, which were several meters apart, making immediate communication difficult.

After settling their luggage, Su Mei led them to the main hall. In the center was a large round table with dozens of seats, as if designed for a large banquet.

The table was laden with all kinds of dishes, emitting enticing aromas.

There was a lot of meat…

Almost the entire table was filled with meat dishes, with very few vegetables or fruits.

The meat looked succulent, plump, the finest quality to the human eye, seasoned with spices that made their mouths water.

Changle and the others took their seats, but Li Mo stood at the entrance, staring blankly at the fish in the center of the table.

"Young master, do you find our hospitality lacking?"

Su Mei's smile was bright and amiable, but that was only in the eyes of the others.

Li Mo only glimpsed her lower face. Her teeth were almost all gone, and her charcoal-black hand was crawling with white maggots, wriggling into the exposed, rotting flesh of her wounds.

"What is that?"

Li Mo slowly raised his head, pointing at the fish in the center of the table.

Su Mei replied with a sweet smile, "That's Manta ray sashimi, Eldest Senior Sister's specialty…"

"..."

Li Mo looked closer. A charred Manta ray had been sliced into pieces. Was that… someone's companion beast?

He couldn't remember. Li Mo only remembered that the Manta ray was someone's Finality-level companion.

Beautiful, radiant, dazzling, brilliant.

All the beautiful words in the world could be used to describe it and its master.

But now, it was being devoured by hungry martial artists who hadn't eaten meat in days, subsisting on hard, unappetizing rations.

Now, presented with such fresh, succulent fish, they wanted to devour it completely, leaving nothing behind.

Besides the ray, Li Mo also saw the filthy hand from Su Mei's mouth displayed on the table, being greedily gnawed on, chewed, and swallowed by one of the martial artists…

A rotting, maggot-infested black hand, and the martial artist was eating it with relish, a look of pure enjoyment on his face.

Unobserved, Li Mo noticed the martial artist's face twisting gradually, the human hair transforming, the eyes on either side of his nose moving closer together, eventually crowding onto one side of his face, positioned crookedly above his mouth.

His arm visibly rotted, the maggots he had consumed crawling out of the wounds, wriggling slowly.

Soon, his entire arm was covered in maggots, and he was completely oblivious.

"Hahaha! This is delicious! It's a pity Young Master Changle can't enjoy this. Seriously, Young Master Changle, come and eat! We won't tell anyone. After traveling for half a month, you deserve a good meal. How can you not eat meat?" The martial artist stood up, grabbing Changle's hand, trying to pull him towards the corpse on the table.

In everyone else's eyes, the martial artist's face was flushed, his smile bright.

But in Li Mo's eyes, the martial artist's head was mostly rotted, brain matter dripping down his spine, his entire hand covered in wriggling maggots.

A withered, black, severed limb protruded from his mouth, bits of intestines and organs still clinging to his fingers.

Changle couldn't see any of this. Just as he opened his mouth to refuse, Li Mo suddenly embraced him from behind.

Li Mo wrapped one arm around Changle's waist, pulling him forcefully into his embrace, and covered Changle's mouth with his other hand.

Faced with Li Mo's sudden and impolite behavior, Changle blushed crimson, stomping his feet and stepping hard on Li Mo's foot.

But Li Mo remained motionless, his eyes chillingly cold.

"Don't move if you don't want to die," Li Mo whispered in Changle's ear.

Seeing this, Changle seemed to realize something. His true identity shouldn't have been exposed. Mingyue must have sensed something.

He gritted his teeth, playing along, and signaled to his black-clad guards not to act rashly.

"So Brother Mingyue has a taste for men! Hahaha! Young Master Changle doesn't seem to dislike Brother Mingyue? Don't worry, don't worry, no outsider will know about this."

"We can swear on our names that we won't reveal this matter."

"But then again, Brother Mingyue has good taste. Young Master Changle's skin is so smooth and tender, he doesn't look like a battle-hardened martial artist at all, more like a green little girl! Hahaha!"

The two martial artists reeked of alcohol, their courage seemingly bolstered by the drink, daring to say things they wouldn't normally say.

Li Mo's expression grew even grimmer. The martial artists were starting to ramble…

The alcohol of ancient Shenzhou wasn't as potent as modern industrial alcohol. Most ancient Shenzhou wines probably had an alcohol content similar to beer.

They couldn't possibly be drunk after such a short time.

Avoid talking to those who are eating. Those who ate these rotting corpses would probably become the next meal on the table.

Apart from those few special dishes, the rotting meat the martial artists were consuming was probably the corpses of those who had climbed the summit before them.

The Seven Swords of Taixu had also eaten, which was why they had rotting arms protruding from their mouths.

This place was a Bizzare hellhole.