Dharma Ring: Selling dung beetles at the border

Wuming and Gewei stared at each other in a stalemate, as if to see who was more confident.

In the end, Gewei gave up, and his face seemed a little older:

How did you tell?

Illusions, mimicry, and light magic. Wuming said, I've seen a lot of them. They're just pranks and tricks.

As he spoke, Wuming himself also changed his form, becoming the shape of Gewei, the shape of Haida, and finally the shape of a multi-handed corruption dependent insect.

The insect opened its mouth and made a nameless sound:

So, old bug, if you are talking to me in disguise, you can't blame me for doubting you, right?

Gewei was silent for a moment:

Okay, now that I know the basics, can I tell you my commission?

Why are you so anxious? I was told to go take a look first. Chongzi swung his butt and walked out of the wooden house.

You won't find mercury there, Gewei said. There are seals, secrets, and hidden spells in Selia Town.

Bugs turned back: Can you provide information?

Gewei said: I can provide you with mercury, as long as you do this for me.

Chongzi hesitated for a moment: What are you talking about first? If you are immoral, you have to pay more.

Don't worry, I'm not asking you to do bad things. Gewei said with some melancholy, I need you to help me treat a girl. That girl's name is Millicent. She is in a church on the cliff behind Seriya Town.

Treatment? What happened to her? Chongzi asked.

She suffered from corruption and is now bedridden, Gewei said.

Corruption disease, I heard it's quite serious. Chongzi said, Have you just been infected?

No, she has actually been sick for a long time. She is just healthy and did not break out. But she was seriously injured before and fell into the Ionian swamp to aggravate the infection, which is why she fell ill. Gewei explained.

Why don't you treat it yourself?

It's an incurable disease, Gervais said.

The insect stretched out a hand from behind and scratched its head:

First you said you wanted me to treat the girl, and now you say it's an incurable disease?

The insect came close to Gewei's face and its mouthparts trembled:

You are very suspicious.

Gewei's face twitched.

He was indeed suspicious and had other thoughts, but Gewei felt aggrieved by being suspected for this reason.

It cannot be cured, but it can be suppressed! Gewei said, There is a pure golden needle that can suppress the corruption disease.

Where is it? Wuming asked.

In the Ionian swamps, Gwe said.

The insect raised his head back, as if he heard something unbelievable and was shocked:

You want me to find a needle in the swamp?

Chongzi continued: You, the old Chongzi, who is a dependent of corruption, let me come to you alone - are you a human?

The insect moved his arms around him:

Oh, you are indeed not a human being, but your intention to trick people into feeding bugs in the swamp is too obvious. Would I be fooled by this? I have a very high IQ!

Gewei looked at the insect's little hand that had no place to move back and forth, and even the insect's appearance couldn't hide his exasperation.

A drop of sweat broke out on his face. Faced with Wuming's attitude, he didn't know how to deal with it.

If there is no evil in his heart, he can tell the truth. But now that the disguise has been seen through, loopholes may appear in the original series of plans.

He needed time to think again.

Gewei said slowly: The golden needle is kept by a veteran, right in the center of the swamp. The swamp has not been filled in, and the insects cannot snatch it, so I entrust you with it.

The insect touched his chin with one hand:

Okay, I'll go take a look. If you lie to me, be prepared for heavy bleeding.

Gewei breathed a sigh of relief.

He wanted to get Wu Ming away and sort out his plan.

But the insect did not move its nest and said:

Can you show me your mercury first? I don't want to be left in vain.

Don't worry about this. Gewei was very confident now. He stood up and stretched out his hand to Wuming, Lend me your staff.

In the insect's illusion, an iron hand stretched out and handed Gwei the staff he had just picked up.

Gewei weighed the staff and said: There is actually a magic that can directly create mercury. It is Celia's dark night magic, a secret method inherited from the Eternal City.

He walked out of the cabin and said:

Mercury is poisonous and very dangerous. There is a giant dog outside. I just happened to do an experiment on it to show you -

Gewei was about to operate on the giant dog outside the house that was guarding his home. When he went out, he saw that the giant dog was in pieces.

Falling Star Beast was standing nearby, with a piece of meat stuck to the corner of its jaw.

Gewei's mouth twitched:

Then let's test it in the open space.

Gewei waved his staff, and the pyroxene on the top of the staff emitted a light like the dark blue night sky, and then a cluster of silver smoke separated from the light and spread around.

Countless silver particles condensed and rolled on the ground, and gradually evaporated into the air.

The insect leaned over and observed the tiny silver particles: So this is mercury...

Gewei said: Can I go get the golden needle now?

Chongzi nodded, twisting and turning on the Falling Star Beast: I'm going to give it a try, but there's no guarantee it will work.

I will pray for you. Gewei said.

Gewei watched Wuming leave and returned to the cabin. The light and shadow dissipated, and he turned into a large insect with many hands, exactly like the corrupted dependent that Wuming had transformed into.

The corrupt family member said: I will pray for you, pray that you are the right candidate...

For him, Wuming is not the first person to fade, nor will he be the last.

Only those who are physically strong and can obtain the golden needle can go to the church to see Millicent and become her hero.

Gewei curled up on the ground and reorganized his plan, intending to let Wuming fall into the trap smoothly.

He saw through my disguise at a glance, but after I spoke, he relaxed. Could it be that he has no hostility towards the Corrupt Families... Gewei muttered, No, after all, he is a human being, so he has to come up with a lie...

========

Wuming didn't know that Gewei was plotting against him from behind. He had already reached the center of the swamp and saw the veteran.

The veteran was wearing heavy armor and an animal skin cape. The shape of the armor was a bit like that of the city lord of Moren City whom Wuming once buried.

The veteran holds a scarlet military flag with a sharp tip that can be used as a spear.

The veteran stood with his head held high, standing in the middle of the battlefield, surrounded by various traces of the war.

When the veteran saw Wuming, he showed disgust:

insect……

The veteran general raised the military flag and spear and wanted to assassinate Wuming.

Stop, stop, stop. Wuming said, I'm just here to take a look. There is a bug who asked me to bring you a message.

The veteran ignored him and concentrated on charging.

Wuming was helpless: Can't you be more peaceful?

He stretched out a hand, the pale gold halo spread, and placed a halo on the veteran.

The veteran who was originally rushing towards Wuming stumbled and almost fell. He finally managed to balance his body, but was unable to run and could only walk slowly towards Wuming.

What kind of sorcery is this? The veteran was shocked and angry.

Wuming calculated the distance between the two parties and the time it would take for the veteran to reach him, and sat comfortably on the back of the Falling Star Beast:

I'm just going to ask something, and then I'll leave. I don't want to fight you, and you can't fight me.

That's not a bad tone. The veteran moved forward reluctantly, but he was wearing heavy armor and was almost completely unable to move at this time.

The veteran stopped walking forward and slapped the military flag on the ground, as if using it as a crutch to support his body.

The red tattered military flag fluttered in the wind, and under its command, a dozen ghost-like spirit soldiers appeared.

These soul soldiers appeared, but they also had a halo on their bodies and moved slowly.

The veteran general raised the military flag and waved it, and the strong wind danced.

The hurricane drove the scarlet corruption on the ground and spread outward.

Against former enemies, this move can tear the opponent's armor and skin, and in this scarlet land, it will immediately be infected with scarlet corruption.

The veteran saw Wuming as a bug and did not expect the opponent to be infected with bugs. He raised the hurricane to help.

The hurricane picked up the spirit soldiers around him and threw them to Wuming's side.

Even though his movements were slow now, Wuming was still within the attack range of the soldiers.

This method of throwing soldiers over is certainly not a conventional tactic. The soldiers are all crawling on the ground, and the enemy can directly take the opportunity to kill several soldiers.

This is a suicide attack.

Even though those who attacked him were all spirit beings, Wuming could still feel a ferocity among them.

Wuming was helpless: You can't do anything but fight, right?

He waved his hand, the aperture disappeared, and the restraints of the originally slow-moving soldiers disappeared, and they attacked Wuming even more fiercely.

I saw the nameless incarnation of the insect standing tall, with dozens of hands raised.

The veteran narrowed his eyes, he knew what it was.

This is the posture in which the insects launch their silkworm attacks.

The insect threads are quite powerful and can almost destroy a solid iron armor with one blow.

The battle-hardened veteran immediately waved the military flag and gave a shout.

Red light spread from the military flag, covering the veteran general and all the spirit soldiers.

This is similar to the prayer effect of a golden oath.

It can not only boost the morale of soldiers mentally, but also provide them with practical protection, making them braver, more agile, and more resilient.

With this layer of protection, the spirit soldiers can withstand an impact of the insect silk and kill the hateful insect under the cow.

But the familiar insect threads did not emerge from behind the insect. The insect raised his hands, and then each hand pointed at a soldier accurately.

What is this doing? The veteran was confused.

A hint of pink caught the veteran's eyes.

The weapons that the spirit soldiers originally aimed at the Falling Star Beast turned to avoid Wuming.

The spirit soldiers raised their weapons and rushed towards the veteran, their bodies still glowing with the red light of the veteran's protection.

Respect the old and love the young. Wuming shouted from a distance.

The soldiers who were protected were indeed brave. They tore off the veteran general's military flag, knocked him to the ground, and beat and kicked him.

The veteran did not resist. He wore heavy armor and allowed the spirit soldiers to punch and kick him.

The moment the soft light appeared, his mind was taken away and he lost the will to resist.

After a while, the pink color on the soldiers dissipated, the red light disappeared, and they finally stopped.

Back off. The veteran ordered.

With an order, the spirit soldiers disappeared one after another.

The veteran coughed twice, picked up the military flag on the ground, stood up, and stared at Wuming:

Why are you charming?

Maybe it's because I'm very charming. The big insect stood on the head of the falling star beast, twisting his enchanting body back and forth.

The veteran looked at the dancing insect with a complicated expression and didn't know what to say.

Wuming stopped: Are you finally willing to have a serious talk? But why? My charm should not have affected you. Do you really think this insect's body is very attractive? You are so weird.

That is my master's power, said the veteran.

Owner?

Michaela. The veteran said calmly.

This is a well-known name throughout the entire border. Just by saying the name, he can feel that the glory is with him.

Who? Wuming asked.

Michaela, you don't know? Are you from the border area?

I am a faded person, and I am really not from the border area. Wuming said.

The veteran looked at the nameless insect's body suspiciously:

Mimicry?

Knowing the goods. Wuming said, he thought for a while, Michaela... seems a bit familiar...

Of course it sounds familiar. Lady Michaela is the demigod closest to God. The veteran said.

Wuming was noncommittal. Although he had some impressions, Michaela was not the purpose of his trip:

Let's get down to business. A bug asked me to find a golden needle. He said it was on you. I heard it can be used to cure corruption.

The veteran took off his armor, and you could see a gold dot on his chest.

It's really just 'on'. Wuming said.

Otherwise, how could I have stayed in this swamp for so long without getting poisoned? the veteran said.

Then if I take the golden needle, won't you be doomed?

I lost. If you want to take it, I can't do anything about it. The veteran didn't care about the golden needle, Where did you learn your charm?

From my teacher. Wuming said.

The veteran is clearly not happy with this nonsense.

It's not from Michaela. Wuming said, I'm sure of this.

My master also often uses mimicry, how do you know it's not true? The veteran was a little unwilling.

Does your master know this?

A flaming whip was thrown out from Wuming's arm and whipped to the veteran's side.

The blazing flames burned fiercely, the red fungi on the ground were scorched black, and the animal hair on the veteran's cloak was burned and curled.

Wuming said: Taught by a teacher.

The veteran's eyes darkened: No.

You look very sad. What happened to your master? Wuming asked.

Missing. The veteran said. I have been guarding here, guarding the master's golden needle. I don't know if they have found Lady Michaela.

The veteran smiled bitterly:

But since you haven't heard of it, it seems that it hasn't been found yet.

Missing... Wuming suddenly realized.

He remembered the source of this familiar feeling.

Is he the godly man who was kidnapped by the Blood King? Wuming said.

This was what Fan Lei said when he wanted to win over him and told him endlessly about the deeds of the Blood Dynasty.

Because Fan Lei was too annoyed, Wuming didn't take it to heart. He only remembered it after being reminded by the veteran.

Blood King? The veteran immediately overflowed with murderous intent, Where is he?

Underground, right? Wuming was unsure, People from the Blood Dynasty tried to woo me, but I wasn't interested and didn't understand them carefully.

The veteran inserted it into his chest, took out the golden needle, and handed it to Wuming:

Here you go, thank you.

The veteran picked up his gun and was about to walk out.

Aren't you here to keep watch anymore? Wuming asked.

Now that we have learned about our lord's whereabouts, of course we must try our best to search for him, the veteran said.

Wait, you have to teach me how to use it first. Wuming drove the falling star beast to stop the veteran.

Just insert it into your heart. The veteran said, Be careful, the gold needle is very thin and will break easily if it encounters a collision.

Don't worry, don't worry. Wuming put it away carefully, I'll take you out of the swamp. You don't have the golden needle anymore. If the master doesn't find it, you'll die in the swamp first.

That's fine, thank you.

The veteran got on the fallen star beast and watched the insect's butt twisting from behind.

What does your real body look like? the veteran asked.

You will always know if we meet again in the future. Wuming said, My name is Wuming.

O'Neill, the veteran said, Who are you trying to save with this golden needle? Why did the bug send you here?

I had a deal with Chongzi before. He gave me the magic I wanted, and I gave him the golden needle he wanted. Wuming twisted the golden needle and observed it carefully, But I don't need it now.

No need? O'Neill was puzzled.

Falling Star Beast is crossing the swamp, surrounded by many bugs.

These corrupt kin are very small and rely on instinct to hunt prey on the swamp.

The nameless insect raised its butt, and a circle of silver-white smoke emitted from near the butt, scattering behind the Falling Star Beast.

When the insects came into contact with the silver smoke, they struggled and hissed to death, and soon floated on the swamp with their white bellies.

Wuming laughed out loud: Seeing him perform that magic, I suddenly remembered - I actually know that magic, but I forgot about it before.

Wuming shook his head: Oh my, my memory is not very good now that I am getting older.

O'Neill said: You won't suffer from corruption, right? I heard that corruption can corrode the mind and make people lose their memory.

Corruption disease... Wuming smiled, Pretty much.