The Talking Ancient Evil Tome

The Leng Family.

At the front gate.

"This is the plan."

"What do you think, Xiao Leng? Take a guess—which problem do you think I need your help solving?"

Inside the car, Gu Yan turned to look at Xiao Leng, who seemed lost in thought.

After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Leng replied, "You mean... if the day after tomorrow—"

"Tomorrow. We stayed up until the early hours again. The sun's about to rise."

Gu Yan cut her off.

Xiao Leng lifted her head and stared at him expressionlessly.

"...Ahem. Continue."

Gu Yan immediately backed down, regretting his unnecessary interruption.

With her train of thought disrupted, Xiao Leng sighed but quickly resumed, "If you’re exploring that so-called ancient ruins tomorrow..."

"According to you, the plan is to have the Peach Blossom Society use forbidden techniques to create some... complications."

"But have you considered that their hideout is definitely—or at least probably—known to certain sects?"

"If they discover the place is actually a sect's grand formation, your whole plan falls apart."

"......Why are you looking at me like that?"

Xiao Leng frowned at Gu Yan, who was now grinning at her.

"Exactly. That’s why I’m asking for your help."

"Is there any way to fix this problem?"

He was confident.

As the Night King, Xiao Leng must have a way to make the place look more like genuine ancient ruins.

Sure, he had the system, but he needed to save his Pure Love Points for more critical uses.

Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t spend them.

Tomorrow’s expedition would undoubtedly involve people from other sects.

The last thing he needed was someone recognizing the location and blowing their cover.

Xiao Leng studied him for a few seconds before replying flatly, "There is a way. But why should I help you?"

"Frankly, I’d prefer to remain the Night King—supreme and unchallenged."

Gu Yan coughed awkwardly. "Come on, didn’t we agree to work together?"

Xiao Leng wasn’t swayed. "You’re doing this for the other me. What’s in it for this me?"

"Then... what would it take for you to help me this once?"

Gu Yan had no choice but to throw the question back at her.

Xiao Leng pretended to ponder for a moment.

"Though I could demand a lot..."

She met his gaze, her face blank.

"...I’ll let it slide this time. My mood happens to be decent tonight."

"So consider this a free favor, furnace."

Gu Yan blinked. "You have moods?"

"......"

"Do you want my help or not?" Her voice turned icy.

"Yes!"

Gu Yan nodded emphatically.

"...Ugh."

Xiao Leng sighed, as if exhausted. She raised her palm—

Hummm!

A black book materialized in her hand.

"Kekekeke~!!"

"Finally, you call upon me again!"

"Kekeke!! What is it this time?!"

Gu Yan stared in shock as an eye sprouted from the book’s spine, followed by a jagged, fanged mouth.

The voice that emerged was a distorted, layered chorus of male and female tones.

Noticing Gu Yan’s presence, the book’s eye widened.

"Delectable... existence!!"

"To think you’d ally yourself with Xiao Leng..."

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The book darted around Gu Yan in a blur, scrutinizing him before turning back to Xiao Leng.

"Can I devour him?"

??

"Hey! What the hell is this thing?!"

Gu Yan swatted the grotesque book away.

It tumbled back to Xiao Leng, its pages glowing with indignant black energy.

"You dare strike me?! I am a primordial entity, older than the world itself!"

"Hehe~ Scared now, aren’t you?"

Gu Yan glanced between the evil tome and Xiao Leng’s deadpan expression.

"Wait... is this the Dark Manual Qingqiu trained with?"

He vaguely recalled the novel mentioning that Leng Qingqiu’s cultivation methods came from a sinister scripture.

Xiao Leng nodded, then grabbed the book—which was still grumbling about being disrespected—by its spine.

"You can call it Little Evil."

"It doesn’t show this side to... the other me."

Before she could finish, Little Evil cackled, "That’s because she’s growing unfit to be the Night King! Too many emotions, too many desires!"

"Kekeke! You, on the other hand—perfect. Why not seize control of this body?"

Xiao Leng ignored it and addressed Gu Yan.

"State your request to Little Evil."

"But be warned—its services come at a price."

Gu Yan eyed Little Evil warily. It radiated malice, like something that shouldn’t exist.

A primordial entity...?

And a price for wishes...?

Since when was this a low-martial world?!

Damn that author—why didn’t they flesh out the lore properly?!

He took a deep breath and faced Little Evil.

The book sneered. "So you’re the wish-maker? Know this—the greater the wish, the steeper the cost!"

"Got it."

Gu Yan nodded. Then, with complete seriousness, he asked:

"First question—who named you Little Evil?"

WOOOOM!

A pulse of dark energy erupted from the book.

Hummm...

A single strand of Gu Yan’s hair was plucked by an unseen force and absorbed into Little Evil’s pages.

Then, it answered—

"My first master gave me that name! ...Wait, why the hell is that your question?!"

It sounded furious. Was this really the time to ask about its name?!

And why did the "price" for such a trivial wish cost only one hair?!

"Huh. Interesting..."

Gu Yan’s mind raced. So this evil tome was essentially a wish-granting artifact—albeit one that took payment upfront.

In that case...

He locked eyes with Little Evil and made his real request:

"Transform the Peach Blossom Society’s hideout into a convincing ancient ruin—so convincing that no one will recognize it as a sect’s stronghold."

What would this wish cost him...?

Xiao Leng watched silently, curious.

WOOOOM—!

The book glowed again, then shot toward Gu Yan.

His hand rose against his will—

And yanked out a small tuft of hair, feeding it to Little Evil.

Gu Yan: "......"

Little Evil: "......"

Xiao Leng: "......"