Tomb raiding: Today is another day I don't want to go home.

Chapter 12 Mutation

Yan Huai reached out to take out the long sword, but the moment he touched the blade, a chill seeped into his skin. The Buddhist beads on his wrist seemed to sense something and emitted a faint white light. The white light extended out and enveloped the blade, then gradually dissipated like mist.

"It has been detected that the host has acquired the Branding Blade. The host's personal information and memories are now being updated."

Name: Yan Huai

Sex: Male

Age: 23 years old

Height: 193cm

Physical Strength: 100 (Average Person: 30~50)

Mental strength: 100 (30-40 for ordinary people)

Bloodline: Azure Dragon (already fused)

Bloodline Talents: Bloodline Intimidation, Exorcism, Night Vision, Super Strength, Transformation

Weapon: Branding Blade

Skills: Max level Tomb Raiding Skill, Max level Melee Skill, Max level Mechanical Skill, Max level Branding Blade Technique

Item: Buddhist prayer beads (the soul-suppressing effect has been transferred, but they still carry the pressure of the host's bloodline).

The host's memories from six years ago in Puyang Village have now been projected into the host's mind. Do you wish to integrate them immediately?

"Is this Puyang Village?" Yan Huai asked.

"Yes, host. Would you like to merge the memories immediately?"

"Wait a minute, they're still up there."

Yan Huai looked up, put the stone brick where the branding knife had been placed back in place, and then used his legs to propel himself up the well wall.

However, as Yan Huai landed, a gust of wind carrying the smell of a chicken coop suddenly rushed towards everyone. Everyone quickly covered their mouths and noses and backed away. Poor Wu Xie was the only one who was left holding a plate of vegetables. He couldn't lift it or throw it away.

Previously, on the ground, there was plenty of space and the wind was blowing constantly, so even if there was a smell, it wasn't that pungent. But once they went down into the well, the stench accumulated and was enough to make several people's leftovers smell up.

"Big brother, you smell so bad!" Ah Zhao pinched her nose and hid behind Yin Lan, her big eyes watery, as if she had been stung by the stench.

Yan Huai knew he had offended someone, so he awkwardly looked at his hands while holding the knife and said, "I'll go wash them."

As Yan Huai left, his steps slightly unsteady, the group exchanged glances, looking somewhat helpless.

"Ah Zhao, go and bring your older brother a set of clothes later. He can't wear the one he already has," Yin Lan said, patting Ah Zhao's head.

"it is good!"

Wu Sansheng glanced at the interaction between the mother and son, then looked at his group, and said casually, "Alright, now that Brother Yan's things have been found, you should go back and pack up and get some rest! Make sure you're well-rested, as there might be a tough battle ahead tomorrow!"

The group agreed one by one. After they returned to the courtyard of their temporary residence, Wu Xie brought the now-cold food to Zhang Qiling, who had just been woken up, and touched his nose somewhat guiltily.

Zhang Qiling looked at the food in front of him, his nose twitched slightly, and he frowned. He turned to look at Wu Xie without saying a word, but Wu Xie felt that the young man's eyes were accusing him, saying, "You're giving me this weird-tasting food?"

"Well... there was a little accident along the way. Brother Yan needed to find something, so I had to help him, right?" Although he didn't help at all, Wu Xie didn't say anything.

Brother Yan? A hint of doubt flashed in Zhang Qiling's eyes.

Wu Xie understood Zhang Qiling's meaning and said with a smile, "Brother Yan is the little brother we met in the Corpse Cave before, named Yan Huai. If he hadn't pulled you in time, you would have fallen into the water. And he carried you all the way here!"

Zhang Qiling lowered his eyes. He didn't remember what happened after he fell into a coma. In his memory, he had never slept as soundly as he had today. When he woke up, he only felt a faint force within him repairing and nourishing his body. If Wu Xie hadn't woken him up, he might have continued to sleep until tomorrow.

Wu Xie looked at Zhang Qiling, who was lost in thought, and was a little conflicted. What should he do with these dishes? Throwing them away seemed like such a waste, but Zhang Qiling should eat them. After all, he had expended so much blood to save them, and he was too embarrassed to ask. After thinking it over, he still felt it was shameful to waste them. Then, a thought flashed through his mind and he remembered his third uncle.

Uncle San probably hasn't eaten enough yet. He just said he'd never tried my cooking before. I'm sure of it! Wu Xie thought to himself.

"Young man, you'd better not order this dish..."

However, before Wu Xie could finish speaking, Zhang Qiling reached for the rice bowl in front of him and began to eat the cold food, bite by bite.

Thanks to the young man, Wu Xie's life was saved. Otherwise, it would have been like a sparrow trying to lay eggs like a goose—overestimating its own abilities.

Half an hour later, Yan Huai returned. He no longer smelled of the chicken coop and chicken landmines. He was wearing the most common cotton clothes in the village, which looked very warm. In his hands, besides the branding knife he had found earlier, there were also sweet potato and green onion steamed buns that the landlady had made for him. They were not only down-to-earth but also filling!

Yan Huai sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), first placing the branding knife beside him, then dividing the food among Zhang Qiling. His actions were so natural that even he was momentarily stunned. Later, to avoid seeming strange, he called over Wu Xie, who wanted to be a quail but hadn't eaten enough.

It could be said that, apart from the expressions on Zhang Qiling and Wu Xie's faces that resembled those of debt collectors and debtors, the dinner was quite harmonious.

At 11 p.m., Yan Huai, oblivious to everything, climbed into the empty sleeping spot between Zhang Qiling and Wu Xie, holding the branding knife in his arms.

Wu Xie had originally wanted to ask to borrow it to observe, but faced with Zhang Qiling's occasional death stares, he thought, "Maybe later..."

"The system integrates the memories of Puyang Village."

"Okay, host. Given your current state, the system will integrate your memories as a dream, which will last for five hours."

Yan Huai closed his eyes in the dim light, and memories began to flash across the walls of his mind. Everything was largely the same as what Yin Lan had told him, except that he had seen Yin Lan's husband, Lin Xuan, before he died...

The next morning, Yan Huai woke up in the light shining through the curtains. He looked to his right and saw that Zhang Qiling was already up, but he didn't see her. To his left, Wu Xie was still sleeping soundly, snoring softly.

Lifting the covers, Yan Huai sat up straight and couldn't help but think of some things from his dream last night. He shook his head, picked up Luo Yao, and rolled off the kang (a heated brick bed).

Stepping outside, Yan Huai saw Zhang Qiling, who had just returned, and called out, "Brother!"

Zhang Qiling nodded, but then looked at Yan Huai as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"What's wrong?" Yan Huai asked, completely bewildered.

“Last night, you had scales on your face.”

"!?"

Even though Yan Huai had a good tolerance for shock, he still found it shocking to hear such outrageous words so early in the morning, especially since they came from Zhang Qiling, who seemed like a reliable person.

"Where on my face?" Yan Huai raised his hand and touched his face, his blank and frightened expression making him look incredibly silly.

"Both sides of the forehead."

Yan Huai ran his finger over it; it was smooth, and he couldn't feel any scales. He looked at Zhang Qiling and asked, "Is it gone now?"

"Ok!"

"What disappeared?"

Just as Yan Huai was feeling bewildered, Wu Sansheng walked over and interrupted his thoughts.

"It's nothing..." Yan Huai gave a stiff smile, covered his face, walked to the clothesline, took down the clothes he had washed yesterday, and then went back into the house.

"Brother, what's wrong with Brother Yan?" Wu Sansheng felt that it wasn't that simple; Yan Huai's expression looked like the sky had fallen.

"My face is swollen." Zhang Qiling lied without batting an eye. He could tell that Yan Huai himself was unaware of the situation, so he decided not to tell anyone until he figured it out.