Duàn Chén looked at the little girl with a hint of depth in his eyes.
The expression in his eyes caused Shā Zi no change in demeanor; instead, she remained smiling, showing no negative emotions.
Facing Shā Zi like this, although Duàn Chén's expression was solemn and grave, he was actually somewhat at a loss.
Was this truly a ghoul?
No, this should indeed be a ghoul.
Then, should he believe her words?
Just then, a telepathic message from Wáng Zǐháo suddenly rang in Duàn Chén's mind.
"Instructor, do not be deceived. Be very careful. How can you trust a ghoul?"
Of course, ghoul words could not be trusted at all.
This was something they had been told from the very beginning of their training.
No matter how gentle, cute, or seemingly kind and easily bullied a ghoul appeared, regardless of the circumstances, at any time, one must absolutely not believe what a ghoul said.
Otherwise, one would surely pay a heavy price.
Ever since ghoul first appeared, humanoid ghouls had also been discovered. Some stubborn individuals believed in love between humans and ghosts, so why couldn't there be love between humans and ghouls?
He became infatuated with a ghoul in a romantic relationship, believed her words, and concealed the ghoul's existence.
The end result was that he was literally decapitated by the ghost, his body encased in cement, and he died with his eyes wide open.
Wáng Zǐháo was inwardly extremely agitated.
He feared that Duàn Chén would be fooled by the little girl's appearance and believe her words.
Even if she appeared as a little girl, Shā Zi's true nature was that of a ghoul, and ghouls were absolutely not to be trusted.
Duàn Chén replied in his mind, "I have my own judgment. Don't worry, I won't do anything I'll regret, and I remember why I came here."
He extended a hand and placed it on the table, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface. Then, he looked up at Shā Zi, who was sitting opposite him, and suddenly asked a question.
"Will you really answer whatever I say?"
Shā Zi smiled and nodded.
"Of course."
"However, big brother, I heard a saying in your human world: there is gain, and there is loss. I think this saying should apply here as well."
"I can tell you everything about this village, all the intelligence, and I can help you solve the problem here, but I have only one condition."
Shā Zi said decisively.
At this moment, the evil nature of a ghoul was revealed.
Greed flickered in her eyes as she stared unblinkingly at Duàn Chén, "I want you."
"This is my only condition. I want you to stay with me, forever and ever."
"Become my family, big brother."
Shā Zi spoke softly, a strange satisfaction on her face.
She clapped her little hands, and a group of people walked out from behind her.
Duàn Chén's expression changed.
Because he recognized some of the people who walked out from behind Shā Zi. They were members of the team that had gone on a mission with Míng Yán!
Impossible.
Duàn Chén suddenly remembered that Míng Yán's team had returned safely, with only Míng Yán being severely injured.
If all these team members were here, then what kind of beings were the team members who had returned with Míng Yán?
And they had all passed the sea monster's detection.
Could they all be anomalous entities?
How could that be!
Shā Zi smiled, resting her chin on her hand, and pointed at the people behind her, counting them one by one.
"This is Daddy, this is Mommy, this is Grandpa, this is Grandma, this is older sister, this is younger brother..."
"And Aunt, maternal grandma, maternal grandpa, uncle..."
"Big brother, I'm still missing a brother. My brother must be handsome, dashing, gentle, and considerate, like you. You are the most suitable to be my brother, so you should stay too."
Then, Shā Zi, in a seemingly understanding and considerate manner, said to Bái Yè and Wáng Zǐháo.
"Don't worry. Although you two don't meet the standards to be my family, you can be my neighbors. Two neighbor brothers should be fine too."
"Don't worry about people who know you worrying; someone will impersonate you."
"No one will ever be able to find out."
Clearly, Shā Zi had no intention of letting anyone go.
Or rather, she saw the three of them, including Duàn Chén, as her prey, waiting for the right moment to serve them.
A cold smile curled on Duàn Chén's lips.
"You planned this from the very beginning, didn't you? But unfortunately, do you think I'll just submit like this?"
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
Shā Zi smiled slightly.
"Of course I know."
A strange light flickered in her cat-like eyes.
"Big brother won't easily submit, but doesn't big brother want to save these people? If big brother is willing to stay, I won't harm them."
The implication was that if Duàn Chén insisted on resisting and trying to kill her, she would use these so-called family members as shields before she died.
"Holy shit!"
Bái Yè couldn't help but curse, his face turning extremely grim, his gaze towards Shā Zi turning cold.
"Despicable and shameless!"
Duàn Chén, however, let out a laugh at this moment.
"Do you think I'll worry about them? Or do you think I'll hold back because I'm worried about them?"
"No."
He stood up slowly. "Among us humans, we are indeed united and friendly, and we care about the lives of our compatriots, but compared to their lives, I have a more profound duty."
"Sacrificing a small portion of people in exchange for peace for the majority."
The Thousand Illusions Pandora appeared in his hand.
Duàn Chén's expression was calm and indifferent.
"Therefore, the moment I entered here with you, I was prepared to kill you and would not hesitate."
Shā Zi blinked her eyes and said in a particularly innocent tone, "That would be a bit troublesome. But, big brother, can you really bear to do it?"
She tilted her head and smiled, revealing a naive cruelty.
"Or does big brother think that I will be killed by you so helplessly?"
At this moment, the entire villa suddenly began to shake, shaking with terrifying intensity.
The little girl in Duàn Chén's eyes suddenly grew taller, and lumps of flesh, like rotten meat, fell from her body.