I Contracted Myself-Chapter 77 – Do you want my heart?

Ye Changchun was the overlord of this area. Almost no Mutated Beast dared to challenge his authority, so their journey had been smooth and uneventful. Moreover, Ye Changchun had taken a detour around a nearby swamp, leading the Black Mountain Bowback Ants into it. It would take those ants at least half a day to get out of the swamp.

However, even after they emerged, the Black Mountain Bowback Ants would still pursue Little Theron, so Zhang Ping wasn't planning to meet up with Feng Laixian and the others too soon.

Zhang Ping's plan was to lead the Black Mountain Bowback Ants in circles, using his mobility to slowly wear them down.

Now, with a rare moment of leisure, Zhang Ping found himself unsure of where to go next.

Understanding the situation, Ye Changchun extended an invitation to Zhang Ping to visit his home.

To be honest, Zhang Ping was curious about what Ye Changchun's residence looked like, so he agreed almost instinctively.

"Hehehe, it's called Little Theron. So cute," Ye Changchun chuckled.

The little guy was clearly a bit afraid of Ye Changchun. When it noticed Ye Changchun looking at it, it quickly snuggled into Zhang Ping's arms, like a little puppy, adorably endearing.

"Don't be afraid. Grandpa Ye won't hurt you. Be good, don't be scared," Zhang Ping gently hugged Little Theron tighter, soothing it with a soft voice.

Little Theron stayed nestled in his arms, refusing to come out.

"It's a bit shy," Zhang Ping said to Ye Changchun with a smile.

Ye Changchun laughed heartily again, making Zhang Ping feel like his ears were ringing.

The two continued discussing Mingzhu City. Ye Changchun sighed at the city's misfortunes upon hearing about the Tianchang Fox's invasion but showed no intention of offering help.

In Zhang Ping's previous life, Ye Changchun would be considered a recluse, clearly not planning to re-enter the fray.

"Wait, Grandpa Ye, could you stop for a moment?" Zhang Ping suddenly noticed a waterfall in the distance and remembered something Su Jingyao had said, so he quickly spoke up.

Ye Changchun stopped and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Could we go over there? I have something I need to do," Zhang Ping pointed towards the waterfall and asked.

Ye Changchun glanced at the waterfall and nodded, "Of course."

He walked towards the waterfall, reaching it in half a minute.

It was a small waterfall, with a serene environment. The sound of the water added a touch of liveliness to the quiet surroundings.

"What a beautiful place. One of my classmates once said he wanted to retire in a place like this, watching the sunrise and sunset, observing the clouds come and go. Unfortunately, he was killed by the Tianchang Fox," Zhang Ping said, looking around and then towards the distant bamboo forest, feeling a bit melancholic.

In truth, Su Jingyao had never said this to him. She had said it to the original Zhang Ping.

He sighed softly and took a shovel out of the Golden Treasury.

Seeing this, Ye Changchun understood what Zhang Ping intended to do and stepped back a few paces to give him space.

"This place has a nice view, doesn't it? I hope you like it."

Zhang Ping chose a spot with a wide view, dug a hole, and placed Su Jingyao's human skin in a box made of Contract Gems.

Looking at the somewhat terrifying human skin in the box, he felt a surge of emotions.

When he first crossed over, he had fantasized about being the protagonist in a Good-for-Nothing novel, with Su Jingyao as the officially designated female lead.

But reality wasn't a novel, and Su Jingyao wasn't the female lead. Instead, she was an early casualty, a minor character.

If reality were a novel, Su Jingyao probably wouldn't even have a name.

"Su Jingyao, want some candy? I'll treat you!"

Suddenly, he forced himself to smile at the human skin, while a heart-shaped Contract Gem formed in his palm.

But Su Jingyao's human skin had no eyes to roll at him, nor could it tell him to "get lost."

His smile gradually faded, and he silently placed the Contract Gem on the human skin, gently closing the lid.

At this moment, Little Theron nudged his hand, seemingly comforting him. He smiled and patted Little Theron's head, whispering, "Don't worry, I'm fine. The hardest part is over. I'm okay now."

Strictly speaking, the moment he was most angry and sad was when he saw the Tianchang Fox wearing Su Jingyao's human skin. The blood-stained skin, with blood flowing from the eye sockets like tears, were Su Jingyao's tears, and his tears.

But he couldn't show any weakness, so he forced himself to stay calm, which was the greatest sorrow.

However, it's all in the past now.

He had avenged Su Jingyao's death.

Now he had more important things to do, like protecting Mingzhu City and eradicating the Tianchang Fox.

"Su Jingyao, rest in peace. I'll finish what you wanted to do. It just so happens... it's what I want to do too," Zhang Ping said silently, then picked up the box and placed it in the hole he had dug.

After filling the hole, he stood up, took a deep breath, hugged Little Theron, and kissed it, smiling, "Alright, let's go."

He turned and walked towards Ye Changchun, who bent down with a smile and extended his hand...

...

Half an hour later.

Three Black Mountain Bowback Ants followed the scent to the vicinity of the waterfall.

These three Black Mountain Bowback Ants had fallen behind the main group. After losing dozens of their kind to attacks from other Mutated Beasts, only these three had survived.

They hadn't been led into the swamp by Ye Changchun but had instead followed the scent to the waterfall.

Because Zhang Ping had stayed here for nearly ten minutes, Little Theron's scent was relatively strong.

Without the guidance of the ant colony, these Black Mountain Bowback Ants could only search the area. Only after thoroughly searching this area would they move on to the next.

They crawled along the water flow towards the waterfall. Suddenly, a fish popped its head out of the water, and with a long tongue like a clamp, it grabbed one of the Black Mountain Bowback Ants and dragged it into the water.

The remaining two Black Mountain Bowback Ants quickly moved away from the water's edge, but a sparrow swooped down from the sky, snatching away another unlucky ant.

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A single Black Mountain Bowback Ant was incredibly weak, easily crushed by an ordinary person.

The last remaining Black Mountain Bowback Ant scurried around in panic, gradually approaching the spot with the strongest scent. The soil there seemed to have been disturbed. It cautiously approached.

Its antennae twitched, searching for the scent, gradually reaching the spot where Little Theron had stayed.

"Found it!"

It became excited, its antennae standing tall as if ready to send a signal.

At that moment, an invisible force suddenly restrained it. Before it could react, a crisp 'snap' sounded, and its body was crushed by the invisible force.

Beneath the freshly turned soil, in a jade-green box, the terrifying human skin had blue streaks flowing over its surface. The heart-shaped gem on top of the skin gradually disappeared.