Chapter 35
Lou Yuqing’s thoughts tightened like a drawn bowstring.
[Those people hunting Song Li… none of them are good. If she falls into their hands, it’s a dead end.]
[She endured endless torment—forced to cultivate demonic techniques just to stay alive—and still couldn’t escape.]
[There’s not much time left. The Sect Leader has to move now.]
Just as she was about to speak—
Qingxuzi suddenly looked at Cen Xiaoyun and Yin Pipa, his expression clearing with sudden realization.
“So my daughter is in the Minshan Snake Cave, in the Nanling Mountains,” he said calmly. “How thoughtful of you to reveal the location.”
Cen Xiaoyun and Yin Pipa: ?
When had they said anything?
Lou Yuqing blinked, equally confused.
[Wait… he already knows?]
Meng Zonghan tugged lightly at Qingxuzi’s sleeve and whispered, “Sect Leader… that explanation sounded a bit forced.”
Qingxuzi shot him a helpless look. Anxiety burned in his chest, too fierce to hide.
“Li’er is waiting for me. I don’t have time for a proper interrogation.”
Madam Hongyan smiled faintly. “No need to worry. I don’t think Yuqing suspects anything.”
They all turned to look at Lou Yuqing.
Sure enough, her earlier confusion had already smoothed into quiet understanding—as if she had filled in the gaps herself.
Her reasoning was simple: The Sect Leader must have some long-distance interrogation method.
Makes sense.
Everyone else seemed unfazed, so clearly she was the one being ignorant.
Everyone else: …You give us too much credit.
Madam Hongyan turned back. “As for this trip to Nanling—”
“Senior Brother, take me with you,” she said decisively. “Let me, as her future master, see who dares lay a hand on my disciple.”
Qingxuzi blinked. “You want to take Li’er as your disciple?”
Then realization struck.
“Of course… Li’er has awakened the Fire Poison Physique. It suits your cultivation method even better than your Fire Spirit Body.”
Madam Hongyan smiled. “Just don’t grow reluctant. My technique isn’t easy—it demands enduring hardships most wouldn’t survive.”
Qingxuzi replied without hesitation, “If it benefits Li’er, I won’t interfere. As long as she agrees, I have no objections.”
Madam Hongyan nodded. “Then it’s settled. To survive over a month in a snake pit… her willpower is exceptional. If she cultivates under me, her progress may even surpass Senior Brother Wei's disciple.”
Elder Wei Tu chuckled. “We’ll see. Ming’er has recently overcome his inner demons—his progress might surprise you, Junior Sister.”
Madam Hongyan arched a brow.
Zeng Xuangan stepped forward, cupping his hands. “Congratulations in advance, Junior Sister. I happen to be free—let me accompany the Sect Leader.”
Qingxuzi nodded.
Meng Zonghan watched quietly, unsurprised. The bond between Qingxuzi and Zeng Xuangan had always run deeper than most.
Back then, when demonic sects attacked Ping’an City, the two of them had stayed behind. When the city’s defensive formation was sabotaged from within, they burned fifty years of their lifespan to activate a secret technique and restore it.
They saved the city—but paid the price.
While others remained in their prime, they aged decades in a single night.
Meng Zonghan sighed softly. “I’ll go as well. Once we capture those villains, we’ll interrogate them properly. I want to know who destroyed Senior Brother and his wife’s sect—and who’s still hunting them down.”
Qingxuzi reached out and clasped his shoulder.
Elder Wei Tu waved a hand casually. “If you’re all going, I won’t sit this out. I’ve just resolved something weighing on me—I’ve been idle long enough.”
With that, the five of them made their decision.
No hesitation. No delay.
Below, the disciples only saw streaks of light—five radiant trails cutting through the sky—vanishing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Gu Buqi watched them leave, thoughtful.
Good.
His true body was still searching the Netherworld Sea for the Netherworld Flower. Once he found it, he would head straight to the Southern Ridge.
There were… too many loose threads.
Where had Yin Pipa obtained the method to falsify a blood test?
And before that—how had Cen Xiaoyun even entered Song Li’s life?
A similar face. A convenient encounter. A perfectly timed betrayal.
Coincidence?
No.
Too many coincidences only meant one thing.
Something deliberate was at work.
Wei Houming had similar suspicions.
He ordered the enforcement disciples to take Cen Xiaoyun and Yin Pipa to the Enforcement Hall’s interrogation room.
Normally, trials were held publicly in the main hall. But this case was different.
Serious enough to warrant… special methods.
He examined Cen Xiaoyun first—her face, her aura—using multiple techniques. No trace of disguise.
Then he questioned her background. Her motives.
The same process followed for Yin Pipa.
Halfway through—
Yin Pipa’s body suddenly convulsed. Her eyelids twitched violently, foam gathering at the corners of her mouth as her breathing hitched.
Wei Houming narrowed his eyes.
Backlash.
A side effect of a forbidden technique.
Meanwhile, news from the Spirit Testing Assembly spread like wildfire.
The entire sect buzzed with it—
Someone had impersonated the Sect Leader’s daughter… and been exposed on the spot.
Those who missed the event were full of regret, forced to rely on secondhand gossip.
Inside the Enforcement Hall’s solitary confinement room—
Ling Yunxiao leaned casually by the window, recounting everything.
Hao Tianping listened with rapt attention, his gloomy mood lifting as the story unfolded.
“Incredible,” he said. “Someone actually dared impersonate the Sect Leader’s daughter. Good thing our Sect Leader saw right through it.”
Ling Yunxiao: “…Yes.”
Some truths were better left unsaid.
Hao Tianping suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice. “So… no one found out about your situation, right?”
Ling Yunxiao hesitated. “Probably not.”
The ones who heard her thoughts knew everything.
But compared to the fake heiress scandal, his embarrassment barely registered.
Most people didn’t even believe it.
Instead, the ridiculous story of the “Buttocks Guy” was spreading like wildfire.
“…What do you mean ‘probably’?” Hao Tianping squinted.
Ling Yunxiao scratched his nose, then glanced toward the girl standing outside. “You’ll see when you get the chance.”
Hao Tianping: stare
Definitely suspicious.
“What kind of look is that?” Ling Yunxiao frowned.
“Nothing—move!”
Hao Tianping shoved him aside and leaned out the window.
A girl stood by the wall outside.
When she noticed him, she smiled politely.
Hao Tianping froze.
Then pointed a trembling finger. “You—you—you—! I knew it! You abandoned your brother for a pretty face! Got yourself a confidante and forgot about me!”
Ling Yunxiao: ???
“Are you drunk?”
“You’re the one who’s drunk!” Hao Tianping snapped. “Where would I even get alcohol in solitary confinement?!”
“Then stop talking nonsense.” Ling Yunxiao pressed a hand to his forehead and pushed him back inside.
That kind of gaze wasn’t appropriate.
Hao Tianping stumbled, glaring. “Still pretending? You brought her here so I’d change how I address you, right? Pay the ‘title fee’ first, and I’ll call her sister-in-law.”
“…What nonsense?” Ling Yunxiao said flatly. “Wasn’t she the one you found to help settle me in?”
This guy had no filter. If someone misunderstood, it would ruin her reputation.
Outside—
Lou Yuqing suddenly sneezed.
Someone must be talking about her.
No problem. She had a countermeasure.
Rebound.
Hao Tianping squinted. “Really?”
Ling Yunxiao shrugged.
That was enough—Hao Tianping believed him seventy to eighty percent.
The rest vanished when Lou Yuqing called out—
“Senior Brother Hao, time’s almost up.”
Hao Tianping froze.
“…Why didn’t you say it was Junior Sister Lou earlier?!”
Ling Yunxiao blinked innocently. “You saw her. Didn’t recognize her?”
“That window is tiny! I could barely see a silhouette!”
Ling Yunxiao waved lazily. “Alright. Reflect on your mistakes. I’ll visit again soon.”
He lingered for a brief moment outside the cell—then walked away at an unhurried pace.
“Ling Yunxiao, you bastard!”
Hao Tianping exploded.
He knew exactly what that pause meant—the Enforcement Hall had reinforced his cell again.
Damn it.
Outside, Ling Yunxiao imagined Hao Tianping’s reaction and couldn’t help the faint curl of a smile.
Lou Yuqing glanced at him once… then again.
Very pleasing to the eye.
“What’s got you so happy?” she asked. “You’ve been smiling this whole time.”
“Nothing. Just thinking about some stupid people and stupid things.”
Lou Yuqing didn’t press further. “Want to visit the Spirit Beast Garden next?”
“Sure.”
The Spirit Beast Garden.
Lou Yuqing had imagined something like a zoo.
Walk in, stroll around, admire the beasts, leave.
The difference?
Zoos charged admission.
This place didn’t.
Zoos didn’t let you buy animals.
This place absolutely did.
At the entrance, she handed over her token, motioning for Ling Yunxiao to do the same. After verification, they were allowed inside.
“Cluck cluck—!”
A plump spirit chicken flapped into the air—and something… ominous… wobbled behind it.
Lou Yuqing: Oh no.
Incoming.
Before she could react, her wrist was suddenly caught.
The world blurred—and in the next instant, the scene shifted.
Behind them—
Plop.
The spirit chicken dropped a perfect, steaming pile—right where they had been standing.
Lou Yuqing exhaled, then looked down.
At the hand still loosely holding her wrist.
Her eyes lit up.
“Was that the Shadow Escape Technique?”
Ling Yunxiao released her. “You flatter me.”
“No, seriously—thank you. I really didn’t want to get hit by… that.”
Ling Yunxiao watched the chicken flap away, thoughtful. “I have a feeling it was aiming for us.”
“That’s not a feeling. That was intentional!” Lou Yuqing huffed.
Then her expression shifted.
Calculating.
Hungry.
“But these spirit chickens are well-raised… plump, lively. They must taste amazing. I’ll take you to the dining hall later—revenge by eating them.”
Ling Yunxiao hesitated. “I’ve already stopped fasting.”
“Then make an exception,” she urged. “The food’s great. I don’t even bother with fasting pills.”
He considered it.
“…Alright.”
New place. New experiences.
If Hao Tianping heard this, he’d probably collapse on the spot. Brother, you’ve changed!
Lou Yuqing beamed and immediately launched into a passionate breakdown—
“You can braise it, roast it, deep-fry it—crispy skin, tender inside—”
By the time she finished listing all 108 cooking methods, she had already moved on to the spirit pig beside them.
The pig: …
Have you considered our feelings?
They left the breeding area and entered the main grounds.
Flying fish darted through the air.
Winged tigers prowled lazily.
Owls… that may or may not have been flying.
Then—
“AHHH—!”
A pig-like scream echoed ahead.
Lou Yuqing winced. “That sounds… painful.”
Before she could react—Ling Yunxiao vanished.
A blink later, he reappeared.
“…I think I know what happened.”
“What?”
He paused, then said with a strained expression: “Castration.”
Lou Yuqing instinctively glanced downward.
“…That must hurt a lot.”
Ling Yunxiao: “…”
Girl.
Don’t look.