Chapter 16

Yu Jiangjiang didn’t know whether it was from anger or the venom of the poisonous snake, but she couldn’t catch her breath and collapsed to the ground, rolling her eyes.

Xiao Yuqing quickly stepped forward, pulled the five-step snake off her, and fed her two pills. This temporarily suppressed the poison, allowing her to slowly regain consciousness.

The two sisters from the Yuling Sect sneered, “You can never truly know a person. Miss Yu may look kind-hearted, but who knew she had such a malicious nature?”

Yu Zhengzheng raised an eyebrow. “Miss Ziyu, what do you mean by that?”

Ziyu scoffed coldly. “That venomous snake was clearly heading for you, but it ended up biting your younger sister. Clearly, you pushed her into the snake’s path to save yourself.”

Her younger sister, Ziqian, chimed in, “Exactly! I’ve never seen someone with such a venomous heart. To sacrifice your own sister is truly horrifying!”

Yu Jiangjiang, who had been trembling with fear, had calmed down by now. Seeing Xiao Yuqing close by, she leaned toward him, teary-eyed.

His body carried a faint herbal scent, bitter but not unpleasant. It was her first time being so close to a man, and her heartbeat pounded like a drum.

She decided not to say much. After all, Yu Zhengzheng pushing her toward the snake was the truth. All she needed to do was play the pitiful victim.

Yu Zhengzheng had no intention of explaining herself, but when she glanced up and saw Jiangjiang leaning on Xiao Yuqing, a rebellious streak surfaced in her heart.

If it weren’t for Jiangjiang deliberately provoking the snake, why would she have pushed her toward it?

She wasn’t about to take the blame for this.

Yu Zhengzheng raised her brow slightly. “You two are jumping to conclusions. The five-step snake lunged at me, and before I could react, my sister bravely threw herself in the way. How does that make me the villain here?”

She lowered her head, idly kicking a pebble underfoot, then turned her head as if unintentionally. “Isn’t that right, Jiangjiang?”

Their gazes locked, and there was a meaningful gleam in Yu Zhengzheng’s eyes that made Yu Jiangjiang swallow her retort.

Yu Zhengzheng must have seen something!

If she didn’t refute Zhengzheng’s claim, she would offend Ziyu and Ziqian, who had just spoken up for her. Admitting she willingly blocked the snake would feel like a slap in their faces.

But if she insisted on accusing Zhengzheng, it would lead to mutual destruction. Not only would her own reputation be ruined, but she’d also earn the label of someone with a venomous heart.

Yu Zhengzheng would escape unscathed, while she would face the venomous bite and the dilemma of impossible choices, regardless of what she said.

Grinding her back teeth, she forced a smile. “It was my choice. My sister was right there, and I couldn’t just stand by and watch.”

Although this would upset Ziyu and Ziqian, at least it would leave a good impression on Xiao Yuqing as someone self-sacrificing. She couldn’t care about the rest.

The moment she finished speaking, Ziyu and Ziqian’s faces darkened as if they had swallowed flies. They couldn’t utter another word.

Yu Zhengzheng, seeing her goal achieved, let it go. After all, those two were Xiao Yuqing’s top sycophants. Now that Jiangjiang had offended them, her days ahead would be far from pleasant.

Among the group, only Xiang Feng knew medicine.

Xiang Feng was a disciple of the Lingbi Palace, whose master was once the most renowned healer in the cultivation world. He had mastered nearly all his teacher’s skills. Saving Yu Jiangjiang was as simple as lifting a finger.

But Xiang Feng said nothing about helping, and no one dared bring it up. Finally, Xiao Yuqing took the initiative. “How about the rest of you go ahead? I’ll take her to a medical clinic to treat the snake venom and then meet up with you.”

Xiang Feng nodded slightly, pulling a few silver bracelets from his storage bag and handing them out. “Anyone who tries to escape will be executed on the spot.”

These were tracking bracelets that adjusted to fit the wearer’s wrist perfectly. Once put on, they couldn’t be removed.

Such bracelets were typically used on prisoners, allowing their handlers to monitor their location and vital signs.

Xiao Yuqing, with no intent to escape, promptly wore one and helped Jiangjiang to the clinic.

The others also put theirs on, but Yu Zhengzheng stared at her bracelet without moving.

Xiang Feng raised an eyebrow. “Don’t want to wear it?”

Yu Zhengzheng shook her head and slid the bracelet onto her wrist.

She figured she could find a way to deal with it later. Nothing and no one—not even a king—could stop her from escaping.

The group eventually settled into an inn, sharing rooms in pairs.

Ziqian opened her mouth to protest but was silenced by a sharp look from Xiang Feng.

Xiang Feng wasn’t being stingy by choice. The budget given by the Shura King was tight, so he had to be frugal. Once the King ascended to the mortal world, such concerns would disappear.

After unpacking, they went to the dining hall for dinner.

While Xiang Feng had already given up mortal food, the others hadn’t.

He ordered each of them a simple bowl of beef noodle soup. Noticing their reluctance, he added a poached egg to each bowl.

The waiter, observing their fine attire, couldn’t help but ask, “Is that all, dear guests?”

Xiang Feng was about to nod but caught sight of Shan Shui drooling over the meat dishes on a nearby table. After a pause, he ordered two lotus-leaf-wrapped chickens.

Shan Shui beamed with delight. “Shifu is the best!”

Xiang Feng ruffled Shan Shui’s hair, his faint smile betraying his otherwise reserved demeanor.

Yu Zhengzheng glanced between Shan Shui and Xiang Feng, sensing an unusual rapport. Ever since she saw Xiang Feng rushing to the Luandian Palace just because Shan Shui said she was afraid, she had suspected something more than a typical master-disciple relationship.

If this wasn’t affection, then she’d do a headstand while eating dirt.

A jet-black raven flew into the inn and perched on Xiang Feng’s arm. He retrieved a tiny letter from its leg and soaked it in tea. The fingernail-sized letter expanded into a full-sized sheet.

Xiang Feng spread it out. “Here’s everything on Nangong Tianba.”

Curious, Yu Zhengzheng leaned in to skim the neatly written contents.

Nangong Tianba, the sole son of King Yan, was conferred the title of Qinrui King upon coming of age. At thirty, he had married 99 times, with his wives’ graves covering a small mountain. Yet, he had no heirs.

Yu Zhengzheng’s lips twitched. If he started marrying at sixteen, that would mean an average of 1.69 wives per month over 14 years.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Is he cursed?”

Xiang Feng chuckled. “Quite the opposite—he’s the reincarnation of the Red Phoenix Star.”

He tapped the letter. “Look closer. How did his wives die?”

Yu Zhengzheng  followed the direction he indicated, only to see tiny annotations next to the causes of death for the consorts:  

The first 33 consorts were sent to the desert by Nangong Tianba and turned into sand sculptures. The next 33 were hung at the city gates and sun-dried into jerky. The remaining 32 were made to kneel in the snow, losing their children and dying from massive blood loss.  

She swallowed nervously. “What about the last one?”  

Xiang Feng replied, “She was sent to a brothel and is being auctioned off for her first night tonight.”  

Yu Zhengzheng : “…”  

Just then, the waiter arrived, serving bowls of plain beef noodles to the table. Everyone, hungry from the day, began eating noisily, except for Shan Shui. Xiang Feng pulled her bowl over to himself.  

He requested a small plate from the waiter and began picking out the cilantro and beef. Watching his meticulous movements, Yu Zhengzheng  couldn’t help but comment, “If you’re that hungry, I can pay for another bowl for you.”  

A grown man picking food off a little girl’s plate—it was hard to watch.  

Xiang Feng glanced at her. “Shan Shui doesn’t eat beef or cilantro.”  

Yu Zhengzheng  was speechless. “Then why didn’t you just tell the waiter not to add them?”  

Without stopping, Xiang Feng replied, “She doesn’t eat them, but she likes the flavor they leave in the broth.”  

Yu Zhengzheng : “…”  

Caught off guard, she felt as though she’d been force-fed dog food. Suddenly, the steaming bowl of noodles before her seemed far less appetizing.  

It wasn’t until everyone had nearly finished eating that Xiao Yuqing returned with Yu Jiangjiang.  

Since the two had already reached a fasting stage, there was no need to prepare more noodles for them. After dinner, Xiao Yuqing examined the dossier and mused, “Nangong Tianba is likely to visit the brothel tonight. If we want to approach him, this is our best opportunity.”  

The group nodded in agreement. This was indeed a breakthrough.  

Seeing their consensus, Xiao Yuqing continued, “Since it’s getting late, we should head there soon.”  

Everyone, except for Yu Zhengzheng , agreed with his decision.  

In the cultivation world, brothels didn’t carry the same stigma as they did in the mortal world. To cultivators, they were as ordinary as restaurants, a place for dual cultivation. Even women entering brothels wasn’t considered improper.  

Without further ado, they got up to leave.  

Xiao Yuqing turned to Yu Jiangjiang. “Your injuries are severe. Why not stay at the inn and rest until we return?”  

Yu Jiangjiang was unwilling to stay behind. As long as she could spend time with him, she wouldn’t mind enduring another snake bite.  

Seeing her insistence, Xiao Yuqing didn’t press further.  

Since Xiang Feng had to accompany them throughout, he couldn’t leave Shan Shui behind at the inn and decided to bring her along.  

As they were leaving the inn, Yu Zhengzheng  suddenly clutched her stomach and frowned. “My stomach hurts. Maybe I ate something bad. You all go ahead; I’ll catch up after I use the restroom.”  

Xiang Feng glanced at her coolly. “Is your stomach really hurting, or are you planning to escape?”  

Yu Zhengzheng  raised her arm, laughing dryly. “With this tracker bracelet still on, where could I even run to?”  

Xiang Feng didn’t say anything, his gaze darkening slightly as he watched her.  

Just then, his communication bracelet lit up. After glancing at it briefly, he said in a meaningful tone, “The King will arrive in the mortal realm in the next few days. If you dare to run, you’ll find nothing but a dead end.”  

Yu Zhengzheng  responded casually, “Don’t worry, Protector Xiang. I’m not that foolish.”  

Only a fool wouldn’t run. Once the Ghost King arrived in the mortal realm, escape would be impossible.  

Xiang Feng didn’t press the matter further. He left her the name of the brothel and led the group away.  

Once they were out of sight, Yu Zhengzheng  lifted her head.  

She asked the waiter to fetch her a pair of embroidered shoes and exchanged her leftover silver note for smaller coins. Storing the coins in her spatial bracelet, she quickly left the inn.  

The sky had darkened, but the curfew hadn’t yet begun, so the city gates were still open.  

Rather than rushing out, Yu Zhengzheng  stopped at a nearby shop and bought a hen with her coins.  

Carrying the hen to a secluded corner, she aligned its leg with the tracker bracelet. The bracelet would adjust to fit the size of a living creature’s limb.  

By carefully using the chicken’s leg to stretch the bracelet’s gap and slipping her hand through, she managed to remove it.  

The chicken would serve as her stand-in within the city. By the time Xiang Feng discovered her escape, she’d be long gone.  

Executing her plan with practiced ease, Yu Zhengzheng  freed herself from the bracelet. She wandered the city for a while, pretending to search for the brothel, before discarding the chicken and preparing to leave.  

But Yu Zhengzheng  got herself turned around. Glancing around in confusion, she muttered, “Which way is the city gate again?”  

She turned to ask for directions, only to bump into a firm chest.  

Looking up slowly, she saw a pale hand holding an oil-paper umbrella.  

The hand, slender and white, bore a thumb ring of white jade. It looked eerily familiar.  

The owner of the hand smiled warmly. “The city gate is to the north. You’re going the wrong way.”