Chapter 45 (Part 2) – Possessiveness

Seeing his dazed expression, Yu Zhengzheng grew frantic, sweat forming on her back. She bit his lip sharply and mouthed the words:
Can you move?

A faint pain brought him back to his senses. Reading her lips, he hesitated before leaning slightly forward to capture her cherry-red lips.

His actions answered her—he could move.

Yu Zhengzheng stared at him in frustration, her eyes frantically signaling him, but he avoided her gaze and even closed his eyes.

The soft touch of his lips carried a possessive hunger. Her tense body softened, and she felt herself short of breath, her mind unable to function.

But he showed no intention of stopping, as if determined to consume her entirely.

The sound of wet kisses echoed nearby, prompting Hengwu Xianjun to scowl.
“Could you both show me some respect?”

He had only meant to grant them one final kiss. Who knew they’d take it so far as to start a full-blown intimate exchange?

He had no doubt that if no one were around, they would go even further.

Rong Shang noticed her face turning red from lack of air and finally released her, saying, “Breathe.”

With that, he stood up and retrieved the Vermillion Bird from her storage bracelet.

The Vermillion Bird could repel evil and ward off demons. Even the fiercest beasts would flee in its presence, let alone mere Barefoot Worms.

Just as he was about to release the bird, his gaze paused on the storage bracelet, noticing a small black porcelain bottle inside.

In the cultivation world, medicine cultivators typically used white porcelain bottles for pills. Only dragon clans preferred black porcelain bottles. Why would she have an item from the dragon clan?

Rong Shang’s narrowed eyes reflected his curiosity as his long fingers closed around the black porcelain bottle. He quietly tucked it into his spatial pouch.

Meanwhile, Yu Zhengzheng, still lightheaded from the kiss, hadn’t noticed his actions. She panted heavily, slowly recovering her composure.

Hengwu Xianjun first glanced at the Vermillion Bird, then shifted his gaze to Rong Shang. “You weren’t poisoned?”

Rong Shang didn’t reply.

Yu Zhengzheng froze at those words.

The Ghost King wasn’t poisoned? Then why hadn’t he helped Xiang Feng? Why had he stood by, watching Hengwu Xianjun humiliate him?

Clearly, she wasn’t the only one wondering.

Xiang Feng also turned to Rong Shang, his gaze filled with betrayal.

Hengwu Xianjun had thoroughly degraded him, stripping him of his dignity, yet Rong Shang—who could have saved him—had chosen cold indifference.

Yes, Rong Shang had saved him before, but Xiang Feng had worked tirelessly for him atop Guixu Mountain, handling all the mundane matters. He had labored without complaint during the thousand years Rong Shang was gone, even when the Ghost Sect was nearly destroyed by the Shura King. Xiang Feng had remained loyal, taking assassination missions year-round to sustain the sect.

Why? What gave Rong Shang the right to treat him this way?

Rong Shang didn’t meet Xiang Feng’s gaze.

He had never cared about others’ opinions, let alone Xiang Feng’s.

Hengwu Xianjun was avenging his fiancée, and Yu Zhengzheng wanted Xiang Feng punished. Rong Shang saw no reason to interfere.

He had only promised Xue Xi to shelter Xiang Feng and not to kill him with his own hands. He’d never agreed to save him.

The sound of the Vermillion Bird devouring insects filled the air. The Barefoot Worms, frightened by the bird, scurried away, never daring to approach again.

For a moment, the cave was eerily quiet except for the bird’s movements.

The atmosphere felt tense as everyone pondered their own thoughts. Yet one person quietly observed all this, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

It was time to leave.

He pressed his fingertip against his communication bracelet. A loud rumble echoed through the cave as it began collapsing at a visible speed.

The group couldn’t move to evade, but the falling stones didn’t hit them as expected. Instead, a strange wind brought with it drifting sands that stung their eyes.

By the time they could see clearly again, they were already back in the Sha Valley.

Hengwu Xianjun froze momentarily. He had been in contact with his subordinates, instructing them to remove the formation’s core only upon his signal.

But he hadn’t sent that signal. Who had done it?

Before he could investigate further, the illusion had dissipated, taking with it all remnants of the formation, including the poison he had inflicted on the group.

With their spiritual power partially restored—though only two or three parts—Xiang Feng wasted no time lunging at Hengwu Xianjun.

Hengwu Xianjun chuckled softly.

“How foolish.”

Though he couldn’t best Rong Shang, he had no trouble handling Xiang Feng.

Dust billowed in the air as the two figures—one clad in red, the other in black—clashed intensely, fighting without weapons but with fervor.

Yu Zhengzheng paid them no mind. After confirming Shanshui’s safety, she retrieved the Vermillion Bird and cradled it in her hands.

“Good job, little hen,” she said, stroking its head.

The Vermillion Bird didn’t seem offended by the nickname. Instead, it nuzzled her chest affectionately, as if enjoying the praise.

Rong Shang raised an eyebrow. “It’s been a while since I’ve had chicken soup.”

The bird shivered inexplicably and cautiously withdrew.

Yu Zhengzheng missed the interaction entirely. She extended her ankle toward Rong Shang. “You said you’d remove the chain when we got out.”

Rong Shang smirked. “My divine power hasn’t fully recovered. Later.”

Yu Zhengzheng frowned suspiciously. She was about to retort when she heard him address Xiao Yuqing. “Is Xiao Bichi at Qingcheng Mountain?”

Xiao Yuqing responded with a warm smile, “My father rarely leaves.”

Rong Shang nodded. “I’ll pay that old immortal a visit.”

Xiao Yuqing’s smile froze.

Who was older, after all? And besides, his adoptive father ground his teeth every time the Ghost King’s name came up. What was there to discuss?

Though stiff, he didn’t refute Rong Shang. “We always welcome you.”

While they spoke, Hengwu Xianjun had finished his fight with Xiang Feng.

Xiang Feng bore injuries all over his face and body, while Hengwu Xianjun only had slightly disheveled hair.

Upon hearing Rong Shang’s words, Hengwu Xianjun said, “I also have matters at Qingcheng Mountain. Let’s travel together.”

Rong Shang glanced at him. If not for Yu Zhengzheng, Hengwu Xianjun would have met his end multiple times over for the wicked acts committed in the formation.

But Hengwu Xianjun was the fiancé Yu Zhengzheng had picked for Shanshui.

Rong Shang grabbed Yu Zhengzheng by the back of her collar and left the Sha Valley first.

When Rong Shang finally landed, Yu Zhengzheng’s eyes had rolled back in her head.

She had a fear of heights. Shanshui had at least held her securely during flights, but Rong Shang had treated her like a chick, pinching her by the collar with two fingers all the way to Qingcheng Mountain.

The whole time, she had been terrified he might lose his grip, and she’d fall to her death.

It was with great difficulty that she finally reached Mount Qingcheng, but as soon as she got off, she clutched her chest and vomited uncontrollably.

Rong Shang glanced at her and tossed her a brand-new silk cloth.

He then strode toward Xiao Bichi’s hideout, followed by Hengwu Xianjun and Xiao Yuqing. Together, they entered the Hall of Wisdom.

To maintain his ethereal and immortal image, Xiao Bichi had deliberately chosen to live on the highest peak of Mount Qingcheng, where he built a palace and named it the Hall of Wisdom.

When Rong Shang entered the Hall of Wisdom, he saw slender dancers dressed in light clothing swaying gracefully. He sneered, “Old man, you’re quite enjoying yourself.”

Hengwu Xianjun nodded in agreement, “Truly fitting for a great sect—so extravagant…”

Before he could finish, his words faltered.

Sitting on the throne wasn’t Xiao Bichi but the Heavenly Emperor himself.

It was his scoundrel of a father—the one who personally executed the Celestial Maiden of the Nine Heavens, almost stripped him of his meridians, and sentenced him to reincarnation through the Path of Beasts.

Rong Shang also noticed the Heavenly Emperor. His gaze darkened, and his eyes filled with malice.

The Heavenly Emperor’s current wife was the younger sister of the Eastern Emperor’s third prince—the only Eastern Emperor clan member he hadn’t silenced.