On the way to the kitchen, Xiang Haikui told Bai Xingxian about what happened today: “The reason Tian Kuang overate likely has something to do with that little black snake.”

Could the little black snake truly be a powerful being?

What kind of powerful being could be cut in half by a kitchen cleaver?

Even if the City Lord’s mansion had extraordinary cleavers, this still seemed implausible.

Bai Xingxian pondered for a moment: “From what you’re saying, the snake demon is severely injured and near death, having lost consciousness. If it wanted to evade capture right now, the best method would be to withdraw all its power, return to its true form, making it less likely to be discovered.”

As long as it wasn’t caught by pursuers, if it fell into ordinary hands, common methods wouldn’t be enough to kill it.

Upon reaching the kitchen, Xiang Haikui opened the jar and was assaulted by such a strange odor that she reflexively gagged.

Bai Xingxian’s facial features also scrunched together in disgust.

“What’s going on?” Xiang Haikui pinched her nose and peered inside.

Now she believed it—confirmed beyond doubt—this must be a powerful being.

Though cut into two pieces, the body was still writhing slightly, not yet dead!

Moreover, both severed ends were secreting large amounts of resin-like viscous fluid, effectively protecting the cut surfaces.

Looking closer, the little black snake emitted a faint glow around its body, probably instinctively releasing energy for self-preservation after being cut.

As its blood and energy circulated, the salt had penetrated its bones and blood, causing such a powerful stench.

“Little Bai, you’ve been following Senior Yin and have seen much of the world. Do you know who this might be?” Xiang Haikui felt extremely shocked.

From now on, she would need to be careful about casually killing creatures for food in the cultivation world. Powerful beings were everywhere.

Bai Xingxian glanced at it with his spiritual perception from a distance, but for some reason, felt a bit afraid—possibly due to natural predatory instincts: “I don’t know many snake demons. My uncle doesn’t have any snake demon friends.”

Xiang Haikui’s hand holding the jar lid trembled slightly: “So what should we do now?”

Bai Xingxian suggested: “Snakes are the most vengeful creatures, and who knows if it remembers you. Since we’ve already reached this point, we might as well eat it. My uncle has a treasure that I’m keeping, called the Three Corpses Immortal Refinement Furnace. It should be able to cook it properly.”

As he spoke, his tongue licked around his lips—he wanted to eat it too.

A small demon eating a greater demon would be very nourishing.

“Well…” Unlike Bai Xingxian, who was a demon, Xiang Haikui had psychological reservations. This snake had made Tian Kuang overeat, so it must have already cultivated into human form. It felt like cannibalism, especially when there was no enmity between them…

Her thoughts kept turning, and the Tian Kuang sword in the box on her back continued to hum.

When she considered eating the snake or throwing it away, Tian Kuang seemed to curse her as a coward, saying she was afraid of retribution after already cutting it, wanting to destroy the evidence!

When she thought about making amends and saving the snake, Tian Kuang became excited, believing this was truly wild: I dare to cut you, and I dare to save you. I am both your enemy and your benefactor. Am I wild enough? Does that make you angry?

Having practiced with such a ridiculous sword, Xiang Haikui’s head ached. There was nothing to be done about it—this was the way things were.

She would save it first and decide what to do later.

Though Tian Kuang was a demonic sword, according to her master, it was still a sword of righteousness. If it was suggesting she save the snake, then the little black snake couldn’t be practicing an evil path.

But how to save it?

“Little Bai, can you find Senior Yin?” Xiang Haikui wanted to send Bai Xingxian to ask her boss.

“I don’t know,” Bai Xingxian looked a bit disappointed that he wouldn’t get to eat the powerful demon. He shook his head, “Uncle only said that when your father comes out of seclusion and the crisis is resolved, he would let me go back to the mountains and wait for him to pick me up after his business is done.”

“You’ve been following Senior Yin every day, yet you know nothing about him.” Yin Changli truly raised Bai Xingxian like a pet. Xiang Haikui sighed, “He expects us to help change his fate, yet he’s unwilling to reveal even a single extra word.”

“Uncle says that regarding matters of destiny, each additional person who knows increases the variables,” Bai Xingxian gave her a ‘you don’t understand’ look.

In truth, he didn’t understand either, but whatever Uncle said must be right.

Fine then. As an employee, the boss is always right. Xiang Haikui stopped discussing this with him.

She took the two halves of the snake out of the jar, washed off the salt thoroughly, placed them in a new jar, and carried them to find Xiang Tianqing.

“Sister, can you save this snake?” she asked.

Xiang Tianqing felt nauseated by the smell and became somewhat angry: “It’s completely dead. How could I save it?”

Was she making fun of her?

Xiang Haikui couldn’t explain about the Tian Kuang sword: “It’s not dead. This snake might already have cultivated some abilities.”

Xiang Tianqing was slightly surprised, and upon examining it with her spiritual perception, found it was indeed so.

She sealed off her sense of smell, stepped forward, and carefully removed the two halves of the snake from the jar.

After studying it for a long while, she showed a regretful expression: “It’s not possible. This is beyond my abilities.”

Xiang Haikui took the snake back: “Well then, I’ll go to find Dao Chen outside the city.”

In her dreams, she knew there was a Buddhist cave not far outside the city, where some ascetic monks lived. One of them, called Dao Chen, though a Buddhist cultivator, was highly skilled in medicine.

She had never met him, only heard her father mention him a few times, always with a headache.

In others’ eyes, Dao Chen had a compassionate heart, but in her father’s eyes, he was a pushover who would save anyone, including foreign tribes from beyond the border.

Xiang Tianqing was surprised: “Little sister has just arrived, yet you already know Dao Chen?”

Xiang Haikui shook her head: “I don’t know him. I’ve just heard of him.”

Xiang Tianqing breathed a sigh of relief: “It’s late at night now, and the city gates have long been closed. Leaving the city requires Big Senior Brother’s approval, and he’s quite difficult to talk to…”

She left her sentence hanging, waiting for Xiang Haikui to ask for her help in getting a token from Meng Xilou.

Xiang Haikui replied: “Then forget it. I’ll go tomorrow morning. Sorry to disturb you.”

After all, the little black snake wouldn’t die anytime soon.

Xiang Tianqing was momentarily stunned and hurried after her: “Little Kui, you don’t need a token. I can accompany you out of the city, and the guards won’t dare stop us. If Big Senior Brother blames us, I’ll beg for forgiveness, and he’ll soften.”

Xiang Haikui was about to say it wasn’t worth the trouble, but then swallowed her words.

She understood a bit now. Xiang Tianqing wanted to show off her status in Yin Sha and the deep bond between her and her father and senior brothers.

She probably didn’t know her identity; this behavior was clearly that of a young girl eager to compete for affection.

“That would be great.” Xiang Haikui expressed her thanks.

Shortly after, the two girls—one in crimson gauze and one in sea-blue gauze—walked through the silent alleys of Yin Sha City.

While still far from the city gate, Xiang Haikui suddenly sensed an abnormal fluctuation in the air currents. Her spiritual perception immediately traced the source of the disturbance.

This wind-tracing technique was naturally taught by her master.

Using this technique, she saw a figure leap onto the city wall—it was Lu Xiqiao.

He brandished a small, golden-glowing knife, cut a hole in the city’s protective barrier, and slipped through, disappearing without a trace.

Xiang Haikui wanted to stop him, but couldn’t in time. Such a reckless person couldn’t be stopped forever anyway, so she let him go.

But if he died, the Lu family from the capital would surely make trouble for her father.

Wait, why hadn’t Lu Xiqiao’s attendant left with him?

There was still someone following behind Lu Xiqiao, not far away, with cultivation far surpassing his.

Xiang Haikui had thought it was a servant protecting him, but now it seemed not to be the case—this person was tracking him.

Just then, the tracker suddenly materialized and drew his sword, slashing toward the city guard officer standing below the wall!

The distance was too great; with Xiang Haikui’s current cultivation level and control over Tian Kuang, she couldn’t draw her sword in time.

With a kick of her foot, she decisively leaped up, moving as swiftly as a hunting cheetah, instantly completing several jumps across the rooftops.

When she was close enough for her voice to carry, she shouted fiercely: “Look out!”

Startled, the city guard officer couldn’t sense where the attacker was but dodged randomly.

He narrowly avoided the attacker’s sword that would have slit his throat!

As someone who guarded Yin Sha at night, the city guard officer was no ordinary person. He immediately erected a protective barrier and swung his blade to counterattack.

“How dare you cause trouble in our Yin Sha!” Xiang Tianqing caught up, her expression severe. She joined her fingers together, and the sword on her back unsheathed itself, flying toward the attacker!

The attacker, failing in his first strike and hearing Xiang Tianqing’s voice, clearly lost his composure and had his arm slashed by Xiang Tianqing’s sword.

He first dodged sideways, then leaned backward to slide away. After several flashes, he disappeared into the night.

The guards wanted to pursue, but the city guard officer shook his head, signaling them to return and guard the gate.

This person’s cultivation far exceeded theirs; pursuing would only lead to death.

Even with their responsibilities, the City Lord had repeatedly warned them to act within their abilities.

“Thank you… Second Young Lady.” After instructing his subordinates to report the incident, the city guard officer approached the two sisters and first thanked Xiang Haikui.

Although it was Xiang Tianqing who had drawn her sword, without Xiang Haikui’s warning shout, he would have lost his life.

Then he clasped his hands toward Xiang Tianqing: “Thank you, First Young Lady.”

Xiang Tianqing smiled reassuringly, though her smile seemed somewhat forced.

Xiang Haikui turned her head toward the direction the attacker had fled and transmitted a message to Xiang Tianqing: “Sister, does Big Senior Brother always act so unscrupulously?”

Xiang Tianqing looked bewildered: “Are you saying… that was Big Senior Brother just now?”

Xiang Haikui: “If not him, then it’s someone working for him.”

She had been thinking that if Lu Xiqiao died in Yin Sha, Yin Sha would be blamed. Now, someone using Lu Xiqiao’s sword technique had appeared to kill the city guard officer and the guards.

With this development, Lu Xiqiao would be seen as the guilty party first, and the Lu family would not only be unable to blame Yin Sha but would also end up in trouble themselves.

If not Meng Xilou, who else could it be?

This man was truly ruthless, willing to kill even his people.

Regardless of whether he was a servant sent from the upper realm to protect Xiang Tianqing, Xiang Haikui had an extremely poor impression of him.

Meanwhile, Xiang Tianqing heard from the city guard officer that the attacker’s sword technique resembled that of the Lu family. Connecting this with Xiang Haikui’s question, her lips suddenly tightened and her pink fist clenched: “Little sister, you go ahead to the city. I’ll join you shortly.”

With that, she hurriedly left, heading toward the City Lord’s mansion to confront Meng Xilou.

Xiang Haikui watched her retreating figure, thinking she still had a strong sense of justice.

However, if Meng Xilou was truly an avatar of someone from the upper realm, then she might have exposed herself just now.

It didn’t matter.

She never planned to play the submissive role forever.

Making the wielder of the Tian Kuang sword act submissively was laughable.

Her boss Yin’s warning was only to keep her power suppressed as much as possible, not to force her to hide it completely.

The overall action plan remained the same: meet force with force, adapt to changing situations, and confront directly.

After she had left the city and walked far away, the guards whispered among themselves: “Everyone’s saying she’s a fox spirit sent by those noble families from the capital to bewitch the City Lord, but why do I feel like her look and bearing resemble the City Lord’s?”

The city guard officer also had his doubts, but quickly recovered and shouted: “Don’t speak nonsense! Focus on your duties!”

The attacker sneaked back to the City Lord’s mansion by an indirect route and came to Meng Xilou’s room: “Young Master, I have failed…”

This person was Meng Xilou’s trusted subordinate, Huai Mie.

He knelt, his exceptionally beautiful hands clenched into fists.

Meng Xilou wore a large cloak and sat calmly behind a desk: “Did the Young Lady intervene?”

Huai Mie bit his lip: “It was mainly Xiang Heng’s biological daughter. Young Master, she seems somewhat extraordinary.”

“A little girl without a spirit root—how complex could she be?” Meng Xilou’s voice was deep and dismissive.

Both master and servant were avatars sent from the upper realm.

Huai Mie was a family servant.

Meng Xilou was Xiang Tianqing’s biological brother in the upper realm.

When Xiang Tianqing reincarnated to undergo tribulation, she needed to drink the Waters of Oblivion. At that time, she was terrified, so Meng Xilou, under the pretext of being in seclusion, secretly sent his avatar to the lower realm, possessing this mortal body to stay by Xiang Tianqing’s side, care for her, and plan for her.

“Let that woman live a few more days. On the seventh day of Xiang Heng’s seclusion, kill her in the most painful way possible. She dared to make my sister unhappy, so she deserves to be cut into a thousand pieces. Besides, Xiang Heng must fall into demonic cultivation.”

“Yes.” After a pause, Huai Mie stroked his knuckles and continued, “But Young Master, lately there have been many unexpected complications…”

“It doesn’t matter. A bunch of mortal trash—nobody can obstruct my sister’s path to merit and virtue.”

Xiang Haikui arrived at the Buddhist cave outside the city, only to be told that Dao Chen had left for the border regions yesterday because an elder of a tribe had fallen ill.

Dao Chen’s junior disciple tried to contact him using a jade tablet but received no response.

Xiang Haikui decided to wait at the Buddhist cave.

The place was serene. She placed the jar beside her and sat cross-legged to meditate, upgrading Tian Kuang in the process.

Moving past the first realm boundary into the second realm, her progress bar for wildness dropped from full to zero.

Ah, she didn’t know how much had overflowed before, all wasted—the thought made her heart ache.

By the time she finished cultivating, daylight had already broken.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she stood up, preparing to return to the city, when she opened the lid again for another look.

The little black snake’s condition was deteriorating.

The glow on its body was growing increasingly faint, and the protective fluid on the cut surfaces was slowly drying up—it was truly about to perish.

Not knowing what to do, the little monk, seeing she had finished meditating, brought over a jade tablet: “Benefactor, my senior brother has responded.”

This was a paired communication tablet—one in the Buddhist cave and one in Dao Chen’s possession.

Dao Chen seemed determined not to miss anyone seeking medical help, having enabled remote consultation mode. This compassionate heart truly made him worthy of being recognized as a Buddhist disciple.

Xiang Haikui quickly sent a wisp of spiritual consciousness into the jade tablet: Greetings, Master.

Dao Chen: Benefactor, how is the snake’s condition now?

Xiang Haikui: Not good.

She described the little black snake’s situation in detail.

Dao Chen: Indeed, concerning. This poor monk cannot get away at the moment. If the benefactor has time, please bring it here.

Though in the border region, it wasn’t far from Yin Sha City—only half a day’s journey. Xiang Haikui replied: Alright, I’ll come right away.

Dao Chen: However, I worry it may not hold out. Benefactor, please stitch it together first.

Xiang Haikui:?

The young monk brought Xiang Haikui a silver needle inscribed with Sanskrit texts, but no thread.

Dao Chen: Use a hair strand as a thread, but it must be from the top of the head, so it can provide nourishment from true elemental energy.

Xiang Haikui was stunned. Whose hair?

In the entire Buddhist cave, she seemed to be the only one with hair, so she painfully plucked a large strand.

Watching her cultivation level rise higher and higher while her hair became less and less, she realized that even as a cultivator, she couldn’t escape the fate of baldness.

Twisting the black hair into a thread and threading it through the needle, she aligned the two halves of the snake according to the patterns, preparing to begin.