Xie Yuanshu spent a full two hours before finally absorbing Xie Hongchen’s cultivation.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, beginning to regulate his breathing and digest this powerful force. Meanwhile, the residual poison in Xie Hongchen’s body hadn’t completely dissipated. Having now lost the support of his internal power, he was even more extremely weak.

Huang Rang put away that umbrella forged by Di Yiqiu and set it aside. Looking at Xie Hongchen on the bed, she still fetched a handkerchief, wanting to wipe his face. Of course, Xie Hongchen pushed her away with one hand.

Seeing this, Xie Yuanshu said, “Arang, why do you still care about him? Don’t tell me that even now, you still have lingering feelings for him?”

Huang Rang sighed, each word desolate: “After all, I was husband and wife with him for a hundred years.”

Xie Hongchen turned his face away and mocked, “Your habit of acting—you truly never put it down, no matter when.”

Huang Rang didn’t retort. Instead, she said gently, “I know you’re angry. No matter what you say, I won’t take offense.”

Xie Yuanshu felt Huang Rang was even more docile. He pulled Huang Rang over with one hand and said, “He’s now practically a废person. If you’re angry, I’ll kill him right now to vent your anger.”

Huang Rang didn’t want to kill Xie Hongchen.

After all, this dreamscape was strange. She didn’t know if there was some conspiracy within it, but she absolutely didn’t believe in any heavenly will. If she died in this dream, would she also die after waking up?

Between Xie Hongchen and her, there really wasn’t any deep hatred or great enmity. If she took another’s life just because she couldn’t let go, that didn’t seem right.

So she said, “Since he’s no longer a threat, why doesn’t Shulang spare his life?”

Xie Yuanshu suddenly laughed: “I knew you couldn’t bear to part with him. Arang, you really are too kind.” He walked to Xie Hongchen’s side, but had made up his mind to put him to death. “But this person is quite scheming. With him around, how can I feel at ease taking over the position of sect master?”

He raised his right hand, gathering power in his palm. With his current cultivation level, killing Xie Hongchen, who had no strength to truss a chicken, was truly too easy.

Huang Rang didn’t stop him. Instead, she said, “For so many years, everyone has said that Shulang isn’t as good as Xie Hongchen. Even Old Ancestor thinks this way. Doesn’t Shulang want to make him witness with his own eyes how you sit firmly in the sect master’s position, how you expand and strengthen Yuhu Xuanzong, how you’re a hundred times more excellent than Xie Hongchen?”

Huang Rang’s words easily touched his heart. Xie Yuanshu withdrew his hand. He felt these words made sense.

—He actually thought he really could be a hundred times more excellent than Xie Hongchen!

So he said, “Arang always considers things so thoroughly.”

Huang Rang walked before him, wiping the sweat from his forehead, saying, “Now that Shulang has obtained his power, in all of Yuhu Xuanzong, aside from Old Ancestor, probably no one is your match. Shouldn’t you discuss with Old Ancestor about passing the position to you?”

When she mentioned Xie Lingbi, Xie Yuanshu still shuddered.

Meanwhile, Xie Hongchen, listening to their conversation, was full of doubt—why was she instigating Xie Yuanshu like this?! Since Huang Rang had done all this, she absolutely wouldn’t be content with just being the sect master’s wife—she already was that. Why scheme further?

But if not for these things, what did she want?

Xie Yuanshu frowned tightly and said, “This matter still requires careful consideration. He hopes everything is under his control. If I act this way, he probably won’t tolerate me. Even if I’m his biological son.” This last sentence, he said almost through gritted teeth.

Huang Rang nodded inwardly—this Xie Yuanshu was somewhat clever at this moment. Her expression darkened as she said, “Shulang’s words make sense. In the current situation, Old Ancestor won’t just be unable to tolerate you, I… I’ll have even less chance of survival. He never liked me to begin with.”

Xie Yuanshu didn’t speak. He also understood that if this matter got out, Xie Lingbi would definitely kill Huang Rang. He paced back and forth in the inner hall of Yeyun Hall, unable to think of a solution for the moment, quite anxious in his heart.

Huang Rang watched him quietly. After a long while, she said, “If Old Ancestor learns of this matter, at most he’ll kill me and severely punish Shulang. Then demote Shulang elsewhere. But Shulang is after all his biological flesh and blood, and has Xie Hongchen’s cultivation to rely on. Years from now, you’ll certainly be able to return to the immortal sect and hold high position again. Shulang, if there’s truly no other way, you should confess to Old Ancestor!”

Her expression was sorrowful, every word earnest. The more Xie Hongchen listened, the more wrong it felt—he’d always stayed clear-headed in front of Huang Rang. He would absolutely not be moved by her words or emotions. So in his hearing, these words didn’t mean that at all.

Sure enough, having come this far, how could Xie Yuanshu be willing to fail at the last step? He walked to the table and suddenly slapped it hard: “That old man has always looked down on me—how can I swallow my anger again?! Arang, your heart toward me is completely sincere. How could I watch you go to your death with open eyes?!”

Huang Rang’s voice was already quite hopeless as she asked, “Then… what else can Shulang do?”

Sure enough, Xie Yuanshu’s heroic spirit surged as he raged, “Today, I, Xie Yuanshu, must become the sect master of Yuhu Xuanzong! No one can stop me, not even that old man!”

At this moment, Xie Hongchen on the bed suddenly understood what Huang Rang wanted to do!

—She wanted to deal with Xie Lingbi!

He gripped the bed edge tightly with one hand and raged, “Elder Brother! Don’t be bewitched by Huang Rang. This woman’s intentions are sinister—absolutely cannot be trusted! Old Ancestor is your biological father—how can you attack him!”

Huang Rang immediately followed up with advice: “Shulang, Hongchen speaks truly. Old Ancestor and you are biological father and son after all. Although he favors Hongchen more, as a son, how can you deal with your own biological father?”

Her not advising would have been better. With this advice, all the barbs in Xie Yuanshu’s heart were hooked up. He grabbed the teacup from the table and hurled it at Xie Hongchen on the bed: “You shut up! He’s my biological father! Haha, I think he’s your biological father! From childhood on, you’ve only had eyes for yourself—what am I?!”

He struck with great force, and Xie Hongchen on the bed couldn’t see to begin with. Now injured and poisoned, he couldn’t dodge at all. Hit by the cup on his temple, blood immediately streamed down his face. Huang Rang cried out softly and hurried forward to check Xie Hongchen’s injury.

Xie Hongchen was disgusted to the extreme and pushed her away. Huang Rang, pushed forcefully by him, immediately fell to the ground. She cried out softly, pressing her ankle—truly as delicate as boneless, too frail to bear clothing.

Xie Yuanshu hurried to help Huang Rang up. He pointed angrily at Xie Hongchen: “You blind fool—you’re better off blind after all! Arang, are you hurt from the fall?”

Huang Rang’s tears brimmed with pearls as she said, “I know Shulang has suffered many grievances over these years. I know.”

She pressed her head against Xie Yuanshu’s shoulder. The beauty was warm as jade and fragrant—Xie Yuanshu’s heart melted completely.

He patted Huang Rang’s shoulder gently and said, “Arang, together we’ll take down that old man. I want the entire immortal sect truly in my hands!”

“Elder Brother!” Xie Hongchen felt utterly powerless, but Xie Yuanshu was like one possessed by demons, unable to hear any advice.

Hearing Xie Yuanshu’s words, though Huang Rang was moved, she didn’t agree. She said, “But you’re biological father and son after all, Shulang. I don’t want you two to come to this. Listen to me—report truthfully to him. Even if I die, I can’t watch with open eyes as you father and son break apart completely, turning weapons on each other…”

Before she finished speaking, Xie Yuanshu said, “You don’t need to persuade me anymore. Arang, you… be with me one more time. Even if I die, I’ll die together with you.”

Despair filled Xie Hongchen’s heart.

“Shulang…” Huang Rang leaned against his shoulder sobbing: “I’ll just consider this my last day living in this world. But in this life, to have known Shulang, Arang has no regrets even in death.”

“Elder Brother…” Xie Hongchen’s voice was weak, as if all the strength supporting his faith had been drained away.

But how could Xie Yuanshu hear his voice? Xie Yuanshu wanted to be intimate with Huang Rang for a moment, and of course Huang Rang wouldn’t refuse. She said, “Since it’s the last day, we must spend it well. Let me bathe and groom myself first, all right, Shulang?”

Xie Yuanshu was blinded by lust—how could he refuse? He repeatedly said, “Good! Good!”

Huang Rang thus employed the same trick again, still adding incense concocted with Immortal Grass to the incense burner. Xie Yuanshu was already impatient, so naturally he dragged Xie Hongchen down from the bed. Huang Rang helped, dragging Xie Hongchen to a corner. Xie Yuanshu excitedly went to arrange the bed. Huang Rang swallowed a Mind-Clearing Pill and casually stuffed several Mind-Clearing Pills into Xie Hongchen’s mouth.

Xie Hongchen was startled, but as he swallowed, he already knew what it was.

Using this incense, Huang Rang was already skilled. How much dosage matched with how many Mind-Clearing Pills—she knew too clearly. So before long, Xie Yuanshu had completely fallen into illusion.

Huang Rang spread open Xie Hongchen’s palm and stuffed something into it. Xie Hongchen held it in his hand and carefully felt it, discovering it was actually Xie Jiu’er.

“Why didn’t you kill it?” He knew urgency and anger were useless, so his voice was cold instead.

Huang Rang sat beside him, watching Xie Yuanshu lose himself: “Because I don’t know if dying here means I’ll also die after waking from the dream. She’s just a child. If there’s fault, it’s our fault. Why harm her life?”

Xie Hongchen’s response was still sarcastic: “Huang Rang, when will you be able to tear off this layer of false benevolence?”

Huang Rang didn’t want to argue with him, saying, “Can’t tear it off.” She grasped Xie Hongchen’s hand and made him press the skin on the back of her hand. “It’s grown together.”

Xie Hongchen withdrew his hand in disgust. Huang Rang laughed again. When she laughed, she never laughed loudly—always gentle and dignified. Xie Hongchen originally didn’t want to pay attention to her, but thinking of her earlier words, he still asked, “What did you mean just now about waking from the dream? Huang Rang, what exactly has happened to you?”

Huang Rang hugged her knees, also pondering for a long time before saying, “I don’t know.” She leaned against Xie Hongchen’s shoulder. Xie Hongchen coldly moved away. Huang Rang leaned into empty air. She slowly said, “I suddenly discovered that we’ve never talked like this. Actually, I really want to ask you—in your whole life, have you ever loved me? Even the slightest bit, did you ever? But if I ask, the answer will surely disappoint me.”

She buried her face in her knees, sighing softly: “Surely disappointing.”

Xie Hongchen didn’t answer her. As sect master, at this moment, how could he indulge in romantic feelings?

He only wanted to know what exactly had happened and if there was any way to salvage the situation. But there wasn’t. As Xie Yuanshu said, with things at this point, they had no way to retreat.

Now that he’d lost all his power, once Xie Lingbi learned the truth, Huang Rang would surely die.

Xie Hongchen could only say, “I don’t know why you chose this path. You’re digging your own grave.”

“Yes.” Huang Rang held her face in both hands, sitting quietly. After a long while, she responded with just this sound.

At this point, stepping back one step was a ten-thousand-fathom abyss, advancing one step meant being shattered to pieces. Where was there any grave?

Huang Rang sat hugging her knees, no longer attempting to lean on Xie Hongchen.

Actually, this person beside her had never been her support. In her entire life, she’d never had any support.