At the entrance to Yeyun Hall, Huang Rang looked toward Anlei Peak for the first time.

So the two peaks were separated by such a short distance. Huang Rang could even see that stretch of continuous immortal halls. She could even see that section of mountain belly where she’d been imprisoned. Yuhu Xuanzong had many rare flowers and exotic plants, and the air was filled with a faint, fresh fragrance.

Huang Rang took a deep breath, captivated by this morning’s tranquility.

—Xie Lingbi, long time no see. Are you well?

Anlei Peak.

Xie Lingbi always felt something wasn’t right.

This scroll of scripture—he seemed to have studied it before. He closed his eyes to ponder, but the past was like smoke and clouds, always blurry and unclear. He turned a few more pages of the scripture but didn’t think too deeply about it.

After all, it wasn’t strange for people to sometimes feel they’d experienced certain things before.

He stood up and looked toward Diancu Peak from afar. The disciples halfway up the mountain had already begun today’s martial demonstrations. Xie Lingbi didn’t go over. He’d always felt assured about Xie Hongchen, and had long since entrusted all sect affairs to his hands.

He watched from a distance for a while, then finally returned to the inner hall.

On the wall of the inner hall, a giant eye was projecting a strange image onto the opposite wall—it was a marketplace entrance with people coming and going. Xie Lingbi stared at the stone lions beneath the gate tower, feeling in a daze that he’d once attacked these stone lions.

Something must have happened at this marketplace entrance.

He thought it over repeatedly but couldn’t reach any conclusion.

Today was truly quite strange. He meditated to calm his mind, while the image on the wall didn’t stop. That place was precisely the court’s capital city, Shangjing. Now Si Tianjian was gradually winning the people’s hearts, and the court had gradually secured a place among the immortal sects.

Xie Lingbi put away this magical treasure. This treasure was called the Eye of World-Piercing, used to monitor external domains. Si Tianjian also had the Nine-Curve Spirit Pupil—the forging principles were actually similar. Only because the two forces really didn’t get along did they use different names, not wanting any association.

A hundred years ago, the court could only purchase such items from Yuhu Xuanzong, but now they could manufacture them themselves.

That young fellow Di Yiqiu was truly… a formidable rising talent.

Xie Lingbi sighed deeply. His own son was incompetent. But fortunately, Yuhu Xuanzong still had Xie Hongchen, so there were still successors. He sat down at his desk and continued reading the scripture.

Of course, he had absolutely no idea what his son was doing now.

Xie Yuanshu was waiting in the inner city of Shangjing—on one hand waiting for Di Yiqiu, while on the other he wasn’t idle, spending lavishly to gather magical treasures and elixirs.

Si Tianjian’s cultivation elixirs weren’t as good as Yuhu Xuanzong’s, but when it came to daily civilian medicines and poisons, they were certainly no inferior to the immortal sect. Xie Yuanshu threw around money like dirt, stockpiling quite a batch of poison pills and magical treasures for self-defense.

Though the teeth of that tiger Xie Hongchen had been pulled, he was still truly terrified.

His behavior naturally attracted Si Tianjian’s attention.

Xuanwu Si. Di Yiqiu sat behind his desk, unfolding a long purchasing list, his brow furrowing involuntarily.

Deputy Supervisor Li Lu’s expression was grave: “Looking at what Xie Yuanshu is purchasing, it seems like he wants to harm someone… Something major is probably about to happen at Yuhu Xuanzong.”

Di Yiqiu finished reading that page and lightly tapped the desktop with his fingertips, saying, “Excellent. It’s been a long time since there’s been any excitement to watch in the immortal sects.”

Li Lu nodded and said, “Should we also go take a look?”

“Ha.” Di Yiqiu laughed softly and said nothing more.

These past two days, Xie Yuanshu’s heart felt as uncomfortable as if scratched by a cat.

He couldn’t sit or stand still. After finally managing to sleep for a bit, he dreamed that Xie Hongchen had escaped his bonds and Xie Lingbi was going to beat him to death.

But fortunately, that afternoon, Di Yiqiu delivered what he wanted—a magical treasure that could absorb a person’s cultivation. Xie Yuanshu received the object and saw that this treasure was shaped like an umbrella, only black in color. It felt cold to the touch, forged from some unknown material.

Xie Yuanshu’s knowledge of magical treasure forging was quite superficial, so he couldn’t identify the material. Thus he was very uneasy: “Jianzheng, will this magical treasure truly work?”

Di Yiqiu said, as if casually, “Don’t worry, Eldest Young Master—it will have no problem dealing with Xie Hongchen.”

Xie Yuanshu immediately breathed a long sigh of relief.

Di Yiqiu’s face showed nothing, but inwardly he was secretly guessing—he really wants to deal with Xie Hongchen?! Even he found this conclusion hard to believe. Just this fool—does he have such courage?

He couldn’t help but remind him: “For the sake of our many years of acquaintance, this seat must still remind the Eldest Young Master of one thing. This magical treasure only absorbs cultivation. If the other party’s cultivation is above yours and they intentionally resist… hmph, it can’t preserve your life.”

He deliberately tested Xie Yuanshu’s reaction. Unexpectedly, Xie Yuanshu was completely unconcerned about this, saying, “As long as it can absorb cultivation, that’s good!”

After speaking, he tucked away this magical treasure and immediately had someone deliver four million spirit stones to Si Tianjian. Di Yiqiu looked at those gems overflowing with spiritual energy and sneered inwardly even more—over these years, Xie Yuanshu had controlled Yuhu Xuanzong’s trade routes and didn’t know how many spirit stones he’d swallowed.

Watching Xie Yuanshu depart urgently, he couldn’t help but fall into contemplation.

Could it be that Xie Hongchen has already been subdued by him?

How could that be possible? Xie Hongchen wasn’t such an incautious person. With Xie Yuanshu’s intelligence, how could subduing him be easy?

Also, if something happened to Xie Hongchen, then that other person…

Di Yiqiu’s heart stopped for a moment. He immediately ordered Li Lu: “Summon Baowu back and closely monitor Yuhu Xuanzong.”

Li Lu acknowledged. Di Yiqiu stared at him. Li Lu was baffled by his stare, but he was Li Lu! Si Tianjian’s famous Seven-Orificed Exquisite Heart! So he immediately understood tacitly, saying, “This subordinate will closely watch the movements of Xie Hongchen and his wife.” Sigh, having to both maintain his superior’s dignity and comprehend his superior’s intentions—so difficult.

But at least the effect was good. Di Yiqiu waved his hand with satisfaction: “Go.”

Diancu Peak, Yeyun Hall.

Xie Hongchen had been missing for a full day. For him, this actually wasn’t anything unusual. After all, sometimes when in seclusion, not appearing for a month was common. But Huang Rang staying continuously in Yeyun Hall—that was strange.

Xie Hongchen was absolutely not someone who indulged in feminine beauty. Huang Rang could use the birthday excuse to delay for a day and night, but she definitely couldn’t drag it past the second day. Xie Hongchen was also waiting—Huang Rang’s cultivation was weak. As long as someone discovered something was wrong, he could immediately be rescued.

Unable to see, with both hands locked by Kunbahuan, the deadly poison and severe injuries in his body tormented him constantly.

All of this he could endure. It was just that several times he heard footsteps and hope would rise, only to hear Huang Rang calmly send the visitors away. Thus hope returned to disappointment—this kind of fluctuation was truly too tormenting for a person.

Watching the second day dawn, Huang Rang searched all around his room. Then she found Yuhu Xuanzong’s instrument of extreme punishment—the Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needles. This thing, Huang Rang was all too familiar with.

With it, Huang Rang found Nie Qinglan, one of Yeyun Hall’s guard disciples. He was Xie Hongchen’s first disciple and closest to Xie Hongchen. Huang Rang said, “The sect master summoned Jiu’er to come up, saying he wants to test her lessons. Go find her to come over.”

When she spoke, her voice was gentle, and she even smiled as she gave Nie Qinglan a jade pendant tied with a white jade qilin.

Yuhu Xuanzong valued jade. Nie Qinglan received this jade pendant and, knowing it was a reward from his master’s wife, was immediately overjoyed beyond measure. How could he possibly think about the sect master?!

He rushed off excitedly to find Xie Jiu’er.

When Xie Shaochong and the others didn’t see Xie Hongchen, they naturally felt somewhat strange. But seeing him summon Xie Jiu’er, they also felt it was normal. Xie Jiu’er was his adopted daughter, and Xie Hongchen was generous—he treated her no differently from his own daughter.

If Huang Rang were alone in Yeyun Hall, it might arouse suspicion. But their daughter was also there—a family of three behind closed doors, enjoying themselves harmoniously, savoring some family happiness. What was there to say?

When Xie Jiu’er heard that Xie Hongchen had summoned her, she hurried up to Yeyun Hall.

“Foster Father?” she called out. At that moment, Huang Rang’s voice came from the inner hall: “Jiu’er? Come in.”

Hearing her voice, Xie Jiu’er was originally somewhat hesitant. But in front of Xie Hongchen, she had to be completely respectful toward Huang Rang—Xie Hongchen didn’t like children who were disrespectful to their elders.

So she immediately said, “Yes.” After speaking, she lifted her foot to walk inside.

No, don’t come in!

Though Xie Hongchen couldn’t see, he also knew that with Huang Rang’s methods, subduing Xie Jiu’er would be too easy. He struggled desperately to make some sound, so he rolled over and fell from the bed to the ground with a bang.

Hearing this sound, Xie Jiu’er became even more anxious. She lifted the curtain and entered, immediately seeing Xie Hongchen fallen on the ground.

“Foster Father!” She hurried forward to help Xie Hongchen up, but just as she extended her hand, Huang Rang had already struck her back with a palm.

In terms of combat, Xie Jiu’er actually didn’t fear Huang Rang.

But this sneak attack palm came so suddenly that she was completely unprepared—her vision immediately darkened. Just as she was about to resist, she turned around and saw what Huang Rang was pressing against her forehead—Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needles.

Xie Jiu’er didn’t dare move. As an inner sect disciple of Yuhu Xuanzong, she knew better than anyone what this was.

Huang Rang looked at these Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needles, then looked at Xie Jiu’er before her, murmuring, “Jiu’er, Mother still isn’t ruthless enough at heart.” After speaking, she smiled again and said, “Just sit here.”

Xie Jiu’er forced herself to remain calm: “What exactly have you done to Foster Father? Don’t you know that if I just shout once, people will immediately rush in, and you’ll be torn to pieces by them!”

Huang Rang touched her face with the Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needle. Xie Jiu’er was so frightened her face went white. She hastily moved away. Huang Rang’s voice remained gentle and loving: “You won’t shout. Because even if your shout could bring others, this Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needle will definitely pierce into your skull. At that time, I’ll certainly die, but who could save you?”

Xie Jiu’er couldn’t speak for a long time.

She could only say tearfully, “Foster Father, save me.”

Xie Hongchen said gravely, “Don’t frighten the child.”

Huang Rang’s words still carried laughter: “I don’t want to hurt her, you know that. After all, she’s our daughter.”

“Enough.” Xie Hongchen knew he could no longer move her with words and said with disgust, “Those words are truly nauseating.”

Huang Rang had admitted her relationship with Xie Yuanshu—he was finally enraged.

“You’re angry.” Huang Rang smiled like a gentle breeze. “Our family of three rarely gathers together—why must you lose your temper?”

Xie Hongchen no longer paid her any attention.

Disciples swept and cleaned outside the hall, but because the sect master’s family of three were all inside, they wouldn’t enter.

At this moment, Xie Hongchen almost urgently hoped the disciples outside could come in and take a look. But they didn’t. Huang Rang pressed the Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needle against the back of Xie Jiu’er’s head and said gently, “Good child, repeat after Mother… Foster Father’s teachings, Jiu’er understands.” Her voice was very small, yet she placed the needle point against Xie Jiu’er’s scalp, saying, “A bit louder, now.”

Xie Jiu’er had no choice but to say loudly, “Foster Father’s teachings, Jiu’er understands.”

Hearing the sounds from inside, how could the disciples outside have the slightest suspicion?

For two days and two nights in Yeyun Hall, not a single person entered to check.

Despair filled Xie Hongchen’s heart.