When Xie Yuanshu returned to Yuhu Xuanzong, his heart had risen to his throat.

He looked left and right, seeing everyone as if they’d already seen through his conspiracy. But fortunately, he’d always been temperamental, so the sect disciples didn’t dare provoke him. Thus he made his way all the way into the inner sect and arrived at Diancu Peak.

The guard disciples still had to question him as usual. Nie Qinglan stepped forward and asked, “Why does Grand Martial Uncle have time to come over today?”

Xie Yuanshu’s heart was in chaos. He immediately roared, “The sect master ordered me to go out and handle affairs two days ago. I’m coming now to report back—must you manage even this?!”

Nie Qinglan thought about it—that was true. He said, “Please wait a moment, Grand Martial Uncle. Let me go in to announce you.”

Xie Yuanshu wanted to stop him, but there was nothing he could do about this. Just as Nie Qinglan arrived at Yeyun Hall, he happened to meet Huang Rang and Xie Jiu’er coming out. Xie Jiu’er’s face was covered in tear stains. Looking at Nie Qinglan, she seemed to want to say something.

Huang Rang had her arm around her foster daughter. Seeing Xie Qinglan, she couldn’t help but smile: “This child—her lessons have regressed these past two days. Your master scolded her a few times, and she cried like this.”

Hearing this, Nie Qinglan could only smile bitterly, thinking to himself: if you’ve angered Master, I don’t dare save you. He said smoothly, “Little Junior Sister has already been very diligent. It’s Master who has strict requirements. By the way, Grand Martial Uncle is outside seeking an audience.”

Huang Rang said, “Why did he come? Well, let him in then.”

With these words, how could Nie Qinglan hesitate? He immediately went to the hall entrance. Seeing him about to leave, Xie Jiu’er couldn’t help but call out miserably, “Senior Martial Brother!”

But when Nie Qinglan turned back, she didn’t dare speak again.

—Huang Rang’s hand gripped the Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needle, pressing it against the back of her neck. She knew what would happen if Huang Rang applied just a bit more force. Her rescuer was right before her eyes. With Nie Qinglan’s martial skills, he could definitely handle both Xie Yuanshu and Huang Rang.

But what Huang Rang said was right—even if they were rescued, who could save her once she’d been struck with the Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needle?

She lowered her head. Huang Rang still wore a loving expression, her tone even somewhat indulgent: “You angered him—what can Senior Martial Brother do? In a moment when Grand Martial Uncle arrives, you go in and act sweet, and that’ll be the end of it.”

Hearing this, Nie Qinglan said, “Master’s Wife speaks truly. Master has always doted on Little Junior Sister and won’t make things difficult for her in front of Grand Martial Uncle.”

After speaking, he went straight out of Yeyun Hall to invite Xie Yuanshu.

Xie Jiu’er watched his retreating figure, seeing him disappear among the verdant pines and emerald cypresses, as if hope had been extinguished.

“That’s right, this is how you should be obedient.” Huang Rang brought her back to the inner hall. Blood was seeping from Xie Hongchen’s eyes again, dyeing the plain silk completely red. Seeing this, Huang Rang said, “I told you not to move around—otherwise the bleeding never stops.”

Xie Hongchen rebuked angrily, “Things have come to this point—why must you still put on an act?”

He didn’t understand why Huang Rang was still showing him such earnest care at this moment, just as he didn’t understand why Huang Rang’s temperament had suddenly changed so drastically.

Huang Rang still held Xie Jiu’er and couldn’t free her hands. She only said, “Ah, I’m used to it.”

A hundred years was too long—she’d grown used to many things.

A moment later, Xie Yuanshu strode in.

Seeing him, Xie Jiu’er seemed to suddenly understand something: “So it really is you! You actually had an illicit affair with Grand Martial Uncle!”

The moment her words fell, Xie Yuanshu had already kicked out. Xie Jiu’er cried out and was immediately sent sprawling to the ground.

“Blind thing—how dare you speak to Arang like that!” Xie Yuanshu walked to Huang Rang’s side. Seeing that she’d truly held Yeyun Hall, he was incomparably delighted. He grasped Huang Rang’s hand, blew on it, and said, “These past two days have truly been hard on you. Look at my Arang—you’ve gotten so thin from the ordeal. You must have been so worried, right?”

This intimate tone made the veins on Xie Hongchen’s forehead throb violently.

Huang Rang withdrew her hand. She had no magical treasures on her person, to the point that even controlling one Xie Jiu’er was quite exhausting. She said, “First subdue her, lest word gets out.”

Xie Yuanshu disagreed: “This ungrateful little brat—just kill her. Why bother subduing her?”

Hearing this, Xie Jiu’er panicked: “How am I ungrateful? The ungrateful ones are clearly you pair of dogs! Foster Father, Foster Father, save me!”

She was about to crawl toward Xie Hongchen when Xie Yuanshu walked over and kicked her again, sending her rolling all over the ground: “Little bastard, you were originally just a small flying insect. If it weren’t for my Arang’s kind heart, how would you have your current status?! Back then when you secretly studied inner sect mental cultivation methods and made mistakes in your practice, it was Arang who brought you to seek my help—otherwise would you even be alive?!”

Jiu’er secretly studied mental cultivation methods and made mistakes in her practice? When did this happen?

Xie Hongchen’s heart was confused. In his memory, Huang Rang had never mentioned this to him.

To vent for Huang Rang, Xie Yuanshu stepped on Xie Jiu’er’s hand: “Now you breathe through the same nostril as that fake father of yours.”

“Enough.” Huang Rang said softly, “Shulang, don’t let a child delay the important matter. Just subdue her.” Actually, back then, though Xie Hongchen had recognized Xie Jiu’er as his foster daughter, he knew she was merely a tool for Huang Rang to consolidate her position. He didn’t care much about Xie Jiu’er and initially even wanted her to stay at Qilu Terrace to keep Huang Rang company.

Huang Rang thought of many methods to stabilize Xie Jiu’er’s cultivation foundation. In her youth, she’d been skilled at cultivating superior varieties and had amassed a substantial fortune. So she used her own dowry—various spiritual elixirs and immortal herbs—to forcibly cultivate Xie Jiu’er into a promising talent.

Xie Hongchen saw that Xie Jiu’er’s foundation was solid and naturally cherished her. He just still didn’t like her being too close to Huang Rang. Xie Jiu’er was also adept at reading situations and immediately turned toward her foster father, wishing she could sever all ties with Huang Rang.

Seeing her thoughts, Huang Rang gradually let her heart grow cold. She had mud on herself, so naturally couldn’t demand others be clean. Thus without much resentment, she simply let it go.

Now it was Xie Yuanshu who brought it up, and only then did Xie Hongchen vaguely remember that initially, Huang Rang and Xie Jiu’er had indeed shared a period of mother-daughter affection.

But this thought lasted only an instant. He immediately said coldly, “If this child hadn’t grown up by your side from a young age, her temperament would be much purer.”

Huang Rang was indifferent to Xie Jiu’er’s betrayal, but hearing these words, she fell silent for a long time. Finally she only said, “Is that so? These words truly sound heartbreaking.”

Of course, her so-called heartbreak—Xie Hongchen had never believed it and wouldn’t care about it.

Huang Rang didn’t ask him to believe it either. She said to Xie Yuanshu, “Did Shulang bring the magical treasure back?”

Xie Yuanshu hummed and said, “How could I disappoint Arang?”

As he spoke, he pulled out an umbrella-like magical treasure and threw it forward. The black umbrella unfurled, covering Xie Hongchen. Xie Yuanshu found Xie Jiu’er troublesome, so he simply threw her in as well.

Huang Rang wasn’t reassured about this magical treasure—there probably weren’t many magical treasures in the immortal sects that could deal with Xie Hongchen.

She reminded him, “Shulang must still prepare well. Otherwise, if the magical treasure fails and he breaks free, it will be difficult to deal with.”

Without her needing to remind him, Xie Yuanshu had already set out quite a few magical treasures, each one a rare item—over these years, he hadn’t controlled Yuhu Xuanzong’s trade routes for nothing. Huang Rang’s gaze swept over them and recognized several, feeling reassured.

This Xie Yuanshu, to deal with Xie Hongchen, had basically bet his entire fortune.

She lifted her gaze slightly, watching the black umbrella. After the black umbrella opened, it slowly rotated. Then, like stubborn iron meeting smelting fire, it gradually glowed red. Sweat began to appear on Xie Jiu’er’s head, and Xie Hongchen also groaned, but the Kunbahuan on his hands locked away all his cultivation—he was powerless to resist.

The black umbrella turned completely red, and golden light poured like water, enveloping Xie Hongchen and Xie Jiu’er. In those transforming, dancing incantations, Huang Rang saw the craftsman’s signature—Di Yiqiu.

His seal was written in flowing, dancing strokes, not easy to recognize. Yet Huang Rang spotted it at a glance.

So it’s him. This name always made her feel a sense of familiarity.

Xie Yuanshu was already prepared and began absorbing Xie Hongchen’s power through the formation. Xie Hongchen sat cross-legged on the bed but was truly powerless to resist. A moment later, a wisp of clear light like spring water or moonlight surged toward Xie Yuanshu.

Huang Rang stood beside him, quietly waiting—you’d better become stronger, otherwise how will you help me deal with Xie Lingbi?

Xie Jiu’er didn’t last long before losing her human form and reverting to a golden cicada. Having lost her cultivation, she crawled about everywhere and soon left the black umbrella’s range. Huang Rang extended her hand. After hesitating, the cicada still crawled into her palm.

“Foolish child, in the end, you still only have me.” Huang Rang sighed softly. Then she murmured, “Actually, there’s always been something I wanted to ask you. Unfortunately, now you probably don’t remember anymore.”

She wanted to know who had informed Xie Lingbi back then. She’d only mentioned to Xie Hongchen once, asking him to go take a look at Anlei Peak. In barely half a month, Xie Lingbi had gotten the news.

To the point that Xie Lingbi acted without mercy, actually subjecting her to such cruel torture as the Soul-Coiling Bone-Setting Needle.

Unfortunately, she probably couldn’t find out now. These people in the dream seemed to have no memory from outside the dream. Time seemed to have truly regressed ten years. If not for the tea needle in her hand, Huang Rang would almost believe she’d truly returned to the past.

Xie Hongchen’s power was indeed deep—Xie Yuanshu absorbed for a long time and had to stop to rest. Huang Rang used a silk handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead. He grasped Huang Rang’s wrist, and seeing her allure, couldn’t help but develop some lustful thoughts.

He lifted Huang Rang’s chin, completely disregarding Xie Hongchen, flirting frivolously: “Xie Hongchen was husband and wife with you for a hundred years but didn’t know just how beautiful you truly are!”

In the formation, Xie Hongchen began coughing violently. Blind and having remained silent all along, no anger could even be seen on his face.

This Xie Yuanshu really is hopeless mud that can’t stick to walls. Huang Rang felt contempt in her heart but smiled on her face as she reminded him, “Shulang must still prioritize the important matter, otherwise I fear there will be trouble if the night grows long.”

“Arang speaks truly.” Xie Yuanshu still feared Xie Hongchen after all and didn’t dare be careless. After resting briefly, he immediately activated the magical treasure again.

Huang Rang sat to the side, holding Xie Jiu’er in her hand, but her gaze watched the craftsman’s seal on the magical treasure.

Di Yiqiu… she wondered what he was doing now.

Why had she fallen into this dream for no reason? How were the people outside the dream faring?

Ah, she remembered that before entering the dream, Di Yiqiu’s body had been cold as if about to freeze over. Now she was settling scores in the dream—she wondered what the content of his dream was. Last time when she offered wine, he’d refused. Perhaps in this lifetime, she would no longer have the chance to invite him for a drink.

In any case, may tonight’s dream be warm, even though you’re also quite detestable, you wretched thing.

Huang Rang thought silently.