Changling frowned upon hearing this. Thinking that there might be quite a few old acquaintances among this group, even though Changling’s appearance had changed, she still had no desire to be stared at by them. “No.”

Ye Qi had spent several days with her and knew her decisive personality. He simply turned his head back and said, “I found someone to impersonate her. If she were truly Mingyue Fei, how could I bring her in to see you all?”

The sect leaders felt this made sense and didn’t press the matter further. Someone spoke first, “Young Master, did you come alone?”

Ye Qi hummed in acknowledgment. Another person said, “How can you save us by yourself?”

“That’s right, Young Master. This place is dangerous. While you haven’t been discovered yet, you should retreat first.”

The cave immediately became noisy again. Changling had originally been standing to the side trying to identify old enemies, but hearing them all talking over each other trying to persuade him to leave, clearly quite concerned about this person surnamed Ye, she couldn’t help but feel somewhat surprised.

Ye Qi walked over to Elder Xiao and crouched down. Seeing that his eyes couldn’t focus, he quickly extended his hand to grasp his, saying with compassion, “Elder, I have implicated you.”

Elder Xiao shook his head. He made a few sounds trying to speak. Ye Qi asked, “Are you saying you already know the antidote?”

Elder Xiao nodded eagerly. He spread open Ye Qi’s palm and wrote characters on it stroke by stroke. Ye Qi committed them to memory with concentration. The person beside him choked up upon seeing this, “The Elder deliberately let himself be captured to lure that little demoness into attacking him in order to identify the poison. Who would have thought that demoness would be so vicious… Alas, it’s because I’m useless, I couldn’t protect the Elder properly…”

“Leader Chi, you needn’t blame yourself. We were all too careless. If only I had killed that little girl with one punch that day, we wouldn’t have all this trouble.”

Leader Chi… So this big man was Chi Zishan of the Feiying Sect. It seemed that the one constantly talking about punching was most likely Lu Tianlan of the Divine Fist Gang. Changling was quite astonished listening from the side. Who would have thought that two tender young lads from back then had grown so burly? How much must they have eaten over these ten years?

While Changling’s mind wandered, Ye Qi had already stood up again and said to the sect leaders, “I didn’t expect the seniors to all be locked by Dayan’s Iron Skull restraints. I’m afraid it will be difficult for me to take you all away in a short time. However, please rest assured, after I leave I will think of another way to rescue you.”

Chi Zishan said, “Young Master, we are already deeply grateful that you would personally venture into danger. No need to say more, leave quickly.”

“Yes, don’t linger, go quickly.”

Aside from one elder who couldn’t speak and two others who hadn’t said much from beginning to end, the rest were shooing Ye Qi away like flies, as if afraid he would stay and not leave. Ye Qi was about to turn around when he suddenly thought of something, “I have one more question…”

“Young Master, speak quickly, speak…”

Lu Tianlan’s throat moved as he barely managed to swallow back the four words “if you have to fart, fart quickly.”

Ye Qi said, “I heard that the sect leaders specifically traveled to the northern border because they saw half a folding fan. I wonder if this is true?”

Hearing Ye Qi mention the folding fan, Changling’s expression brightened. An old man among them nodded, “That’s correct.”

“Was the fan a green bamboo handle, with a gilded surface painted with pine cranes?”

Everyone was shocked. The old man said, “Young Master, how do you know this?”

Ye Qi didn’t answer that question, only saying, “In that case, I won’t beat around the bush with you all. During the time you’ve been here in Yan territory, have you heard any trace of Fu Liujing?”

The sect leaders exchanged glances. Chi Zishan blurted out, “Young Master, that Fu Liujing he…”

“Leader Chi.” The old man immediately cut off Chi Zishan’s words, only saying to Ye Qi, “This matter is not suitable to discuss in detail here. Young Master should leave first.”

Changling rarely heard news of Fu Liujing, so how could she let them stop talking? She was about to step forward when she suddenly heard Ye Qi say seriously, “This matter is of great importance to me and brooks no delay. If the sect leaders have any information, please tell me truthfully.”

Changling froze for a moment.

The old man hesitated, “The Yan people act mysteriously. As Young Master knows, we were all deceived into coming here, so how could we possibly inquire into the truth?”

His tone was extremely light, and though sitting, he invisibly projected an air of looking down on others from on high. When this group heard the old man speak thus, they all kept their mouths shut, looking somewhat afraid of him. Seeing they clearly didn’t want to waste their breath anymore, Ye Qi didn’t force them. He clasped his fists, turned around to signal Changling they could leave. When they reached the cave entrance, Changling hadn’t moved half a step, still calmly surveying everyone in the cave.

Ye Qi was somewhat puzzled, “What…”

Before the word “is it” could emerge, there was a “swish” sound. Changling directly drew the Gouhun Blade from Ye Qi’s waist. The next moment she pointed it at everyone in the cave, saying, “Our infiltration today was purely by chance. The Yan people will only redouble their vigilance from now on and will never give a second opportunity. So even if this…” Changling glanced at Ye Qi, “Young Master leaves, he most likely cannot save you either.”

Ye Qi’s expression suddenly changed upon hearing this, “Hey hey, don’t talk nonsense.”

Before anyone could react, Changling quickly pulled a white porcelain bottle from her chest, “This is the antidote to the Bone-Softening Powder. If I can remove the Iron Skulls from your heads, with your own martial skills, could you possibly fear being unable to escape?”

Everyone was shocked. Too concerned about whether she truly had a way to remove the iron masks on their heads to care where she got the antidote, Chi Zishan blurted out, “You really have a way to unlock the Iron Skulls on our heads?”

Lu Tianlan quickly said, “Leader Chi, don’t listen to her nonsense. Once these Iron Skulls are worn they can never be opened again. How could a mere girl have such ability…”

Before he finished speaking, the blade flashed down abruptly. The right ear of Chi Zishan’s Iron Skull dropped to the ground without warning—Lu Tianlan, who had been staring at Changling, didn’t even see clearly how she drew her blade.

Chi Zishan howled, and before “I’ll kill you” could leave his mouth, Changling pointed the blade at Lu Tianlan, “Lu Tianlan, look carefully at Chi Zishan’s right ear.”

Lu Tianlan subconsciously turned to look—reasonably speaking, they were all sect leaders, how could they tolerate being addressed by name so directly by a girl of unknown origin? But Changling’s tone in commanding them was too natural, so natural that even they themselves didn’t immediately realize anything was amiss. Lu Tianlan immediately saw the keyhole inside the split iron mask’s right ear and exclaimed in shock, “This, this is a keyhole?”

Everyone froze. Chi Zishan was also dumbfounded. Changling walked forward, felt for an exquisite hairpin from her hair, pressed one hand on Chi Zishan’s shoulder, “Don’t move.”

At this point, Ye Qi, who had been in a state of disbelief, saw Changling suddenly move forward and instinctively wanted to stop her. But seeing that neither Lu Tianlan nor Chi Zishan showed signs of erupting, he retreated to the side. He was truly curious what other shocking feats this girl could perform.

With a click, the Iron Skull’s lock opened. Changling skillfully removed the iron mask and casually tossed it aside, saying flatly to Lu Tianlan, “Do you believe now?”

Seeing is believing. How could he not believe?

Lu Tianlan immediately changed his attitude dramatically, pointing at his own Iron Skull, “Quick, one strike, remove this cursed thing for me…”

“I can remove them,” Changling tilted her head, “but answer one question to unlock one. Those who want to leave should speak now, or later there will be nothing at all.”

Ye Qi had infiltrated using the gold ring only as a last resort. His understanding of Changling was limited to “highly skilled and beautiful” and “always interrupts people at critical moments.” From the moment he entered this vaulted tower with her, his heart hadn’t been at ease, especially since everyone in the cave was formidable. If conflict truly broke out, everything would be for naught.

Who would have thought this girl not only split open the legendary indestructible Iron Skull with one strike, but also had the audacity to threaten these pillars of the Central Plains martial world? Truly remarkable and astonishing.

Ye Qi thought to himself, “This is my first time partnering with a stranger and I’ve stumbled upon a treasure. Perhaps my fate isn’t meant to end?”

Changling didn’t have such convoluted thoughts. Her reasons for acting were twofold: first, she was eager to learn about Fu Liujing; second, she truly didn’t believe these eight great sects could be so united that they would refuse even an opportunity for escape handed to them.

These people naturally weren’t so loyal and righteous. They stood together through thick and thin only because they were in the same boat. Now that Changling had opened a hole in the bottom of that boat, someone immediately couldn’t hold back. A person sitting in the corner quickly said, “We heard that Young Master Fu was captured by the Yan people. We originally wanted to come rescue him, but fell into the trap of the Yan people’s little demoness…”

“Bai Santong!” The old man coldly shouted. His words weakened somewhat. Changling waved her hand and the right ear of Bai Santong’s Iron Skull fell to the ground. This strike was precise and perfect, truly superb. Many saw clearly and couldn’t believe such effortless blade speed came from the hand of a slender, graceful woman. Another person quickly spoke up, “I also only accidentally heard the monks here mention after arriving at Dazhao Temple that Young Master Fu is also imprisoned here…”

The old man said to Ye Qi with displeasure, “Young Master, I didn’t want you involved in these matters for your own good. How long are you going to continue this nonsense?”

Seeing the old man angry, Ye Qi tried hard to suppress his smile and waved his hand seriously, “Leader Yang, to be honest, this young lady is not my subordinate. Coming here together today was purely coincidental. I really can’t control her… How about I try?”

After speaking, Ye Qi stepped forward to pull Changling back, “Well then, how about… forget it?”

Changling had no mood to play along with his act. She pointed the blade at Lu Tianlan, “You tell me, where is he imprisoned?”

Lu Tianlan hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth, “They say he’s in the Great Vehicle Tower… We’re not entirely certain…”

Upon hearing this, Changling’s hand holding the blade stiffened, then slowly lowered. Seeing her suddenly stop, Lu Tianlan looked at her questioningly, “Hey you, why did you stop?”

The white porcelain bottle was unexpectedly tossed into Lu Tianlan’s arms. Without another word, Changling turned and walked away.

Ye Qi was stunned. By the time he came to his senses, the Gouhun Blade had already been returned to its sheath. He looked at her retreating figure that never looked back. Faintly, though he didn’t know if it was his imagination, he felt her entire being emanated a heavy aura of murderous intent.

The night sky was woven with stars.

After leaving the vaulted tower, Ye Qi secretly stole glances at Changling the entire way. Throughout the journey, Changling’s gaze drifted unfocused, as if she had lost her soul or become possessed by demons.

After they were sent to the meditation room and Yun Hui and Yun Zhen left, Ye Qi couldn’t wait to rush into Changling’s room and ask, “How did you know the Iron Skull’s keyhole was installed in the right ear?”

Changling ignored Ye Qi, directly walking past him out of the meditation room. Ye Qi followed closely behind, asking with great interest, “Was what was in that porcelain bottle truly the antidote to the Bone-Softening Powder?”

Changling passed through the corridor into the courtyard. The courtyard was empty and spacious without a single person visible, only a tall tree rising toward the heavens like a pillar. The wind blew through the surrounding vegetation with rustling sounds, yet only that tree stood immovable.

The more she didn’t answer, the more suspicious Ye Qi became. But seeing her standing with hands behind her back, head raised looking at the tree, when viewed in the moonlight, there was an indescribable desolation about her. Though clearly still a young woman in her prime, she seemed like someone who had been alone for a long time, weathered by hardship.

He put away his unreliable playful expression and asked, “That day you said you wanted to investigate someone. That person is Fu Liujing, isn’t it?”