Changling quietly observed this faceless person before her.

“Oh my.” When Nanxu emerged, her eyes curved in what should have been a smile. “Where did you find such a remarkable beauty?”

Her voice was delicate and charming, her presence imposing. Qingda, who followed behind Nanxu, quickly answered: “It was Junior Sister who found her.”

Nanxu shifted her gaze to glance at the junior sister beside her. “Pinning, ah, you’ve truly achieved merit this time.”

Pinning’s expression brightened with joy. “Pinning dares not claim credit. At the time, this young lady and a young master were unconscious on the mountain. That young master was also exceptionally handsome and refined. Unfortunately, their companions arrived later, so we couldn’t bring him along as well…”

Upon hearing this, Changling immediately understood: It seemed that boy Ye Qi hadn’t been captured with her. However, even if he had come, at most he would only be taken advantage of and bedded by these Five Poisons Sect women. Unlucky fates like being skinned alive probably wouldn’t fall upon him.

“It’s just as well he wasn’t brought…” Nanxu walked closer a few steps unconcernedly, almost greedily caressing Changling’s cheek. “If we let that young master see such a vivacious countenance being peeled off, wouldn’t it break his heart?”

Nanxu wore silk gloves on her hands, their touch icy cold. Changling felt somewhat uncomfortable and coldly glanced at Nanxu. This single look revealed a few traces of murderous intent. Nanxu’s hand paused. Seeing this, Qingda said: “Rest assured, Sect Master. Your subordinate has already given her Soul-Numbing Powder.”

Soul-Numbing Powder… This medicine’s name sounded even more demented than Bone-Softening Powder.

Only then did Nanxu extend her hand again. Changling caught sight of the gilt ring on Nanxu’s fingers—it was precisely the one Mingyue Zhou had given her. She instinctively looked toward Nanxu’s waist, and sure enough, that jade ring had also been confiscated.

Following the direction of Changling’s shifting gaze, Nanxu looked down at the jade adorning her waist belt. “It seems you’re not very frightened. You actually still have the presence of mind to care about these material possessions.”

Changling met her eyes. “The Five Poisons Sect is truly poor indeed. Even the grand Sect Master has to pick up others’ gold and silver jewelry to use.”

Upon hearing this, Nanxu reexamined Changling. “I should have realized—a person wearing bronze armor and a gilt ring wouldn’t be any simple goods. So it turns out this elder sister is not only beautiful, but her courage is equally impressive… Very well, I was just about to ask you: this gilt ring originally belonged to Sister Fei. How did it end up in your hands?”

The “Sister Fei” she spoke of naturally referred to Mingyue Fei. However, Mingyue Fei had already left the Five Poisons Sect for over two years. Changling didn’t know whether their relationship was good or bad, or whether invoking her name would be useful.

Unable to judge, Changling told the truth: “The ring isn’t Mingyue Fei’s. Mingyue Zhou gave it to me.”

The smile vanished from the corners of Nanxu’s eyes, revealing a trace of disbelief: “You said… this was given to you by Brother Zhou?”

First sister, now brother—Changling estimated their relationship must be good, so she went with the flow: “If you don’t believe me, you might as well send someone to ask him.”

Perhaps Mingyue Zhou would be loyal enough that upon learning she’d been captured by the Five Poisons Sect, he might even send someone to rescue her.

Nanxu stared intently at Changling, as if trying to determine the truth from her expression. However, after a long moment, she seemed to suddenly think of something and turned to look at Pinning: “You said earlier that when you discovered this elder sister, there was a young man lying beside her?”

Pinning nodded. “That young master appeared to be just over twenty. His attire didn’t look like he was from Dayan. Ah, yes—the people who came to rescue him later were from the Central Plains.”

“That’s right,” Qingda added. “I heard Eastern Xia led troops to attack Shazhou. Those people must have been from Eastern Xia as well.”

“Just over twenty…” Nanxu walked a few steps thoughtfully, her brow relaxing as she looked at Changling. “So you betrayed Brother Zhou to elope with someone else… That’s wonderful. If Brother Zhou asks about it later, he might even be grateful to me.”

“…”

What nonsense was all this?

Nanxu smiled. “Do you have anything else to say?”

Changling thought for a moment, then slowly raised her head. “Falling into the Five Poisons Sect today is my misfortune. But your choosing me is also your bad luck. Whatever you have to say, we can discuss it in the underworld later.”

Those who walked the martial world often deliberately uttered harsh words when facing death—either to inspire fear, or at the very least to intimidate their killers so they wouldn’t die too miserably.

Though Nanxu was young, her hands were stained with countless blood. She was accustomed to such meaningless threats.

Yet somehow, Changling’s plain and unremarkable words made her heart tremble inexplicably.

But it was only fleeting.

Nanxu retreated two steps, her eyes faintly revealing a fierce light as she looked at Changling: “Elder sister, I’m truly coming to admire you more and more… It’s a pity there isn’t enough time, otherwise I would really like to chat with you a while longer… Since you don’t want to talk, then let’s not. Nanny, come out.”

Before Changling could understand what “not enough time” meant, she saw an elderly woman step forward carrying a tray. On the tray were several knives, scissors, pincers, and needles of various shapes, two sets of cups, and a medium-sized copper basin. The basin contained an unclear milky-white liquid.

When Qingda and Pinning poured the powder from the cups into it, bubbling sounds emerged from within the basin.

Changling frowned. She could guess what such unspeakable things were used for, but having been poisoned, with her arms and head firmly restrained, she couldn’t struggle even a little.

Seeing Changling’s expression finally change slightly, Nanxu seemed somewhat excited and unable to contain herself. She reached out to remove her face veil, revealing a horrifying face without a single intact patch of skin. Changling shuddered, especially thinking of the woman who had been boiled alive in that large pot—even though she had long placed life and death beyond consideration, being skinned alive to make a hide was far too cruel a death, wasn’t it?

Qingda lifted out a cloth that had been stirred twice in the copper basin and handed it to Nanxu. Nanxu held the dripping wet cloth and slowly approached Changling. “Don’t be afraid. I work very quickly. I won’t hurt you…”

With a smile, Nanxu’s hands stretched forward, accurately and precisely pressing that cloth against Changling’s face.

The cloth carried a strong herbal scent.

Changling felt as if her face was being gripped by something. A wave of nausea rose in her heart, but it lasted only an instant—the cloth was suddenly removed. Unexpectedly, there was no pain of her face being torn off.

She hesitantly opened her eyes and saw that the cloth had somehow congealed into the shape of a human face. Nanxu gracefully walked to a bronze mirror and placed the human-shaped mask on her own face.

Changling hadn’t even processed what Nanxu was doing.

The next instant, she heard giggles echoing and reverberating through the room.

Nanxu laughed breathlessly and slowly turned around.

Changling saw a face identical to her own looking back at her with wild joy.

That smile carried a seductive quality that, placed on Changling’s features, revealed an inexplicably eerie strangeness. Qingda, Pinning, and the others exclaimed in amazement: “Sect Master, this face is simply custom-made for you.”

“Truly, Sect Master, you look so beautiful, so beautiful.”

Changling: “…”

After all that, it was just a disguise?

“Of course it’s not just a disguise.” Nanxu gently stroked her face before the bronze mirror. “If I don’t try it first, how can I know whether your skin can be placed on my body… I’ve tried so many people, and you’re the first who can satisfy me.”

“Before?” Changling said coldly. “Why did you tear off those young women’s faces?”

“I spent so much effort capturing them, yet they made me rejoice for nothing,” Nanxu sighed softly. “I was unhappy, so I tore them off. Is there a problem?”

Her tone was innocent and naive, even carrying a trace of grievance, as if saying “I didn’t like this painting so I tore it up—is there a problem?”

Changling was momentarily speechless.

There really was nothing to say to a madwoman.

“Elder sister, they say beauty is ill-fated, showing you weren’t meant to live long anyway. Now that I’m preserving this lovely appearance for you, you should feel happy…”

As she spoke, the old woman who had been silent all along pulled open the curtain, revealing a nanmu wood bed with iron chains inside.

Nanxu picked up the sharp knife from the tray, smiling cheerfully: “So, shall we begin?”

At this moment, a female disciple rushed into the room in alarm: “Sect Master, someone has forced his way into the sect, saying he wants to see the Sect Master.”

Nanxu was startled: “What person has such audacity!”

“That person claims to be from Eastern Xia…”

“Eastern Xia?” Nanxu suspiciously glanced at Changling, then angrily said: “You bunch of good-for-nothings, can’t even stop a single person?”

“That person’s martial arts are extremely good. None of the sisters could stop him for the moment. Moreover…” The female disciple stammered: “Moreover, he says he’s an old acquaintance of the Sect Master. He told us to come report, saying that once the Sect Master hears his name, she’ll naturally come out to see him.”

Nanxu’s brow furrowed. “What’s his name?”

“He said… his name is Fu Yangui.”

A man stood in the hall.

Wearing a light blue-green robe with his hair half-bound by a jade hairpin, presenting quite an elegant appearance.

As Nanxu stepped out of the inner hall, upon seeing that tall, slender figure, she trembled almost imperceptibly. “Brother Yangui?”

He turned around. Seeing Nanxu’s face covered with a thin veil, he uncertainly asked: “Nanxu?”

“It’s me.” Nanxu gazed at this man who was even more elegant than in her memories, trying her utmost to make her tone seem indifferent. “…What have you come for?”

Fu Yangui smiled warmly: “It’s been five years since we last met. Won’t you invite me for a cup of tea?”

Inside the room, Changling had been gagged with a cloth ball and tied to a pillar, listening intently to the activity outside.

Nanxu’s boudoir was beautiful indeed, but unfortunately, the partition leaked sound. Conversations from dozens of feet away could be heard clearly. At this moment, not only Changling but even the guarding Pinning had pricked up her ears in gossip.

Changling was just speculating about who this person who had single-handedly stormed into the Five Poisons Sect might be when she heard him say: “You’ve grown up quite a bit. Back then you were only this tall…”

“I’m no longer a child. You—you sit… Don’t you see there’s a guest? Why aren’t you serving tea?”

This latter sentence was naturally directed at the servants.

Nanxu watched as Fu Yangui gently brushed the tea lid, then asked out of nowhere: “Aren’t you afraid I’ve poisoned the tea?”

Fu Yangui set down the tea cup. “You won’t.”

Hearing him say this, though Nanxu still maintained a properly seated posture, her expression softened considerably. “The servants said you forced your way in. I thought you’d come to cause trouble for me…”

Fu Yangui paused upon hearing this, saying apologetically: “If not for the gatekeepers refusing to relay my message, I wouldn’t have needed to do so… I came to find you this time at the request of Old General Jing.”

Nanxu’s hand holding the teacup froze. “Who did you say?”

“Your father.” Fu Yangui said: “He heard news of your mother’s passing and was deeply grieved. He’s especially concerned about you, so…”

With a clang, the cup fell to the ground. Changling heard Nanxu’s voice explode in fury: “I don’t need his false sympathy! Five years ago, my mother and I struggled through countless hardships to find him in Jinling, but what did he do? He made us wait bitterly outside the estate for a full night without even opening the door once… I’d rather not have such a father!”

“Miss Nanxu, you’re not unaware of the circumstances at that time. His Majesty was strictly investigating the poisoning case at the Marquis of Luyu’s estate. Your mother was also implicated. Many eyes at court were watching Old General Jing. He had no choice. If he truly didn’t care about you, why would he request that I personally escort you back…”

The words stopped there, but Changling understood most of it—the Five Poisons Sect concealed hidden talents. The Vice Sect Master had gotten involved with the King of Yan and borne Mingyue Fei, and unexpectedly, the main Sect Master had also sown romantic ties in Eastern Xia. This General Jing most likely held an extremely high position, which was why despite years of conflict between Yan and Xia, the Five Poisons Sect could remain uninvolved.

Hearing Fu Yangui mention the escort, the murderous intent in Nanxu’s eyes dimmed. She looked at Fu Yangui: “Brother Yangui, five years ago when you escorted us back, you showed much care and concern throughout the journey. Nanxu is deeply grateful. But my father abandoned us mother and daughter first. My mother fell ill from depression for years and couldn’t even see him before she died… How can you ask me to forgive him…”

Speaking to this point, tears welled in her eyes but stubbornly refused to fall. Fu Yangui rose and walked before her, extending a handkerchief to bend down and wipe her tears. Nanxu looked up in surprise, inadvertently brushing off her face veil.

Fu Yangui froze.

The person before him was as lovely as a peach blossom in spring—truly indescribably beautiful.

But just… those eyes and brows lacked a bit of luster.

Nanxu hastily covered her face veil again. Seeing Fu Yangui staring at her, she assumed he had detected some flaw: “Why… why are you looking at me?”

“My apologies,” Fu Yangui smiled slightly. “You’ve always worn a face veil. This is the first time I’ve seen your appearance…”

“Then do you… find me beautiful?”

“Beautiful.”

Nanxu immediately beamed with smiles. She suddenly felt… that wish she had cherished for five full years might not be impossible to realize after all.

Fu Yangui imperceptibly retreated a step, saying courteously: “General Jing asked me to bring you back. I had an agreement with the General beforehand, so I’ve come to honor my promise. If Miss Nanxu is unwilling to leave, I shouldn’t force you…” He said this while presenting a bronze token before her. “But should you change your mind in the future, you can send someone with this token to find me in Jinling…”

Nanxu took it in a daze, seeing the character “Fu” (符) carved on the token’s surface. Fu Yangui raised his sleeve in salute. “I’ve imposed upon you, Miss. I shall take my leave first…”

“Brother Yangui.” Nanxu urgently raised her head, blurting out: “Have you married?”

Fu Yangui paused. “What?”

“Have you married?”

“Uh… not yet.”

Instantly, Nanxu’s eyes brightened. She anxiously stepped forward. “I… I heard my mother say before that… that the Jing family and the Fu family had a marriage agreement. I wonder, does it still count?”

Nanxu didn’t dare look at his eyes, only feeling her heart racing like a startled fawn, not knowing what to do with her hands. Seeing that Fu Yangui made no sound, she thought she had been presumptuous and wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground from embarrassment.

Just as she was about to say she was joking, he said: “If you don’t go back, how can it count?”

Nanxu turned her head in disbelief, unable to process this for a long while. “You… what did you say?”

For a young woman to ask such a thing in front of so many people, Fu Yangui wasn’t a fool—how could he not understand the deeper meaning? He folded his sleeves and looked at Nanxu: “I still have important matters and cannot linger here long. Prepare yourself. I’ll come to receive you tomorrow. Upon arriving in Jinling, if you’re unwilling to return to the Jing estate, you can stay at my home first. Presumably General Jing won’t object.”

Nanxu’s voice trembled: “Brother Yangui… is what you’re saying true?”

Truly, when lovers are willing, all grievances can be set aside.

Having listened to the entire exchange of sweet nothings, Changling completely abandoned the idea of seeking help from that man surnamed Fu outside—even if Nanxu said she wanted to bury someone, he would probably help dig the hole.

She just found it somewhat strange—the Five Poisons Sect’s evil deeds were known throughout the world. Did this Fu Yangui truly dare to marry the Five Poisons Sect Master?

Before she could think further, she heard Fu Yangui’s voice from outside: “By the way, on my way here I heard that someone from your sect abducted a young lady. Is this true?”