The acting wasn’t heartfelt.

The framing wasn’t heartfelt either.

It gave Xiang Haikui the feeling of perfunctoriness, especially perfunctory.

Damn it, probably because to these mortal dregs, she wasn’t worth expending too much thought on.

Xiang Haikui glanced at Ye Qianzhi’s corpse on the bed and the weeping Xiang Tianqing, feeling a surge of irritation.

Just as she was making a decision, Luo Yunxiu’s voice entered her ear: “Little sister, your Second Senior Brother isn’t dead.”

Luo Yunxiu’s voice was already naturally alluring, and now, speaking in hushed tones, it was like a feather tickling the ear shell, making it tingle.

Xiang Haikui was momentarily stunned.

These two high officials from the Underworld had been hiding in the shadows, following her. They must have seen something.

Luo Yunxiu: “This person is proficient in many evil arts, including puppet techniques. After you left his room yesterday, he was very alert and immediately activated a puppet. The puppet was almost indistinguishable from his physical body, probably nurtured for over two hundred years—his last line of survival defense.”

Although Xiang Haikui had no good feelings toward this mentally disturbed Ye Qianzhi, hearing that he had pulled off a cicada-shedding trick truly made her breathe a sigh of relief.

He had switched to a puppet body and needed to adapt first, so he probably couldn’t show himself for a while.

Moreover, he probably still didn’t believe she could survive among these pieces of trash, so he wouldn’t risk stepping forward to help her out of this predicament.

No matter, as long as he was alive.

Otherwise, after her father came out of seclusion, how heartbroken would he be?

Just as she was about to ask Luo Yunxiu who the murderer was, she answered first: “The person who killed him has about seventh-rank cultivation and is a demon cultivator. He often lingers around Xiang Tianqing. With my expertise in judging men, he is Xiang Tianqing’s crony and is deeply infatuated with her.”

Xiang Haikui’s divine sense swept around: “Is he here now?”

Luo Yunxiu: “No.”

“Little sister, this is as far as I can help you. I hope you can survive this bloodbath and not lose face for Senior Yin. In the future, may we have the chance to meet again?”

Xiang Haikui suddenly remembered: “Senior, you know I’m not Senior Yin?”

Luo Yunxiu teased: “Liu Yixing and I followed you for several days, watched you transform into a four-legged snake gesticulating wildly, which made even me laugh. Being this silly, how could you possibly be the peerless Senior Yin?”

Haikui asked embarrassedly: “Then you don’t plan to capture me for severe interrogation to find out where the real Senior Yin is?”

“Senior Yin cultivated you earlier, presumably as a precaution, using you to divert our attention. A person as resourceful as he is, how could he possibly expose his whereabouts to you? Besides, we are pursuing Senior Yin only as an official duty, with no personal grudge against him. Little sister, not all powerful cultivators enjoy bullying the weak—at least I, Luo Yunxiu, am not one of them.”

These words nearly brought tears to Xiang Haikui’s eyes. Even when faced with countless glares, her heart had remained undisturbed.

“Thank you, Senior.” Xiang Haikui couldn’t possibly reveal the boss’s whereabouts, but she remembered this debt.

In the future, if there were an opportunity, she would certainly repay it.

“Also, sister reminds you, don’t impulsively expose their identities. Whether the listener believes it or not, it could bring disaster upon them.”

Xiang Haikui understood; the boss had explained this before.

Even if this matter was brought before Di Jun in the Upper Realm, Meng Xilou’s family would only claim ignorance and push a few servants out to take the blame.

But those in the mortal realm who knew about this might face calamity.

At the very least, they would have their memories erased.

For the Upper Realm, this was a scandal.

“Thank you, sister.” Xiang Haikui changed her form of address.

So now, how should she handle the current situation?

Outside the City Lord’s mansion, public resentment was boiling.

In the courtyard, dozens of military officers knelt, begging Meng Xilou to uphold justice.

Meng Xilou’s face was dark, his thin lips pressed into a straight line.

Xiang Haikui clicked her tongue. This stinking idiot’s acting was quite convincing now.

Meng Xilou felt utterly wronged.

He had already changed his original plan, believing it necessary to eliminate the “expert” behind Xiang Haikui first.

But now, he was being forced to revert to his original plan.

“Where is Huai Mie!” Meng Xilou had already berated the elder in his consciousness until he was blue in the face, confirming that he knew nothing about this. So it must have been Huai Mie’s doing.

Tired of living!

The elder sighed: “Alas, Young Master, there’s no way out now. You can’t very well hand over Huai Mie, can you? Why not proceed according to the original plan…”

Meng Xilou was undecided.

He was just perplexed.

It was just a small matter. Why had it suddenly spiraled out of control, becoming such a situation?

“Senior Brother!” Wu Mian called out.

Meng Xilou ignored him and looked at Xiang Haikui: “Junior Sister, I believe you didn’t do it, but for now… I’ll have to detain you. I will certainly investigate…”

“Investigate your mother’s head!” In front of everyone, Xiang Haikui shouted at him fiercely.

Meng Xilou was stunned by the insult.

Taking advantage of his momentary shock, Xiang Haikui suddenly rushed to the bedside and yanked up Xiang Tianqing, who was weeping over the corpse.

Meng Xilou’s pupils contracted: “What are you doing!”

Wu Mian also rushed in from outside: “Let go of my Junior Sister!”

Xiang Tianqing, immersed in immense grief, with tears like pear blossoms on her excessively beautiful face, was completely dazed.

Xiang Haikui held her sword against her neck, and only then did she slowly come to her senses, crying out in surprise: “Xiao Kui, could it be that you killed Second Senior Brother?”

Xiang Tianqing believed in her because she knew Xiang Haikui was truly her father’s daughter, and was even competing with her for their father’s affection, wanting to perform well in front of him. How could she kill Second Senior Brother?

“Sister.” Xiang Haikui held her hostage, using voice transmission, “If I told you that you’re a fairy from heaven who has descended to undergo tribulation, and Meng Xilou is the avatar of your biological brother, who plans to kill me brutally to ensure your smooth tribulation and gain merit so that when you return to heaven, he’ll have standing—would you believe me?”

“Have you gone mad?” Xiang Tianqing, overwhelmed with grief, seemed to suddenly understand something and was terrified: “You killed Second Senior Brother and made up such a lie to undermine our position in Father’s heart, to drive a wedge between us…”

Xiang Haikui knew she wouldn’t believe a single word, but what kind of bizarre logic was this?

Never mind.

“Sister, forgive me for this.”

Xiang Haikui used her fingernail to cut a thin line of blood on Xiang Tianqing’s neck. The flood dragon on Tian Kuang’s sword body came to life, slipping into Xiang Tianqing’s body through that bloodline.

“Xiang Haikui!” Meng Xilou was completely enraged.

Xiang Haikui pushed Xiang Tianqing’s back toward Meng Xilou while simultaneously brandishing her sword to stop Wu Mian from advancing, adopting a stance that said, “Anyone who dares move, I’ll immediately make Xiang Tianqing explode.”

With a corpse whose internal organs had been shredded by Tian Kuang’s sword energy lying on the bed, who would dare make a reckless move?

By the time Meng Xilou caught Xiang Tianqing, she had already fainted.

The elder quickly said, “Young Master, don’t panic! The Young Miss has the radiance of the family’s divine artifact protecting her body. She won’t be harmed by Tian Kuang!”

In the next moment, Xiang Haikui also used voice transmission: “Meng Xilou, you know I came prepared! Do you dare risk your sister’s life to confront me head-on?”

The elder: “She’s bluffing you.”

Meng Xilou’s knuckles turned white, a storm brewing in his eyes as he looked at Xiang Haikui: “What do you want?”

Under everyone’s gaze, Xiang Haikui walked outside.

She grabbed a circular chair in passing.

With one hand dragging the chair and the other holding her sword, she left Ye Qianzhi’s room and came to the courtyard.

Placing the circular chair in the courtyard, under the gaze of dozens of spirit bows, Xiang Haikui sat down with perfect composure.

“Listen to me, murderer! I’ll wait for you until sunset tomorrow. Let’s have a fair duel at the city gate!”

“If you can kill me, I’ll let you slaughter me and fulfill your wish!”

“If you can’t kill me, then you can only die under my sword!”

“Also, remember to come out early; otherwise, if this grandauntie is in a bad mood, I’ll make my little dragon bite your little heart!”

…

From beyond the dense crowd, Luo Yunxiu cast a distant glance at her, pursing her red, moist lips: “This little sister is increasingly likable the more I look at her—straightforward and spirited.”

“Alright, let’s go. Since we’ve lost track of the person, let’s return to Nethershore City to report.” Liu Yixing pinched the bridge of his nose, needing to quickly pull this willful woman away before she continued to meddle: “Don’t forget, we have rules—we cannot interfere with their fate.”

Luo Yunxiu turned gracefully, tossing the long hair on her chest, her eyes alluring: “Is it that we cannot, or that we dare not?”

“Whether we cannot or dare not, what does it matter to us?” Liu Yixing’s head ached terribly.

“I just can’t stand it!” Luo Yunxiu let out a cold laugh, swaying her hips as she slowly disappeared into the corridor formed by spider lilies.

What could be done about not being able to stand it?

Before entering the corridor to return to Nethershore City, Liu Yixing looked up at the sky, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

The current Upper Realm was indeed chaotic and had a terrible reputation.

And all of this began with the Mountain-Sea Clan’s rebellion.

It was a very distant affair.

The Mountain-Sea Clan cultivated the way of nature and always remained in the mortal realm, unwilling to ascend to the Upper Realm.

The Heavenly Race repeatedly oppressed their living environment—anyone would rebel under such circumstances.

The Heavenly Race itself was deliberately doing this, stemming from the belief of that generation’s Di Jun that the Mountain-Sea Clan was too powerful.

For the Heavenly Race, they might be a potential threat in the future that needs to be eliminated early.

But the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Race at that time did not agree with this approach and had a dispute with Di Jun.

However, the Crown Prince was isolated and powerless to stop it. After the Mountain-Sea Clan withered away, he also lost his right of succession and was sent by Di Jun to the Underworld to become the Netherworld Lord.

His brother replaced him as the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Race.

When the Netherworld Lord took control of the Underworld, relations with the Upper Realm became tense. Perhaps the most famous incident was his appointment of Yin Changli as one of the Twelve Palace Masters.

Yin Changli was born to the Mountain-Sea Dragon Clan. During the Mountain-Sea Clan’s rebellion, he was still young and was implicated, becoming a Mountain-Sea slave.

It could be said that the Netherworld Lord gave him a future. Those in the know were aware that the proud and aloof Yin Changli accepted this position only out of respect for the Netherworld Lord.

He and the Netherworld Lord could be described as friends despite their age difference.

Later, after Yin Changli was falsely accused of stealing treasures, he raided the Underworld’s treasury in anger and defected from Nethershore City.

The Netherworld Lord was also furious, declaring that Mountain-Sea slaves indeed didn’t appreciate kindness, and issued a kill order for him.

Former close friends became completely estranged.

But five hundred years after Yin Changli’s defection, the Netherworld Lord’s cultivation went awry, and he perished.

One of the Twelve Palace Masters was supported by the Upper Realm to take the position of Netherworld Lord.

Not long after, the Upper Realm and the Underworld began to work together, sparing no effort to capture Yin Changli.

It was then that the Palace Masters of the Underworld realized that the former Netherworld Lord’s demise was probably not simple.

Lord Changli’s defection might have had hidden circumstances.

Their estrangement could well have been an act.

But regardless, by the time the Upper Realm fixed its gaze on Yin Changli, he had already mastered extraordinary anti-tracking skills.

All pursuers returned empty-handed.

As for what exactly the former Netherworld Lord and Yin Changli were up to, that remained unknown.

But it certainly was a major event that would affect the Upper Realm.

Xiang Haikui sat in the circular chair, her head tilted back, eyes closed in a light nap.

Above her head floated a dazzling parasol.

This umbrella had been used by Meng Xilou during his playacting earlier. When fighting the sand bears, he had given it to Xiang Haikui.

Xiang Haikui had accepted it.

The sword case was thrown at her feet, open, containing a pair of smelly socks and a long sword.

Without the flood dragon, Tian Kuang had become an ordinary silver-white longsword.

The morning sunlight wasn’t yet scorching. When its rays shone on the sword body and touched the sword energy, it seemed to produce a chemical reaction, emitting a faint “crackling” sound.

Layer upon layer of people surrounded the courtyard.

Now, no one believed she was the Great City Lord’s daughter; she was a demon.

Amid the tense atmosphere, someone knocked on the main door of the City Lord’s mansion.

The guard came to report nervously: “Master Dao Chen has arrived.”

Meng Xilou, already irritated, replied: “Don’t see him.”

The guard: “The city residents begged the Master to come. After all, whenever there’s a funeral, the Master always comes to perform rites. Now, many city residents are following behind the Master…”

Meng Xilou frowned: “Let him in.”

Two people came, and Xiang Haikui opened her eyes.

She knew the boss had heard the news and brought Little Bai to help.

But when she saw the boss, Xiang Haikui almost couldn’t catch her breath. Dao Chen’s originally plain monk’s robe was suddenly embroidered with many flowers.

Embroidery was one thing, but all of them were big-faced sunflowers?

“Little Bai, what kind of shock has the Senior received?” Xiang Haikui used voice transmission.

This was Little Bai’s handiwork.

Little Bai was a jack-of-all-trades: serving tea and water, cooking and mending, capable of eighteen skills.

Bai Xingxian’s face was wooden: “Uncle’s mind is truly broken.”

Xiang Haikui clicked her tongue: “I knew that, but I didn’t expect it to be so thoroughly broken.”

Yin Changli approached the courtyard, his gaze sweeping around at the “enemies,” then looking at Xiang Haikui: “Miss Xiang, my condolences…”

“Senior, I’m not grieving, and my Second Senior Brother isn’t dead.” Xiang Haikui briefly explained via voice transmission.

Yin Changli breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s good.”

He first entered the room, pretending to perform rites for Ye Qianzhi.

Then, leaving the room, he walked toward Xiang Haikui against the heavy pressure.

Meng Xilou stepped forward to block him: “Master, now that you’ve performed the rites, what else do you intend to do?”

Yin Changli pressed his palms together: “This humble monk wishes to enlighten the murderer a bit.”

Meng Xilou knew he had a connection with Xiang Haikui and coldly said, “Is the Master so free? Then why not enlighten me first?”

Yin Changli uttered “Amitabha” in a purely sacred manner: “I apologize, but my Buddha does not save hamfats.”

Meng Xilou:?

Xiang Haikui almost jumped out of the circular chair: “Little Bai?”

Bai Xingxian felt as if he had done something wrong, his face full of guilt: “Well, after you left this morning, Uncle kept asking me why you and I fear him so much. I just explained a little, but maybe I didn’t explain it correctly…”

Yin Changli carefully pondered Bai Xingxian’s words.

It seemed that before, he had always been floating in the sky, detached from worldly affairs.

Like a Buddha, full of distance, not real enough.

He needed to descend to Earth to be more grounded.

First step, change his dress.

Second step, align his language with Miss Xiang.

All to ensure Miss Xiang would no longer fear him, striving for an early, successful descent to the mortal realm.