Meng Wanyue didn’t finish — instead, she broke down into quiet, muffled sobs.

Perhaps, before this, someone might have believed her.

But now…

Ziqing gave a cold snort. “The message for your son, we’ll deliver. The message for my son — you can forget it.”

Meng Wanyue paused slightly, still sobbing. “Whatever you all think of me, if you still don’t trust me, do whatever you want with me afterward — just release my hands, and I can break the barrier.”

At this, Ziqing laughed.

“Old woman, are you underestimating us, or overestimating yourself? Do you really still think you’ll get another chance?”

Ziqing snorted coldly. Had Jue Mingzi not already sealed Meng Wanyue’s hands and feet, she’d have planned to seal the woman’s acupoints herself before they’d even gone underwater.

The whole reason they’d rushed down here in such urgency was to confirm the Jinjiao woman’s existence, to confirm she was safe.

Now that they’d done exactly that, why would they ever give Meng Wanyue another opening to exploit?

At last, Ziqing’s words provoked Meng Wanyue to fury.

“You wretched girl, what exactly do you want? I’m telling you, only I can save her!”

“Whether you’re really the only one who can save her — we’ll leave that for the Dream Clan leader to decide, once he arrives,” Ziqing said with disdain. She never fought a battle she wasn’t sure of, and never acted without a plan.

“You foul-mouthed scholar, she’s your responsibility now. Send us out first — I’ll notify the Dream Clan leader as soon as possible!” Ziqing said seriously.

This matter — even facing it in Jun Beiyue’s place — this was as far as she’d intended to go.

Everything beyond this, she’d leave entirely to Baili Weisheng. She was willing to wait for him back on the Isle of Lingering Immortals, take some time to rest, and discuss “Lament” further with Jue Mingzi in the meantime.

She had no idea whether her leaving without a word would infuriate Jun Beiyue.

She remembered the last time, back at the Silver Jiao palace, when she’d pushed him away — it had sent him into such a rage that even she had been afraid.

Having made her decision, Ziqing turned to leave. Baili Weisheng, naturally, was thinking exactly the same thing — no matter what happened, he had absolutely no intention of giving Meng Wanyue any opportunity to act within the Innocent Abyss.

“Go on, you two — I’ll make sure everything’s handled properly!” he said with a cold smile, his malevolent gaze sweeping over Meng Wanyue, instantly shattering what composure she had left. She slumped down, collapsing. “You… you… how despicable!”

Meng Wanyue had planned everything so carefully — the moment they reached the Jinjiao Palace in the Innocent Abyss, the moment they freed her hands, she would have turned the tables on all of them!

But now, it was she who’d been outmaneuvered by Han Ziqing instead — even her very last bargaining chip, the Jinjiao woman, had been laid bare!

Once Ziqing lost faith in someone, she never paid them any further mind. She stopped at the entrance, not even turning her head.

Baili Weisheng ignored Meng Wanyue just the same, saying quietly to Madam Jinjiao within the barrier, “Mother, bear with it just a little longer — I’ll send them out first!”

With that, he summoned a beam of golden light, which transformed into a streak of gleaming golden dragon, shooting toward Ziqing and the others.

But just then, Meng Wanyue suddenly shrieked in fury, “Han Ziqing, anyone else can leave — but you, absolutely not! I won’t allow you to leave!”

With that, she spat out a burst of power from her mouth, which instantly transformed into a purple barrier bolt, shooting toward Ziqing like an arrow loosed from a bow!

Almost simultaneously, Ziqing sensed something strange behind her and instinctively turned to look!

“Han Ziqing, watch out!”

Baili Weisheng cried out in alarm, never having anticipated that Meng Wanyue’s barrier arts could be so masterfully refined. With no time to think further, his first instinct was to lunge forward, shoving Ziqing violently out of the way!

And just as the purple barrier bolt was about to strike his body, a clear, crisp voice suddenly rang out: “Break!”

…