Just as the chaos was still unfolding, Bai Feiyao suddenly spoke up. “Elder Qin, given that cheating has come to light, shouldn’t the newcomers’ ranking tournament be held again from the start?”

To everyone’s surprise, the Hai clan head immediately spoke up with remarkable good sense. “If it’s held again, the Hai clan withdraws!”

The Hai clan head was no fool. His clan was nothing like the Bai clan — everything about the Hai clan had been arranged entirely by Jiao Cha, and by now, of course, the Hai clan head understood perfectly well that Jiao Cha belonged to Jun Beiyue.

With the Yu clan permanently barred from ever participating in the newcomers’ ranking tournament again due to their cheating, and the Hai clan now withdrawing as well, a rematch would simply mean a straight showdown between the Bai clan and the Gu clan.

No small number of people cast strange, incredulous looks toward Bai Feiyao. This young master had always been arrogant and overbearing, but to remain so utterly oblivious even now was simply laughable.

The Gu clan had won both of their matches by overwhelming margins, while the Bai clan had suffered complete defeat. What could the Bai clan possibly hope to achieve against the Gu clan now?

Hearing the Hai clan head’s words, Bai Feiyao’s momentary flare of impulsive bravado immediately deflated. Given the Gu clan’s evident potential and the Bai clan’s current standing, the Bai clan seemed to be dangerously overestimating itself.

She glanced sheepishly at her father, then obediently retreated to the side. The Bai clan head hurried forward to explain to the two Elders of Qinse. “Elders, my son spoke rashly. The Gu clan’s victory is well-deserved and thoroughly earned — even accounting for the Yu clan’s cheating, the Gu clan still achieved an overwhelming triumph. There is truly no need to hold the tournament again — it would only waste everyone’s time and resources needlessly.”

The Bai clan head wasn’t the type to concede so readily out of genuine goodwill, but given the current circumstances, he had no choice but to rein himself in. That he couldn’t match the Gu clan was now an established, undeniable fact — if the Bai clan continued to provoke them further, life on the island would only grow harder for them going forward. With their main hall already destroyed and their losses already devastating, rebuilding would require the Gu clan’s goodwill and cooperation on many fronts.

The Bai clan head’s words gave the two Elders of Qinse a graceful way out of the situation. Elder Qin quickly responded, “Given that cheating has indeed occurred, there would ordinarily be grounds to hold the tournament again — the newcomers’ ranking tournament is no trivial matter. However, the Bai clan head speaks wisely. Even with the Yu clan’s cheating, the Gu clan still proved unable to be defeated — clear proof that their victory is well and truly earned! Everyone, this old man hereby formally declares: the winner of this year’s newcomers’ ranking tournament is the Gu clan! The Gu clan shall retain its position as Liuxian Island’s foremost clan, continue to reside on Liuxian Mountain, and continue to enjoy dominion over all of Liuxian Island’s various enterprises.”

The moment these words fell, the Gu clan’s side erupted into cheers of triumph. Unfortunately, the true victors — Jun Beiyue and Han Ziqing — had already left the scene entirely.

The newcomers’ ranking tournament was an extraordinarily solemn affair on Liuxian Island — and yet, the moment this couple had gotten involved, the whole contest had somehow transformed into something else entirely, almost like a private game played out between the two of them and Xuanyuan Lige.

To win the tournament and then be absent for its conclusion was, without question, a display of open disdain for the contest itself — and yet, given the sheer strength they’d demonstrated, even those most inclined to object, most consumed by envy, had nothing left to say.

As the sun began to set, Jun Beiyue and Ziqing finally returned to Liuxian Mountain. Jun Beiyue had sealed off every single port and personally led a search party across the entire island, while Qinse Valley had likewise dispatched its own forces in pursuit.

Strangely enough, there was still no sign whatsoever of the mysterious purple-clad woman.

In the main hall, everyone had gathered. Jun Beiyue and Ziqing sat in the seats of honor, one coldly composed, the other with brows faintly furrowed — both silent.

Situ Haonan rubbed his chin, puzzled. “Could it be they never actually left the island at all?”

“I’ve searched every inn, every medical clinic — no sign of anyone. If they haven’t left, and they need to treat Xuanyuan Lige’s wounds, they’d have to go to a clinic somewhere.”

“Maybe they’d already left long before, with a ship waiting just outside the harbor — a foreign vessel!”

“That does seem like the only remaining possibility now. Didn’t Xuanyuan Lige manage to smuggle Gu Suying off the island once before, without a trace?”

“My lord, it seems our first priority now should be tightening control over the harbor!”

“Are there any other exits off Liuxian Island?”

“Already asked the two Elders of Qinse — there are none!”

…

The group debated back and forth, and regardless of exactly how the purple-clad woman had made her escape, it seemed almost certain now that she had already gotten away.

Just then, Physician Gu, who had performed the autopsy, arrived in a hurry.

“Well?” Jun Beiyue asked at once.

Physician Gu answered concisely. “All poisoned corpses. Immune to every toxin.”

“Could it be some kind of poison master?” Situ Haonan mused. After all, hadn’t the poison masters and physicians Jun Beiyue had once sought out been capable of raising warriors immune to all poisons themselves?

“Whoever this is, they clearly know a great deal. Could they be from the Poison Den?” Yingzi speculated.

“Unlikely. The Poison Den has its own rules it abides by. Besides, if this really were the Poison Den’s doing, they would have acted long ago — why wait until now?”

Ziqing said flatly. The Poison Den operated like an isolated world unto itself, never interfering in outside affairs — that much, at least, was worth trusting.

A cold flicker passed through Jun Beiyue’s eyes, but he said nothing.

The secrets of the isolated island had always been buried deep underground — but now, with Ziqing’s poison-immune identity finally exposed, one hidden power after another was beginning to stir and surface like storm clouds gathering.

This purple-clad woman had come to rescue Xuanyuan Lige, but surely she’d come for Ziqing as well.

Watching the clash between the two women, Jun Beiyue judged their skill roughly evenly matched — Ziqing had simply been outnumbered.

While everyone was still puzzling over the matter, still without a single solid lead, Jiao Cha and Mu Fusang returned together.

They’d naturally needed to return to the Bai and Hai clans first, if only to offer some kind of explanation for their absence.

To everyone’s surprise, the moment Jiao Cha stepped through the door, he asked urgently, “Boss, those purple-clad corpses — did you bring them back with you?”

“They’re in the mortuary at the foot of the mountain. What do you want with them?” Ziqing asked, puzzled.

Jiao Cha and Mu Fusang exchanged a glance, saying nothing at all, and immediately turned to head down the mountain.

Ziqing and Jun Beiyue were both startled, sensing something significant, and hurried after them anxiously.

Jiao Cha and Mu Fusang spent only a short while in the mortuary before emerging again. The two of them looked visibly flustered at first, but the moment they stepped outside and found the whole group waiting for them, they instantly composed themselves.

“What’s going on?” Jun Beiyue asked, his tone deadly serious.

At this, both Jiao Cha and Mu Fusang hesitated.

“Speak!” Ziqing snapped sharply, showing no patience whatsoever.

“These corpses… they’re immune to poison. Poisoned bodies,” Jiao Cha said timidly.

“Physician Gu already confirmed that. What are you so nervous about?” Ziqing pressed.

Mu Fusang simply lowered his head, saying nothing, while Jiao Cha hesitated, not daring to meet Ziqing’s eyes.

“This… this is a secret!” Jiao Cha looked genuinely pained. Having already surrendered to serve the descendant of the isolated island was humiliating enough as it was — and now he had to reveal such a significant secret on top of it. He truly felt he’d let his ancestors down.

“I don’t much care for followers who aren’t honest with me,” Ziqing said, displeased. Jiao Cha and Mu Fusang were both still under the effects of her signature poison, after all!

At this, Jiao Cha immediately understood the implication.

He glanced at Mu Fusang, but Mu Fusang simply took a step back, leaving the decision entirely to him.

Jiao Cha wrestled with himself for a long moment, then finally let out a heavy breath. Fine — since he’d already surrendered anyway, he might as well tell her this last remaining secret too. He could only hope that whatever secret of the isolated island they eventually uncovered wouldn’t leave them regretting this.

Jiao Cha looked up, his expression serious. “Boss…”