The path Li Qinqin led them down was the same one everyone had already scouted before, quite familiar to all of them by now—though Situ Jing’er still put on a show of asking questions, to avoid arousing Li Qinqin’s suspicion.
“What is this place, exactly? Why are there so many coffins here!” Situ Jing’er said, feigning horror.
Li Qinqin glanced at her with disdain. “Long hair, short wits—all looks, no brains. What, didn’t your Emperor Brother tell you this is the vampire clan’s burial ground?”
As she spoke, she deliberately shot Jun Buli a suggestive glance—back when this girl was still a child, Li Qinqin had seen clearly how Jun Beiyue used to spar verbally with her.
Jun Buli acted as though he’d heard nothing, continuing to walk.
“Where exactly is Yaotiao? Where are you taking us?” Ziqing spoke up too, feigning anger.
“Princess Consort of Prince Yao, your husband isn’t even worried, why are you so anxious? We’re already this far in—do you think I could still trick you now?” Li Qinqin snorted coldly. What she resented most, deep down, was Ziqing—if it weren’t for this woman’s return interfering with her and Jun Buli, she could have enjoyed several more years of luxury and glory in the capital of Da Zhou, second only to the ruler himself, and only once she’d grown tired of that life would she have properly turned her attention to matters of the vampire clan!
It was all because of this woman’s return that Jun Buli’s special exception for her had completely evaporated!
Li Qinqin suddenly stopped, turning to look coldly at Ziqing.
Instantly, Jun Beiyue, Jun Buli, Situ Haonan, Guxi, and Situ Jing’er all tensed with alertness—what was this woman planning?
Even Baili Weisheng and the others, hidden in the barrier behind them, froze in place as well!
“That infuriating woman, what does she want?” Jun Yaotiao muttered, gritting her teeth.
Li Qinqin chuckled. “Princess Consort of Prince Yao, before you see your daughter, let me offer you a piece of advice—when it comes to children’s marriages, you can’t force these things. It’s him marrying a wife, not you. What satisfies you might not satisfy him, but what satisfies him, well, you’ll just have to accept even if it doesn’t satisfy you. Your son’s grown up now, so stop being so attached to him!”
This woman—wasn’t satisfied unless she’d made someone angry, was she?
“My attachment to my son is none of your business! Lead the way, hurry up already, dawdling around like some old crone—heaven knows how horrifying that old face of yours would look without that mask!” Ziqing spat back.
Li Qinqin was infuriated once again, turning sharply and stalking off—she couldn’t afford to waste any more time, or things would get complicated if the timing ran out.
So, for the remainder of the walk, Li Qinqin didn’t stop once, continuing all the way until they reached a small chamber.
At this point, Meng Duo’er, following behind, grew excited, pulling everyone close to whisper, “Li Qinqin’s coffin is inside this small chamber. Past this chamber lies the Guardians’ main hall.”
Jun Yaotiao’s eyes went wide, wide with genuine excitement!
Baili Xiaosheng rubbed her hands together, itching to get started.
Baili Weisheng’s smile was positively radiant!
They followed along, but didn’t continue further, instead watching as Ziqing’s group walked out through the chamber’s door and into the Guardians’ main hall!
“Where is it?” Even Baili Weisheng couldn’t help his excitement.
Facing Baili Weisheng, Meng Duo’er felt a bit nervous, but managed to speak anyway, pointing toward an oval-shaped coffin on the far right, inlaid with a small luminous pearl. Before she could even finish, everyone spoke in unison, “That one?”
Meng Duo’er covered her mouth, laughing. “That’s it! Can’t be wrong!”
Jun Yaotiao was the first to walk over, carefully opening it. Baili Xiaosheng could only stare in astonishment—well, she’d concede the honor; this little Yaotiao really was the boldest of them all!
The coffin opened, and sure enough, inside it was completely empty, containing only a single silk embroidered pillow.
“My goodness, this woman really knows how to live comfortably—even brought along a pillow,” the tall one remarked, clicking his tongue.
“Boss, should we bring a pillow too?” the short one suggested.
At this, a flicker of mischief crossed Baili Weisheng’s eyes. He patted the tall one’s shoulder. “You two, go over there and carry it out.”
The brothers were overjoyed—rare that Master had assigned them a task—and hurried over eagerly.
But soon, they ran into a problem: the coffin was tied down with numerous ropes, bound to stone pillars behind it.
The tall one gave it a tug, and something stirred, sending a cold sweat down his back—he froze, not daring to move further.
Meng Duo’er immediately sealed the small chamber and the main hall’s doors with a barrier, and only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
Jun Yaotiao pulled out a dagger, meaning to cut the ropes, only to find them stiff and unyielding—not something that could be severed in one stroke. It would take time, done slowly.
“Everyone pitch in and help—we need to finish before they come out!” Meng Duo’er urged.
So everyone got to work together.
Meanwhile, not far away in the main hall, Li Qinqin had absolutely no idea her own nest was currently being looted.
At this very moment, she stood together with Ziqing’s group before the coffins of the Four Great Guardians, coldly watching Jun Buli.
The time was almost right.
“Where is she?” Ziqing pressed.
Li Qinqin put on an air of mystery. “What’s the rush? Turn around and look up.” She already knew what would happen—Ziqing’s group was simply going along with the act, turning in unison to look up.
Well, everyone present generally disliked putting on theatrics, so their reactions stayed fairly calm—except for Situ Jing’er, who exaggerated wildly, acting as if she’d never seen the main coffin before in her life!
She widened her eyes, gasping in mock astonishment, “Heavens, whose coffin is that? It’s gorgeous!”
“Jun Yaotiao is locked away at the base of this coffin. Jun Buli, there’s only one way to save your sister—open the main coffin and kill whoever’s inside!” Li Qinqin declared, word by word, her cold voice echoing throughout the hall.
Jun Buli’s lips trembled slightly, as though suppressing something intensely. Without a word, he flew straight up.
Immediately after, Ziqing and the others followed.
Ziqing touched the porcelain vial hidden in her sleeve—the one Baili Weisheng had personally handed to her just days before.
This was the only thing Ali had left behind—how could she bear to part with it?
But today, for the sake of the children, she had no choice but to use it!
If Ali knew—even while he’d been alive, that fool would surely have given every drop of his blood to help them!
“Ali, forgive me!”
Ziqing clutched the porcelain vial tightly in her sleeve, landing at the head of the main coffin.
Li Qinqin didn’t follow along—she had no idea they possessed the undying blood, and was simply waiting for Jun Buli to open the main coffin and trigger his fang addiction.
As long as the Left Envoy hadn’t woken, once Jun Buli bit him to death, the affliction would flare up again in the future.
She watched Jun Buli coldly, having just noticed his lips moving—the man’s addiction had triggered. Yet today, somehow, he was managing to hold it back.
Jun Buli had indeed triggered—it had only just begun, and he himself didn’t know how long he could hold out, but he believed he could keep holding on indefinitely.
Jun Beiyue and Situ Haonan exchanged a glance, standing at the foot of the main coffin, facing Li Qinqin, while Situ Jing’er and Guxi guarded the sides in the middle section.
At that moment, they distinctly heard the sound of teeth grinding against each other. Everyone turned in unison to look at Jun Buli, only to find his expression had grown grave at some point, his lips pressed tightly together, beads of sweat soaking his temples!