Zhu Yan lifted her skirt and tore off a soft strip from the inner lining. After Xiu Xiu applied the medicine, she began bandaging.
Wang Buzui walked to a wall and pressed a concave spot. The wall transformed, retracting from the middle to both sides.
Zhu Yan’s attention was drawn by the commotion. With a “boom,” another secret chamber was revealed.
In an instant, numerous moths flew out. Seeing the firelight, they flew towards it without hesitation, only to emerge from the flames with burnt wings and fall to the ground.
Zhu Yan watched in astonishment, exclaiming, “Heavens! Vice Leader Wang, where did you capture so many moths?”
For a non-existent resurrection secret, they had gone to such great lengths. It was truly remarkable.
Wang Buzui glanced at Zhu Yan with a look of disdain and rebuked, “Silence! What moths? These are the sacred creatures of our Fire Moth Party! Watch your words, or you won’t know what hit you.”
Zhu Yan pouted, “If they’re sacred, shouldn’t they be enshrined? Why let them die in the flames?”
“Silence!” Wang Buzui snapped angrily. “Do you want me to kill you first?”
His words were full of threats, but they didn’t intimidate Zhu Yan at all. She calmly stood up, smoothing out the creases in her sleeves. Her gaze swept over Xiu Xiu and the others. Xiu Xiu stepped back, not daring to meet Zhu Yan’s eyes.
Wang Buzui sneered, “Don’t tell me you still think that so-called Grand Pavilion Leader Shen Du will come to save you?”
Zhu Yan raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond.
“When we captured you earlier, I noticed the virgin mark on your forearm was still intact. Your claims of love with Shen Du must all be an act. I’ve heard that on his wedding day, the Grand Pavilion Leader set ‘three delusions’ for his bride, saying she wouldn’t live past three months. After coming to Yingzhou, rumors spread about your loving relationship. I found it strange. It’s all just Shen Du’s smokescreen to deceive us.”
Seeing Zhu Yan staring at him fearlessly, Wang Buzui grew displeased. He snorted coldly before continuing:
“If he truly cared for you, why hasn’t he come yet? Even if I killed you, he probably wouldn’t bat an eye. What a waste of your beautiful face.”
He scrutinized Zhu Yan closely.
“But it’s different here. I can make your face and body serve their greatest purpose. How about it?”
First sowing discord, then gradually enticing her. Unfortunately for him, he had encountered Zhu Yan.
“What purpose?” Zhu Yan feigned curiosity. Seeing Wang Buzui about to speak again, she pointed at Xiu Xiu, then at the dejected Du Xiaowan lying to the side, and the other women. She pretended to have a sudden realization.
“Ah, let me guess. See if I’m right?”
Without waiting for Wang Buzui to respond, she clapped her hands and said:
“These women seem unrelated at first glance, but upon closer inspection, there’s a common thread.”
This statement caused the women to exchange glances, examining each other, but they remained puzzled, unable to discern any commonality.
“Miss, you must be mistaken. We don’t look alike at all,” Xiu Xiu, being more experienced and bolder, spoke up first.
Zhu Yan shook her head, “True, you don’t look alike.”
If they didn’t look alike, why say such things?
“But if we combine each facial feature from all of you, including me, it would resemble someone.”
Everyone was even more confused. How to combine? Who would it resemble?
“It would resemble him!” Zhu Yan nodded towards Wang Buzui, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Don’t you see it?”
The group looked at Wang Buzui again, this time daring to observe more closely. Soon, some noticed the similarities.
“Yes, her nose resembles his.”
“Her mouth is similar…”
“…”
Du Xiaowan, fighting through her pain, said, “Could it be that Vice Leader Wang wants to resurrect himself?”
She then burst into tears, “Your method is truly wicked. To resurrect yourself by exchanging others’ lives… Even if you succeed, how could you live with a clear conscience? Don’t you fear that the Buddha will send you to the Avici Hell?”
Du Xiaowan, being from a noble family, had rarely left her boudoir before marriage. She had never encountered such evil people and deeds. Unable to accept it, her chest heaved, and she soon fainted again.
Wang Buzui didn’t even glance at her, only spitting out, “Is that all you’ve got? Pathetic.”
“Heh, I’m not finished,” Zhu Yan ignored his attitude, looking Wang Buzui up and down with a knowing expression.
“Vice Leader Wang is a man, and very much alive. How could he resurrect himself?”
Wang Buzui’s expression changed upon hearing this.
“The one to be resurrected is likely someone close to Vice Leader Wang. A sister, perhaps, or a mother.”
“A mother seems unlikely. To resurrect a mother, you wouldn’t seek such young women. So it must be a sister.”
“Vice Leader Wang, did you have a sister who died unjustly?”
At these words, Wang Buzui’s form trembled slightly. His eyes instantly filled with boundless sorrow, quickly replaced by hatred. The intensity was so great that even Zhu Yan was startled.
But she had to continue: “Wang Buzui, if you believe your sister died unjustly, you can seek justice through official channels. Killing people is against the law. Your delusion of using others’ lives to resurrect your sister… You should know the principle of karmic retribution. It’s not that there’s no retribution, it’s just that the time hasn’t come.”
“Principles? Retribution?” Wang Buzui scoffed, “Then let it come! Why haven’t I seen it yet?”
“I…”
“Shut up,” Wang Buzui waved his hand to stop Zhu Yan from continuing, glaring at her fiercely. “If you weren’t still of some use, I’d kill you right now.”
Zhu Yan smiled faintly, “Fortunately, I still serve a purpose.”
Wang Buzui flicked his sleeve and ordered someone to tie her up. He turned and instructed the half-faced ghosts to place the jars they were holding on the stone table in the secret chamber. As they unsealed the lids, a sweet fragrance wafted out.
Zhu Yan sniffed and stepped closer, seemingly interested in what they were doing.
Wang Buzui noticed her movement and looked back. Zhu Yan immediately pretended nothing had happened, smiling ingratiatingly to show she would behave. She mouthed two words to Wang Buzui, causing his pupils to dilate. He turned away, ignoring her.
It was Zhu Yan’s turn to be amused. She hadn’t expected Shen Du’s name to be so effective. It seemed the White King of Hell’s reputation truly intimidated everyone. No wonder they were so eager to fabricate charges and eliminate him.
Wang Buzui ignored her, and the other half-faced ghosts, seeing this, also pretended not to notice. They focused on their tasks at hand.
Seeking divine favor is a sacred act, requiring ritual purification and incense burning to avoid offending the deities.
They were now setting up incense altars in all four directions, burning incense to appease the gods of all realms.
Wang Buzui then walked to the main hall, kneeling on a prayer mat. Facing the portrait above, he chanted sutras, fingering prayer beads with a devout expression.
The others followed suit. Wherever an incense altar was set, someone knelt and chanted.
Listening to the droning Sanskrit, Zhu Yan couldn’t help but sneer. Even if there were deities, they wouldn’t perform miracles for these blood-stained individuals who disregarded human life for their ends.