“I really didn’t expect this Chen Hong to have such formidable skill.” Xiao Yingtao had just finished a piece of pastry and picked up a cloth to wipe her mouth.

“Our Jian Yi still hasn’t come back, and it’s all thanks to Chen Hong.”

“All you do is build up someone else’s might while destroying your own side’s morale! A demon is a demon — how can one fight someone like that on equal footing?” Qiao Mu glanced over at Xiao Yingtao.

“Jiu’er, leave Chen Hong to me and Long Shiyi while you work on developing the antidote for those tens of thousands of guards.”

Sister Hua, after all, had a family to think of, and these past days had been hard enough on her. Qiao Mu didn’t want to trouble her further or cause Brother Yue any more worry.

“Qiao Mu, I never said I was afraid of this woman.” Xiao Yingtao pressed her lips together, objecting.

“I want to go over there too.”

“With how strong our forces are now, why would we be afraid of her? If she dies, maybe Jian Yi will recover too.”

“What Xiao Yingtao says isn’t wrong — in theory, once Chen Hong dies, everyone she’s controlling should regain their freedom.” Tang Xiaohua nodded.

“But whether the current Chen Hong can still be reasoned about with ordinary logic, I’m not sure.”

“If Jiu’er isn’t planning to attack right away either, then perhaps we really can afford to wait a little longer.”

“I’ve already sent someone to my master’s old residence to look for the books he left me — they might help us figure out a way to break this formation of Chen Hong’s.”

“Miss Jiu’er, why don’t we go test the waters first?” Long Shiyi, who had been silent until now, raised his eyes and asked Feng Jiu’er softly.

Although the troops here needed time to recover before they could go west to help, Long Shiyi didn’t want to wait at all.

Not just him — every brother in the Longwu Army was eager to reunite with Di Wu Ya as soon as possible.

The wounded could stay behind to recover, but at the very least, those who were physically sound should go ahead first.

With the prince away, no one’s heart could be at ease.

Feng Jiu’er met Long Shiyi’s gaze and nodded. “Alright. Tomorrow, take some brothers and go scout out the situation first.”

“I only mean for you to probe — you mustn’t go in. Understood?”

“Or, learning a bit about the situation might also help us figure out how to break this method.”

“Got it.” Long Shiyi nodded and accepted the order.

“Yu Jingfeng.” Feng Jiu’er turned her gaze to Yu Jingfeng.

“What’s the situation with Lei Shenbao? Is he still refusing to hand over the composition of the poison?”

“Miss Jiu’er, my apologies! It’s my own incompetence.” Yu Jingfeng stood up, bowed, and clasped his hands.

“No matter what we try, Lei Shenbao has refused to say a word these past few days.”

“If we torture him further, I’m worried he won’t be able to take it.”

“Let me go ask him.” Qiao Mu frowned.

“No!” Feng Jiu’er shook her head. “If anyone’s going, I’ll go myself.”

“Miss Jiu’er, you mustn’t — that wolf Lei Shenbao, the way he is toward you…” Yu Jingfeng was utterly unwilling.

“You don’t think he’s still capable of doing anything to me now, do you?” Feng Jiu’er glanced at Yu Jingfeng, cutting him off.

“That’s — no.” Yu Jingfeng shook his head. “But Miss Jiu’er, don’t you find that wolf quite repulsive?”

“I’ll think of something — I’ll figure out a way.”

“Does he still look like a wolf in his current state?” Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow and withdrew the gaze that had settled on Yu Jingfeng.

She looked at Qiao Mu and said, “Don’t get involved in this matter. Your external and internal injuries haven’t healed yet — rest properly for a couple of days.”

“Sister Hua, I’ll leave Qiao Mu in your care these next two days. Help me keep an eye on her.”

“If the formation master finds anything, just let me know.”

“Mm.” Tang Xiaohua nudged Yue Jianfei’s arm and nodded.

“Long Shiyi, go over tomorrow to scout things out, then come back and report the details to me fully.”

“It’s my lack of skill that I can’t even help with this much — how embarrassing! It’s a disgrace to my master’s teaching as well.”

“It’s my fault.” Yue Jianfei rubbed Tang Xiaohua’s head. “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be pregnant before marriage either — it’s all my fault.”

“What are you saying?” Tang Xiaohua shot Yue Jianfei a look. “You — stop talking!”

Watching this loving couple, many of those present couldn’t help but laugh.

In the hall, the mood, which had been somewhat heavy a moment ago, lightened considerably.

After parting from her brothers, Feng Jiu’er went with Yu Jingfeng to a side chamber.

“Miss Jiu’er, my lord Yu.” The two soldiers guarding the door nodded.

“Open the door.” Yu Jingfeng ordered softly.

“Yes.” One soldier clasped his hands, turned, and opened the chamber door.

This was a simple chamber, with no inner room — just a single space.

Chen Hong had used a cross to bind Jian Yi for so long; now Feng Jiu’er had given Lei Shenbao a cross of his own, which was even harsher than a prison cart.

No matter how exhausted he was, he could only stand.

Hearing the door open, the figure inside raised his bowed head.

After a few days apart, when Lei Shenbao saw Feng Jiu’er again, there was still a gleam in his eyes.

Yu Jingfeng hadn’t told her the truth, because this detestable man had insisted he would say nothing unless he saw Miss Jiu’er.

Whether it was Yu Jingfeng or any brother of the Longwu Army, none of them was someone to be threatened so easily by others.

So Yu Jingfeng hadn’t told Feng Jiu’er, and had simply gone about things in their own way.

He hadn’t expected Lei Shenbao’s mouth to be so stubborn — he’d held out for days, and aside from crying out in pain, he hadn’t said another word.

“Jiu’er.” Lei Shenbao raised his head and looked at the one who had entered.

In just a few short days, Lei Shenbao had grown noticeably thinner, his face pale as paper — he looked like an entirely different person from the one Feng Jiu’er had first met.

Still, the people who had died at his hands were too many to count — all of this was no more than he deserved.

“Jiu’er, you’ve finally come to see me. Jiu’er, I missed you so much.” Lei Shenbao’s mouth was still spouting sweet talk.

Yu Jingfeng had arranged a chair for Feng Jiu’er, several steps away from Lei Shenbao.

Feng Jiu’er sat down, staring at the man on the cross.

“Lei Shenbao, you should know why I’ve come.”

“I’m sure I know. Jiu’er, you can’t bear to be without me. Jiu’er, you’ve come to see me — you must miss me too much to stay away.” Lei Shenbao said with a smile.

Feng Jiu’er had no patience for idle chatter, and somehow there was already a slender silver needle in her hand.

Lei Shenbao looked at this thin, gleaming little object, and could not pretend he wasn’t afraid.

He would never forget that, with just a few of these little things, he’d once been rendered unable to move, his hand and foot tendons severed.

“Yu Jingfeng, come here.” Feng Jiu’er glanced at Lei Shenbao and handed the silver needle to Yu Jingfeng.

“Miss Jiu’er, how do I do this? I don’t understand.” Yu Jingfeng respectfully took the long silver needle.

“It’s very simple. Stick it into the place men are proudest of. It hurts a little, but I hear Master Lei isn’t afraid of pain.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at Lei Shenbao, the corners of her lips curving slightly upward.

“Don’t worry, Lei Shenbao — the man I trained will strike true on the first try. There won’t be too much suffering.”

“By the time Feng Qiongcang comes to rescue you, you can head straight into the palace — you’ll even be spared the trouble of being cleansed beforehand. How convenient, don’t you think?”