Meister der Mehrdeutigkeit

Kapitel 61

At this moment, Bizi put down the mortar and rushed forward. She took out a packet of medicinal incense from her bosom and sprinkled it on Yunhua and Morinda officinalis.

The two realized the scented powder was unusual and both took a few steps back.

"Sect Master, let's go!" Bizi shouted.

Shi Mi stepped back, slightly surprised.

"If something happens to you, who can save him? Hurry up and run!" Bizi stepped forward, blocking Yunhua and Bajitian's attacks, and shouted with tears in her eyes.

Without further hesitation, Shi Mi leaped away.

Yunhua frowned, gathered her strength in her palm, and immediately sent the boy flying several feet away. Then, she glanced at Bajitian, nodded slightly, and leaped after Shimi.

Ba Jitian clasped his hands in a fist salute, "I apologize for the miscellaneous tasks of this sect, which have caused you all to laugh..." After he finished speaking, he looked at Yan Ji, then at Wei Qi, and said, "Please leave this walking corpse to me as well..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan immediately stepped in front of Yan Ji, shouting, "No! You're not allowed to touch my mother!"

Ba Jitian shook his head, "Young lady, she is not your mother. She is just a moving corpse. Bringing the dead back to life is utter nonsense. Young lady, please let her go..."

"No!" Zhao Yan turned around, looking at Shen Chen and Wei Qi. "I can't let him kill my mother!"

Shen Chen's voice trembled as he said to Ba Jitian, "...You can't touch her..."

At this moment, the old lady suddenly spoke up, "Master! When did you become so unable to distinguish right from wrong?! This woman is long dead; now, she's nothing but a monster!"

Knowing that Shen Chen was powerless to stop it, Zhao Yan then turned to Wei Qi for help.

Wei Qi frowned and said, "Senior, there is a female Longevity Gu inside this walking corpse. Wouldn't it be a pity to destroy it like this?"

Bajitian smiled and said, "Under the whole heaven, only Heaven and Earth, the parents, can create human life. Shennong dares not act rashly."

After these words were spoken, Wei Qi was unable to say another word.

Zhao Yan was bewildered and helpless, then rushed towards Madam Xi. "Madam! Madam... save my mother..."

Tears welled in Lady Xi's eyes. "Yan'er... the dead are gone, Shennong was right... just let go..."

Zhao Yan shook her head, crying, then saw Mo Yun. She stood up, ran over to him, and said, "Save my mother! She's your master's wife! If you save her, I'll go with you to see Qi Han!"

Mo Yun looked at her, his brows furrowed, and shook his head heavily.

Zhao Yan looked up, her eyes filled with complex and unreadable emotions. "Why...why? She's my mother! Why do you all want her dead? Why?!"

At this moment, Ba Jitian reached out, about to take out the Longevity Gu.

Zhao Yan gritted her teeth, drew the sword from Mo Yun's waist, and charged forward.

Bajitian sensed the wind from behind and quickly turned around, raising his palm.

Zhao Yan had no martial arts skills to begin with, so his death was inevitable.

At this moment, Mo Yun leaped forward, pulled Zhao Yan away, and raised his palm to meet the attack.

Their palms collided, forcing both of them back several steps.

"I never expected you to have such internal strength at such a young age," Ba Jitian exclaimed in admiration.

Mo Yun calmed his breathing and said, "She misses her mother dearly and has no intention of offending Shennong. Please, senior, show mercy."

Ba Jitian glanced at Zhao Yan and nodded, saying, "Just a little girl, I won't take it seriously."

Madam Xi rushed over and grabbed Zhao Yan, "Yan'er, listen to your mother, don't make a scene..."

Zhao Yan's face was pale, and she cried out with all her might.

Ba Jitian remained unmoved. He raised his hand and struck Yan Ji's Fengfu acupoint at the back of her head. A small, transparent worm was jolted out and landed in his palm.

Ba Jitian gently clenched his fist, and a clear liquid flowed from between his fingers. The Longevity Gu had become a legendary item, never to be reproduced again.

Ba Jitian glanced at the fallen Yan Ji and frowned. Although the Longevity Gu had been removed, Yan Ji's beauty remained. Ba Jitian squatted down with slight suspicion, examined her, and then laughed, looking up at the sky, "I never imagined there would be anyone in the world who would use such a heinous method to preserve a corpse! It truly chills me to the bone!" His gaze slowly swept over the crowd. "Internal organs replaced, meridians reconnected, even the blood in her body isn't her own! Using the 'Three Corpse Divine Needles' to stimulate her blood and qi, mimicking a living person! Such a vicious method, such a terrifying obsession! But..." Ba Jitian's eyes sharpened, "This is the end!"

After he finished speaking, he struck down with his palm, and several "Three Corpse Divine Needles" burst out from Yan Ji's body. In an instant, her stunningly beautiful face decayed and turned into withered bones.

All around was completely silent.

The midday sun shone in the courtyard, making one sweat slightly. A strange sense of ease washed over me. The imposing Shennong elder before me slowly rose, put his hands behind his back, and looked almost sacred.

The idea of bringing the dead back to life is indeed a terrifying obsession. But how many people in the world can truly let go of such an obsession? If her master's body were still alive, would she hesitate? Indeed, it is an obsession…

...

March is drawing to a close [Part 1]

After the chaos, things finally calmed down at Jiyu Manor. Led by Hero Fortress, the group entered the underground palace to investigate, finding the bodies of Ling You and his son, the remains of several young girls, and countless Gu worms. Many questions remained, and after discussion, the three families decided to send relevant personnel to Hero Fortress for investigation by the Three Heroes. Regardless of the outcome, the matter was finally brought to a close.

As for what happened to Xiaoxiao and her group in the underground palace, it was naturally covered up with the excuse that "Xiaoxiao was kidnapped and the other two rescued her." Xiaoxiao couldn't help but feel fortunate; if it weren't for Taiping City being such a powerful backer, it would have been extremely difficult for the three of them to escape.

After everyone changed their clothes and rested for a while, Xiao Xiao heard the whole story in Shi Le'er's room.

Shi Le'er was attending the Fair of Rare Goods at Hero's Fortress when she received a message from Yue Huaixi. Coincidentally, Hero's Fortress had also received news of her maid's abduction, so she came along. The Shennong family also happened to be there, and unexpectedly, their meeting uncovered such a momentous event. However, regardless, if the three families hadn't come and demanded that the old lady of Jiyu Manor open the underground palace to investigate, Xiao Xiao and her companions would likely have perished there, never to see the light of day again.

Xiao Xiao couldn't help but sigh, "Thank God, I wasn't meant to die!"

Seeing her sigh, Shi Le'er smiled and said, "In any case, it's true that you were lucky, sister. Everyone else in the underground palace was injured, but you were the only one who remained untouched by the dust!"

Hearing this, Xiaoxiao remembered that warm embrace. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she whispered, "Uh... what a coincidence..."

Seeing this, Shi Le'er smiled innocently and didn't press the matter. Instead, she asked, "By the way, who is that man next to you, sister?"

Even a child could tell who Shi Le'er was talking about. She spoke up, saying, "My martial uncle. He's my master's younger brother."

Shi Le'er tilted her head and thought for a moment, "Younger brother? I've never heard of the Ghost Master having a younger brother... But he's full of secrets, so one more won't make a difference." Le'er stood up and smiled, "No wonder they're brothers, their smiles and voices are exactly alike."

Completely similar? Xiao Xiao lowered her head and thought for a moment. At first glance, they might seem very similar, but upon closer inspection, they were clearly quite different. The reason they seemed completely similar was probably because Shi Le'er and her master weren't close...

"Alright, alright, now that things have come to an end and you've escaped unharmed, let me host a feast to help you calm your nerves." Shi Le'er took her small hand and smiled, "Speaking of which, I also miss Brother Lian quite a bit. Come to think of it, we're all family! By the way, when you get married in the future, please let me know. A daughter's wedding in Taiping City should naturally be a grand affair!"

Xiao Xiao found the first half of the sentence quite heartwarming. However, the second half stunned her, leaving her speechless for a long time. "A daughter of Taiping City is being married off"? When did she become a daughter of Taiping City? Could it be... that Shi Le'er... is speaking to her now in the tone of "teacher's wife"?

Xiao Xiao looked Shi Le'er up and down, then stiffened and couldn't say a word.

"What's wrong? What did Le'er say wrong?" Shi Le'er frowned and asked.

Xiao Xiao shook her head, "No! Thank you so much for your great kindness, City Lord!"

Shi Le'er nodded in satisfaction. "Okay. That's settled then. Sister, go back to your room and do your makeup. I'll send someone to fetch you later!"

She nodded stiffly.

Shi Le'er then turned to Yue Huaixi and said, "Xiaoxi, go to the best restaurant in town and book a table with food and drinks. Hurry back..."

Yue Huaixi nodded, then, as if remembering something, asked, "Le'er, what are you going to do about the eldest young master of the Wei family? Are you going to let the real culprit go unpunished?"

Shi Le'er looked at Yue Huaixi, sighed, and said, "This matter is very troublesome. Indeed, as Wei Yingyang said, as the eldest young master of Hero's Fortress, with his second brother already expelled from the family and his third brother being useless, it's only a matter of time before Hero's Fortress recalls him. Why would he switch allegiance to the Divine Firmament Sect and earn the infamy of betraying his master and ancestors? If we have such suspicions, Hero's Fortress will naturally have them too..."

"That's right! He's using that as leverage to say I'm talking nonsense!" Yue Huaixi said indignantly.

Xiao Xiao lowered her eyes. The only reason the young master of Hero's Fortress could abandon everything and betray his master and ancestors could be this: whoever possesses the Nine Emperor Artifacts will rule the world. Xiao Xiao glanced at Shi Le'er again, but decided it was best not to let others get involved. Since encountering the Nine Emperor Artifacts, she had come to understand one fact more deeply: this thing was absolutely a scourge to the nation, causing immense suffering and harm to both body and mind; it was ever-present, and whoever encountered it was doomed!

He nodded slightly, remained silent, and observed the situation.

Shi Le'er, oblivious to anything amiss, said leisurely, "There's nothing we can do about it. To be honest, the underground palace of Jiyu Manor is a forbidden area within the manor, a secret of the martial world. They haven't even investigated how you got into it yet!"

"Huh? It's not my fault, Xiaoxiao gave me the map!" Yue Huaixi immediately pointed to Xiaoxiao.

I was slightly startled.

Shi Le'er looked up at her, "Sister is indeed incredibly capable..."

He chuckled a few times, neither confirming nor denying.

Shi Le'er didn't press the matter, but smiled and said, "I can't handle Wei Yingyang, but I'm quite confident in dealing with Shen Chen."

Xiao Xiao laughed upon hearing this. Previously, Wei Qi had protected Shen Chen precisely to prevent him from betraying him. If Shi Le'er could expose Shen Chen's crimes, it would be extremely difficult for Wei Qi to distance himself from the situation.

Shi Le'er laughed, "A hastily made-up lie always has loopholes. When Xiaoxi was working for Ling You, Ling You was hiding in the mountains and didn't join forces with anyone. His relationship with Shen Chen probably only lasted a few days. And the girl's disappearance, if traced back, has been going on for over a year. Such flaws can't be covered up with 'being threatened by Ling You' or 'being controlled'... Hmph, Wei Yingyang, you dared to turn around and bite my Taiping City before, I, Shi Le'er, will make you pay the price! Hmph!!!"

Xiao Xiao felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this. So, there was such a hidden story.

Shi Le'er stood with her hands behind her back, looking mature beyond her years, and sighed leisurely, "Hmph. The three Wei brothers are either spoiled brats or have ulterior motives. They want me to marry them? That's just wishful thinking!"

Xiao Xiao and Xiao Xi exchanged a glance and could only agree repeatedly.

Xiao Xiao finally managed to escape after listening to Shi Le'er's spiel that "all the Wei family's young masters are wicked." She walked slowly down the corridor, unable to suppress a laugh. That girl Shi Le'er, though young, has a heart as sharp as a girl's. She really wondered what her master would do if she were alive and encountered her. Hehe…

She didn't laugh for long before she saw a scene that made her stop laughing. Lian Zhao and Shen Yuan were standing at the corner not far ahead.

Xiao Xiao stood there dumbfounded, staring blankly. The two people in front of her looked so well-matched that the phrase "a match made in heaven" even popped into her mind.

Yes, that's how it should be. A son of a prestigious family should naturally be paired with a daughter of a prestigious family… That's how it's always portrayed in plays. A perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman. Lian Zhao, however, was ultimately just a beautiful illusion. She was merely a child who had a beautiful dream and didn't want to wake up…

And now, it's all over. In the underground palace, Shen Yuan already knew her identity; with just one word, everything would be shattered. She should pay the price for every lie she'd told…

As she thought this, her heart suddenly clenched a few times. She paused, touched her chest, and felt a slight, distinct pain. Suddenly, Wen Su's words echoed in her mind: "If he truly loves you, he won't care whether you've lied to him or whether you're a disciple of the Ghost Master."

But Lian Zhao said: "Love is not something to be taken lightly. At this moment, Lian Zhao dares not speak of his true feelings. However, Lian Zhao will fall in love with you."

Before she said "like," there was an extra "will"... Now, does she "will"? Can she gamble on this "will"?

Her mind was in complete turmoil, and she even forgot that at times like this, she should run away, just like she did at the beginning, carefree and run far away, and honestly be the bad guy.

However, she couldn't move until Shen Yuan walked up to her, nodded in acknowledgment, and then silently walked away. Only then did she react and abruptly raise her head.

"Xiaoxiao?" Lian Zhao was somewhat surprised when he saw her.

Xiao Xiao instinctively took a step back and said, "Ah, I didn't mean to! Please don't kill me!"

Lian Zhao was a little embarrassed by her words and quickly explained, "Xiao Xiao, what are you talking about? Have you misunderstood something? I just heard that Miss Shen has woken up, so I came to visit her..."

Xiao Xiao timidly looked up at him, slightly puzzled. Had Shen Yuan not said anything?

Lian Zhao, still somewhat embarrassed, said, "After all, we were the ones who deceived you first, so I think we should apologize no matter what..."

Xiao Xiao listened blankly, unsure how to respond.

Lian Zhao continued to explain, "Although Master Shen has committed many unjust acts, he is, after all, her father... So many things have happened in just a few days, I dare not say that I bear no responsibility..."

"Miss Shen said she would put aside her own family ties and correct her father, right?" Xiao Xiao asked.

Lian Zhao was slightly surprised, then nodded.

She smiled slightly and said, "Miss Shen is truly admirable for her profound understanding and sense of justice..."

“Hmm,” Lian Zhao replied.