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Глава 38

"I have no interest in the family affairs of the Shennong family..." Wen Su coldly interrupted the two, "If you two do not reveal the whereabouts of the divine needle, I will have no choice but to offend you."

"Within the Shennong family, apart from the sect leader Shi Mi, no one else can unleash the power of the divine needles. Tell me, who has those needles now?" Ling You slowly finished speaking.

Gui Jiu frowned, offering no rebuttal, as if tacitly agreeing.

"I see." Wen Su nodded. "Gentlemen, would it be feasible for me to exchange my 'Longevity Gu' for your sect leader's stolen 'Three Corpse Divine Needles'?"

Hearing this, Xiaoxiao felt a chill run down her spine. She had initially thought this "junior uncle" had stayed at Ling You's house to investigate suspicious points. But now it seemed he had clearly already seen through Ling You's identity. He had deliberately set an ambush to capture them all. Xiaoxiao now understood why he had risen to the position of the East Sea's top disciple at such a young age. But she still felt uneasy. Although she didn't expect him to save her, the fact that he had seen through her early on and yet didn't stop her—such cunning and scheming—was absolutely unsettling.

"I never expected that I would be outmaneuvered by you, young man, when I was just using you to hold off the pursuers," Ling You sighed helplessly.

Wen Su did not answer, but gestured for his disciples to make a move.

The disciples approached Ling You, intending to bind him. He, who had been about to surrender, suddenly raised his hand, and in an instant, the zombies lying on the ground rose to their feet and pounced on the disciples who were close to him.

A scream suddenly rang out. Xiao Xiao saw it clearly: the zombies viciously bit the disciples; the scene was utterly terrifying.

"Fire the arrows!" Wen Su immediately gave the order.

The rockets were launched simultaneously, and every single one hit its mark. But the zombies did not fall; despite being armed with rockets, they remained incredibly ferocious.

"Do you think my 'Corpse Manipulation Gu' is so useless?" Ling You mocked, then whistled softly.

Upon receiving the order, the zombies immediately rose and attacked the group.

Is this for real?! Things have changed so fast! It's truly a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; the one carrying the slingshot is also behind... She doesn't want to be the cicada, nor does she want to be the oriole! Xiao Xiao held her short sword protectively in front of her, sighing deeply.

At this moment, Ling You was in no hurry to leave. He pulled up his "son" and pressed several pressure points on him. Suddenly, Gui Jiu, who was not far away, froze for a moment, and then walked straight towards Ling You and his companion.

"Do you think only female Gu can attract male Gu?" Ling You asked with a smile as Gui Jiu approached.

"You..." Onius tried to speak, but his voice was hoarse. The next moment, he knelt down, unable to move.

“I knew all along that you were raising a female Gu while you were still alive, which is why I deliberately suppressed the male Gu to make you careless. Hehe, it really came without any effort at all.” Ling You took out several jet-black needles from his pocket. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. You continue to raise the female Gu for me. When the two Gu merge and my son is resurrected, you will naturally be free.”

After he finished speaking, he raised his hand, about to insert the needle.

Wen Su leaped in front of him, brandishing his sword to force away the hand that was about to strike with the needle. "The Three Corpse Divine Needles, so they were in your hands!"

Ling You retreated, and the zombies surged forward, halting Wen Su's offensive.

Ling You narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Now you know, it's too late. You're a smart man; you were just a hair's breadth away from ruining my plan. But it seems I was still one step ahead." He looked at everyone, "Now that you know the secret of the 'Longevity Gu,' you will all die!"

The zombies weren't particularly skilled in martial arts, but their strength lay in their lack of pain and inability to die. If this continued, even the most skilled would eventually run out of energy. Just as everyone was at a loss, they suddenly smelled a fragrant aroma.

He took a few deep breaths; the fragrance was delicate and rich, refreshing and invigorating, unlike the scent of peach blossoms. At that moment, the zombie's movements suddenly slowed down.

Ling You's expression immediately changed.

A flickering lamp drew near. A ten-year-old girl, dressed in Tang Dynasty palace attire, carrying a palace lantern, gracefully descended. Something was burning inside the lantern, and a fragrance emanated from it.

"That boy!" Ling You exclaimed in surprise.

The girl smiled and said, "Welcome, Sect Master."

...

Three-party transaction

Thirty-nine

The girl smiled and said, "Welcome, Sect Master."

Sect Master?! Could it be the current Sect Master of the Shennong Clan?! Xiao Xiao was quite surprised.

The Shennong family, which had closed its doors to medical practice five years prior, had patriarchs who were shrouded in mystery, rarely seen. No one had ever seen them. Xiao Xiao's eyes widened as she watched the person slowly approaching from a distance.

Long afterward, Xiaoxiao still remembered that scene. Under the clear moonlight, the peach blossoms on the trees shimmered, and a woman dressed in Tang Dynasty palace attire walked slowly towards them. Her appearance wasn't breathtakingly beautiful, but her aloof and noble air was unforgettable. Her eyes were peaceful and deep, and her entire being exuded an otherworldly majesty. As she approached, the grotesque zombies and the blood-stained crowd only made her seem like a fairy.

Surprisingly, no one around dared to make a move.

The woman ignored the people around her and quietly looked at Ling You.

"You really came, Shi Mi..." Ling You looked extremely nervous, and his voice was completely devoid of the confidence he had just displayed.

Shi Mi nodded slightly and slowly approached.

Ling You suddenly raised his hand, and the divine needle in his hand shot out.

This move was insidious and ruthless, executed with incredible speed. Shi Mi had no time to dodge, and the divine needles were about to strike. However, in the next instant, Shi Mi raised her hand, her wrist flicking slightly, and the black needles disappeared into her hand. She then fired them out, and the walking corpses nearby were all struck by the needles. The walking corpses, which were already slow-moving, all froze after being struck, remaining completely still.

"Hehe, using needles in front of the sect leader is like showing off your skills before an expert," the lantern-carrying girl sneered.

Upon seeing this, Lingyou pulled his son up and quickly stepped back a few paces.

Shi Mi's expression remained indifferent. She took a few steps forward, took out several equally black needles from her bosom, and quickly stuck them into Gui Jiu's body. Gui Jiu immediately regained his composure and bowed respectfully, saying, "Sect Master."

Shi Mi gestured for him to stand up and addressed the crowd around her, "Ling You is a traitor to my Shennong family. I hope you will not interfere. I will not pursue the matter from before. Please do as you see fit."

Xiao Xiao didn't care about what she said; she only felt that her voice was like a cold spring, with a slight chill seeping into her whole body, which she found very pleasant.

"We can stay out of this, but please, Sect Master, return our 108 'Three Corpse Divine Needles' from the East Sea!" Wen Su said sternly, brandishing his sword.

"How dare you!" the girl exclaimed. "Who do you think you are to negotiate with the sect leader?"

"You need not say more." Shi Mi's eyes remained fixed on Ling You, showing no regard for the others. "Ling You, you betrayed the Shennong family by taking the 'Longevity Gu' with you, and you also accused me of stealing someone else's 'Three Corpse Divine Needles'... I will kill you today, do you have any complaints?"

Ling You trembled all over and knelt down. "Sect Master... please spare my life, father and son..."

This change is truly astonishing.

Ling You's tone was sorrowful, "The dead cannot be brought back to life, and even the Sect Leader has experienced this pain. In this world, only you, Sect Leader, truly understand my suffering... I raised a female Gu, just so that he could call me 'Father' one more time... Please, spare me, considering my days are numbered..."

Shi Mi glanced at the young man beside Ling You. His eyes were numb, his body devoid of life, and his movements stiff. A hint of sorrow flickered in her eyes, but it vanished without a trace.

"Sect Master... I have already been crippled in martial arts and expelled from the Shennong Clan. Why do you have to be so ruthless..." Ling You was in tears, looking utterly miserable.

Xiao Xiao blinked, not quite understanding. Just moments ago, this old man had looked so wicked and spoke with such arrogance, but now he was so humble and subservient. What a drastic change! Sigh, perhaps this is a case of "pragmatism is the mother of invention"... She glanced at Wen Su, hoping that this martial uncle would also be pragmatic. She knew even with her toes that this sect leader was definitely not someone to be trifled with.

Shi Mi looked at the old man kneeling and begging for mercy in front of her and remained silent.

Suddenly, Ling You leaped up and took several steps back.

Shi Mi looked down and immediately frowned.

"No matter how powerful your 'Gu-expelling Incense' is, let's see how you deal with what's underground! Shi Mi, we have a long future ahead of us!" After saying this, Ling You grabbed his son and quickly fled.

Just then, the girl from Taiping City shouted, "Grandpa! You still owe me half a month's wages!!!"

No one quite understood what was happening, but what happened next made them lose all interest in investigating further. The ground beneath their feet, which had been solid, suddenly became soft and began to writhe in waves.

Xiao Xiao jumped aside in fright. Upon closer inspection, she saw something moving in the ground, like an earthworm.

At that moment, someone screamed in agony. The worms in the soil had pierced through the soles of the shoes and burrowed into the human body, wriggling within the flesh and blood.

Seeing this, everyone quickly sought out a safe place to stay.

Xiao Xiao was stunned with fright when suddenly someone picked her up and carried her to the roof. When she came to her senses, the person who had carried her was none other than Lian Zhao. She was immediately embarrassed and frantically tried to get down.

"Xiaoxiao, don't move," Lian Zhao said. "I'll put you down in a bit."

Xiao Xiao had no choice but to remain still, stiffly turning her head to watch the developments on the ground.

Shi Mi remained motionless throughout, standing there gracefully. The Gu worms beneath the ground had poked their heads out, writhing and coiling around her feet.

She picked up the palace lantern in her hand, quickly emptied the oil from it, and sprinkled it on the ground. In an instant, a ghostly blue flame ignited on the ground, and the Gu worms convulsed and retreated into the ground.

Gui Jiu took out a small porcelain bottle from his body, uncorked it, and inserted it into the ground with the opening facing down.

Xiao Xiao was on the rooftop, unable to see clearly, but by the moonlight, she could barely make out that the ground, which had been writhing, had gradually calmed down. Then, the surroundings became eerily quiet.

Suddenly, a giant black worm burst forth from the ground, over ten feet long and as thick as a bowl, resembling an earthworm. The worm writhed and convulsed.

Xiao Xiao looked closely and noticed that the insect had tiny white specks on its body. She strained to make out the details and finally realized it wasn't a large insect, but rather a collection of countless small insects. And those white specks were actually tiny white worms. Xiao Xiao's skin crawled with goosebumps; she couldn't stand these soft, squishy insects even more than the walking corpses!

At this moment, Shi Mi, who had been standing still, took out a jet-black needle from her bosom, hooked her right thumb around her middle finger, placed the needle between her fingers, and then shot it with great force.

The black needle pierced the Gu worm's body in an instant, and with a "poof," the Gu worm scattered. One of them was pinned down by the black needle, entangled for a while, and then turned into black liquid that seeped into the soil. With this worm dead, the other Gu worms all turned into black liquid and disappeared without a trace.

That solved it?! Amazing! Xiao Xiao couldn't help but admire. Finding that peculiar worm among hundreds, no, thousands of insects, and killing it with a single needle! Truly the patriarch of the Shennong family, extraordinary indeed!

"Now, do you all wish to continue demanding the 'Three Corpse Divine Needles' back from me, or will you accept my treatment?" Shi Mi quietly turned around and looked at the disciples of Donghai.

Many people were injured by the Gu poison earlier. Although the Gu worms have been eliminated, the remaining poison is still in their bodies. If they are not treated in time, their lives may be in danger.

In this situation, Wen Su could no longer insist. He sheathed his sword, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Please, Sect Master, disregard past grievances and lend a helping hand." His voice was filled with stiff resentment.

Shi Mi's expression remained aloof. She turned around and instructed, "Hey, you."

He nodded slightly and walked over to the disciples, examining them one by one.

Xiao Xiao finally felt relieved. She breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed her tense nerves. Then, she looked up at Lian Zhao, who was still standing there with a frown, feeling extremely embarrassed.

"Uh... Lian Zhao?" Xiao Xiao called softly.

Lian Zhao then came to his senses and looked down at her, "Huh?"

"Let's go down..." Xiao Xiao reminded him helplessly.

Lian Zhao's cheeks flushed red. "I'm sorry..." he said hurriedly, then jumped off the roof and landed on his small feet.

Xiao Xiao could only manage a forced laugh to ease the awkwardness. A cool night breeze blew against her, and after the initial tension, she suddenly felt sleepy. Whatever the reason, let her get a good night's sleep…

...

The next morning, when Xiaoxiao woke up, she found herself comfortably lying in bed. She got up and tried hard to remember. Last night, after everything calmed down, she had helped take care of the injured. When exactly had she fallen asleep?

She got out of bed, pushed open the door, and saw that the small hall was full of people. The injured disciples seemed to be alright, but they all stood behind Wen Su as if facing a formidable enemy, ready for battle.

Shi Mi sat in a chair, elegantly sipping her tea.

"What will it take for the sect leader to grant us aid?" Wen Suqiang asked, barely suppressing his anger.

Shi Mi sipped her tea quietly, without saying a word.

Bebe, standing beside her, spoke up, “You have been poisoned by the ‘Snake Gu,’ which cannot be cured by medicine. Only the Sect Master’s Divine Needle Bloodletting Technique can cure you. However, only the ‘Three Corpse Divine Needles’ can fully unleash the power of this technique.” Bebe smiled and said unhurriedly, “There are a total of 720 ‘Three Corpse Divine Needles.’ Of them, 360 are in my Shennong family, 108 are in your East Sea, and the whereabouts of the remaining 252 are unknown. If you are truly capable, go and collect all 720 needles. Then, the Sect Master will naturally provide the cure.”

"You—" Wen Su frowned, "You're making things difficult for me!"

He looked at him and said, "You can't even handle this simple matter, yet you dare to ask my Shennong family for help?"

Hearing this, Xiaoxiao felt a sense of helplessness. It seemed that getting the Shennong family to help was an impossible task; the silver needle in her wrist appeared to be useless…

"If we gather all the divine needles, will the sect leader be willing to save people?" The speaker was Lian Zhao.