This time, Hua Yan was not traveling alone. She brought along a team of people. To facilitate her actions, she disguised herself in men’s clothing and used a veiled bamboo hat to cover her increasingly conspicuous face.
As they traveled, they encountered a Yufeng Hall pharmacy. Hua Yan caused some destruction before continuing on their way.
Listening to the chaos inside the pharmacy, Hua Yan remained calm, still calculating on the map how many more days it would take to reach their destination.
Yin Xiangsi had set up the trap in a somewhat remote small town named Migu. Initially, someone from Migu Town sought help from passing young heroes, but once they entered the town, they vanished without a trace, like a mud ox entering the sea. Consequently, many young disciples went to rescue their companions but also disappeared.
The disappearance of many people gradually drew the attention of various sects, who then sent more disciples to investigate.
Hua Yan, looking at the information delivered, thought to herself that Yin Xiangsi was probably hiding inside, laughing herself to death.
Her mother had told her that Yin Xiangsi, this old witch, loved nothing more than playing the pig to eat the tiger, shooting cold arrows from the dark.
The Zhengyi Sect had intricate connections with the Wan Gu Sect. Xie Yingxian had his own ways of knowing Yin Xiangsi’s movements, but the righteous path might not be able to fully understand the situation in a short time. Sending more disciples would only result in them being picked off one by one by her, for her to savor.
***
Lu Chengzhao felt extremely unlucky.
Why was it him again?
The family wanted to train disciples, but why did they have to choose him? Why not send Lu Chengyang?
He was finally happy for a couple of days, so why did he have to follow Lu Chengsha on another mission?
Moreover, Lu Chengsha now looked even colder and more terrifying than before. One glance from him was like a freezing cold snap. Damn it, it wasn’t like he had betrayed his feelings. Was this necessary?
It was all because of that woman.
He knew she was trouble from the start—sure enough, she turned out to be a demon sect witch! He had anticipated this!
Once the news broke, it spread like wildfire across the martial world. The notion that Lu Chengsha from Tingjian Manor had been seduced by a demon sect witch was utterly ridiculous!
Lu Chengzhao laughed until his mouth twisted when he heard.
Karma is real; look up and see, heaven spares no one!
Lu Chengsha, this is your day!
He was flaunting his romance proudly before! At the Sword Tournament, many had seen the couple being intimate. Various accounts were embellished, described vividly, and even within Tingjian Manor, rumors had spread. The disciples who hadn’t attended the Sword Tournament were shocked, but for Tingjian Manor, it was undoubtedly a disgraceful affair.
His grandfather immediately summoned Lu Chengsha, who had just returned from Cixin Valley, for questioning. For over an hour, they could occasionally hear his grandfather’s furious outbursts.
Lu Chengzhao then learned that the witch not only followed Lu Chengsha to the Sword Tournament but had also secretly come to the manor to see him. Lu Chengsha confessed without hesitation, even admitting that they had been physically intimate. This was practically asking for his grandfather’s wrath.
Even Lu Chengzhao found it absurd. After all, no one else knew about the witch and Lu Chengsha’s relationship. If Lu Chengsha had just denied it, no one would be the wiser. But to confess so straightforwardly…
There was no good outcome for this!
Sure enough, Lu Chengsha was punished with a hundred lashes. He endured it all, and it’s said that the disciple administering the punishment ended up with a trembling hand from the exertion. Lu Chengsha’s back was left a bloody mess, but he showed his resilience by not uttering a single cry.
Lu Chengzhao initially wanted to watch the spectacle, but ended up feeling pain in his own back just from watching.
Normally, when disciples were punished, they received about twenty lashes at most, which would leave them bedridden for ten days to two weeks. A hundred lashes for Lu Chengsha was unimaginable.
Not even two days into his recovery, Lu Chengsha was sentenced to kneel in the ancestral hall for solitary confinement, watched day and night.
His grandfather even forbade anyone from speaking to him—but this was unnecessary. Lu Chengsha had no desire to talk. The strong smell of blood lingered around him for days.
Lu Chengzhao knew their family chose black for their sect attire specifically to hide bloodstains, even if soaked through, it still looked black.
Moreover, his grandfather increased the patrols, hoping to capture the witch if she dared to return. But it was obvious she had just been toying with Lu Chengsha. Now that her identity was exposed, there was no way she would come back. It was a pipe dream.
Lu Chengzhao, feeling unusually sympathetic because of Lu Chengsha’s plight, found his sympathy quickly evaporating.
After three months of silence, it seemed Lu Chengsha had thoroughly reflected on his actions. Just then, they received news from disciples of other sects, requesting help as their disciples had mysteriously disappeared in a small town, suspected to be the work of the demon sect. His grandfather decided to send someone to investigate, giving Lu Chengsha a chance to redeem himself—and also took Lu Chengzhao along.
So why the hell did it involve him?
The ten or so accompanying disciples trailed behind Lu Chengsha at a distance. As the eldest son of Lu Huaitian, Lu Chengzhao couldn’t back down and had to reluctantly lead from the front.
If Lu Chengsha had previously been a cold, emotionless weapon, he now looked like a weapon riddled with wounds, with a hint of destruction in his gaze.
If he encountered any demon sect members, he would likely tear them to pieces on the spot.
Lu Chengzhao sensed that Lu Chengsha’s current state wasn’t just due to his grandfather’s punishment and guilt. The main reason was probably the witch who deceived his feelings.
It’s just a woman. If it doesn’t work out, find another one. In the brothels, there are women of all shapes and temperaments, whether gentle and understanding or alluring and seductive. There’s always one that will suit your fancy.
For personal safety and to make everyone’s life more comfortable, Lu Chengzhao spent a considerable amount of money to hire a beautiful courtesan from a nearby flower house to console Lu Chengsha. However, as soon as she approached the door, she started trembling. With great difficulty, she managed to take a few steps inside but then quickly retreated, shivering.
“Yingyingying, I was scared to death. This gentleman is terrifying…”
“I’ll return your money! I really can’t do this…”
Lu Chengzhao was puzzled. Wasn’t Lu Chengsha gentle and kind towards that witch?
After this, Lu Chengsha seemed even colder.
Lu Chengzhao felt his efforts backfired, cursing internally at Lu Chengsha for not appreciating his good intentions.
A few days later, despite the unpleasantness, they arrived outside the town. The closer they got, the fewer people they saw. How the initial disciple found this place was a mystery.
The small town was shrouded in mist, making it hard to see clearly. The town gate was overgrown with weeds, and the outlines of a few earthen houses could be vaguely seen. A dilapidated monument stood outside, barely legible with the words “Migu” on it. The occasional wisp of smoke was the only sign of inhabitants.
Lu Chengzhao shouted into the town, but there was no response.
Migu Town exuded an indescribable eeriness. Given the number of disciples that had entered, it shouldn’t have been this quiet.
Other disciples from different sects were also hesitant to enter. Seeing the group from Tingjian Manor, especially Lu Chengsha, they immediately approached cautiously, asking, “Are you young heroes here for the rescue as well? Can we join forces?”
Clearing his throat, Lu Chengzhao tried to maintain the demeanor of a reputable disciple, asking, “Have people gone in before? What’s the situation? Any abnormalities? Have you seen any demon sect members?”
The disciple being questioned shook his head, “The Qingcheng Sect went in first, but there’s been no movement since. We haven’t seen anything unusual; it’s completely silent inside, as if it’s isolated from the world.” He glanced at Migu Town with a hint of fear, “That town looks like a man-eating beast. If it weren’t for my senior being trapped inside, I wouldn’t dare…”
Lu Chengzhao understood his sentiment. He didn’t want to go in either.
However, Lu Chengsha, having listened, dismounted and walked straight towards the town.
Damn it, can’t you be more cooperative!
Lu Chengzhao wanted to just wait outside, but with disciples from other sects watching, he couldn’t afford to disgrace Tingjian Manor. If his father found out, he would surely get a scolding.
Moreover, if Lu Chengsha went in and didn’t return, it would be even less safe for him to enter later!
So, the group followed Lu Chengsha into the town.
The fog was thick, limiting visibility to just a few inches ahead, reminding Lu Chengzhao of their experiences during the sect wars, sending chills down his spine. They first inspected the nearby earthen houses, but unfortunately, there were no signs of life. The water and rice jars were empty, and the cooking utensils were cold. Just as everyone was feeling disappointed, they suddenly heard a peculiar, coquettish laugh.
“Giggle, giggle.”
The laugh was both seductive and crisp, but in the mist, it sounded especially eerie. A shadow flashed above them, and everyone tensed.
The shadow flicked silver needles towards them. Lu Chengsha moved swiftly, drawing his sword to deflect the needles. He darted through the mist, seeming to know exactly where to go without needing to see. His sword pierced forward, straight through the chest of the assailant, killing them instantly.
The person seemed shocked at being caught so quickly and brutally, spitting out a mouthful of blood before dying with a tilted head.
But to the others, this was typical of the fearsome Lu Chengsha.
The group quickly gathered around.
The fallen figure was dressed as a woman, but the heavy makeup obscured their features. Someone inspected the body for clues and suddenly exclaimed, “This is a man!”
Though disguised with makeup and perfume, a quick check revealed the truth—women typically didn’t have such a large frame.
The body had hidden poisoned weapons and various unknown powders, as well as a small booklet that was clearly inappropriate for young disciples.
The group’s already uneasy expressions grew even more so.
Nevertheless, they all knew this person was undoubtedly from the demon sect.
Lu Chengsha casually withdrew his sword from the hilt, his expression unchanged.
- ••
At the same time, Hua Yan drew her sword. Yin Xiangsi’s men probably mistook them for ordinary righteous sect disciples, which is why this hapless attacker chose to ambush her. Hua Yan’s reaction was now several times faster than before; she reflexively swung her sword in a reverse grip.
Over the past three months, she had practiced this move thousands of times, and the speed of her attack even startled herself.
The attacker was instantly killed.
When she returned to the sect with Xie Yingxian, she had also killed, but it always felt surreal. Although she knew she was killing villains, she still felt a bit fearful. If she truly became a qualified demon sect witch, would she and Lu Chengsha inevitably drift apart?
Her subordinates had already checked the body.
“It’s a man.”
Hua Yan nodded. Yin Xiangsi never kept women by her side, being extremely narrow-minded and unable to tolerate another woman, even a maid. Thus, she would rather have men dressed as women around her.
Looking at the foggy surroundings, Hua Yan pondered how to safely find Lu Chengsha.
After much thought, she captured a live one the second time, using her enchanting voice to compel him to reveal Yin Xiangsi’s whereabouts. After obtaining a rough location, Hua Yan ordered her subordinates to stay put and wait for her return, while she went alone to find Yin Xiangsi.
Yin Xiangsi was located beneath a dilapidated temple in the northeast corner of Migu Town.
With her refined martial arts skills and increased inner strength, Hua Yan’s pace was faster than before. She quickly arrived at her destination due to her clear objective.
The dilapidated temple was inconspicuous, easily overlooked with its collapsing eaves and dusty, cobweb-covered interior. If not for her certainty that the captive wouldn’t lie under her spell, Hua Yan would have doubted herself.
She looked up to see a battered Buddha statue holding a delicate woman in its lap, their lips almost touching, limbs intertwined.
Blushing at the sight, Hua Yan recognized this as Yin Xiangsi’s favorite “Joyful Buddha.”
This confirmed Yin Xiangsi’s presence.
After some searching, Hua Yan sensed someone approaching. She quickly hid on a beam and saw a tall man in women’s clothing carrying two unconscious young disciples. He ensured no one was following before pulling on an ornament hanging from the woman in the statue’s lap. A soft click followed, and the statue shifted slightly, revealing a hidden passage.
After he entered and the coast was clear, Hua Yan mimicked his actions and followed him down the passage.
Descending the steps, Hua Yan navigated several turns before entering a new space. It was spacious and bright, almost resembling a regular household with screen walls, a front hall, beams, and pillars. Clearly, Yin Xiangsi had prepared this place meticulously. Several people were walking around, and the air was filled with a sweet fragrance. Hua Yan avoided their sight, silently leaping to the beams above and cautiously moving closer.
Soon, she heard Yin Xiangsi’s voice, sharp and high-pitched like a woman deliberately raising her pitch when acting coy.
“Was he killed again?”
Looking down, Hua Yan noticed a row of jars in front of Yin Xiangsi, each containing a sound-transmitting Gu. These Gu insects were paired with a master and child Gu; when someone spoke to the child Gu implanted in a person, the sound would resonate with the master Gu in another location, and vice versa.
A trembling voice came from one of the jars, “He is indeed… quite skilled.”
Yin Xiangsi’s sinister laugh followed, “How skilled?”
The voice from the jar quivered, “I… don’t know.”
“Useless.” Yin Xiangsi sneered. “Where is he now?”
After receiving an answer, Yin Xiangsi instructed, “Alright, keep watching him.”
She then fell into thought, giving Hua Yan the opportunity to observe the room. She noticed several young male disciples lying around, drained of vitality, their clothes disheveled, faces ashen, and appearing like spent coals. Some parts of their bodies, visible through gaps in their clothing, were inappropriate to see.
The sight gave Hua Yan a shock, and then she turned away, repulsed.
From her vantage point, Hua Yan couldn’t see Yin Xiangsi’s face, but her figure and skin were still youthful. She wore only a thin gauze dress, revealing her graceful and slender form, reclining on an oversized redwood bed. At that moment, a young servant was kneeling and applying nail polish to her hands.
Yin Xiangsi, despite being over seventy years old, maintained her youth by practicing a demonic art that absorbed the vitality and skills of men. Hua Yan’s mother had once remarked disdainfully that mastering such a technique required extraordinary resilience—most couldn’t endure it.
The disciples drained by Yin Xiangsi were pitiful, losing their martial abilities permanently, their bodies left weakened and unable to practice martial arts again. Though they didn’t die, their fate was worse than death.
Yin Xiangsi pushed the servant away and said, “Go, bring Little Two here.”
Soon, Little Two arrived, and Hua Yan was surprised to see that it was none other than You Weitian.
No longer dressed in his red attire with a red ribbon, he now wore the same uniform as all of Yin Xiangsi’s attendants. The pride and ferocity in his eyes had been completely wiped away, replaced with sheer obedience. He knelt before Yin Xiangsi without any sign of humiliation.
Yin Xiangsi lifted You Weitian’s chin and said, “Tell me, just how difficult is this Lu Chengsha to deal with? He killed seven of my precious darlings in one breath, and it broke my heart.”
Hua Yan: “…!”
So she had been talking about Lu Chengsha!
You Weitian gazed at Yin Xiangsi’s face and obediently relayed everything he knew about Lu Chengsha, including his martial arts techniques, daily habits, and personality, without a trace of his previous insolence.
Yin Xiangsi pondered for a moment and asked, “Is he married, or does he have any weaknesses?”
You Weitian replied, “He is not married yet. As for weaknesses… I’m not sure if it counts, but he was deeply infatuated with the current Holy Maiden of the Zhengyi Sect.”
“Current? Oh right, Hua Ran is dead.” Yin Xiangsi suddenly smiled, “The girls of Hua Ran’s family have grown up to the point where they can seduce men? So Lu Chengsha is no longer a virgin then. Such a pity.”
You Weitian said, “From what I observed earlier, he should still be pure.”
Yin Xiangsi, hearing this, suddenly licked her lips and said, “Still pure? How interesting. His martial arts must be at the top among young disciples now… that would be a great supplement…” Her tone grew increasingly amused. “… Consuming him would make even an empty-handed return worthwhile.”
Hua Yan grew angrier with every word she heard.
This old witch is coveting my man!
After speaking, Yin Xiangsi draped herself in a robe and prepared to leave.
As soon as Yin Xiangsi stepped out, Hua Yan quickly followed.
Outside the temple, Yin Xiangsi soon disappeared into the mist. Hua Yan remembered the location mentioned in the sound-transmitting Gu but realized that what was simple for someone familiar with the layout like Yin Xiangsi was far more challenging for her.
She began to feel anxious and a bit regretful. In hindsight, she should have taken the risk of confronting Yin Xiangsi directly.
***
This was the eighth wave they encountered.
The previous seven groups, who relied on tricks and illusions, were easily dispatched by Lu Chengsha. They even managed to rescue several unconscious disciples who had entered earlier. Everyone was full of confidence, believing that the deeper they went, the more likely they were to rescue the others.
However, the eighth wave was different from the previous seven.
There was no sound, no visible abnormalities, only a faint, intoxicating fragrance wafting through the air. Someone immediately covered their nose and mouth.
“Is this scent poisonous?”
“It’s over. I’ve already inhaled it… but I don’t feel any different. Young Hero Lu, what do you think?”
Lu Chengsha followed the scent, but the figure he was chasing moved with an almost ghostly speed, nearly matching his own. Clearly, this opponent’s martial arts were far superior to those he had faced before. However, now that he had confirmed the enemy was from the demon sect, his mission was to kill them.
Gripping his sword, he realized the opponent was leading him further away, gradually separating him from the others.
—Even if there is a problem, as long as I kill the opponent, it will be fine.
As Lu Chengsha thought this, a familiar, distant laugh echoed in the air.
His heart suddenly clenched.
He didn’t know how far he had gone when the ghostly figure in front of him stopped. The person stood there gracefully, and as the thick mist gradually dissipated, their face was revealed. Large, bright eyes shimmered with light, a delicate and exquisite nose, lips of vibrant cherry red, slightly upturned. She gave him a coquettish smile, making her already stunningly beautiful face even more lively and captivating, exuding an irresistible charm.
Lu Chengsha’s heart skipped a beat, followed by a twisting pain.
It was the face he longed for day and night.
The figure seemed to sense his change, laughing more seductively. She parted her lips slightly, speaking in a voice he knew all too well, “Lu Lang, I missed you so much.”
Lu Chengsha didn’t move.
She wouldn’t call him that, nor would she smile like that.
But knowing it was false, he still wanted to look a bit longer.