Following the dim passage of the hidden chamber all the way down, Hua Qiuyuan soon found an iron door.
He could vaguely hear sounds coming from the other side. He carefully felt around the iron door and found a tiny opening near the top.
Holding his breath, Hua Qiuyuan quietly moved closer to the small window in the door and tried hard to look inside. The figure within seemed strangely familiar, but because the man had his back turned, he could not make him out at first.
Shentu Zhuojia inside the room also heard the noise and turned around.
"My lord!"
"Qiuyuan? How did you find me?"
Shentu Zhuojia recognized the voice outside the door and could not hide his surprise.
"Ever since my lord came out of seclusion last time, your temperament and the way you handled things have been completely different from before. You have also worn a mask every day and forbidden anyone from attending you in your bedchamber. I felt there was something strange going on. A few days ago, I noticed something odd in this room, so I came to investigate. I never expected to find you here, my lord," Hua Qiuyuan explained.
"Did anyone see you come in?" Shentu Zhuojia asked.
"No. My lord, let me l get you out first." Just as Hua Qiuyuan was about to break open the iron door of the hidden chamber, he heard the voices of the ghost attendants.
"Greetings, Demon Sovereign."
"Qiuyuan, you are not his match. Leave now. As for rescuing me, we will plan it later," Shentu Zhuojia said. He had naturally heard the voices too.
"Yes." Hua Qiuyuan answered and quickly slipped away in silence.
The moment Li Minghan stepped into the bedchamber, he sensed that someone had been there before, but he did not find anyone.
At that moment, a ghost attendant walked in carrying fresh clothes.
"Has anyone been here?" Li Minghan asked.
"My lord, we servants wanted to come in and clean earlier, but Commander Hua drove us out. We only cleared away some of the broken pieces on the floor before leaving,"
"I see."
Tired, Li Minghan took off his cloak and casually tossed it over the screen, then walked behind it. As he slowly removed his mask, Hua Qiuyuan on the beam saw Li Minghan's true face.
"Is him!"
Hua Qiuyuan had seen Li Minghan before. Because Li Minghan and Shentu Zhuojia had once been close friends, he used to come and go from the Demon Sovereign's hall often. When he first noticed that the Demon Sovereign had become somewhat different after leaving seclusion, the first person Hua Qiuyuan had suspected was Li Minghan. At the time, though, he had no proof and could only keep it as a suspicion.
"My lord, Qingyuan from the Liao Yin Immortal Realm requests an audience," a ghost attendant reported from outside.
"I know." Li Minghan put the mask back on again and turned to leave.
Only then did Hua Qiuyuan float down from the beam and hurry away.
In the market of the Flatland, Hua Ruoying was strolling around with Qingping in high spirits.
"This one, this one, and this one too. I want them all. Send them to Lord Nanzhe's residence," Hua Ruoying said picked out all kinds of rare treasures in the market.
"Sister Ruoying, no matter how you look at it, we are living under someone else's roof now. Buying so many things at once and making him pay for them... is that really alright?" Qingping asked.
"He was the one who asked me to stay. Besides, I did not bring any of the things I need for making poisons. If he does not have them, then I can come out and buy them myself. What is wrong with that?" Hua Ruoying said with no concern at all.
"But... but..." Qingping still wanted to say something.
"Oh, enough with your 'but this' and 'but that.' He has not even been at the residence these past few days. As long as we..." Hua Ruoying cut him off and was just about to continue.
"As long as what?" Nanzhe's cool voice suddenly appeared behind them.
Inside a private room at the Flatland Inn...
Nanzhe had ordered a whole table full of fine food and wine, and Hua Ruoying ate and drank without holding back at all.
After spending these days together, Hua Ruoying felt that she had more or less figured out Nanzhe's temper. Most of the time he only seemed to be scaring her and had never actually done any of the ruthless things people said he did. Because of that, the guard in her heart had gradually lowered.
"Have you bought everything you need?" Nanzhe asked after seeing Hua Ruoying had nearly finished eating. His voice carried a rare softness, and his gaze was openly indulgent.
"Almost. Why, does it hurt seeing me spend your silver?" Hua Ruoying asked.
"This little bit of silver is nothing to Nanzhe Manor. But since you have spent so much of my money, should you not give me something in return as well?" Nanzhe said with a low chuckle.
"What do you want?" Hua Ruoying asked.
When Nanzhe said nothing for quite a while, she finally looked up and understood.
"Qingping, go outside first," Hua Ruoying said.
Qingping obediently walked out and stood by the door waiting.
Nanzhe then cast what looked like a barrier spell on the doorway, though in truth it was a spell that allowed the person outside to hear everything clearly inside the room.
"I want a few Pulling Demons from you."
Nanzhe slowly spoke the words, and in the instant Hua Ruoying did not notice, his gaze flicked toward the door.
Hua Ruoying seemed completely unaware of the change in him. Still, the moment she heard the words Pulling Demon, she stopped what she was doing.
She looked at Nanzhe, leaned closer, looked at him again, and then said,
"Are you out of your mind? Do you not know that Pulling Demon pills are something only the Demon Sovereign is supposed to have? What, are you trying to rebel?"
"The Demon Sovereign and I are close friends. How is this rebellion?" Nanzhe said.
"If you are not under my lord's command, then how do you have my lord's token?" Hua Ruoying asked.
"I have known your lord for many years. Having such a token is nothing strange," Nanzhe replied.
"Do you even know what Pulling Demon is for? Asking for it for no reason means you are definitely up to no good," Hua Ruoying continued.
"I know. The Pulling Demon you made is no worse than the puppet control art from back then." Nanzhe deliberately spoke loudly, and Qingping outside the door heard every word clearly. His face changed in shock.
"Shh, lower your voice. Do not let Qingping hear this." Hua Ruoying hurriedly cut him off.
"I cannot give you any Pulling Demon right now. You can threaten me with Qingping all you want, but it is useless. I do not have any."
"Why can you not make more?" Nanzhe asked.
"There is a problem with Pulling Demon. You saw it yourself that day. The Pulling Demon that was inside Mi Xingzhe broke for no reason. I may not like you very much, but anything that comes out of my hands is never substandard. Until I find out why Mi Xingzhe's Pulling Demon broke, I cannot make you any more," Hua Ruoying explained.
"Very well. But I have heard that Pulling Demon can control other people. Does it have any other effects?" Nanzhe pressed further, clearly trying to draw out more from her.
"Nothing all that special. I only modeled it after... after the puppet control art from back then,The Demon Sovereign once had a Tuluo demon beast that had been controlled by puppet art, so I copied the method and made something similar. At the most, when it controls someone, it strips away their mind and makes them obey every order from the controller. It is just the same as what ordinary puppets can do." Hua Ruoying explained.
Bang!
The private room door was shoved open with force. Qingping stood in the doorway with anger all over his face, his clenched fists cracking loudly.
"Q-Qingping."
Hua Ruoying had never expected Qingping to hear everything she had just said. For a moment, she did not know what to do and wanted to explain.
Standing at the doorway, Qingping said nothing. The disappointment and anger in his eyes poured out so strongly that no words were needed. He stared at Hua Ruoying.
He wanted to say something, but he did not know what. He stood there a long while, his body trembling uncontrollably. In the end, he only slammed one fist hard into the wall beside him, then turned and ran.
"Qingping,please let me explan."
Hua Ruoying hurried after him, trying to explain, leaving only Nanzhe inside the room, leisurely fanning himself like he was watching a play.
Inside Mirror Cloud Residence,
Mi Xingzhe was carefully applying medicine ointment to Yun Qingyi while Li Luoning sat nearby reading through a book.
"Brother Qingyi, I have not seen Bingguo for several days now. Do you think it might have gotten lost?" Mi Xingzhe asked worriedly.
"Bingguo is not an ordinary spirit beast. It is a riding yellow auspicious beast. It would not simply get lost. It probably found some comfortable place it liked and stayed there a few more days. Maybe it will come back in a few days. You do not need to worry too much, Niannian," Yun Qingyi comforted him.
"Niannian, go decoct this medicine," Li Luoning said as he handed over a prescription.
After taking the prescription, Mi Xingzhe went outside. Li Luoning and Yun Qingyi exchanged a look with perfect understanding.
"Master, you did not tell Niannian about what happened that day?" Yun Qingyi asked.
"I once asked War God Qingyuan about it. I heard that Wuming Demon Mountain has a new kind of puppet control art called Pulling Demon. Niannian most likely was poisoned by Pulling Demon, which is why he did what he did. Wounding you was not truly his intention. Since he does not remember what happened at all, I did not tell him. I was afraid he would only blame himself," Li Luoning said.
"Master has thought it through well, as always. Thank you for saving my life that day. But what exactly is this Pulling Demon?"
"From what I have heard, Pulling Demon was specially ordered by the Demon Sovereign and made in imitation of the old puppet control art. It is a kind of parasitic poison used for controlling puppets more easily. Thinking about how Niannian was taken by them before, it is no surprise he was made to take Pulling Demon. I have heard this Pulling Demon has no cure, but for some unknown reason, the moment it came into contact with your blood that day, the Pulling Demon inside Niannian suddenly failed. That was how I had the chance to save you," Li Luoning explained.
"If there is no way to remove it, then does that mean Niannian will always be under their control?" Yun Qingyi asked, his face full of concern.
"If I am not mistaken, this Pulling Demon should be a kind of puppet poison specially developed by Hua Ruoying for the Demon Sovereign. There is no record anywhere in the ancient texts of how to break it. After what happened last time, Miss Ruoying disappeared as well. If we can find her whereabouts, perhaps we can also find a way to break it," Li Luoning said.
"What does Master plan to do next?" Yun Qingyi asked.
"Senior Brother has gone back to the library pavilion to look into the Upper Wei Heaven Stone, but there has still been no word. I will send him a message and ask him to look into the old puppet control art as well. Once your injuries improve a little, I plan to go to the library pavilion myself," Li Luoning said.
"Uncle Mu Han has a calm temperament and enjoys quiet reading. He may well have become absorbed in some ancient text again. If he finds any news, he will surely tell Master at once. Master does not need to worry."
"First the Medicine King suffered a violent attack, and then the Dragon King died at Mirror Cloud Residence. It all seems far too coincidental. But I still cannot understand where all of this began. That person we met at the pill chamber seemed to hold a very deep grudge against me. I am afraid none of what has happened was without his hand in it," Li Luoning said.
"Master, Master, come quick. There is something wrong with Uncle Mu Han's bead bracelet. I was just passing by your study and saw it flickering wildly, and its glow keeps getting dimmer," Mi Xingzhe rushed in and said, handing the bracelet to Li Luoning.
Looking at the bracelet flashing in his hand, Li Luoning felt a sudden foreboding. He immediately stood and hurried into the study, where he found the letter Mu Han had left behind.
"Luoning, if you are reading this letter, then it means your senior brother could not escape his fate. It was my fortune to share the same sect with you in this life. Everything was long ago destined. Remember this well. No matter what happens, only by staying alive can there still be hope."——Senior Brother Mu Han.
Li Luoning's hands trembled as he finished reading the contents of the letter. He had never imagined that their parting that day would be forever.
"Master, what is wrong? What did Uncle Mu Han say?" Mi Xingzhe asked.
"Senior Brother... dead." Li Luoning's face slowly lost all color. His eyes stung, his gaze shook uncontrollably, and even his voice trembled as he spoke.
"What?"Mi Xingzhe and Yun Qingyi both cried out in disbelief.
Li Luoning suddenly felt a surge of burning heat rise inside his body, rushing upward from below. The more he tried to suppress it, the stronger it became. Grief and fury struck his heart, and a mouthful of blood burst from his lips.
"Master! Are you alright?"
"I am alright."
"Niannian, hurry and fetch the fushen incense and the heart-protecting powder. I will steady Master's mind first. It must be because he gave up too much power a few days ago and never properly rested, and now his rage has injured his inner strength," Yun Qingyi said.
"Alright." Mi Xingzhe nodded at once and ran toward the door.
Just as he reached it, someone outside asked to be admitted.
"May I ask if this is Immortal Master Li Luoning? I have come under Yingde Dragon King's final wish to deliver something."
Li Luoning steadied his emotions, went outside, and took the box from the man's hands.
Forcing himself to calm down and adjusting his inner energy as best he could, Li Luoning then opened the box with full focus.
Inside were two dragon scales and one bone.
The three master and disciples looked at one another, all of them confused.
Li Luoning reached out and picked up one of the dragon scales. The moment it sensed him, it turned into a stream of power and entered his body. Li Luoning watched the blue energy move through him, then picked up the bone. The blue energy flowed along his arm and drifted onto the bone. With a flash of bright blue light, the bone in Li Luoning's hand became a short sword.
The three of them stared at the scene before them, none of them understanding it.
"What kind of riddle is the old Dragon King leaving behind?" Mi Xingzhe said.
"Dragon scales are the hardest armor on a dragon's body. Since Yingde Dragon King entrusted Master with dragon scales, he must have had something very important he needed Master to do," Yun Qingyi said.
"Then what about this dragon bone? What was that meant for?" Mi Xingzhe asked.
"This is not dragon bone." Li Luoning gently touched the short sword in front of him as he spoke.
"Not dragon bone? Then what is it?" Mi Xingzhe asked back.
" A human bone."