Bi Shu's little face was pale, but she still nodded. She glanced at the three from Heavenly Demon Palace and at Jian Feng, then continued, "I didn't want to do it at first, but he used the insect clan's resonance to try to control me. He read part of my memories, realized we were here to capture him, and fled the host immediately."
She exhaled a long breath before adding, "I'm a human cultivator now. I don't want to be controlled by insects. I don't want to become a rat everyone wants to beat."
The others traded looks and smiled without comment.
Kong Clan Main Hall
Kong Hong stepped into the hall. After bowing to the two Zhēnzūn at the head, he turned to the Kong clan's Zhēnzūn and said, "Ancestor, Xingkun has fallen. During the attack by that strange insect, twenty-five clansmen died."
The Kong clan's Zhēnzūn darkened further, but he still said in a low voice, "Handle the aftermath."
He waved Kong Hong away to make arrangements.
Tian Hong Zhēnzūn cast the Ancestor a brief glance and rose. "Since matters here are settled, I won't impose on Kong Daoyou."
The Kong clan's Zhēnzūn stood at once and bowed. "Many thanks for your aid, Tian Hong Daoyou. Without you, the Kong clan would have been doomed."
Tian Hong Zhēnzūn nodded, accepting the thanks, then vanished from the high seat.
Jian Mao also rose, saluted the Kong Ancestor, and led the War Hall squad out.
Only after the people of Heavenly Sword Sect had left did the Kong clan's Zhēnzūn flick his sleeve. The chair Tian Hong Zhēnzūn had occupied turned to ash.
Kong Hong, returning from pacifying the clan and entering the reception hall, saw this and his pupils shrank. "Ancestor!"
The Kong Ancestor sat again, gritting his teeth. "Intolerable bullying."
Kong Hong's heart jumped. He stepped forward quickly. "Please quell your anger, Ancestor. This started when the Yang clan sent Xingkun a furnace cauldron. That strange insect must have been attached to the woman, which led to Xingkun's downfall."
"Investigate. Xingkun will not die in vain."
"Rest assured. I have already dispatched our most reliable juniors to look into it."
Only then did the Ancestor's expression ease a fraction. "Tell me in detail what happened today."
"Yes."
Kong Hong organized his thoughts and began the account.
When the cultivators of Heavenly Demon Palace arrived in Tianquan City with Bi Shu, she felt a faint tug and led everyone toward the market street.
"Honored Zūnzhǔ, I'm feeling unwell," Bi Shu said.
Her once-smug little face had lost all its swagger after the recent ordeals. She looked steadier now.
"Did you sense the blood insect?" Mo Su asked directly.
"I'm not sure," Bi Shu admitted, rubbing her cheeks.
"No need to rush. If you can feel it at all, it means it isn't far," Jian Feng said. He had been moving with Mo Su the whole time. He soothed her with a few words, then sent a message to Tian Yue Squad.
Following behind, Tianyue Squad immediately raised their guard.
After the reassurance, Bi Shu steadied her breathing and followed the sensation, wandering the market street.
Elsewhere, Kong Xingkun pulled his old trick. Before his wall-penance ended, he slipped out of the clan grounds alone, bringing no attendants. He headed straight for the Gluttonous Feast Restaurant, ordered a spread of fine spirit dishes, and ate with relish in a private room.
By chance, Yang Naiwen, a Golden Core cultivator best at currying favor within the Yang clan, saw a familiar back. The Yang clan had long wanted to link with the Kong clan. Spotting Kong Xingkun alone, Yang Naiwen's eyes turned and he sent word to the family at once.
Moments later, someone from the Yang clan delivered a Nascent Soul female cultivator. She had a water spiritual root and wore a spirit-locking ring on her hand.
"Zhēnrén, this is from the Patriarch," a Yang clan guard said with a bow. He pushed the controlled woman to Yang Naiwen and withdrew.
Yang Naiwen tidied his white robe, then led the woman up and tapped the restriction on Kong Xingkun's box.
Seeing it wasn't anyone he recognized, Kong Xingkun opened the ward and asked coolly, "Who are you?"
"Yang Naiwen pays respects to Kong Zūnzhě. It's my honor to meet you here. This is my cousin."
With a foxy smile, Yang Naiwen pushed the Nascent Soul woman forward.
Kong Xingkun swept her with a glance. Water spiritual root, untouched yin, a charming face that fit his tastes. One look at Yang Naiwen told him the man was like any minor-clan cultivator eager to cling to the Kong family.
Both newcomers were below him in cultivation. He relaxed and let them in. The restriction fell back into place.
The instant it did, the woman turned to ash before their eyes. Yang Naiwen yelped and tried to flee, but before he could touch the ward, Kong Xingkun thrust a hand through his dantian.
A red light flashed through Kong Xingkun's eyes. The blood insect had left the woman and entered him.
At the same time, Bi Shu's senses spiked. The moment she felt unwell was the instant the insect abandoned its former host. When it entered Kong Xingkun, the tug grew clearer. She led the cultivators of Heavenly Demon Palace and Heavenly Sword Sect in pursuit.
Now possessed, Kong Xingkun tossed a Fireball to reduce Yang Naiwen's corpse to cinders, smoothed his robe, strolled from the room, left spirit stones behind, and swaggered straight back to the Kong estate.
Kong Hong happened to see him return and blocked his path. "Why did you leave the clan without permission? If the Ancestor finds out, you'll be scolded again. Because of you, he's already summoned the Qiankun branch back from Heavenly Sword Sect."
Kong Xingkun's eyes flickered. He bowed to Kong Hong without a word and walked toward his own courtyard.
Bi Shu and the Heavenly Demon Palace group reached the gates of the Kong residence just then.
"You're sure it's here?" Mo Qi asked, flicking a glance at the Kong clan guards who had already noticed them.
"It's here. I followed the trail straight to this gate," Bi Shu said firmly. Suddenly her face changed. "It's found me."
Jian Feng pressed a strand of qi into the ink pendant at his waist, then said to Mo Su, "You withdraw first. Heavenly Sword Sect will take over from here."
Mo Su nodded. This was Heavenly Sword Sect's territory, after all. A frontal clash with the Kong clan would be inappropriate.
Bi Shu's nerves frayed and her gaze flicked about. Jian Mao Zūnshàng appeared at her side a heartbeat later.
Seeing a high-level Heavenly Sword Sect cultivator, the Kong guards hurried forward to salute."Greetings, Senior. May we know your—"
Jian Mao was tall to begin with. Now that he stood revealed, with Bi Shu and Jian Feng beside him and Tian Yue Squad assembling behind, the guard's words tangled on his tongue.
"Summon your Patriarch," Jian Mao said.
"Yes, Senior. Please, inside—"
He had barely said "please" when Kong Xingkun appeared at the main gate. His eyes locked on Bi Shu, that red gleam flickering without pause.
===
Yes, this is a flashback. The chapter order is correct.