A small bamboo hut, surrounded by both formations and barriers, was sealed tight, leaving nothing to chance. There had to be some secret hidden inside that hut.
Yun Jin let out a sly laugh and vanished from where she stood in an instant.
A guard, carrying an empty food box, was walking along the path when suddenly, a sharp pain struck his head, and his expression went blank.
In the next moment, Yun Jin appeared.
"Master," the guard said respectfully.
Yun Jin extended her hand. "The token."
Without hesitation, the guard placed it in her palm.
"Tell me how to open the barrier," Yun Jin said again.
The guard recited a clear incantation.
Yun Jin memorized it, then waved her hand. The guard collapsed backward, falling into a deep sleep.
She gently laid him in the grass and casually covered him before taking the token and stepping into the bamboo forest, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
The bamboo forest's formation was complex, with the position of the exit constantly shifting. But the system had already cracked it. Within moments, it guided her safely through.
In an instant, Yun Jin reached the bamboo hut. She imitated the guard, holding the token and reciting the incantation. The layers of barriers disappeared for a brief second, just like she had seen before.
Yun Jin slipped inside.
Once through, nothing blocked her view except the bamboo hut.
She pushed the door open. A roar of anger erupted from inside.
"Weren't you here just now? Why are you back?"
The voice was full of fury.
Yun Jin ignored it and stepped inside.
"You…" The person began to shout but froze when she saw Yun Jin, surprise flickering across her eyes. "Wait, you're not from that traitorous girl's side! Who are you?"
Yun Jin didn't rush to answer and carefully studied the woman in front of her. She was an elderly lady with white hair, seated on the ground, her limbs and head shackled by chains. The chains shimmered faintly with runes, clearly refined into a magical treasure by someone.
The old woman didn't seem to know how long she'd been imprisoned. Her skin clung tightly to her bones, her face so gaunt her features were unusually sharp.
"Tell me, who exactly are you?" the old woman demanded. "You're not of the Shi Tribe!"
Yun Jin sat cross-legged before her, raising an eyebrow. "Of course I'm not of the Shi Tribe. Can your people even produce someone as naturally beautiful, intelligent, and capable as me?"
Emotional Value +200!
A new line instantly appeared in the emotional record.
Yun Jin chuckled. "You're of the Shi Tribe, right? What's with your kind? You capture rare races without hesitation and won't even spare your own. A race like that doesn't even deserve to exist."
The old woman's face twisted in rage. "Who do you think you are, speaking such nonsense! The Shi Tribe has always been fair and honorable. When did we ever capture rare races?"
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?"
The old woman said coldly, "It's all nonsense. How would I know?"
Yun Jin observed carefully. The old woman's expression didn't seem fake. Did she really have no idea about the capture of rare races?
Yun Jin glanced at the chains.
They had been on the woman for so long some parts were embedded deep into her bones, a sight that made one wince. It was no wonder she didn't know what had happened outside after such a long confinement.
Yun Jin raised an eyebrow and spoke directly. "The Shi Tribe has indeed been capturing rare races these past years. Investigators found out that this is because someone in the Shi Tribe wants to practice a bloodline fusion method. The more bloodlines fused, the stronger it becomes. That's why they've been hunting rare races everywhere."
As Yun Jin spoke, the old woman's expression changed drastically.
Bloodline fusion… capturing rare races…
Suddenly, a flicker of fury and alarm crossed her gaunt face.
Yun Jin noticed and raised an eyebrow. "Who are you thinking of?"
The old woman's expression shifted slightly. She clenched her teeth, staring Yun Jin down. "Who exactly are you?"
Yun Jin's expression remained indifferent. "Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is, I've always liked meddling. Absorbing others' blood for oneself is considered an evil practice. Anyone practicing it has likely gone mad and become an evil cultivator."
She fixed her gaze on the old woman. "Evil cultivators must be eradicated!"
The old woman's thin lips quivered, her voice hoarse. "You speak boldly, young one. Aren't you afraid of being struck down?"
Yun Jin didn't argue. "I said I'm going to kill that person, and now they're already dead. You seem to know something, so if you tell me, it'll save me some time. If you refuse, I'll turn this imperial city upside down to find them—it's just a matter of effort."
She spoke casually.
The old woman's expression shifted slightly. She croaked, "How did you even get in here?"
Her captor had tried every trick to keep her confined—chains, barriers, formations.
The chains were one thing.
The formation was a ninth-level array. Only those personally empowered by him could enter. Anyone else would instantly trigger alarms, alerting the traitorous girl. There was no way someone could enter so easily.
As for the barrier…
The old woman's eyes narrowed at the token Yun Jin held.
The guards loyal to the traitorous girl would never willingly hand over a token. If Yun Jin had stolen it, the traitorous girl would've been notified.
Could it… be a form of control?
A hint of fear crept into the old woman's gaze.
Yun Jin casually tossed the token. "How I got in isn't important. I'm just curious—you were once a Shi Tribe' King, so how did you end up like this?"
The old woman's expression shifted violently. "How do you know my identity?"
Yun Jin said casually, "There are many Shi Tribe members in this imperial city. Seeing them often lets me judge their bloodline level and social rank. Most of your blood has been siphoned by secret techniques, but from what remains, it's clearly royal blood. Fifty years ago, the Shi King disappeared suddenly. To stabilize the situation, her daughter rushed to the throne, becoming the new queen. Unfortunately, she lacked strength to control the families, and the Shi Tribe has been in constant turmoil since. Now, the families are even preparing to confront the royal line."
Yun Jin gave her a meaningful look. "Your daughter is seeking her own demise."