Bai Qingwu was momentarily speechless before Yao Ranran.
She had not expected this woman to have such a thick skin, with not a shred of humility.
Yao Ranran brushed away the dense mist, and instantly, a broad passage appeared before her.
Not long after Han Huijun barely managed to save Shen Yuefu from Yuchi Laozu's hands, Bai Qingwu suddenly began frothing at the mouth, her whole body convulsing as she collapsed on the deck of the flying boat.
"Save me… save me…"
Her beautiful face twisted in agony, cold sweat soaking through her robes in an instant. Her eyes, once bright with spirit, were now filled with pain and helplessness as she rolled about the deck.
Mu Xin rushed to her side, pressing two fingers together and channeling a stream of spiritual light into her body.
"What is happening to her? Is the miasma making her like this?"
Yao Ranran frowned, puzzled, looking to Mu Xin for an answer.
Mu Xin's eyes remained shut for a moment before he slowly opened them, his expression darkening.
"What is hidden in her body is not just miasma… it is also witch poison."
"Witch poison? Can it be cured?" Yao Ranran asked.
Bai Qingwu's face twisted further under the torment, her nails digging into her palms until blood streaked her fingers. She reached out toward Yao Ranran, begging in a trembling voice.
"Save me, save me… fellow countrywoman…"
Yao Ranran turned her head slightly, muttering under her breath.
"Now you call me 'fellow countrywoman'? But when you framed me back then, I didn't see you remembering any kinship."
Her quiet words went unheard by the writhing Bai Qingwu.
Mu Xin folded his arms and stepped back toward the ship's edge, watching her roll in agony on the floor.
"The antidote to witch poison lies only in the hands of the Wu family's three brothers. She must have offended them, that is why she suffers like this."
"The Wu family's three brothers? Don't tell me they're the three black-robed men from the lower realm?"
Perhaps because of what happened with Pu Yehai's brothers, when that black-robed man accused her of killing his siblings, Yao Ranran immediately connected the Wu family brothers with those black-robed men.
Mu Xin stepped forward and gave Bai Qingwu a light kick. "Those three always wear black robes. If this woman has really met them, then it means they have descended to the lower realm."
Even that light kick made Bai Qingwu curl up tightly, her body wracked by the torment of ice and fire, wishing only for death.
"Yes… yes… it was them…"
Her voice was weak, trembling. The greater her pain, the sharper her senses seemed to become.
"Why are you consorting with cultivators from the spirit realm? Do you intend to help them conquer the lower realm, or do you have other plans?"
Yao Ranran's voice was soft, gentle as flowing water.
At that moment, this voice fell into Bai Qingwu's ears like immortal music, cutting through her suffering. Her mind briefly cleared, her pain seeming to drift away.
"I have other plans… I wanted them to help me kill you…"
Mu Xin, who had been preparing to give her another kick, froze in place, his mouth falling open.
"Who is this woman? Such audacity!"
Yao Ranran was equally stunned. "You… wanted to kill me?"
"To kill Yao Ranran… but his brothers are all dead, they think it was because of me… maybe it was you who killed them, so he dragged me out of the Holy Palace's dungeon, poisoned me, and tortured me…"
At this point, Bai Qingwu hardly knew what she was saying. Her fogged mind spoke the truth without restraint, hands still reaching out feebly for salvation.
Yao Ranran pressed her fingers to her temple.
"So this is what they mean by bringing ruin upon oneself. Now I truly understand."
Mu Xin gave a mocking smile.
"Now, even if the Xiānzhǔ had a way to save you, she wouldn't bother. Better we look below instead. How about letting those four fierce beasts out for a little stroll?"
His eyes glinted mischievously, as if he was just waiting for Yao Ranran's command before unleashing the monsters to wreak havoc upon Wuxiang Sect.
Yao Ranran shoved the howling Bai Qingwu into the cabin and once again swept the mist aside.
"What's happening below?"
She looked curiously.
Mu Xin narrowed his eyes, peering downward. His voice dropped to a whisper.
"To freely command miasma like this… it's the dream of countless spirit realm cultivators."
But Yao Ranran did not notice his muttering. She focused instead on Han Huijun's back and the conversation between him and Shen Yuefu.
"Senior Brother, has the matter at Hun Ling Mountain been resolved?"
Shen Yuefu, after swallowing a healing pill, asked with concern.
Han Huijun fought back Ancestor Yuchi's assault while replying distractedly.
"Junior Brother, I met Ancestor Mo Rui at Hun Ling Mountain!"
Shen Yuefu's breath steadied, his eyes flashing in surprise.
"Ancestor Mo Rui went there early? Then why did he not return with you?"
Ancestor Yuchi's attacks were fierce and relentless, forcing Han Huijun back step by step.
"Junior Brother, Ancestor is dead! But I have found a new ally!"
Before Shen Yuefu could respond, Yuan Kong, battling not far away against the former sect master of Miaoyun Sect, spoke up.
"Han Sect Master, you say Ancestor Mo Rui is dead, and yet you found new help?"
Yuan Kong's body blazed with golden light, radiant like the setting sun, though the brilliance only extended within a mere zhang.
Han Huijun caught sight of that golden glow and cried out with joy.
"So it is Master Yuan Kong! This is wonderful!"
"Amitabha. The little monk is indeed here, but the situation is dire…"
Mu Jialing formed a golden seal, dispersing the thick miasma. From Ancestor Yuchi's sleeve flew out a giant centipede with sixteen legs, spewing billows of green venomous fog directly at him.
"Fózǐ, be careful!" Han Huijun shouted.
But the poisonous centipede struck too suddenly. Mu Jialing never imagined his opponent would resort to such a vile method. His aura was engulfed by the venomous mist, swallowed by miasma.
In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished from sight.
Yuan Kong's gaze flicked toward him in worry, but in that moment of distraction, the Miaoyun Sect's former sect master hurled thousands of spears, piercing through his golden kasaya and driving into both his shoulders.
Yuan Kong grunted, wiping the blood from his lips without a word.
The former sect master sneered.
"Old bald donkey, did you not claim that with the golden kasaya protecting you, you were immortal? It seems once your heart falters, even that legend is worthless!"
He gave Yuan Kong no room to breathe, his assault sharp and aimed directly at his heart.
Nearby, Han Huijun was struck by Ancestor Yuchi's palm, falling like a withered leaf. As he dropped, he looked up toward the mist above and cried out with all his strength.
"Save us! Wuxiang Sect is all yours!"
"Senior Brother!" Shen Yuefu darted forward to catch his falling body in his arms.
"Mo Rui Laozu has fallen. Who are you calling upon for help?"
He quickly fed Han Huijun a healing pill, confused.
But Han Huijun's eyes stared fixedly at the sky.
"It is her… just as you suspected. She is the cure to the miasma of the spirit realm!"
Shen Yuefu followed his gaze in shock. There, the white haze parted, revealing a figure in a violet dress.
Her beauty struck him like lightning, breathtaking beyond compare.
Her voice rang out.
"As promised, the entire treasure vault of Wuxiang Sect is mine!"