Shi Chun responded loudly, "Generously good!"

The two played off each other, the very picture of witty repartee, clearly meant to annoy onlookers, and also for the sake of their own lives.

Reminded by the pair's eccentric comments, the whole incident also came back to Xiang Laner's mind. The "benefactor" had obtained the deed of sale but hadn't given it to her and Bian Weikang immediately. Instead, he took them straight back to Wuyou Inn. During that time, the tall guy really did leave on some pretext for a moment.

The one who held her from behind had mentioned the content of the deed of sale in front of her and then immediately destroyed it completely.

At the time, she didn't think much of it, but now, thinking it over, doubts lurked everywhere. The problem was, such an important document as a deed of sale should have been demanded by her without delay, and should at least have been inspected for authenticity, right? But the man took out the deed of sale and, after looking at it, gave her no time to respond before destroying it.

To say she wasn't given any time to respond was untrue. Wasn't there plenty of time during the journey from Cloud Building to Wuyou Inn?

She couldn't bear to think about it, the more she thought, the more frustrated she became, realizing she had been too careless. Never did she expect someone to resort to such lowly and despicable tactics. Weren't they afraid of the embarrassment after being found out?

People say those from the Demon Path are crooked and deviant. The one behind her was even more sinister than those from the Demon Path!

Although she realized she had been careless, to fall victim to such a lowly trick was truly an unbearable shame.

Feng Chi could tell from her reaction that what Shi Chun had said was likely true. Shocked, she harbored the same question: didn't you even think to check the authenticity of your deed of sale before it was destroyed?

She wanted to ask the Holy Daughter: You claimed the matter was of utmost importance and insisted on going to Wukang Mountain yourself, but what's the meaning of this mess? If someone goes to the Heavenly Court with the deed of sale to file a complaint, and the Heavenly Court orders Wukang Mountain to hand over the people, what then?

How could Wukang Mountain dare to defy the Heavenly Court? They would have no choice but to hand them over. Then what?

Watching the two bandits deride them,

Feng Chi shook Cen Futong's neck again and asked sternly, "How did you capture my young mistress?"

Cen Futong, pale-faced, both frightened and uncomfortable, admitted, "Just like that."

Feng Chi squeezed the back of his neck forcefully, causing him to howl in pain as she pressed again, "Tell me the details of the capture."

This question was very important to her.

Cen Futong hurriedly confessed honestly, "There was no process, we just rushed out, she didn't resist at all, and we captured her."

She didn't resist at all? Feng Chi's gaze turned to the Holy Daughter, inquiring.

Xiang Laner felt yet more ashamed and, as if unable to face further questions, closed her eyes in silence.

Incredulous, Feng Chi understood. It seemed she indeed offered no resistance at all. Well, perhaps the Holy Daughter was afraid of exposing something.

She then inquired, "When little miss was in his hands, was he alone in capturing her, or did you all partake?"

Cen Futong nervously replied, "I didn't lay hands on her. If you don't believe me, ask your young mistress; it was the other three guys who did it."

It wasn't just about clearing his own name; it was indeed the truth, as he hadn't physically participated before.

Feng Chi nodded toward Shi Chun, "Did those two also not lay hands on her?"

This question puzzled Shi Chun and his partner as well, wondering why she circled back to this matter. The person had been captured; in a situation with just a few of them present, did it really matter who did it?

Cen Futong: "No, they didn't lay hands either, it was those three who acted."

Feng Chi: "I followed behind you guys. The moment you acted, I came up and saw my young mistress being held hostage by him. You're all together; could he have held my young mistress hostage for no reason?"

How could he be dishonest with the force she applied?

This was her biggest doubt. Had the situation been even a fraction looser, with her strength, she could have easily saved the girl.

Cen Futong cried out in pain, "I don't know, it's strange to me too. Right after we captured her here, he immediately took her away with a knife to her throat, as if facing a formidable enemy. When I asked him what happened, he said your young mistress still had accomplices, and then you, madam, arrived. I truly have no idea how he knew."

Such a bizarre twist of events? Feng Chi instinctively considered it a lie but looked again at the Holy Daughter.

In Xiang Laner's eyes, aside from shame, there was no other message, meaning she provided a clear answer; it was indeed as he said.

Could there be such an inconceivable tale? Feng Chi was astonished. Was it a prediction or had he foresaw their plan? If the latter, it was just too terrifying.

No matter what, at least the most pressing worry she had was now alleviated; the two men holding the hostages hadn't used any special methods when capturing them. Thus relieved of her concerns, she could move into action with confidence.

No longer willing to wait, with the blade already drawing blood from the Holy Daughter's neck, and the dagger under the Holy Daughter's armpit already piercing between her ribs, she had delayed long enough causing the Holy Daughter to suffer. She could hesitate no longer.

All of a sudden, she thrust Cen Futong away, his body flying like a torrential wave crashing down.

Boom! Cen Futong collided with the thin monkey who couldn't dodge in time. Shocked and unable to react, he was sent flying, both spewing blood. They smashed a huge rock to pieces, and before the blood had time to hit the ground, the tumbling debris buried them.

The thin monkey, in the end, had no chance for regret, meeting an unfortunate fate as prophesied.

In the blink of an eye, killing two more, Shi Chun and his partner were slightly startled. They had heard that people outside the Land of Exile were more civilized and reasonable. Is this it? Barely a moment passed before five were killed.

Again, the two felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

Just when they thought a mutually destructive situation was about to arise, Feng Chi's figure flashed and she vanished into the woods, leaving no trace, and the unconscious Bian Weikang was still lying there.

"Chun Tian, what the hell was that?" Wu Jinliang exclaimed in shock and confusion.

"I have no idea," Shi Chun replied solemnly.

Though it seemed as if the person had left, the two dared not relax the slightest bit; instead, they tensed up even more.

A cold sneer crept across Xiang Laner's face.

"Chun Tian, look around quickly," Wu Jinliang urgently warned.

There was no need for the warning, as Shi Chun had already seen it: the light of their vision suddenly dimmed, and a black fog billowed out from the surrounding woods, quickly turning the nearby trees indistinct. The fog was visibly closing in on them.

It seemed like an eye-blocking skill; both of them tensed up considerably, on high guard against a surprise attack from any direction.

At that moment, Xiang Laner suddenly felt that something was wrong with Shi Chun's body; his muscles were rigid, seemingly trembling.

She couldn't help but laugh. Was he shaking with fear? Was he scared now?

Indeed, there was a problem with Shi Chun's body. With the tension, that sensation of numerous insects gnawing at his spine and a brain about to split open reemerged.

Fortunately, his right eye's abnormality accompanied it, presenting that hallucinatory field of vision again.

Despite the pain, his right eye swiftly scanned the area and quickly locked onto the right side. Deep within the mist in that direction, a vague, white, misty human-shaped form was discernible – the only one around. By comparison, it should be Feng Chi.

However, the eerie part was the stark difference in the figure's appearance. Inside, there was a distinctly flame-like object, resembling a burning pile of black flames.

What was going on? Shi Chun wondered, even as he urgently warned, "Jinliang, follow me."

He shifted his steps, positioning Xiang Laner directly to his right front, continuing to use her as a shield to avoid a direct ambush.

As his gaze unintentionally adjusted, the right eye that had grazed past Xiang Laner snapped back to her, and to his surprise, he discovered a burning mass of black flame-like substance inside her as well. What kind of devilry was this?

He quickly turned back to glance at Wu Jinliang; through his right eye's vision, Wu Jinliang appeared a hazy white without any anomalies.

Was it just these two women who had it?

Back-to-back, Wu Jinliang, in perfect sync, shifted his steps, holding his knife in front like a plank.

Deep within the black fog, Feng Chi, who stood on a small slope, looked puzzled. Were Shi Chun and his party adjusting their positions so precisely they could penetrate her visual deception, or were they just exceptionally acute of hearing?

Maybe it was just a coincidence.

Regardless, she couldn't afford to continue the stalemate. The Holy Daughter was injured. Feng Chi intertwined her fingers, casting a spell, forming a lotus hand gesture in front of her chest.

A soft chant began to reverberate through the woods.

The chant was strange; upon close listening, "hums and murmurs" seemed to echo throughout the forest and at the same time whispered into their ears.

Xiang Laner closed her eyes in calm concentration, obviously entering a state of mindful vigilance.

The bizarre turn of events made Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang feel uneasy.

For Shi Chun, continuing this drain was not a solution, especially given the weirdness before him, which exceeded his understanding. Bracing against the torment in his body, he suddenly shouted loudly, "Madam, we have no grudges, nothing that can't be discussed. Let's talk it over."

The murmuring chant didn't cease, nor did Feng Chi respond.

The voice that seemed to be whispering in their ears, echoing through the forest, grew faster and faster in rhythm until suddenly, a sharp and piercing scream burst forth. The "ah" sound was like a puncture in the eardrum itself, instantly shooting through the brain.

This was Wu Jinliang's sensation as his brain went blank, his knife clanging to the ground. His eyes rolled back, and his body slumped, weakening and falling.

However, to Shi Chun's ears, this scream was just irritatingly sharp, with no significant discomfort.

Seeing Wu Jinliang collapse shocked him; he yelled out, "Jinliang!"

Then, without hesitation, he shouted back defiantly, "I'll see who dies first!"

With a fierce look in his eye, he thrust with determination.

The end of the broken blade hooked beneath Xiang Laner's rib jabbed deeper into the space between her ribs, and blood quickly stained her clothes red.

Xiang Laner's eyes snapped open, her face twisted with pain.

The demonic scream abruptly stopped, and Feng Chi's voice immediately shouted, "Stop!"

She quickly emerged from the black fog, gesturing for Shi Chun to halt, her face filled with doubt and uncertainty. "You practice Demon Skills, are you also of the Demon Path? Lianshan, Gui Cang, which branch do you belong to?"

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