The moment Kang Ting died, Xiao Lin knew something was wrong.
After deploying the city defenses, he returned to his residence at daybreak. Sure enough, he saw a group of soldiers surrounding Su Su's courtyard.
"Witch! No one ever died in this city until you arrived, and now Kang Ting is dead!"
"Exactly! You didn't even spare Kang Ting's mother—your heart is truly wicked!"
"Commander Kang died without a whole body—you must give us an explanation!"
These were all soldiers under Kang Ting's command.
Xiao Lin said coldly, "What are you all doing here?"
The soldiers quickly knelt down. "Your Highness!"
Xiao Lin hadn't yet changed out of his battle attire; his silver-white armor was extremely chilling. Though he was known for his gentle and tolerant nature, and the soldiers knew he loved the people as his own children, this was the first time they had seen Xiao Lin truly angry.
"Last night, the Zhou Kingdom attacked the city, and incidents occurred within. Your failure to guard properly is incompetence; blaming a woman for it is cowardice; disregarding military discipline and provoking trouble is rebellion! What should the punishment be?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, fifty military lashes!"
"Drag them away!"
The instigating soldiers were horrified and filled with regret, but it was too late. As they were dragged off, the courtyard door slowly opened.
Xiao Lin immediately spotted the young woman emerging from the room.
Su Su pursed her lips. "Did my return cause trouble for you?"
Xiao Lin's hand rested on his sword. After a long moment, he said softly, "No."
Uncle Ji, following behind Xiao Lin, chuckled and teased, "Little girl, you've got quite the skill to escape from that madman's clutches."
Su Su gave the white-bearded old man an amused look, and the weight in her heart lightened considerably.
Su Su said, "I don't know why I appeared in Cangzhou either. You really should be concerned—this might be Tantai Jin's scheme."
Xiao Lin grew more serious and nodded.
Uncle Ji took out a letter and asked Su Su, "Did you write this?"
"Yes."
Uncle Ji said, "The method is quite clever. Who is your teacher?"
Some of the content was unheard of and unseen before, and the ingenuity of the method left Uncle Ji utterly fascinated.
Su Su had no choice but to say, "A mysterious master. I don't know his name either."
Uncle Ji could only sigh in regret.
Xiao Lin said, "Thank you for your assistance, Third Miss. Cangzhou has been chaotic lately, and with Kang Ting's death last night, it's clear the city isn't safe. If you're willing, I will arrange for your immediate return to the capital."
Su Su thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
Uncle Ji shook his head regretfully, clearly hoping Su Su would stay and become a heroine among women, helping them deal with Tantai Jin's army.
Xiao Lin glanced at Su Su, nodded, and left.
Uncle Ji wasn't in a hurry to follow. He leaned closer to Su Su and said with a sly grin, "You're quite interesting, girl. Did you notice that my nephew Xiao Lin's heart might waver for you, so you decided to leave early?"
Su Su smiled sweetly. "Don't talk nonsense, Master Ji. Xi Wu is just a frail woman—staying behind wouldn't be of much help. It's better to return to the capital and pray for Great Xia, hoping my father, Prince Xuan, and you, sir, return victorious."
Uncle Ji said mysteriously, "Don't blame Miss Shang either. Mortals care about status and hierarchy—even before marriage, she was beneath you. You're capable, little girl, and quite the temptress. Your return naturally makes her uneasy."
Su Su said irritably, "Uncle Ji seems to know everything."
The old man was not ashamed but rather proud. "Of course! When I was young..."
Su Su made a face and closed the door.
Uncle Ji snorted. "Brat." Quite the temper.Su Su pondered thoughtfully: Uncle Ji's willingness to speak up for Ye Bingshang proved that Ye Bingshang's usual conduct was indeed commendable.
She couldn't quite figure out Ye Bingshang - sometimes this woman gave her an inexplicably uncomfortable feeling, yet she couldn't pinpoint what exactly was wrong.
Su Su scratched her head, thinking with frustration that she couldn't go near Tantai Jin right now, and it was better not to stay with Xiao Lin either. After all calculations, she truly had no choice but to return to the capital.
Just as she made this decision, before Xiao Lin could send Su Su off, General Ye Xiao arrived that afternoon.
Accompanying him were one hundred thousand troops transporting provisions and Prince Zhao.
Upon hearing this news, Su Su hurried to the main hall of Cangzhou Prefecture, where she indeed saw Ye Xiao in military attire speaking with Xiao Lin.
Seated in order below were Prince Zhao and Uncle Ji.
Ye Bingshang stood behind Xiao Lin, dressed in blue robes.
The moment Su Su entered, the conversation abruptly ceased. Ye Bingshang glanced sadly at Su Su before lowering her head.
General Ye was much more straightforward, springing up from his seat immediately.
"Ye Xi Wu, you've grown quite bold! Coming to the border without permission - do you know how worried your grandmother has been? Just wait till I teach you a lesson today!"
As Ye Xiao moved to grab Su Su, she pleaded: "Father, let me explain."
"Explain what? Do you think your father doesn't know how to discipline you?"
"Father, don't chase me!"
"You unfilial daughter, how dare you dodge!"
Father and daughter ran around the chairs, glaring at each other. Facing him, Su Su felt somewhat guilty, and thinking of her grandmother made her even more remorseful.
She decided to stop dodging, thinking that General Ye wouldn't actually beat her to death anyway.
She closed her eyes. General Ye glared with bulging eyes and was about to strike when Xiao Lin instinctively called out "General Ye!"
Ye Xiao's strike appeared forceful, but when it landed, it only lightly patted Su Su's head.
Su Su opened her eyes, covering her head as she smiled at Ye Xiao.
Ye Xiao snorted.
Ye Bingshang glanced at Xiao Lin, who fell silent. The effects of Prajna Floating Life still lingered within him - having been accustomed to being Shao Ju, he couldn't bear to see Su Su suffer even the slightest grievance.
Ye Xiao said to Ye Bingshang: "This afternoon, you'll leave together with the third girl. Leave warfare to men - what business do you two have getting involved?"
Ye Bingshang never disobeyed Ye Xiao, but she hesitated and looked at Xiao Lin.
Xiao Lin said: "General Ye is right. Chang'er, you should return."
Ye Bingshang nodded: "I'll listen to Your Highness."
In just a few words, Ye Bingshang was added to the group returning to the capital. Su Su had no objections - while she didn't particularly like Ye Bingshang, she didn't wish any harm upon her either.
That afternoon, both Xiao Lin and General Ye dispatched personal guards to escort Su Su and the others back to the capital.
Xiao Lin rode alongside them to the pass. Ye Bingshang lifted the carriage curtain, gazing at Xiao Lin with reluctant worry.
Xiao Lin's expression softened as he gently stroked her hair: "I will return safely."
Ye Bingshang nodded, wanting to give him the heart protecting scale.
Xiao Lin said: "Keep it to protect yourself. With Uncle Ji by my side, nothing will happen."
The carriage traveled for two days, and Su Su and Ye Bingshang coexisted peacefully.
Occasionally the group would stop for rest breaks. On the third day, when they encountered a stream, Ye Bingshang expressed her wish to freshen up.
Shortly after, a maid came running in panic: "The side consort has disappeared! I-I just looked down for a moment, and she vanished!"
Finding the situation so strange, Su Su couldn't remain seated in the carriage either and rushed to the streamside.
Before she could get close, she caught a foul, fishy smell.Su Su frowned. Unlike the squad leader who was searching by the stream, she went straight to check the grass. Sure enough, a large patch showed signs of being flattened.
Su Su caught a scent in the air and, upon seeing the marks, her expression changed.
"It's a giant serpent!"
At these words, everyone else turned pale.
"What do we do now?"
It might not just be a giant serpent but a serpent demon—otherwise, it wouldn't have moved so quickly.
Su Su said, "I'll pursue it. You go inform Prince Xuan and have him send reinforcements."
With that, she followed the trail and gave chase.
The soldiers wanted to follow but found they couldn't keep up with Su Su's speed. They had no choice but to say, "Let's report back to His Highness!"
They weren't far from Cangzhou; riding at full speed, they would surely make it in time.
Su Su chased the trail all the way to a cave. After a moment's hesitation, she took out a luminous pearl from her robe and entered.
Inside, the drip-drip of water echoed.
She hadn't gone far when she saw a horrifying scene: a patterned giant serpent was hissing at Ye Bingshang, its tongue flickering.
Ye Bingshang was coiled in its tail, her face deathly pale.
Seeing the serpent about to swallow Ye Bingshang, Su Su had no time to hesitate. A hidden Talisman Paper flew out and stuck to the serpent's head, scorching it with a plume of black smoke. The serpent writhed in pain and instinctively released Ye Bingshang.
Su Su leaped over to catch her. "Let's go!"
Ye Bingshang's legs were weak. "I-I can't move my legs," she stammered fearfully.
Su Su said, "I'll carry you!"
She had no intention of prolonging the fight; seizing the opportunity, she fled with Ye Bingshang. Once the serpent recovered from the pain, it pursued them closely.
Being chased by a serpent was terrifying—it was massive, fast, could climb trees, and swim. There was nowhere to hide.
If they couldn't outrun it, they had to fight.
Su Su set Ye Bingshang down. "Hide!"
Ye Bingshang pressed her lips together, suppressing her fear as she hid behind a large tree. Su Su pulled out Talisman Paper, intending to subdue the serpent directly.
But a giant serpent was different from ordinary demonic creatures.
It had developed intelligence, knew how to dodge, and had thick, tough skin. Su Su and the serpent were locked in a stalemate; she only managed to inflict a few wounds on its scales and nearly got swept by its tail several times.
It guarded its vital spot closely, not letting Su Su get near.
For the moment, Su Su was at a loss.
In the midst of the standoff, Ye Bingshang screamed. Su Su turned to see Ye Bingshang running toward her.
Behind Ye Bingshang, several venomous snakes with triangular heads were closing in.
Su Su frowned. "Use the heart protecting scale!" Distracted, she was struck by the serpent's tail. Grunting, she fell to the ground.
Ye Bingshang fumbled to take out the heart protecting scale. The smaller snakes glared greedily but clearly hesitated, not daring to approach her.
Pale-faced, Ye Bingshang watched as Su Su silently got up and continued fighting the serpent demon. Glancing at the scale in her hand, she hesitated for a moment, then clenched it tightly without a word.
Su Su had no intention of asking for the heart protecting scale; as long as Ye Bingshang didn't cause trouble, the situation wasn't too dire.
But Su Su was only human, and humans tire—unlike the serpent demon. Once her stamina was exhausted, it would be dangerous. She hoped Xiao Lin would arrive soon.
They had been locked in the stalemate for who knows how long when a giant spider appeared above them.
The spider eyed the heart protecting scale in Ye Bingshang's hand, a mix of fear and greed flashing in its eyes. It was clever enough to choose to attack Su Su, who had no heart protecting scale.
Ye Bingshang saw the spider first. She instinctively wanted to cry out a warning but hesitated, remembering something.
In that brief delay, the spider spat out silk, wrapping it around Su Su's waist.Su Su was hoisted into the air, the python's gaping maw mere inches from her face.
Panicking briefly, she forced herself to calm down. Several small swords flew from her waist—some striking the snake's head to stall it momentarily, while others severed the spider silk binding her.
She fell from mid-air.
As she landed, she inadvertently noticed more demonic creatures gathering around them. Even the minor demons who had gained intelligence were eyeing them covetously.
Suddenly, Su Su realized—it was the heart protecting scale!
They all wanted the heart protecting scale. She turned and shouted to Ye Bingshang, "Use the heart protecting scale to kill them!"
Ye Bingshang refused, "I don't want to kill people."
Su Su said, "They're demons!"
Ye Bingshang pressed her lips together, "I've never done anything like this before."
"Then give it to me! Let me do it! We're about to be surrounded." When Ye Bingshang showed no reaction, Su Su couldn't help feeling angry, "At least drive them away!"
This time Ye Bingshang didn't hesitate and began attempting to activate the heart protecting scale. She was completely feeling her way through the process. As the scale glowed, the surrounding small snakes scattered. Ye Bingshang felt a surge of delight.
Su Su said, "Help me!"
Ye Bingshang nodded.
As the heart protecting scale brightened, Su Su watched the python's eyes turn from black to red. Not just the python—spiders and other demonic creatures also developed agitated crimson pupils.
Su Su cursed under her breath. Reacting quickly, she abandoned her fight with the python and turned to grab Ye Bingshang.
Ye Bingshang exclaimed in surprise, "Third Sister!"
Su Su said coldly, "Since you want us to die together, I'll grant your wish."Ye Bingshang said in a panic, 'I didn't mean to!" I'm not good at using the heart protecting scale—I only wanted to help fight them off."
She was telling the truth, but it was still infuriating.
Su Su thought she shouldn't have come to rescue Ye Bingshang in the first place! She wanted to see whether Ye Bingshang would use the heart protecting scale when their lives were at stake.
The red-eyed demons, now in their demonized state, became completely reckless, frantically trying to devour them even at the cost of their own lives.
Just then, a figure in white approached with a sword. A sharp sword aura sliced through the air and pierced the python's head.
The python's body thrashed wildly against the ground.
Seeing Xiao Lin arriving, Su Su breathed a sigh of relief.
A sudden cry came from beside them—Ye Bingshang's ankle had been ensnared by red spider silk, pulling her toward the spider's mouth.
Xiao Lin turned and grabbed her hand, "Bingshang!"
"Your Highness!"
Xiao Lin severed the spider silk and caught Ye Bingshang. Trembling with fear, she clung to him, softly sobbing.
Xiao Lin said, "Don't be afraid, it's alright now."
As Ye Bingshang held him tightly, a muffled grunt came from nearby. Xiao Lin looked back to see Su Su caught by the demonized python, disappearing into the jungle in an instant.
His face paled as he quickly made a decision. He told Ye Bingshang, "Take the heart protecting scale and head north. Uncle Ji is on his way—he'll protect you."
Ye Bingshang wept, "Are you going to rescue Third Sister? Your Highness, don't leave me!"
Xiao Lin said gravely, "Bingshang, she saved you!"
Ye Bingshang closed her eyes, "Alright. Please be careful, Your Highness."
Pale-faced, she took the heart protecting scale and started along the path Xiao Lin had indicated.
After walking for some time, Ye Bingshang looked back—Xiao Lin was already gone.
She wiped her tears, unable to describe the feeling in her heart.
Ye Bingshang clenched the heart protecting scale tightly in her hand.
No demon dared approach her. Lowering her gaze, she slowly walked out of the jungle. The heart protecting scale emitted a soft glow, and not a single demonic creature dared come near her.
*On the other side, after the world spun around, Su Su turned her head to find herself entangled by the giant serpent's tail.
Under the influence of its demonic transformation, it moved swiftly.
Su Su couldn't break free at all. She looked back into the silent night, seeing no one, only the pungent stench emanating from the serpent's body.
The curved jade was heartbroken and furious, exclaiming, "We shouldn't have saved her!"
Su Su remained silent.
It was best to conserve energy now. Even if no one came to rescue her, she had to try to save herself.
This time, the serpent didn't flee back to its cave but instead reached a steep slope.
Severely injured and having lost its sanity, it turned around intending to devour Su Su to heal itself. Su Su possessed a Divine Artifact within her, making her flesh and blood irresistible to demons.
"Little master, use Talisman Drawing to deal with this demon!"
Su Su seemed unable to move.
The curved jade felt something was off, but it couldn't pinpoint what.
Fortunately, a figure in white robes, wielding a sword, pressed it against the serpent's jaw, and Xiao Lin shoved a pearl into the giant serpent's mouth.
The curved jade recognized it and exclaimed joyfully, "Little master, it's the Evil-Warding Spirit Essence!"
Sure enough, the serpent's body soon exploded.
Xiao Lin opened his arms and caught the falling Su Su.
Su Su's clothes were stained with the blood of demonic creatures, and she had no strength left, collapsing weakly into Xiao Lin's embrace. Her face was pale, reminiscent of the pitiful Sang Jiu in the Prajna Floating Life.
Xiao Lin felt a pang of guilt; the memories belonging to Shao Ju made his heart ache faintly.
"Can you still walk?" he asked Su Su.
Su Su gently closed her eyes and shook her head, saying, "I have no strength left."
Xiao Lin fell silent for a moment before murmuring softly, "Forgive my offense."
He bent down and carried Su Su on his back: "I'll take you out."
The young girl behind him coughed twice, clearly exhausted. Her head rested weakly on his shoulder.
The curved jade called out, "Little master?"
Su Su still did not respond.
Xiao Lin protected the girl on his back with one hand while using the other to slay the pursuing demonic creatures.
Suddenly, the girl behind him spoke in a faint, eerie tone, "Thank you, Your Highness, for coming to rescue me."
Fear and unease abruptly overwhelmed the curved jade.
A dagger suddenly pierced through Xiao Lin's chest.
Su Su gripped the dagger, her eyes vacant, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips.
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