Su Su hadn't expected to overhear this when she stepped out.
Her grandmother had actually hidden Pang Yi Zhi. Her heart sank. The old madam was a stubborn woman, different from herself who had a mission to fulfill. The old madam carried the nation's honor and disgrace in her heart.
To Old Madam Ye, Xiao Lin was a hero, Pang Yi Zhi was an important minister of Xia Kingdom, while Tantai Jin was the rebel.
There was no way the old madam would voluntarily hand over Pang Yi Zhi.
As for Tantai Jin...
Su Su met Tantai Jin's cold gaze: "Will you harm grandmother?"
Tantai Jin said: "If she hands over the traitor, she can enjoy her remaining years in peace. If she resists, I won't spare her."
Su Su understood he had killing intent. She said: "Let me persuade grandmother! She's old and won't oppose you!"
Tantai Jin straightened up and spoke indifferently: "I don't trust you."
If he let her go, she had the ability to escape with Old Madam Ye, and might even take Pang Yi Zhi with her.
Failing to negotiate, Su Su immediately turned and ran outside.
Tantai Jin's eyes darkened.
Black mist churned within the Soul Devouring Banner as a dark formation lit up beneath Su Su's feet, binding her hands and feet.
With a fierce expression, she bit the tip of her tongue.
"Break formation, shatter!"
The black mist dispersed, and the girl's nimble figure disappeared behind the rockery in a few quick movements.
Tantai Jin stood up and chased after her angrily.
"Capture her for me!"
He couldn't let her leave. If she took Old Madam Ye away, she would never return. She didn't covet his power, didn't like him as a person, didn't fear his threats—he had nothing to keep her with him!
Nian Bai Yu and others were also surprised that Miss Ye San had broken the Taoist's formation in the blink of an eye.
Even the Taoist himself was stunned.
Tantai Jin had already given chase.
Nian Bai Yu's qinggong was excellent, and he caught up with Su Su in no time. She knew sorcery but wasn't skilled in martial arts, and had no time to draw a teleportation formation.
Su Su dodged Nian Bai Yu's palm strike. Unable to outrun him, she found her path blocked.
Tantai Jin arrived just then, his gaze fixed on her like a hawk's.
Panting heavily, he said: "If you dare run! I'll kill Ye Chu Feng first!"
Su Su was also angry: "Go ahead, he's no longer part of the Ye family anyway."
Ye Chu Feng lowered his head, his face pale.
Twelve peach wood swords suddenly appeared in the air. Su Su cursed under her breath, rolling away to dodge them. Sure enough, Nian Muning had joined the battle.
Whenever Su Su used sorcery, Nian Muning could quickly counter it.
Su Su's movement techniques weren't offensive by nature, making it difficult for her to fight Nian Bai Yu.
The siblings worked in perfect sync, and Su Su was soon at a disadvantage.
Seeing Su Su losing the fight, Tantai Jin's clenched fist finally relaxed slightly.
Su Su scanned her surroundings and locked onto the weakest person present.
With bright eyes, she deliberately took a palm strike from Nian Bai Yu and flew toward Tantai Jin.
Tantai Jin instinctively moved to catch her, but the Taoist quickly warned: "Your Majesty, the little sorceress is deceiving you!"
Remembering the previous incident, Tantai Jin's face darkened: "Ye Xi Wu!"
Seeing that he had seen through her, Su Su had to abruptly twist mid-air and land gracefully with a spin.
Nian Muning raised her hand: "Go!"
A bracelet flew from her hand, instantly multiplying into numerous silver rings in the air. Recognizing it as a spiritual artifact, Su Su didn't dare confront it directly, kicking away the rings that came near her.
The Taoist offered advice: "Your Majesty, if we just use the Soul Devouring Banner, that sorceress..."
Before he could finish, Tantai Jin turned and glared at him fiercely: "You're seeking death!"
Having acknowledged him as master, the Taoist trembled and didn't dare speak further.Who could have foreseen a sudden turn of events? One of the silver rings flew out, and someone exclaimed in shock, "Madam!"
Su Su turned to look and saw that the silver ring she had kicked had struck a woman in crimson robes.
It was Ye Bingshang.
Ye Bingshang clutched her chest, her face pale as she collapsed. Xiao Hui hurriedly supported her.
Su Su was momentarily dazed, realizing she had caused trouble, and did not struggle when Nian Bai Yu apprehended her.
Tantai Jin's expression darkened. He picked up the barely breathing Ye Bingshang and cast a cold glance at Su Su. "If anything happens to her, I will settle this with you slowly."
Su Su had not expected to nearly kill someone. She stood frozen in place, her face ashen.
Xiao Lin's death was a lingering knot in her heart. She cultivated the Immortal Path, and killing an innocent person was a sin, especially since Xiao Lin had begged her not to harm Ye Bingshang.
She feared causing another death because of herself.
The curved jade spoke in her mind, puzzled, "Little master, I have been watching carefully for you. The silver ring you kicked couldn't possibly hit anyone."
How could it be such a coincidence that it struck Ye Bingshang?
Su Su was taken aback. "What?"
The curved jade would not lie to her. Since the silver ring, as a spiritual artifact, inherently could not hit anyone, it could only mean that something had controlled the ring.
What could control the silver ring... was an Immortal Artifact!
Su Su suddenly remembered the heart-protecting scale on Ye Bingshang.
The fog in her mind seemed to clear abruptly, and she finally understood why she had long felt that something was off about Ye Bingshang.
The original owner's elder sister was clearly not simple. Ye Bingshang had deliberately controlled the silver ring to strike herself!
If Su Su could figure it out, the curved jade naturally could as well.
The curved jade said angrily, "And to think we once considered her a good person."
If not for the curved jade's observation, not only would Tantai Jin believe Su Su had harmed Ye Bingshang, but even Su Su herself would have been consumed by guilt.
Su Su murmured softly, "Perhaps she was once a good person."
When did her attitude begin to change? Su Su recalled the earliest time in the nightmare demon's dream, where Ye Bingshang refused to leave the dream version of Xiao Lin. Back then, Ye Bingshang had been an empress in the dream for several years and even had a son.
Su Su suddenly lifted her eyes.
She truly had been a good person once, Ye Bingshang thought, seeing the worry in Xiao Hui's eyes.
The heart-protecting scale guarded her vital energy. Though her face was deathly pale, her life was not in danger.
Physicians rushed in to examine her. Ye Bingshang's gaze fell upon the dark-robed emperor outside. Tantai Jin's expression was icy, his thoughts unknown.
How would he punish Third Sister? she wondered.
Third Sister had been hopping around opposing Tantai Jin; he would surely not go easy on her.
Ye Bingshang weakly covered her mouth and coughed. She, too, had once been a good person. She had donated silver to the suffering commoners of the capital, established schools for children, treated servants with respect, worked diligently, and rescued small animals. She had never looked down on Tantai Jin when he was a hostage.
But even good people... could feel fear.
In the nightmare demon's dream, she had been a good empress. In the end, her husband's heart changed, her son died, and her own heart slowly turned to ashes.
Since childhood, Grandmother had always favored Third Sister and Eldest Brother. Everything she desired, she had to painstakingly strive for.
Yet Third Sister insisted on competing with her!
Third Sister clearly had everything—a prestigious background, the affection of everyone. Meanwhile, she had to exert ten thousand times the effort for anything she wanted.
Ye Xi Wu was like a dark cloud pressing down on her, suffocating her. One day, just as Sang Jiu had taken everything from Tian Huan, Third Sister would take everything from her.Ye Bingshang lowered her hand, revealing a comforting smile. "Your Majesty need not worry, this humble consort is fine."
The imperial physician said, "The lady's heart meridian remains unharmed. With proper rest, she will surely recover."
Tantai Jin nodded. "Rest well."
The dark-robed young man's eyes held cold fury as he swept his sleeves and departed.
Xiao Hui snorted with schadenfreude. "The Third Young Lady injured the lady before everyone's eyes! His Majesty will never let her off!"
Ye Bingshang pressed a finger to her lips. "Don't speak like that. Third Sister didn't mean to do it."
"My lady!"
Ye Bingshang shook her head at her, face pale.
Incense burned in Chengqian Palace. When Tantai Jin entered, he found the pink-clad maiden sitting on the couch with her knees drawn up.
Lost in thought, the steam from a cup of hot tea before her had slightly dampened her lashes.
Hearing his footsteps, Su Su spoke without turning. "Don't expect me to apologize to her. Now that the Ruoshui rope can no longer restrain me, if you come near me again, I'll beat you up anytime."
Tantai Jin said, "You think I would let you apologize?"
"Wouldn't you?" The maiden lifted her head.
Su Su expected to see a face filled with rage, but instead found Tantai Jin completely calm. He glanced at her and said, "I know she did it intentionally."
These words stunned not only Su Su, but even the curved jade.
Tantai Jin frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Su Su said, "You knew, yet you still said you'd come for me if anything happened to her?"
Tantai Jin replied, "Whether she did it intentionally or not, you cannot harm her."
Su Su looked at him with astonished eyes.
The young man remained completely unaware that normal people wouldn't react this way. He took a sip of hot tea, his black hair and red lips appearing like a pale, harmless fawn in the misty steam.
Yet Su Su inexplicably sensed a chill.
The curved jade trembled, voicing her thoughts: "Is this the innate Evil Bone...?"
Without love threads, without genuine emotions. He mimicked normal human feelings, but his heart remained cold and detached. Though he saw through everything clearly, he merely acted according to expected emotions.
In his heart, Ye Bingshang was someone he should love, so he protected her just as Xiao Lin had protected Ye Bingshang.
Tantai Jin didn't even think there was anything wrong with himself.
Su Su's mind raced—did that mean Ye Bingshang had suffered for nothing?
Her mood improved considerably. Suddenly, she cupped his face as if speaking to a child and negotiated, "Hey, Your Majesty, please spare my grandmother. From now on, I'll teach you how to draw the Talisman of All Beings every day—the one you could use before. I won't beat you up anymore, and I'll even help you find the Eighth Prince. How about that?"
His bone structure was refined, his cheeks resting in the maiden's soft palms.
Tantai Jin uncomfortably removed her hands, turning his eyes away as he coldly stated, "You would run away."
"I wouldn't! I really wouldn't! I promise."
"Hmph."
"I'm begging you. She's old and won't hinder you in any way."
Her eyes grew sorrowful as she murmured, "Elder Brother died in battle, Father was exiled... Grandmother is all I have left."
He studied her for a long time, as if discerning whether her words were true or false.
After a lengthy silence, Su Su heard him say, "I'll give you one chance to see Old Madam Ye. But Pang Yi Zhi must die."
Su Su looked up at him.
Tantai Jin said, "This is imperial authority."
Therefore, he could retreat no further. Pang Yi Zhi commanded the Hidden Dragon Guards. As long as those men existed, he would fear waking up one day with his head rolling on the ground.
How could one tolerate others snoring beside their bed?Su Su had no choice but to nod.
The young man stood up: "Let's go."
Su Su quickly followed him. Before stepping out, Tantai Jin paused momentarily. Afraid he might change his mind, Su Su asked anxiously: "What's wrong?"
"Remember what you just said."
"What?" Su Su didn't immediately understand.
His eyes turned slightly cold as he glanced at her, reminding: "The Talisman of All Beings."
The girl nodded earnestly: "Yes, yes. As long as you protect grandmother, teach you the Talisman of All Beings, not beat you up, I won't run away, and I'll help you find the Eighth Prince."
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as he took the lead walking ahead.
Nian Muning watched Su Su warily, fearing she might suddenly attack and kill Tantai Jin.
Su Su followed Tantai Jin to a quiet small courtyard.
At this moment, the courtyard was heavily surrounded by soldiers.
Not only that, the curved jade said: "There are people aiming Ruoshui arrows from afar. Lord Pang cannot escape."
Tantai Jin truly intended to surround and kill Pang Yi Zhi.
Su Su felt deeply distressed. Over the past year, she had watched old acquaintances die one by one. While the Great Way didn't overly emphasize life and death, when the moment truly came, who could remain emotionless?
Su Su couldn't understand no matter how much she thought about it - since Pang Yi Zhi had the Hidden Dragon Guards, why was he hiding here in such a wretched state?
What exactly happened that night when he escaped from the Zhou Kingdom's imperial palace?
Before Su Su could figure it out, she saw an elderly woman leaning on a walking stick, looking spirited and vigorous.
"Grandmother!"
"Xi Wu!"
Old Madam Ye stood at the courtyard entrance, holding her walking stick horizontally, preventing Tantai Jin's soldiers from entering.
These soldiers had been stopped by Ye Chu Feng earlier, which was why they hadn't stormed into the courtyard. Now that Tantai Jin had arrived, they naturally didn't dare act recklessly without orders.
Su Su walked over and said softly: "Grandmother, please step aside."
Even if you were to shatter into dust beneath his feet, it would be useless.
Old Madam Ye remained silent but struck Su Su's arm heavily with her walking stick.
Su Su didn't dodge.
Tantai Jin watched coldly.
Old Madam Ye said: "If you're like your elder sister, equally infatuated with this villain, then get out and never call me grandmother again."
Su Su's eyes reddened but she said nothing.
Old Madam Ye's hand trembled, her heart filled with sorrow.
How could she not know what kind of person her third granddaughter was? When the Ye family was exiled, only Su Su alone had wielded a sword to protect the women and children of the family.
Su Su had carried her on her back, walking from the capital to Wanzhou.
During the half-year war between Zhou and Xia kingdoms, Ye Xiao had said it was also the third granddaughter who fought desperately to rescue Ye Xiao and defended the city for Xiao Lin for a long time.
If Ye Xiao hadn't forcibly sent her back, she might still be on the battlefield.
The third granddaughter's heart could never belong to just one man. In her bones flowed the soul of the Ye family - unyielding, tenacious, and righteous.
How could the Old Madam not understand? If there was any possible way, her Xi Wu would definitely save Pang Yi Zhi.
It was just that the third granddaughter didn't want to watch her die here too.
The Old Madam's body suddenly hunched over. Su Su supported her, and for a moment she also wished she were simply Ye Xi Wu, who would take up her sword and swear to escort Pang Yi Zhi and the Hidden Dragon Guards away, even at the cost of her life.
But she was Li Susu.
If she made a wrong step, not only her grandmother, but all beings across the Three Realms would face eternal damnation.
The Old Madam's withered hands embraced her, gently stroking her hair.
Su Su's eyes suddenly stung with tears.
Pang Yi Zhi emerged from the house.
He had changed into men's clothing and bowed respectfully: "Third Miss."
Su Su nodded in acknowledgment.
His face was pale, clearly injured, as he said guiltily: "I have implicated Third Miss and the Old Madam."Pang Yi Zhi knew he couldn't escape today. Perhaps from the moment he came to Zhou Kingdom to find Ye Bingshang, he never intended to return alive.
Pang Yi Zhi looked at Su Su, seeming to want to say something: "I... you..."
After a long while, he straightened his back and chuckled with a soft sigh: "Never mind."
Su Su didn't understand what he left unspoken. This proud top scholar gave her a deep look before being captured by Nian Bai Yu.
The wind rustled through the emerald bamboo in the courtyard.
Spring was approaching in Zhou Kingdom.
Su Su learned of Pang Yi Zhi's death in early March.
It was said Tantai Jin couldn't extract any information during interrogation. Lord Pang had hanged himself - he had hidden poison between his teeth, preserving his body and dying with exceptional peace.
Su Su had guessed correctly; he had long been prepared for this day.
With Xia Kingdom in decline and loyal bones buried in green hills, as a main war advocate, Lord Pang was a man of principle.
Tantai Jin failed to obtain the Hidden Dragon Guards. This mysterious guard unit suddenly vanished.
Furious, Tantai Jin personally went out to search for them and was gone for a month. He had also relocated Su Su's grandmother, and Su Su didn't know where she was.
Spring arrived in Zhou Kingdom, filling the palace with splendid scenery. In the evening, the tiger demon strutted in arrogantly, catching several toads and throwing them onto the small couch where Su Su slept.
Su Su chased after it, beating it until its head was covered in bumps.
The creature never learned its lesson, constantly seeking revenge every few days, but its intelligence never met the standard, always ending up beaten.
Having eaten humans before, it carried thick Demonic Aura, so Su Su showed no mercy when hitting it.
The human and tiger chased each other through nearly half the palace.
The tiger fled in panic, scrambling back to Chengqian Hall.
Unexpectedly, the person it feared most in the world had returned.
Just as Tantai Jin had put on his robe, the tiger demon rushed in as if fleeing for its life, falling into his bathing pool and splashing water everywhere.
Tantai Jin laughed.
The tiger shuddered, climbing out of the pool, so frightened that it hugged its paws and frantically bowed, hiding behind the girl who had chased it in half a step later.
When Su Su saw Tantai Jin, she also froze.
The wretched tiger had shrunk to palm-size, trembling with tearful eyes. She mercilessly picked it up and kicked it flying.
The mini tiger demon gave her a grateful look, obediently stretching its limbs as it flew backward.
After a month apart, the already thin Tantai Jin appeared even paler.
During this period, he had been ferociously searching everywhere for the Hidden Dragon Guards, but couldn't even find a trace, clearly in a terrible mood.
Su Su had heard in the palace that he had made great efforts and killed many people outside the palace.
Tantai Jin's failure to find the Hidden Dragon Guards proved that his Night Shadow Guard was, to some extent, inferior to Xiao Lin's Hidden Dragon Guards.
Su Su felt quite schadenfreude about this.
As toads hopped out the door, Tantai Jin said indifferently: "Tell the old Taoist to throw the tiger demon into the Flame Furnace."
Even if the tiger didn't die, it would surely be skinned alive. Knowing he was in a bad mood, Su Su didn't really want to approach him.
During this period, she had been quite happy in the palace. Without a specific status, the palace servants didn't dare make her work, but neither did they dare disrespect her.
With Tantai Jin's return, the air in the hall became much heavier and colder.
With her bedding dirtied, Su Su resignedly asked a maid for a clean set and remade the bed.
The young emperor sat on the dragon bed with his hair down, watching her.
Suddenly he asked: "Do you have the Hidden Dragon Guards?"
Su Su paused in making the bed and raised her head: "If I really had them, I think you'd be finished tonight."He stared at her for a moment before suddenly saying, "Come here."
Su Su walked over curiously. "What is it?"
"I allowed you to see Old Madam Ye last time," the young man said, his dark pupils fixed unblinkingly on her as he stated the fact.
Su Su nodded. So?
"So," he pursed his lips, displeased, "you should fulfill your promise."
Su Su certainly remembered what she had said: "About finding the Eighth Prince, of course I won't deceive you. But to trace someone requires their personal belongings. He used to live in the palace—send someone to search for them, bring them to me, and I'll figure out a way."
After speaking, Su Su turned to leave, but her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
She was still holding a pillow. "What else is there?"
His lips pressed together, the displeasure in his expression not diminishing in the slightest. His dark eyes, like beautiful obsidian, gleamed with a cold light.
There was a hint of anger at being toyed with.
The curved jade quietly reminded Su Su, "You also said you would teach him to draw the Talisman of All Beings."
Oh right, that was true.
However, Su Su couldn't stand this person and deliberately feigned ignorance. "Is there anything else?"
Seeing that she showed no sign of remembering, Tantai Jin had no choice but to say, "The Talisman of All Beings."
Su Su smiled. "I almost forgot. Do you want to see it now?"
The young emperor replied, "Mm."
She had forced him to remind her himself, and Tantai Jin's expression looked as if he wanted to strangle her.
"Wei Xi, bring the cinnabar and talisman paper."
Soon, the cinnabar and talisman paper were in Su Su's hands.
She had no interest in toying with him over this matter and only wanted to finish drawing it quickly so she could sleep. She had taught Tantai Jin how to draw the "Talisman of All Beings" before—it was meant to present the beauty of the world to him in an illusory form.
To let him glimpse all living beings in the world in an instant.
It was an incantation for calming the mind.
After drawing it, Su Su handed it to him and asked, "Do you still remember the incantation?"
Tantai Jin didn't speak. The moment the talisman paper reached his hand, it ignited without wind. A faint blue light illuminated his face, and before Tantai Jin's eyes, the girl looked at him drowsily.
"Done? If you've calmed down, I'm going to sleep."
Tantai Jin grabbed her chin. "You're toying with me!"
Su Su was baffled and slapped his hand away. "What's wrong with you now?"
Tantai Jin said, "I saw nothing."
Su Su was stunned. "That's impossible."
He was practically questioning her skill. Seeing his expression, it didn't seem like he was lying. She dipped her finger in cinnabar and drew it again.
This time, Su Su demonstrated it herself. She saw mountains and rivers unfold before her eyes, a peaceful world, birds singing, and colorful clouds filling the sky.
"See? It clearly works." She reached out and scooped up an illusory cloud, but the Talisman of All Beings vanished in an instant.
Tantai Jin frowned as he watched her.
He couldn't see it—he still saw nothing. Last time, he had been able to see it, but this time, as the incantation faded, all that remained was the girl before him, adorned with pink cherry blossoms in her hair.
"I can't see it."
Su Su grew angry, feeling that Tantai Jin was trying to scam her. His men had been defeated by Xiao Lin's Hidden Dragon Guards, and he had returned to the palace in a bad mood, taking it out on her.
She immediately gave up. "Play by yourself then!"
As she was about to leave, Tantai Jin instinctively reached out to stop her.
Without looking back, Su Su sent a candle flame flying through the air, scorching Tantai Jin's fingertips. He withdrew his hand. "You!"
The curved jade suddenly spoke up. "He's not lying, little master. It's you who hasn't mastered the Talisman of All Beings."
The curved jade explained gently: "When your father used the Talisman of All Beings to amuse you before, he never told you that this kind of incantation only works for those who care about all living beings. Tantai Jin could see it before because his heart was filled only with power and dominion."
Su Su hadn't expected it to be like this either.
"And now," the curved jade fell silent for a moment, "the Talisman of All Beings has burned out, and you stand before him."
He could not see all living beings.
The emotions in the young Demon God's heart were no longer pure.
Su Su turned back and saw the young man's fingers flushed crimson. His pitch-black eyes fixed on her fiercely, anger mingled with emotions he himself didn't understand.
Su Su knew this was a good opportunity.
She walked back: "It's my lack of skill, I'm sorry."
He clenched his fist, about to sneer and mock.
Suddenly, the young girl cupped his face and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. She said casually: "My apology!"
The fleeting softness on his face made him freeze completely.
When he recovered, he gritted his teeth and grabbed her collar: "You..."
"Shameless?" Su Su finished his sentence.
The two were extremely close, so close that Tantai Jin could clearly see the young girl's eyelashes. He pressed his lips tightly together, unable to speak.
Su Su said: "Are you happy now?"
He remained silent, squeezing out words through his teeth: "What I want is the Talisman of All Beings."
A faint helplessness showed in Su Su's eyes: "The Talisman of All Beings might be gone. If I give you a kiss, will you forget about this? Will you take it?"
Tantai Jin stared at her coldly.
As if she were a worthless joke.
Su Su said: "Alright then, I'll find a way to get you the Talisman of All Beings."
She tried to pull his hand away and leave.
Tantai Jin refused to let go, stubbornly and stiffly holding onto her. He detected a hint of mockery in her eyes and remained motionless.
Just when Su Su thought the situation would remain deadlocked, Tantai Jin suddenly pressed the back of her head and lowered his.
His eyes were closed, his lips cold and slightly trembling.
A smile slowly spread in Su Su's eyes.
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