He was still alive.
Yu Konghou was entirely covered in spider silk, even his black hair turned white under the layers. Countless tiny venomous spiders crawled over him, sucking his blood. Though he moved as slowly as a zombie, his eyes devoid of any light, he was indeed still breathing.
The elderly woman supporting him walked with slow, faltering steps, seemingly without any martial skills. Her face was veiled in black, identical in style to the veils worn by the white-robed and red-robed female attendants. Bai Suche raised her head as the old woman slowly removed her veil, revealing a sword scar that nearly split her face in two.
Bai Suche had never seen such a sword-scarred old woman within the Fengliu Dian. Though Yu Konghou was still alive, her full attention was fixed on the elderly woman beside him. The sense of danger emanating from this woman far surpassed that of Yu Konghou.
The old woman spoke slowly, "This humble one is Wang Lingze."
Bai Suche shuddered. So it was her!
The most skilled poison master of the "Hu Deng Order," the evil scourge the Great Crane Monk had sought to eliminate—the head of the Wang family was actually a woman! The "Hu Deng Order" had faded from the martial world over twenty years ago, and most who had seen Wang Lingze's true face were long dead. No one knew that the once-feared Wang Lingze, whose name could silence crying children, was not only a woman but also still alive.
Wang Lingze had not died—somehow escaping the Great Crane Monk's sword through sinister means. Thus, the bizarre methods of the Fengliu Dian, Wang Lingqiu's early infiltration into Shaolin, the grotesque winged creatures raised for years, and even the "Queen Bee Congealed Frost" and "Northern Cold Drink" all made perfect sense now.
Wang Lingze had entered the Piaoling Meiyuan through some hidden passage. Though no one else was visible behind her, Bai Suche didn't believe she could have infiltrated this place alone, silently opening the secret chamber to release Yu Konghou. There must be others behind her.
In this battle between the Fengliu Dian and the Central Plains Sword Assembly, if the mastermind behind the scenes didn’t want to lose, they would surely deploy hidden forces. Bai Suche had considered Chai Xijin, but she had never imagined it would be Wang Lingze.
This woman was inscrutable and unpredictable—even the Great Crane couldn’t kill her back then. She was undoubtedly a far greater threat than even the reckless Lan Wuxing.
"Head of the Wang family," Bai Suche said, facing the most sinister and terrifying woman the martial world had known twenty years ago, without a trace of fear or hesitation. She nodded. "I never thought I’d witness your presence again after two decades."
Wang Lingze smiled faintly. "Revered Master Bai is decisive and resolute, truly a formidable leader. This humble one is pleased to see it. The Fengliu Dian is fortunate to have such a ruler." Though her words sounded congratulatory, her smile held no warmth. "But I wonder, does Revered Master Bai have some masterstroke in mind, holding your ground here while allowing the Central Plains Sword Assembly to challenge you?" She didn’t question Bai Suche’s betrayal in locking Yu Konghou in the underground chamber. In the game of power, the victor reigned, and the defeated belonged in hell. Since Bai Suche stood here now, Wang Lingze would deal with her as the new power.
Those who fell had no place but the abyss.Bai Suche glanced at Yu Konghou, who was emaciated, countless venomous spiders crawling over his body, bit by bit, yet resembling a shimmering robe. She spoke calmly, "Liu Yan's antidote is complete, greatly boosting the morale of the Central Plains Sword Assembly. Lord Liu and Lady Hong have an in-depth understanding of this place, and Cheng Yunpao and the others possess formidable martial skills. Engaging in battle now would bring me a hundred harms without a single benefit." She then looked at Wang Lingze, "I do not fear battle—I am merely waiting for a turning point." Pausing slightly, Bai Suche added indifferently, "And here comes the head of the Wang family, hasn't he?"
Wang Lingze tapped his cane, "You knew I would come?"
"I was waiting for the Ghost Venerable," Bai Suche replied with surprising sincerity. "I did not expect the head of the Wang family to grace us with his presence. My humble abode is honored."
Her expression mirrored Wang Lingze's earlier demeanor—utterly impassive despite speaking of honor.
The delicate and gentle youngest daughter of the Bai family had grown into someone entirely unforeseen.
"Aren't you afraid the Ghost Peony will return to kill you?" Wang Lingze finally laughed with genuine amusement. "After all, Yu Konghou is the Ghost Peony's sworn brother of many years. You're not afraid he'll return for vengeance, yet you wait for him to bring you a turning point?"
"I believe that with a formidable enemy at our gates, if the Ghost Venerable still holds any expectations for the Drifting Life Inn, he should join forces to repel the external threat first. Only after ascending to supremacy in the Martial Arts World can he then settle the brotherly ties between him and Master Yu." Bai Suche spoke lightly. "After all, Bai is walking a path of no return. Whether I die at the hands of the Central Plains Sword Assembly or the Ghost Venerable makes no difference—so I fear not."
Wang Lingze raised his head, his facial muscles twitching as he studied Bai Suche deeply. "Girl, you hail from the righteous path of the jianghu. Why choose this road to ruin?"
Bai Suche answered, "I dream of ascending to heaven."
Wang Lingze stared at her. "Good."
This Bai Suche girl was unexpectedly to his liking. Pity that her grand dream of ascending to heaven did not spare her from the venomous spiders Yu Konghou had nurtured—they had already infiltrated her brain. Wang Lingze remained expressionless. He had ingested the Spider Queen from the mother spider's body, granting him control over all its offspring. The place was teeming with young spiders and their webs. Yu Konghou's desperate counterattack was indeed a masterstroke, sealing Bai Suche's fate.
And she remained oblivious.
I dream of ascending to heaven.
Who in this world does not dream of ascending to heaven?
Unless they are already immortals.
"This old man holds the lifelines of several thousand nearby garrison troops and has subdued three commanders," Wang Lingze said coldly. "At my command, thousands of soldiers will besiege Soul Prayer Mountain! The Central Plains Sword Assembly is but a few hundred strong. Unless Yang Guihua of the Infantry Division dares to pit his eight hundred imperial guards against the local garrison, they stand no chance."
At these words, Bai Suche's expression shifted slightly.
She had never imagined that the "Summoning Lantern Order," unseen in the jianghu for over twenty years, or the undercurrents of "Queen Bee Congealed Frost" and "Three Slumbers Sleepless Sky," would be employed in such a manner. The ambitions of those behind the Drifting Life Inn far surpassed mere jianghu vendettas, shattering all prior schemes. Alone, she could no longer control the situation.
And the Central Plains Sword Assembly, currently attacking the Wandering Eyebrow Manor, was surely equally unaware.
Most of the righteous forces of the Central Plains had gathered here. If the Drifting Life Inn incited the garrison troops to clash with them, the casualties would be devastating. Should the imperial guards and garrison troops come to blows here, the consequences would be unimaginable.
What was to be done?
Bai Suche lowered her eyelids slightly.She must be killed first.
There was no doubt that the "Summoning Lantern Order" issued by Wang Lingze was the root cause that robbed the white-robed and red-robed female attendants of their senses, rendering them obedient to commands. The moment she heard the words "This old woman is Wang Lingze," Bai Suche already knew—the blood debt and justice she had painstakingly awaited were right here.
Yet this person's evil far exceeded her imagination.
She must be killed before she manipulates the Xiang Army to besiege the Central Plains Sword Assembly!
This matter was of grave importance. She had to find an opportunity to relay the message to the Red Maiden and Wan Yu Yuedan.
Exhaling slowly, Bai Suche stepped out from behind the golden chair and walked to a lower position near Wang Lingze. "The Wang family head's ambition is awe-inspiring. Bai is deeply impressed."
She glanced at Yu Konghou beside her. A crack suddenly split open beneath Yu Konghou's current face, and a pale golden claw emerged from the fissure.
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