“You are so wicked, Immortal Venerable~”
More coquettish laughter and teasing rippled from the pool. The sound of splashing water mingled with ambiguous whispers, growing increasingly indecent to the ear.
Ning Zhou's lips twitched violently. Lowering his voice, he grumbled, “So this ‘Immortal Venerable’ is actually a demon? He acts exactly like the tyrants in those storybooks.”
However, a specific person suddenly came to Song Yao's mind.
This style, this way of doing things—it resembled Qiu Feng, the twin brother of the Great Demon of Qianhuang.
Rumor had it that he was even more debauched and unrestrained than the Great Demon of Qianhuang, having destroyed countless cities and states in the past.
Had the Great Demon of Qianhuang sent him to find her?
Still lost in his own thoughts, Ning Zhou leaned in closer and whispered, “They keep looking for Third Senior Sister. Could it be that she's actually still alive?”
“She is.” Song Yao nodded. “Actually, I am Song Yao.”
Ning Zhou turned his head and shot her a look.
The two cultivators leading the way ahead also paused. Their gazes fell on her for a split second before they stiffly turned back around and continued walking in silence.
Ning Zhou couldn't help but snort. “Give me a break. If you say you're Song Yao, then I might as well say I'm Eldest Senior Brother. Third Senior Sister is such a heroic and valiant figure. If you're going to pretend to be her, you should at least take off that heavy coat of yours first.”
Song Yao silently wrapped her heavy coat tighter around herself. “But it's really cold.”
Ning Zhou scoffed, “I heard Third Senior Sister could take on ten thousand enemies single-handedly. As for you, a gust of wind could probably knock you over.”
Song Yao exhaled a breath of cold air. “Not talking about this anymore.”
Ning Zhou chuckled and stepped to the side to block the demonic wind for her. Changing the subject, he said, “But back then, Third Senior Sister made a mistake and was sent to the Earth Realm by the former Hall Master and elders. Even if she's still alive, she shouldn't have returned to the Nine Saints Hall. These demons are really wasting their breath capturing people from the Nine Saints Hall for questioning.”
Song Yao shook her head. “The questioning is just a cover. Their main goal is to use the people of the Nine Saints Hall as hostages and bargaining chips to force me out.”
This time, Ning Zhou couldn't help but laugh out loud. “You're too deep in character, Lin Mu. But even if Third Senior Sister is still alive, and even if they captured the people of the Nine Saints Hall, she might not necessarily make a move. I heard that she was completely ruthless back then, torturing the Nine Saints Hall from top to bottom before being thrown into the Earth Realm. She probably hates the people of the Nine Saints Hall too much to care.”
Song Yao glared at him from the corner of her eye and grabbed a fistful of his hair. “You're the one who's ruthless.”
Ning Zhou let out a yelp. “Hey, no physical violence! My hair is already thin as it is! Do you think I don't dare to fight back?!”
Song Yao's other hand swiftly grabbed another clump of his hair. “Come on then, kill me!”
Ning Zhou cried out, “Ow, ow, ow! Let go! I'm really not playing with you anymore!”
Song Yao retorted, “Suit yourself.”
The two cultivators had walked halfway down the corridor when they suddenly sensed something was amiss. Pausing, they stiffly turned their necks around, only to see the two captives from the Nine Saints Hall, who had been following them, at each other's throats.
If they hadn't been bound by the demon-binding ropes, they probably would have been rolling on the ground in a fistfight by now.
A rare hint of confusion appeared on the two cultivators' faces. Tugging hard on the demon-binding ropes, they pulled the two apart and ordered stiffly, “Come here.”
Ning Zhou's scalp stung. He rubbed it for a long while but still couldn't swallow his anger, snapping, “If I ever enter a demon realm with you again, I'm a dog!”
Song Yao stepped on his foot. “You started it by talking about me first.”
Ning Zhou let out another yelp. “I was clearly talking about Third Senior Sister!”
Song Yao said, “It's the same thing...”
“Hehehe.”
A shrill laugh suddenly drifted from the darkness, interrupting their bickering. “Newborn calves really don't fear tigers. To think you still have the energy to joke and play when death is staring you in the face.”
Song Yao muttered, “Where is that clucking coming from?”
Ning Zhou snapped out of it, only to realize with a jolt that the two cultivators leading them had long since vanished. The other end of the demon-binding ropes lay limply on the ground.
Their surroundings had plunged into pitch darkness, so dark they couldn't see their own hands. The air was frigid and thin, like being submerged at the bottom of an icy pool.
A heavy, demonic energy pressed down on them, accompanied by faint, ghostly wails echoing in their ears. Phantoms of wraiths darted past them at lightning speed, leaving a bone-chilling cold in their wake.
He cried out in alarm, “What is this place?!”
Weren't they just walking along the palace corridor a moment ago?
How did they suddenly end up somewhere else?
Song Yao, familiar with such things, replied, “It should be a minor demon domain.”
Compared to humans, the demon race adhered much more strictly to the law of the jungle and hierarchical structures.
Most high-level demons had their own followers.
However, because many demons lost their sanity and became wildly untamable, some high-level demons would manifest a demon domain to suppress and contain their followers.
It was similar to raising assassins, only to be deployed when needed.
Using such a place to torment people for interrogation was quite fitting.
This was likely where the Fifth Elder had been tortured so brutally before.
She just didn't know if Eldest Senior Brother was also here.
She pulled Ning Zhou along, barely dodging several attacks from resentful demons. Suddenly, a brilliant light flared up not far away. Looking up, the two saw an extremely luxurious daybed materialize out of thin air.
A figure reclined lazily upon it.
It was an incredibly gorgeous beauty.
Her bare feet were slender and translucent white, her ankles bound by heavy black iron chains. The chains were studded with tiny, dark red gems, which contrasted with her nearly transparent skin to create a breathtakingly gorgeous sight.
Beside her stood two half-human, half-demon attendants, their heads bowed as they slowly and rhythmically fanned her with round fans. The breeze carried a sweet, metallic fragrance.
Song Yao whispered a warning, “It's a faceless demon.”
Ning Zhou muttered, “How do you know so many demons...”
Before he could finish, a pale, boneless hand suddenly wound around Song Yao's waist without a sound.
The fingernails were painted a blood-red hue, long and sharp. They dug deep into her clothes, dragging her backward with immense force.
Ning Zhou gasped in shock. Just as he was about to intervene, Song Yao was dragged through the air, crashing heavily into the woman's warm, soft embrace.
The faceless demon loosely wrapped her arms around her from behind, her wide sleeves sliding down her forearms to reveal a stretch of cold, pale skin.
Resting her chin gently in the crook of Song Yao's shoulder, she slowly traced her cheek with her long, red-painted nails. Her cool breath brushed past Song Yao's ear as she whispered, “It's been so long since I've seen such a lovely little beauty who suits my taste~ And you actually delivered yourself right to me.”
Ning Zhou's eyes nearly split from rage. Drawing his sword, he charged forward. “Let her go!”
The moment he moved, Song Yao cried out urgently, “Watch out!”
But she was a step too late.
A roaring wraith slammed into Ning Zhou's chest from the side.
Caught off guard, he groaned as he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily and rolling several times across the ground.
Propping himself up with his sword, he was about to rise when several black iron chains suddenly shot out from all directions, whistling through the air as they lunged toward him.
Forced to raise his arms to block, the chains collided with a shower of sparks.
To make matters worse, resentful demons pounced on him one after another, leaving him scrambling to defend himself.
Within a few breaths, a resentful demon leaping from behind pinned him to the ground. The chains wrapped around his limbs and torso like venomous serpents, tightening violently and hoisting him upside down in midair.
He struggled with all his might, the chains biting painfully into his bones, but he still glared fiercely at the daybed, his voice hoarse. “Do whatever you want to me! Let her go!”
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