Master, Please Help Me Break the Love Curse! - Chapter 32

Qin Wangyue held a small box containing freshly refined Medicinal Pills, commonly used by Lingxiao Sect disciples to enhance their abilities. These pills allowed them to unleash their full strength for six hours.

The pills emitted a subtle, fragrant aroma—a blend of medicinal herbs and spiritual stones—that was both refreshing and invigorating.

“We’re just going to subdue a small group of bandits on Erwang Mountain. We don’t need these, do we?” Shang Qianye protested. “Senior Sister Qin, refining these pills must have been difficult. You should keep them for yourself.”

But Qin Wangyue insisted on pushing the box forward. “I refine these pills precisely to help you accomplish more with less effort. If none of you use them, what’s the point of making them? They’d just go to waste.”

“But…”

“Take them. There are twenty pills here. Each of you take one to ensure the mission’s safety.”

Qin Wangyue smiled warmly at Shang Qianye, retrieved a pill from the corner of the box, and pressed it into her hand. “Eat this. It’s for you. I’ll distribute the rest to the others.”

As Qin Wangyue turned to distribute the pills, Shang Qianye glanced at the pill in her hand. Without hesitation, she swallowed it whole.

After ensuring everyone had taken their Medicinal Pills, Shang Qianye bid farewell to Qin Wangyue and prepared to descend the mountain.

Qin Wangyue stood holding the empty medicine box, her dark, bright eyes fixed on Shang Qianye’s retreating figure. A thoughtful, lingering smile played at the corners of her lips.

Under the moonlight, the Mountain Manor.

Shang Qianye and Gu Yunqing led a dozen disciples, soaring down on their swords. From high above, they spotted the solitary Mountain Manor perched atop the mountain peak. The barren northwest landscape offered little vegetation; the mountain’s trees were sparse, and the terrain was dominated by jagged cliffs and strange rock formations, yet it possessed a unique, rugged charm.

“Senior Sister, that’s the Snake Lady’s Mountain Manor,” Gu Yunqing said, landing beside Shang Qianye and pointing below. “This manor used to belong to a wealthy merchant. When bandits demanded ‘temporary lodging,’ the merchant had no choice but to let them stay. He was too afraid to report it to the authorities, so they occupied the manor for over half a year.”

“Temporary lodging?” Shang Qianye chuckled. “Calling it ‘temporary lodging’ doesn’t change the fact that it’s outright robbery.”

“Exactly!” Gu Yunqing crossed her arms and snorted. “Perfect timing—we’ll be exterminating evil and conducting a health check all in one go.”

Shang Qianye nodded, surveying the terrain. “Let’s not alert them,” she instructed the group. “We’ll hide first and observe the situation.”

The group quickly landed atop a steep cliff, offering a clear view of Mountain Manor below while remaining concealed—an ideal observation point.

Perched on the cliff, Shang Qianye crouched low, her gaze fixed on the manor.

The manor had only one entrance, backed by a pool of water beyond which rose sheer cliffs. Bonfires blazed within the compound, illuminating numerous figures moving about, some drinking and playing cards.

Quite a crowd, Shang Qianye thought.

But the Snake Lady was nowhere to be seen.

Shang Qianye retrieved a talisman from her sleeve, murmured an incantation, and the yellow paper burst into flames, transforming into countless sparks that drifted on the wind into the manor.

After her reconnaissance, Shang Qianye confirmed there were 27 bandits in the manor. Two appeared to be leaders with some martial arts training, while the rest were ordinary thugs.

“The manor has 18 rooms,” Shang Qianye reported. “Two are sleeping in the communal bunkroom in the southeast corner, two are drinking in the Council Hall, five are stationed at the four cardinal points, and the rest are playing dominoes in the northern rooms.”

Shang Qianye turned to Gu Yunqing. “When we move, spread out. The two drinking in the Council Hall have some Body Cultivation skills, so be cautious. Deal with the others swiftly.”

Gu Yunqing nodded. “What about the Snake Lady? Have you found her yet?”

Shang Qianye was about to reply that they hadn’t located her yet when she felt a response from the spiritual energy she had sent out. She turned toward the Mountain Manor and saw a crimson figure ascending the sole path leading up to it. The figure carried a zither in her arms, followed by a black-clad woman with a high ponytail.

Shang Qianye immediately recognized the black-clad woman as the one who had ambushed her earlier. Now, she trailed closely behind the Snake Lady, a black longsword in hand, as they entered the Mountain Manor.

After exchanging a few words with the gatekeeper, the Snake Lady led the black-clad woman directly toward the Council Hall. She pushed open the door and exchanged a few jokes with the two leaders who were drinking inside.

“Senior Sister,” Gu Yunqing whispered, pressing her voice low. “Is that the Snake Lady?”

Shang Qianye nodded grimly.

“Now that they’re all here, should we make our move?”

“Let’s observe a little longer,” Shang Qianye murmured, her gaze fixed on the brightly lit Mountain Manor. “It never hurts to be cautious.”

In the Jade Court Forest, Luo Jiu hesitated, pen poised above the talisman paper. After a long moment, she still wasn’t ready to begin writing.

With a soft sigh, she finally set down the cinnabar brush and turned to gaze at the moonlight streaming through the study window.

The moon seems even rounder tonight.

Ever since Shang Qianye resolved to capture the Snake Lady tonight, Luo Jiu had been restless, a nagging unease lingering in her heart. Something felt off, and she couldn’t shake her worry.

Luo Jiu even considered whether she should simply stay away.

The Snake Lady was cunning, and Shang Qianye had already suffered a setback once. Luo Jiu shouldn’t feel so confident letting her face this alone.

Rising from her seat, Luo Jiu stepped into the courtyard. Her anxiety remained undiminished. Finally, she decided to go and see for herself. After all, she had no pressing matters to attend to. If Shang Qianye could handle it alone, all the better.

But if she couldn’t…

Luo Jiu walked to the Formation in the rear courtyard. As she stepped onto it, the engraved grooves on the ground began to glow in concentric circles, rising into the air in staggered layers to form a three-dimensional Teleportation Array.

This Formation didn’t require a corresponding array at the destination. By simply specifying the teleportation coordinates, she could arrive instantly.

The formation glowed with a soft, ethereal light, its edges radiating a blinding brilliance.

In the blink of an eye, Luo Jiu opened her eyes to find herself in a completely different place.

Floating in mid-air, she scanned her surroundings, certain that Shang Qianye must be nearby. The night wind stirred her long black hair, and as if sensing something, she turned her head toward a nearby mountain valley.

A muffled boom echoed through the air. Luo Jiu frowned and swiftly flew toward the sound.

At that moment, Shang Qianye was locked in fierce combat with the Snake Lady and her companions.

The bandits in the Mountain Manor proved surprisingly weak. After waiting half an hour to ensure there were no further threats, Shang Qianye and her group moved in. Apart from two slightly troublesome leaders, the rest were easily subdued.

Leaving half their forces to control the bandits, Shang Qianye led the remaining members to surround the Snake Lady and the high-ponytail woman in black.

The Snake Lady, cradling her zither, showed no surprise at Shang Qianye’s arrival. She even plucked a string, asking with amusement, “Do you think this ancient zither suits me, Immortal? Does it enhance my charm?”

Shang Qianye: “……”

“Enough of this nonsense. Let’s just cut her down first,” Shang Qianye declared, drawing her sword and charging forward. But she was met by the black-clad woman with the high ponytail.

The Snake Lady glanced at the black-clad woman and yawned. “Xuan Ying, the Immortal Master is so eager. You wouldn’t want to disappoint her, would you?”

Xuan Ying shot an impatient glare at the woman behind her before engaging Shang Qianye in a fierce duel without another word. Gu Yunqing, watching from the sidelines, immediately recognized the woman’s skill and knew Shang Qianye, who wasn’t a Sword Cultivator, stood no chance alone. She drew her own sword and rushed to help.

Even with two against one, Xuan Ying fought with effortless ease. Shang Qianye realized the woman had been concealing her true strength that night; otherwise, she would have been dead long ago.

Sensing the tide turning against them, Shang Qianye retreated a step, allowing Gu Yunqing to take the lead. Gu Yunqing traded blows with Xuan Ying, holding her own in the exchange.

The Snake Lady’s gaze remained fixed on Shang Qianye. As she retreated, Shang Qianye drew a talisman from her sleeve. The runes on the talisman seemed to come alive as they brushed against the sword’s blade, adhering to the metal and emitting a faint, ethereal glow.

The Snake Lady’s eyes narrowed slightly.

After applying the runes, Shang Qianye rejoined the battle. This time, Xuan Ying clearly felt her opponent’s weapon grow heavier with each strike, causing her spiritual energy to surge erratically.

She’s fused runes with her swordsmanship, Xuan Ying realized. No wonder she’s so difficult to deal with.

Xuan Ying gradually reached a stalemate with Shang Qianye. Her brow furrowed, she finally spoke, addressing the Snake Lady: “How much longer are you going to stall?”

The Snake Lady chuckled, stepping forward. “What’s the rush? We need to wait for her spiritual energy to fully mobilize before I can unleash my technique.”

With that, the Snake Lady began playing the guqin in her arms.

The music was utterly dissonant, ear-splittingly awful. For a split second, every combatant froze, especially Gu Yunqing, who stared at the Snake Lady in disbelief.

“So you can’t even play the guqin?” Gu Yunqing demanded. “Then why are you carrying it around like some kind of prop?!”

The Snake Lady smiled patiently. “Little girl, does one need to be skilled to play? Are all members of the Lingxiao Sect so arrogant?”

Gu Yunqing’s face twisted in fury. “You’re just twisting words to justify your nonsense!”

“Don’t waste your breath on her,” Shang Qianye interjected. “Stay focused. I’ll handle the Snake Lady. This one’s yours.”

Gu Yunqing immediately grew serious, blocking Xuan Ying’s path as she tried to pursue Shang Qianye. “Now,” she shouted, “your opponent is me!”

Xuan Ying: “……”

So noisy.

Shang Qianye charged straight toward the Snake Lady, who remained motionless, cradling her zither. She watched Shang Qianye lunge at her, and as the sword pierced toward her, a triumphant smile spread across her face.

Seeing that smile, Shang Qianye’s heart lurched. This is bad! she thought, but the sword had already struck, slicing directly into the zither.

“It’s time,” the Snake Lady murmured, shielding herself with the zither. Her beautiful face peeked out from behind the instrument, her crimson lips parting slightly. “Shang Qianye, farewell.”

First, Shang Qianye detected a fragrant aroma, seemingly emanating from the zither. She couldn’t identify the scent, but the moment she inhaled it, dizziness overwhelmed her, and she found herself unable to summon even a trace of spiritual energy.

The Snake Lady released the zither. In the next instant, Shang Qianye witnessed a violent surge of spiritual energy erupt from within the instrument, a crimson beam of light shooting straight toward her face.

With a deafening boom, the zither exploded before her eyes!