The Beloved Master's Mad Dog Disciple - Chapter 42

No sooner had Bo Xuenong’s words left her lips than hundreds of Beast Tamers suddenly charged from the direction the Heavenly Cuisine Sect cultivators had surrounded. Each Beast Tamer rode a towering, majestic beast, their presence radiating awe-inspiring power. The riders wore animal-themed totemic garments, and the beasts included ferocious demon beasts like lions, wolves, tigers, and leopards, as well as venomous creatures like long snakes and poisonous scorpions. Leading the charge was a Greyfur Rabbit.

This Greyfur Rabbit resembled the small rabbit perched on Si Xianling’s shoulder, though it was far larger in size. Its eyes glowed with a violet-gold hue, possessing a divine nature absent in other beasts.

The Greyfur Rabbit led the stampeding horde, shaking the earth and sky with their thunderous advance. The cacophony of beastly roars and avian cries created a terrifying spectacle.

In their wake, the remaining Heavenly Cuisine Sect disciples were instantly decapitated, leaving them no time to gasp for breath. Severed heads rolled across the ground, bl00d mingling with shredded flesh as it gushed forth, and the intense aroma drifted toward Bo Xuenong.

Bo Xuenong was momentarily dazed. She instinctively moved closer to the corpses, her gaze landing on the Shen Yanting pendant hanging around her neck. The rich fragrance emanating from it dispersed, significantly diminishing her craving for flesh and bl00d.

She subconsciously lowered her head further, bringing herself closer to Shen Yanting.

Shen Yanting, mistaking her daze for fear of the overwhelming number of Beast Tamers, raised a hand to gently stroke Bo Xuenong’s jawline, which was closest to her hand. “Nong’er, don’t be afraid,” she murmured.

The cool touch of her fingertips against Bo Xuenong’s skin, like the chill of porcelain, jolted her bl00d-scented mind back to clarity.

Bo Xuenong nodded, remaining motionless as Shen Yanting continued to stroke her, while her peripheral vision tracked the movements of the approaching Beast horde.

The Beasts halted before them. The riders on the lead mounts immediately dismounted, rushing toward Si Xianling, who was being half-supported by Liu Huairou to prevent her from collapsing. Seeing Si Xianling severely wounded and barely clinging to life, their eyes reddened with pity, heartache, and a burning hatred for those who had harmed her.

Si Xianling had been clamoring to slaughter every member of the Heavenly Cuisine Sect, but when reinforcements actually arrived, she felt a pang of shame.

She scratched her cheek awkwardly. “Eldest Aunt, Second Aunt, Youngest Aunt, Youngest Uncle, Youngest Aunt-in-law… you’re all here? What about the Sect?”

Leading the group was a beautiful woman whose robes were embroidered with a White Tiger totem and who wore a tiger pelt around her waist.

The woman immediately grabbed Si Xianling’s ear, her voice a mix of concern and anger. “Letting your temper get the better of you, running off like that—see what trouble you’ve caused now?”

Si Xianling was nearly dragged off her feet. She cried out in pain, “Ah, Eldest Aunt… that hurts!”

The tiger-pelted woman quickly released her ear. The female cultivator closest to them wore robes embroidered with a Black Snake totem. The totem was strikingly lifelike, its pale golden vertical pupils both terrifying and icy. Her appearance mirrored the snake’s coldness, yet her voice was surprisingly gentle compared to the tiger-pelted woman’s. “Elder Sister, Xian’er has suffered such a terrible ordeal. If you can’t show her compassion, why resort to hitting her?”

She tenderly rubbed Si Xianling’s ear twice and blew cool air on it before speaking softly, “Xian’er, don’t worry. Your Great-Aunt is watching over the Sect.”

Before Si Xianling could speak, the woman whose robes were embroidered with a snow leopard totem pulled her into a tight embrace. “Xian’er, your youngest aunt knew you must be suffering at the Heavenly Cuisine Sect! Those beasts still stubbornly deny it!”

The tiger-skinned beauty curled her fingers slightly and slowly withdrew her hand.

She glared at her younger sister, her tone exasperated. “You knew? If it weren’t for Little Sister-in-Law insisting Xian’er was at the Heavenly Cuisine Sect, you’d still be clueless about her whereabouts.”

“……”

Bo Xuenong now understood the identities of these people. They were all from the Beast Taming Sect, and the ones who had rushed forward most urgently were Si Xianling’s relatives.

The leader, a woman with violet-gold eyes and a greyfur rabbit, didn’t approach. Instead, the small greyfur rabbit on Si Xianling’s shoulder hopped over to them. The woman with the violet-gold eyes picked it up, cradling it in her arms, and the rabbit’s fur instantly glowed brighter.

Bo Xuenong immediately realized this woman was Zhu Ningfu.

Zhu Ningfu was a gentle beauty, her jade-green robes embroidered with a lifelike greyfur rabbit that didn’t seem out of place. A pearl-inlaid hairpin was tucked diagonally into her hair, its pearls casting a soft, pale glow across her face, accentuating her delicate features.

With one arm cradling the Greyfur Rabbit, Zhu Ningfu gently stroked its fur, channeling more spiritual power into the creature.

Zhu Ningfu’s Lifebound Beast was the Greyfur Rabbit’s mother. Sharing a Bloodline with her Lifebound Beast, Zhu Ningfu considered the Greyfur Rabbit her own daughter. Naturally, the rabbit could draw spiritual power from her through their shared bl00d. Staying with Zhu Ningfu allowed the rabbit to recover far more quickly than it would with the spiritually depleted Si Xianling.

Si Xianling noticed the commotion but remained unconcerned about Zhu Ningfu holding her Lifebound Beast. Instead of rushing over, she turned to introduce the others to Bo Xuenong and her companions.

“Little disciple, this is my Eldest Aunt, Xiang Manyu, ranked second among Beast Tamers; my Second Aunt, Tu Manzhu, ranked fifth; my Third Aunt, Su Manqiu, ranked tenth; my Youngest Uncle, Sheng Mandong, ranked twenty-first; my Youngest Aunt-in-law, Yu Meng, ranked thirteenth… And that’s my stepmother, Zhu Ningfu, Sect Leader of the Beast Taming Sect.”

The Divine Pavilion’s Beast Tamer rankings measured combat prowess. Nearly all the Cultivation World’s most powerful Beast Tamers belonged to the Beast Taming Sect, so the entire list was dominated by sect members.

Bo Xuenong found it peculiar that despite being family, each member had a completely different surname.

Si Xianling saw through Bo Xuenong’s thoughts and chuckled sheepishly. “In our family, everyone except my father takes the surname of their Lifebound Beast.”

Bo Xuenong suddenly understood.

The Beast Taming Sect had cultivated these demon beasts for generations. Naturally, the beasts favored the sect’s disciples. To impress a Beast Tamer enough to form a contract, one had to excel in every aspect.

Adopting the Beast Tamer’s surname was a way to forge a closer bond with the beasts.

After introducing her family, Si Xianling turned to them and said, “Aunt, this is Sister Shen’s disciple, Bo Xuenong. Thanks to her and Sister Shen, I was able to escape the Heavenly Cuisine Sect’s Sect-Protecting Grand Formation.”

“Sister Shen?” Xiang Manyu glanced around with a puzzled expression. “You mean Immortal Shen? Where is she?”

Hearing her ask about Shen Yanting, Si Xianling looked at Bo Xuenong.

Bo Xuenong lowered her gaze slightly. Xiang Manyu and the others followed her line of sight to the white porcelain doll hanging below her neck. Xiang Manyu raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. “Why are you wearing your Master’s porcelain effigy around your neck?”

Shen Yanting awkwardly clutched the red cloth tighter. “Senior Xiang, I am Shen Yanting.”

The porcelain doll opened its mouth, drawing even Zhu Ningfu, who had been standing some distance away, closer out of curiosity. All eyes were fixed on the white porcelain doll.

Xiang Manyu and the others had seen Shen Yanting before, but as they weren’t Si Xianling, they lacked the authority to freely roam the Cloudmist Sect. Their interactions with Shen Yanting had been limited, and they had never observed her from such close range. Now, her flawless, perfect features, miniaturized, appeared even more exquisite, captivating their gazes.

Seeing them staring intently at the shrunken Shen Yanting, Bo Xuenong instinctively shielded her and retreated slightly.

Si Xianling tugged at Xiang Manyu and the others. “Eldest Aunt, you’re scaring Sister Shen’s little disciple.”

Zhu Ningfu was the first to break eye contact. Stroking the fur of her gray rabbit, she said to Shen Yanting, “Miss Shen, your Grand Martial Aunt has arrived. You’ll be able to see her soon.”

Wu Qingshu had also come.

This news couldn’t be considered good for Shen Yanting at this moment.

Shen Yanting felt a growing sense of unease. Given her current situation, it would be difficult to slip away unnoticed with Bo Xuenong.

Bo Xuenong and the others were unaware of Shen Yanting’s reluctance to meet Wu Qingshu. When Si Xianling heard Wu Qingshu had arrived, her eyes lit up considerably. “Young Mistress, has my mother come too?”

Zhu Ningfu, as Si Xianling suggested, likely had ulterior motives, but she would never harm Si Xianling. Her demeanor was gentle and her tone even, yet her gaze toward Si Xianling radiated maternal warmth. “Yes, she came with us.”

Si Xianling’s youngest aunt, Su Manqiu, tugged at her sleeve. “Xian’er, you don’t know how differently your mother treats you. She stopped us from acting earlier, but the moment she sensed your presence, she was the first to strike, more ruthless than any of us! She’s still hunting Wu Liangyi as we speak!”

“Wu Liangyi, as Sect Leader of the Heavenly Cuisine Sect, deserved to die for ambushing Xian’er,” Zhu Ningfu said, her gentle features momentarily hardening. She glanced in Shen Yanting’s direction, and the coldness faded. “The Cloudmist Sect is the foremost sect in the Cultivation World. To uphold order, they must lead by example. Their rules are stricter than ours. They didn’t act earlier because we lacked irrefutable proof of Xian’er’s presence. Without proper justification, the Divine Pavilion would have penalized us severely if they investigated.”

Si Xianling had been pampered since childhood by numerous powerful figures, always getting whatever she wanted.

In other respects, she was well-behaved, but her temper was notoriously fiery.

One day, when the Sect’s two most esteemed Alchemists ate two of her pastries without permission, she flew into a rage and ran away from home that very night. At first, no one was too concerned, knowing Si Xianling’s temper flared quickly but subsided just as fast. They assumed she would return once she calmed down.

Zhu Ningfu and Si Xianling shared a unique bond through their Lifebound Beasts—a mother-daughter pair of rare Spirit Beasts with connected Bloodlines. When Si Xianling was in danger, Zhu Ningfu could sense it.

The entire Beast Taming Sect cherished their Young Sect Master, and when news of her disappearance spread, everyone clamored to join the search.

They had initially planned to keep Wu Qingshu in the dark, but Wu Qingshu happened to be near the Beast Taming Sect, eager to meet her daughter. When Si Xianling failed to respond to her messages, Wu Qingshu stormed the Sect demanding answers.

With the truth impossible to conceal, they had no choice but to involve her in the search.

Wu Qingshu was considered a senior to Xiang Manyu and the others, a rare genius who had single-handedly raised the standards for modern Talisman Cultivators. Naturally, she looked down on those who relied on demon beasts to alter their Bloodlines and often reprimanded them.

Their conflict had been brewing since the beginning, but Si Xianling’s birth only intensified the animosity.

Wu Qingshu had always wanted to take Si Xianling back to the Cloudmist Sect, but her nieces were reluctant to part with their beloved cousin, leading to frequent clashes.

Compounding the issue was Wu Qingshu’s age and seniority. She constantly meddled in her brothers’ affairs and tried to control them as well, naturally escalating the conflicts.

Xiang Manyu and the others much preferred their new sister-in-law, Zhu Ningfu, who was gentle as water and far superior to Wu Qingshu in every way.

Since her daughter’s disappearance, Wu Qingshu had worn a grim expression and harbored resentment toward Zhu Ningfu. Their arguments were frequent, and several times they even came to blows.

A few days earlier, Wu Qingshu had used her Talisman Arts to lead them to the Heavenly Cuisine Sect. No matter how they pressed, the sect members insisted they had never seen Si Xianling. Su Manqiu suggested beating them into submission and torturing them for information, but Wu Qingshu refused, arguing they lacked evidence and might not even be able to defeat the Heavenly Cuisine Sect.

Su Manqiu was furious. She declared Wu Qingshu’s Talisman Arts unreliable and insisted on searching for Si Xianling elsewhere.

Fortunately, Zhu Ningfu didn’t hold Wu Qingshu’s hostility against her. Trusting Wu Qingshu’s Talisman Arts, she insisted on staying, arranged for Beast Tamers to surround the Heavenly Cuisine Sect, and daily led them to harass the sect leader. Without her persistence, they might never have found Si Xianling.

Su Manqiu remained dissatisfied with Wu Qingshu, yet a hint of fear lingered in her heart.

As Xiang Manyu had pointed out, had Zhu Ningfu not insisted, they would still be lost.

Si Xianling was about to thank Zhu Ningfu when the latter raised a hand to stop her. “You’re my daughter,” Zhu Ningfu said. “It’s only natural for me to come looking for you.”

After comforting Si Xianling, Zhu Ningfu turned to Su Manqiu. “Manqiu, when Elder Wu arrives, remember to apologize to her.”

“Apologize to her?” Su Manqiu nearly doubted her ears. Her face was a mask of protest. “Aunt, I didn’t do anything wrong!”

“You claimed Elder Wu’s talismans were useless, but Xian’er was indeed here. If Elder Wu hadn’t led us to her, you might never have seen Xian’er again. You owe her an apology.” Zhu Ningfu paused, her gaze sweeping over Xiang Manyu and the others. “And that goes for all of you. You’ve all been targeting Elder Wu throughout this journey.”

Xiang Manyu retorted, “Aunt, she was the one who started targeting you first!”

The Beast Taming Sect was united, even in their shared dislike of Wu Qingshu, from top to bottom.

Bo Xuenong was bewildered. Si Xianling had always spoken of her parents’ deep affection for each other, never mentioning the Beast Taming Sect’s hostile attitude toward Wu Qingshu.

Wu Qingshu had no direct connection to her, but Wu Qingshu was Shen Yanting’s Grand Martial Aunt and had meticulously taught Shen Yanting Talisman Arts.

She feared Shen Yanting would be saddened.

“Master,” Bo Xuenong said, lowering her gaze to Shen Yanting, wanting to offer some comfort.

Shen Yanting, however, wasn’t sad at all. Only anger surged through her.

Just as deeply as the Beast Taming Sect despised Wu Qingshu, the Cloudmist Sect despised Tu Gaojun.

Because the Beast Taming Sect could alter their bloodlines by contracting with powerful Spirit Beasts, their cultivators were relatively more inclined to continue their lineage through marriage in the Cultivation World. This was also easily discernible: those in the Beast Taming Sect who shared the surname of a demon beast typically possessed mediocre Innate Talent and relied on Beast Taming to enhance their cultivation aptitude.

Si Xianling’s grandmother had five children, but only Tu Gaojun and Tu Manzhu bore their mother’s surname.

Tu Gaojun was handsome, talented, and virtuous—qualities that had attracted Wu Qingshu to him. Yet many in the Cloudmist Sect, whose own talents far surpassed his, felt he was unworthy of her. Shen Yanting herself had remained neutral, but hearing her disciples’ disdain for Wu Qingshu’s strict discipline today ignited her fury.

Wu Qingshu held an extremely high position within the Cloudmist Sect and throughout the entire Cultivation World. Unlike the dominant Beast Taming Sect, Talisman Cultivators were few in number and lacked a single dominant sect. Her fellow disciples from the same sect typically begged Wu Qingshu for guidance. Yet these very people now resented her discipline, claiming she despised them for lacking innate talent.

If Wu Qingshu truly despised their reliance on Beast Taming to enhance their innate talent and spiritual root, why would she have allowed her beloved daughter to tread the same path?

They showed no gratitude and even resented her.

Shen Yanting had previously been unaware of the Beast Taming Sect’s attitude toward Wu Qingshu. She had only overheard Mo Tingshu complaining to Wu Qingshu about it once.

Wu Qingshu had replied, “The people of the Beast Taming Sect share bloodlines with demon beasts. Half their bl00d already belongs to these creatures, who naturally revere freedom and bloodlines. Many only obey the commands of stronger beings with the same bl00d, and some even refuse to live in groups, let alone heed the teachings of an outsider like me. I discipline them and try to teach them because I can’t stand their behavior, so why should I care what they think of me?”

Demon beasts.

They yearn most for freedom.

Shen Yanting’s thoughts immediately turned to Bo Xuenong. Ever since she had gradually developed the desire to be a good Master, her guilt toward Bo Xuenong had grown daily, spiraling out of control.

Recent events had only confirmed that she had already spoiled Bo Xuenong beyond repair.

Shen Yanting couldn’t suppress the urge to sigh. Before the soft sigh could escape her lips, a white-robed female cultivator suddenly appeared before her and Bo Xuenong, carrying two male cultivators. Her beauty resembled a crescent moon—cold and solitary, yet radiating a captivating, ethereal glow.

A warm, yet subtly chilling aura enveloped her, accentuating the aloofness in her eyes.

Yet Shen Yanting felt a surge of warmth.

It had been so long since she had seen anyone from the Cloudmist Sect.

Looking at Wu Qingshu, she saw so many faces: her Master’s, her Junior Sisters’—

Wu Qingshu wasn’t like Xiang Manyu or the others; she recognized Shen Yanting instantly.

Staring at the porcelain doll, Wu Qingshu’s thin lips parted slightly. “Yan Ting.”

“Ma… Elder Wu,” Shen Yanting swallowed back the familiar title, replacing it with one more appropriate for their current positions.

Wu Qingshu disliked the formal address, her eyes gleaming with a cold, eerie light. “I don’t like you calling me that. If you’re concerned about status, you can call me Aunt Shu, like Xian’er does.”

Wu Qingshu needed a more intimate form of address, and Shen Yanting happened to need one too.

Though the generational difference felt awkward, Shen Yanting’s gaze trembled slightly as she finally said, “Aunt Shu.”

The new title earned Wu Qingshu a satisfied nod. She set down the two cultivators she had been holding and gave Shen Yanting a long, searching look. “You remind me of when you were little, about this small, looking like…”

Shen Yanting wanted to remind Wu Qingshu that even as a child, she couldn’t have been as small as the palm of her hand.

Wu Qingshu’s words trailed off as her gaze landed on Bo Xuenong. She kicked the two cultivators she had just released, then moved to Si Xianling’s side, forcefully pushing aside Xiang Manyu and Su Manqiu, who were closest to Si Xianling. Her fingertips, still faintly red, brushed Si Xianling’s cheek. “Running off again.”

Si Xianling tugged at the corner of her lips, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. “Mother, if I hadn’t wandered off, I wouldn’t have met Sister Shen. I owe my life to her and her little disciple this time!”

Lowering her voice, Si Xianling recounted her encounter with the Demonic Cultivators at the Heavenly Cuisine Sect to Wu Qingshu and the others, detailing how Shen Yanting and Bo Xuenong had saved her.

Clinging to Wu Qingshu’s arm, she grinned mischievously. “Mother, since the little disciple saved me, shouldn’t we thank her?”

Wu Qingshu’s tone remained cool. “Didn’t you already swear to protect her with your life?”

“Yes, but…” Si Xianling clung tighter, nuzzling against Wu Qingshu’s shoulder. “You’re my mother! You should thank the little disciple too! Let’s take an Immortal Oath together, okay?”

“No,” Wu Qingshu refused immediately.

Su Manqiu and the others, accustomed to opposing Wu Qingshu, immediately pulled Si Xianling back into their arms. “Xian’er, if your mother won’t, your Youngest Aunt will!”

To prove her point, Su Manqiu immediately took an Immortal Oath: to protect Bo Xuenong whenever she faced danger.

A faint golden light spread from beneath her feet, officially sealing the Immortal Oath with the approval of heaven and earth.

Wu Qingshu remained unmoved, circling back to stand before Shen Yanting.

She suddenly seized Shen Yanting’s wrist, the porcelain doll’s body concealing the Bl00d Lotus Mark. However, Bo Xuenong had only recently killed Hua Fangqi, and the stench of bl00d still clung heavily to her.

Wu Qingshu released Shen Yanting’s hand, her gaze shifting to Bo Xuenong. “You’ve taken a life. I should take yours.”

“Aunt Shu!” Shen Yanting cried out in alarm.

Wu Qingshu glanced indifferently at Shen Yanting, a sudden aura of domineering coldness radiating from her. Bo Xuenong felt her breath catch in her throat.

She instinctively tried to retreat, but before she could take a step, Wu Qingshu’s hand clamped around her wrist.

Forced to meet Wu Qingshu’s gaze, Bo Xuenong found it strange that Shen Yanting, who had just spoken up to defend her, had suddenly fallen silent.

She could no longer see Shen Yanting. Her neck felt as if it were bound by some invisible force, leaving her passively staring at Wu Qingshu.

Wu Qingshu’s eyes resembled cold jade, emitting a serene, icy glow.

The fear in Bo Xuenong’s heart suddenly diminished. She realized that Wu Qingshu shared a certain resemblance with Shen Yanting—not in appearance, but in something deeper.

The direct disciples cultivated by the Cloudmist Sect’s orthodox lineage all seemed to share the same cold exterior. Shen Yanting appeared aloof but was so kind-hearted that she died rather than kill her wayward disciple. Yu Cenwan seemed proud and aloof, yet she sacrificed eight lives to repay a childhood debt. Wu Qingshu’s outer shell was icy and distant—but what about her story?

Bo Xuenong didn’t have time to ponder this. When she heard Wu Qingshu threaten to kill Xiang Manyu and the other teachers, they erupted in fury. They had never gotten along with Wu Qingshu, and now that she was trying to kill Si Xianling’s savior without reason, their anger boiled over. One by one, they followed Su Manqiu’s example and swore oaths.

Though they didn’t pledge their lives like Si Xianling, their determination to protect Bo Xuenong was unwavering.

The Beast Taming Sect’s members truly acted with bestial impulsiveness. With the Elder leading the charge, the disciples quickly followed suit.

In an instant, only Zhu Ningfu and Wu Qingshu remained without having sworn oaths. Bo Xuenong was dumbfounded. She had never imagined the story would unfold this way, and she couldn’t fathom how they would react if they ever discovered she was a descendant of the Fierce Beast Bloodline.

Si Xianling was delighted. She looped her arm through Xiang Manyu’s and smiled sweetly, “I knew my aunts cared about me the most.”

Xiang Manyu’s face lit up instantly. She stroked Si Xianling’s cheek. “Only now you realize how much your aunts care? Will you run away from home again?”

“Never again,” Si Xianling said, tugging at her tattered clothes. “Eldest Aunt, I’ve truly learned my lesson this time. I’ll never leave the sect again. If it weren’t for Sister Shen, I might not have survived. The thought of almost never seeing you all again fills me with regret!”

Xiang Manyu tenderly stroked Si Xianling’s small face, her fingertip brushing against the bl00d seeping from a wound. A fresh wave of fury surged through her. “The Heavenly Cuisine Sect hasn’t paid nearly enough for their crimes!”

“Elder Sister,” Su Manqiu chimed in, “the Heavenly Cuisine Sect dared to torture and imprison our Beast Taming Sect’s Young Sect Master. Even if we take this matter to the Divine Pavilion, justice will be on our side. Now that Shen Yanting has broken their Sect-Protecting Grand Formation and we’ve killed most of their Elders, why don’t we just wipe the Heavenly Cuisine Sect off the map?”

Si Xianling murmured, “Youngest Aunt, I’m still alive. They just tortured and imprisoned me, not killed me.”

Su Manqiu rolled her eyes. “If they actually kill you, it’ll be too late!”

Si Xianling muttered, “Sister Shen broke their Sect-Protecting Grand Formation. The Heavenly Cuisine Sect Elders who helped set it up probably suffered varying degrees of cultivation damage. Now is the perfect time to strike. If we let them recover, they might retaliate and capture me again for another beating… Hmm, but the Divine Pavilion’s intervention would be troublesome. We don’t have a proper excuse.”

Bo Xuenong remained locked in a standoff with Wu Qingshu. Strangely, Wu Qingshu, who had threatened to kill her, only gripped her wrist without making any further moves.

Even when the Beast Taming Sect members grew frantic, hurling threats at Wu Qingshu and vowing to protect Bo Xuenong, Wu Qingshu released her as if she had never intended to kill her. This gave Bo Xuenong a chance to observe Si Xianling.

Bo Xuenong realized Si Xianling wasn’t trying to dissuade Xiang Manyu and the others; she was deliberately stoking the flames.

She began to suspect Si Xianling’s motives. The Heavenly Cuisine Sect’s Human Talisman Refinement had destroyed Lanshou Village, forcing living people to become Spirit Supplements for their consumption. Their crimes deserved death. Yet Shen Yanting’s words also resonated: the fewer Human Talismans and Spirit Supplements remained, the safer the people of Lanshou Village would be.

Si Xianling seemed prepared to use herself as bait, provoking Xiang Manyu and the others to slaughter all the evil cultivators of the Heavenly Cuisine Sect, completely eradicating those who had touched Human Talismans and Spirit Supplements.

This would be a daunting task for most, but for Si Xianling, who had been showered with affection and favor her entire life, it wasn’t insurmountable.

The timing was perfect. The Heavenly Cuisine Sect had been caught completely off guard when Shen Yanting and Bo Xuenong launched a preemptive strike, killing a group of core disciples. Now, with the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation breached and the Beast Taming Sect suddenly attacking, the sect was in chaos. Even Wu Qingshu, the First-Rank Talisman Master, had been scattered before she could fully unleash her power.

Such an opportune moment might never arise again.

“They dare seek revenge? Let them survive today first!” Su Manqiu grew increasingly furious, easily provoked. “Excuses! We need no excuses! The Heavenly Cuisine Sect harbors Demonic Cultivators and tortured our Young Sect Master to death! They deserve to die ten thousand times over!”

Xiang Manyu nodded in agreement. “I concur.”

Tu Manzhu echoed her agreement with another nod. “I concur as well.”

Sheng Mandong turned to Zhu Ningfu, who had remained silent since Wu Qingshu’s arrival. “Sect Leader, what are your thoughts?”

Zhu Ningfu pondered for a moment before saying, “We’ve killed so many members of the Heavenly Cuisine Sect. If we let them recover, they’ll become an endless source of trouble. Rooting out the weeds is the best approach. Now that the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation has been breached, most of the disciples with weak ties to the sect have likely fled. We don’t need to chase them. But spare no Elder or Inner Sect Disciple.”

A faint smile played on her lips as she spoke, yet her words were chillingly ruthless.

Despite Xiang Manyu and the others constantly opposing their former sister-in-law, Wu Qingshu, they obeyed Zhu Ningfu, their new sister-in-law, without question.

At Zhu Ningfu’s command, they scattered to hunt down the remaining survivors of the Heavenly Cuisine Sect.

Si Xianling tried to follow, but her body betrayed her. She stumbled forward, nearly collapsing, until Zhu Ningfu, who was closest, caught her in time. Si Xianling could only grumble softly, pleading repeatedly, “Kill them all! This young lady nearly died in this hellhole! They dared to refine Human Talismans to nourish Demonic Cultivators! Not even a single chicken should be spared!”

The more Si Xianling spoke, the angrier she became, her voice rising involuntarily.

The few remaining people in the area heard her clearly. She looked up guiltily, only to find Zhu Ningfu smiling gently at her.

She glanced around nervously, unconsciously leaning closer to Gui Nian’an. “I didn’t mean to expose myself. You… you can rest assured, my mother and stepmother have no interest in Human Talismans.”

Gui Nian’an and Liu Huairou remained silent, their gazes fixed on the two male cultivators Wu Qingshu had just captured. Their eyes burned with fury.

Now that Xiang Manyu and the others had left, Wu Qingshu no longer mentioned killing Bo Xuenong. She bent slightly, tapping each man’s throat, and stared intently at the one with considerable white hair. “Hua Jinshi, you truly have remarkable audacity, daring to refine Human Talismans.”

Bo Xuenong finally recognized their identities.

One was Wu Liangyi, the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Cuisine Sect who supported Human Talisman Refinement. The other was Hua Jinshi, the First-Rank Talisman Master who had spearheaded the Human Talisman Refinement project.

The two individuals most responsible for the tragedy that had befallen Lanshou Village.

Hua Jinshi sneered dismissively. “Wu Qingshu, stop pretending. You wouldn’t kill me or the Sect Leader if I hadn’t told you I’d successfully refined a Human Talisman, would you? Which Talisman Cultivator in this world wouldn’t want their own Human Talisman—immortal, indestructible, and…”

His voice abruptly cut off as Wu Qingshu snapped his arm.

Hua Jinshi’s eyes widened in disbelief, but Wu Qingshu’s expression remained largely unchanged. “Hua Jinshi, do you know why, despite us both being First-Rank Talisman Masters, you’ve only ever ranked tenth while I’ve consistently held the top spot?”

“That’s because the Divine Pavilion doesn’t know I’ve refined a Human Talisman. If they did, they’d only…”

His voice trailed off, and Wu Qingshu finished his sentence: “If the Divine Pavilion knew, you’d die even faster.”

Wu Qingshu straightened up, no longer looking at Hua Jinshi. “I have no interest in Human Talismans. I’m sparing your lives merely because I believe you should be dealt with by the very Human Talisman you tormented and forcibly refined. You peeled her skin, extracted her bones, and meticulously dissected every inch of her meridians, tearing apart her organs piece by piece. For every ounce of suffering you inflicted, you deserve to endure the same torment.”

Her face was cold, but her heart burned with righteous fury.

Gui Nian’an and Liu Huairou hurriedly thanked Wu Qingshu: “Thank you! Thank you so much!”

Wu Qingshu, unaware of their identities, hesitated, unsure how to respond.

Shen Yanting quickly recounted the events of Lanshou Village to her. Wu Qingshu’s gaze turned even colder as she surveyed the crippled Hua Jinshi and Wu Liangyi. “It seems I haven’t captured enough of you,” she said. “The entire Heavenly Cuisine Sect should go to Lanshou Village to atone for your sins.”

Wu Liangyi, who looked much younger than Hua Jinshi, was now a pitiful sight. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, and one of his legs was broken. Not a trace remained of the once-arrogant Sect Leader of the Heavenly Cuisine Sect. The thought of Wu Qingshu taking them to Lanshou Village to be humiliated by those lowly villagers made him want to tear her skin off and flay her alive. “Wu Qingshu,” he snarled, “weren’t you about to kill your own daughter’s savior? You’re no better than us! What right do you have to judge us?”

Wu Qingshu ignored Wu Liangyi and stepped in front of Bo Xuenong. “Did I kill you?”

“No,” Bo Xuenong replied honestly, shaking her head. Wu Qingshu had only spoken those words; she hadn’t actually made a move.

Si Xianling leaned against Zhu Ningfu, her head resting on her arm, chuckling softly. “You’re so dense! My mother only said that to provoke my aunts. They’re used to opposing her. If she had agreed to protect my little disciple, they would have seized upon any mistake she made and relentlessly tried to kill her. But since my mother declared her intention to kill my little disciple, my aunts are practically clinging to her, desperate to protect her.”

Bo Xuenong finally understood. No wonder Wu Qingshu had threatened to kill her, and Shen Yanting had remained silent.

Shen Yanting had probably seen through the ruse from the start. That’s why she had initially offered protection, then abruptly fallen silent.

Now able to move again, Bo Xuenong glanced anxiously at Shen Yanting. Seeing no surprise on her face, she knew her guess had been correct.

Zhu Ningfu pinched Si Xianling’s cheek. “You little schemer! Even your own aunts aren’t safe from your tricks.”

Leaning against Zhu Ningfu, Si Xianling, ignoring the pain from her injuries, cooed, “But Mother saw through it too, didn’t she? And she didn’t stop us.”

Si Xianling had no intention of harming Xiang Manyu and the others.

Their oath only required them to protect Bo Xuenong, not to defend her with their lives or to exert their utmost effort.

How far they would actually protect her remained to be seen. Their oath merely prevented them from opposing Wu Qingshu; future threats against Bo Xuenong were another matter entirely. The Beast Taming Sect’s members were admirable in many ways—united and powerful—but their strategic thinking often left much to be desired.

Zhu Ningfu smiled, not denying that she had seen through their scheme from the start.

She turned to Wu Qingshu and said softly, “Cultivation practitioners fear nothing more than the emergence of an inner demon. Kindness deserves repayment.”

Wu Qingshu glared at her, her gaze fixed on the intimate bond between Zhu Ningfu and Si Xianling.

Frowning, Wu Qingshu stepped forward, forcefully separating the two and pulling Si Xianling into her arms. As she channeled spiritual energy to heal Si Xianling’s injuries, she shot Zhu Ningfu a cold look. “I’ve told you countless times: stop trying to steal my daughter.”

Zhu Ningfu merely smiled. “Oh, I’m naturally deaf. I can’t hear you.”

That smile, as warm and gentle as a spring breeze, seemed to radiate warmth, yet Wu Qingshu wanted nothing more than to tear her apart. “Don’t push me.”

Zhu Ningfu tugged on Si Xianling’s sleeve, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Xian’er, your mother wants to kill me.”

Bo Xuenong and Shen Yanting observed this complex family dynamic with interest. Zhu Ningfu might appear gentle, but she was clearly a woman of deep calculation and inscrutable motives.

She seemed to care only for Si Xianling, completely unconcerned about provoking Wu Qingshu.

But Wu Qingshu was Si Xianling’s biological mother. Wouldn’t their strained relationship make things incredibly difficult for Si Xianling?