Chapter 149

Though that was what he said, when Pei Ji caught a glimpse of Ning Ning’s expression, the first thought that flashed through his mind was: if one day he was on the brink of death, would she even be willing to frown for him?

This thought was so despicable it couldn’t see the light of day, striking him hard in the heart. Pei Ji didn’t understand why such an idea suddenly came to him. Feeling his ears heat up, he paused for a moment before saying, ‘Something’s not right here.’

Ning Ning composed herself and nodded slightly.

It was too quiet here. Not only were He Zhizhou and Xu Ye nowhere to be found, but the demon cultivators posing as Spirit Fox Clan members were also silent. Just then, a faint scent of blood wafted through the air.

This scent seemed to come from a nearby place, mostly dispersed by the night wind, leaving only a faint trace.

Pei Ji’s eyes darkened, and he said in a low voice, ‘Be careful.’

With the heightened senses of cultivators, Ning Ning followed the scent, passing by neatly arranged wooden houses, and arrived in front of a very familiar house.

She remembered this place.

It was Qiao Yan’s residence.

As she got closer, the smell of blood, like rusty iron, became more pronounced, almost tangible, enveloping the entire house. The air seemed to be tinged with a faint red.

In front of the small wooden house, several figures stood, emanating a murderous aura, surrounding someone in the center.

Ning Ning initially thought the person in the middle would be Qiao Yan, but peering through the gaps between people, she saw a completely different face.

—It was Qin Niang.

Or rather, the demon who had been impersonating Qiao Yan’s mother for years.

Qin Niang’s mouth was stained with blood, and her face was slashed with several gruesome cuts. Severely injured and exhausted, she knelt on the ground, supporting herself with one hand.

The people around her looked equally pale, likely having just gone through a fierce battle, their already depleted spiritual energy running out.

A young man, shaking with anger, held a long knife that gleamed coldly. ‘We are all from the same clan; why must you go against us because of outsiders!’

Ning Ning’s heart stirred, and she heard a woman beside him cough lightly. “Over the years, you’ve done enough for Qiao Yan. If it weren’t for your pleading with Demon Lord Qi Han, would he have kept that girl alive till now? Do you really want to sacrifice your life for her now?”

“In my opinion, this woman got so caught up in her act that she lost herself,” another middle-aged man’s voice chimed in, dripping with venomous mockery and disdain.

“Not only did she give us her life-saving medicine, begging us to spare her “daughter’s” life, but today she even attacked her long-time clan members to help that fox escape… Wake up; you were never Qin Niang!”

So that’s how it was.

Ning Ning heard her heart pounding, and many confusing secrets suddenly became clear.

That’s why Qin Niang was so weak; even with all the rare treasures Qiao Yan provided, she still struggled to stand. That’s why Qiao Yan, despite losing her usefulness, was still kept alive in the demon clan.

Before the truth was revealed, she had speculated on many reasons why the demon clan wouldn’t kill Qiao Yan.

For instance, Qiao Yan’s close connection to the Sun Blaze Bow, making her indispensable for acquiring the divine bow; or her integral role in the formation, which the demon cultivators needed her to dismantle.

However, beneath all those complex and far-fetched possibilities, the true reason was unexpectedly simple and pure, completely unrelated to schemes or plots. It was like a pure white flower blooming in a pond filled with mud and blood, striking in its improbability.

It was merely a woman’s most innocent personal desire, something Qiao Yan had never known.

“Talking is useless.”

The woman, who had spoken earlier, coughed a few more times.

“We should act quickly and chase down Qiao Yan and that sword cultivator. If they spread the news and all the disciples in the trial learned the truth… that would be disastrous.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a blade flashed. Qin Niang, already covered in blood and on the verge of death, was about to lower her eyes and await her end when she unexpectedly saw a sharp sword light.

—Two long swords cut through the night, their energy sweeping across the area, sending sharp, blade-like winds toward everyone present with unstoppable force!

The demon cultivators, though having recuperated for many years, were still very weak. Furthermore, Qin Niang had fought them with her life, draining most of their spiritual energy. They couldn’t withstand the sword’s energy and were forced to retreat, spitting blood.

Ning Ning, holding the Xinghen Sword, stepped forward, her expression cold as she locked eyes with Qin Niang.

Earlier, she hadn’t seen clearly in the dim night. Now, up close, she noticed Qin Niang was covered in wounds and cuts, her white clothes stained blood-red, and her face as pale as paper, barely alive.

“You—”

She had just started to speak but didn’t know how to continue. Qin Niang coughed up blood and spoke softly, “Miss Ning Ning… you all know now, don’t you?”