After abandoning his broken divine sword, Zheng Hongsheng rushed to the airport. To his dismay, he ran into his nesis, Tang Dingwu. Their eyes t, and they both froze.
"Ahem, we have no real grudge against each other, and we're both still injured. Why don't we call it quits?" Zheng Hongsheng said, forcing a smile. He explained that Yue Songhe was his disciple and that Tang Dingwu had simply misunderstood the situation earlier. He figured Tang Dingwu would agree as long as he wasn't an idiot.
He completely ignored the few young people with Tang Dingwu. Then, to his shock, Tang Dingwu bowed subserviently to Yan Luoyang. "Master, would you like to take them under your command? This humble servant will work like a dog to help you subjugate them!"
The scene left Yue Songhe gawking and Zheng Hongsheng utterly shocked. He quickly reevaluated Yan Luoyang, looking at him with new eyes.
Not good! His eyelids twitched as he made a swift divination. An on of death! Utter doom! This is a dead end! All paths of escape are severed!
"Run!"
Zheng Hongsheng fled without a mont's hesitation, not even attempting to fight. This left Yue Songhe completely dumbfounded. What in the world is happening?
"Heh..."
Yan Luoyang would never let such a prize walk away. With a light chuckle, he and Tang Dingwu attacked simultaneously, intercepting Zheng Hongsheng in a pincer move.
Tang Dingwu had been severely injured, but after becoming a Corpse Slave, his very life signs had changed. His supposed injuries were now a joke. Even when Zheng Hongsheng landed a direct blow on his chest, he rely shuddered without so much as spitting blood. How was I supposed to fight this? Zheng Hongsheng despaired.
Soon, as Lee Encai watched in horror, Yan Luoyang's mouth opened once more. Fangs sprouted, and he sank them into the carotid artery in Zheng Hongsheng's neck.
"No!" Zheng Hongsheng let out a final, defiant roar.
Yue Songhe's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head. "A demon! He's a demon!"
The other subordinates turned ashen, believing they were about to suffer the sa fate as their master. But Yan Luoyang simply sneered. "There's no need to transform this trash. They're a reward for you."
"Thank you, Master!"
Like wild beasts, the newly turned Zheng Hongsheng and Tang Dingwu pounced on Yue Songhe and his n. As piercing screams filled the air, accompanied by the grueso sounds of chewing and sucking, Lee Encai felt bile rise in her throat.
Yan Luoyang said gently, "You'll get used to it."
Lee Encai was speechless.
Subduing Zheng Hongsheng was rely a minor interlude for Yan Luoyang; he gave it no further thought. At his command, the group set off once more.
「Peach Blossom Cetery」
At Lin Tang's grave, Lu Zizheng, acting like a complete beast, leered at Shen Youling and told her to keep screaming.
As if she would let him have his way, she lashed out with a kick to his groin. Even though it wasn't a direct hit, the pain made him howl.
"You damn bitch! Are you trying to end my family line?" Lu Zizheng roared. He slapped her across the face and sneered, "You're already disfigured, so why pretend to be virtuous? Go on, have your husband crawl out of his grave to save you! I'll show you how I desecrate a corpse..." As he spoke, he unbuckled his belt, preparing to whip her with it.
"Oh? You enjoy desecrating corpses? I'd be quite interested to see that."
"Who? Who's speaking? Show yourself!"
Lu Zizheng jumped in fright and frantically looked around, terrified he'd run into a wandering ghost. Then he saw Zhu Yingning approaching, carrying Lin Tang on her back.
"Holy hell!" Seeing Lin Tang covered in dried blood, Lu Zizheng thought he was a vengeful spirit back to claim his soul. Don't tell today is the seventh day after his death!
Wait, he has a shadow! So you're not dead! Lu Zizheng realized. He imdiately burst into manic laughter. "Hahaha! Lin Tang, I never thought I'd see you like this! Did you run into an opponent you couldn't handle? Did they break your legs? I bet your martial arts are crippled too! Tsk, tsk, how pathetic!"
Shen Youling was also stunned when she saw Lin Tang, a profound joy blooming within her. But upon hearing Lu Zizheng's taunts, she grew deeply worried. "Who... who hurt him this badly?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Zhu Yingning said, "It was Tang Dingbo's father-in-law..."
BOOM! The words struck Shen Youling like a physical blow. She assud Lin Tang had risked venturing into the Tang Sect's stronghold to find a cure for her face, only to fall prey to Tang Dingbo's father-in-law.
"You fool..." she choked out, reaching to touch Lin Tang's cheek.
At that mont, Lin Tang finally opened his eyes. He grasped her hand firmly and said with grave sincerity, "Shen Youling, I need your help."
"I'll help you," Shen Youling replied, her own expression serious. "I'll take on the responsibility of caring for you. I won't abandon you."
"Hey, are you two done with your tragic soap opera? It's like I'm not even here!" Lu Zizheng spat, rolling up his sleeves. Since Lin Tang is crippled, isn't this the perfect chance to get my revenge?
"I think you're the one acting like *I'm* not here!" Zhu Yingning retorted. She kicked him to the ground and, with a flick of her finger, sent sothing flying.
"AARGH! The pain! It hurts so much!" Lu Zizheng writhed on the ground, already poisoned and convulsing in agony.
"And you are...?" Shen Youling asked, startled.
Zhu Yingning pulled the tattered cloth from her face and swept her hair back. "It's !"
"Ah, you're..." Shen Youling grew even more tense.
Lu Zizheng struggled to raise his head. Seeing who it was, he wailed, "It's a misunderstanding! A complete misunderstanding! Don't you have a grudge against Lin Tang?"
"Bullshit!" Zhu Yingning unleashed a flurry of kicks on him before turning to Shen Youling with a charming smile. "He's just spouting slander. How could I possibly hold a grudge against Lin Tang? Plenty of people heard before—I wanted to propose to him! But he only has eyes for you and wouldn't give the ti of day. Since I couldn't have what I wanted, I decided to settle for second best and stay by his side as his humble little handmaiden."
"Urgh..." Even through his agony, Lu Zizheng was stunned silent for several seconds. This is insane! Lin Tang is a cripple, so why is this woman still debasing herself, willing to beco his servant? Isn't she so big shot that even Wei Shanhe respects?
Shen Youling was equally incredulous. She's Tang Dingbo's daughter-in-law, I know she is. Why would she...?
"Let's not waste any more ti," Lin Tang said. He finally slid off Zhu Yingning's back but staggered, nearly falling before Shen Youling instinctively caught and supported him. As his body pressed against hers, the dormant True Qi within him suddenly began to circulate on its own. A look of delight crossed his face. "It works!"
At the sa ti, a strange reaction occurred in Shen Youling's body, instantly reminding her of the first night she t Lin Tang. What is this? she thought, shocked.
Then she heard Lin Tang say, "I need to perform Dual Cultivation with you. It's the only way for to heal and break through to the next level. My wife, are you willing?"
Pfft— So *this* is why he was in such a hurry to see Shen Youling! I never would have guessed! Zhu Yingning nearly choked.
Hearing his words, everything clicked into place for Shen Youling. So that's why he agreed to marry so quickly. It was always for this... not because he actually liked . She knew she didn't love him, either. She had only married him because she thought she had a terminal illness and wanted to die without regrets. But... why do I still feel so disappointed?
"You are my husband. What reason would I have to refuse?" she said, managing a faint smile.
"Then I'm relieved. Ti is of the essence, so let's begin right away," Lin Tang said, taking her hand and pulling her toward a small grove of trees.
Shen Youling stared. Right here? So brazenly?
"What about him?" Zhu Yingning asked, pointing at Lu Zizheng.
"Just kill him," Lin Tang replied without looking back.
"You got it!" Zhu Yingning chirped.
"Don't kill ! Please, don't kill !" Lu Zizheng pleaded desperately. "Shen Youling, I'm begging you! I was blinded by greed! I was a fool, worse than an animal! But your sister... she can't be a widow! She's... she's pregnant! Can you really bear to let your nephew be born without a father?"
"Well..." Shen Youling faltered. As much as she hated him, she had to consider her sister. "What he did doesn't deserve death. Let's just let him go."
"Alright," Lin Tang agreed. He was still counting on her cooperation for the Dual Cultivation, so of course he would grant her this small favor.
It was no skin off Zhu Yingning's back, so she casually administered the antidote. Lu Zizheng, as if granted a royal pardon, bowed his head repeatedly like a pestle grinding garlic. "Thank you, thank you..."
Just as Shen Youling was about to suggest they return to the city and get a room, Yan Luoyang and his entourage arrived.
"You must be Lin Tang. I wonder, do you rember the pious old crone you killed? I'm here to honor her last wish and claim vengeance on her behalf." A grotesque, revolting smile spread across his face.
"Brother Lin..." Lee Encai choked, at a loss for words. She was overco with both sorrow and sha, knowing that Lin Tang had made a powerful enemy of Yan Luoyang just to help her.
"Uncle!" Zhu Yingning exclaid, her eyes darting toward Tang Dingwu, ready to switch allegiances in a heartbeat.
"He's not your uncle anymore," Lin Tang said coldly. "He's been refined into a living-dead Puppet by a demonic Cultivation Technique."
CLAP! CLAP!
Yan Luoyang applauded with a laugh. "What sharp eyes! They have indeed beco my Corpse Slaves. And of course, the two of you are next. Hehehe..."
"What?!" Zhu Yingning stared at the eerie, rigid smiles on Tang Dingwu and the others. A chill went down her spine, and her expression filled with dread. She lanted inwardly. At a glance, she could tell that not only was Tang Dingwu in the Master Realm, but so was Zheng Hongsheng! And on top of that, there was the bizarrely powerful Yan Luoyang. How the hell are we supposed to fight this? Lin Tang is severely injured; he's barely strong enough to push around! Dammit, this is fatal! Why couldn't they have waited until after he finished the Dual Cultivation to track us down? We're so screwed!
"Bwahahaha!" Lu Zizheng let out a torrent of mockery at Lin Tang, then turned to grovel before Yan Luoyang. "You can see how miserable they've made ! It's obvious I'm their enemy too! So, could you please let go?"
Yan Luoyang had no interest in this fat pig. Bite that greasy neck? Disgusting.
"Get lost!" he barked.
"Yes, sir! Right away!" Lu Zizheng scrambled away as if his pants were on fire. Lin Tang is definitely dead this ti, he thought, feeling both gleeful and disappointed. It's a sha I never got to have my fun with Shen Youling...
Lin Tang's expression was grim. He finally understood the source of his ominous premonition. It was them.
Yan Luoyang's mockery intensified. "This must be fate. Your grave is already prepared for you. A pity I can't let you use it, since your corpse will be quite useful to ." He opened his mouth, revealing terrifying fangs, and lunged forward.
"Wait!"
Lee Encai threw herself between them, her face a mask of tragic resolve. She stared coldly at Yan Luoyang. "Let Brother Lin and the others go, and I will marry you willingly. If you refuse, I'll kill myself right now. Then you'll get nothing!"
At her words, Yan Luoyang's expression turned frigid.
Shen Youling was deeply moved. She's so devoted to him... Compared to , Lee Encai seems far more suited to be Lin Tang's wife.
User Comments
0 comments from readers