“What, does it pain you to see me hit her?” The woman stopped and stared straight at Song Qingshu.
Song Qingshu fixed his gaze on her, circulating the true Qi within his body. He was prepared to risk suffering lifelong injuries to kill these two White Lotus demonesses.
As if reading his thoughts, the woman gently pressed a hand against his chest and whispered in his ear, “Don’t act rashly.”
“You—?” Hearing that familiar voice, Song Qingshu’s expression turned extremely odd.
Beside him, Zhao Min’s almond-shaped eyes widened in shock.
“Sister, no more delays—the Jin’s cavalry will be here soon. Let’s tie them up and take them away first…” Tang Sai’er walked over anxiously, but before she could finish, she froze.
The woman had suddenly struck, sealing all her acupoints.
With Tang Sai’er’s martial arts, even someone of Song Qingshu’s caliber would need dozens of moves to subdue her. But how could she have expected a betrayal from her own companion? She was captured in a single move.
The remaining White Lotus cultists were dumbfounded. Their first thought was that the two saintess’ were fighting for power—after all, internal strife was common in the White Lotus Sect, and the two were rivals.
However, Tang Sai’er had been a saintes for years, while the other woman had only recently appeared. Naturally, the cultists were more loyal to Tang Sai’er. Once they recovered from their shock, they raised their weapons and charged to rescue her.
“What are you doing?!”
“Release the saintess!”
…
Their protests were met with a barrage of dark, unremarkable projectiles resembling pebbles. None struck their targets, instead landing harmlessly on the ground.
The group burst into laughter—but before their mirth faded, deafening explosions and scorching heatwaves engulfed them. In an instant, they were gone.
Watching the relentless explosions, Tang Sai’er paled. “Thunderfire Pearls! You’re from Emei Sect?!”
The woman removed her veil, then peeled off a thin mask, revealing a delicate, blushing face—none other than Zhou Zhiruo, whom they hadn’t seen in ages.
“It’s you!” Zhao Min, standing nearby, was furious. The memory of those two unjust slaps made her grit her teeth.
“Quiet. The Jin forces are coming. We need to move them now.” Zhou Zhiruo hoisted Song Qingshu’s arm over her shoulder and began leading him toward a side path.
Zhao Min was stunned. “You want me to carry this woman? No way. I’ll help Song Qingshu—you carry her!” She had never served anyone like this in her life.
“I’m Qingshu’s wife. What are you to him?” Zhou Zhiruo lifted her jade-like chin slightly.
Zhao Min choked, rendered speechless. After a long pause, she scoffed, “So what if you’re married? A man can always divorce his wife.” Despite her words, she grudgingly hauled Tang Sai’er up and followed as Zhou Zhiruo and Song Qingshu moved ahead.
They soon found a nearby cave. Seeing Song Qingshu drenched in cold sweat, Zhou Zhiruo tenderly wiped his brow with a handkerchief. “Does it hurt badly?”
His lips trembled, but no words came out.
Tang Sai’er sneered. “Of course it hurts. The Life and Death Talisman ensures a fate worse than death.”
Zhou Zhiruo’s eyebrows shot up. She backhanded Tang Sai’er with a crisp slap. “Hand over the antidote.”
Tang Sai’er’s veil had fallen off earlier during the fight, leaving a red mark on her fair cheek. She glared at Zhou Zhiruo. “Who would’ve thought the esteemed Emei Sect leader would stoop to joining our demonic cult as a saintess? How amusing.”
“The White Lotus Sect belonged to my father. I’m merely reclaiming his legacy,” Zhou Zhiruo retorted coldly. “Stop changing the subject. Give me the antidote.”
“There is no antidote for the Life and Death Talisman. Prepare for widowhood.” Tang Sai’er turned her face away.
But her expression soon twisted in alarm as Zhou Zhiruo began undoing her robes. “What are you doing?!”
“If you won’t give me the antidote, I’ll search you myself—piece by piece.” Zhou Zhiruo’s tone was matter-of-fact.
Tang Sai’er glanced at Song Qingshu, her face alternating between green and red. “Stop! I’ll give it to you!”
“You should’ve cooperated earlier.” Zhou Zhiruo unsealed her acupoints—though she had used a special technique from the Nine Yin Scripture, leaving Tang Sai’er physically weak and unable to muster any true Qi.
Tang Sai’er pulled a porcelain vial from her robes and tossed it over before curling into a ball, refusing to look at them.
As Zhou Zhiruo prepared to administer the antidote to Song Qingshu, Zhao Min stopped her. “Wait. Make her take one first.”
Under their scrutiny, Tang Sai’er snorted and swallowed a pill herself. Only then did Zhou Zhiruo relax, feeding the antidote to Song Qingshu.
“Well? Do you feel better?” Both women watched him anxiously.
Song Qingshu exhaled deeply. “The itching has finally stopped.”
Tang Sai’er interjected, “Now that he’s cured, will you let me go?”
Zhou Zhiruo’s expression remained icy. “Do you really think I would?”
Tang Sai’er showed no surprise—only resignation. “You will let me go.”
“Quite confident, aren’t you?” Zhou Zhiruo chuckled dryly.
“Of course.” Tang Sai’er’s gaze shifted to Song Qingshu. “Because what I gave you wasn’t the real antidote—it only temporarily numbs the pain. Once that bottle runs out, the itching will return tenfold.”
Zhou Zhiruo’s face darkened. “Give me the real antidote, and I’ll spare your life.”
“Do you really expect me to believe you now?” Tang Sai’er smirked. “Hey—stop undressing me!”
Ignoring her, Zhou Zhiruo signaled Zhao Min. “Help me search her.”
After a brief hesitation, Zhao Min joined in.
“I don’t have the antidote on me!” Tang Sai’er’s outer robe hit the ground, her face flushing crimson with panic.
“No need to search her.” Song Qingshu coughed weakly. “She doesn’t have it.”
Zhou Zhiruo and Zhao Min turned to him, puzzled. “How do you know?”
“Because the Life and Death Talisman has no antidote,” he answered gravely.
Tang Sai’er’s face went pale. Zhou Zhiruo whirled back to her, fingers like jade closing around her throat.
“Nine Yin White Bone Claw!” Tang Sai’er’s pupils contracted. Having fought Zhao Yingluo for years, she recognized this technique instantly. Fearful of having her neck snapped, she blurted out, “There’s no antidote—but I know someone who can cure it!”