“Big Brother, do you not believe me either?” Fifth Sister forced a smile as she spoke.
“It is precisely because everyone believes in you, Fifth Sister, that we are giving you a chance to explain yourself. As long as there is nothing unsightly inside the box, you should open it willingly to clear everyone’s doubts!” the old man said coldly.
Hearing this, Fifth Sister’s face turned a mix of red and white, shifting back and forth in a vivid display of emotion.
When she glanced at the others, the pained expressions on the faces of the tall, thin man and the others made her heart sink further. She was at a loss for words.
After a moment’s thought, she steeled herself, suddenly tucked the small box into her robes, and swiftly pulled out a blue orb, raising it high above her head as she declared sharply, “Don’t push me! You all recognize this Heavenly Thunderbolt. All I ask is to leave this place!”
The woman’s actions caused the other members of the Mengshan Five to pale dramatically, especially the young man who had always held a soft spot for her—his face was utterly distraught.
“It seems there’s no need to check the contents of the box after all! Fifth Sister, you have truly joined forces with those people,” the old man roared angrily, clenching his fists and taking a sudden step forward.
“Don’t come any closer, Big Brother! Otherwise, I will really use it!” Fifth Sister panicked, holding the blue orb in front of her and making a gesture as if to activate it.
Seeing this, although the old man’s beard and hair bristled with anger, he dared not advance further. He knew all too well the destructive power of the Heavenly Thunderbolt.
“Fifth Sister, do you truly intend to use this Heavenly Thunderbolt against us? You must remember, this magical artifact was something we pooled our spirit stones to buy for your protection because your cultivation was too low back then. Especially Fourth Brother—he nearly spent all his savings. And now you’re using it against us? Isn’t that going too far?” the middle-aged woman said, her voice filled with disappointment.
The young man beside her, upon hearing this, moved his lips as if to speak, overwhelmed with emotion, but ultimately said nothing.
After listening to the middle-aged woman, Fifth Sister’s face showed a flicker of shame, but it vanished almost instantly. She stubbornly retorted, “What’s the use of saying all this now? I’m not like all of you—I must achieve Foundation Establishment! The Black Fiend Cult has promised me that if I contribute enough, the cult leader can forcefully help me establish my foundation without even needing a Foundation Establishment Pill, and without any risks.”
The tall, thin man frowned deeply and couldn’t help but speak up.
“Fifth Sister, it’s not too late to turn back! How can you believe that you can establish your foundation without a Foundation Establishment Pill? They must be taking advantage of your youth and deceiving you!” The second brother of the Mengshan Five spoke earnestly and with utmost sincerity.
“Hmph, there’s no need for Second Brother to lecture me. I know perfectly well whether it’s true or not. Since things have come to this, there’s no point in hiding it any longer! In fact, I joined the Black Fiend Cult two years ago during that outing. So, the vast powers of our cult leader are beyond the imagination of outsiders like you!”
After a cold snort, the young woman revealed news that shocked everyone.
“You joined the Black Fiend Cult two years ago? Then was it you who orchestrated the capture of the others this time?” Han Li, who had been silent until now, suddenly interjected.
His words sent waves of turmoil through the hearts of the old man and the others, and their expressions shifted as they stared at the young woman. They couldn’t believe that Fifth Sister had truly done such a thing.
Fifth Sister’s face shifted uncertainly. After a moment of hesitation, she slowly said, “Yes, I informed the Black Fiend Cult of everyone’s whereabouts. But my original intention was good—I wanted everyone to have a chance to establish their foundation together. Otherwise, according to the Black Fiend Cult’s usual practices, nine out of ten captives are blood sacrificed. How could they have been spared so easily?”
Feeling that there was no point in hiding anything now, the young woman decided to be completely honest.
“Heh, so according to you, we older brothers should be thanking you, Fifth Sister!” The black-faced old man laughed in extreme anger.
“No matter what you think, I truly meant no harm to any of you! Please, don’t push me any further.” The woman’s delicate face twisted slightly as she spoke, and she raised the Heavenly Thunderbolt once again.
But at that moment, Han Li suddenly gave her a faint smile and said, “The Heavenly Thunderbolt is indeed a fine treasure.” As soon as the words left his mouth, his figure blurred, and he vanished from his original spot.
“You?” Fifth Sister was quick-witted. Seeing this, she immediately tried to shake her wrist.
But a light breeze brushed past her face, and the wrist holding the Heavenly Thunderbolt suddenly tightened. Han Li had appeared behind her like a ghost, gripping her jade-like wrist.
“This thing is too dangerous. It’s better if I take care of it.” Without any courtesy, Han Li forcibly took the Heavenly Thunderbolt from her hand and casually tossed it into his storage pouch.
Seeing her greatest trump card neutralized as if it were child’s play, Fifth Sister’s face turned ashen. For a moment, she forgot to struggle, and fear appeared in her eyes for the first time.
“She is your sworn sister, so I leave her to you. As long as she reveals what she knows about the Black Fiend Cult, you may deal with her as you see fit. But I assume you’re not foolish enough to let her go back and report to them,” Han Li said meaningfully, glancing at the other members of the Mengshan Five with a calm expression.
Then, with a flash of white light from his hand, he swiftly tapped several points on the woman’s body, sealing her true essence and preventing her from using any more magic power.
Next, without any hesitation, Han Li retrieved the box from the young woman’s embrace, then lightly tossed her toward the still-dazed young man.
“Thank you, Senior Han!” The black-faced old man naturally understood that Han Li had done them a great favor and expressed his gratitude accordingly.
Han Li waved his hand dismissively, released a few yellow spell seals into the air to casually withdraw the soundproof barrier he had secretly set up nearby, and then gradually disappeared into the darkness.
“Big Brother, what should we do?” the second brother asked quietly, his expression complicated as he glanced in the direction Han Li had gone.
“First, let’s take Fifth Sister back to the room and keep her under control. We’ll deal with her after tonight’s operation,” the old man said after a moment of contemplation.
“That’s probably for the best. At the very least, it will give everyone some time to cool down,” the second brother nodded in agreement. Then, he turned to the young man who was still holding the young woman and said, “Fourth Brother, take Fifth Sister back to the room for now.” The young man nodded blankly and, holding the woman, turned woodenly and walked toward the Clear Tone Garden.
Watching the young man’s desolate figure fade into the distance, the second brother sighed, his face filled with pity.
The middle-aged woman also approached and said, “Is Fourth Brother going to be alright? He’s always been so devoted to Fifth Sister, and now…” She shook her head repeatedly, unable to bear the thought.
“Sigh, I had high hopes for the two of them before, but now it’s impossible,” the old man suddenly looked utterly exhausted.
The recent series of shocking events had left this usually decisive and resolute old man feeling mentally and physically drained. The eldest members of the Mengshan Five spent a while longer sighing with emotion.
“Eh? Did Fourth Brother take Fifth Sister back alone?” the old man suddenly asked, his expression changing as if he had thought of something.
“Yes, Big Brother. Is something wrong? Do you think Fourth Brother might…” The second brother was taken aback by the question at first, but then his face also changed as understanding dawned, followed by worry.
Without another word, the two of them hurried off toward the Clear Tone Garden, leaving behind the middle-aged woman, who looked puzzled and confused.
…
In the Clear Tone Garden, the young man sat alone on a chair in the parlor, staring blankly into space. Before him stood the black-faced old man and the tall, thin man, both looking at each other in dismay. The young woman was nowhere to be seen.
“Second Brother, Fifth Sister still has the restrictions Senior placed on her, so she can’t have gone far. Go after her immediately! I will go apologize to Senior Han and ask for his help as well. We must not let Fifth Sister escape and report back to the Black Fiend Cult. If she resists or if someone is helping her… then use lethal force,” the old man said with a stern expression.
“Understood, Big Brother!” The second brother was startled for a moment but quickly realized that this was no time for mercy. He nodded solemnly and hurried out.
“Fourth Brother, you… sigh!” The old man glanced at the young man after the tall, thin man had left. But seeing his absent-minded state, he couldn’t bring himself to scold him further. With another sigh, he went off to find Han Li.
…
“It’s fine. If she escaped, then she escaped. If your second brother doesn’t catch up to her, there’s no need to pursue further.”
To the old man’s great surprise, Han Li showed no panic upon hearing that the young woman had escaped from the Qin Mansion. He merely responded with a light, dismissive tone.
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