#30: Man-Made Disaster (3)

In front of the Lotus Palace, Hua Li Luo stood on the steps, her fiery red, splendid dress making her appear exceptionally grand. Every gesture exuded nobility.

Yesterday, Jiu Qing’s maidservant had told her: “As long as you kill Yao Yin before the Palace Master returns, even if the Palace Master truly had feelings for that maidservant, he would at most grieve for a few days, but she would never be found again. And you are the Palace Master’s favored concubine; the Master would never be cruel enough to punish you. This is a win-win situation for you.” Hua Li Luo thought of this and unconsciously smiled. The flowers around her blossomed in profusion, blooming brilliantly. She stood alone among the flowers, as noble as a goddess.

Wen Ren Tong Tian, standing nearby, frowned slightly, hesitating, “Is it too severe to use the punishment of dismemberment by chariots on a woman?”

Hua Li Luo was completely engrossed in her own fantasies and didn’t hear Wen Ren Tong Tian’s question.

“If we are to kill one to warn a hundred, we must truly awe people. Otherwise, the law will be meaningless,” answered Jiu Qing, who was temporarily acting as Ghost Lord. Her voice was devoid of emotion, making even Wen Ren Tong Tian feel a chilling sensation.

“Are these women all crazy?” Wen Ren Tong Tian thought to himself, “Shi Yan is off, Hua Li Luo is even more off, and even Jiu Qing is so abnormal! The attitude of these three towards a mere minor immortal is far too serious!”

He truly didn’t understand why executing a criminal required such a grand display.

Just then, Yao Yin was dragged out by the guards and tied to the torture rack. The dense crowd of onlookers around them let out gasps of surprise, excitement and sympathy intermingling, but ultimately, the bloodthirsty nature prevailed.

“Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!”

The shouts of the demon tribe shook the heavens. Hua Li Luo reveled in these cries of support. She could even interpret them as cheers for her becoming queen.

Wen Ren Tong Tian looked at Yao Yin below the steps, his mouth twitching unconsciously. He had seen many people who had been tortured, but this one truly disgusted him. There was no trace of that clear and lovely female immortal; she was simply a piece of烂肉 (rotting flesh).

“You can offend anyone but a woman,” Wen Ren Tong Tian wiped away a cold sweat.

More and more members of the Ghost Tribe gathered, everyone speculating about the identity of the prisoner. The spectacle was unprecedented, comparable to the daytime Blood Sacrifice ceremony.

Hua Li Luo stood high above, proudly raising her head, instructing the crowd to bring five bloodthirsty beasts. Each beast was placed on a different side, and five ropes were tied to Yao Yin’s four limbs and head respectively. Yao Yin struggled to lift her head, looking towards Hua Li Luo’s direction, her expression calm. Her empty eye sockets still contained remnants of fresh blood, and the bloodstains on her face made her skin appear even paler. She seemed to understand her predicament and impending fate, yet she showed no fear. That composed and calm demeanor was utterly different from the Yao Yin of the past.

Coldly noble, naturally awe-inspiring.

How could that presence be that of a prisoner on the steps?

She was clearly an empress!

“Interesting.” Wen Ren Tong Tian saw all of this and suddenly began to admire this woman. It was no wonder the Master treated her differently.

“Execute!”

With Hua Li Luo’s command, the five giant beasts received their orders and soared into the air. Yao Yin let out a muffled groan, then uttered not another sound. Her body was stretched to its limit, but it didn’t immediately break—the punishment of dismemberment by chariots required a long suspension in the air to instill terror.

“Why is that a man’s voice?” Jiu Qing frowned, feeling something was amiss.

“Even you, Lord, hear it as a man?” Hua Li Luo initially thought she had misheard, but then realized Jiu Qing had heard it clearly too. Hua Li Luo felt a bad premonition, immediately flew up, and landed on Yao Yin’s back to investigate.

At this moment, a woman suddenly appeared in the air. She swung her long sword as if she were mad. Five sword qi blasts flew out, directly severing the ropes and then piercing through the bodies of the giant beasts. Five magnificent blood flowers bloomed in the sky. “Yao Yin” fell straight down, and the newcomer immediately flew forward on her sword, catching the mutilated Yao Yin in her arms, then kicked Hua Li Luo underfoot.

Hua Li Luo let out a pained groan, crushed beneath them, and fell heavily to the ground.

Where the sword flowers passed, blood mist flew. When the bloodstains cleared, the crowd finally saw clearly: they were two women with identical appearances and figures. The difference was that one had empty eye sockets and a deathly pale face. The other had a clean, white face and was completely unharmed.

“How can there be two Yao Yins?”

Wen Ren was astonished, Jiu Qing frowned.

Yao Yin put away her sword, carefully placed Zi Chen, who had transformed into Yao Yin’s body, to the side, then grabbed Hua Li Luo by the collar and slapped her several times. Silence filled the air in front of the Lotus Main Hall, broken only by the continuous slapping sound. Everyone watched this sudden turn of events dumbfounded. In a moment, Hua Li Luo’s face swelled like a pig’s head, her beautiful features completely gone.

“I want you dead!” Yao Yin had completely surpassed her breaking point. For all these years, this flower was the first to make her so angry. She roared, thrusting two fingers directly into Hua Li Luo’s eye sockets. The two eyeballs instantly turned to dust in Yao Yin’s hands.

“Ah ah ah—!!” A horrific scream pierced the sky, waking everyone from their shock.

Yao Yin suddenly felt this sensation was so familiar—that was the thrill of holding another’s life in her hands. This feeling not only didn’t scare her, but instead excited her.

“Why are you all still standing there? Quickly seize her!” Jiu Qing stood on the steps, commanding the guards to advance.

“Don’t move!” Yao Yin shouted fiercely, brutally gripping Hua Li Luo’s neck, “One more step and I’ll wring her neck!”

The guards hesitated, not daring to step forward.

“I thought you were powerful enough to act so arrogantly in the Ghost Tribe, but it turns out you’re just a pretty face with no substance!” Yao Yin had originally thought Hua Li Luo was formidable, but unexpectedly, she couldn’t detect any trace of spiritual energy from her.

Hua Li Luo’s face turned pale with fright, and she cried out anxiously, “If you dare lay a finger on me, the Master won’t let you go! Sister Jiu Qing, save me—!”

“Shut up!” Yao Yin grabbed her by the hair.

Hua Li Luo let out a pained groan, closing her mouth in agony.

“Saving Hua Li Luo is useless. Don’t worry about her life or death,” Jiu Qing said coldly.

Hua Li Luo’s heart immediately trembled; those words chilled her to the bone. She couldn’t understand why Jiu Qing had been on her side just a moment ago, but now had changed her demeanor entirely.

Receiving Jiu Qing’s command, the crowd immediately surrounded them. Yao Yin summoned her immortal energy to resist, but two fists were no match for four hands. In a short while, she was on the verge of defeat.

“Everyone, stop!”

Just as the scene in front of the palace was in utter chaos, a furious roar suddenly came from the sky. Even if others didn’t recognize it as Hua Jun Yan’s voice, his deep, resonant tone conveyed that the newcomer possessed profound power, stronger than anyone present. The chaotic Lotus Palace immediately fell silent.

When Hua Jun Yan and Shi Yan appeared, the area in front of the Lotus Palace was already drenched in blood. The three people in the pool of blood were all horribly mutilated and shocking to behold.

“Might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.” Jiu Qing secretly thought things were bad. Just as everyone was stunned, she directly shot out a cold light from her palm. The cold light flashed, piercing through Hua Li Luo and Yao Yin’s hearts and lungs simultaneously.

Yao Yin felt a chill in her chest and fell to her knees.

“Slap!” Hua Jun Yan was furious. A palm strike landed on Jiu Qing’s face, the heavy sound echoing powerfully, startling everyone. It was as if the blow struck not just the Ghost Lord’s face, but everyone’s hearts.

Shi Yan immediately condensed energy to stop Yao Yin’s bleeding. Immediately after, Hua Jun Yan flew forward, gracefully landing beside Yao Yin. He gently lifted her and held her in his arms. A soft white light emanated from him, the aura stirring the surrounding air. Their hair intertwined, gently floating in the air.

“Zi Chen... save Zi Chen...” Yao Yin’s consciousness was hazy. In her daze, she only felt herself resting in an extremely familiar embrace. It was as if, as long as she was in his arms, she could completely relax and fall asleep...

“Is that immortal magic?”

“Indeed, that is immortal magic!”

“Why does the Palace Master possess immortal magic? This is contrary to the aura of the Ghost Tribe!”

Everyone exclaimed. Tonight’s drama was truly vivid and full of twists and turns, stirring up intense emotions among them. Hua Jun Yan rarely appeared before the public. Questions and dissenting voices rose one after another. If they could, they would have tied Hua Jun Yan to the torture rack and executed him as a spy.

“Silence, all of you!” Shi Yan roared, sweeping her gaze around with a grim expression. With a “smack,” her long whip hit the ground, and immediate silence fell. Although Shi Yan was no longer the Ghost Lord, her deterrent power was deeply ingrained.

While sustaining Yao Yin’s life, Hua Jun Yan looked coldly at Jiu Qing and said, “Did you not hear my command?”

Jiu Qing knelt on one knee, bowing her head in obeisance: “Replying to the Master, in my haste, this subordinate did not hear it.”

Hua Jun Yan clearly didn’t believe her explanation. No one present would believe it either.

“Why did you try to kill her?” Hua Jun Yan asked again.

“Immortals are not allowed into the Ghost Tribe, that is one capital offense; impersonating the Palace Master to steal treasures is the second capital offense; furthermore, damaging Hua Li Luo’s immortal body is an unforgivable crime.”

“Her life and death have nothing to do with you. I despise meddling from others.” Hua Jun Yan’s eyes were icy cold, and murderous intent arose in their depths.

Jiu Qing cowered on the ground, trembling. Her hood obscured her face, so others couldn’t see her expression.

“I don’t want to see this happen a second time. From now on, you are not allowed near her.” Hua Jun Yan ultimately did not intend to impose a heavy punishment. After speaking, he thoughtfully glanced at Zi Chen and said, “Heal Zi Chen’s injuries.”

“Yes...” Jiu Qing nodded, her tone filled with helplessness and resentment.

Hua Jun Yan handed the unconscious Yao Yin into Shi Yan’s arms, then retrieved a withered flower bud from a pile of red clothes on the ground. A moment ago, he had been furious, but upon seeing the withered petals, a touch of pity entered Hua Jun Yan’s eyes. He used magic to save Hua Li Luo’s life, then vanished from everyone’s sight.

“Wen Ren, come with me to save him. Shi Yan, you stay and clean up the aftermath,” Jiu Qing calmly instructed. Wen Ren Tong Tian then walked down the steps, checked the breath of the bloody and mangled Zi Chen on the ground, found he was still alive, then conjured two paper figures to carry him to the backyard.

After the high-ranking Ghost Tribe members left, Shi Yan glanced at the jeering crowd and the scattered melon seed shells beneath their feet, instantly filled with anger. She pulled out a fan from behind her, waved it gently, and a hurricane rose from the ground. All the low-ranking Ghost Tribe members, along with the garbage on the ground, were swept to the horizon by the strong wind.

“Now it’s quiet.”

Shi Yan smiled contentedly, clapped her hands, and then flew towards the backyard.