Song Wanníng was taken aback. Not only had this man brought a Buddha lamp, but it was a lamp imbued with merit power.
Otherwise, the woman's remnant soul would have long since dispersed. It seemed this corpse was truly of utmost importance to Patriarch Huo.
"Meng'er, you will wake soon. Just hold on a little longer," Patriarch Huo said softly to the corpse, then his gaze turned cold as he looked at Song Wanníng.
"If you make even the slightest mistake, don't blame me for being ruthless."
He simply could not trust others, but for the faintest chance of survival, he had to try. He had already endured hundreds of years of waiting.
"All right."
Song Wanníng nodded, but inwardly she wondered if the Resurrection Pill could really wake someone up—it was completely unpredictable.
And just enduring Heavenly Dao punishment might be beyond Patriarch Huo's tolerance. But that was not her concern. She wanted the Heavenly Dao punishment to fall—only then could they make their escape.
However, with Huo Jinchuan glaring nearby, she had to drag him into this mess too.
She hesitated, then said, "But... I'm afraid I can't do it alone. He should come help; it would increase our chances."
Song Wanníng gestured toward Huo Jinchuan, clearly seeing a cold gleam flash in his eyes—a look that seemed ready to devour her.
Yet she blinked innocently at him.
Huo Jinchuan's gaze flickered.
"Hah."
"This woman has a good idea."
"All right, all right, if I don't make you pay for this with your life, I'm not a Huo!"
He stepped forward with a cold expression, taking the initiative.
"Father, I am willing to help mother recover. Even if Heavenly Dao punishment falls, I am not afraid. As long as mother can wake up, that's enough."
He gave Song Wanníng a meaningful glance. As long as she was involved, the punishment would fall on her as well. Did she think she could stay out of it?
Dream on!
"Hmph, if your mother didn't die giving birth to you, why else would she die? Saving her is your duty, a repayment of debt."
Patriarch Huo showed no kindness toward Huo Jinchuan, only disgust. His gaze was harsher than when looking at an outsider like Song Wanníng.
"If I weren't afraid Meng'er would come for you after waking, I would have killed you long ago."
If it weren't for Huo Jinchuan, Meng'er wouldn't be dead.
Only he knew how painful these hundreds of years had been.
And Huo Jinchuan?
He enjoyed the riches of the Huo family, the respect of outsiders, living a comfortable life.
Meng'er lay here, day after day in the cold, sinking deeper into sleep.
The debt Huo Jinchuan owed would never be repaid.
Huo Jinchuan lowered his head, unable to lift it under the scolding. He had heard this resentment for hundreds of years. When he transmigrated, he was still in his mother's womb, grateful to be born into such a large family with loving parents.
But fate was cruel.
His mother was poisoned with incurable poison.
She died in childbirth, and he barely survived, fighting for a breath to be born.
Since then, his life had been a nightmare. His father blamed him for killing his mother, beating and abusing him constantly.
Yet before outsiders, he wore the mask of a loving father. This made everyone think Huo Jinchuan was well-loved, and the whole Huo family belonged to him. He curled his lips bitterly—he had had enough of this life.
After years of planning, searching for a Alchemist master, he had finally come to this day.
The Heavenly Dao punishment triggered by the Resurrection Pill was his chance.
A chance to kill Patriarch Huo.
He lowered his head, hiding the fury burning in his eyes.
At this critical moment, no mistakes could be allowed.
Patriarch Huo's gaze swept over Xiao Heyun and Baili Shang.
These few were just enough to bear the Heavenly Dao punishment; otherwise, they would have died in the stone chamber and wouldn't have the privilege to witness his wife's appearance.
"What do you need us to do?"
Song Wanníng was asked directly.
Honestly, Patriarch Huo did not fully trust her to save the woman.
But after hundreds of years, finally finding someone with the Resurrection Pill formula, and a successful pill, he had to gamble.
"To awaken her remnant soul, besides the Resurrection Pill, one other important thing is needed—your heart blood! Especially Huo Jinchuan. Blood ties increase the chances of waking the soul."
Song Wanníng looked seriously at the ice-encased corpse. Awakening the dead was a defiance of Heaven, basically impossible. But they refused to accept fate and insisted on trying, so they must be prepared to pay the price.
"Father, she is not trustworthy. Ancient records never mention this."
Huo Jinchuan's heart skipped strangely, unease flooding him. More than the fear of Heavenly Dao punishment, this made him nervous. Song Wanníng's request was surely ill-intentioned—who knew what she was plotting?
But before he could say more, Song Wanníng sighed.
"If you are unwilling, then so be it. I will still try my best. After all, this Resurrection Pill is different from your records, and I cannot guarantee she will live."
She shook her head as if troubled.
"You—"
Huo Jinchuan grew tense, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.
This woman was courting death.
Patriarch Huo's heart also sank hearing this.
He stared at Song Wanníng for a long time, already suspecting she would cause trouble.
But he wanted to save her too much.
And he had absolute confidence in himself. No matter what Song Wanníng did, it was like an ant trying to shake a tree—foolish and overestimating herself.
He gave a forced smile and nodded.
"Fine, arrange it as you wish. As long as she is saved, I will consider making you the Dan Sect's Chief Alchemist. Do not disappoint me."
At the end, he still made a promise.
Whether it would come to pass was another matter.
"Really? Then I will do my best to bring her back."
Song Wanníng's eyes lit up with renewed vigor.
Without further delay, she approached the ice bed, carefully examining it.
Holding back her disgust, she motioned for Patriarch Huo to bring out the Resurrection Pill.
She then began emitting fire attribute spiritual energy, slowly drilling a small hole leading to the corpse's lips.
Baili Shang's eyes sharpened, studying her every move.
He glanced at Patriarch Huo and Huo Jinchuan, quietly assessing the surroundings.
Xiao Heyun felt uneasy but kept reassuring himself that with the system, he could not die.