"Are these reports reliable?" Li Luoqi still carried a trace of suspicion.
The Protector replied, "Reporting to Demon Sovereign, in order to verify the authenticity of the information, this subordinate personally met that so-called 'Death-bringing Scholar'!"
"Oh? And how was it?"
The Protector chuckled. "First, allow me to congratulate Demon Sovereign on acquiring such a general. This man is indeed steeped in baleful qi. Especially after this battle, the killing aura around him nearly erupted from his body. Even when this subordinate only looked at him from afar, I felt a coldness invade my bones, like a plague gnawing at me, as though I would soon perish."
Li Luoqi's eyes flickered. "Is this true?"
"This subordinate would never dare deceive Demon Sovereign!" The Protector respectfully knelt.
Li Luoqi stared at him for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"To have such talent under my command, the death of the other useless trash matters little. In the next battle, I will have this Death-bringing Scholar lead all the demon troops into war!"
The Protector smiled. "Congratulations, Demon Sovereign. With such a general, the Eastern Wilderness will soon be under your dominion!"
"Hahahaha, hahahaha!"
…
"Fairy Sister, what are you looking at?"
Meng Xiangxiang had finally recovered from his shock, his gaze toward Yao Ranran brimming with admiration and respect.
Yao Ranran crushed the sound transmission talisman in her hand and smiled. "Nothing important."
Meng Xiangxiang noticed she had destroyed something, but dared not pry. Instead, he whispered, "Fairy Sister, may I… may I ask you for a favor?"
Yao Ranran pondered for a moment. "Speak."
In that stone house, she had obtained five million spirit stones. If it was something within her ability, she would not mind agreeing.
Meng Xiangxiang's eyes reddened with tears, and suddenly he dropped to his knees.
"Fairy Sister, I beg you, please save the villagers of Qingshui County!"
Yao Ranran frowned slightly. "What happened to the people of Qingshui County?"
Choking with guilt, Meng Xiangxiang said, "To be honest, Fairy Sister, what Li Hao said was true. It was my fault that the people of Qingshui County were harmed!"
"Explain clearly." Yao Ranran asked calmly.
Recalling the events, large teardrops slid down Meng Xiangxiang's cheeks.
"I do not know when that black-robed man first came to Qingshui County, but I was the first he approached.
That day, I was gathering firewood in the ancient forest. He appeared before me, saying he wanted to take me as a disciple. I knew I had no spiritual root and could never tread the path of cultivation, but he told me that if I drank his immortal tea, a spiritual root would sprout within me!
That day, I was foolish enough to believe him…" Meng Xiangxiang's sobs deepened. "After I drank the tea, my body immediately began to change.
He told me it was my spiritual root taking form. I did feel something spreading within me, so I thought it was real.
By the third day, the strange growth had spread throughout my body. I could not see it, but I could feel it. I went to him again.
But he did not teach me any cultivation techniques. Instead, he bound me, cut open my chest, and drew out my blood!" Meng Xiangxiang clenched his robe tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
Yao Ranran had already guessed. "He used your blood to brew more immortal tea, then gave it to all the people of Qingshui County, did he not?"
Meng Xiangxiang wept. "Fairy Sister is truly perceptive. The black-robed man did exactly as you say. He used my blood to harm everyone in Qingshui County!
After he drained my blood, he discarded me like trash, tossing me into the forest. Three days later, I still had not died. My mother found me and begged An Mingqi to send men to bring me back.
An Mingqi did take me, but not to save me. He discovered that the people of Qingshui County all suffered the same affliction as I did.
When I drank that immortal tea, for three days I could not work, coughed incessantly, and turned pale. The others were the same, some even worse. So An Mingqi ordered a pyre built. He lit a great fire, intending to burn me alive!"
As Meng Xiangxiang recalled that day, blood-tears seeped from his eyes.
"My mother was already heavy with child. To save me from being burned, she leapt into the flames. Before my eyes, she turned to charcoal…"
Yao Ranran was stunned. So that was why he had turned into a ghostly being. The endless fire in his eyes came from that very inferno.
"The boundless resentment kept me from dying. I became a ghost, living only to one day take revenge!"
Meng Xiangxiang kowtowed heavily. "Thank you, Fairy Sister, for killing that black-robed man and fulfilling my wish!"
Yao Ranran helped him up, her gaze complex.
"Meng Daoyou, that was merely by coincidence. As for saving all of Qingshui County's people… unless I can find a way to counter the immortal tea's poison…"
Wait. She did have a way.
Yao Ranran suddenly thought of the strange poison in Shen Yuefu's body.
Perhaps it had been caused by the immortal tea!
"Fairy Sister, you need not refuse at once. I know that black-robed man was strong, and his poison is not easily solved. No matter when you discover the antidote, I can wait!"
Meng Xiangxiang was terrified she would reject him outright. He truly had no one else to turn to.
Yao Ranran already had a plan, but since they were in the Central Domain, she hesitated. "I understand. If you can wait, then I can try."
Hope lit Meng Xiangxiang's heart. For the first time, he felt his life had meaning.
"Fairy Sister, I, Meng Xiangxiang, will follow you for life!"
Yao Ranran blinked at his kneeling figure. "No, I cannot pay you spirit stones!"
Meng Xiangxiang: "…" Was this Fairy Sister's way of gently rejecting him?
…
Wuxiang Sect.
"You really saw Yao Ranran appear in Quan Chi City?" Han Huijun grabbed a disciple, urgently demanding confirmation.
"Yes, yes, Elder Shen even chased after Fairy Yao Ranran when she left!"
Han Huijun immediately released him and shot into the air. "Yao Ranran, as sect master I will seize you myself!"
"Report! Sect master, bad news!"
Han Huijun had just flown out of the main hall when another disciple came rushing toward him.
"Speak quickly!" Han Huijun scowled, unwilling to waste even a breath.
"Reporting to sect master, chaos has broken out in Qianhui City. The city lord has sealed all entrances and exits, it looks like rebellion!"
"What, Qianhui City dares such insolence!" Han Huijun's eyes bulged with rage. "Go fetch Elder Yue at once. He will accompany me to investigate!"
"Yes!"
As the disciple hurried away, Han Huijun ground his teeth.
"My Chi Lingzhi… no. I must make Shen Yuefu do something for the sect this time!"
…
"Second Brother! Second Brother, what has happened to you?!"
Beneath a towering ancient tree, a burly man in black robes roared in fury.
Before him, a crystal mirror flickered with light.
The black-robed man stared fixedly at the surface.
Slowly, three characters appeared upon the mirror.
"Yao Ranran!"