Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 55 - 51 Qu Hongling VS Ran Qingchen

Chapter 55: Chapter 51 Qu Hongling VS Ran Qingchen

Qing...

Jiang Shouzhong struggled to recall the residents of the nearby streets and alleys.

There didn’t seem to be anyone with "Qing" in their name.

Jiang Shouzhong casually tore off a piece of clothing from a nearby screen and pressed it against Zhao Wancang’s continuously bleeding chest, then asked, "Why did she seriously injure you just now? Was she planning to kill you?"

Zhao Wancang wiped away the tears on his face, "I’m also confused about what happened. I vaguely heard some noise outside, and then I was dragged in front of that woman. By the time I came to my senses, I found myself lying on the ground, seriously injured, while that woman ran out the back door."

Jiang Shouzhong’s eyes grew sharp, as if in deep thought.

It sounded like someone had suddenly made a move on that demon.

Zhao Wancang was just hastily pulled over to serve as a human shield.

Who could it be?

"The situation is becoming increasingly interesting,"

muttered Jiang Shouzhong softly.

"Besides..." Zhao Wancang hesitated before saying, "These past two days, it seems she’s been secretly observing Lord Zhang Yunwu’s residence."

Jiang Shouzhong’s heart skipped a beat.

As expected!

This demon must be the same one they encountered over half a month ago.

Secretly watching Zhang Yunwu was for... that bottle of demon energy!

A sense of unease surged through Jiang Shouzhong’s mind.

He turned to Lu Renjia and ordered, "You keep an eye on him!"

Without waiting for Lu Renjia to react, Jiang Shouzhong dashed out the back door, chasing in the direction Ran Qingchen had fled.

...

In the dilapidated Windless Taoist Temple, a woman crouched behind a shattered stone statue, panting heavily, her lips as white as blanched snow.

She looked down at the two bloody wounds on her abdomen, inflicted by invisible pipa mysterious energy, her face twisted in a grimace, and cursed under her breath, "How on earth did that wretched woman from Xichu Pavilion discover me?"

The rabbit demon Xi’er gnashed her teeth in anger.

Unfortunately, now that she inhabited a dead body with her remnant soul, she was practically powerless.

Otherwise, a little wretch like her would not have caused her such embarrassment.

If it hadn’t been for those three sudden appearances of the An Lamps last time, she would have torn that wretched woman from Xichu Pavilion to pieces, even if it meant perishing together!

Even though that wretched woman was saved then, it would take her at least half a month to recover.

How the tables have turned.

Looking at her own pitiful state now, the rabbit demon Xi’er couldn’t help but mock herself.

Indeed, fate is but a fixed number.

Just as Xi’er was struggling about which direction to flee, her body suddenly tensed up, cold sweat broke out all over her, and she began to shake violently as if sensing something terrifying.

She stiffly turned around.

And in despair, she saw a man and a woman standing inside the temple, staring at her coldly.

The man was tall and rugged, with an appearance beyond the ordinary, and carried himself gracefully.

On his side, the girl wasn’t dressed in the previously eye-catching red attire, having deliberately changed into a tender pink and white silk shirt.

"Less... Sect Master..."

Even though the other party wore a disguise mask, Xi’er recognized them at a glance.

She crawled and rolled to kneel in front of Qu Hongling, overwhelmed with surging fear, and pleaded in a trembling voice, "Sect Master, spare my life. Xi’er only made a mistake in a moment of confusion, Sect Master, please spare my life..."

"Where is the Netherworld Demon Qi?"

Qu Hongling’s voice was icy cold.

Shen Shengyuan had already found out that although the people from Xichu Pavilion wanted to bite off more than they could chew, they hadn’t managed to get their hands on that bottle of demon energy.

So, the vial of demon energy is most likely still in Xi’er’s hands.

Although the rabbit demon Xi’er was full of fear, she played a trick when questioned by the young sect master, telling a story that was half true and half false:

"Xi’er was tricked by the people of the Xichu Pavilion, and while fleeing, encountered the dark lanterns of the Liushan Division. If it weren’t for the ’Life-Death Mysterious Thunder Talisman’ on me, fortunately preserving a wisp of my soul, I would not have had the chance to see the young sect master again.

I lost the vial of demon energy during my escape. If the Xichu Pavilion didn’t get it, then perhaps it was taken away by one of those three Liushan Division’s dark lantern agents.

Please give Xi’er a chance to turn over a new leaf, and I will surely find that vial of demon energy to atone for my sins."

Listening to Xi’er’s confession, Qu Hongling remained silent.

At this moment, Shen Shengyuan at her side frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Sect Master, a powerful expert has appeared nearby, I’ll go fend them off. You should hurry here; I already have a vague sense that the one from the Capital has set their sights on us."

Qu Hongling nodded her exquisite head, "Mr. Shen, please be careful."

Shen Shengyuan nodded his head and his figure instantly disappeared within the dilapidated Taoist temple, not causing the slightest ripple.

"Tell me, why did you betray me, betray the Sky Demon Sect?"

Qu Hongling stared intently at the maidservant who used to serve her diligently, her pupils black as lacquer flickered with dancing flames.

Xi’er said in anguish, "Xi’er believed the rumors, thinking that ’Netherworld Demon Qi’ could bring Tan Lang back to life, so she planned to cooperate with the Xichu Pavilion. Because Xi’er learned that they were secretly conducting such experiments. The disappearance of quite a few girls born on cloudy years, months, and days in the Capital recently is the doing of the Xichu Pavilion."

Ever since the "Netherworld Demon Qi" appeared, the biggest rumor about it has been that it could bring the dead back to life.

Here, "revival" is not about a lingering soul taking possession of a body.

It’s about truly, completely bringing a dead person back to life.

For example, after a demon dies, its spirit can linger for seven days, and if it finds a suitable host to possess, it stands a chance of surviving.

If it fails to find a host within seven days, the soul completely returns to Yama’s Palace.

But with "Netherworld Demon Qi," even if someone has been dead for ten years, twenty years, or even hundreds of years, they can be resurrected.

It’s akin to forcibly dragging one’s soul out of Yama’s Palace.

Although it sounds miraculous, to this day, there has not been a single successful case of resurrection.

Many have started to doubt its authenticity.

The "Tan Lang" Xi’er mentioned was once her companion.

Also a rabbit demon.

The two shared a deep affection, and after attaining spiritual intelligence, both were ready to transform and become human.

Unfortunately, only Xi’er endured the Heavenly Tribulation, while her Tan Lang died under the Xuan thunder.

"Resurrection..."

Qu Hongling’s expression faltered slightly.

If it weren’t for Ms Qiu’s secret validations countless times, being absolutely certain that the "resurrection" ability of the Netherworld Demon Qi was just a rumor, she might have, like Xi’er, attempted to resurrect Jiang.

As for the true function of the demon energy, Ms Qiu already has some clues.

It’s very likely—ascension.

Although there are countless cultivators at present, the only recorded instance of ascension is in the Records of Unusual Demons of a Taoist Ancestor from Zhenxuan Mountain six hundred years ago, with no one witnessing it since then.

Even Zhao Wuxiu, considered the best in the world, has never touched the threshold of ascension.

Qu Hongling’s thoughts returned and a slender silver needle whirled on her fingertip.

Although she empathized with Xi’er’s plight from the bottom of her heart, Qu Hongling still decided to kill the traitor. Sitting in her position, she could no longer afford to make judgments based on emotions.

Just as Mr. Shen said, if she can’t maintain strictness in command, the Sky Demon Sect will eventually be destroyed by her own hands.

But the next second, the flying needle on Qu Hongling’s fingertip didn’t strike at the rabbit demon Xi’er, but darted towards the entrance of the Taoist temple.

Ding!

A crisp sound accompanied by sparks, the flying needle collided with a long sword and then rebounded back.

Qu Hongling narrowed her almond-shaped eyes.

At the entrance of the Taoist temple, a green-skirted woman with a sword walked in slowly, standing quietly, her demeanor graceful.