Chapter 31: The Demon’s Daughter Part 1

The woman’s actions were inherently eccentric; the crowd was hardly going to believe her “demonic ramblings” now.

Those who had drawn their swords surged forward, their strikes shattering the bookshelves blocking the path and sending a cloud of dust billowing into the air.

Feng Yun’ai stood frozen. With so many people closing in and the space so cramped, she wouldn’t be able to maneuver if a fight broke out. She and the indigo-clothed woman would surely be caught in one fell swoop.

Even though Wen Lanxin’s affairs had nothing to do with her, she had been tethered to this woman like a grasshopper on a string. It seemed no one was willing to let her explain.

Sang Chencao gave a dark, chilling laugh. She suddenly grabbed the hem of Feng Yun’ai’s robe and shouted, “Move!”

Left with no choice, Feng Yun’ai tapped her toes against the ground and retreated rapidly alongside the indigo-clothed woman.

As they moved, the laughing woman suddenly reached out toward Feng Yun’ai’s back. With a flick of internal energy, she shredded the coarse cloth wrapped around Solitary Gall.

Feng Yun’ai felt the weight on her back lighten instantly. She looked back in disbelief, only to see Sang Chencao shove Solitary Gall into her arms the moment she grabbed it.

In the distance, sword light flashed like thorns. Though there weren’t literally ten thousand blades, as the crowd synchronized their sword arts and internal energy, the reflections multiplied into thousands of shimmering shadows.

Driven by necessity, Feng Yun’ai clutched Solitary Gall tightly to her chest. She had to keep it hidden, or she would never be able to clear her name.

At that moment, the shrill sound of a bug whistle pierced through the air, screaming into every corner of the chamber.

It turned out the indigo-clothed woman hadn’t taken Solitary Gall for the sword itself, but to reach the bug whistle.

As the piercing cry rang out, the attackers faltered, momentarily intimidated by the strange, incomprehensible noise.

An instant later, a rustling sound erupted from all directions as if something was slowly drawing near.

The insects and snakes that had been lurking in the shadows suddenly revealed themselves. They were a dense, writhing carpet that swarmed across the floor, already beginning to crawl over the boots of the crowd.

“Insects! Look out for the insects!”

The cultivators shouted, swinging their swords wildly to hack at the vermin, but the swarm was so thick it was inescapable.

Sang Chencao let out a scoff. With a bend of her knees, she leapt out through the original entrance hole.

“What are you doing?” Feng Yun’ai asked coldly.

“Leaving, obviously.” Sang Chencao gave her a suspicious look. “Do you want to stay here and be captured alive?”

Feng Yun’ai had no desire to be a target. After staring coldly at the woman for a beat, she finally said, “Then we go.”

Wails echoed from beneath the hole as if people were already being treated as fodder for the insects.

Sang Chencao cast a glance back and vaulted onto a horse. “They won’t die. Those things haven’t been fully treated with venom yet; they’re just starving.”

Feng Yun’ai’s skin crawled. Seeing someone already reaching up to grab the edge of the hole, she was forced to mount the horse. Her breathing was ragged as she asked, “Where to?”

“Cloud City,” Sang Chencao said, snapping the whip. “Are we still going?”

“Of course we are,” Feng Yun’ai replied through gritted teeth.

Sang Chencao chuckled and began to hum a light, cheerful tune.

They passed through Black Wind Pond again on their way out, successfully putting distance between themselves and the sound of pursuing hooves.

Feng Yun’ai kept looking back, fearing someone might be following close behind. She asked coldly, “Back at Yellow Sand Cliff, what exactly did you burn?”

“The Tome of Poisons. Didn’t I say that already?” Sang Chencao said leisurely.

“How could I possibly believe that?” Feng Yun’ai looked at the woman’s back as if she wanted to stare a hole through it. “I saw the words ‘Register’ on it, though I couldn’t see the rest clearly. Based on those two words alone, it couldn’t have been the Tome of Poisons.”

Sang Chencao replied playfully, “Fine, then I’ll tell you. Wen Lanxin raised a batch of ‘Meat Humans’—people who provide health and strength if eaten. That was the register of the Meat Humans. My burning it was an act of mercy; I saved those poor souls.”

The words were enough to make one’s heart skip a beat in horror.

There weren’t many books on Listening Goose Peak; this was the first time Feng Yun’ai had ever heard of “Meat Humans.”

“There are actually people who raise humans…” Feng Yun’ai paused. “…to eat?”

“Plenty of them,” Sang Chencao said casually, her tone devoid of any pity. “You have to raise them from a young age. If they’re kept clean, the meat stays fresh and firm.”

“You!” Feng Yun’ai gasped in disbelief.

Sang Chencao let out a sharp laugh.

Hearing that laugh, Feng Yun’ai actually felt a sense of relief, figuring it was likely just more nonsense.

Suddenly, Sang Chencao asked, “But what about you? Is it true? Are you really the daughter of Yin Wulu?”

Feng Yun’ai didn’t respond. The moment she heard that name, a chill seemed to pour into the crown of her head, sliding through her meridians until her entire body was cold.

It felt as though she had been struck by Solitary Gall, frost spreading through her very organs.

“Is it true then?” Sang Chencao laughed. “It seems the rumors were correct, and my deduction wasn’t wrong either.”

Feng Yun’ai remained silent, sitting motionless on the horse. Even her breathing was suppressed, making her seem like the walking dead.

For a moment, she truly felt as if she had died. Yet, the person in front of her radiated a heat so intense it forced her mind back to the vivid, burning reality.

“Yin Wulu was killed by Feng Rong. She was the one who personally brought his head back to the Central Plains,” Sang Chencao said meaningfully. “What were her intentions in saving you?”

Feng Yun’ai’s thoughts were a chaotic mess. She snapped, “What does it have to do with you?”

“I suppose I’m the one who implicated you this time. But if your heritage were to become common knowledge, I’m afraid you’d end up implicating me instead,” Sang Chencao said, smoothly changing her tune. “Ah well, consider it a tit-for-tat.”

Feng Yun’ai fell silent again.

The woman steering the horse suddenly asked, “Did Feng Rong ever mention Yin Wulu to you?”

No answer.