Chapter 6: The Demon Puppet Pill

Perhaps because her internal injuries had not yet healed and her spiritual power was locked, Yunwei, in a hazy, dreamlike state in the middle of the night, once again had that strange dream she often had as a child.

In the dream, she was still an infant, with the clear, long chirping of cloud birds in her ears, and jade bells under the eaves jingling softly whenever the wind blew and leaves fell.

But gradually, the sound of the cloud birds was replaced by a mournful cry, incessant pleas, black mist filling the sky, and flames spreading everywhere.

Yunwei was infected by this sorrow, and she could not help but feel pain, until a pair of gentle, slightly cool hands gently covered her ears, and the pain gradually faded.

Yunwei had a strange feeling that this was her mother, whom she had never met.

There were people arguing in her ears.

She could not hear clearly, only vaguely catching words like “plague,” “demons,” “City of Tribulation,” “seal”… Finally, a question mixed with sobs: “How could you bear to…”

Bear what?

Yunwei tried hard to hear what was said next, but immediately felt a drowning sensation, like a tidal wave crashing over her face, and the world returned to silence.

This drowning sensation was so real that Yunwei almost woke up gasping for breath. Why did she keep having this dream? Her father had clearly said that her mother was just a mortal, sickly, and died after giving birth to her.

Was the person in the dream her mother? And what was her mother’s connection to the evil city of Du’e?

These things were like a fog obscuring her vision. A voice in the darkness told her that to know the truth, she had to go outside the barrier, to Du’e City.

As Yunwei was still in a daze, a woman’s voice beside her exclaimed with delight, “Young Madam, you’re awake!”

Another voice corrected her, “Shihu, you can’t call her that yet.”

Yunwei looked around and found two unfamiliar faces in the room.

They were both dressed in green and white robes, looked about sixteen or seventeen years old, and had their hair styled in maid’s buns.

Were they people sent from the Yue family? Yunwei calmed her rapid breathing and remembered this.

In her past life, the Yue family had also sent her betrothal gifts and two maids.

But back then, she was certain Pei Yujing would come, and filled with resentment towards the marriage bestowed upon her by the dynasty, and worried about her father whose fate was unknown, so she not only refused the betrothal gifts but also avoided seeing the two maids.

Unexpectedly, she saw them directly this time. Something was definitely different, she thought.

The maid who had spoken earlier said, “Young Master… Miss Zhan, is there anything else that’s bothering you?”

Yunwei realized her internal injuries had been treated and she only needed to recuperate. Presumably, the physician had already visited. She shook her head and looked at the two maids: “What are your names?”

“This servant is called Shi Hu,” the other, more composed maid who had corrected her earlier replied, “This servant is called Bai Rui.”

Yunwei glanced at the sky; it was nearly noon.

Shen Ye was waiting outside with the betrothal gifts. When Yunwei pushed open the door, she saw two phoenixes pulling a carriage, laden with magical treasures.

She glanced at it, somewhat surprised. Was the Yue family really so generous?

In Yunwei’s memory, the Yue family did not treat Yue Zhiheng well and would not necessarily put effort into preparing betrothal gifts for him.

However, a quick glance revealed several precious magical artifacts on the carriage.

These were unexpected delights; she needed to find a way to escape with the Zhan Shu Mirror and her clansmen in prison, and what could be more suitable for her now that her spiritual power was locked away?

Was Yue Zhiheng being overly arrogant by sending these things? Was he certain she could not escape, or did he simply not intend to accept them?

Yunwei remembered first hearing the name Yue Zhiheng from her father. The mountain lord, watching the fleeing people, sighed, “This young man is ruthless at a young age, yet also exceptionally intelligent and meticulous. Given time, he will surely be a formidable opponent.”

Who would have thought his words would come true? Within a few years, Yue Zhiheng had risen to become a favorite of the dynasty, the emperor’s invincible executioner.

She could not help but wonder—her father always said that a person with a deep mind would not be arrogant.

She gritted her teeth. Fine, it seemed they were certain she would not accept it.

This time, she would take it anyway. Since she had been given the chance, she would seize it no matter what.

“Please thank the master and Madam Yue for me.”

Shen Ye was surprised that Yunwei would accept it, and after a moment’s hesitation, he left with his entourage.

After he left, Yunwei, with her two maids, examined the items on the carriage.

As a spirit master, Yunwei was not proficient in magical artifacts. She noticed that most of these artifacts had an ice-blue lotus pattern mark, so she asked the two maids, “What is this?”

Bai Rui, not being from the Yue family, a family of artifact refiners, was not sure either. Shi Hu explained, “Magic artifacts personally forged by the eldest young master always have this mark.”

Hearing this, Yunwei felt a bit unlucky and quickly put down the artifacts with lotus patterns. She did not dare underestimate Yue Zhiheng, and in the end, she could only pick out a few potentially useful items from the pile of artifacts without lotus patterns.

“Put the rest away for now.”

The three of them were busy until midnight when Shi Hu remembered that Yunwei was getting married the next day. She let out a soft “Oh,” urging Yunwei to go and rest.

Bai Rui brought water and followed Yunwei into the inner room. Seeing that Shi Hu was still tidying up, she slowly closed the door and came to Yunwei’s side.

Yunwei sensed something was wrong. She raised her hand, and the glass fan in her palm was pressed against Bai Rui’s throat. She asked, “Who are you?”

Bai Rui did not expect that Yunwei, as a spirit master, would be so perceptive. The magic weapon was sharp, and a slight mistake could cut the skin. Bai Rui lowered her voice and said, “Miss Zhan, my mother was a disciple of Changya Mountain, Xue Yunmeng. Do you know her? Elder Qi learned that Miss was forced to marry that villain, so he specially arranged for me to be sent to the Yue family to help Miss escape.”

When she said this, her gentle expression during the day was gone. Her brows were firm and resolute, and she was very calm.

Upon closer inspection, one could discern a certain dashing air about her; it turned out she was also a spiritual cultivator who had awakened her spiritual veins.

Yunwei had not expected her to be one of her own. She closed her fan, finally unable to hide her anxiety: “How are the people from the Immortal Sect? What about my father? Is he alright now?”

Bai Rui lowered her eyes, her gaze heavy.

The Mountain Lord was naturally not well. The Mountain Lord of Changya was benevolent, and over the years he had entered Du’e City countless times to save the people, long since becoming riddled with illness. In the war between the Immortal Sect and the Dynasty, in order to protect the people of the Immortal Mountain and ensure their safe departure, the Mountain Lord of Changya even sacrificed all his cultivation, burning away his spiritual pills.

Bai Rui said, “After that battle, we were separated from Penglai. Although the elders worked together to save the Mountain Lord’s life, he remains unconscious to this day.”

Therefore, the elders were powerless to save Yunwei and Zhan Shujing at this moment.

Hearing news of her father was more precious to Yunwei than anything else. In her past life, she knew the sacrifices her father had made, her heart filled with worry and fear, yet she could only suppress her emotions for the sake of Zhan Shujing in the dungeon.

Now, learning from Bai Rui that her father was still alive and the elders were working together to save him, Yunwei finally breathed a sigh of relief, her heart at ease.

As long as he was alive, the elixir could be used to repair him.

Bai Rui frowned, looking at the magical artifact in her hand, and said, “Miss, the royal city is under martial law now. Tomorrow you are to marry that scoundrel from Chetian Mansion. Do you have any plans?”

Yunwei replied, “My brother and the clan are still in the hands of the dynasty.”

If they acted rashly, Zhan Shujing would be the first to be harmed. Although Yue Zhiheng had given her an elixir before his death, this man was unpredictable, cruel, and ruthless; she dared not gamble with Zhan Shujing’s life.

She preferred to believe that Yue Zhiheng had been tortured into a daze, or that there was some conspiracy involved. After all, digging for elixirs was a mad act, not something an ordinary person could do.

Bai Rui clearly knew that Zhan Shujing’s matter was troublesome. Fortunately, before she came, the elders had already discussed how to deal with it, and she had brought something with her.

Bai Rui took out something from her bosom—a jade box the size of a fingernail containing a transparent pill.

“This is a Demon Puppet Pill.”

Yunwei hadn’t expected the elders to have Bai Rui bring this. She had seen Demon Puppet Pills when she was young; they were sealed in a high pavilion along with many other demonic objects, all brought back from Du’e City. The rules of the Immortal Sect forbade the use of “improper items” from Du’e City.

“The elders said that if Young Master Pei fails to rescue Miss, we will find a way to give it to Yue Zhiheng. The dynasty is powerful, and the only one who can safely release the clansmen and the young master is Yue Zhiheng, the head of Chetian Prefecture.”

The Immortal Sect had been driven to the brink of desperation, even resorting to Demon Puppet Pills, showing a desperate situation of being surrounded on all sides.

Whether it was tragic or lamentable, Yunwei looked at the pill in her hand.

She knew that anyone who ingested the Demon Puppet Pill would become an unconscious puppet within three hours, helpless and powerless, regardless of their cultivation level.

This was indeed the best way to save her brother and clansmen.

Bai Rui suggested, “Tomorrow is the wedding, and Yue Zhiheng’s mind will likely be on guard against Young Master Pei. Perhaps I could slip the drug into his wine or food when he’s not looking?”

Yunwei shook her head: “It’s no use. The Demon Puppet Pill has a scent; once he notices it, he won’t drink it.”

Bai Rui sniffed and indeed detected a faint fragrance in the Demon Puppet Pill.

It wasn’t strong, but with Yue Zhiheng’s abilities, he would definitely be able to detect it.

Bai Rui also felt a bit troubled for a moment. After a while, she looked at Yunwei’s bright red lips: “Miss, why don’t you make a sacrifice? I’ve discovered that the scent of this Demon Puppet Pill is almost identical to that of lip rouge.”

“…” Yunwei couldn’t hold back her expression and stared wide-eyed at Bai Rui.

Looking at the girl before her, who was about her age, she had never known that such a talent existed in their Changya Mountain!

Bai Rui said, “Oh, I didn’t grow up in Changya Mountain. I grew up with my father in a border prefecture.”

In the border areas of the dynasty, all sorts of people mingled, and what hadn’t they seen? Therefore, the children there were exceptionally bold from a young age, and also ruthless in their methods.

“No, no way!” Yunwei felt that she was practically squeezing those two words out from between her teeth.

Bai Rui looked at Yunwei disapprovingly and said, “In our spiritual cultivation, chastity isn’t important; how we live is what matters.”

Yunwei had a headache: “That’s not the reason.”

“Then what is it?”

Seeing that she was pressing for a conclusion and insisted on using this method, Yunwei laughed in exasperation. She couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you think Yue Zhiheng would… would kiss me? Has he gone mad?”

Bai Rui also fell silent, frowning: “Isn’t he interested in women?”

Yunwei thought for a moment and nodded. Then she shook her head again. She recalled that during the three years she and Yue Zhiheng were Daoist partners, they had indeed shared a bed several times. When Yue Zhiheng was at his most enraged, she even tried to kill him.

But he was always very vigilant. No matter how late she waited to make her move, as soon as she raised her hand, he would grab her wrist and throw it aside.

He closed his eyes and sneered, “Save your breath, Miss Zhan. I haven’t lived enough yet and don’t want to die anytime soon. If you move again, I don’t mind sleeping with you tied up.”

She once suspected that Yue Zhiheng wasn’t sleeping at all when he lay next to her, and who knew what wicked schemes he was plotting.

Most of the time, they didn’t sleep on the same bed.

Perhaps tired of the days of being on guard, she remembered that it was still midsummer when she received a letter from Yue Zhiheng amidst the drizzling rain. The spiritual book was displayed in the air.

The letter read:

Miss Zhan, evil spirits are rampant in the dynasty, and Chetian Mansion is busy. From now on, I will no longer return to the mansion at night. You may take care of yourself.

Three years as Daoist partners, their feelings were colder than ice and snow. Yunwei had never seen him show any emotion towards anyone else. Except for learning about the existence of Miss Qu from his wet nurse.

But she had never witnessed Yue Zhiheng interacting with Miss Qu.

Therefore—

Yunwei focused her attention on the Demon Puppet Pill. This terrible idea probably only had a chance of success if Miss Qu came. Otherwise, her strange expression suggested she was going to force herself on him?

She couldn’t imagine that scene. Coming back to her senses, Yunwei’s face darkened. She realized she had been misled by Bai Rui. She had never heard of any spirit master in the world who could subdue a spirit cultivator—and even succeed in doing so!

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