CHAPTER 80: METHODS

The red-clad bride dropped a bombshell with her words, “Lady Qingyi has fallen into demonic corruption.”

“What?!” Bai Hongtu exclaimed in shock.

“What exactly happened?” Li Yanchu asked in a deep voice.

The bride answered calmly, “As for the cause of her corruption, I do not know. But Lady Qingyi has indeed developed demonic thoughts. Her divine consciousness is now entangled with those demonic thoughts, locked in a constant struggle for dominance.

“If the paper effigy woman and the others had succeeded in blowing up Lady Qingyi's temple, damaging her statue and breaking the spiritual structure of the temple, then her demonic side would have taken complete control. At that point, the entire city of Wei City would likely have become a land of ghosts and monsters.”

She recounted the matter slowly and solemnly.

Li Yanchu and Bai Hongtu exchanged a glance, both seeing the same look of shock in the other’s eyes. The revered Lady Qingyi Temple was Wei City’s greatest spiritual sanctuary, yet the deity worshipped there had been corrupted?!

If that was truly the case, then the paper effigy woman and her kind were utterly deserving of condemnation. They were willing to plunge an entire city into horror and death for their own selfish ends.

“So the Elixir of Immortality... it really is beneath Lady Qingyi’s temple?” Li Yanchu asked.

Though her face was veiled beneath a red bridal veil, Li Yanchu could still feel the weight of her gaze.

“The matter of the Elixir of Immortality is too illusory, too unclear,” she replied calmly, “Even I do not know the truth of it.”

At this time, Li Yanchu’s voice grew sharper. “Miss Simu, who exactly are you? Why do you know so many secrets? You won’t show your true face. You won’t reveal your background or identity. How are we supposed to trust you?”

His gaze turned sharp as blades, locking onto the mysterious woman who had sent corpse puppets to carry out a mock wedding procession in the dead of night.

The red-clad bride chuckled softly. “Every word I’ve spoken is true. While I may not be able to reveal my identity, I can at least allow Mr. Bai to see my face alone.”

Her voice was gentle and refined, like a cultured and well-mannered noble lady. Yet she had taken the initiative to send a bridal procession to fetch her groom, something that blatantly defied the Confucian code of propriety.

Bai Hongtu cupped his hands in a salute and said, “I am flattered by your deep affection. I truly feel unworthy. However, we have never met before, why would you regard me with such misplaced fondness?”

The red-robed bride replied gently, “You and I are a fated match, Mr. Bai. This has been divined by a great master. If you were to marry me, your future would be full of blessings and divine favor.”

The corner of Bai Hongtu’s mouth twitched slightly. Fated match? Divine favor? It was quite the claim.

Yet upon hearing this, when he glanced again at the red-clad woman, he couldn’t help but notice her alluring figure, which was curved where it should be and slender where it needed to be.

Bai Hongtu was startled, then he was immediately ashamed of himself for such thoughts!

Li Yanchu’s gaze turned razor-sharp as he stared at the red-clad bride. His voice was low and grim as he said, “Miss, your words seem rather evasive. You just said now isn’t the right time.”

He paused, then continued, “If the time isn’t right, then what did you summon us here for? To meet your betrothed?”

The red-robed bride laughed softly. “Daoist Master Yanchu, are you preparing to draw your saber?”

Li Yanchu replied nonchalantly, “With your appearance tonight, and the methods you’ve used, it’s hard to take your words at face value. If you came here just to speak in riddles and obscure half-truths, then don’t blame me for being impolite.”

Though his tone was calm, the edge in his words was unmistakable. His hand had already moved to rest on the hilt of his saber, and a cold, deadly aura filled the room.

Hearing this, the bride in red fell silent. This was just her second encounter with Li Yanchu, and she hadn’t expected him to turn hostile so suddenly.

“Even if you and Young Master Bai join forces, you may not be a match for me. Are you sure you want to go down this path, Daoist Master?”

Li Yanchu answered flatly, “You’re welcome to try.”

A sharp gleam flashed beneath the bridal veil. Even without lifting it, one could feel the murderous intent radiating from her.

As the two stood at a standoff, Bai Hongtu quietly rose to his feet, his fingers forming a spell seal. Just moments ago, they had been discussing marriage with civility, but now, swords were practically drawn.

The red-dressed bride was silent for a moment, then let out a soft sigh. “I came to you as a friend, not an enemy. Must it really come to this?”

Li Yanchu said in a low voice, “If you want to work together, show some sincerity. Playing tricks and putting on a show, and you expect us to risk our lives for you?”

The bride replied, “I’ve already shared many secrets with the two of you, is that not sincerity?”

Li Yanchu shook his head. “It’s not enough.”

“What, then, would count as sincerity?” the bride asked.

Li Yanchu answered calmly, “At the very least, you could dispel the illusion before us. If you truly want to marry my good friend, why send a fake to negotiate?”

At this, Bai Hongtu froze. This bride in red... They weren’t even talking to the real one? He hadn’t noticed at all. He had even been thinking how nice her figure was...

The bride giggled. “Daoist Master Yanchu, your eyes are sharp indeed. In that case, it seems I’ve been acting foolishly.”

As soon as she spoke, the scene before them shifted, and the brightly lit wedding chamber vanished in an instant. The bride in red transformed into a gentle and refined woman in a pale yellow robe.

The surroundings also changed; they were now standing just outside the house they thought they had entered.

Bai Hongtu stood stunned, a chill running down his spine. So... they had never entered the house at all?

A ghost trap?

His eyes narrowed in thought. A typical ghost trap like that shouldn’t have been able to confine either of them.

Just who is this woman?

The woman in yellow smiled sweetly. “I was being playful just now and forgot to withdraw the spell, please don’t take offense, Daoist Master Yanchu.”

A cold smile tugged at the corner of Li Yanchu’s lips.

Clang! The Jiaoslayer was drawn, and there was a flash of cold steel!

Slash

!

The woman in yellow was instantly cleaved in two, and not just her, even the scene behind her was torn open!

His blood and qi surged with terrifying strength. At this moment, his entire being radiated killing intent so intense it was suffocating, and no one dared meet his gaze.

“You’ve toyed with us again and again. Who the hell are you really!?” Li Yanchu shouted coldly.

His voice boomed like thunder in their ears, and the surrounding scene shifted once more. Now, the two of them were standing in a brightly lit grand hall.

At the end of the hall sat a statue of a goddess, whose features were cold and peerless as she held a whisk gently in her hand.

“This is Lady Qingyi Temple!?” Bai Hongtu exclaimed in disbelief.

At this time, Li Yanchu’s sharp gaze locked onto a shadowy corner within the hall.

“Come out!”

Divine Astral Hands, Crane Control Hand and Dragonbind Hand!

A surge of potent force erupted from his palm, and within the shadow, a female figure suddenly appeared.

No, to be more precise, it was a young girl, who looked about thirteen or fourteen years old. She had flowing black hair draped over her shoulders, a delicate oval face, and a pair of bright, star-like eyes that sparkled in the light.

Li Yanchu frowned slightly. Is this her true form, or yet another manifestation?

But something in his gut told him that this was the real one. The aura on this girl’s body was utterly natural, completely free of the subtle discordance that came with illusions or disguises.

“Lingsu!? Why is it you!?” Bai Hongtu cried out in shock.

This scion of a prestigious family in Jinchuan, the heir to the domineering Flying Sword Technique and a direct descendant of a Daoist lineage, was now wearing the most astonished expression imaginable.

Even Li Yanchu, still gripping the Jiaoslayer in his hand, looked stunned.

“You know her?” Li Yanchu asked Bai Hongtu incredulously.

Bai Hongtu gave a wry smile and said something utterly shocking, “If that face is real... then she’s my younger sister.”

“Nonsense! I’m clearly your fiancée!” The ethereal, elegant young girl declared loudly.

“...” Li Yanchu’s mouth twitched slightly.

You really know how to play, huh.