C272 Examinations

Bai Shenshen of Sacred Hands watched the pair with a curious gaze, her mind brimming with questions. As the City Lord of Asvetaesi, Yuan Lianyao's name resonated throughout the Silvermoon Empire, so much so that even Bai Shenshen, who resided far away in the Serpent Spine Mountains, was familiar with her reputation.

Intelligent, resolute, stunning, and ruthless... these were just a few words used to describe the formidable red lotus that stood before her. Bai Shenshen, who had long set her sights on Asvetaesi, was filled with an investigative spirit towards Yuan Lianyao.

Yuan Lianyao's arrival, and her subsequent rescue of them from the clutches of Winter's Bite and Thunder Sect, had made a lasting impression on Bai Shenshen. She believed that Yuan Lianyao's illustrious reputation was indeed earned.

She couldn't help but envy Yuan Lianyao's captivating eyes, her alluring and sensuous figure, and her commanding presence. Such a dazzling woman was bound to be the cynosure of all eyes in the Silvermoon Empire, leaving many from both the Crimson Sun Empire and Silvermoon Empire longing and ready to vie for her attention.

Why was she so affectionate and gentle in asking Yu Yuan what to do? What was so special about Yu Yuan?

Bai Shenshen was puzzled. She couldn't fathom how the Yu family, despite being severely oppressed, could be considered equals to someone of Yuan Lianyao's stature, let alone a young master of the Yu family. He was merely at the Golden Sanctum level, with average cultivation at best. Yuan Lianyao's keen interest in him was indeed peculiar.

Ning Ji, on the other hand, found nothing odd. Ever since the Colddeath Sect had orchestrated the blood sacrifice and secretly conspired against Asvetaesi, which Yu Yuan had detected, it was clear that the relationship between Yu Yuan and Yuan Lianyao was not to be judged by ordinary standards.

Ning Ji himself had many speculations about the enigmatic Yu Yuan. He clearly recognized that Yuan Lianyao, like himself, had long discerned Yu Yuan's exceptional nature. Thus, she did not regard Yu Yuan as a mere junior, but rather engaged with him from a position of mutual respect.

"Once we're safe, we'll start by getting the full picture from Wei Feng, and then decide on our next move," he concluded.

The female general of the Blackfang Legion he carried on his shoulder was certainly more than meets the eye. Otherwise, Liu Wei and Lei Xiao wouldn't have insisted on keeping her alive and pursued her all the way to Asvetaesi.

"We need to know the size of the Blackfang Legion, their distribution, and why they've appeared near Asvetaesi—and we need to know quickly. Moreover, Winter's Bite and Thunder Sect want her alive."

Yuan Lianyao nodded gently, her beautiful eyes brimming with an enigmatic glow. "In that case, we won't hurry back to Asvetaesi. Let's find a secure location first."

"Alright," Yu Yuan agreed.

The connection between him and Yu Zhu remained unbroken.

He didn't immediately issue a new command to Yu Zhu. Instead, he instructed her to covertly track the members of Thunder Sect and Winter's Bite, to ascertain their precise location and observe their interactions.

He suspected that the recent proximity of the Blackfang Legion, Winter's Bite, and Thunder Sect to the Yu family's territory indicated an underlying scheme.

Until he understood the situation, he had no intention of making any hasty moves.

Yu Zhu, having left Gloomhollow in the Serpent Spine Mountains, moved into the northern expanse of Thylethlume with the ease of a fish in water. Her combat prowess there was even more formidable than in the mountains.

Among the nine individuals from Winter's Bite and Thunder Sect, Yu Zhu would not find it too challenging to eliminate them.

Without a single Lunar Spirit among them, they posed no real threat to her.

So, he was in no rush.

After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Yuan Lianyao called for a halt and pointed to a hill a good distance from Thylethlume. "My spiritual sense has already lost track of the people from Thunder Sect and Winter's Bite. Likewise, those two of equal rank to me should have also lost our trail by now."

Yu Yuan nodded subtly and carefully set Wei Feng down, remarking, "She will keep trying to bite her tongue and end her life."

"Let her be. In her current state, dying won't be so easy," Yuan Lianyao said with a faint smile, her allure tinged with a chilling malice. She pressed a pale finger to Wei Feng's throat and instructed, "Wake her up."

A barely perceptible thread of spiritual energy silently permeated from Wei Feng's throat.

A faint glimmer of spiritual energy seemed to hover at the base of Wei Feng's tongue, poised as if ready to unleash its force should she act rashly, ensuring she couldn't even bite her own tongue to end her life.

Yu Yuan let out a sigh of relief and, without much finesse, delivered a solid slap across Wei Feng's cheek.

"How uncouth!" Bai Shenshen exclaimed, her brow furrowed.

"She struck at me three times," Yu Yuan said with a wry laugh. "Had I not dodged swiftly, my head would have been severed from my neck. Bai Shenshen, I merely gave her a slap. Don't you think I've been lenient? Don't you agree that I've shown considerable mercy?"

"Bai Shenshen..."

Yuan Lianyao shot him a glare. "Who are you calling sister now? You little rascal, didn't you once say I was your only sister?" The mayor of Asvetaesi teased him deliberately.

Yu Yuan looked surprised, then shook his head with a resigned smile, finding the whims of women utterly baffling.

Bai Shenshen considered his words. Reflecting on Wei Feng's previous ruthless tactics, she conceded that Yu Yuan had a point. Yet Yuan Lianyao's comment left her feeling somewhat sheepish.

Before she could speak to defuse the tension, the mayor of Asvetaesi gazed at her with a sly grin. "Bai Shenshen, is it? The Sacred Hands always remain neutral, steering clear of conflicts between empires and sects. Therefore, I believe it's best you're spared the details to avoid drawing unnecessary trouble upon yourself."

It was clear Yuan Lianyao was sending her away.

Bai Shenshen, taken aback, couldn't fathom her motives. "The Blackfang Legion nearly took my life. Surely I deserve to know why?"

"I'll explain the reason to you later," Yuan Lianyao replied, her smile chilling. The dismissive edge in her tone couldn't have been clearer.

"Blackfang Legion?" Bai Shenshen attempted to press further.

"The traitorous Blackfang Legion has surfaced in Asvetaesi, and as its mayor, their presence falls under my jurisdiction!" Yuan Lianyao snapped, her patience wearing thin. "I must insist that you refrain from meddling in Asvetaesi's internal affairs!"

Bai Shenshen's expression turned icy, and without another word, she stood up and walked away.

Once she was at a distance, Yuan Lianyao's lips curved into a sweet smile, and she playfully winked at Yu Yuan. "Don't just call anyone sister. Isn't having me as your sister enough?"

"You all go ahead and question her. I need to have a word with Miss Bai," Ning Ji said with a dry cough before quickly making his way toward Bai Shenshen.

"You're quite perceptive," Yuan Lianyao remarked with a smile.

Wei Feng had been awake for quite some time.

Aware that her mouth was gagged with a cloth, she ceased her muffled cries and instead stared at Yu Yuan and Yuan Lianyao with eyes filled with resignation, devoid of fear or anxiety.

"Let's make this quick."

Yu Yuan yanked the cloth from Wei Feng's mouth, bypassing any further confrontation with Yuan Lianyao, and addressed Wei Feng directly, "Now that you're the only one left alive, you..."

As the cloth was removed, Wei Feng felt her tongue free to move and bit down hard. A sudden pain shot through the base of her tongue, sapping her strength in an instant. She then realized her tongue was bound by something hot and tight, as if it were no longer hers to control.

With a light chuckle, Yuan Lianyao released her spiritual energy, and Wei Feng began to wail in agony.

A razor-like sensation pierced her throat and chest, causing her to instinctively scream in pain. However, with her tongue tied, the sound was trapped, leaving her in excruciating discomfort, wishing for death.

Cold sweat broke out involuntarily, drenching her forehead and cheeks. Her ordinarily plain features were now marred by sweat and grime, adding unsightly lines to her face.

Yuan Lianyao let out a soft "hmm" of surprise and wiped the filth from Wei Feng's face, revealing a visage marked by a wild beauty. Though not as stunning as Yuan Lianyao's, Wei Feng's true face had its own allure, enhanced by the defiance and cold ferocity in her eyes, which lent her an extraordinary air.

"Sloppy art of disguise," Yuan Lianyao scoffed. "With a real face that's hardly beautiful, why bother with such efforts to hide it?"

"She's not trying to hide her beauty, but her true face," Yu Yuan interjected. "She's likely afraid of being recognized."

"I suspect the Thunder Sect and Winter's Bite Sect are aware of her true identity, which is why they're so intent on capturing her alive," Yuan Lianyao remarked, touching the side of her face that bore the imprint of five fingers. She chided Yu Yuan, "You didn't hold back when you hit me. Look, it's all swollen."

Yu Yuan paid her no mind and fixed his gaze on Wei Feng, demanding, "Who are you?"

Wei Feng looked up at the sky, remaining silent.

Yuan Lianyao, who had momentarily ceased her efforts, resumed with renewed vigor. A multitude of faint lights danced within Wei Feng's body, eliciting another round of pitiful cries from her.

Wei Feng's strength was ebbing away. After Yuan Lianyao ceased her assault, Wei Feng no longer possessed even the strength to bite her own tongue in a bid for suicide.

She remained silent throughout the ordeal, enduring Yuan Lianyao's torment while staring blankly at the sky.

"This one's a real piece of work," Yuan Lianyao muttered with a hint of impatience. "If only I had managed to condense a Lunar Spirit, I could have entered her Mindscape directly. Using the Mindflay technique, I'd extract the memory sparkle hidden within her Heaven Soul to see exactly what secrets she's keeping."

"It's not as straightforward as you think," Yu Yuan countered. "Even cultivators at the Lunar Spirit level need special techniques to perform Mindflay. And if the target has a resolute will and a powerful soul, the chances of success are slim. It's only when one reaches the Spirit Walk level that they might have a better chance against those of a lower realm."

"I was merely speaking hypothetically," Yuan Lianyao conceded.

"She's determined to die, and given her training with the Blackfang Legion, she's likely been prepared for such situations," Yu Yuan mused, then decided, "I'll give it a try."

"Do as you wish," Yuan Lianyao said, her expression one of keen anticipation.

"Go elsewhere for now," Yu Yuan instructed.

"Why?" Yuan Lianyao shot him a contemptuous look. "What are you planning to do with her once I'm gone? Young rascal, don't tell me you're enticed by her true appearance and her other charms, and you're harboring dishonorable intentions?"

"Are you leaving?" Yu Yuan asked with an unexpected calmness in his voice.

Yuan Lianyao stared at him for several seconds, taking in his earnestness and gravity, before responding, "It was just a joke. You really are a dull one. I'll be on my way then."

With those words, she gracefully departed, adding, "Sister, I'll be waiting to hear your good news."

"Is it Wei Feng? Did the Blackfang Legion turn against you because of your betrayal?" Yu Yuan suddenly inquired.

Wei Feng, too drained to even consider ending her own life, was jolted by his question. Her vacant gaze began to sharpen, a sign she was regaining her focus.

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