Chapter 105: The Despicable Scoundrel

"Don't go out! Bodyguards, stop Zhengzheng!" Nianxue shouted as she ran. "Zhengzheng, listen to me, it's dangerous out there!"

Wan Zhengzheng was teary-eyed. The more desperately Nianxue called out, the faster she ran. Just as she reached the door, she was finally intercepted by the bodyguards.

Nianxue grabbed Zhengzheng tightly and scolded, "Don't let your emotions control you! If he really is an impostor, it will be too late to regret it!"

"But what if he’s real!?" Zhengzheng sobbed in response. "If he is real, then I’m the one who caused his death!"

"Miss Zhengzheng, Miss Nianxue," Bodyguard One shouted from outside, "We found something very important on him. I think you need to see this!"

Nianxue and Zhengzheng exchanged a look, feeling highly suspicious of what the bodyguard had said.

"What is it!?" Nianxue’s guard went up instantly. She shouted back, "Check it for safety before you bring it over!"

"Understood!"

As the phone call was still active, Nianxue could hear Bodyguard One whispering to Bodyguard Two, "Watch him; I’m going to take this to the two ladies."

"Got it, leave him to me," Bodyguard Two replied in a low voice.

Hearing their exchange, Nianxue felt slightly more at ease; after all, the two bodyguards on the scene were quite capable.

Bodyguard One held an ancient book, inspecting it within Nianxue’s line of sight before finally bringing it over once he confirmed it was safe.

"It’s an ancient book," Bodyguard One said as he walked. When he was less than five meters away from Nianxue, he stumbled, and the book slipped from his hands, instantly transforming into dozens of yellow paper talismans!

"Ah! What is this!?" Nianxue was horrified and screamed, "Guards, protect Zhengzheng!"

But it was already too late!

The sky seemed to fill with yellow talismans that instantly surrounded Nianxue and the others. Just as Nianxue was about to chant a counter-spell, a sharp, violent pain shot through her entire body, freezing her hand seals in place!

"A Lightning-Repelling Array!?" Nianxue was shocked, determined to bite her tongue and fight back with everything she had!

In that split second of life and death, the cold-glinting dagger in Bodyguard One’s hand plunged into Nianxue’s abdomen!

"Ah!" Nianxue let out a muffled groan. Her inner energy dissipated, and her body went limp from the agony.

Guangqi stepped out quickly from beneath the trees. He pushed the bodyguard aside with one hand while gripping the hilt of the knife with the other, sneering into Nianxue’s ear, "Senior Sister Nianxue, you didn't expect your dear Junior Brother Ye Dong to have mastered the 'Eye-Veiling Spell,' did you!? Are you surprised!?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Guangqi pulled the dagger from Nianxue’s abdomen. The malicious Guangqi intended to deliver a final, fatal blow.

...

"Don't panic," Chen Yao said, kneading his hands to comfort the group, who had searched for Ye Dong in vain. "Show me the hospital blueprints again."

"Here," Xiao Wang handed over the plans. "We’ve even checked the operating rooms where surgeries are performed. There really is no sign of Ye Dong."

"There must be one more place," Chen Yao said, putting down the blueprints and turning to Dachun and Xiaobao. "Disciples, if you were in a hospital, which place would you least want to walk past?"

"I'm terrified of needles, so the place I hate most is the injection room!" Xiaobao said, looking down.

Dachun frowned and muttered, "Master, if we're talking about a place one would least want to pass, that would certainly be the morgue. The morgue!?"

"The morgue!" Chen Yao’s eyes lit up, and he laughed aloud. "Yes, that’s it! The morgue!"

"Right, how could we have forgotten the morgue!?" Dachun slapped his own forehead, blaming himself. "How could we have overlooked such an important place?"

Xiaobao shook his head. "Doesn't the morgue just hold the dead? Is Ye Dong alive or dead?"

Dachun punched Xiaobao in the back and cursed, "Of course he's alive! You jinx!"

"I’m afraid that even if he is alive, he’s close to death," Chen Yao said, checking his watch. Suddenly, he felt a piercing pain in his chest, and his complexion turned ghastly.

"Master, what's wrong!?" Dachun asked, startled, grabbing hold of Chen Yao.

Chen Yao’s brow furrowed, cold sweat breaking out. He rarely lost his composure, but he shouted, "Nianxue!? Something has happened to Nianxue!"

Nianxue endured the stabbing pain and slammed her head into Guangqi’s face. It was thanks to this move that she narrowly avoided his next lethal strike!

"What a fierce Senior Sister!" Guangqi looked coldly at Nianxue as she broke free, brandishing the dagger. "Dear Senior Sister, your eyes seem to want to kill me, don't they!?"

"Ugh!" Nianxue clutched her bleeding abdomen and stumbled back a few steps, finally collapsing to the ground, unable to withstand the pain.

"Zhengzheng, run!!" Nianxue ignored her own safety, shouting for Zhengzheng to flee.

But with Nianxue collapsed and severely wounded, how could Zhengzheng possibly run away alone?

"Nianxue, what’s wrong!? Your stomach!" Seeing Nianxue’s abdomen stained red with blood, Zhengzheng turned pale with fright, frantically trying to cover the wound with her hands.

"Go, leave me alone!" Nianxue pushed Zhengzheng away, but Guangqi laughed wildly and reached out to seize Zhengzheng firmly.

"You didn't expect this, did you?" Guangqi roared with laughter. "Your dear Junior Brother Ye Dong secretly worked hard to master the 'Eye-Veiling Spell.' He deliberately kept this good news hidden, intending to give you a surprise. He just didn't expect that I would take over his body. Beautiful Nianxue, tell me, is this surprise enough for you!?"

Nianxue’s lips turned white. She rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth, cursing, "You spineless coward! Only capable of sneak attacks. Your face, filled with the arrogance of a small-minded villain, makes me sick. Using Ye Dong’s body to wreak havoc, you... you..."

Nianxue’s emotions flared, and she began to cough violently. Suddenly, she pulled a Bagua mirror from her robes and threw it at Guangqi!

"Oh!? A new trick!?" Guangqi was startled and retreated several steps, as he had never seen Nianxue use a Bagua mirror in Ye Dong’s memories!

"Heaven and Earth are Infinite, the Universe lends its power! Dew turns to frost, clouds bring rain. The sword is named Juque, the pearl is called Night-Shining! Taiyi Heavenly Venerate, obey this command immediately!" Nianxue forced herself to endure the pain, silently chanting the incantation, relying on her indomitable will to launch one final counterattack!

The Bagua mirror shattered in mid-air, and the shards transformed into dozens of silver swords of varying sizes, charging straight at Guangqi!

The speed and power of Nianxue’s attack far exceeded Guangqi’s expectations. In his panic, seeing no way to avoid it, he grabbed Wan Zhengzheng in a split second to shield himself!

What a despicable person.

Zhengzheng’s eyes went wide, her pupils reflecting the flashing silver blades!

"Command!" Nianxue shouted, her fingers tracing an arc in the air. The silver swords shifted their tips and flew rapidly behind Guangqi, waiting only for Nianxue’s command to claim his life!

Guangqi never expected Nianxue to be capable of a desperate counterattack while so severely injured!

"If you kill me, what will happen to Ye Dong!?" Guangqi’s threatening voice rang in Nianxue’s ears.

"That's right, if I kill him, wouldn't Ye Dong be buried with him!?" In that moment of hesitation, Guangqi’s counter-strike arrived.

"Woman’s mercy!" The moment Nianxue hesitated, Guangqi spat a stream of essence blood directly into her forehead!

This was the Maoshan Sect's Xuanwu Exorcism Curse!

"Ah!" Nianxue let out a groan and finally lost consciousness.

As she fainted, the silver swords pointed at Guangqi’s heart instantly shattered and fell to the ground.

"Hmph!" Guangqi let out a long sigh of relief. Just as he was about to interrogate Wan Zhengzheng about the whereabouts of the jade pendant, he heard rapid footsteps approaching.

"Release the Miss at once!" The person leading the group was none other than Zhengzheng’s bodyguard, Lai Jiayu.

"So, the 'personal' bodyguard isn't so personal after all, shouting only now!?" Guangqi sneered, grabbing Zhengzheng by the throat and shouting, "Don't think I won't kill her!"

Lai Jiayu felt immense shame. "I only turned away to help the Master hide the jade pendant; how did things go wrong so quickly?"

He shouted across the distance, "If you dare to hurt the Miss, I will tear you to pieces!"

Guangqi laughed heartily. "You? Based on martial arts or spells, I, Guangqi, am more than a match for you. Tell Wan Tianze to hand over the jade pendant immediately, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Seeing Wan Zhengzheng’s face turning paler and her breathing becoming labored, Lai Jiayu felt both pain and urgency. He looked toward the unconscious Nianxue and the other bodyguards, feeling utterly helpless.

"Are you calling or not!? If you don't call, I’m going to do it!" Guangqi yelled, brandishing the dagger. He looked like he was truly ready to snap.

"Wait!" Lai Jiayu’s veins bulged. Though he was incredibly reluctant, he had no choice but to dial Wan Tianze’s phone.

"Master, Wan Zhengzheng has been captured by Guangqi. He wants the jade pendant."

The other end of the line went silent, followed by the sound of a fist slamming onto a table. After a few seconds, Wan Tianze finally said in a low voice, "Jiayu, give him the pendant. If Guangqi hurts Zhengzheng, let him die there to be buried with her."

The call ended. Lai Jiayu said coldly, "The Master has agreed to give you the pendant. Wait one minute, I’ll get it for you."

Soon, he tossed the jade pendant to Guangqi.

"This is the real Canghai Jade Pendant!" Guangqi knew at a glance; the texture and aura of the genuine article could not be faked.

"Release her!" Lai Jiayu said heavily.

"Don't worry, now that the pendant is in my hands, even if you invited me to dinner, I wouldn't stay!" Guangqi laughed wildly, dragging Wan Zhengzheng along as a human shield until he reached his car, then releasing her. The car sped off and soon vanished at the end of the road.