Anyone else in this area who saw Mei Zhang’s face right now would probably be so frightened they’d collapse completely.

But this level of anger was nothing more than a puff of air to Yun Ran.

"Making tea requires attention to the temperature of the water. If you dawdle and miss the perfect temperature, I won’t be so easygoing!"

Although it was about making tea, to Mei Zhang’s ears, it was no different than a meeting called by King Yan.

The coachman stood by like a pillar, quietly watching everything unfold, unable to suppress the sense of smug satisfaction in his heart.

He deserved it; let’s see if this man dares to act carelessly in the future. Even to beat a dog, you must look at the owner’s face first!

Mei Zhang was filled with a low pressure of anger throughout his body. He didn’t directly lash out, but was merely weighing the consequences of doing so.

Watching as the freshly boiled water was about to surpass the ideal temperature for making tea.

Mei Zhang moved, dissipating the low pressure surrounding him.

"Little friend, you are right; courtesy demands reciprocity. I should indeed make a fresh pot of tea."

Mei Zhang returned to the table and began making tea in an orderly manner. Ignoring the blood that flowed from his forehead, the entire process was somewhat impressive.

Soon, the tea was ready. Mei Zhang reached into a wooden box beside him and took out a new teacup.

The tea, exuding a light fragrance, was slowly poured into the teacup.

"Please try it, little friend."

Yun Ran didn’t stand on ceremony, took a sip from the teacup, and then set it down.

Mei Zhang looked at Yun Ran with a bit of anxiety in his eyes, as anyone would think he was waiting for a verdict.

"You’ve ruined what could have been good tea. Clearly, you still haven’t learned from what I said before."

No one noticed when Yun Ran pulled out a weapon.

By the time Mei Zhang saw it, it was too late; the hand he used to pour tea for Yun Ran had three fingers severed by a cold, icy dagger.

And this was despite Mei Zhang doing his utmost to protect himself. If he had relaxed even slightly, he wouldn’t have been able to save the entire arm.

The saying "ten fingers connected to the heart" is not for naught—losing three fingers at once, Mei Zhang’s face turned deathly pale.

It’s hard to tell if it was from the sudden loss of blood or the intense pain.

"You..."

Mei Zhang wanted to reprimand, but his intact hand could only hold tightly to the one missing three fingers, blood gushing between his fingers.

His voice became hoarse and feeble.

Yun Ran scoffed slightly and interrupted him: "Trying to use the Puppetry Technique on me under my nose? You’re overestimating yourself.

I told you that you’d face a bloody disaster, yet you failed to cherish the opportunity. Since that’s the case, I’ll help you get rid of that disobedient hand."

If Yun Ran weren’t adept at several ancient Evil Techniques and Forbidden Techniques, they would be in grave trouble now.

Cutting off just three of the man’s fingers was already considered merciful.

Mei Zhang’s overwhelming anger and pain froze when he heard the words ’Puppetry Technique.’

Even the piercing pain of losing fingers seemed insignificant.

A fear known as horror engulfed him, making his blood run cold.

Yun Ran watched Mei Zhang’s lips move, yet he said nothing, his face and eyes filled with terror and despair.

He didn’t even dare to think about what kind of person he had provoked.

This Puppetry Technique was a closely guarded secret he learned from a very dangerous place, known only to him and the Family Head.

Since mastering the Puppetry Technique, Mei Zhang had never failed, controlling many and reaping unimaginable benefits.

Yet today, it had all been shattered so effortlessly, leaving him utterly defeated.

After a long while, a sense of defeat appeared on his face, and he started mumbling to himself, "How is this possible? How could I fail..."

The coachman was terrified by the sudden turn of events; he had once witnessed a Divine Envoy’s wrath and seen hundreds of lives lost.

Back then, he thought that was the ultimate form of fear—raw fear of death.

But now, the coachman suddenly felt he had been too naïve; there were things far more terrifying than death in this world.

That’s when something you always believed in collapses, turning years of effort into ruins...

From Mei Zhang’s eyes, the coachman saw a kind of despair akin to hope being utterly shattered.

Yun Ran’s sympathy was always limited.

As long as the other party was willing to change, she would show leniency, even to an old monster like He Tu, who was both righteous and evil.

The Mei Zhang before her, despite being warned multiple times about his impending bloody disaster, remained stubbornly incorrigible.

Thus, she would not hold back any longer. Qingfeng Temple didn’t make its name through worldly compassion but through raw, decisive methods!

"Seeing how you look, it seems like your Dao Heart has shattered, and you won’t have much potential in the future. Let me show you what true Puppetry Technique is!"

Yun Ran sliced her finger and forcefully flicked it, sending Blood Beads splattering into the air and quickly performing a sealing.

The blood that should have dripped down hung suspended in the air, as if it were alive.

As Yun Ran’s incantation began, the Blood Bead emitted a faint red glow.

Mei Zhang knew he should flee, regardless of the cost.

But his feet wouldn’t move, just like when he casually unleashed his power to freeze the coachman in place.

His eyes fixated as if he had seen something that captivated his soul, not blinking even once.

The next moment, the few Blood Beads suspended in midair began to merge, forming a peanut-sized sphere.

A moment of daze flashed through Mei Zhang’s eyes, followed by a spiraling world.

He heard a voice, impossible to resist, echoing in his ears: "From today onwards, I am your master. When I say east, you may not go west!"

Controlling someone whose cultivation wasn’t low involved none of the expected complexity, just this simple line.

As the sole observer, the coachman even doubted his own senses, wondering if this was all an illusion.

He then saw Mei Zhang, who had seemed untouchable, bow deeply with vacant, hollow eyes.

Respectfully, he paid homage to Yun Ran: "Mei Zhang greets Master."