Chapter 125: Chapter 122: Rock-Paper-Scissors, a Deal, a Rift

Fang Cheng and He Yujing flew out of Ten Thousand Poison Cliff. He Yujing said, "I’m going to get Monk Po Jie and see what the Cao Family’s terms are. The Zheng Family won’t let this go easily, so be careful."

Cao Kui had taken Monk Po Jie, and was clearly waiting for He Yujing to come asking for him. It seemed the two had some other agreement.

For a Mid-stage Life Talisman Cultivator like Cao Kui to hold him in such high regard, it seemed there was more to He Yujing than just having saved his life.

Fang Cheng nodded. "You be careful too, Brother He."

He Yujing smiled faintly. "I’m an old hand at this. You don’t need to tell me."

With that, the two parted ways and went in separate directions.

After returning to Brocade Cloud Stream, Fang Cheng didn’t enter his Cave Mansion. Instead, he found a secluded spot, took out a black Talisman, and slowly pressed it to his chest!

The next moment.

A dense, ten-foot-wide cloud of black fog instantly erupted from the Talisman, enveloping Fang Cheng completely.

In an instant, Fang Cheng’s aura seemed to be cut off by the black fog, vanishing into thin air.

A moment later, the black fog slowly dissipated, and Fang Cheng’s figure was gone.

After activating the Second-Order Concealment Talisman, he stealthily left Netherworld Valley and flew directly southeast.

In less than an hour, he spotted Zheng Feiyu’s Floating Cloud Immortal Residence in the distance.

’Just as I thought. He didn’t go far from Netherworld Valley after his defeat!’

At this moment.

The Floating Cloud Immortal Residence hung high in the sky, completely still. A faint spiritual light shimmered around it, a clear sign that its defensive wards were active.

Fang Cheng stopped a good distance away. From his sleeve, eight Tier Two Gu Insects flew out one after another, making a beeline for the Floating Cloud Immortal Residence.

The Vajra Gu, already at the Tier Two Early Stage, effortlessly chewed through the Immortal Residence’s defensive wards and flew silently inside.

Inside, the middle-aged man in purple robes sat cross-legged within the pavilion. His expression was haggard, a clear sign of a serious injury.

Fang Cheng had looked into the Flame God Palace’s Zheng Family before. They weren’t a top-tier family, roughly on par with the Zhou and Li Families affiliated with the Yinluo Sect. They only had two or three Life Talisman Realm Elders.

No wonder the Cao Family dared to so forcefully push back the Zheng Family. If it had been a family on the level of the Abyssal Swamp’s Ye Family or the Feng Family, the Cao Family would have had to toe the line.

With Zheng Feiyu completely focused on circulating his Cultivation Technique to heal his wounds, he failed to notice the Gu Insects’ infiltration.

It just went to show how viciously Cao Kui had struck!

After the Poison Gu crawled into the Immortal Residence, it immediately released an invisible but potent toxin.

Meanwhile, the seven Vajra Gu crept silently toward Zheng Feiyu’s back.

The Zheng Family Elder was in a deep meditative state, his mind one with the universe, when a sudden premonition struck him. Alarms bells screamed in his mind.

His eyes snapped open. As his gaze swept the room, he keenly spotted the Ink Jade Gu Insect hidden in a corner of the Immortal Residence.

"Who dares to ambush me?!"

Zheng Feiyu was shocked, and a sense of dread washed over him.

The next moment, a blackish-blue tinge crept over his face. The Poisonous Gu had already invaded his body.

An agonizing pain, as if his insides were being twisted by knives, ripped through him. His Magical Power scattered, refusing to obey his commands. His body grew weak, pus started oozing from his scalp—all the symptoms of poisoning erupted at once.

He fought through the pain, held his breath, and focused his mind, frantically trying to channel his Magical Power to suppress the Poisonous Gu.

But then... a sharp pain suddenly shot through his back!

The moment he diverted his focus to suppress the poison, his Protective Spiritual Light thinned. The seven Vajra Gu seized the opportunity, bit through the light, and burrowed into his flesh.

Seven walnut-sized, bloody holes appeared on Zheng Feiyu’s back. The Zheng Family Elder let out a wretched scream and, before he could even rise, died on the spot.

「A short while later.」

Inside the Immortal Residence, only a pristine white skeleton remained. The seven Vajra Gu, now fully satiated, picked up Zheng Feiyu’s storage bag and flew out leisurely along with the Poison Gu.

Fang Cheng never once showed himself.

He retrieved the Gu Insects and the storage bag, glanced at the Floating Cloud Immortal Residence with a flicker of regret, then silently turned and departed.

’The Floating Cloud Immortal Residence seems to have a mark left by the Zheng Family. Better not to take it.’

...

By the time Fang Cheng returned to Brocade Cloud Stream, stars and a crescent moon hung in the night sky.

He walked into Purple Cliff Cave to find the main hall filled with wafting steam, but there was no sign of Ye Yan or Die’Er.

’They must be taking a bath again.’

Fang Cheng couldn’t help but chuckle. He casually shut the Cave Mansion’s Stone Sect and activated the wards, then leisurely removed his robes and headed for the bathing chamber.

He heard the sound of cheerful laughter from the bath. When he walked in, he saw three stunningly beautiful female cultivators lounging in the pool, their fair skin glistening with water—an incredibly alluring sight.

Through the curling steam, Wen Qianqian’s lovely face, beautiful whether she was smiling or pouting, came into view.

"Husband, you’re back! Come join us," Ye Yan said with a light laugh.

Die’Er took the initiative to step out of the pool and help Fang Cheng with his robes.

Ye Yan and Die’Er had already removed their disguising magical artifacts and returned to their normal appearances, but Fang Cheng was still in his disguise.

Wen Qianqian’s beautiful eyes sized up Fang Cheng with curiosity, a faint blush on her cheeks.

Fang Cheng asked in surprise, "What is all this?"

Ye Yan explained Wen Qianqian’s relationship with Ning Suyun, then added, "I saw that Sister Wen was so lonely and miserable... As a woman myself, I couldn’t bear it, so I took the liberty of revealing who we were to her. Please don’t be angry, Husband."

"Such misplaced compassion." Fang Cheng’s expression darkened, his brow furrowing in displeasure. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Ye Yan quickly rose, went to the edge of the pool, and took his hand, pleading coquettishly, "My dearest husband, please don’t be angry. I’ll admit I was wrong, isn’t that enough?"

Seeing this, a wave of sorrow washed over Wen Qianqian. "This has nothing to do with Fellow Daoist Ye," she said. "If you must blame someone, blame me. If you don’t wish to see me, I will leave right now."

With that, she stared at Fang Cheng with her almond-shaped eyes, which were brimming with tears.

When Fang Cheng remained silent, she bit her lip, stood up, and walked before him. "Are you afraid I’ll reveal your whereabouts?" she said. "Fine. In that case, you might as well kill me to tie up loose ends."