Translator: CinderTL

Upon hearing the guard’s reprimand, Song Wen’s brow furrowed slightly, and his gaze shifted toward them.

But with just that casual glance, the two guards felt as if they had plunged into the Nine Nether Abyss, sensing themselves targeted by a primordial ferocious beast. Their legs trembled uncontrollably, yet they dared not move a muscle.

"Open the gate," Song Wen commanded, his tone flat but carrying an undeniable weight of authority.

The entirety of Ke Manor was enveloped by a cyan formation barrier.

Unwilling to alert the Wu Clan within the city by forcefully breaching the barrier, Song Wen had no choice but to enter through the main gate like an ordinary visitor.

"S-Senior, the gate is sealed by a restriction. We lack the authority to open it—only the manager can activate it," one guard stammered nervously.

"Then summon him to open it," Song Wen replied.

"Yes, sir."

The guard retrieved a Communication Jade Slip and transmitted a message.

Moments later, the manor gate creaked open, and an elderly man in the Nascent Soul Stage emerged.

"May I inquire as to the purpose of your visit, esteemed guest?" the elder asked politely, sizing up Song Wen. Unable to detect any cultivation aura, he maintained a cautious courtesy.

Song Wen ignored the elder’s greeting. With a flash of movement, he appeared beside the trio, then unleashed a powerful gust of wind that enveloped them.

In the next instant, all four figures vanished from before the gate.

With a clang, the gate slammed shut once more.

A cool breeze rustled through the lakeside pavilion.

Ke Zheng gazed at Wu Lingzhu, who leaned lightly against his right arm. Her hair, stirred by the gentle wind, brushed against the tip of his nose, carrying a faint, ethereal fragrance.

A surge of restlessness stirred within Ke Zheng. He lowered his head, about to kiss her.

But Wu Lingzhu straightened, slipping free from his arm and evading his advance.

"Brother Ke," she said coolly, "though I have resolved to become your dao companion, I am not one to act impulsively. Until your master arrives at the Wu Clan to formally propose marriage, and the Wu Clan and Myriad Swords Pavilion officially recognize our union, we must adhere to propriety and refrain from overstepping boundaries."

Ke Zheng froze momentarily, then forced a sheepish smile.

"Lingzhu, I was carried away by the moment. Forgive my impetuousness. Rest assured, I have already used the Wu Clan’s communication array to inform my master. He should arrive at the Wu Clan within days."

A faint smile finally graced Wu Lingzhu’s lips.

"That is excellent news. I will await you, Brother Ke."

Ke Zheng’s face lit up with joy, his eyes sparkling with barely restrained excitement.

Yet just as this tender moment reached its peak, a jarring voice shattered the intimate atmosphere.

"You two seem to be enjoying yourselves."

"Who’s there?" Ke Zheng demanded sharply.

Following the sound, he turned to see a fleeting shadow rapidly approaching from several dozen meters away. In an instant, it materialized within the pavilion like a ghostly apparition.

Recognizing the newcomer’s face, Wu Lingzhu abruptly rose from the stone bench, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"Jiang Yushan... how could it be you?! Where are Ancestor Wu Bo and Wu Qinghan?"

"Heh, you’re about to meet your own end, yet you still care about them?" Song Wen sneered.

Unlike Wu Lingzhu’s fear, Ke Zheng’s face was contorted with rage.

"Jiang Yushan, how dare you trespass on this young master’s estate! You’re courting death!"

As he spoke, Ke Zheng’s palm glowed with a golden light, and he struck fiercely at Song Wen’s head.

Song Wen casually raised his right hand to block the blow, yet his counterattack struck Ke Zheng’s forearm first.

Crack.

The faint sound of a bone snapping echoed through the air.

Ke Zheng felt a searing pain surge through his arm.

His forearm had been broken, the jagged white bone piercing through flesh and spurting blood.

Only then did Ke Zheng realize that "Jiang Yushan" was no mere Divine Transformation Stage cultivator; a vast gulf of power separated them.

Immediately afterward, an invisible force descended, crushing him like a mountain.

Unable to withstand the immense pressure, Ke Zheng collapsed to his knees with a thud.

"Jiang Yushan, please don’t kill me! I’ve delivered all the messages you asked me to," Wu Lingzhu pleaded, her face pale with terror as she knelt beside Ke Zheng.

"Jiang Yushan, bullying a woman is no feat of skill! If you have the guts, come at me! Even if it costs me my life, I, Ke Zheng, will never let you harm Fairy Lingzhu again!" Ke Zheng roared, veins bulging on his forehead.

Song Wen gazed down at Ke Zheng with disdain. "So, you fancy yourself a chivalrous protector of damsels in distress? Very well, I’ll grant you your wish!"

A Gu insect, no larger than a sesame seed, materialized on Song Wen’s fingertip. Its wings vibrated as it landed at the corner of Ke Zheng’s eye.

Ke Zheng’s pupils constricted violently as he struggled to shake off the Gu, but the immense force pinning him down left him helpless. He could only watch in horror as the insect burrowed into his eye.

"Aaaah—!"

Ke Zheng let out a low, agonized groan.

Once inside his brain, the Gu insect began to rampage. Wherever it went, his brain felt as if it were being scorched by fire, his nerves gnawed by a swarm of ants. The pain was so excruciating he nearly lost consciousness.

"Jiang Yushan, you can’t kill me! I’m a core disciple of the Myriad Swords Pavilion, apprenticed to Gu Huang! If I die, my master and the entire pavilion will never let you get away with this!" Ke Zheng screamed hoarsely.

"Heh!"

With Song Wen’s soft chuckle, the immense pressure crushing Ke Zheng vanished like a receding tide. The Gu insects fell silent, lying motionless within Ke Zheng’s mind.

Ke Zheng felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He collapsed to the ground, his body still trembling uncontrollably.

"I thought you were made of sterner stuff," Song Wen said mockingly. "Turns out you’re just as willing to beg for mercy as anyone else."

He continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm: "Ke Zheng, Wu Lingzhu only agreed to marry you because she offended Wu Qinghan and feared retaliation. She needed a powerful backer, and you fit the bill. Of course, she doesn’t care about you as a Divine Transformation Stage cultivator—she’s after the backing of Gu Huang and the Myriad Swords Pavilion. Women like her will kick you aside without hesitation once you’ve outlived your usefulness."

"Don’t spout such lies!" Ke Zheng protested weakly from the ground, barely able to defend himself yet still desperately defending Wu Lingzhu. "Fairy Lingzhu is pure and virtuous—she’s not that kind of woman!"

Song Wen shook his head slightly. Ke Zheng’s infatuation was truly remarkable—and perfectly exploitable.

With a flick of his wrist, Song Wen sent a palm strike through the air toward Wu Lingzhu.

Her body went limp, and she collapsed unconscious to the ground.

"What have you done to Lingzhu?" Ke Zheng struggled to rise.

"Don’t worry, she’s not dead!" Song Wen deliberately dragged out the last syllable, and another Gu worm flew from his body, burrowing into Wu Lingzhu’s brain. "Do something for me, and I’ll spare you and Wu Lingzhu."

Ke Zheng glanced at the unconscious Wu Lingzhu on the ground, then at his severed arm, and gritted his teeth.

"What is it?"

"Take me into the Wu Clan," Song Wen said.

A flicker of surprise crossed Ke Zheng’s eyes.

"You dare enter the Wu Clan! Aren’t you afraid they’ll discover you and kill you?"

"If I’m discovered, you and Wu Lingzhu won’t survive either."

(End of the Chapter)

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