Chapter 513 Jiujiu, Annoying!
In the deep night under the moon, the servants of Blood Prison Mansion had already returned to their rooms to sleep, leaving only a few night-watch maids carrying long lanterns, walking along the corridors.
Beneath a small pavilion in the garden outside the sleeping quarters, Yun Jiujiu, dressed in white, wearing a collar and shackles, sat barefoot on a stone stool, taking small sips from the dwindling wine in her Jade Gourd. Her face was etched with impatience.
After she and Feng Yu Die brought the three Sword Sect disciples back to Blood Prison Mansion that day, she worried about Ye Anping’s exposure and directly threw the three into the prison behind the mansion, instructing the demonic cultivators within to prepare for “Lord Liang’s personal interrogation later.”
At the time, apart from the one whose chest had been pierced by Ye Anping’s sword, the other two had only fainted and seemed unharmed. Yun Jiujiu and Feng Yu Die hadn’t paid them much mind.
However, inexplicably, when Feng Yu Die went to check on them just now, she discovered that the three were still unconscious, their mouths oozing black foam, as if poisoned and on the brink of death.
Yun Jiujiu knew nothing about medical skills and couldn’t help. Feng Yu Die, on the other hand, knew a little, but after examining them, she shook her head, stating she had no idea what was wrong.
Since the three were prisoners, they naturally couldn’t seek out demonic healers, nor did any of their stored pills have any effect.
Yun Jiujiu tapped her toes, looking around like a young wife eagerly awaiting her husband’s return from war. She felt the wine in her Jade Gourd had lost its flavor and was undrinkable.
She understood the gravity of the situation. Her brother-in-law hadn’t returned yet, implying he was busy and couldn’t get away. If saving these three led to her brother-in-law’s exposure, it would be a loss far greater than any gain. Yet, knowing this and accepting it were two different things. Watching disciples she had once shared drinks with die from some inexplicable cause left her feeling uncomfortably distressed.
“Damn it, why isn’t brother-in-law back yet?! I’m so anxious…” Yun Jiujiu muttered to herself, scanning her surroundings again. As if the heavens had heard her plea, a black shadow suddenly flashed from behind the mansion’s side wall, landing on the rooftop. Upon seeing her, it quickly descended.
Since “Brother Liang” was likely enjoying a romantic night with Gong Tianchan, Ye Anping, to avoid suspicion, had taken a roundabout route back to Blood Prison Mansion, avoiding populated areas.
Seeing Ye Anping returned, Yun Jiujiu’s furrowed brows immediately relaxed. She stood up and, dragging her hundred-catty shackles, hurried towards him.
“Brother!!”
Ye Anping, quick as lightning, appeared before her before she could even finish her first word, covering her mouth. He then gave Xiao Tian a look, signaling it to watch the surroundings, and reprimanded her, “How many times have I told you? Shouting so loud, are you afraid the mansion’s servants won’t hear? There are plenty of spies from Gong Yimo and Gong Yue in this Blood Prison Mansion.”
“Anping, most of the servants are asleep, no one will hear.”
“Mmm… mmm…” Yun Jiujiu looked up at her brother-in-law, who was half a head taller than her, and nodded obediently.
Ye Anping glanced around before releasing her mouth and asking, “Did something happen while I was gone? Where’s Yu Die?”
“Ah… brother-in-law, she and I were fine when we brought Hu Feng and the others back this afternoon, but just now they suddenly started spitting black blood. I didn’t dare to call for help, and the pills didn’t work…”
“Spitting black blood?” Ye Anping frowned, puzzled. He couldn’t figure out what had happened. He had deliberately sneaked back precisely because he was worried about Feng Yu Die and Yun Jiujiu encountering trouble, and it seemed his worries were justified. Regardless, he believed in saving immortal cultivators if possible, or at least granting them a peaceful end if not.
“Brother-in-law, you have a way to save them, right?”
“It’s hard to say. Be prepared for the worst. Are there any jailers guarding the prison in the back?”
“No, Que Que drugged the wine for the two demonic cultivators guarding them before, and they’re sleeping like pigs right now.”
“Alright… I’ll go take a look.”
Yun Jiujiu nodded, then instinctively hugged Ye Anping’s arm, causing him to stop mid-stride and look back at her.
“Is there something else?”
Yun Jiujiu had acted on instinct. Realizing herself afterwards, she slowly let go. Moonlight illuminated her pale face, which now showed a hint of panic. After a moment of silence, she explained, “… I was supposed to pretend to be your cauldron, remember?”
“No one’s watching right now.”
“Oh…” Ye Anping didn’t dwell on it and quickly exited the garden through the moon-shaped gate, taking a deserted path to the entrance of the prison where criminals were held at the back of Blood Prison Mansion.
At a small square table by the entrance, two Foundation Establishment stage jailers were slumped over, snoring, their mouths dripping saliva, having been drugged with wine. Ye Anping glanced at them, then, with Yun Jiujiu following closely, they passed through and pushed open the stone door, descending into the underground passage.
The long corridor lined with stone steps seemed to lead to nowhere, with rows of spirit lamps on both sides casting a dim, eerie green light that flickered like will-o’-the-wisps. They walked past thirteen prison cells with iron bars and arrived at the interrogation room at the very end, sealed by an iron door with a restriction enchantment.
As Ye Anping pushed open the door, a radiant golden light emanated from within. Feng Yu Die was currently sitting cross-legged in the center of the interrogation room, facing the three Sword Sect disciples chained to a wooden frame. It appeared she was using her Spring Aspect spiritual energy to sustain their lives.
“Yu Die…”
“Young Master Ye, you’re here…”
Hearing Ye Anping’s voice, Feng Yu Die turned her head joyfully, but Ye Anping raised his hand to stop her. The three disciples had the pallor of the dead, their eye sockets sunken, and dark blood foam continually trickled from their lips.
Ye Anping stepped forward and took one of their wrists, extending his spiritual sense to investigate. Xiao Tian, seeing this, immediately plunged into the navel of another female cultivator nearby, squirming and twisting its body against her belly.
Yun Jiujiu eagerly stepped forward, gazing at her brother-in-law with hopeful eyes, not daring to make a sound. Only when Ye Anping opened his eyes did she anxiously inquire, “Brother-in-law, can they be saved?”
“Killing aura has entered their core…”
Yun Jiujiu didn’t understand. “What?”
Ye Anping looked troubled and hesitated, reaching for the storage bag at his waist, contemplating retrieving his short sword to end their suffering. If he could find out how they got into this state, there might be a chance, but they were unconscious. He hadn’t detected the cause of their illness, and any hasty treatment would only worsen their condition. Furthermore, there was no time for careful investigation; it would be better to grant them a peaceful end with less pain.
After glancing at Yun Jiujiu and Feng Yu Die, Ye Anping fell silent for a moment, preparing to ask them to wait outside. However, with a “pop~” sound, Xiao Tian pulled its head out of the female cultivator’s navel and said with a puke-like expression, “Anping, it seems they ate demonic cultivator flesh and contracted the killing aura, but it hasn’t been fully digested. They should have eaten it this morning.”
Feng Yu Die was still confused. “Huh?” But Ye Anping immediately understood. These three must have eaten demonic cultivator flesh raw to infiltrate Tian Bei City, which explained why the city guard let them in. They likely never expected to leave Tian Bei City alive.
“There’s hope.”
“Really?!” Yun Jiujiu’s eyes lit up with admiration. Ye Anping wasn’t sure how to react. He felt Yun Jiujiu had become less crude under his tutelage and gently shook his head, saying, “What brother-in-law says, he does. Yu Die, bring them down and lay them flat on the ground…”
“Okay!” Since they had only eaten demonic cultivator flesh this morning, it was manageable. The killing aura within them was similar to the poisoned蛊 they had consumed as children. Removing the demonic cultivator flesh that was the source of the aura, and then clearing the killing aura from their meridians and Golden Core, should allow them to survive. As for their future cultivation, that would depend on their own destiny.
Ye Anping sat on the ground, closed his eyes, and focused his qi, channeling his spiritual energy to his right-hand sword finger. He suddenly remembered the times he and his junior sister had sweetly fed each other poisoned蛊. He rather missed it. When his junior sister ate, he would tie her to a chair and force the little creatures into her mouth. And when it was his turn, she would tie him up and pour the live little creatures into his mouth. Even though they had eaten the insects after one round of detoxification, they had still nearly died from their poison several times. The method of using spiritual energy as a blade to clear meridians was developed during that period. Although the three disciples’ killing aura was much more severe now, he was a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Ye Anping calmed his mind, concentrating his spiritual energy, circulating it within the meridians of the three Sword Sect disciples in front of him. Soon, with three retching sounds, the rotten flesh they had swallowed was expelled from their mouths. Feng Yu Die, seeing sweat glistening on Ye Anping’s forehead, remained silent. After a moment’s thought, she knelt beside him and wiped his sweat with her sleeve.
“Hee hee…” Yun Jiujiu watched the two of them, feeling a strange mix of emotions. On one hand, Feng Yu Die and her brother-in-law looked so compatible. On the other hand, her brother-in-law… could do everything, was intelligent, powerful in combat, a direct disciple of her grandfather, and according to her elder sister, also skilled in matters of the bed… How could such a person exist? Did her brother-in-law have any flaws? Yun Jiujiu pursed her lips, pondered for a long time, and finally found one: he looked a bit too effeminate, not masculine enough. She preferred men with sharp features, angular faces, and muscular physiques… But then again, her brother-in-law was quite handsome… Staring at Ye Anping’s profile, she fell into a reverie, her expression shifting rapidly, leaving Feng Yu Die, who was wiping his sweat, bewildered. She didn’t dare to speak and disturb Ye Anping.
The silence in the interrogation room lasted for about half an hour, broken only by Ye Anping’s sigh: “Hoo…” He withdrew his spiritual energy and opened his eyes, a tired look evident. Clearing the poisoned蛊 from himself and his junior sister when they were only at the Body Refining and Qi Refining stages had been far less taxing than clearing the meridians of three Core Formation cultivators. This far exceeded Ye Anping’s expectations.
As Ye Anping tried to stand up, his vision darkened. He lost his balance and swayed towards Yun Jiujiu. Seeing this, Yun Jiujiu quickly prepared to catch him with her sturdy frame. However, before he could fall, Feng Yu Die, on the other side, quickly grabbed Ye Anping’s waist and pulled him towards her.
“Young Master Ye?!”
“It’s nothing, just a bit of energy depletion…” After punishing Agu earlier and then clearing the killing aura for three Golden Core cultivators, he was more exhausted than he would be after a romantic night with Great Hero Xuanyi, who at least gave him time to rest and recover. Leaning against Feng Yu Die’s chest, Ye Anping retrieved four pills from his storage bag, took one himself, had Yun Jiujiu give one to each of the three disciples, and then began to meditate and regulate his qi.
Ye Anping added with a smile, “Jiujiu, these three pills and the consultation fee will be billed to you…”
“…Oh.” Yun Jiujiu moved to administer the pills to the three disciples. Seeing Ye Anping and Feng Yu Die leaning against each other, she frowned slightly. Finally, deciding she couldn’t bear to watch, she picked up the three disciples from Sword Wine Peak by their jaws and pushed the pills down their throats, then shared some of her spiritual energy with them.
With the aid of the high-grade pills, one of them soon opened his eyes. Seeing the second miss kneeling beside him with a collar around her neck, he reacted rather violently, sitting up and hoarsely shouting, “You dare…”
Ye Anping had removed his human skin mask after punishing Agu, so he wasn’t wearing it now. As the man sat up and saw Ye Anping’s handsome face, he found it vaguely familiar. But in the next moment, Yun Jiujiu slapped the back of his head with a loud bang.
“Hu Feng!! This is your savior! How dare you curse… and you’re not even kowtowing to thank Young Master Ye?!”
“Ah…” Hu Feng looked confused, then turned to look at Yun Jiujiu behind him, completely bewildered. “What? Huh?…”
Seeing someone had woken up, Ye Anping slowly opened his eyes. He couldn’t help but sigh, “The disciples of Sword Wine Peak are practically carved from the same mold as Yun Jiujiu.” He said, “I am Young Master Ye of the Hundred Lotus Sect.”
“Ah… Eldest Daughter’s husband? How… Where is this?”
“This is Blood Prison Mansion, Blood Prison of Tian Bei City. I’m currently using the alias Liang Da Liu. The second miss can explain the rest.” Ye Anping said calmly, then stood up. “I’ll go back and rest. Jiujiu, keep an eye on them…”
Yun Jiujiu nodded obediently. “Ah… okay.”
Ye Anping glanced at her, then turned to leave. Feng Yu Die looked around, then naturally followed, grabbing his right hand.
Watching the two leave the interrogation room, Yun Jiujiu tugged at the collar around her neck and stood up, saying, “Anyway, I was captured, and Young Master Ye happened to be there, so he rescued me. How did you guys get here?”
“We… we came to save you, Sister Jiujiu! We killed a demonic cultivator outside, each took a bite of its flesh, contracted the killing aura, and infiltrated the city, planning to find an opportunity to rescue you.” As Hu Feng spoke, he saw that their leader was unharmed and became extremely emotional. “Sister Jiujiu, it’s great that you’re alright! Eldest Miss previously issued your obituary, saying you had died at the hands of demonic cultivators. When we heard you were still alive, we immediately wanted to… Oh dear… Sister Jiujiu…”
Yun Jiujiu rolled her eyes and kicked him in the face. “Ah, you cry like a sissy.” She then sat down, looked at the other two, and said, “Recover well and rest. After you’re healed, go and kowtow fifty times to Young Master Ye. If it weren’t for him, I’d be offering incense for the three of you next year.”
“Ah… yes.” Hu Feng shrank his head and finally calmed down a bit. “So Eldest Daughter’s husband was here. Eldest Miss doesn’t even know he’s here. Eldest Daughter’s husband is truly amazing, even becoming an elder…”
Hearing the constant mention of “Eldest Daughter’s husband,” Yun Jiujiu became inexplicably furious and couldn’t help but punch him. “Damn it, calling him Eldest Daughter’s husband all the time, are you Yun Yiyi’s son?”
“Ah? But Young Master Ye is Eldest Daughter’s husband…”
Yun Jiujiu pursed her lips, crossed her arms, and cursed, “… Shut your mouth and recover!!”
“Oh… okay!”
