Chapter Forty: Ning Qingqing Files a Complaint

Elder Qi Si was already heartbroken, and now seeing his disciple tormented even after death, he unleashed all his fury upon her, cursing, "Shen Ruru, do you think you can kill my disciple at your whim? Who do you think you are? You're nothing but a woman discarded by the Young Emperor!"

Shen Ruru's face grew icy at his words, anger flaring in her heart.

"Elder Qi Si, don't forget, you barely cared about this disciple when he was alive. Now that he's dead, you regret it—what use is that?" she retorted, her tone thick with disdain and mockery.

Qi Si was momentarily stunned, at a loss for words.

With a cold laugh, she turned and left the way she had come.

Ning Qingqing, shaken once again, felt dizzy. After Shen Ruru departed, she quietly recited the Mind-Clearing Mantra a few times before following.

In a secluded spot on the mountainside, the young disciple of the Celestial Fox clan who had aided Xie Yingying slowly opened his eyes, his neck throbbing in pain.

He reached up to touch it, only to wince sharply in agony.

Grimacing, he struggled to his feet, gazing at the ground strewn with silk tree blossoms. Recalling how Xie Yingying had used him and run off, his rage surged, and he cursed aloud, "That Xie Yingying truly is a wicked seductress—no wonder she's infamous in the Demonic Sect as 'Xie the Unchaste'! Bah!"

"What about Xie Yingying?" a voice suddenly sounded behind him.

He turned curiously, only to see Shen Ruru, her expression as cold as a northern glacier.

Ning Qingqing sensed something amiss, quickly placed a Concealment Talisman on herself, and hid at a distance to eavesdrop.

Shen Ruru had often visited Gu Feng Mountain, so the disciple recognized her easily, and knew of her affection for Bai Shengyun. With anger burning inside and nowhere to vent, he immediately poured out how Xie Yingying had deceived him.

The more she listened, the colder Shen Ruru’s face became.

Noticing this, the disciple raised an eyebrow, thinking he'd finally found someone else who hated Xie Yingying. He declared furiously, "Next time I see Xie Yingying, I'll kill her myself! She'll meet a miserable end!"

"So, it was you who helped Xie Yingying escape?" Shen Ruru asked, her face expressionless.

"Yes, and she sure is a liar! Tsk!" he replied irritably.

No sooner had the words left his lips than he stared at her in disbelief—then slowly looked down, seeing a sword piercing three feet through his chest.

"You—"

Shen Ruru yanked the sword free and stabbed again.

Ning Qingqing, watching from afar, was startled out of her wits.

The disciple slowly collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.

A look of distaste flickered in Shen Ruru’s eyes; she tossed aside the sword and walked on indifferently.

After only a few steps, she halted abruptly, turning to fix a cold gaze on the field of silk tree blossoms.

Moments later, flames swept through the place, burning the blooming flowers to ashes in an instant.

Only then did Shen Ruru continue on her way.

She climbed to the summit at the back of the mountain, a place rarely visited by others, pulled out a Messaging Talisman, and spoke to it word by word, her face dark and sinister: "Find Xie Yingying for me. Bring her to me alive. I want her torn limb from limb!"

With that, she infused the talisman with spiritual power. It hovered in the air for a moment before vanishing.

Elder Baku, on his way to find Shen Ruru, happened to overhear her words. Narrowing his eyes, he said nothing and silently turned away.

Meanwhile, Ning Qingqing lingered on the mountain, stunned by the sight of the disciple slain by Shen Ruru's sword. The horror left her reeling, her mind replaying the brutal deaths of both disciples.

Regaining her senses, she recited the Mind-Clearing Mantra several more times before her heartbeat finally steadied.

She knew Shen Ruru also had feelings for Bai Shengyun, and that Shen Ruru was a formidable rival. Though fear gnawed at her, a sudden idea took root in her mind.

By now, people were starting to return the way they had come. Seizing the moment before they arrived, Ning Qingqing hurried away to the front of the mountain to look for Bai Shengyun.

Bai Shengyun had intended to return to his own chambers but somehow found himself at Xie Yingying's residence.

The courtyard had once been a place he’d chosen at random—a desolate spot overrun with weeds, silent at night, not even a cicada's cry to be heard.

Now, the yellowed weeds were gone, replaced by fresh verdure. Wildflowers, visited by unknown butterflies, bloomed along the paths, and the climbing vines on the walls were alive with vigor.

Gone was the stifling atmosphere of death; energy had returned to the place.

Bai Shengyun's gaze darkened. Hands clasped behind his back, he stepped in and pushed open the door. On the table rested a half-pot of cold, untouched tea, and a sweet, glutinous cake with a single bite missing, left by Xie Yingying.

He sat down and recalled her attitude toward him—and today, how Huo Tianqing had lifted Xie Yingying in his arms right before his eyes. Once again, fury contorted his features.

Spiritual power surged from Bai Shengyun, and in an instant, everything in the room flew up in a violent whirlwind, turning to debris in midair and crashing to the floor with deafening clamor.

The room was left in shambles, the result of his furious outburst.

Suddenly, a sheet of paper drifted down from above.

Bai Shengyun's eyes narrowed as he caught it.

Opening it, he found an intricately detailed map of Gu Feng Mountain.

His golden eyes deepened, burning red-gold. The map, which Xie Yingying had painstakingly drawn, crumbled to fragments in his hand.

"So... you had it all planned out. You were just waiting for today to escape our marriage."

He slapped the table and stood, stepping out onto the scattered shards of porcelain, and as he left the courtyard, flames erupted behind him.

The fire raged, consuming the courtyard’s vitality in moments.

Ning Qingqing arrived just in time to witness this, her heart skipping a beat.

Bai Shengyun, in no mood to deal with her, prepared to pass her by as he always had.

Seeing him about to leave, she summoned her courage and called after him, "Your Majesty, I have something to tell you."

Bai Shengyun did not pause.

She rushed to catch up and shouted again, "It's about Xie Yingying!"

Only then did Bai Shengyun halt and turn to her. "Speak."

She hadn't expected that only the mention of Xie Yingying would make him listen, and jealousy and anger flared within her.

"Xie Yingying seduced a disciple, and that disciple helped her escape."

Bai Shengyun's gaze turned icy, rage and murderous intent flashing across his face.

Ning Qingqing sensed a coming storm—she almost thought he would kill her on the spot. Trembling, she remembered Shen Ruru's hostility and stammered on, "Shen Ruru killed him, too, and burned the silk tree blossoms Xie Yingying left behind. After you killed Elder Qi Si’s disciple, she went and desecrated the corpse yet again."

Her voice grew softer and softer, until it was barely audible.