Compared to Tang Wan'er's hysterical outburst, Ye Shishi remained calm, even humming a Kunqu opera tune:
"A long saber and a mighty bow, ruling Jiangdong, carriages like flowing water and horses like dragons, gazing upon the vast empire."
"A flurry of flutes and pipes send a fragrant breeze, thousands of banners and pennants are held by auspicious clouds, the imperial palace in Sutai is gorgeously adorned, and tonight we lodge in the highest celestial palace."
This was the Kunqu opera piece "Chang Dao Da Gong" (Long Saber and Great Bow), selected from "Huan Xi Sha - Da Wei" (A Washing Brook Sands - Grand Hunt) within "Bei Zui Tai Ping" (Northern Drunken Peace). This segment depicted King Fuchai of Wu in high spirits during a hunt.
By singing this part, Ye Shishi was undoubtedly likening Tang Wan'er and the Tang Sect to the momentarily triumphant Fuchai and the state of Wu, while portraying herself as the temporarily humiliated Goujian. Though in distress, she hinted that just as three thousand Yue warriors could conquer Wu, a day of retribution would eventually come.
"Ye Shishi, do you truly believe that Shen Lang and his two companions can rescue you from the Tang Sect, with its hundred thousand disciples?"
Upon hearing Ye Shishi's humming, Tang Wan'er furiously retorted, "This is the Tang Sect, the Tang Sect of Shu! No one can act with impunity here. Let alone Shen Lang potentially reaching the eighteenth floor of Tongtian Pavilion, even if he did, it would only be a dead end."
"Tang Wan'er, I don't know if you're genuinely stupid or just naive. No wonder Shen Lang wouldn't choose you, even with your engagement."
Ye Shishi leisurely swayed in her chair, laughing, "Who is Shen Lang? He is the biological son of Shen Tianjun and Song Qingyi, and the nephew of Song Shadao. He single-handedly challenged Yang Nation's martial arts, killed the Yang Nation's Ryūgū Danma Shou, and retreated unscathed. Do you think a mere Tang Sect can be his match?"
"Believe it or not, in less than half an hour, Shen Lang will appear before us completely unharmed and escort me away."
"Is that possible?"
Hearing Ye Shishi's words, Tang Wan'er scoffed, "Yesterday, that man and woman also spoke with such confidence. In the end, they fled in serious condition. Oh, right, they were sent by Shen Lang to rescue you, weren't they? Their strength was considerable, but unfortunately, they were almost bitten to death by poisonous snakes upon entering Tongtian Pavilion."
"They weren't sent to rescue me, but to take my life."
Ye Shishi smiled, "I should thank the Tang Sect. If it weren't for your Tongtian Pavilion, I might have lost my life by now."
"However..."
As Ye Shishi spoke, her smile suddenly vanished, replaced by a cold glint in her eyes. She continued, "After repeatedly trying to take my life, it seems I must pay her a visit once I get out."
"Get out?"
Tang Wan'er coldly sneered, "Ye Shishi, you can get out, but only after Shen Lang is dead."
"Stubborn and foolish."
Ye Shishi looked at Tang Wan'er with disappointment. "I initially thought the eldest miss of the Tang family was an intelligent person. Now it seems you are more foolish than I imagined. Fine, since you insist on your own destruction, I will simply stand by and watch the show."
"Eldest miss... no... it's bad!"
Just as Tang Wan'er was about to retort further to Ye Shishi, Tang Hongyao suddenly cried out.
"What happened?"
Upon hearing Tang Hongyao's exclamation, Tang Wan'er looked shocked and asked.
"Eldest miss, look at the surveillance. Shen Lang has already reached the seventh floor."
Tang Hongyao stared at the surveillance, her pupils widening in disbelief. "How... is that possible?"
Hearing Tang Hongyao's words, Tang Wan'er glanced at the surveillance and saw Shen Lang indeed appearing on the seventh floor.
"Why is this happening? It's impossible! Did the Thousand Mechanism Array on the second floor, the Ten Thousand Poisons Den on the third, and the Blood Pool on the fourth floor not stop him? How did he make it all the way to the seventh floor?"
Tang Wan'er knew Shen Lang's terrifying capabilities and never dared to underestimate him. However, the Tang Sect's Tongtian Pavilion was the most dangerous place. Tang Wan'er was confident that no matter how powerful an individual was, they couldn't break past the first level. She never expected Shen Lang to have come all the way to the seventh floor.
"Eldest miss... he broke through the Thousand Pearls Array on the seventh floor as well. He's on the eighth floor now."
Before Tang Wan'er's shock had subsided, Tang Hongyao cried out again.
"What?"
Hearing Tang Hongyao's words, Tang Wan'er looked towards the surveillance and saw that Shen Lang had indeed appeared on the eighth floor.
"Hongyao, who is guarding the eighth floor?"
The first seven floors of Tongtian Pavilion were protected by mechanisms, hidden weapons, and even poison arrays. However, from the eighth to the eighteenth floor, these were replaced by the Tang Sect's most formidable experts.
"It's Elder Tang Qisha."
Tang Hongyao replied, "Thirty years ago, Elder Tang Qisha was already a top-tier expert in the Dragon Kingdom. Thirty years later, no one knows how powerful he has become, but he can definitely kill Shen Lang."
"Yes, if Elder Tang Qisha takes action, he will surely kill Shen Lang. His arrogance ends on the eighth floor."
Tang Hongyao said with confidence.
"Don't be so sure. I bet that the Tang Qisha you speak of won't last five minutes against Shen Lang. No, two minutes."
Ye Shishi smiled and added, "If Shen Lang hasn't reached the ninth floor in two minutes, I'll jump from the eighteenth floor myself."
"Ah—"
As Ye Shishi finished speaking, a heart-wrenching scream suddenly echoed from below.
Upon hearing the piercing cry, Tang Hongyao and Tang Wan'er rushed to look at the surveillance. They saw that on the eighth floor, an old man with twin sabers strapped to his back had fallen to the ground.
"Replay, I want to see the replay."
Tang Wan'er, not understanding what had happened, shouted at Tang Hongyao.
"Alright, Miss. I'll replay it now."
Tang Hongyao immediately brought up the replay.
However, upon seeing the replay, Tang Wan'er and Tang Hongyao were stunned. They watched as the old man appeared, and Shen Lang, like a ghost, materialized before him. With a single finger, he poked the old man's forehead, a swift and fatal blow.
"How is this possible? Even Elder Tang Qisha was killed with a single finger. Just how terrifying is his strength?"
Looking at the scene on the surveillance, Tang Hongyao gasped for air.
"Two minutes. It seems I was too conservative. That was less than half a minute."
While Tang Hongyao and Tang Wan'er's faces turned grim, Ye Shishi's smile bloomed like a flower. "It seems Shen Lang will be before me in less than ten minutes."
With that, Ye Shishi slowly stood up from her chair and stretched lazily. "I've been staying at the Tang Sect for so long and drunk quite a bit of their tea. Before I leave, I should repay the Tang Sect, shouldn't I?"
"Repay the Tang Sect? How do you intend to repay them?"
Hearing Ye Shishi's words, Tang Wan'er coldly snorted.
"Tang Wan'er, don't get agitated. I'm not speaking to you."
Ye Shishi waved her hand, stopping Tang Wan'er's intended retort.
"If you're not speaking to me, then who are you speaking to?"
Tang Wan'er ignored Ye Shishi's attitude and snorted again.
"Of course, I am."
As Ye Shishi finished speaking, a voice as cold as ice echoed.
The next moment, a woman with a colossal sword strapped to her back, two wooden swords hanging from her waist, a tall stature, and white robes as pure as snow appeared behind Ye Shishi.