Su Muqing returned to Wuji Sect at her fastest speed. It was already past four in the morning. She roused Tianji Old Man, Le Xiong, and the others.
Fortunately, Su Muqing and her group had planned to temporarily leave soon. However, the matter of constructing Huaxia City had not yet been discussed, so Tianji Old Man kept everyone back. Thus, when she called out, there were quite a few people.
Su Cuiping and Lin Rongrong also got up and dressed upon hearing the commotion. Once most of the people had arrived, Su Muqing briefly explained what she had seen at the Thousand Poisons Sect. She tried to be discreet…
However, those who knew her well could tell from her expression that this matter was certainly not minor.
Tianji Old Man and the others were all shocked to hear this. For so many years, the missing women and children in the No-Man's Land and the surrounding villages of Cangmu County had all been the evil deeds of the Thousand Poisons Sect?
Judging by Su Muqing's intention, she wanted to destroy the Thousand Poisons Sect? Thinking that she had only just become the City Lord, they decided to accompany her to see for themselves, considering it a way to boost their new City Lord's influence.
Everyone also unanimously agreed that if the matter was indeed true, then a harmful element like the Thousand Poisons Sect could no longer be allowed to remain in Huaxia City, lest it tarnish the new city's reputation!
Thus, they took their respective weapons and rode horses or drove cars. The large group headed towards the Thousand Poisons Sect in a mighty procession.
At this moment, someone with sharp eyes noticed that Lu Yuzhi and Su Muqing seemed to be having a spat? The specific manifestation was that when Su Muqing drove, she pulled Lin Rongrong into the passenger seat.
Seeing this, Lu Yuzhi naturally felt awkward about sitting next to her. Su Cuiping touched her chin and also sat on the outside of the passenger seat. Then, looking at Su Muqing, who deliberately avoided looking at someone, she couldn't help but secretly chuckle.
Lin Rongrong, seeing Su Cuiping's shoulders shaking, couldn't help but ask, "Sister Cuiping, what are you laughing at?"
"Me! I'm laughing at a certain someone and another certain someone..." Su Cuiping drew out the end of the word "someone" very long...
Lu Yuzhi sat in the back row of the driver's seat. He stared intently into the rearview mirror. He saw Su Muqing's brow furrowed tightly. It seemed she was hearing something bad again from the artifact in her ear.
It had to be said that Lu Yuzhi was truly observant. The mother and daughter of the Thousand Poisons Sect were currently discussing how to break the barrier set by Tianji Old Man.
Then, they would feign submission to Su Muqing, and when the opportunity arose, they would poison their water wells. They planned to coordinate with the Crown Prince of Japan to retake the No-Man's Land in one fell swoop, striving to bring the development of events back to its original course.
Su Muqing heard them calmly discussing which people to keep alive and which to kill, as if they were discussing whether to have crucian carp or grass carp for dinner, so casually.
She took out two earbuds and handed them back. After Lu Yuzhi took them, Su Muqing said, "Give one to Senior Tianji and put it in his ear."
Lu Yuzhi put the earbud into Tianji Old Man's ear, and then put the other one into his own.
"Who is speaking?" Hearing the voice in his ear, Tianji Old Man looked around.
Su Muqing: "The leader of the Thousand Poisons Sect and that Saintess!"
After listening for a while, Tianji Old Man handed the earbuds to Le Xiong and the others. Su Muqing played the conversation of the mother and daughter plotting to seize the No-Man's Land for them to hear. Everyone was furious!
What venomous hearts these two women had! To think they thought the City Lord wanted to attack the Thousand Poisons Sect out of personal grudges. They never expected these two to be so detestable!
After everyone else had listened, Su Muqing played some earlier content for Tianji and Lu Yuzhi.
Past lives, rebirth, mother and daughter, swapped daughters, etc... Tianji Old Man looked out the window, lost in thought.
The Saintess of the Thousand Poisons Sect had lived two lives! It wasn't that he didn't believe in cause and effect or reincarnation. It was just that someone like her, who died and then suddenly returned to her teenage years, was unimaginable.
No wonder a woman had suddenly appeared out of nowhere a few years ago and eventually took the position of leader. Yet, Poison Mother-in-Law showed no dissatisfaction and willingly took the second position. It turned out this was all her own doing!
As they neared the Thousand Poisons Sect, Tianji Old Man was taken to the other three exits of the sect. To prevent anyone from escaping, he was to set up barriers here.
The large team arrived menacingly at the entrance of the Thousand Poisons Sect. The gatekeepers, seeing so many people suddenly arrive, quickly sounded their unique communication signal.
Chu Ruoqiao felt an ominous feeling upon hearing that other sects had surrounded them. Just as she was about to transfer the people in the secret prison, she heard the danger signal. These people had actually broken in directly?
She quickly played the short flute she carried, summoning help. Before long, Su Muqing and the others were surrounded by a swarm of snakes, insects, and rats.
Worried that Chu Ruoqiao might transfer or even kill those women and children, Su Muqing directly led the way into the sect.
As soon as everyone broke through the main gate of the Thousand Poisons Sect, they heard rustling sounds coming from all directions.
Suddenly!
"Ah! There are snakes, so many snakes!"
"Help!"
Many people were tripped up by the suddenly appearing poisonous creatures. Especially the ordinary disciples who followed them, they were easily bitten by venomous snakes and insects when they couldn't dodge in time.
Su Muqing flung waves of wind blades, but the effect was also mediocre. So, she stood in the center, scattering orpiment like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, and then used her wind abilities to blow the orpiment towards the snakes.
Fortunately, the orpiment powder had some effect. Snakes were very sensitive to smell. Upon suddenly smelling the orpiment, the snakes were stimulated and retreated. A few, disregarding the smell, continued to charge forward.
At this moment, Tianji Old Man and the others, who had set up the barriers, also returned to the team. Seeing piles and piles of snakes, Su Muqing shouted, asking the people of Huaxia City to gather around her.
Then, she directly unleashed a whirlwind, controlling the strong wind to sweep around, gathering all the snakes, insects, rats, and ants together. Wherever the whirlwind passed, sand and stones were swept away, leaving nothing behind. Even the small bamboo houses were uprooted, and the ground was scooped out in a circle!
Looking at the dark mass in mid-air, Su Muqing raised her hand and sent out a wind blade, slicing through a large portion of it like in a fruit-cutting game. While cutting, she took out several bottles of spiritual spring water and let those bitten drink a few sips.
Su Muqing's move directly swept away 90% of the poisonous creatures. The remaining scattered poisonous creatures were left for others to finish off.
Looking at the black dot covered in tentacles on the space detector, Su Muqing guessed that Chu Ruoqiao was hiding there. After she had finished cutting the poisonous creatures, she quickly changed the direction of the whirlwind and pushed it towards the bamboo house in the center.
Chu Ruoqiao discovered her intention and quickly flew to a distant location. The sound of "rustling" continued for a long time. The snakes, insects, rats, ants, houses, and soil that were swept into mid-air all crashed onto the roof of the bamboo house below, smashing it into pieces!
No wonder the old people said snakes had spirits. After this ordeal, the snakes that luckily survived no longer obeyed the commands of the flute. They scurried into the grass, it seemed even animals knew to prioritize survival!
Su Muqing watched the black dot on the space detector constantly changing its position. This person was highly vigilant, she had evaded this! She hadn't expected the leader of the Thousand Poisons Sect to have such good skills.
"Leader of the Thousand Poisons Sect, you don't need to hide. I know you're here." As Su Muqing spoke, a lightning bolt swiftly struck the place she was hiding.
Then, she forced Chu Ruoqiao step by step towards the secret prison where the women and children were held.
Chu Ruoqiao saw that no matter where she hid, she would be discovered. Even her Japanese stealth techniques were useless! She no longer entangled herself with Su Muqing. She flew out from the shadows, thinking of the relationship between Tianji Old Man and her grandfather. Surely, for his sake, he would help her.
However, before she could land, large stones began to rain down on her. Chu Ruoqiao dodged them miserably while shouting angrily, "Su Muqing, you are simply going too far!"
"For a scoundrel like you with a venomous heart, why should I be polite!" Su Muqing retorted verbally while her attacks didn't stop, pushing her backward.
Chu Ruoqiao didn't know that their plotted plan had already been overheard by others. While dodging the flying boulders, she questioned Tianji Old Man, "Senior Tianji, our Thousand Poisons Sect has been in the No-Man's Land for over a hundred years. My great-master was neighbors with you when she was alive. Now, are you going to watch this outsider, Su Muqing, bully us like this in the No-Man's Land? Just because our Thousand Poisons Sect refuses to acknowledge her status as leader?"
Tianji Old Man looked at the defiant person and asked with a complex expression, "Are you Chu Ruoqiao? Are you colluding with Japan and plotting to occupy the No-Man's Land? Even plotting to poison the entire No-Man's Land? Also, what is the connection between the missing women and children in the past few years and your Thousand Poisons Sect?"
Hearing Tianji Old Man's triple question, Chu Ruoqiao was greatly alarmed! How did he know? Was there a spy in the Thousand Poisons Sect? Or did he calculate it? Impossible! He had vowed not to divine any more after being backlashed by Chu Ruoxi's incident.
Seeing that Chu Ruoqiao's attention was drawn by Tianji Old Man, Su Muqing instructed Lu Yuzhi to take people to the secret prison to rescue them first. "Brother Lu, by the rockery on the left. Press the protruding part of the mountain, and a stone staircase leading to the secret prison will appear!"
"Okay! I'll go rescue them, you be careful." Lu Yuzhi, with Leng Ren and Le Xiong, engaged in fierce combat with the surrounding Thousand Poisons Sect disciples, continuously advancing towards the left.
Chu Ruoqiao saw that they clearly knew the location and realized that she had failed again this time. If the green hills remain, there will be wood to burn. The priority now was to escape and deal with it later.
While dodging Su Muqing's attacks, she used her sound techniques to order the release of poisonous smoke. Those below the sect leader were to remain in the sect and defend to the death, stalling Su Muqing and the others. Those above the sect leader, along with their natal蛊, were all to gather at the secret passage behind the mountain!
Su Muqing saw that Chu Ruoqiao was clearly on the defensive, and her eyes unconsciously glanced towards the bamboo houses where the Saintess lived. She immediately guessed her intention.
She intended to run? Not so easy!
Su Muqing first created obstacles, trapping Chu Ruoqiao in place. Then, she walked towards her step by step.
As she got closer, she erected wind blade walls on all sides, front and back. Those inside could not see outside, and those outside could not see inside.
Seeing Su Muqing enter alone to face the leader of the Thousand Poisons Sect, Xiaoyao Sanren and the others worried that she might not be a match and wanted to help. Tianji Old Man quickly stopped them and threw a large piece of wood at the wind blade wall. In the blink of an eye, the wood was cut into pieces.
Looking at this exaggerated scene, everyone couldn't help but swallow. How close... they almost got chopped into minced meat!
Su Muqing reached out and touched the wind blade wall, looking at Chu Ruoqiao with a smile. "Chu Ruoqiao, I just have a question to ask you. If you are willing to tell me the truth, I can consider letting you go!"
Seeing that Su Muqing's hand could pass through the wind wall, Chu Ruoqiao couldn't help but ponder inwardly. She retreated while asking, "What do you want to know?"
Before her hand could get close, there was a "rip, rip" sound from behind, and a coolness spread across her back. Knowing the outcome, Chu Ruoqiao silently withdrew her hand.
Noticing her subtle movement, Su Muqing did not expose her. She only felt a little regret that this person was too vigilant. Otherwise, her arm might have been gone just now.
Su Muqing asked casually, "In your past life, who killed Huo Qiyuan?"
"You...!" Chu Ruoqiao raised her head in shock and looked at Su Muqing. How did she know about her past life? Could she... also be a reborn person?
Seeing the shocked and varied expression on her face, Su Muqing gave her another strong dose of medicine! "Aren't you very curious how I know about past lives and rebirth? Aren't you wondering if I am truly the legitimate daughter of the Chu family, Chu Ruoxi? Aren't you wondering if you can unite the world and become the Queen of Myriad Phoenixes?"
"You... Who exactly are you? It's impossible... How can there be so many reborn people? It's impossible..." Chu Ruoqiao shook her head incredulously. The hair scattered in the air was cut off by the wind blade, but she didn't notice.
Seeing Chu Ruoqiao's somewhat crazed expression, like those drug addicts, Su Muqing asked her again. "I asked you first. In your past life, who killed Huo Qiyuan?"
Chu Ruoqiao stared at Su Muqing intently. "If I tell you, will you really let me go?"
Su Muqing nodded noncommittally. "Of course! I said I would consider it."
"I guess it was the current Emperor. The Huo family's power overshadowed the throne, and they held military authority. If they didn't die, the Emperor would not have a moment's peace!" Chu Ruoqiao said with a look of regret.
Seeing the sorrow on her face that didn't seem fake, it seemed that Huo Qiyuan's affair had nothing to do with the Thousand Poisons Sect? "Impossible! Emperor Ruiwen was supported by the Huo family to ascend the throne!"
Chu Ruoqiao looked at Su Muqing with disdain. It was truly the mindset of a commoner. "What if they supported him? Do you really expect the Emperor to be grateful to a prince of a different surname? Since ancient times, how could a monarch tolerate someone else sleeping beside him? Today, the Huo family can support King Rui, and tomorrow they can support King Ning, King Xian. In such a situation, how could the Emperor allow the Huo family to have a good end?"
"These are just your conjectures. Huo Qiyuan was poisoned on the battlefield. I want to know whose hands the Ice Xing Grass was in back then?" Actually, Su Muqing also felt she had a point. Regarding the Huo family's affairs, the Emperor and other branches of the Huo family were definitely involved.
"I don't know! If I knew who poisoned and killed Brother Qiyuan, I would personally cut that person into a thousand pieces! ... How do you know Huo Qiyuan?" Chu Ruoqiao realized something was wrong at this point! Thinking of the poison on Chi Yue Ji's body, she had a bold guess. Could it be...
Seeing that she genuinely seemed unaware, Su Muqing didn't ask further. She waved her hand and retracted the wind blade wall. By then, Lu Yuzhi and the others had emerged from the secret prison.
Lu Yuzhi walked over and said to Su Muqing, "There was a problem. Those people cannot be moved for the time being."
At this moment, Chu Ruoqiao, standing nearby, suddenly exclaimed, "Qiyuan Gege?"
Lu Yuzhi instinctively looked up. Although his appearance had changed considerably, Chu Ruoqiao recognized him at a glance.
She stumbled forward, wanting to grab Huo Qiyuan's sleeve. "Qiyuan Gege, I am Ruoqiao... the eldest daughter of the Chu family, do you, do you still remember me?"
Chu Ruoqiao looked at Huo Qiyuan with tears in her eyes. He had been the dream of her youth. Every time he returned victorious from a battle, she would wait all day on Qingyun Avenue in Shengjing, just to catch a glimpse of him!
Only three years had passed. Yet, Chu Ruoqiao could no longer remember when her dream had stopped being about the valiant young general and instead became dominated by the desire to rule the world.
Seeing the person walking towards him, Lu Yuzhi quickly dodged aside. "Miss Chu, I don't know what I did in the past to make you misunderstand. However, I still want to clarify. Huo Qiyuan never admired you, nor did he reject anyone for you!"
Su Muqing couldn't help but twitch her lips, looking at Lu Yuzhi's stubbornly straightforward demeanor. Big brother, you're being so hurtful! But why was she feeling inexplicably excited?
As expected, Chu Ruoqiao looked as if she had been greatly hit. She closed her eyes, covered her chest, and retreated while crying and laughing. "Hahahaha... it's all fake! It's all fake. Huo Qiyuan isn't dead at all! Mother, why did you harm me? Why did you ruin me?"
Because Su Muqing had heard their conversation, she understood what Chu Ruoqiao meant. In the end, she was just a pawn.
From Chu Ruoqiao's birth, it was a conspiracy. Later, she was swapped, and constantly instilled with the greed to become the ruler of the world, forcing her to learn a disfiguring poison technique and pushing her onto a sinister path of using people to cultivate beauty.
After she personally drove herself to a dead end, she was told that everything in this life had changed. She couldn't be a queen, her abandoned dream wasn't dead, and her lifelong beliefs were now crushed to pieces.
If she had known this would happen, even if she couldn't be the noble daughter of the Duke's mansion back then, but just an ordinary girl, she wouldn't have ended up like this!
Although it was her Saintess Mother who harmed her, Su Muqing understood one thing. Wrong is wrong. If it weren't for Chu Ruoqiao's greed, knowing that she had replaced someone else's life, yet still wanting to use sinister means to fight for what didn't belong to her, then the outcome today could be considered her own doing.
Especially thinking of those women and children in the secret prison, she was not worthy of sympathy, nor did she deserve forgiveness!
"Be careful!"
Just as Su Muqing was about to tie up Chu Ruoqiao, Lu Yuzhi scooped her up and quickly flashed to the side.
Su Muqing glimpsed Chu Ruoqiao throwing something towards them. She instinctively slapped it hard.
With a "bang," the thrown object was shattered into pieces. Chu Ruoqiao was also blown away by the internal force, crashing into a nearby rockery. Coincidentally, she rolled down the stone staircase leading to the secret prison!
At this moment, a white mist rose around them. 217 notified her in her mind that these mists were poisonous. Using virgin boy's urine or spiritual spring water to dampen a cloth and cover the mouth and nose could prevent the poisonous gas from entering the body.
What? Virgin boy's urine? Su Muqing shot Lu Yuzhi a sidelong glance with her eyes about to bulge... then vehemently berated herself. Of course, she would use spiritual spring water! This 217 was becoming more and more lewd!
(217 insisted that it was a normal reminder to the host for detoxification and flatly refused to take the blame!)
Su Muqing quietly fetched a large barrel of spiritual spring water for Lu Yuzhi. Then, she let out a gust of wind to disperse the poisonous gas. Tearing off a piece of cloth from her clothes, she dampened it and covered her mouth and nose. Saying that the smoke was poisonous, she turned to catch Chu Ruoqiao.
Lu Yuzhi followed her instructions, calling out to everyone to come over. He asked them to fetch water themselves and instructed Leng Ren and the others to search the entire Thousand Poisons Sect, especially the main building of the Saintess, telling them to apprehend everyone and await judgment.
Tianji Old Man, Gongsun Zan, and Le Xiong, after covering their mouths and noses, followed Lu Yuzhi down into the secret prison.
When Chu Ruoqiao realized something was amiss, she had sent people to prepare to move these cages. She hadn't expected these people to be prepared, so she naturally couldn't move them.
Looking at the tragic scenes before them, Tianji Old Man and the others were speechless. At this moment, whatever they said would be so pale and useless.
Many men, as if going mad, rushed in. Then, holding torches, they carefully examined each cage. Shortly after, they let out mournful cries.
"My child...!"
Hearing the tragic cries, Su Muqing turned to look at Tianji Old Man. It turned out that many surrounding villagers had their wives and children abducted. Reporting to the officials was useless, and after spending all their family fortune, they still couldn't find them. Feeling disheartened, they came to the No-Man's Land to seek refuge.
There were also those who originally lived in the No-Man's Land. Initially, the Thousand Poisons Sect captured people within the No-Man's Land. Later, various sects began to strengthen their defenses. Chu Ruoqiao also worried about the matter being exposed, so she forbade the sect members from capturing people within the area.
Lu Yuzhi then told her that these people were all clinging to their last breath. And now, the most serious problem was that their physiques had been completely altered by the drugs. They could not be exposed to sunlight; once exposed, they would be burned.
"Sister Cuiping, there's a pile of clothes over there. You and Senior Gongsun stay here and give them a preliminary examination. We will first control Chu Ruoqiao and her mother. This woman is very cunning! She has committed so many sins, we can't just let her run away!" After speaking, Su Muqing took out the Heavenly Silkworm Silk she had exchanged in the cultivation world and walked step by step towards the severely injured Chu Ruoqiao.
This was the only magic artifact that could be used without spiritual power. Its advantage was that it had to be undone by the person who tied it, and it was voice-activated! Anything bound by it could not be undone by flying to heaven or earth, cutting with a blade, or burning with fire!
Above the secret prison, Leng Ren and the others had led their men to search the entire Thousand Poisons Sect. Fortunately, barriers had been set up in advance to stop those who were preparing to send the Saintess away.
They arrived at the meeting hall of the Thousand Poisons Sect. This was also the only blue brick house in the Thousand Poisons Sect. On the main wall of the hall hung three portraits. Judging by their clothing and appearance, they should be the previous sect leaders.
Chu Ruoqiao and the Saintess were casually thrown aside. The sect leader of the Thousand Poisons Sect was tied up and kneeling in the hall. The rest of the disciples were controlled outside.
Su Muqing stood in the center of the hall. She looked at the plaque of the Thousand Poisons Sect hanging high behind the leader's chair. Without any warning, she struck it with a palm, and the plaque instantly shattered into pieces.
From today onwards, the Thousand Poisons Sect will cease to exist!