The High Priest smiled obsequiously, flicking a bright night-blooming pearl from his robes. "This pearl has the effect of refreshing the mind, it should be of help to you."
Upon seeing the pearl, the man's eyes lit up. A broad smile spread across his face as he readily accepted it. "I've been feeling quite groggy lately, this night-blooming pearl is exactly what I need."
Seeing that he had accepted, the High Priest offered a fawning smile and eagerly pressed on, "Then I'll trouble you to put in a good word for me with the young master. It would be even better if you could give me some more elixirs."
The man chuckled and casually produced a small bottle of elixirs, handing it over. "I knew you'd need this, so I got it from the young master in advance. With these, you can be as happy as a deity, even with a lover in each arm."
The High Priest's eyes gleamed. He rubbed his hands together with extreme lewdness. "Then I thank the young master in advance. As long as you have any commands, I will do my utmost to serve you!"
"Your actions are a bit too ostentatious."
The man couldn't resist adding a reminder, "Handle all the troublesome matters discreetly. Don't drag the young master into any of this. If you anger him, you know the consequences."
The High Priest dismissed his concern with a wave. "You and the young master can rest assured about this. While my actions may be bold, I have my limits and will never bring trouble to the young master. Those villagers are unworldly; a little scare is all it takes for them to believe anything."
Seeing the High Priest's earnest demeanor, the man finally withdrew his gaze and nodded slightly. "If that is the case, I shall take my leave. I will send someone to retrieve what the young master requires in three days."
The High Priest hurried to catch up, eagerly offering, "Allow me to escort you!"
Only after the two had walked away did Si Jianye speak, "There are others behind them."
Feng Ninghe narrowed her eyes, her gaze fixed on the direction the two had gone.
For some reason, she found the man who was dealing with the High Priest to be remarkably familiar.
She was certain she had seen him before.
But where?
After a moment, she withdrew her gaze. "Someone will come to collect souls in three days. If we wait here, we might be able to catch them red-handed and uncover the mastermind."
Si Jianye nodded gently, his deep eyes illuminated by the candlelight. The alluring red mole at the corner of his eye seemed capable of captivating the soul.
Feng Ninghe's gaze lingered on Si Jianye for a moment before she softly said, "The High Priest hasn't laid hands on those innocent girls yet. If we search around, perhaps we can still save them."
After seeing the man off, the High Priest eagerly strode back into the house.
He licked his lips greedily, rubbed his hands together in excitement, and strode forward with large steps.
Soon, he arrived at a chamber decorated festively.
"High Priest."
The maidens guarding the entrance bowed respectfully.
Their conversation with Xiao Zhao had not lasted long.
After obtaining the answers she desired from them, Xiao Zhao returned to her room to await the High Priest's arrival.
The High Priest paid no mind to the maidens before him, his gaze sweeping over them as he strode into the room.
Xiao Zhao sat quietly on the spacious bed.
Beneath the veil, her eyes darted around in their sockets, contemplating how to punish the High Priest.
"Has the beauty been waiting long?"
The High Priest rubbed his hands together with excitement, impatiently lifting the veil. His face, full of flesh, trembled with anticipation.
In the candlelight, the face before him was as lewd as could be.
His shifty, rat-like appearance was utterly disgusting.
Xiao Zhao forced down her nausea and frowned, giving the High Priest a displeased glance. "High Priest, what's the rush? The night is long, and we'll have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other well."
The High Priest, who had committed so many wicked deeds, how could she not torment him properly?
Hearing this, the smile on the High Priest's face brightened even further. "You little thing are truly lovable. Tonight, I will cherish you dearly and make you the happiest bride."
The High Priest eagerly reached out, but the moment his hand touched Xiao Zhao, it was firmly held.
"Oh, you little lass have quite some strength." The High Priest, unaware of the deception, found it amusing and his smile widened.
The next moment, the smile on the High Priest's face froze, and he let out a pained cry, "Ah! My hand! It hurts!"
*Crack—*
A crisp sound echoed through the air.
It was the sound of bone being broken.
The High Priest's hand had been broken with a single, forceful twist!
The usually composed High Priest had never witnessed such a scene!
This seemingly delicate young girl was so vicious when she acted!
A smile curved Xiao Zhao's lips. "The night is long; one must savor it slowly."
The High Priest felt a surge of fear and quickly retreated a few steps, his eyes filled with terror. "Who are you?"
Xiao Zhao, with her beautiful face and fair skin, wore a smile that appeared exceptionally eerie.
She stepped towards the High Priest, her delicate features instantly transforming into those of a ferocious beast. Her petite form suddenly filled half the room!
The candlelight glinted off the scales on Xiao Zhao's body.
The High Priest was stunned into silence, so terrified that he trembled uncontrollably. "My... my beauty! Where is my beauty!"
The High Priest was a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, which was why he had been able to act so recklessly.
In Xiao Zhao's eyes, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator was not worth her attention.
*Roar!*
Xiao Zhao let out a roar.
The roar of an ancient Qilin was enough to shake heaven and earth, causing the entire room to tremble violently.
The High Priest wanted to flee, to resist, but under the absolute pressure of power, he was utterly defenseless.
"Help! Someone, help me!"
The High Priest collapsed heavily onto the ground, begging for mercy.
He mustered all his strength and desperately lunged towards the door.
Just as his hand was about to push open the door, his body was firmly pinned down by Xiao Zhao's claw.
Xiao Zhao's massive form was majestic, her sapphire eyes filled with authority.
She looked down from above. "High Priest, did the women chosen as brides also beg for mercy like this? Did you ever imagine this day would come for you?"
The High Priest's knees buckled, and he immediately knelt down, begging relentlessly, "Great hero, I was wrong! Please spare me! From now on, I will turn over a new leaf and never do anything harmful again!"
Xiao Zhao seemed not to hear the High Priest's words and extended her claw towards him.
The massive claw descended like a dark cloud. The High Priest's eyes rolled back in terror, and he nearly fainted...
The ancient Qilin's enormous body was far beyond comparison to humans.
Its deafening roar was enough to make anyone urinate in fear, even if Xiao Zhao merely stood there.