Chapter 30: The Person, I’m Taking Away – Are You Really…?

Released on February 26, 2026

Three living people had vanished, yet Rong Ye still had not arrived?

Gu Changhuai grumbled inwardly. Did Rong Ye know that Pei Tianyi was Lady Mengying’s son? Was this what they meant by “the one who tied the bell must untie it”?

He was somewhat at a loss as to what Rong Ye truly intended.

Xue Lao Er, standing before him, could hardly wait any longer. He reached out toward the figure in the crystal coffin.

“Hold on!” Lady Mengying suddenly shouted, forcing Xue Lao Er to stop. Even through his mask, Gu Changhuai could sense the man’s suppressed fury.

“Such parental love, such parental love,” Gu Changhuai said with feigned concern, patting Xue Lao Er’s shoulder to soothe him.

He then magnanimously addressed Lady Mengying. “Since the lady is reluctant to part, why not spend a bit more time with the Little Young Master? We’re not in any particular hurry.”

As he spoke, the hand hidden in his sleeve subtly formed a seal, sending a message to Jin Shuang in the dungeon.

Once chaos erupted in the dungeon, given Lady Mengying’s protective nature toward her child, she would surely halt the unsealing of Pei Tianyi for the time being.

Lady Mengying sighed wistfully. “I never imagined the Demon Realm would have someone as understanding as you.” She gently touched Pei Tianyi’s cheek affectionately. “It’s been so many years since I last saw Yi’er. He grew up without me by his side, but I hope my child can understand my hardships… Everything I’ve done as his mother has been for your sake.”

Her eyes reddened slightly, presenting the very picture of a doting mother. Reluctantly, she withdrew her hand and stood. “Go ahead and proceed.”

With Lady Mengying’s permission, Xue Lao Er eagerly summoned the Golden Bell. With a gentle shake driven by his power, an array emerged around Pei Tianyi in the crystal coffin. Countless chains hidden within his body surfaced on his form, flickering in and out of visibility, firmly locking down the origin of his demon vein from the inside.

As if in pain, Pei Tianyi’s brows furrowed tightly.

“Gu Sanbai.” Xue Lao Er called out, signaling Gu Changhuai to shatter the chains. “Draw your blade.” He had channeled all his demonic energy into driving the Golden Bell to force the seals to appear; the rest would have to be handled by Gu Changhuai.

Yet Gu Changhuai remained rooted in place, his voice calm and indifferent. “Wait.” He tilted his head slightly. “Listen, it sounds like something’s happening.”

Xue Lao Er: “?”

Before the words had fully settled.

In the next instant.

A violent explosion erupted from Zhuangzi Manor, as if something had been destroyed and blown apart. The sound came from the direction of the dungeon.

Lady Mengying’s expression darkened instantly. She struck out to interrupt Xue Lao Er, her long sleeve sweeping over the crystal coffin to seal it shut. In a cold voice, she called outward, “All of you, come in and guard the Little Young Master.”

Xue Lao Er emanated a chilling, oppressive aura and muttered a curse under his breath before rushing toward the source of the commotion in the dungeon. He might not be able to do anything to Lady Mengying, but surely he could vent his frustration on the troublemakers?

At the dungeon exit.

Jin Shuang and Kong Huai broke through the barrier with their swords, dragging a string of over a dozen unconscious Enforcement Hall disciples whom they could not rouse.

The barrier shattered, filling the air with dust and smoke.

Vines of roses and thorns climbed the walls, eaves, and pillars, springing to life in an instant. They surged from all directions toward the two men, relentless and inescapable, intent on strangling them on the spot.

Kong Huai swung his sword to fend off several encroaching vines, standing back-to-back with Jin Shuang in vigilant combat. After about a quarter of an hour of continuous struggle, the roses and thorns showed no sign of abating—in fact, they grew even more ferocious. The ground was already littered with severed remnants.

Kong Huai cracked under the pressure. “How is this thing endless? How do we get out?!”

Behind them lay the dozen or so Enforcement Hall disciples, still deep in slumber. If they kept this up, the vines would overwhelm and devour them all!

Compared to Kong Huai’s panic, Jin Shuang remained far more composed. “Hold on a little longer,” he said calmly. He had left markers along the way; the Immortal Venerable should arrive soon.

A cold laugh drifted through the air. The rose vines parted to form a path, and Lady Mengying’s figure emerged from within, her voice displeased. “I spared your lives out of kindness, yet you repay it by destroying my dungeon.”

Jin Shuang immediately turned wary toward Lady Mengying, tightening his grip on his sword. His gaze swept past her to Xue Lao Er and Gu Changhuai standing behind.

Gu Changhuai discreetly signaled him with a hand gesture, pointing out the way forward.

Jin Shuang’s eyes sharpened. He tossed his sword into the air, formed a seal, and thrust it toward an acupoint in the southwest direction. In that instant, a fierce wind arose, halting the advancing rose vines, which ceased their spread.

“Go!” He grabbed Kong Huai and urged his sword forward, slicing a path through the thorns. The two dashed along it.

“Kill them,” Lady Mengying commanded icily, flicking her sleeve. In the next moment, all the halted rose vines surged back to life, lashing toward them with even greater ferocity.

The onslaught was far more intense than before, shrinking Kong Huai’s pupils in terror as he chanted endlessly, “We’re done for, done for, done for…”

The vines coiled around Jin Shuang’s arm and Kong Huai’s calf, poised to constrict and kill. Gu Changhuai’s eyes narrowed beneath his mask.

Tch!

His slender, pale fingers twitched, instantly wrapping in silver light. Demonic, razor-sharp gauntlets gleamed coldly under the illumination.

Just as he prepared to act, a streak of cold light flashed from the horizon. A long sword cleaved through Zhuangzi Manor’s barrier, landing with unstoppable killing intent squarely in the empty space between the opposing sides.

Seeing that sword, Gu Changhuai silently withdrew Shattered Shadow and stood obediently still.

Rong Ye had arrived. The radish was saved.

He chose to continue idling.

Likewise, Jin Shuang relaxed upon recognizing the sword. Kong Huai, meanwhile, erupted in wild joy. “Immortal Lord! The Immortal Lord is here!”

The Qiankun Sword hummed, its sword intent exploding outward and whipping up sudden gusts.

An overwhelming pressure descended like a vast ocean, causing the rose vine leaves to tremble incessantly. They held for only a moment before shattering like brittle paper, fragmenting inch by inch.

Roses of various colors scattered under the sword intent, their petals drifting upward on the wind before fluttering down in a shower across the sky.

Lady Mengying could not withstand it and spat out a mouthful of blood, her face twisting in agony. She turned furiously to Gu Changhuai. “What are you standing there for? Go kill them!”

In response, Gu Changhuai merely smiled and spread his hands. “I’m in a good mood today and don’t feel like fighting.” His tone was light and leisurely. “Besides, we only came to assist the Demon Venerable on orders. We’re not truly under your command.”

Seeing the vicious glint in Xue Lao Er’s eyes and his restless posture, Gu Changhuai casually stepped on the hem of Xue Lao Er’s robe, his gaze drifting nonchalantly toward the distance.

Xue Lao Er glanced back: “…”

Xue Lao Er transmitted mentally, What are you doing?

Gu Changhuai replied crisply, Don’t go.

Xue Lao Er frowned. Why?*

“No overtime pay,” Gu Changhuai said. “And look at how she bosses me around—does she seem like the type to thank us? Handle our assigned duties, that’s all. This is an accident; it’s not our responsibility.”

Xue Lao Er hesitated. “But the Demon Venerable…”

Gu Changhuai clicked his tongue and deployed his ultimate weapon. “Are you really on my side or not?”

“…”

Fine.

Xue Lao Er stayed put as well.

Unable to command Gu Changhuai and Xue Lao Er, Lady Mengying summoned several maids instead. The maids shed their gentle demeanor, drawing whips from their waists and charging at Jin Shuang and the others.

At that moment, the Qiankun Sword released another wave of sword intent.

The abrupt expansion carried boundless killing intent and razor-sharp edge, its oppressive force blanketing the entire space in an instant. The maids were blasted aside by the sword wind.

Even Gu Changhuai staggered back a step, unable to fully endure it.

In the next instant, he looked up to see a tall, jade-like figure in profound azure robes descending from the horizon. With a wave, the figure recalled the Qiankun Sword and appeared before the Xinnan Immortal Sect disciples in the blink of an eye.

Rong Ye’s face was expressionless, his gaze indifferent as it swept over everyone present. A bone-chilling, aloof coldness emanated from him, like an ancient sword poised to shatter the heavens and extinguish the earth.

Feeling that gaze brush over him, Gu Changhuai shrank his presence as much as possible. He could not let Rong Ye discover his dual identity…

Fortunately, the gaze lingered on him for only a moment before moving away.

Rong Ye spoke, his voice deep and icy. “The person, I’m taking away.” His flat tone brooked no argument.

Even Lady Mengying dared not clash directly with Rong Ye.

Before he had even arrived, a single Qiankun Sword had left her utterly powerless… After a moment’s consideration, she suppressed her wariness and forced a smile. “Please, young ones, come to my manor as guests. Since Qing Lian Immortal Lord has arrived, feel free as you like.”

As long as Yi’er remained, what harm was there in some concessions?

The Enforcement Elder… Jin Shuang opened his mouth to demand the man, but Gu Changhuai frantically gestured for him to shut up. Jin Shuang looked puzzled: “?”

Why?

Hadn’t the Enforcement Elder been locked up by Lady Mengying too?

Gu Changhuai had no time to explain and could only gesture wildly.

What a joke—Pei Tianyi had been captured and imprisoned by his own mother; as his father, the Enforcement Elder would hardly be eager to leave. Besides, Lady Mengying might not release him anyway.

Though ignorant of the details, seeing Gu Changhuai’s frantic signaling from beneath his sleeve, Jin Shuang chose to hold his tongue. After a pause, he said lowly to Rong Ye, “Immortal Lord, all the Enforcement Hall disciples are accounted for.”

Rong Ye nodded.

With Lady Mengying no longer blocking the way, the path cleared unobstructed. Kong Huai and Jin Shuang dragged the row of Enforcement Hall disciples, bundled in thorns, toward the exit.

In the instant he turned, Rong Ye’s gaze paused briefly on Gu Changhuai’s mask. A flicker of spiritual light from his fingertip sent a strand of divine sense silently toward Gu Changhuai.

At once.

Gu Changhuai felt a shiver crawl over his skin. He glanced around involuntarily and rubbed his arms.

Strange—why did it feel like someone was watching him? The sensation was faint, elusive, yet clung like a shadow… indescribably subtle.

His first suspect was Rong Ye.

He eyed Rong Ye suspiciously but saw only the man’s back as he walked out with the disciples, hands clasped behind him.

Wait…

Gu Changhuai’s gaze sharpened on Rong Ye’s hand behind his back, where a small pouch dangled, swaying with each step. It was embroidered with the floral pattern of Ten Directions Garden.

Gu Changhuai’s expression turned odd beneath the mask.

…Wasn’t this the candy pouch he had given Meng Xian at the village entrance?

Had that hidden evil spirit…

been exorcised by Rong Ye?

As he pondered.

The Xinnan Immortal Sect group had fully departed the manor grounds.

Not long after, Shi Ying came rushing in panic-stricken. “Madam! This is bad!” Covered in wounds, he had clearly survived a brutal fight the previous night. Disheveled and ragged, he knelt before Lady Mengying and raged, “Last night, Qing Lian found my cave abode and took Meng Xian away while she was still absorbing evil energy!”