Chapter 58

“What are you people!?” These men reacted quickly and were just about to shout at the top of their lungs.

In the next instant, they saw Ruan Xuezong’s movements turn ghostly and elusive, drifting through the air like drifting clouds. He instantly wove through the dense crowd and precisely struck their mute acupoints without error.

Everything happened in the span of a few finger snaps. The players, who had never witnessed such a feat before, were stunned speechless, as was everyone else.

Those men widened their eyes in terror, flailing in panic as they tried to cry out, only to discover that not a single sound emerged from their throats.

They had already been dosed with Soft Tendon Powder, rendering their martial arts useless. Now, with their mute acupoints sealed as well, it took no more than two seconds for them to become utterly helpless mutes, completely at the mercy of others and unable to call for help.

As Ruan Xuezong raised his palm, he issued a cold threat. “I won’t kill you—as long as you tell me where the people kidnapped from Jiangnan City are being held.”

These men roamed freely on the first level of the Underground Palace, clad in fine silks and satins, surrounded by jade platters of delicacies and luxurious couches. Ruan Xuezong had already guessed that, no matter how unwilling they might have been when first abducted, they had eventually bent to the circumstances and colluded with the Demonic Sects.

Ruan Xuezong’s acupoint technique, combined with the murderous aura radiating from him, filled their faces with fear. Cold sweat beaded on their foreheads as they nodded frantically one after another.

But at that moment, Ruan Xuezong noticed a man in a pink robe winking at him furiously. Sensing the fellow had something to say—and likely an opportunist—Ruan Xuezong released his mute acupoint.

The man in the pink robe spoke up. “I know! I can lead you there to save them, young hero. This Underground Palace is incredibly complex, riddled with traps everywhere. I can guide you around them all and guarantee your safety.”

He thumped his chest in assurance while heaping on the flattery. “You have no idea how thrilled I was when I saw you descend from the heavens like that, young hero… That witch has kept me locked in this godforsaken hole for two whole years. She’s tormented me endlessly. Whenever her mood soured, she’d lash me with her whip, leaving me bedridden for days on end. I’ve had enough of this hell! I’ve been praying for someone to drag me out of it. And now, you’ve finally come!”

The players took pity on his wretched state and softened their tones. “Then lead the way and help us save them. Once the captives are free, we’ll get you out too.”

By this point in events, the players had pieced it together: this key plotline was all about rescuing the Jiangnan City captives—and incidentally, liberating the people of the Underground Palace.

The man in the pink robe painted himself in the most pitiful light imaginable.

Yet just then, Ruan Xuezong noticed a youth in the crowd winking at him madly too, his expressions shifting through a kaleidoscope of frantic signals.

Ruan Xuezong could tell this one had words to say as well, so he released his acupoint.

The moment his mute point was freed, the youth let out a sigh of relief. He shot a furious glare at the man in the pink robe.

Then, turning to Ruan Xuezong, he said, “Young hero, whatever you do, don’t believe a word that snake says! He’s the Demonic Cult witch’s favorite consort—the most sycophantic of the lot. He’s utterly devoted to her, head over heels in love! You can’t trust anything he says. If you follow him, he’ll lead you straight into a trap room and get you shredded by the mechanisms!”

“Favorite consort!?” The players were thunderstruck, their faces twisting in the wide-eyed shock of the utterly naive. When they heard the bit about being led to a shredder room, chills ran down their spines. They instinctively backed away from the man in the pink robe, eyeing him warily.

The youth’s face darkened. “That’s right. This Underground Palace has one empress and four consorts, with the rest as nobles. The Demonic Cult witch rules here with an iron fist, calling herself the queen. Any other man either submits to her—or dies.”

The players: “???”

Was the Underground Palace plotline this wild?

“You accuse me with such righteous indignation,” the man in the pink robe sneered, unfazed even after having his true colors exposed before everyone. He let out a few cold chuckles before firing back with sarcasm. “I advise you young heroes not to buy his nonsense either. You see him all fired up and think he’s some upstanding fellow? Sure, I grovel before that witch—but that’s because I know a dog’s life is better than none. But him? He’s the real scumbag with a rotten character. He’s a disgraced disciple of the Huashan Sect, expelled for stealing and secretly learning their supreme treasure. The witch took a liking to him and sheltered him. Neither of them is any good, I tell you. I’m one of the four consorts—but so is he. He’s spent plenty of time fighting me for her favors. You can’t trust his words either!”

“If you believe him, he’ll probably lead you to the frigid pool and drown you all.”

“Fighting for favors!?” The players’ expressions shattered completely, their necks creaking like rusty hinges as they whipped their heads toward the youth.

The youth looked distinctly uncomfortable.

“That’s right,” the man in the pink robe went on with a disdainful arch of his brow. “Just a few days ago, some new captives arrived in the Underground Palace. He spotted one who was easy on the eyes and, terrified of a rival to his position, poisoned the poor guy.”

From there, it devolved into total infighting.

The others began winking frantically too, eager to jump into the fray. Once Ruan Xuezong released their mute acupoints, they offered no useful information at all. Instead, they devolved into a raucous clamor like the bustling docks of Jiangnan City, turning the scene into utter chaos.

The players promptly broke out the melon seeds and started munching away, while one player acting as cameraman faithfully recorded the spectacle.

Ruan Xuezong frowned. He had no patience for their babble and found their noise grating, so with another dazzling flurry of finger strikes, he sealed all their mute acupoints again.

These beautiful yet venomous-tongued pretty boys—he realized not a single one could be trusted.

Yet the Underground Palace was vast, and he needed a guide.

Fortunately, he had met Shen Jiangling earlier. One name immediately sprang to mind. “Where’s Qin Xiang?”

Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh. Everyone instinctively glanced in one direction. The man there looked momentarily stunned before forcing himself to regain his composure.

Ruan Xuezong swiftly released his acupoints and sized him up. “You’re Qin Xiang. Good—you’re still alive. I’m a friend of Hero Shen’s. Since you helped him escape, I’ll get you out of here too.”

Martial experts all had keen eyes like hawks. Ruan Xuezong spotted the raw, flayed flesh beneath Qin Xiang’s clothes and handed over a bottle of golden wound medicine. “Apply this first. Then lead me to the captives—lives are at stake. I need to know where the hundred or so people who vanished from Jiangnan City are being held, and what’s become of them.”

“Thank you for the medicine, young hero.” Qin Xiang pulled open the collar of his robe and sprinkled some onto his wounds. As he did, he answered, “There are men and women among them. Some were killed outright, a few submitted, but most are locked in the basement. This is Demonic Sects territory. The witch drags people off for refining into drugs, feeding to snakes, or just tormenting for fun.”

“During the time you’ve been imprisoned here, aside from the Demonic Cult witch, have you seen any other Demonic Sect members?”

Qin Xiang paused, thinking back, before replying, “Yes. I saw a white-haired man of high status once. The witch called him ‘righteous father’ with great reverence, utterly deferential in his presence and not daring to act out. He doesn’t come often—last time was five or six days ago, and then he left.”

Five or six days ago—that lined up perfectly with the theft of the Cowhide Map.

Ruan Xuezong had it all figured out now. After Huo Chonglou obtained the Sheepskin Paper copy, he had likely headed to the Western Regions, leaving Tao Caiyan alone to guard the Underground Palace.

Next came the rescue. Sure enough, Qin Xiang hadn’t been in the Underground Palace long but had a solid grasp on the layout of its many chambers. He led Ruan Xuezong and the players past countless traps and hidden weapons without alerting a single Demonic Sect assassin.

At last, they descended a flight of stairs and reached the basement, where Ruan Xuezong saw the prisoners: four of Clearwater Pavilion’s top courtesans, innocent civilians, and numerous martial heroes from Jiangnan City who had come to catch the thief only to be caught themselves—all the recent missing persons.

The moment the two groups locked eyes, the captives realized rescuers had arrived. Excitement lit their faces.

“Someone’s here to save us!” Some couldn’t hold back and shouted aloud.

That cry alerted the Demonic Sect. Ruan Xuezong heard footsteps approaching from above and warned the players, “Enemies are heading this way!”

The players nodded and swiftly formed up with practiced discipline.

They split into two teams: one to free the hostages and escort them to safety, the other to take positions and meet the Demonic Sect assassins head-on.

Just as expected, less than a minute later, countless Demonic Sect assassins armed with blades poured in from all directions. Black cloths masked their faces, and they radiated killing intent. In the past, a single swing of their blades would send players back to their respawn points.

But things were different today. The players had mostly reached level 30, with the highest at level 40. In this Underground Palace battlefield, the fight was evenly matched, with blows traded blow for blow.

Moreover, these were just Demonic Sect minions—no BOSS-level figures in sight. Ruan Xuezong fought with even greater ease. His lightness skill carried him soaring like the wind as countless palm shadows materialized in the air. He dove from above like a predator entering no-man’s-land, sending a swarm of minions crashing to the ground, vomiting blood.

In a mere handful of breaths, the tide had turned.

Seeing the Demonic Sect rabble battered and bleeding, the players spat triumphant cries. “Charge!” They surged forward, shielding the hostages as they broke out.

The thunderous momentum alerted Tao Caiyan in her bedchamber. “What’s going on!?”

Linghu Xiao perked up at the sound, overjoyed. “It has to be Zongzong and the others here to save me!” His securely bound body writhed desperately.

He had known it—as the player kidnapped in the storyline, he played a crucial role. The developers wouldn’t let Ruan Xuezong abandon him!

Tao Caiyan paled in shock. “Impossible! How did Ruan Xuezong find this place?”

The Underground Palace was her impregnable fortress, the Demonic Sects’ most secret lair. How had Ruan Xuezong learned of it? Did he have some divine sight? Or was he truly her fated nemesis!?

Tao Caiyan couldn’t make sense of it. Shock, confusion, rage, fear—all roiled in her chest until they fused into sheer panic. Her heart pounded wildly, her first instinct to flee.

But it was too late.

A deafening boom rocked the chamber as her bedchamber doors were blasted apart. Amid the billowing smoke and dust, Ruan Xuezong strode in dressed all in white, his face chilled to the bone.

Old acquaintances meeting again—eyes burned with mutual enmity.

Ruan Xuezong showed no surprise at the sight of Tao Caiyan. In a low voice, he said, “So it really is you.”

“That’s right. And what now?” Tao Caiyan feigned composure, but with Ruan Xuezong truly before her, even her wildest hopes crumbled to dust.

“Obviously, I kill you.” Ruan Xuezong’s tone was ice.

Ruan Xuezong noticed a detail then: a tall, silent man stood beside Tao Caiyan. Motionless as a statue worn smooth of edges and devoid of thought, he stirred to life the instant Ruan Xuezong spoke of killing her. Without a word, he positioned himself in front of her.

A rasping voice emerged from his throat. “Run—now!”

Tao Caiyan hesitated for a beat, then bolted. This was her domain; she knew all the quickest escape routes.

Gazing coldly at the man, Ruan Xuezong said, “You’re sure you want to shield her? You’re no match for me. How many seconds can you buy her?” He had already guessed—this must be the infamous Flower Plucking Thief who kidnapped Miss Qian and hunted Shen Jiangling. In truth, just another of Tao Caiyan’s executioners.

“I am her empress…” With that, the man planted himself before Ruan Xuezong. Silent as stone, puppet-like, his eyes held no spark of life.

“Heh. Her empress. I just heard from the others that she has one empress, four consorts, and countless nobles. Some empress you are—pretty cheap.” Ruan Xuezong mocked coldly, then unleashed a ferocious palm strike. “Don’t think your devotion moves me. I don’t care if you’re a Demonic Sect puppet. You deserve death too. You aid and abet her, murdering ten innocent girls just to cover her tracks whenever she takes a fancy to a man.”

The man took the palm head-on. His body shuddered as blood sprayed from his mouth, yet he did not fall.

Ruan Xuezong struck again with another palm.

The man’s chest was pierced through by the force, but still he stood firm.

Third palm, fourth… At last, he collapsed. Ruan Xuezong’s face showed little surprise. He knew that everyone in this world had something they’d stake their lives to protect—even for the Demonic Sects.

Hearing the man’s thud as he hit the ground, Tao Caiyan glanced back. Her pupils contracted. “Chen Lu!!”

In broken gasps, the man said, “I’m no Demonic Sect puppet… She’s a pitiful girl. Abandoned by her family from childhood, granted a secret manual, she trained night and day to prove her worth… The flaw in this Yin Cold Technique is that it makes her crave the warmth of men’s bodies. She’s evil, no good woman—but trapped her whole life…”

Who this “she” was, only the man and Ruan Xuezong knew.

The man’s chest had caved in, all signs of life gone. Yet as he spoke of her, a faint glimmer sparked in his vacant eyes. That spark told Ruan Xuezong the man was no mere walking corpse.

He had given his all willingly, fulfilling his mission to buy Tao Caiyan a little time. Sometimes, that was how it went—even a second clawed from an unrivaled expert could mean a threadbare chance at survival.

Then silence. Blood pooled across the floor.

In the man’s mind, his girl should have fled far by now. But reality betrayed him. The ruthless, wicked Demonic Cult witch suddenly returned.

Perhaps not even she knew why. Her beautiful eyes still burned with hatred for Ruan Xuezong as she said, “Ruan Xuezong, you’ve ruined my free sanctuary of an Underground Palace. I’d kill you if I could—but I can’t beat you…”

Yet her expression was dazed. She had killed plenty in her life. Now she knelt, hands pressing his chest, trembling faintly. From the chill of his skin and the blood coating her palms, everyone knew it was hopeless.

“He’s really dead? How stupid of me. I’d already reached the trap room—why did I come back? Just because you were my first man? Even you think I’m a bad woman.”

No grief touched her face—only bewilderment. Then she laughed. A great, howling laugh.

Ruan Xuezong’s palm lashed out. She didn’t dodge. It struck her chest dead center, draining the color from her face in an instant. Her body convulsed, vision blacking out as blood spewed from her mouth. Still, her laughter rang on.

Ruan Xuezong had poured his full power into that strike.

Death loomed inescapably now. In her final moments, Tao Caiyan dragged her half-limp body upright—not to attack Ruan Xuezong, but to crawl slowly through the blood toward Chen Lu. With her last ounce of strength, she curled into his embrace, lifting his rigid, cold arm to wrap around her.

“If I die… I want it in a man’s warmth…” Her mouth opened, voice faint, drowned by another gush of blood. “You’re so warm…” Her eyes drifted shut, breath stilled forever.

She was gone.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Ruan Xuezong thought he saw it: as Tao Caiyan breathed her last, Chen Lu’s arm seemed to twitch with faint awareness, drawing his girl into a tight hold.

Deep in the Underground Palace, the two corpses lay entwined at the end.