Song Yao did some quick calculations.
She had previously heard Chao An say that at least a hundred people had been captured, yet now so few remained.
She asked, “Were they all refined into puppets?”
The one-eyed evil cultivator nodded hesitantly. “Yes.”
After nodding, he stole a glance at Wen Tang above. “They—they were all refined by Daoist Wen.”
Song Yao said, “Well, at least there are still a few left.”
She waved her hand at a puppet. “Go release all those captured from Shao City.”
Having grasped the situation, the one-eyed evil cultivator was eager to curry favor with her. He rubbed his hands together and asked, “We've also captured quite a few others from outside who are just locked up doing nothing. Should we release them as well?”
“No, keep the others locked up for now.”
Right now, Nine Saints Hall had a bad reputation. If these people were released and started talking, it would only cause more trouble.
Furthermore, Ye Chongguang was likely still keeping an eye on this place, so it was best not to act rashly.
The one-eyed evil cultivator hastily agreed and turned to leave in a hurry to carry out her orders.
Song Yao suddenly spoke up again, “Wait.”
Stopping in his tracks, the one-eyed evil cultivator bowed to her obsequiously. “Does the Sect Master have any other instructions?”
Song Yao said, “Prepare more cells.”
The one-eyed evil cultivator asked, “Do you have more people to lock up?”
Song Yao replied, “Yes.”
Sensing an opportunity, the one-eyed evil cultivator asked, “Does your subordinate need to help capture them?”
Song Yao smiled and nodded. “Indeed, I do.”
He eagerly inquired, “Who are they? Where are they? Capturing people is my specialty.”
Song Yao turned and walked back to her high seat. Lazily propping up one leg, she tilted her chin. “Right here. Capture everyone in this room and lock them up.”
The smile froze on the one-eyed evil cultivator's face. “What?”
“I'm not quite at ease with you all being out and about.”
Song Yao patiently repeated, “Lock yourselves up.”
Below, the crowd of evil cultivators stared at her in utter disbelief.
In their own territory, she was actually demanding they lock themselves up?
Was this girl insane?
Their gazes turned venomous, practically drilling holes through her.
Yet she remained completely unbothered, leisurely swinging her leg as the golden bells jingled softly. “What is it? Is there a problem?”
Believing herself to be a benevolent ruler, she added with great generosity, “If there's a problem, feel free to raise it.”
An elder of Black Cloud Mountain standing in the front row finally reached his limit. Stepping forward, he said in a deep voice, “Sect Master, aren't you being a bit too overbearing? We have occupied Black Cloud Mountain for many years. The time we've spent here is probably longer than... than your age! Demanding we lock ourselves up with a single sentence is simply too much!”
The moment he spoke, a chorus of agreement erupted below. The crowd was furious, and the malevolent energy in the hall began to churn.
Song Yao let them clamor for a while before tilting her head back to look at Wen Tang. “They're disrespecting me.”
The evil cultivators' shouting came to an abrupt halt. “...”
Seriously?
Did this girl have any pride of her own?
Was tattling all she knew how to do?
Wen Tang raised her eyes slightly, her pitch-black pupils scanning the room as the dark red threads flickered faintly around her sleeves.
The elder's pupils shrank in terror, and his expression instantly did a complete turnaround. “W-wait. Perhaps what the Sect Master says makes sense. Everyone, please choose a cell and do as the Sect Master commands.”
“Indeed, indeed. If the Sect Master says so, there must be a good reason.”
“Hurry, go prepare some cells...”
The crowd of evil cultivators scrambled to leave, retreating like a receding tide.
Song Yao pinched the control doll, channeling her spiritual energy into it as she ordered the puppets, “Go keep watch. Make sure no one slips through the cracks.”
Outside, the puppets stiffly turned and departed, leaving only the two of them in the grand hall.
Song Yao let out a long sigh. “So this is what it feels like to be a Sect Master.”
In her past life, she had always worked alone, never having the opportunity to command others.
Yet in this life, she had somehow ended up as the boss of an evil cultivators' den.
Wen Tang looked down at her quietly and asked, “Do you like it?”
Song Yao nodded, then shook her head. “It's alright.”
It was novel and amusing, but that was about it.
Toying with the control doll, she asked after a moment, “Is there a way for you to cure the dark poison affecting the people down the mountain?”
Wen Tang fell silent for a moment before replying, “It would take a lot of time. It is inconvenient.”
She had to protect Song Yao.
Why should she waste so much time on the lives of strangers?
Especially when those strangers kept taking up Song Yao's attention.
It was already incredibly generous of her not to have killed them.
But Song Yao thought of something interesting. She sat up straight and pulled a Qi-Replenishing Pill from her spatial pouch. “This is a pill I refined earlier. It can already cure some of the most basic dark poison. If it's not too much trouble, could you teach me the method to cure it? I might be able to develop a pill specifically for neutralizing their dark poison.”
Such secret arts were usually the foundation of one's cultivation, so Song Yao didn't really expect Wen Tang to agree.
To her surprise, Wen Tang nodded gently without the slightest hesitation. “Alright.”
She didn't want Song Yao constantly running around for other people.
Nor did she want Song Yao to tire herself out for others.
But it was rare for Song Yao to ask for her help.
And it was rare that she could be of use to Song Yao.
Hearing this, Song Yao's eyes predictably curved into crescents. She reached out to pat Wen Tang's head, but her wrist was caught. Settling for the next best thing, she casually pinched Wen Tang's cheek instead. “Don't worry. Once I become the world's greatest pill cultivator, I definitely won't forget our Tangtang.”
Wen Tang: “...”
Her heart felt numb and ticklish, leaving her speechless. Bowing her head again, she whispered, “Liar.”
Back then, Song Yao had also said that once she became the world's greatest sword cultivator, she would never forget her.
Yet she had left without a word and died in the Earth Realm without a sound.
Liar.
She wouldn't believe a single word Song Yao said.
...
Dark poison was a secret art, entirely different from ordinary poison-making. It used the body as a medium.
Without direct contact, it was extremely difficult to find a cure.
Song Yao watched her absorb the dark poison from a puppet, but she still had no clue. After some thought, she suggested, “How about this? Try infecting me with the dark poison.”
Wen Tang's gaze darkened. “Have you lost your mind?”
Song Yao sat cross-legged, clearly prepared. She smiled at her and said, “How could I? Aren't you right beside me?”
Wen Tang remained motionless. “It is very dangerous. You could die.”
Song Yao blinked her misty eyes at her and asked, “Then would you let me die?”
Wen Tang choked on her words. “No.”
Song Yao said, “Then it's fine. Let's give it a try. I trust you.”
Wen Tang: “...”
Always like this.
Always putting herself in danger.
And forcing her to be the one to do it.
Wen Tang remained silent. Song Yao grabbed her hand and shook it. “Tangtang, Tangtang, Tangtang... Once we succeed, I'll take you to see the fireworks, alright?”
Unable to resist her, Wen Tang pulled her hand away with a tense face. “I understand. Don't move. Sit still.”
She didn't dare use too much force. Channeling only a wisp of eerie black energy in her palm, she gently let it seep into Song Yao's neck and enter her body.
At first, it felt like a tingling numbness, but a sharp, stabbing pain quickly followed.
Song Yao pursed her lips and grabbed Wen Tang's sleeve. “Wait, I regret it. Can you get it out?”
Wen Tang: “...”
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