Chapter 118: People Find a Way

The antidote to awaken Helian was in the hands of Jing Xiaoyun’s grandfather—a ruthless and cunning old devil. It was out of the question to persuade him to hand over the antidote. If he even suspected that Jing Xiaoyun was betraying him, or that two Dao cultivators were scheming against him here, Hong Jian and Lu Yanchang would surely meet a swift and grisly end.

This seemed an inescapable deadlock.

Fortunately, Helian’s life was not in immediate danger. Lu Yanchang began to waver and advised, “Xiaoyun, we should think this through carefully.”

Jing Xiaoyun, who had pinned all her hopes on Lu Yanchang, immediately changed her expression upon hearing this. She grabbed his collar angrily and snapped, “Think it through? How long does my father have left? Haven’t you heard how pitifully he’s crying out? I don’t care. You’ve been boasting all along about how clever you are. Come up with a plan quickly, or we’re done here—I’ll go and slaughter your Helian myself.”

“Hey, you little brat, can you be reasonable?” Lu Yanchang was deeply troubled. A few days ago, he had secretly rejoiced that although Jing Xiaoyun was a demonic cultivator, she was easy to coax and not easily provoked, making her a perfect ally against the people of Xianxia Cave. Who would have thought that karma would come so swiftly?

Jing Xiaoyun sneered coldly, “When you dragged me along to kill and plunder, you weren’t so reasonable, were you?” She was genuinely on the verge of turning against him.

Hong Jian, seeing the two quarrelling fiercely and realizing how tricky the situation was, quickly intervened, “Mistress, please don’t be angry. Your father’s situation can’t wait. It’s Lu brother’s oversight. Let’s come up with a plan right now.”

At these words, both fell silent.

Jing Xiaoyun shot Lu Yanchang a fierce glare. Though deeply aggrieved, Lu Yanchang, seeing the young lady had spoken, swallowed his pride, avoided her wrath, and fell silent behind Hong Jian.

“Mistress, there are so many experts guarding your grandfather’s place. With our cultivation levels, it’s basically a death sentence to confront them. A direct assault is impossible.”

“You’re not needed. I’ll just get Lu Yanchang to help. I’ve helped him before; now it’s his turn to repay me,” Jing Xiaoyun declared confidently.

Lu Yanchang felt sweat breaking out on his forehead. “Mistress, how exactly can I help? I’m a Dao cultivator at foundation establishment. You said once we get near the village, those flying insects and beasts will detect us immediately. It’s useless.”

Jing Xiaoyun snapped, “Stop making excuses. I’ve thought of a way. They don’t distinguish cultivation stages; they just sense your aura and get uncomfortable. I’ll have Xiao Hei stay on you. You only need to wear a bamboo hat to cover your face.”

At this point, with Jing Xiaoyun’s resolve unshakable, Lu Yanchang and Hong Jian had no choice but to concede.

“Fine, fine, I’m scared of you. Whatever you say,” Lu Yanchang sighed. If they could actually infiltrate the demonic cultivator village, he was willing to take the risk with Jing Xiaoyun.

Hong Jian added, “We can’t strike from both sides at once. Lu brother, if that doesn’t work, we can hold off on Helian. First, let’s help Mistress rescue him.”

With Lu Yanchang’s agreement, Jing Xiaoyun’s spirits soared. She patted her chest confidently, “Don’t worry, I won’t abandon you after this.”

Lu Yanchang and Hong Jian exchanged weary smiles. They both felt that continuing like this, Helian’s fate was grim. The elders of the Heavenly Demon Sect were no fools—they wouldn’t allow them to stir up trouble repeatedly.

Lu Yanchang said, “Mistress, you must have a plan, right? Either you lure away your father’s guards so I can rescue him, or I sneak in to cause a distraction while you seize the chance to reunite with your father. Either way, I don’t see much hope.”

Jing Xiaoyun scratched her head in frustration. What she said next almost brought Lu Yanchang to tears: “We’ll figure it out when the time comes. You’re supposed to be clever. I’ll listen to you.”

Will we even survive this? Lu Yanchang felt helpless, glancing at Hong Jian with a look full of impending separation.

Before he could say more, Jing Xiaoyun urged them to depart.

She summoned Xiao Hei, and the two stared silently for a moment, as if she were commanding the demonic insect with her spirit.

Then Xiao Hei flew up, circling Lu Yanchang twice as if searching for a place to hide. Lu Yanchang stared at the insect with wide eyes, increasingly alarmed as it flew closer to his nose. He worried, “Is it trying to crawl into my nostrils?”

Before he could cover his nose to protest, the insect suddenly darted away, circling him several times in increasingly wider loops before finally returning to Jing Xiaoyun’s hand.

This caught all three completely off guard, even Jing Xiaoyun was dumbfounded. She exclaimed to Lu Yanchang, much to his relief, “How is this possible? What did you do? Xiao Hei refuses to stay on you, that disgusting man.”

“No matter how hard I forced her, she wouldn’t listen. You’re really disappointing!” Jing Xiaoyun’s eyes welled with tears.

For the first time, Lu Yanchang felt proud to be disliked. He dared not show it openly, instead feigning regret: “I don’t know either. What now? Maybe you should try persuading her again?”

Jing Xiaoyun bit her lip in silence, pausing before trying to communicate with Xiao Hei once more.

Lu Yanchang watched nervously as the insect hesitated and then suddenly, to everyone’s shock, turned sharply and flew directly into Hong Jian’s sleeve.

Lu Yanchang’s face changed. He urged Jing Xiaoyun, “What’s going on? Call it back now.”

Jing Xiaoyun’s expression turned strange. She looked at Hong Jian and said, “Xiao Hei says she can go with you to rescue them.”

Lu Yanchang immediately darkened. “No way. Miss Fang only has foundation establishment cultivation and no technique to protect herself. Either I go or no one goes. Bring that insect back!”

He knew he couldn’t beat Jing Xiaoyun, but if Hong Jian went on such a dangerous mission, he might as well lose his temper now.

Jing Xiaoyun was momentarily stunned by his shouting. She looked sad but pitifully locked eyes with Hong Jian and said to Lu Yanchang, “I want you to go, too, but Xiao Hei doesn’t recognize you. Even with the deep bond between me and Xiao Hei, she won’t get close to you. The birds and beasts my grandfather raised won’t let you enter the village either.”

How could this be? Lu Yanchang wanted to find and crush that picky, filthy insect.

It was too late to regret crossing Jing Xiaoyun now. The real issue was how to dissuade her from forcing Miss Fang to take such a risk. Besides, what could Fang really do if she went?

Hong Jian wasn’t too worried; she was even curious and sent out her divine sense to feel the insect. The little creature obediently nestled in her sleeve, unmoving.

Gently tapping its shell with her finger, Hong Jian then cast the “Great Calamity Scripture.” The insect’s awareness was vague, like a rolling mass of dark clouds in an endless sky. Her divine energy swirled through the clouds and suddenly received a strong message: “No matter what, I must go save them.”

Hong Jian and Jing Xiaoyun were stunned simultaneously. Jing Xiaoyun exclaimed, “You can actually learn my thoughts through Xiao Hei?”

Hong Jian nodded but didn’t explain to Jing Xiaoyun. Instead, she pondered how to use this to save the captives. Jing Xiaoyun’s expression brightened, “Great! Finally, you’re somewhat useful.”

Hong Jian was somewhat speechless. This alone was far from enough. She had to devise a plan to not only rescue Helian but also secure the antidote.

They couldn’t simply seize it; stealing posed difficulties too. Deception was the only option. And to deceive, she needed a status accepted by the Heavenly Demon Sect’s people.

This was nearly impossible, but...

Hong Jian’s heart stirred. She asked Jing Xiaoyun, “Mistress, I recall you said your grandfather kept those Dao cultivators alive for a reason when he captured them.”

Jing Xiaoyun didn’t understand why she suddenly asked but answered, “Yes, didn’t I tell you? A while ago, our sect leader’s soul left his body, and his spirit appeared. Everything was under his orders.”

Hong Jian pressed further, “What did he say then? Did he mention what to do with the captives? I remember you said someone would come to take over the prisoners later.”

Sure enough, Jing Xiaoyun said, “The sect leader said the prison break at the demon’s forge was to rescue all inmates, especially Dao cultivators. Not a single one must be killed; keep them alive. Later, his true disciple will come to deal with them.”

“Did he say the disciple’s name, gender, appearance, or arrival time? How could your grandfather believe it?” Hong Jian fired a series of questions, all critical to whether her plan was feasible.

Jing Xiaoyun shook her head blankly. “Grandfather was very puzzled. He asked the sect leader how the disciple could come through the ‘Sky Curtain’ barrier. He asked questions like yours, but the sect leader just smiled and said to follow orders. When the time is right, we’ll know.”

Hong Jian sighed with relief. The Heavenly Demon Sect’s leader loved to play mysterious—it was heaven’s assistance.

Lu Yanchang had already realized this and immediately objected, “No way. You’re a Dao cultivator and a woman. They’d never believe you. It’s ridiculous.”

But Hong Jian said, “How will you know unless you try? Besides, do you have any other way to make your grandfather hand over the antidote and rescue Helian intact?”

Hong Jian knew this plan was risky, but if it succeeded, it would yield the best outcome. So she proposed conditions to Jing Xiaoyun.

“Mistress, if I only ask your grandfather for your father and Helian, he’ll surely be suspicious. We’d have to demand all the prisoners. If things go wrong, you and your father will have to flee anyway; having more allies is better. I promise, if this plan works, those Dao cultivators won’t turn against your grandfather’s people voluntarily. Anyone imprisoned unfairly for decades will fight tooth and nail against their captors once freed.”