You Ruhua, inside the wooden hut, was startled. She looked weary. "Is there a mistake? Who could break in from the outside? Just that Ten Thousand Smoke Enchanting Array out there is enough to keep anyone from entering..."

"Yes, yes, we find it strange too, but a fight has already started. Some Elders say that this outsider actually knows our clan's Heavenly Poison Scripture! The outer defenses simply can't stop him..."

"How could an outsider know our clan's Heavenly Poison Scripture..." You Ruhua had barely finished speaking when she suddenly froze. Then, her face lit up with excitement. "Brother Mu!"

With that, she rushed out. However, as soon as she dashed outside the wooden hut, an invisible wall seemed to rebound her back inside.

"Sister Biyou, you're still under house arrest, aren't you?" The little girl helped You Ruhua up. "Honestly, that's just like you! How could you confront Elder Qian Ye like that?"

You Ruhua snorted coldly. After traveling the outside world for several years, she had returned to the clan to investigate. She discovered that the plague in Shu City and the severe poison afflicting the Elder of the Qingcheng Sect shared the same origin. Furthermore, it bore a slight resemblance to the Poison Technique used by her clan's Elder Qian Ye, which made her suspicious.

But she hadn't expected Elder Qian Ye to make the first move, accusing her of dishonoring the Wa Clan's Holy Blood while she was away and thereby violating clan rules. She had been under house arrest for over half a year already, enduring all sorts of grievances.

Thinking of this, You Ruhua's yearning swelled like seeds sprouting after rain... Brother Mu has come...

She didn't know how much time had passed. "Little one, go outside and check on that outsider for your sister," You Ruhua said, pursing her lips.

"Okay!"

Time passed, moment by moment.

"Sister Biyou, that outsider is so fierce! He's already broken through our Wa Clan's twelve Deceiving Holy Formations! Many Disciples were defeated by him in a single move!"

"Sister Biyou, he defeated all eight Great Elders!"

"Sister Biyou, that outsider said he knows you and wants to take you away!"

"Sister Biyou, Elder Qian Ye has made his move! The Clan Leader said the outsider must enter our Wa Clan's forbidden ground, the Nightmare Snake Qilin Cave, and retrieve the Candle Sky Fruit before anything else can be discussed."

Listening to the little one's reports, You Ruhua's heart clenched. The Nightmare Snake Qilin Cave was a perilous place within the Holy Land; even the Clan Leader dared not enter rashly. It was where the Wa Clan had, since ancient times, suppressed a Fierce Beast—the Nightmare Snake Qilin Beast, an Ancient Ferocious Beast.

The Candle Sky Fruit was indeed the sacred fruit of the Wa Clan. Unfortunately, it was hoarded by that Fierce Beast, and each year a great price had to be paid to obtain just one or two. If he goes there... forget about getting the fruit, he might not even come back alive.

「The next day.」

The little one burst in, yelling excitedly, "Sister Biyou, that outsider is amazing! He retrieved the Candle Sky Fruit... and even killed the Nightmare Snake Qilin Beast! The whole clan is shocked!"

"Then, how is he?" You Ruhua sprang to her feet.

"He's covered in blood and badly injured, but he's truly amazing..." The little one exclaimed, her words tumbling out as she gesticulated wildly.

You Ruhua's heart gave a slight twinge. She didn't know what Wang Mu was enduring at this moment, but it definitely involved an extremely perilous battle... Only...

「——」

...

In the void, the woman watched expressionlessly. On the screen, Wang Mu overcame wave after wave of powerful enemies, ventured deep into the Nightmare Snake Qilin Cave, and battled the Ancient Ferocious Beast to the death.

The process was so dangerous that it had almost reached the point of mutual annihilation. Her expression was complex. Back then, she had only known he must be facing innumerable dangers... She hadn't known it would be to this extent... He had nearly lost his life.

Especially when she saw Wang Mu clamber onto the Nightmare Snake Qilin Beast—both he and the beast devoid of strength. He resorted to using his teeth as weapons, tearing at the beast's neck like a wild animal, even as its claws inflicted countless wounds upon him...

And in his eyes, as if looking through the screen, she saw herself reflected—a graceful, lingering figure.

Even at a time like this, he was so infatuated and determined... The woman pursed her lips, her eyelids trembling slightly. I really don't know if he was faking it, or if it was genuine...

She continued to watch. After Wang Mu returned to the clan, Elder Qian Ye pressured the Wa Clan Chief to send him to the Wa Clan Sacred Mountain to retrieve the Blood Lotus Seed.

That Holy Mountain was perpetually shrouded in dense clouds and crackling with thunder; it was truly a place of certain death. It was the traditional proving ground for selecting the Wa Clan's leader. Only by obtaining the Thunder Fire Lotus Seed could one become the Wa Clan Chief.

Later, because the difficulty was too great and the casualties too severe, this trial was abolished. This was blatant bullying. Given Wang Mu's physical condition at the time, going in there likely meant he wouldn't come back.

The woman, watching this unfold on the screen, clenched her teeth. Why didn't I try to break out sooner back then? He was already in such a state...

She suddenly felt a pang of dissatisfaction with her past self.

Meanwhile, the You Ruhua on the screen was still unaware. She would only learn what happened next from the little one's reports.

"Sister Biyou, the Clan Leader made him go to the Holy Mountain to retrieve the Blood Lotus Seed! We all followed to watch... He... he..."

The little one rushed to the door, panting heavily.

"How could they do this?!" You Ruhua's eyes blazed. "Then how is he..."

"He... he..." The little one was too out of breath to continue. "He..." She pointed behind her.

"Miss You, I've come for you."

Behind the little one, Wang Mu crawled forward, covered in blood.

Behind him, a dense crowd of Wa Clan members had gathered, yet not one dared to move. The Clan Leader, in particular, seemed to have a sudden realization... Everyone just watched in silence.

You Ruhua screamed and rushed out. The light barrier at the doorway shattered under her desperate force, though not before inflicting many wounds on her body.

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