Chapter 85: Unusual Circumstances Always Harbor Deeper Schemes

Liu Half-Immortal and his companions discovered the Soul Capturing Array at the mountaintop, and everyone sighed in disbelief—how detestable it was to practice such venomous sorcery even in modern times. This Soul Capturing Array required nine human lives; in contemporary formations, such things were rare, and whatever was inside that jar certainly was not from the righteous path.

Qin Xiaomo recalled why, earlier, they had said it was impossible to trace even a shred of these women’s souls. The spirits of the nine missing girls were all trapped within jade pendants. She remembered her senior brother mentioning that when the seven women initially went missing, their bodies were found because a villager had picked up one of the girls’ pendants. But now, not a single pendant was missing—nine gone, nine pendants, just as expected…

Seeing the troubled expression on Hua Xuanji’s face, Bai Yan slowly approached her, lowering his head little by little until the distance between them was almost nothing, a wicked smile curving at the corner of his lips.

The old crone, feeling complicated, picked up two trays of roast chicken, stepped onto the stairs leading beneath the secret door, and entered the hidden passage. As soon as she entered, the secret door silently closed again, the stone wall reverting to its greasy appearance.

Tang Luo tugged at the corner of his mouth; he had indeed made an effort, but not with Han Ruobing.

A metallic clang resounded. A sweet and bloody taste surged up in Hua Xuanji’s throat; she had no idea what she had collided with, but every bone in her body ached as if she had fallen apart. Still, her only satisfaction was that the clamor she had caused was loud enough for Ye Hua, who had brushed past her, to hear clearly.

The gray crow, following its master’s command, hopped off Qiu’er’s shoulder, seized a large piece of fish, and soared swiftly into the forest.

Brother Donkey had been struggling, but the sight of a gaping gun barrel in his peripheral vision sent a chill down his spine, and he dared not move a muscle.

Gao Yuan would not overthink it; his sole task was to conclude this negotiation. Whatever happened afterward was basically none of his concern.

Suddenly, Zhang Qingming’s eyes snapped open. He parted his lips and with a guttural cry, vomited out everything.

Tang Luo glanced at Catherine and noticed that ever since she had answered that phone call, she seemed preoccupied for the remainder of the evening.

Just as Yun Xuan had thought, at that moment, Dantai Wan’er’s chilly cheeks involuntarily flushed with an unnatural crimson, and the autumnal brilliance in her eyes was shyly half-veiled.

“If you eventually marry Huai Feng, you’ll have to call me sister-in-law! Isn’t that right, Huai Feng?” Qiao Mimi recalled what Lu Liteng had said during his proposal, and couldn’t help but smile.

“That’s right, don’t go back to the apartment anymore. With so many family members, we’ll make sure Mimi is well cared for and plump—so when the grandson is born, he’ll be healthy.” Father Lu’s eyes crinkled with delight.

Han Qing noticed Sun Buqi stretching his arm behind him, while Liu Wen seemed lost in thought, so she hurriedly nudged Liu Wen’s arm.

Barely had Lin Hai finished speaking when Daoist Huoyun’s expression abruptly changed, and a wave of intense pain washed over him.

Faced with Qin Fen’s utterly ineffective threats, Second Fen chose to back down.

Upon hearing Dai Shuren’s words, Wang Quan’s heart skipped a beat; could it be that Dai Shuren knew about what he had done?

Though she felt that Li Erlong was becoming ever more charming, dignified, and manly, and although she was developing a faint affection for him, she simply would not and did not want to say so aloud.

“No, I…” Lin Hai opened his mouth, looking at Yun Hui’er’s expression, his heart filled with worry and tenderness.

While she hesitated in the restroom, Lu Liteng’s message arrived—just two concise words.

Qiao Mimi quietly slipped inside, unnoticed by anyone. What surprised her was Lu Liteng also sitting on the stage.

Ling Cong laughed wildly, saying, “You cripple, since you’re so eager to die, I might as well let you die knowing why.”

Within the secret realm, his brows were tightly knit, increasingly sensing that beneath this seemingly peaceful harmony lurked deadly danger.

The faction led by Cao Shuang was exterminated; Sima Fu was promoted to Marquis of Changshe County and added as Imperial Attendant. Later, Sima Fu rose to Minister of Works, then replaced Wang Ling as Grand Commandant.