Late at night.
A luxury car sped along the road.
After distancing herself from Su Muwan, Shangguan Chuxue found her mind finally clearing up a bit.
Her calm expression was reflected in the car window.
Memories of the banquet flashed through her mind.
Su Muwan... Qin Luo...
These two were indeed different from the rest.
Su Muwan, as expected of someone she had set her sights on as a rival, did not break down as she had imagined.
As for Qin Luo...
Shangguan Chuxue's gaze sharpened slightly.
His medical skills were truly remarkable.
Not only could he heal a damaged dantian, but he could also elevate a person's potential.
But... what a pity that Qin Luo had revealed himself too early.
Now, all eyes would be on him.
And Su Muwan, who stood behind him... would also face more malicious attacks.
Qin Luo, do you think you can protect yourself when the time comes?
The answer was obviously no.
After all... she had once been in the same position.
Shangguan Chuxue thought of this and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
Su Muwan's fate was already sealed—she would become her prey and eventually fall victim to her schemes.
Heh...
Qin Luo, I'm starting to take a bit of interest in you.
I wonder if your medical skills could help me elevate my cultivation further?
Shangguan Chuxue leaned against the car window, a slight smile curling at the corners of her lips.
The world knew that Shangguan Xiao possessed the "Innate Marrow."
But...
Who would have thought...
That the Innate Marrow originally belonged to her!?
Heh, no one would ever know, no one would ever understand.
That year.
Her mother had died, and her stepmother had dug out her Innate Marrow when her sister was born.
She had passed out from the excruciating pain.
When she woke up again, she had lost everything.
All the honor, wealth, and everything she once had were taken away.
What shattered her even more was that the man she had once loved most, Long Jiuxiao, was also behind the scheme to extract her marrow.
And so...
The little girl who had once followed Long Jiuxiao around was dead.
That innocent, carefree little girl died on the night her marrow was taken.
Shangguan Chuxue often remembered a question Long Jiuxiao had once asked her.
She had always wanted to reply to him.
Heh, isn't this exactly what you wanted?
You dug out my marrow back then, so why are you crying now?
Therefore!
The current Shangguan Chuxue despised nothing more than the happiness of others.
She wanted to destroy all the happiness in the world.
Since Shangguan Xiao loved Long Jiuxiao, she would let the two of them marry.
And then... at the peak of their happiness!
She would destroy them!
And Su Muwan and Qin Luo!
Your fates won't be any better!
Su Muwan, you trust Qin Luo so much, don't you?
Qin Luo, you're so loyal to Su Muwan, aren't you?
How laughable!
In this world, there is no such thing as absolute loyalty or trust!
When Qin Luo gets close to someone else, will you, Su Muwan, start to feel uneasy?
When the whole world turns against your young mistress!
What will you do then?!
As she thought this, Shangguan Chuxue's lips curled into a faint smile. She glanced at Shui Yue, who was driving, and said calmly, "Head to Black Wind Valley."
Black Wind Valley?!
Shui Yue's pupils shrank at the mention of the place. She swallowed hard and replied, "Understood."
The engine roared.
Shangguan Chuxue took a light breath.
Although the process had been a bit complicated, her plan remained unchanged.
Su Muwan... our game has only just begun.
I want to see how far you can go against me!
....
....
Time passed, and the night grew darker.
The sky was overcast, the moon completely obscured, as if the entire world was plunged into darkness.
Deep within a hidden valley, a cold wind suddenly swept through, carrying an indescribable chill that made one shiver involuntarily.
Shangguan Chuxue stood at the entrance of the valley, holding a tattered oil lamp. The flickering light cast shadows across her face.
Shui Yue stood beside her, head bowed, swallowing nervously.
No one knew the secret of the master—that her master was none other than Wind Ghost!
The centipede gu that the master used had been a gift from her master!
And Wind Ghost had a secret that no one knew...
He was once a prodigious disciple of Dragon Tiger Mountain!!
Before long.
A shadowy figure emerged from within the valley.
It was Wind Ghost.
He wore a black robe, his figure gaunt, and his face hidden behind a dark red mask, revealing only a pair of deep, abyss-like eyes.
Wind Ghost walked slowly toward them, his gaze falling on Shangguan Chuxue. His voice was low and hoarse, as if it came from the depths of hell: "My dear disciple..."
"What do you need from me this time?"
Shangguan Chuxue smiled faintly and said, "Master, it's been a while."
"I need your help to deal with someone—the young mistress of Jiang City, Su Muwan."
"She is currently in Wang City."
"More importantly..."
"She has been labeled as an evil spirit by the celestial masters of Dragon Tiger Mountain."
Dragon Tiger Mountain?!
At the mention of the name, a surge of killing intent erupted in Wind Ghost's eyes.
How many years had it been!
He hadn't heard that name in so long!
Dragon Tiger Mountain!
Back then, I had surpassed all my peers and suppressed every single one of the celestial master candidates!
But you, old celestial master, claimed that my nature was impure and deemed me unworthy of inheriting the title!!
Heh! Nonsense!
It was all an excuse! Dragon Tiger Mountain simply couldn't accept an outsider like me!
Since you're coming to Wang City to deal with an evil spirit...
Then I, old man, will create a bigger one for you!
As he thought this, Wind Ghost's expression darkened. He let out a low, sinister laugh: "Su Muwan....."
"A mere martial artist, nothing to fear."
With that, he raised his hand.
Whoosh!
A strange banner suddenly appeared before him, floating in mid-air.
The banner was pitch black, covered in twisted runes and sinister patterns.
It seemed as though countless vengeful spirits were struggling within, emitting mournful wails.
Wind Ghost sneered, "Once I make my move, she will become one of the souls in my Ten Thousand Demon Banner!"
At the sight of the Ten Thousand Demon Banner, Shui Yue's face turned pale with fear.
Ghost cultivators... beings above martial artists, their methods were bizarre, capable of killing without a trace.
Truly terrifying!
Shangguan Chuxue, however, shook her head and said, "No need, Master. I just want you to make a simple move."
"All I want is for Su Muwan..."
"To experience what it means to be the target of everyone's hatred!"
Wind Ghost's expression shifted to one of understanding: "You've set your sights on her."
"That works too. If you want to refine your own Ten Thousand Demon Banner, you need a soul that satisfies you the most as its core."
"In that case..."
Wind Ghost put away the banner and said arrogantly, "With me making a move, Su Muwan will be despised by the entire city within three days!!"
.....
....
The Ning Family.
Kitchen.
"Achoo!!"
Su Muwan, who was helping Qin Luo fill cream puffs, suddenly sneezed.
She looked around in confusion.
Why did it suddenly feel like... something dirty was targeting me again?
Qin Luo blinked: "What's wrong, Young Mistress?"
"Nothing, let's keep going."
"Young Mistress, are you sure this is edible?"
"Of course! If I say it is, then it is!"