After Ye Ziling left, Ling Xi collapsed on the ground, his fingertips moving slightly.
A golden light flashed, and a tall, slender figure appeared in the courtyard. The man's face was still noble and elegant. He walked slowly to Ling Xi's side, his thin lips curling into a cold smile.
He held a long sword, hatred flickering in his eyes, and fiercely struck a finishing blow at the person on the ground until blood flowed profusely, and the person on the ground truly breathed their last.
The man turned decisively and left in a blaze of golden light.
After Mu Heng recovered from his injuries, Ye Ziling handed over the major and minor affairs of the palace to him.
As a divine beast, his self-healing abilities were naturally stronger than ordinary mortals, and his wounds scabbed over within a few days.
At this time, Ye Ziling was still busy finding poison-making scriptures for the Sacred Doctor Valley. Her second brother had always been casual about the valley's affairs, so she, along with Ye Jinghuai, took the initiative to introduce the poison scriptures. She also brought out the small booklet on poison-making she had secretly written at the age of ten.
Bai Yu sat to the side, unable to help, and could only watch Ye Ziling busy herself. He smiled and said, "I didn't expect the Goddess Tu Yao to be interested in these poisonous creatures."
Ye Ziling, holding the poison-making scripture, turned around and browsed through hundreds upon thousands of herbs containing poison. She picked up a jar and began to concoct.
When her eyes were focused, a spark of intelligence flashed, adding a touch of playfulness to her cold and elegant face.
Ye Ziling fiddled with the poisonous scorpions in the medicine jar, without looking at Bai Yu, and said indifferently, "Things that aren't poisonous aren't fun."
She suddenly remembered a few words her tutor often said when she was young, classifying people into four different categories.
Talented and virtuous are top-grade.
Virtuous but untalented are second-grade.
Talented but unvirtuous are drugs.
Untalented and unvirtuous are waste.
Ye Ziling agreed, as after all, compared to waste, drugs could still serve a purpose.
The only drawback was that she didn't think drugs should be ranked third; they should be second.
If poison could exert a certain effect, it was absolutely stronger than top-grade, but it was merely a matter of perspective, a deliberate belittling.
A hint of interest flickered in Bai Yu's eyes, "In that case, is the Goddess truly interested in poison?"
Ye Ziling just smiled and said nothing. She dared not say that when she had encountered a young man impersonating someone from Miao territory, she had kept him in Jiuling Palace precisely because she fancied his poison and蛊, otherwise, she would have killed him long ago.
Ye Jinghuai had just come in with several bottles of medicine to fill the gaps. Hearing them chatting, he chuckled and said, "Brother Bai, don't disbelieve. This girl, at the age of ten, created a highly potent drug called 'Corrosive Bone Paste.' Due to its strong toxicity, it became a forbidden item in our tribe!"
Bai Yu was even more shocked. He narrowed his eyes, a look of disbelief flashing in them, "Oh? Is that true? If the Goddess becomes my strategist, she will have to concoct some excellent poisons for me."
Ye Jinghuai was amused. He suddenly remembered that he still had a few bottles of medicine to fetch and stepped out the door to get them.
Speaking of strategists, Ye Ziling suddenly remembered the matter of cooperating with Bai Yu.
Having spent so much time with Bai Yu, she had actually forgotten about their cooperation.
Strangely, it was one thing for her to forget, but how could Bai Yu, such a reserved person, not mention it at all?
Ye Ziling put down the booklet in her hand, walked to Bai Yu's side, pulled out a peach wood chair by the table, and sat down. Her expression suddenly turned serious.
"I say, Immortal Lord Bai Yu, we've fought battles, watched the excitement, gone fishing for shrimp, and gathered herbs these past half a month. When are we going to get down to business?"
Bai Yu was stunned for a moment. Although he knew it clearly in his heart, he still feigned a sudden realization and put down his teacup, "Look at me, I forgot."
These past few days, interacting with Ye Ziling, he had seen a different side of Goddess Tu Yao, one that was not as majestic as in the heavens. They had many common topics, and the two quickly became familiar.
Ye Ziling's gaze sharpened. She suddenly recalled that when she was working under Qing Bai, she clearly remembered the location of the military tally.
If she could obtain the military tally, it would be much easier to confront Qing Bai.
"Does Immortal Lord Bai Yu want to obtain the military tally?" Ye Ziling said sternly, looking at Bai Yu with a faint gaze.
The military tally?
Bai Yu naturally knew very well how much effort Qing Bai had put into snatching the military tally. Obtaining the military tally meant getting one step closer to the imperial throne.
The military tally naturally had to be retrieved.
Bai Yu's eyes lit up. He looked up at Ye Ziling, and that cool aura permeated his entire being again, his gaze hazy.
"If the Goddess helps me obtain the military tally, that would be best."
Ye Ziling nodded, and a meaningful glint flashed in both their eyes.
Just as they were getting to the main topic, Ye Ziling suddenly received a letter from Mu Heng. She quickly unfolded the letter.
"This is bad." A premonition of disaster welled up in Ye Ziling's heart.
Seeing her strange expression, Bai Yu stood up and asked, "What happened?" 138 Reading Network.
"I'll tell you when I get back." Ye Ziling rose from her seat, quickening her pace, leaving Peach Blossom Valley and returning to Jiuling Palace on the white jade dragon boat.
Mu Heng's letter stated that disciples of Shaoling were causing trouble in Jiuling Palace, claiming that Ling Xi was dead and demanding that she pay with her life.
Ling Xi is dead?
Although Ye Ziling harbored hatred for Ling Xi, she had deliberately avoided vital acupoints and only stabbed Ling Xi once, which would not cause a fatality.
As she flew to the entrance of Jiuling Palace, hundreds of disciples in green robes surrounded Jiuling Palace, shouting for her to pay with her life.
"Here they come!"
Seeing the descending figure, the disciples in green, although intimidated by her authority and unwilling to confront Ye Ziling directly, still dared to say, "Your sect's abilities are indeed extraordinary. Even if the sect leader had offended the Palace Master before, that is no reason to assassinate our second senior brother! We request that your sect give us an explanation!"
Ye Ziling hesitated, but still said with a calm expression, "Does killing him require a reason? Furthermore, how do you know Ling Xi is dead? Has the body been examined?"
The disciples in green gritted their teeth in hatred, clenching their fists. Due to Ye Ziling's status, they still respectfully said, "If you don't believe us, you can see for yourself. The body has already been placed in a coffin, so it's likely impossible to examine the corpse."
"We implore you to give us an explanation!"
"We hope the Palace Master will give Shaoling an explanation!"
The disciples behind her all cupped their hands in agreement.
...
"If the person is dead, they are dead. What can this Palace Master do? Moreover, even if I killed him, so what?" Ye Ziling said with a smile, completely disregarding the threats of the disciples.
She had a million reasons not to believe it.
How could Ling Xi possibly be dead? It must be some trick by their Shaoling!
Besides, although Ling Xi was the top scholar of the Heavenly Realm, even if she had killed him, she would at most receive a few reprimands from the Heavenly Emperor. What could they do to her?
Ye Ziling's gaze flickered, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat. Her expression became somber.
If Ling Xi were truly dead...
Would she feel sad?
Ye Ziling could not imagine that feeling. She only felt that these Shaoling disciples must have a plan. They wanted to lure her out, and she wanted to see what tricks these people were up to.
Ye Ziling followed the disciples to Shaoling. A large white flower hung on the plaque, and white paper fluttered all around, creating an unspeakably gloomy and desolate atmosphere.
She found it amusing. Was there a need to act so genuinely for a play?
Ye Ziling, dressed in a white veil, blended almost seamlessly with the white scenery around her. Those who didn't know might have thought she was also there to mourn.
As she stepped into the main hall, all the Shaoling disciples laid out white carpets, making way for her, all with mournful faces.
Ye Ziling's gaze swept over each disciple. Seeing them all crying so genuinely, coupled with the grand funeral procession, she felt a sense of unease.
She rushed straight to the mourning hall and saw Shen Yueru sobbing heartbrokenly on the coffin. The moment she saw Ye Ziling, she drew her sword and roared at her, "Ye Ziling, how could you be so heartless! I don't care who you are, I want you to pay with your lives for my father and senior brother!"