The speaker was the fatty, and the fatty hated people who were sarcastic the most. Not only were they sarcastic, but they were also incredibly ugly, making one feel disgusted just by looking at them.
Despite Ye Tiancheng's hints to remain calm and take things one step at a time, not provoking anyone, and lying low, the fatty couldn't help but retort to the old woman. The sight of her ignited a fire in his eyes, making him wish he could immediately lunge forward, grab her by the neck, and make the old hag stop breathing.
"Fatty, what's the use of you cursing me here? You might win the argument, but you'll still suffer more. You probably don't know yet, but after being refined into incense, you'll fully understand what pain is for this entire day and night. I'll chop off your hands and feet first to use as hostages, then I'll use incense to refine you into what I desire, hahaha… You'll suffer soon, hahaha…"
"Stop laughing and hurry up. I want to see what kind of ability this old hag, with half her neck buried in the ground, has to dare talk to me like this!"
The fatty's dismissive attitude only enraged the old woman, causing her to lose control of her emotions. She frantically ordered her subordinates to tie him up and take him to her alchemy room.
The entire process was swift. Upon arriving at the alchemy room, Ye Tiancheng discovered it wasn't any extraordinary place, but rather a converted dilapidated workshop. Inside, a large furnace stood, its fire burning intensely.
"Fatty, you and your two companions are about to become my incense. You must be terrified, but even if you beg for mercy, it's useless. Everything is already decided!"
The old woman walked over to Lin Xue, then used her slender fingernails to caress Lin Xue's face, before lifting her chin.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, what a delicate and alluring beauty. It's a shame she's fallen so low, only to become my incense. Truly pitiful."
There was no need to hold back anymore. Since they were already in the alchemy room, Lin Xue directly used her spiritual energy to bind the old woman.
"I didn't expect you to be a cultivator. No wonder your aura is different from those two fools. Your spiritual energy is quite potent. It's a pity I'm not someone to be trifled with either."
As the old woman finished speaking, she trembled, and a surge of dark energy erupted from her, clashing with Lin Xue's spiritual energy. The scene instantly became chaotic.
Much of the equipment in the alchemy room toppled to the ground, creating a strong impression that the entire place could collapse at any moment, as if a major earthquake had just occurred.
How could the old woman be Lin Xue's match? With a massive explosion, the entire alchemy furnace blew up. It was terrifying, making it feel as though the building was about to collapse, and dust billowed everywhere.
"You detestable beings, what is your origin? Why can you resist my power?"
Lin Xue didn't bother to explain. She found it too much of a waste of her energy. It was simply too difficult to tell this old woman that her spiritual energy naturally possessed a powerful purifying effect, which was the very reason it could counter the dark energy. She figured it would likely drive the old hag to death.
"You are now a defeated party and have no right to make any demands. I advise you to shut your mouth. If the alchemy furnace hadn't exploded, I might have put you inside to let you taste what those who suffered because of you felt. I believe that would be the fairest outcome."
There's a saying that one should treat others as they are treated. Ever since she started following Ye Tiancheng, Lin Xue had grown increasingly fond of using such phrases and even more so of retaliating, wanting everyone to see that those who commit evil deeds must bear the consequences. These are unavoidable fundamental laws.
"No, please don't torture me. I know I was wrong. Please spare me!"
This wretched old woman was nothing like her arrogant self from before. Now she was begging for mercy, making her appear somewhat pitiful.
"It's a pity your mistakes are too grave. Your dark energy has been removed, but you can't go back to how you were. You made a wrong step, and you must bear the consequences. Don't think of escaping!"
The old woman's life had been almost entirely depleted by the dark energy, so even if Lin Xue hadn't acted, she likely wouldn't have survived. Before leaving, she seemed to want to make a final impression and recounted her past.
"My husband abandoned me. He found a younger, prettier mistress and refused to return, so I lived alone. Unexpectedly, he came back half a month ago, alone. No matter how down and out he was, I always believed that the bond of a married couple was greater than anything. So, I softened my heart and was willing to accept him, broken as he was. But I never expected him to beat me every day. Besides drinking, he just beat me. In a moment of lost control, I killed him. After that night, I became a different person…"
Ye Tiancheng was very familiar with this. The young boy who had jumped off the building earlier was also troubled by his emotions. Once a person harbors too much hatred in their heart, it becomes easy for dark energy to find an opening, making them powerful while slowly being consumed by the dark energy, eventually turning them into a puppet.
"Can you send me back home? I still have an elderly mother. I've only just realized now that I've been living in a haze of love, focusing on my abusive husband's feelings, and forgetting my mother who doted on me the most. I wish to be buried in my family's ancestral grave, not in my husband's family's. This will mark the end of my sinful life."
After speaking, the old woman took her last breath and died. All her hatred had turned to dust. Now that everything had vanished, there was no need to dwell on the past.
Looking at the body gradually growing cold on the ground, nothing seemed important anymore. At this moment, Ye Tiancheng felt a pang of pity.
"Where is your madam's home? Is it far?"
The helper had not been corrupted by the dark energy, but had been following the old woman for some time and had assisted her in many wicked deeds. Even if he wasn't the main culprit, he was an accomplice, and couldn't escape responsibility. In this situation, he naturally feared that the old woman's death would implicate him.
Things like being caught in a fire could lead to his involvement, which was a terrifying prospect. He tried to remain low-key, lest Ye Tiancheng and his companions target him, which might lead to an even worse outcome, perhaps even accompanying the old woman to her grave.
"Please, don't kill me. I truly knew nothing. I was wrong, alright? I'll do whatever you want, just please don't torture me anymore!"
"I have no other intention, I just want to ask if her home is far from here. If it's not far, I'll send her back. No matter what she did in the past, she should be laid to rest.
Seeing Ye Tiancheng's calm demeanor, the old woman's subordinate was no longer as afraid and regained his composure, appearing quite calm.
"It's not far, but there's no need. She's already dead, and died so miserably. There's no need to bring her back to her hometown to embarrass the family. I believe this is not what she would have wanted either."
The way he put it was quite hurtful. Ye Tiancheng didn't think he was right. "If it's on the way, it doesn't matter. It's just a small gesture. Since we've encountered this, whether it's a karmic tie or a good one, it's still a connection. We shouldn't be too heartless. If we can help, it's best to do so."
He didn't expect someone like Ye Tiancheng, who appeared so ordinary, to possess such strength. Even more rare was his compassionate heart.
"Alright, I'll give you the address. But I think you should really mind your own business. With one phone call, a car will come and take the body directly to the crematorium. She has no relatives anyway. It won't be a problem for you to carry a corpse in your car, but I feel it's really unlucky for you, and generally not a good thing. It's best to stay away from anything related to corpses."
What this person said was actually quite reasonable. Who would want to carry a corpse around for no reason? Wouldn't that be asking for trouble? But Ye Tiancheng thought that the woman was already quite pitiful. All women deserve respect, especially those who have gone through so much hardship and were infected by dark energy.
Even though she killed people and engaged in this flesh trade, it wasn't necessarily what she wanted. But sometimes, one is easily led by fate. In the end, she was just a pitiable woman, who died so tragically, her entire body disfigured, emitting a lingering stench.
"Your madam's address shouldn't be far from here. We'll rest here for the night, and tomorrow morning, I'll take the body and deliver it to her elderly mother for proper burial."
Since Ye Tiancheng had said it, he would definitely do it. For him, the most important thing was his credibility. He wouldn't let his reputation be compromised, especially in front of his disciples and close friends. Once he had made up his mind, he would see it through.
"Brother Ye, I think we should not meddle in other people's affairs. This matter has little to do with us. We were almost turned into dismembered monsters by this crazy woman. Now we're going to properly bury her body. Isn't that being too kind to her?"
The fatty couldn't stand it any longer. He felt the whole thing was too absurd.
So, he couldn't help but advise his good brother. If it was Ye Tiancheng, there were never any barriers between them.
The fatty would say whatever was on his mind without hiding his thoughts. After all, they were good brothers. If he couldn't even speak the truth, wouldn't that be a fake brotherhood?
"I won't meddle in other people's affairs after this. This is the only time. Fatty, I hope you can stand by my side and understand my thoughts."
"Understood. I will definitely support you, Brother Ye. Tomorrow morning, I'll drive myself. It's just a corpse anyway, good or bad, what does it matter? I won't dwell on it anymore. Let's leave it at that. Once it's decided, don't change your mind."
The fatty also wanted to strengthen his resolve. After all, he really disliked this old hag, even wanting to desecrate her corpse. He especially didn't want her to go home and be buried peacefully.
But this was Ye Tiancheng's wish. No matter what, the fatty wouldn't let Ye Tiancheng feel any guilt. Therefore, he could only agree.