Chapter 59: Black Scale Hundred Punishments

Hearing Li Guanshi's confident words, Xu Yuan felt a dull ache in his skull.

Wait?

Wait for what?

For the protagonist to emerge from the Long Hong Valley quest and wipe out all of us?

Xu Yuan sighed with a mix of helplessness.

To say these subordinates are foolish and illogical isn't entirely fair—after all, none of them possess the godlike perspective he once had.

With incomplete information, rigid rules, and common-sense assumptions, their current judgment was entirely reasonable.

He didn't yet know exactly how great the gap between Eighth and Seventh Rank was, but he did have a general sense of the difference between Ninth and Eighth Rank.

Excluding improvements in physical constitution, the Qi reserves of a Ninth Rank cultivator were only one-third of those of an Eighth Rank, and the speed at which techniques operated was halved.

Under such a disparity, two Seventh Rank cultivators leading a group that included Eighth Rank disciples could be completely wiped out—this proved beyond doubt that Qin Mo truly lived up to his status as the protagonist.

But once Qin Mo entered the Changhong Valley, he was able to confirm exactly which path the other one had taken.

The Grandfather's route.

Muri's Law, indeed, has not deceived me.

He sighed softly.

The reason behind the protagonist's journey to the Changhong Valley was simple:

Guided by the Grandfather.

Within the Changhong Valley lies a hidden realm, and within that realm grows a rare elixir capable of restoring the Grandfather's spiritual energy.

Of course,

Beyond aiding the Grandfather at his side, adhering to the protagonist's principle of never going empty-handed into a dungeon, Qin Mo's own strength would also grow substantially after battling monsters and consuming the elixir within the realm.

According to the original story of Cangyuan, this enhanced strength would be just sufficient to stand against the blocking guards of Xu Family.

Fighting all the way, deploying every possible method, they finally slaughtered their way to the original body waiting at the valley's mouth.

Yes, Changhong Valley was one of the original body's burial grounds.

In the mentor route of Cangyuan, the original body had led Su Jinxuan and that band of subordinates to wait for the story's protagonist at the entrance of Changhong Valley.

He intended to kill Qin Mo right before Su Jinxuan’s eyes, forcing her to abandon all hope.

And then, he was killed instead.

As the thoughts flashed by, Xu Yuan spoke directly to give his command:

"Have the men on guard return."

"Ah?" Steward Li looked somewhat stunned.

Xu Yuan stared at him for two seconds, repeating:

"I said, have those men return."

Manager Li was utterly perplexed, yet he hurriedly bowed his head and complied, "Understood, Third Young Master."

Xu Yuan let out a cold snort and lifted his finger to point toward the front courtyard gate.

Seeing this, Manager Li knew the Third Young Master was dismissing him to execute the orders, so he immediately cupped his hands, "Third Young Master, this old servant will see to it at once. I shall take my leave now."

With that, Manager Li bowed once more, turned around, and swiftly departed.

Watching the man disappear around the corner, Xu Yuan walked forward with his eyes cast down.

He felt a bitter taste of vexation in his chest.

Qin Mo, with his hidden master archetype, was like a treacherous porcupine, and now there was an unknown Qin Weijiu lurking in the shadows.

Even though he was currently flanked by three Grandmasters, including Ying'er, attempting to corner and assassinate the man directly was utterly unrealistic—it might very well backfire on him instead.

Unless...

A massive black ice blob instinctively surfaced in Xu Yuan's mind.

Unless Ran Qingmo came to find him at this very moment.

After all, when they parted, he had clearly stated that if she wished to rescue the Sword Sect, there was no other way—she could come to Jingjiang Prefecture to find him.

Using a personal favor to have someone assist, it would probably be enough to simply go to Changhong Valley and block the gate.

Of course, that was just speculation.

Counting on Ran Qingmo to come find him was no better than hoping that the old man from the Imperial Capital would show a bit more goodwill toward Qin Mo.

After all,

that so-called "grandfather" had once been revered as a sage.

In this world,

Only by transcending the mundane can one become holy.

......

He walked silently from the western courtyard to the marshy lake beside it.

The cold winter wind brushed his face,

Xu Yuan read the secret report as he walked, with his shadow following behind.

Suddenly,

a faint smile curled at the corner of Xu Yuan's lips.

After reading the report, his mood had suddenly brightened.

The situation on Su Jinxuan's side matched his expectations almost exactly.

And he realized that teammates who were such poor performers weren't just a unique trait of his own side.

Mr. Qin's underlings also included many self-serving, greedy allies.

A thought crossed his mind, and he slipped the confidential report into his Vimala amulet. Then, Xu Yuan spoke, asking:

"Ying'er, did you go see that fox-eyed woman just now?"

Ying'er replied softly: "I haven't seen her yet, but I did speak with the maid who tends to her."

"How was it?"

"She seems to be mentally unwell—when I removed the restraints, she merely curled up in the corner of the bed and said nothing."

"Indeed?"

Hearing this, Xu Yuan felt little surprise.

After all, it was exactly as expected.

In past lives, merely three days confined in a dark, motionless room had driven people mad—how much more so when one's limbs were trapped deep within soft bedding, utterly immobile?

A silence so profound it felt like eternal solitude would drive a man mad—no wonder.

Pausing briefly, Xu Yuan spoke softly:

"This punishment should not last too long; it would drive a person insane."

Ying'er nodded slightly, her voice slightly trembling:

"Hm. I just asked a servant who tended to the spirit spring, and she said the creature's soul-body suffered unimaginable agony during this period, twisting and writhing violently on the bed until it finally collapsed, only to pause briefly before resuming."

Pausing again,

Ying'er looked directly into Xu Yuan's eyes, serious and earnest:

"This punishment is eerie—it belongs among the Black Scale Hundred Punishments."

"..." Xu Yuan.

Ying'er continued speaking to herself:

"I've reported this law to Lady Lou, and by regulation, a reward will be given to the Third Prince."

Xu Yuan's eyelid twitched.

Lady Lou—one of his father's most loyal confidants, in charge of the Black Scale Guard—was a serpent woman, alluring and venomous in appearance.

In memory, he had seen her at the Imperial Chancellor's estate, truly captivating, and indeed, dressed in a most refreshing manner.

Yet, he never expected that creating a law within the Black Scale Guard would earn a reward.

Taking a shallow breath, Xu Yuan asked softly:

"What kind of reward?"

"Lady Lou said she'll personally give it to you when the prince returns to the Imperial Capital."

"..."

Upon hearing this, unpleasant memories surged into his mind. Xu Yuan noticed and gave a sardonic smile:

"Hah... Tell Lady Lou, that old lady, my lord has no interest in her reward."

Ying'er remained slightly silent, yet still nodded:

"I will relay this message to Lady Lou."

Xu Yuan waved a hand dismissively:

"Enough. Let's not talk about that. Where is that fox-whore now?"

"At the Northern Courtyard."

"Take me there. I have business with her."

"......"

Silence throughout the journey.

Half an hour later, the northern vault.

With the source qi poured into his eyes, Xu Yuan could just begin to see the dark, winding stairway around him.

The shadow had not followed.

At the end of the narrow staircase lay a small, square chamber. Under the influence of the source qi, Xu Yuan faintly made out a large bed centered in the room.

"Tap... tap... tap..."

Footsteps approached, as if stirring hope within the person on the bed.

"Shush... shush..."

A faint, delicate rustling began to rise from the bed.

In the end, Xu Yuan stood beside the soft bed.

Standing there in silence for a long while, he gently exhaled, and with the back of his hand, lightly brushed the tear-streaked face of the woman.

Unexpectedly.

She did not resist.

Instead, like a drowning soul in the sea clutching onto a single plank of buoyancy, she gently pressed her cheek against this one tangible presence...