Su Si groggily opened his eyes, and then it was as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head, startling him awake.

His limbs still had a lingering numbness and weakness, clearly the reaction after being poisoned. Su Si immediately used all his strength to feel for the flesh-cutting knife at his waist. Perhaps because the knife was made too ugly and was truly inconspicuous, no one had taken it away.

It was dark and stuffy here. Su Si subconsciously utilized the skills he had trained in the Scorpion Feet. He forcefully pressed various acupoints on his head, forcing himself to become completely sober.

As if waking from a drunken stupor, his memories gradually pieced back together.

That night, Shi Jingzhi and Yin Ci had gone to Luoshen Tower to take care of business. Su Si was too lazy to get involved in the affairs of Red Hook again, so he simply stayed at Finding Immortals Residence with Yan Qing.

It had been over a day since Wu Huai escaped. The unrelated merchants had all fled, and Taiheng had also officially set off. However, Finding Immortals Residence was not empty - after Wu Huai took power, he became bloodthirsty and tyrannical, causing disaster in the local area. Some Red Hook disciples couldn't bear to watch, so they left Red Hook. When the news of Wu Huai's escape came out, they happily returned to the sect.

It was said that Hua Jingchun had let it be known that those who had defected during Wu Huai's rule were not guilty. However, defectors were still defectors after all. To prevent people from taking advantage of the chaos, this group was arranged to stay in the remote Finding Immortals Residence.

Compared to before the enthronement ceremony, Finding Immortals Residence was even more lively.

With Wu Huai's defeat and escape, people were especially happy, so drinking and feasting were a must. Yan Qing had some resistance to drinking alcohol, while Su Si took the opportunity to drink to his heart's content, his mood soaring. He personally saw that the alcohol was brought from the warehouse by a protector and opened in front of everyone. The little suspicion he had was blown away by the heavenly aroma of the wine.

Wu Huai was a drowned dog now, who knew which corner he was wailing in, who would still do things for him?

As a result, this drinking completely ruined things.

Who would have thought that instead of poisoning Wu Huai, they ended up being knocked out by the same drug. Let alone ordinary disciples, with the chaos and clamor all around, even Su Si failed to discover anything amiss.

Who made the move? At this critical juncture, there were still people in the sect supporting Wu Huai?

Su Si pressed his head for a long time, the effects of the drug still lingering and refusing to leave. He simply made a cut on his collarbone, and with the combination of blood and pain, he finally recovered his senses.

There were quite a few people pressed under him, some had already stopped breathing, their bodies turning cold and stiff. The surrounding air was permeated with the smell of rotting plants.

Su Si recognized this smell. They had unknowingly been stuffed into some cellar, and the cellar contained accumulated gas that could silently take lives. Coupled with the sleep-inducing drug, even the strongest martial arts could be killed without a trace.

If it weren't for Su Si having undergone anti-drug training in the Scorpion Feet and waking up early, he would not have escaped this disaster either.

A layer of cold sweat instantly formed on Su Si's back. He took out a fire striker, but as expected, it wouldn't light no matter what. However, just as he was about to escape in the dark, a gentle glow pierced his eyes.

Su Si held his breath and approached, discovering that it was a folding fan with a night pearl tassel. The fan's handle felt exquisitely smooth to the touch, definitely a top-grade item. Su Si's eyes turned, and he took the opportunity to also drag out the fan's owner, deciding to use them as a spare money pouch for himself - that person had ample true qi, but not of the highest level, definitely not some expert. Exchanging favors for gold, how wonderful!

With this beautiful dream, Su Si pressed a few points and finally managed to wake that person up.

That person also reeked of alcohol. Seeing the situation, he was terrified. Not caring that his voice was hoarse, he spoke like a broken gong: "You... you-"

"What you, call me benefactor." Su Si said in a low voice, "The gas here is too heavy, we shouldn't stay long. We need to escape quickly."

That person seemed to have seen big scenes before and didn't panic for too long. After a moment of hesitation, he staggered to his feet together with Su Si. The night pearl couldn't be used for illumination. Su Si continued groping in the dark, occasionally using the person beside him as a human ladder. In less than half an incense stick's time, he really found a small door that seemed to be an entrance.

Along with it came another bad news. The closer they got to the slightly ventilated small door, the clearer the smell of lamp oil became. While prying the lock with the boning knife, Su Si pricked up his ears, listening to the movement around them.

Near the cellar entrance, that person's breathing also became more relaxed. He still spoke with a hoarse voice, taking a long time to get out a sentence: "Who did it?"

"Who else could it be, Wu Huai's people of course. Kidnapping so many people, Red Hook couldn't immediately discover it, the traitors probably weren't completely weeded out." Su Si's knife creaked and groaned. "But this method is too wishy-washy, I think we're more like being used as hostages."

That person fell silent.

Su Si thought he was afraid and continued chattering: "Don't panic, having many people isn't good for transport, we must still be near Red Hook. When my brothers discover I'm missing, they'll definitely come looking for me. He's the biggest fool in the world, he definitely won't easily compromise... You little guy are a rich person, there will be no lack of people looking for you."

"I..."

"Shh!"

Su Si broke the lock on the cellar door but didn't escape immediately. He carefully listened to the sounds outside and sure enough heard two sets of footsteps. One set belonged to a young man, his steps unsteady, seeming to be heavily injured. The other set belonged to a woman, one foot heavy and one light, clearly a cripple.

"I came alone." The woman spoke, it was indeed Hua Jingchun. "Let the brothers and sisters go. Considering past feelings, I'll spare your life for now."

The other voice was quite weak: "Spare my life? Sounds really nice. What about those Ku Mountain Sect beasts?"

"The Ku Mountain master and disciple are recuperating in Luoshen Tower, they don't know about this. Wu Huai, I'll say it again-"

"Ridiculous." Wu Huai coughed a few times. "You really don't understand anything. If I didn't turn a blind eye, how could that old servant hide a hook for you? Since you survived, why come back?"

"You ruined Red Hook's reputation, and I'm supposed to thank you?"

Wu Huai fell silent for a moment, then responded with a non sequitur: "When the nest is overturned, no eggs can remain intact. This time Red Hook is sure to fall, it's cleaner to fall by my hand."

"I'm afraid before the nest is even overturned, there will be soft-boiled eggs jumping out. This time Red Hook has selected a live donkey to take the top position, certainly more capable than you." Hua Jingchun didn't buy his words. "A sect of over a hundred years, you say it will fall and it falls? Back then I shouldn't have..."

"Shouldn't have supported me in joining the Immortal Gathering?"

"You and I agreed that you would go make connections with important people and earn some money. I would stay in Red Hook and make the cult prosper. In any case, there are fewer and fewer tombs to dig, so we might as well change direction. After another hundred years, my Red Hook would definitely be able to take a rightful seat at the table, and everyone would have good days."

Hua Jingchun's eyes were bloodshot.

"As a result, after not seeing you for decades, what returned was a monster. When I first saw this 'young Sect Leader' of yours, do you know I-"

"Childhood promises, how can they be kept? Adapting to circumstances is the way to survive."

Wu Huai casually interrupted her.

"After the Red Hook is done raiding the villages, the congregation can also get some money to survive. Falling into the hands of the Ling Sect, wouldn't it be all for naught? As for those ignorant people, they will die sooner or later anyway, I'm just striking first. I originally thought you could understand, but in the end, you're just a foolish woman."

His voice gradually weakened, but the laughter in it grew stronger.

"In the world, human lives are like grass, yet you're still haggling over them. You can't distinguish between the important and the trivial, how ridiculous, how ridiculous."

Su Si's heart trembled. Countless calculations flashed through his mind. The next moment, he spoke up: "Protector Hua, quickly escape! He never intended to negotiate at all!"

"You don't need to tell me, kid!" Hua Jingchun yelled back indiscriminately.

Along with her shout, more footsteps appeared. Those footsteps were very light, sounding like the Scorpion Feet technique.

Holding the winning card, Hua Jingchun's voice was ice-cold: "I thought you would have some nice excuse, but in the end it's just a bunch of crazy talk. Men, take him... What is this?!"

Hearing this startled cry, Su Si couldn't hold back. He pushed up on the cellar door. Who knew that the door, clearly pried open by him, now wouldn't budge at all, as if a mountain was pressing down on it.

Separated by a door, miserable screams continued outside.

More oil dripped down through the cracks, and a wave of heat rushed at his face. Su Si's scalp tingled. He used the flesh-cutting knife to cut at the cracks again. However, the blade touched something quite resilient, and then seemed to be grabbed by something. Su Si managed to pull the knife back with great effort. The blade was covered in green plant juice.

Fire above, accumulated gas below. Once the remaining air was exhausted, no matter how great one's abilities were, they would suffocate to death down here.

Su Si's eyes reddened. He used all his strength to fiercely strike the cellar door. The Mountain Ghost Coin on the knife handle was stained with blood, swaying in the firelight. The flames grew more and more intense, suffocation was near. Su Si's vision blurred—

Crash.

The entire cellar door was shattered. Scorching air poured in. Su Si at least regained his breath. He dazedly raised his head, only to see a... human-sized round grass doll.

Su Si's flesh-cutting knife almost stabbed out reflexively.

"Ah Si, it's me!" A familiar voice immediately rang out.

Yan Qing's strength was immense. His sword technique faintly carried the might of Jianchen Temple, countering those green threads. He used his sword wind to sweep away the flames, casually grabbed a Red Hook Sect member, and pressed them against the Compassion Stone Sword. The stone sword instantly became heavy as a thousand pounds, instantly crushing the small cellar door.

Su Si hurriedly grabbed Yan Qing's hand and struggled to climb out of the cellar.

Judging from the buildings here, it was clearly still in the Red Hook Sect's style. However, many thin threads swayed in the sky, forming a not-too-big, not-too-small cover, actually isolating the firelight and thick smoke inside. Outside the thin threads, the starry sky twinkled, a dim and quiet scene. Hua Jingchun was struggling to deal with those threads. Even the Scorpion Feet assassins were trapped in place.

Wu Huai stood on the grass mat-like thin threads, the corners of his mouth still carrying the torn wound. That wound, illuminated by the firelight, looked eerily like a smile. He looked at the crowd motionlessly, his eyes clearly carrying a hint of pity.

The fire tongues licked the thin threads. The smell of plants in the air was very strong. From the looks of it, they intended to burn everyone to death here.

...As a small revenge, Wu Huai was being a bit too grandiose.

Although Su Si was thinking, his hands were not slow. He immediately waved his blade, severing the threads gathered on Yan Qing's body. Just as he turned his head, intending to pull his newly picked money pouch up from the cellar, the firelight flashed. The three of them were stunned in place.

Xu Jingming stood dumbfounded under the cellar opening, his eyes complex.

So that's how it is, Su Si gripped the handle of the flesh-cutting knife.

According to the Immortal Gathering's style, Wu Huai had come to "deal with" the Red Hook Sect from the start. Letting it decline was a way to deal with it. Letting the imperial relatives perish in the sect was also a way.

Those Red Hook Sect members in the Finding Immortal Residence were all "troublemakers" with a strong rebellious spirit. Leaving them alive would be endless trouble later. Eliminating them along with Xu Jingming, and incidentally luring Hua Jingchun, was killing several birds with one stone.

With Hua Jingchun and this group dead, the most fiery people of the Red Hook would disappear. Xu Jingming's demise would definitely cause the court to target the Red Hook, leading it to ruin.

Wu Huai knew he was no match for the Ku Mountain Sect. He didn't recklessly target Shi Jingzhi, but specifically excluded him. What a scheming move, Su Si gritted his teeth. Sect Leader Shi was far away in Luoshen Tower. By the time that fox realized something was wrong, his two subordinates would probably be cold along with the day lilies.

As if sensing Su Si's anger, Wu Huai glanced at him. From his expression, he completely disregarded the two Ku Mountain Sect subordinates.

"Protector Hua, for the sake of our past, I let you taste the feeling of being a 'victor' for a day," Wu Huai sighed. "Unfortunately... of the remaining eight Protectors, most are advanced in years. With the example of Dark Blood Witch ahead, there are still people who know to recognize the situation."

"Scoundrel..."

"Just pull out one piece of wood, and the barrel can no longer hold water. Guess if the next 'Sect Leader' will let the Red Hook prosper? Defying the will of heaven is ultimately futile."

Hua Jingchun fell into the threads, her chest heaving angrily. The threads drilled straight into her eyes, nose, ears and mouth. In pain, the Protector couldn't speak long sentences, and just spat.

"Bullshit will of heaven, to hell with the Immortal Gathering."

With that said, she breathed heavily for a while. A large clump of threads gathered in front of her, forming the "little jade figure" Wu Huai had vomited that day. That thing tilted its head to look at her, its neck twisting at an obviously inhuman angle.

This was undoubtedly going for the kill.

Hua Jingchun sneered coldly, as if activating something. A dazzling white light lit up. Although contained within this small area by the thread cover, it still startled those clawing threads.

"Ku Mountain people, go!" She shouted. "No need for you to save anyone, just spread this fart of a matter for me!"

With someone in trouble in front of him, Yan Qing naturally wouldn't take the chaos as a chance to escape. What surprised him was that Su Si was also still there.

Su Si's angry expression gradually disappeared. He took a deep breath and shielded Yan Qing behind him. His features were already beautiful, coupled with a regretful expression, he looked a bit pitiful.

"If you want to harm the Red Hook, then harm the Red Hook. If you hate Ku Mountain, then hate Ku Mountain. Why drag us into it?" He said sadly. "The two of us are just servants. Even if we die two or three times, the Sect Master won't take it to heart. Please, let us go."

Su Si put on a show of kneeling in supplication and took the opportunity to step closer. Hua Jingchun's eyes blazed with anger, her face filled with disappointment.

"Coward!" she exclaimed.

"You saw those strange things. What if we can't escape? You might even use us as bait to distract them!" Su Si retorted righteously. Meanwhile, he held one hand behind his back, making several gestures to Yan Qing.

As expected, Wu Huai was momentarily distracted by this argument. In that instant, Yan Qing suddenly swung the stone sword in his hand.

The sword's energy surged, severing countless thin threads. The energy struck Su Si directly, but he endured the pain and moved with the force. Propelled by the sword's power and his own momentum, he crossed the strange jade figure in a flash and appeared before Wu Huai in the next moment.

The flesh-cutting knife knife drew an arc through the air, slicing open Wu Huai's throat.

"Grandfather is the true Young Sect Leader," Su Si said with a thoroughly cold smile. "Come, let me introduce you to the real Sweeping Bone Sword."