Ji Tianrui and the Ming Cult had always held the initiative, not because she was so strong.
Rather, it was because she had always been in the shadows, preparing for many years, with countless arrangements and contingencies.
In Wang Hai's view, in the vortex stirred up by the Ming Cult, what could truly threaten Li Miao was not the Ming Cult itself.
It was the imperial court.
As long as he knew Ji Tianrui's exact location, Wang Hai naturally had a way to let the imperial court "accidentally" receive the news.
At that time, Ji Tianrui would fight to the death with the imperial court, and she would no longer have the time to drag Li Miao into it.
Of course, if Li Miao were here and knew that Wang Hai and Little Four had taken risks on their own initiative, he would definitely hang them up and whip them like tops.
However, it was not surprising that Wang Hai and Little Four would make such a choice.
They valued Li Miao too much and themselves too little.
Let's return to the present.
The Great Shuo Imperial Mausoleum was located in a mountain valley, with a grand stone archway at the mouth of the valley.
Entering through this gate, with layers of guards and several checkpoints, one would reach the Dragon Phoenix Gate.
After passing the Dragon Phoenix Gate and crossing the Seven Void Bridge, one would finally reach the tombs of the Great Shuo emperors, distributed throughout the valley.
Each tomb was surrounded by walls, with sentry posts and watchtowers on the walls, and Imperial Guards stationed there.
Within the walls, there were various buildings, also with people on duty.
The Great Shuo dynasty had passed down through eleven emperors to date, which meant there were eleven tombs here, and each tomb covered no less than a hundred acres.
It was absolutely impossible for Wang Hai and the other four to visit all the tombs in one night.
Therefore, they could only choose the two tombs where Ji Tianrui was most likely to be hidden—the tomb of the Great Shuo founding emperor and the tomb of the current emperor.
The four ascended the mountain with lightfoot martial arts, bypassed the checkpoint at the mouth of the valley, and approached the rear of the Imperial Mausoleum.
Under the cover of the dense forest, they reached the wall of the founding emperor's tomb.
Little Four raised her hand, her sleeve rippled, and a centipede crawled out from around her arm.
It was the same one Little Four had released to clean up bloodstains when An Ziyang first arrived at the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards).
This centipede had an extremely strong territorial sense and extremely keen perception.
As long as a Gu worm appeared nearby, it would react; it was a means for a great shaman to guard against others of her kind.
It was perfectly suited for searching for Ji Tianrui.
The four hid their figures in the shadow of the wall and first circled the wall.
"No Gu worms."
Little Four shook her head.
Wang Hai nodded.
"Let's go check the perimeter of the other tomb."
So the four re-entered the dense forest, then circled the outside of the current emperor's tomb, repeating the same method of sticking to the wall, but still found nothing.
The four exchanged glances and all sighed.
Although all four were willing to die for Li Miao, they were not here to foolishly throw their lives away.
They would avoid entering the tomb if possible, and avoid getting close to Ji Tianrui's hiding place if possible.
Just circling the perimeter was not very dangerous for the four of them.
If Ji Tianrui was hidden outside the tomb and the Gu worm sensed her, the four would naturally turn around and leave, without lingering.
But since nothing was found outside, the few of them had to enter the tomb's interior to investigate.
This was the truly dangerous part.
Wang Hai was the first to scale the wall, and after landing, he flashed into the shadows, looking around.
Their luck was good; this place was far from the main hall, and the guards were not strict.
Moreover, there were many trees and archways nearby, making it easy to hide.
Wang Hai tapped the wall, and a moment later, Mei Qinghe, carrying Little Four on her back, and Gao Ling climbed in together.
The few of them avoided the guards' patrol routes and began to search inside the tomb.
Suddenly, Wang Hai's footsteps paused.
The other three instantly became alert, looking around.
Wang Hai, however, did not speak; he stood still, twitched his nose a few times, carefully savored the scent, and said softly.
"The smell of blood, human blood."
"And, a lot of it."
Mei Qinghe and Gao Ling suddenly tensed.
This place was the tomb of the current emperor, and blood was not allowed here.
An unusual occurrence must indicate something sinister, and the abnormality itself was a clue.
Wang Hai closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then raised his hand and pointed in a direction.
"That way."
Mei Qinghe and Gao Ling looked; that direction was the main hall of the tomb.
It was also the most heavily guarded place.
"Too many people make it hard to hide our figures.
Give me the Gu worm, I'll go."
Wang Hai took the Gu worm, flipped onto the roof, but then abruptly lay flat on the eaves, his entire body clinging to the eaves like a snake, moving towards the main hall.
Unless one was looking down from above, no one would see Wang Hai on the eaves.
The closer he got, the stronger the smell of blood became.
Finally, Wang Hai could already see the situation at the main hall.
He stopped, his entire body hidden in the shadow on the eaves, holding his breath.
In the plaza outside the main hall of the tomb, a carriage was parked, and behind the carriage was a cage.
Inside the cage, a woman with her shoulder blades pierced by iron hooks hung her head low, her life or death unknown.
And in the center of the plaza was a pitch-black, bottomless pit, ten feet square.
The smell of blood was wafting from there.
After a while, a figure in a python robe walked out from the hole.
Wang Hai was startled.
He recognized that person; he had seen him beside the emperor when the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) escorted the emperor on his travels before.
The Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Stables, Wang Zhi.
The emperor's confidant.
Wang Zhi walked out of the hole and looked at Xue Jinxi in the cage.
"The last one."
He shook his head and sighed deeply.
He gestured.
Several eunuch-dressed figures silently stepped forward and opened the cage; one grabbed Xue Jinxi's hair, and two held the iron hooks piercing her body, leading her out of the cage.
Wang Zhi pointed to the hole.
The eunuchs nodded, still silent, and led Xue Jinxi towards the hole.
By the moonlight, Wang Hai clearly saw the faces of those eunuchs.
On their faces, several large scars stretched across, disfiguring them.
Even their noses had been cut off, revealing two dark, hollow holes.
Below those holes were several wires, running vertically through their lips, sealing their mouths tightly.
Their ears, which should have been on either side of their heads, were also gone, replaced by two holes sealed by overgrown flesh.
Wang Zhi did not speak, only gestured, because they could not hear at all.
And they did not make a sound because they could no longer make any sound.
What on earth was hidden here that required such an extreme method to seal off information!
Wang Hai slowly retreated.
He did not want to investigate at all.
But, at this moment, it was not up to him to leave as he wished.
Suddenly, Wang Zhi frowned and abruptly turned his head to look at the building where Wang Hai was hidden.
"Did I hear something?"
This matter was top secret; if anything went wrong, he would not survive.
And the reason the emperor kept him by his side was precisely because he was always meticulously cautious; every task the emperor entrusted to him, he would confirm countless times, never allowing the slightest mishap.
Without any thought of "maybe I misheard," he immediately strode over.
Wang Hai stopped breathing, halted his circulation of true qi, and shifted his gaze away from Wang Zhi.
But Wang Zhi was still approaching step by step.
In a moment, he had already reached the side of the main hall.
As soon as he used lightfoot martial arts to ascend to the rooftop, he would see Wang Hai lying on the eaves of the adjacent building.
Wang Hai slowly reached into his embrace, pulled out a hook-bladed glove, and put it on his hand.
He would not sit idly by and wait for death.
However, Wang Hai also clearly knew that if Wang Zhi discovered him, he would absolutely not be able to escape.
Fortunately, the other three had not come over.
As long as he exchanged a few blows with Wang Zhi and deliberately made some noise, they would hear it and naturally find an opportunity to escape.
Wang Zhi's foot paused, about to fly onto the roof to investigate.
And Wang Hai also gritted his teeth, ready to fight to the death.
Just at this moment.
Boom!!!
Behind Wang Zhi, there was a loud bang!
Wang Zhi abruptly turned his head.
Flesh and blood splattered out from the hole.
Several heads flew out, landed on the ground, and rolled far away.
The mouths stitched shut with iron wire could not let out a single scream of agony, but their eyes were wide open, staring at the pitch-black night sky.
Wang Zhi stared intently at the hole.
The surroundings fell silent for a moment.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
In the profound silence, dragging footsteps came from within the hole.
A head of white hair gradually emerged from the darkness.
Her clothes were tattered and she was covered in wounds.
There were two large gashes in the back of her clothes, revealing two hideous wounds.
The fresh blood flowing from her body gathered at her feet, leaving a crimson footprint with every step.
Xue Jinxi raised her head, revealing her aged face, and looked at Wang Zhi with lifeless eyes.
She flicked her hand, throwing a head to his feet.
The head rolled to Wang Zhi's feet and was stomped on by him.
Bang!
The head exploded, and Wang Zhi's foot landed on the ground.
Gritting, gritting.
It was the sound of Wang Zhi grinding his teeth.
""Jiezi"..."
"Heroine Xue... you really can hide..."
Wang Zhi said through gritted teeth.
How could he not see that Xue Jinxi had already fallen into the "Celestial Human Five Declines."
Which meant she had already cultivated two paths of the Tianren Realm.
Xue Jinxi was originally a Sumi, and with her body, which had been imprisoned for twenty-one years, it was absolutely impossible for her to cultivate Vajra.
That could only be "Jiezi".
And only the "Jiezi"'s characteristic of encompassing all martial arts could find a way to break free from the restraints.
Xue Jinxi looked blankly at Wang Zhi.
Suddenly, she parted her lips, revealing her dry gums, and laughed hoarsely and with difficulty.
"Ha... hahaha..."
"I still have to thank... Eunuch Wang, for helping me make up my mind..."
Wang Zhi's face suddenly darkened, but he cursed inwardly.
"Damn it, I shouldn't have been so kind as to tell her about her daughter!"
"Now the last 'furnace' is ruined!"
Xue Jinxi had been imprisoned for twenty-one years, and during these twenty-one years, Wang Zhi was responsible for guarding her.
Twenty-one years, even a stone pier at the entrance would develop a sense of familiarity.
So, after Wang Zhi prepared to send Xue Jinxi on her way, an indescribable feeling surged in his heart, as if he were sending off an old friend.
As if possessed, he informed Xue Jinxi of her daughter's death.
Unexpectedly, it was because of this momentary kindness that such a great mess arose!
If Xue Jinxi hadn't known about her daughter's death, to prevent him from retaliating, she would never have dared to use any hidden methods, even if she had them!
Xue Jinxi was already the last "furnace"; if anything went wrong, how could he explain it to the emperor!
Wang Zhi felt as if he had been betrayed.
"I kindly told you about your daughter, yet you caused me such great trouble!?"
He said furiously.
Xue Jinxi heard this and looked at Wang Zhi strangely.
A moment later, she laughed hoarsely.
In this very short time, she had grown even older.
Her silver hair gradually fell out, gathering in a pile at her feet, soaked in blood, drawing crimson patterns on the ground.
Xue Jinxi raised her hand, looking at her dry skin.
"Eunuch Wang... it is you and the imperial court who want to kill me."
"It is also you and the imperial court who imprisoned me for twenty-one years."
"You caused me to be separated from my daughter, leading to her tragic death on her way to find me, while I was hung in that dark, sunless room, unable to even erect a monument for her with my own hands."
"No small kindness, but great enmity."
"Why do you look so indignant..."
"It should be me who is angry."
Xue Jinxi raised her head and looked at Wang Zhi.
She said slowly and calmly.
"I will kill you."
——————
Wang Hai leaped off the eaves and sped through the shadows.
As soon as Little Four and the other three saw him, they said nothing, immediately turned together, and fled outwards.
At the main hall, because of Wang Zhi's orders, the guards dared not go to investigate.
But that loud bang just now had already attracted all the surrounding guards.
In a moment, once a heavy encirclement formed, it would be impossible to leave!
The four scaled the wall, suddenly darting into the bushes, and covertly looked around.
All of them inwardly thought it was bad.
The tomb of the current emperor was already the most heavily guarded place, and upon hearing the sound, guards from other tombs also immediately surged in from all directions.
Although an encirclement had not yet formed, there were already people everywhere, making it impossible to sneak away.
They could only force their way out!
Mei Qinghe drew her sword from its sheath and suddenly dashed out of the bushes, sprinting furiously in one direction.
The surrounding guards immediately spotted her, shouted loudly, and people from all sides swarmed towards her.
Gao Ling gritted her teeth.
Mei Qinghe was not rushing towards the outside of the tomb.
She was attracting the guards to create an opening for the three of them to escape!
Mei Qinghe swung her long sword, deflecting the weapons in front of her, but she was not using Hua Mountain Swordplay.
Having been recognized by her sect before, which led to trouble, how could she not learn her lesson.
After arriving at Shuntian Prefecture, she had already learned another long-lost sword technique; although it didn't feel right in her hand, she could still exert sixty to seventy percent of her skill.
The other three also did not waste this opportunity, seized an opening, suddenly darted out, and ran at full speed towards the mountain forest outside the Imperial Mausoleum.
"Thieves, stop!"
Suddenly, a sharp, high-pitched shout came from the side of the three.
Swish!
A fierce true qi suddenly shot towards the three!
Gao Ling drew her sword to block.
Clang! —
With a clang of the sword, Gao Ling's figure retreated sharply, falling back more than ten steps before the force dissipated.
An expert!
An old eunuch rushed over, his hands continuously pointing, and more than a dozen fierce true qi bolts suddenly shot out, heading towards the three.
And the surrounding guards had already surrounded them.
Wang Hai put Little Four down from his back and clenched his fists.
"We can't get away."
Little Four nodded, slashed her hand across the hook-blade of Wang Hai's glove, and blood gushed out.
Her clothes rippled, and dozens of Gu worms were poised to attack.
Gao Ling dodged the fierce true qi, flashed in front of Little Four, and gritted her teeth.
Just at this moment.
Boom!!!
The old eunuch suddenly vanished, flesh and blood splattered, leaving only a pile of remains on the ground.
A figure descended from the air and stood firm.
On his face, he wore a bronze mask.
"Ji Tianrui!"
Gao Ling exclaimed.
"Nonsense, call me Cult Master!"
From beneath the bronze mask came Li Miao's cold voice.
He turned to look at Wang Hai and Little Four, making them involuntarily lower their heads.
Li Miao raised his hand, and Xuantian Finger shot out from thin air, knocking away the weapons that were about to hit Mei Qinghe.
Then he grabbed at the void, and Mei Qinghe's figure suddenly retreated sharply, flying to Li Miao's side.
Li Miao raised his hand and slapped Mei Qinghe on the back of her head, making her stumble.
"I'll settle accounts with you when we get back!"
