Chapter 149: The Offering of Blood Qi

Within the dungeon, life was enduring the baptism of passing like morning dew.

Elsewhere, Guo Lin arrived at the poisonous mist marsh.

Shielded by the miasma within the marsh, he reverted to his original appearance.

Meanwhile, the pleasure-seeking Red Widow suddenly pushed away the young attendant sprawled across her, smoothed down her robes slightly, and walked straight out of the room.

Just as she reached the steps, she called out to the shadowy alcove to her side, "Hmph, those who should come have arrived. Why not show yourselves?"

Worm stepped out, rubbing his hands together, and laughed ingratiatingly, "Well, Sister Red, we really didn't do anything."

With that, he punched Chang Daizi, gritting his teeth, "Say something, will you?"

Don't be acting all brave while watching and turning cowards now.

Chang Daizi stepped forward and asked, "Say what?"

Too lazy to bother with the two of them, the Red Widow retorted, "Whether you did anything or not, does this lady need to guess? Who needs your nonsense? Are you leaving or not? If you don't leave, I wash my hands of whatever happens next."

Their tracks having been exposed, Chang Daizi took it in stride—wasn't it just that sort of matter? They looked, so what else could happen?

Worm, however, was different. Having it called out so bluntly by the Red Widow made him lose face completely. He awkwardly laughed to deflect, "Sister Red, why have you started calling yourself 'this lady' lately? Clearly, you don't look old at all."

The Red Widow raised her hand and struck him across the face with a gust of palm wind. "This lady pleases herself, what business is it of yours? One more word of nonsense, and I'll have Little Red eat your little brother."

The blood-striped spider shuddered instantly. *Ew... no, that thing smells fishy and foul, who would want to eat it?*

Yet, promptly receiving a piercing glare of affection from the Red Widow, it immediately bared its fangs and spat out a strand of silk straight toward a certain spot.

Terrified, Worm quickly covered and clenched himself, executing a fluid evasion before aggrievedly whining, "My mistake, Sister Red, whatever you say goes."

In truth, he desperately wanted to slap himself for saying she didn't look old. In her ears, didn't that just imply she *was* old?

Except, she didn't...

Seeing the lingering anger still carved between her brows, he quickly added, "Everyone has already arrived at Desolation Terrace; we should hurry over. It's better to deliver the vital Qi back to the island sooner."

"Consider yourself sensible." The Red Widow swept her gaze over the two of them, said nothing more, and soon the three of them appeared in the front courtyard.

The moment she saw the three, Wangyou knelt and paid respects: "Wangyou greets all masters."

Stepping out first, the Red Widow moved with undulating grace and said, "Rise. Did you bring the items?"

"Replying to the Red Master, I have." With that, she drew a red glow from her sleeve. It was roughly the size of a fist, yet it condensed the lives of dozens of people from Little Zhou Village.

"Good. Chang Daizi, the matter of the vital Qi is left to you." The Red Widow glanced sidelong after seeing it.

"Rest assured." Chang Daizi stepped forward, took the red glow from Wangyou's palm, stowed it in his own sleeve, and said, "I leave Desolation Terrace to the two of you, I'm heading out."

The Red Widow nodded. "Be careful on the way."

"Eh? What about me?" Seeing Chang Daizi leave, Worm hurriedly asked about himself. Since they had worked on this together, it made no sense to leave him behind to slowly clean up the mess later.

"Stays wherever it's coolest for you." With that, she turned her gaze to Wangyou, and noticing the slight frown between the latter's brows, asked, "You have doubts?"

Secretly chiding herself for her carelessness—how could she let her mind wander at a time like this?—Wangyou lowered her gaze and bowed her head. "Guo Lin, whom I previously sent to handle matters at Little Zhou Village, reported upon his return that he had been tracked. Wangyou believes we ought to pay attention to this."

Worm chimed in, "No need, I already know about this. I'm the one who saved that brat's life—didn't he tell you?"

"He mentioned it, but Wangyou has already executed him."

"Why?"

"He knew nothing when questioned and couldn't even identify who was trailing him. Of what use is he to Wangyou?"

"You want to know the identity of the other party?" Worm raised an eyebrow slightly. Had they previously underestimated this woman somewhat? So decisive in killing and grasping the crucial point. It seemed there was a reason she had been chosen by Zhao Hongzhuang.

At this thought, he couldn't help but look at Wangyou in a new light.

Pondering for a moment, Wangyou replied, "Yes. If we cannot fully understand who is beneath the other party, it is undoubtedly like inviting ghosts at midnight—how can one sleep in peace?"

Worm tossed back his hair and smiled half-mootly, "That's not difficult. I made inquiries afterwards."

"Oh?"

"The person tracking him that day was Mo Ruyuan, rumored to be one of the Three Masters of Spring and Autumn Calligraphy. You can investigate along this lead and should reap some harvest."

"Many thanks to Master Worm for clearing my confusion!"

"Heeheehee, it's nothing, it's nothing—who told Master Worm to be such a good person?" He said this without blushing or his heart beating fast.

Yet someone listening felt their brows tie into knots; shamelessness was likely defined precisely like this.

Was he really that kind? Of course not. Showing such uncharacteristic benevolence naturally meant he had his own agenda.

The Red Widow had claimed he underestimated the younger generation of Desolate Sea Heaven, so he would use someone else's hands to prove it. Besides, he had nothing to lose.

However, Wangyou was not completely oblivious. Such a massive pie falling from the sky—why did it land so precisely, providing exactly what she lacked? Wasn't it blatantly obvious there was a problem in the middle? Pondering this, she took the initiative to confess her fault, "Although Guo Lin is dead, since Master Worm saved his life, he must have had some value. It was Wangyou's failure to investigate thoroughly; I beg Master Worm to punish me."

This was a strategic retreat disguised as an advance, knowing that impatience would only lead her straight into a pre-arranged trap. She feared that if her probing failed, she would implicate herself as well.

Recalling her earlier suspicions, she inwardly cursed herself for failing to think things through. Knowing the other party's methods were superhuman, how could she lose her composure over such a trivial matter? Consider the fire in the guest chamber of Fuling Pavilion; what was a mere tail compared to that?

Yet, while she wished to retreat, someone refused to let her go. Struggling with how to initiate the matter at hand, now that this person had delivered herself to the door, how could she not make use of her?

Therefore, upon hearing this, Worm paused for a moment, then smiled darkly, "A mere puppet, dead is dead. Since he took orders from you, taking his life was only right. However, your concerns are not without reason. Therefore, one must never take Mo Ruyuan lightly."

"...Understood."

Things having reached this point, Wangyou had no choice but to agree. In a flash of thought, she decided today was truly plagued by bad luck. First she was tailed, and her identity would likely not remain hidden for much longer; she had come to offer vital Qi, only to embroil herself in all these complications.

She thought to herself: *This place is not meant for a long stay; I'd better leave quickly.*

Before she could speak, however, Worm piped up first, "Ah... well, Sister Red has a task for you to handle."

Wangyou looked at the Red Widow and asked somewhat stiffly, "I wonder what instructions the Red Master has?"

Though she wanted to refuse in her heart, she knew very well she possessed no qualification to say no.

However much terror she felt, she had to swallow it down piece by piece.

The Red Widow raised a hand, signaling Worm to step aside first; she wanted to speak with Wangyou alone.

Worm swept a blatant, sweeping gaze between the two before sauntering over to the eaves and leaning against a door panel.

Once they were slightly out of earshot, the Red Widow slowly spoke, "Do you know which aspect of you I appreciate the most?"

Wangyou quietly took a step back, feigned ignorance, and shook her head. "I... I do not."

"Tsk, a woman who lies is not the least bit cute. You know what I'm saying, don't you?"

"..."

She knew, of course she knew. But she could not say it; she didn't want to invite trouble upon herself.

Remaining silent was her only response.

Walking in a circle around her, the Red Widow said indifferently, "Rest assured, the task I want you to do is not difficult. For you, it's merely passing along a message—a wave of the hand."

"What message?" Wangyou glanced sidelong. It seemed unavoidable now.

"I have a few words to tell the Demon Son, but I refuse to set foot in the Demon Realm again. Put like that, do you understand?"

The moment those words fell, Wangyou lifted her gaze abruptly, staring at the Red Widow, unable to find her voice for a long time.

It wasn't that she liked overthinking, but the situation forced her not to. Ever since their meeting that day, the Red Widow had made no attempt to conceal matters between the two of them, speaking quite frankly. That included their relationship and the reason they had parted ways.

Instantly, dense beads of sweat began to bead upon her forehead.

At that time, she knew all too well what kind of intentions the person before her held. It was nothing more than using her to do her dirty work, a point she could not resist.

Yet the problem now was that the Demon Son and the Three Evils had already broken apart, and she was now being asked to rebuild this shattered bridge.

This wasn't building a bridge; it was marching to her death.

Suddenly, the Red Widow's chilly voice rang out, "What? Unwilling?"

A murderous glint flashed across Wangyou's eyes, though she masked it with slight hesitation as she replied, "How dare I? Wangyou... Wangyou was merely thinking that even if Wangyou is willing, I fear the Demon Son may not easily consent."

"Oh?" A murderous intent instantly bloomed at the corners of the Red Widow's lips, so light it dissolved into the wind while retaining a sliver of softness.

As for Wangyou, she remained completely oblivious to this, babbling on, "Think about it, Master, the Demon Son holds a noble status within the Demon Realm. If someone loses face right to his face, how could he ever let it rest?"

The Red Widow nodded as if taking it very seriously. "What you say is indeed true, it fits her character well, but you've underestimated one thing."

"What?" Wangyou's heart skipped a beat violently, feeling as though it might leap out of her throat the next moment.

"My words—the Red Widow's words—she cannot refuse."

That statement could be considered utterly arrogant, yet Wangyou dared not doubt it in the slightest.

Lowering her head, she whispered, "Wangyou understands."

"Do a good job." The Red Widow suddenly hooked her finger under Wangyou's chin, examining her face from left to right—a gaze that sent bone-chilling shivers down someone's spine.

Squeezing the words out almost from the back of her throat, Wangyou answered, "Yes."

After studying her for a moment, the Red Widow suddenly released her hand and said with seeming casualness, "Let me teach you a principle: in front of someone stronger than you, all schemes are futile."

Hearing this, Wangyou's legs instantly went weak, and she dropped to her knees, slamming her head repeatedly against the ground. "Wangyou knows her crime, please forgive me, Red Master."

The Red Widow did not immediately help her up, watching her for a long time instead. "Rise. But remember, not every time brings good luck. Nor does this sister always have a good mood every time."

"Many thanks, Red Master!" Startled, Wangyou recovered her wits and hurriedly bowed out.

Once she was gone, Worm leisurely strolled out from beneath the eaves, tone dripping with sarcasm, "Oho, when did Sister Red acquire such a merciful heart? That's truly a rare commodity. Care to lend it to me to look at?"

"Cut the strange tone, you bastard! Can't you tell why this lady is doing this?" The Red Widow whipped around angrily, flames seemingly dancing within her eyes.

Worm curled his lip. "I can tell, alright. If those attendants hadn't served so wholeheartedly, how could Sister Red have tasted such addictive sweetness?"

The moment those words fell, the atmosphere abruptly warped.

With her selfish motives exposed, no matter how much the Red Widow disregarded worldly opinions, she was instantly provoked into a rage. She snapped harshly, "So this lady tasted addictive sweetness, so what? I please myself! If you could cultivate yourself into something human-shaped, what harm would there be in this lady yielding to you? It's just a pity that some people look good on the outside but are useless inside—all show and no substance."

"Stinking bitch, don't go too far! Don't think that just because you crawled out wearing someone else's skin, you actually consider yourself a beauty. Don't forget, in the Dark Mountain Lake dungeon, you, the Red Widow, were no better off than Master Worm. Now that you've donned human skin and slept with a few men, you really think you're somebody. Tell me, if they knew your true appearance, would they vomit?" Worm's face turned beet red, choked with a mix of fury and guilty conscience—it turns out his dirty little secrets had been clear to her all along.

Call it bruised pride, call it being driven to extremes—either way, Worm was truly enraged this time.

As his words fell, the Red Widow was likewise driven to fury by vexation. Which woman in this world didn't love beauty? So what if she was wearing someone else's skin? Which of you stinking men didn't love it?

She snapped furiously, "What? Still want to act tough? If you've got the ability, come at me then?"

The retort left Worm's complexion pale green, then crimson, and finally dead white.

Seeing his half-dead appearance only fueled the Red Widow's anger. She sneered, "Spare me the heroics in front of this sister. Did I say a single half-word about why you and that dead Flower-Bag swapped bodies? Didn't I still play along with your little act every day? And now you want to tear down the stage first... hmm?"

With that, her figure shot out of Desolation Terrace.