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Wen Qing stumbled weakly after hearing the words from Wei WuHui's mouth.

The 'rest' could only means the ones who aren't breathing.

"That's not the way to talk. Although it's all Wen cultivator's here, we've never dared do anything fatal." The Jin Inspector stammered.

Uncaring to his words, Wei WuHui pulled out her Dízi. However, the few prisoners that were standing near the maiden then screamed in pure fear at the sight of the charcoal-black flute with the red tassel hanging from it.

In all honesty, most of the prisoners don't recognise Wei WuHui's face with the reason being that any Wen cultivators who came across the dark maiden only met with one fate.

Total annihilation.

Therefore, the Wen cultivators who recognised her face would become a fierce corpse, joining her army of the dead for the maiden to command.

"It's the ghost Dízi, Chénqíng!"

"Run!"

"It's her!"

Wei WuHui put Chénqíng to her lip before beginning to play the eerie melody. Its note ripping through the night sky and across the curtains of rain like a force of an arrow.

However, it was only one note that she needed before Wei WuHui pulled her Dízi away. A satisfied smile appeared on her face as she stood in the pouring rain, letting herself be dampened.

"What's that sound?" Someone in the crowd suddenly asked.

Cries of surprise and shock erupted from the far side of the crowd. People scrambling away from that area as the sight of dozen tattered figures suddenly stood up, tall and short, men and women.

Some of them already showing signs of decomposition with the stench of rotting flesh omitting from their life bodies.

Standing in front of that group was Wen Ning, whose lifeless eyes were left opened. His skin was pale like wax and his pupils were dilated. Blood at the corner of his lip had already dried into a dark brown colour. His chest did not rise and fall but it was obvious that half of his ribcage had collapsed.

Wen Qing felt her body slowly moving toward her brother, her body trembling as she held onto him and broke into tears. She had been scared and anxious, operating as if she was mad, but it was still too late.

She knew...she couldn't see her dear little brother ever again.

Wen Qing weeped, touching Wen Ning's ribs as if trying to piece them back together. The broken maiden was still trying to hold onto that non-existent possibility.

Eventually, the shock that overcome her proved to be too much for her as Wen Qing couldn't stay strong any longer and passes out.

Luckily, Wei WuHui was standing behind her as she caught the fainted maiden. Letting her rest against her body as Wei WuHui stared at the lifeless figure of Wen Ning's with conflicted emotions.

"Who killed him?" The maiden asked blanky.

"Wei Gu-Niang, you mustn't say such a thing. We wouldn't dare kill a single person here. He's the one who wasn't careful while working, fell off the valley walls and died." The Jin inspector explained nervously.

Wei WuHui hummed. "Nobody would dare kill a single person? Is that the truth?"

"Absolutely!" The inspectors swore in union. "Not a single one!"

Wei WuHui smirked. "I understand now."

"It's because they're Wen dogs, and since Wen dogs aren't considered as people. So even if you killed them, it doesn't count as having killed humans. That's what you mean, isn't it?" She continued.

The Jin Inspector's complexion turned pale.

"Or did you really think I wouldn't know how someone died?" Wei WuHui chuckled darkly.

The maiden turned to the speechless inspectors as she knew that the situation will not be going into their favour. Still maintaining her smile, she continued. "It's best if you admit everything honestly. Who's the one that killed him? Step forward on your own. Or else, I'd prefer killing the wrong people over letting them go. I'll make sure that no one is let off once I kill all of you."

Cold shivers immediately ran down every inspector's spine.

"The Yunmeng Jiang Sect and the Lanling Jin Sect have been getting along with each other. If you..." the Head Inspector stammered.

Hearing this, a small burst of laughter erupt from Wei WuHui's mouth as she turned to him with amusement. "Oh my, you sure are brave. Are you threatening me?"

Immediately, the Head Inspector shook his head frantically. "Of course not! Of course not!"

Wei WuHui chuckled. "Congratulations to all of you! You have successfully drained all of my patience. Since you don't want to speak up, why don't we let him answer for us?"

With those words spoken, Wen Ning's fierce corpse suddenly moved as he raised his head.

And before two nearby inspectors could move or even scream, each of their throats were clenched by a hand as firm as iron.

Expressionless, Wen Ning raised the two inspectors high in the air as the empty circle around them became larger.

"Wei Gu-Niang! Wei Gu-Niang! Have mercy on us! Doing this in the heat of the moment would lead to irreversible consequences!" The Head Inspector pleaded.

Wei WuHui didn't bother facing that inspector as she turned around and placed her hand on Wen Ning's shoulder. "Wen QiongLin!"

Wen Ning then let out a thundering road as if he was responding to the maiden. His roar reaching to every pair of ears in the valley.

"Whoever caused all of you to be like this, let them meet the same end! I am giving you the freedom to do so! Settle everything!" Wei WuHui added.

And with that said, Wen Ning crushed the two inspectors that were still in his grasp. Their heads exploded like a pair of watermelons, sending red and white flying everywhere.

The scene was hauntingly grotesque to Lan XiChen's eyes the moment he arrived in Qiongqi Path, just pure screams filled the entire valley.

"Wei Yang!" He called out, jumping immediately from his sword as his eyes went on the dark figure of Wei WuHui's. "Please, stop this!"

However, due to the heavy rain, the maiden did not hear or even acknowledge the young Sect Leader as she carried the still fainted Wen Qing on her back while acrossing the panicking crowd without care.

"Wei Gu-Niang..." a soft voice spoke as Wei WuHui turned to see one of the Wen prisoners.

"What is it?" Wei WuHui asked.

The prisoner pointed toward a certain direction shakily. "There's...there's a house on that side of the valley. They use it to...lock people inside and beat them up. Anyone who dies would be dragged outside and buried. Some of the people you're looking for might be over there."

The maiden nodded. "Thank you."

Wei WuHui walked oved to a small shed that looked to be temporarily built. Moving Wen Qing so she is holding her in one hand, Wei WuHui kicked the door open. Revealing dozen of people huddling in one corner of the room, bruised and injured, although they flinched from the loud noise, they immediately jumped up once they noticed Wen Qing and rushes toward them. "Wen Gu-Niang!"

One of them even snarled at Wei WuHui without fear. "Who are you? What did you do to Office Leader?"

"Nothing. Who are the cultivators under Wen Ning? Cut the nonsense and come out now!" Wei WuHui proclaimed.

Without pausing, Wei WuHui walked away, leaving the prisoners to stare among themselves before hestiantly following after her while helping one another out.

Once they are outside, they didn't get the chance to comprehend the chaotic situation that was going on around them before Wei WuHui gave them an order. "Get the horses. Hurry up!"

"No, our Wen-Gongzi..." a middle-aged man began.

But he didn't get to finish his sentence as a severed head flew across his eyes. The group turned around just in time to see Wen Ning smashing a body into the ground with their limbs still twitching as the fierce corpse ripped into their internal organs ruthlessly.

"Enough!" Wei WuHui commanded but low growls were heard in response from Wen Ning's mouth, as if he wasn't satisfied yet. Wei WuHui whistled. "Get up!"

"A-Yang!"

Wei Wuhui gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief as she finally noticed Lan XiChen rushing toward her in his damp white robes, his hair sticking to part of his face as the soft-brown eyes looked at her worriedly.

"What are you doing? Why are you here?" Wei WuHui stammered.

Lan XiChen grasped her free hand, trying his best not to look at the horrific image of ripped-apart bodies that surrounded them. "I want to help you. I followed you right as you left the Glamour Hall."

"Lan Huan, you can't be here. Your reputation and status will be tainted. Get out of here before anyone from the other sects see you." Wei WuHui urged before she turned to the group behind her. "What are you waiting for? Mount the horses! We don't have time to look for your swords!"

"I do not care about my status nor my reputation while knowing you'll be in danger, A-Yang. I made a vow for myself that I'll stay by your side, no matter what." Lan XiChen replied, his eyes swelling up with tears.

Wei WuHui stared at the man with conflicted emotions. The very man that just admitted that he will throw away his position as the Leader of a Sect just for her. She closed her eyes, tears slipping past her eyelids. "A-Huan, you..."

Lan XiChen then leaned forward, his body showing no hesitation in what he is going to do next.

Wei WuHui felt herself freezing up as a pair of soft lip made contact with her. Her gasp being muffled as she realised what was going on.

'I love you, Wei Yang. I will protect you with my life' Tears are now falling down on his cheeks as Lan XiChen poured everything into the pair's very first kiss.

'A-Huan...you stubborn man' Wei WuHui tearfully looked at the other as she sniffled, closing her eyes as she returned the kiss. 'Please don't sacrifice everything just for me. I am not worth it'

They prologued the moment that they may shared one last time before Wei WuHui pulled away, breathing heavily as she rest her forehead against Lan XiChen's. Her silvery-grey eyes staring into his soft-brown ones.

"A-Huan...I love you too. But you can't come with me, not when this will make you ana enemy with the other sects." Wei WuHui said. "You have to stay with your brother and sister. They need you."

Lan XiChen frowned solemnly. "Wei WuXian need you. I need you."

Wei WuHui smiled tearfully. "I know...I know. But I can't leave them." She then pulled away from him fully, slowly backing away.

Lan XiChen watched silently and painfully with cracks in his heart as his beloved mounted on one of the horses with Wen Qing in front of her as the dozen of people followed along, still cautious of Wei WuHui and now Lan XiChen. Around two or three on each horse, no matter the discomfort that comes with it.

Among them, the elderly woman couldn't ride one by herself and she had to somehow carry the small child with her too.

Seeing this, Wei WuHui lend out a hand. "I can take him, give him to me."

At first, the elderly woman shook her head many times with the child hugging his granny's neck tightly as he were on the verge of slipping off.

"Please, I am here to help. I will never cause harms on him." Wei WuHui pleaded with her arm still out.

The elderly woman stared at the young maiden with fear and hesitation, but eventually after a few seconds, she slowly but cautiously began moving the small child to Wei WuHui's arm.

Wei WuHui gently settled the child in front of her and Wen Qing, her arms barricading them both as she held the reins.

"A-Yang..." Lan XiChen called out softly as the maiden turned to him for a possibly last moment with him. "Please be careful. Please."

Wei WuHui paused for a bit before giving a solemn smile to her beloved. "I will try."

And with that, her legs struck against the horse's back and she began leading the group off with around a dozen horses following behind her into the night.

Leaving behind Lan XiChen, who stared after them with a broken expression as his tears continued to fall. His teeth clenched in frustration and Lan XiChen ended up falling to his knees, his head bowed lowly as he wrapped his arms around himself in an attempt to holding the little bit of himself together.

'In the end...I left you...again'

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(Please correct my translation if I'm wrong and the GIFs and pictures used in this chapter does not belong to me, but their rightful owners)