Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Hypocrite

“Don’t even think about it!”

Venerable Ku Mu roared. Before the golden hand could touch the pavilion, a streak of green light shot in and shattered it to pieces.

Spiritual light crisscrossed the sky. The Star-Plucking Tower trembled from its foundations, stone groaning like something alive.

Shang Shao Yang’s voice drifted through the chaos with a faint sigh. “Hold back a little. If you hurt the people in the city, don’t blame me for picking a side and showing no mercy.”

Somehow, the barrier over the pavilion still held—likely because Shang Shao Yang was forcing it to.

Even so, the shockwaves so close made the whole structure buck and shudder. No one inside could keep their footing. Bai Meng Jin braced herself against a pillar, teeth clenched, and forced her gaze upward through the haze of light.

That green spiritual light belonged to Venerable Ku Mu.

He’d been the strongest of the four, but the other side had numbers. And if he truly carried old injuries… he was being pushed.

Could reinforcements from the Limitless Sect arrive in time?

It didn’t look promising. The attackers had come prepared. They would definitely try to block any help.

So… had something like this happened in her last life?

Ling Bu Fei had been too low-key back then. By the time he returned to public view, he was already Sect Master. She had no memory to measure this outcome against.

But one thing was certain: Young Sect Master Ling had always lived. And lived well.

“Young master!”

Bai Li Xu’s shout snapped her attention down.

A scholar in a blue robe appeared outside the pavilion as if he’d stepped out of thin air. He lifted a fan, smiled, and beckoned.

Ling Bu Fei lurched toward him before Bai Li Xu could even grab him. “Come with me!”

Ji Yuan Si—the Nan Ping Recluse.

Sly, indeed. While Venerable Ku Mu and Po Qian Jun were locked in combat, he’d come to snatch the prize.

A flying leaf struck in time, knocking his approach aside. Venerable Ku Mu had spared a heartbeat to stop him.

Po Qian Jun seized that opening.

Golden light condensed again. The giant hand reformed.

Ling Bu Fei staggered back and forth like a drunk being shoved by invisible fists, finally snapping, “Could you at least decide who gets to grab me first? You’re making my head spin! If you can’t decide, play rock-paper-scissors!”

Ji Yuan Si laughed softly. “You’re a funny kid. Aren’t you afraid?”

Ling Bu Fei bared his teeth. “What do I have to be afraid of? Do you dare kill me?”

The laughter died.

The question was too sharp. Too true.

They didn’t dare.

Puppet or not, the Upper Three Sects still cared about face. Whoever killed him would never have peace again.

“Old Ji, you’re useless!”

Second Lady Hu’s voice rang out. A Red Thread streaked in, curling toward Ling Bu Fei like a living whip. “You can’t even hold onto a child.”

Ji Yuan Si raised a hand and shattered the Red Thread, his voice calm but hard. “Then do it yourself if you’re so capable. Anyone can talk big.”

Second Lady Hu flew into rage. “You dare block me!”

A thousand Red Threads appeared at once, lashing toward Ji Yuan Si.

Ji Yuan Si’s brows drew together. “Second Lady Hu, are you crazy? You’re using all your power on me!”

“That’s right.” Her voice was wild. “Anyone who dares stop me today won’t get mercy!”

Ji Yuan Si’s expression darkened. “If you won’t hold back, then don’t blame me for doing the same!”

He flicked his sleeve.

A violent gust ripped under the pavilion like a giant hand, tearing the entire structure up into the air.

“Aaaah!”

Ji Xing Ge clung to a pillar with one hand and grabbed Bai Meng Jin with the other, swinging as the world flipped.

“Young master!” Bai Li Xu shouted, the highest cultivation among them. He forced spiritual power into his feet and inched outward, trying to haul Ling Bu Fei back—

Only for the golden hand to seize the pavilion and flip it again.

Bai Li Xu staggered back step after step, every ounce of strength spent just to keep from being thrown out. All his effort was wasted.

Ling Bu Fei felt his stomach climb into his throat.

Back and forth. Left and right. Again and again. He couldn’t find anything to grab, couldn’t even breathe properly—just spun like a rag in a child’s hand.

In the chaos, his fingers brushed something.

Like a drowning man finding a rope, he clutched without thinking.

“What are you doing?”

At the sound of that voice, he realized—too late—he’d grabbed Miss Bai by the leg.

“…!”

Heat rushed to his face.

He still didn’t let go.

A ripping sound followed, sharp and unmistakable. His hand slid, touching something smooth and cool.

Bai Meng Jin went still for a beat, then thrust out her hand. “Climb up!”

If he kept yanking like this, her pant leg was going to tear clean off.

At this point, Young Sect Master Ling stopped being picky. He seized her hand and hauled himself up.

It took effort, but he finally found a precarious balance—using her as a living pillar.

At that moment, the golden hand dispersed. A flying leaf swept in beneath the pavilion, catching it and steadying it for a breath.

Ji Xing Ge exhaled shakily—then her eyes snapped to the corner. She stared for a heartbeat, then erupted.

“Ling Bu Fei! You hypocrite who says one thing and does another!”

Earlier, he wouldn’t even let her brush his sleeve, acting like a chaste hero who’d rather die than be touched.

And now?

Now he was clinging to a pretty little miss like his life depended on it—arms locked around her, shameless as could be.

So much for trusting a man’s mouth.

He talked so nicely, but the moment he saw someone beautiful, didn’t he pounce?

To hell with being the Young Sect Master’s Wife. Whoever wanted that misery could take it. With a man like this, even if she held all the power, she’d still die young.

Ling Bu Fei’s face was already red to the ears. He still didn’t loosen his grip.

No joke. He could say anything with his mouth, but if he let go right now, his guts would get shaken out.

Bai Li Xu went silent, then extended a hand. “Young master. Grab me.”

Of course Ling Bu Fei wasn’t actually trying to take advantage. If he had a choice, he’d choose Bai Li Xu without hesitation.

But the moment he reached out, the pavilion spun again—hard.

He yanked his hand back instantly and clung tighter to Bai Meng Jin.

Bai Li Xu: “…”

In the tug-of-war of Divine Transformation Stage cultivators, the viewing pavilion finally tore free of the Star-Plucking Tower entirely, drifting—wobbling—out into the open sky.

The night was thick. They could barely see more than silhouettes.

Then a mountain loomed ahead, huge and sudden.

“Oh no!” Bai Li Xu blurted. “We’re going to crash!”

Venerable Ku Mu moved first. The flying leaf flared, turning into green light to block their path.

Po Qian Jun followed, golden light condensing into sharp arrows that streaked toward the threat.

A wild wind swept in and yanked the entire pavilion sideways.

Red Threads wove into a net and lashed in as well.

Targets shifted instantly. Venerable Ku Mu and Po Qian Jun turned their focus, trying to snatch Ji Yuan Si before he could seize control.

In that chaos, a single Red Thread slid in soundlessly.

Hidden beneath the blaze of countless lights, it struck with sudden precision—wrapping around Ling Bu Fei.

And because he was still holding onto Bai Meng Jin, it wrapped around her too.

“Young master!”

Bai Li Xu managed that one shout—

Then the Red Thread tightened like a noose and ripped the two of them clean out of the pavilion.

“No!”

Venerable Ku Mu sensed it and turned to intercept, but his spiritual light was tangled in three fights at once. He couldn’t pull away in time.

Second Lady Hu acted even more decisively. She severed the Red Threads tangled in combat, buying herself a single heartbeat.

A Divine Transformation Stage cultivator moved with terrifying speed. In the blink of an eye, she was already far away, dragging them through the sky like prey.

Second Lady Hu’s voice drifted back, distant and cold. “Old Ku Mu, I’m taking him with me. If you want him alive, don’t chase. Maybe after I finish asking my questions, I’ll be in a good mood and send him back.”

Something in Bai Meng Jin’s memory stirred—faint, sharp, and unwelcome.