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Chairman Cang Hong put down the phone, his face showing even greater worry.

He tried his best to contact the disciples who could still be found in the Xuanmen roster, but few responded.

The once-prosperous Suspended Gate is long gone, its lineage broken, and its disciples scattered in all directions. Most of them have integrated into the secular world and either have forgotten, disbelieved, or avoided the affairs of the Kai tribe.

Of those who answered the call, probably less than one in ten would survive.

After much effort, Yan Furui finally managed to gather the few people he could contact who were willing to come to Canghong's clubhouse.

He had just settled these people in when he had to rush back to his room to take care of Wang Qiankun, who was still listless and sometimes lucid and sometimes confused.

Exhausted, he thought of Wafang again and quickly called Su Ning, asking Wafang to answer. Hearing his apprentice's childish voice saying, "Master, I'm fine. Uncle Su bought me something delicious," Yan Furui felt a little relieved.

After hanging up the phone, Wafang rubbed his hungry stomach again. Seeing that Su Ning wasn't there, he mustered up his courage and went to knock on Si Teng's door.

Shito was sitting quietly in thought, but he didn't react when the little guy disturbed him.

Wafang blinked its big eyes: "Pretty sister, I'm hungry, do you have anything to eat?"

Sito naturally had no human food, and merely glanced at him indifferently.

Thinking she didn't believe him, Wafang hurriedly pulled out his treasured transparent box containing small green worms, as if presenting a precious treasure. "Can I trade this for something delicious with you?"

The plump, wriggling green worm instantly came into view!

Although Si Teng is a member of the Kama tribe, her plant nature gives her an instinctive aversion and fear of these fleshy insects!

Her face turned pale, and she suddenly leaned back, almost causing the vines around her to burst out in response!

Fortunately, Su Ning returned just in time. Upon seeing the scene, he rushed forward, slammed the box shut, and carried Wafang, who was still presenting the treasure, away from Si Teng.

"A tiled house! You can't show this to my sister!"

Still shaken, Si Teng's face was extremely pale. Without saying a word, he suddenly stood up and slammed the window shut with a loud bang, as if trying to shut out everything that made him uncomfortable.

……

The atmosphere inside Cang Hong's clubhouse was eerie.

The "elites" gathered here have diverse appearances: there are white-collar workers in suits who have just arrived from the office building; there are celebrities wearing sunglasses and masks who seem to have some fame on TV; there are drivers with oily hands who look like they have just finished repairing a car; and there is even a silent woman in traditional Miao clothing.

They looked at each other, their eyes filled with suspicion and unfamiliarity.

Yan Furui looked at this group of "strange-looking" fellow disciples and felt a chill run down his spine.

Can these people really handle Si Teng, who has profound magical power and a terrifying aura?
He was deeply suspicious.

During the meeting, everyone was talking at once, but no one knew what Si Teng's purpose in being resurrected was.

She didn't seem to immediately launch a bloody revenge as rumored, which made people even more uneasy.

The focus quickly shifted to how to rescue Wang Qiankun, who had been struck by the "vine kill".

Guild Master Cang Hong's expression was grave: "The Vine Killer is formed from the power of the Vine Demon, and it is extremely strange. If we forcibly remove it, it may damage the Qiankun Heart Meridian. For now, I'm afraid... I'm afraid we really have no choice but to beg her..."

"Ask her? Absolutely not!" someone immediately objected.

Why should these descendants of the Suspended Masters have to beg a tribe?
What about your reputation?!

Just then, a disciple of the Suspended Gate named Bai Jin stood up.

He adjusted his glasses, looking like a scholar: "Gentlemen, I have been studying the Kagyu tribe for years. I believe they are not invincible demons, but rather more like another advanced life form evolved from plants. As living beings, they must have weaknesses, specific conditions for survival, and energy sources. If we find their Achilles' heel, we may not be unable to contend with them, or even control them!"

Bai Jin's seemingly scientific and rational analysis gave a shot in the arm to this group of anxious, fearful, and proud young men from humble backgrounds.

Everyone echoed their sentiments, as if they had found the surest way to defeat Sito, and blind confidence returned to their faces.

Looking at this group of people who had suddenly become excited, Yan Furui felt a faint spark of hope ignite in his heart, even though deep down he was still filled with unease.

……

In the courtyard, Si Teng sat alone in the room with the doors and windows tightly closed. His mind, which had been disturbed by the green caterpillars, gradually calmed down, but deeper thoughts welled up in his heart.

She was resurrected and returned with her powers fully restored, but that did not mean the end of the matter.

A crucial question lingered in her mind: Now that she had been resurrected, what about the "other person" who shared the same origin as her yet was completely different...?

Bai Ying must also exist in some form somewhere in the world.

However, Bai Ying did not take the initiative to come to her.

This makes no sense, unless...

Unless she is also in trouble, or is in some special situation.

Sito disliked the feeling of passively waiting, and even more so, disliked placing her hopes on others.

But now the world has changed drastically, and everything is different. For her to find Bai Ying on her own is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Left with no other choice, she could only rely on these descendants of the Suspended Sect, using their possible remaining connections and influence to help her find Bai Ying's whereabouts.

This move is risky, but it's currently the only viable option.

She closed her eyes, her fingertips tapping unconsciously on the table, her mind beginning to plan her next move, and...

How to "make good use" of these ambitious young men from humble backgrounds, each with their own agendas?

Revenge is not her primary goal; finding Bai Ying, uncovering the truth of what happened back then, and figuring out the path forward are her true objectives.

……

Yan Furui felt like he was living through a year in Cang Hong's clubhouse.

Nine days have passed, and the disciples of the Suspended Gate who have gathered here are still arguing endlessly. They have tried all sorts of talismans, magical artifacts, and even rituals to invoke the gods, which are said to be able to exorcise evil spirits and break curses, but none of them have any effect on the "vine killing" in Wang Qiankun's body.

Wang Qiankun was sometimes conscious and sometimes unconscious, and his complexion was getting worse and worse.

Left with no other option, Yan Furui dialed Su Ning's number again, his voice filled with anxiety and frustration: "Mr. Su, we've tried everything, but nothing works! My senior brother is about to collapse! What exactly does Miss Si Teng want?"

Su Ning on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment, seemingly exchanging a few words with someone next to her, before replying, "Mr. Yan, don't be anxious. I've roughly inquired about Miss Si Teng's intentions, and it seems she doesn't necessarily want to take Master Wang's life. Continuing to drag this out isn't a solution. Why don't you bring Master Wang back first and beg Miss Si Teng in person? Perhaps there's still a chance."

"really?"

"Mr. Yan, would I have any reason to lie to you?"

After hanging up the phone, the anxious look on Yan Furui's face vanished instantly, replaced by a hint of cunning and smugness.

He whispered to the unconscious Wang Qiankun, "Senior brother, just bear with it a little longer, they've taken the bait! It seems that Si Teng and that Su Ning have indeed let their guard down."

He thought he had fooled Su Ning and Si Teng with his self-inflicted injury and acting skills, but little did he know that Si Teng had already seen through his little scheme.

……

Back at the courtyard, Su Ning had just hung up the phone when he saw Xiao Wafang carrying a cup of tea that he had "carefully prepared." Xiao Wafang tiptoed up to Si Teng, a fawning smile plastered on his face: "Pretty sister, have some tea! Wafang apologizes to you!"

Si Teng was no ordinary person; he could tell at a glance that the tea was unusually colored. He also caught a glimpse of the cunning glint in Wa Fang's eyes and understood what was going on.

She calmly took the teacup, but with her other hand she suddenly picked up the brush on the table and, with lightning speed, drew several dark whiskers on Wafang's small face.

Wafang was stunned. Feeling the coolness on her face, she ran to the mirror, looked at herself, and burst into tears!
Hearing the commotion, Su Ning rushed over and saw the tiled roof covered in graffiti and the expressionless Si Teng. She quickly asked, "What happened?"

Si Teng didn't explain, but simply handed the "specially made" tea to Su Ning, saying in a flat tone, "Drink it." Su Ning was stunned. Looking at the tea Si Teng handed her, and then at the heartbroken Wa Fang, she subconsciously thought that Si Teng was using this method to "offer tea" as a way of expressing her apology.

Although I found this method a bit strange, perhaps it was a way to appease the tile-roofed house.

Without thinking twice, Suning took the drink and took a big gulp!

The next second, "Pfft—!" Su Ning suddenly spat out all the tea, choking so badly that her face turned red and her eyes almost welled up with tears.

This is basically a cup of extremely concentrated salt water!

He instantly understood, pointing at the still sobbing tile-roofed house, both laughing and crying: "You...you little rascal!"

Looking at Si Teng again, a very faint, fleeting smile seemed to appear at the corner of her mouth.

Well, in this battle of wits between master and servant, I've become the unfortunate test subject for poison.

It's no wonder that the troublemaker Wafang got a beating from Si Teng.

……

After numerous failures, someone from the Suspended Gate group finally mentioned a name: the Huang family.

The Huang family, a prominent family in the past, had a patriarch named Huang Yu, who was once as famous as Qiu Shan and was one of the main forces involved in the extermination of Si Teng.

It is said that the Huang family may have passed down some unique methods of the Karen tribe and the Vine Killing technique.

Although the Huang family has now declined, and their only remaining daughter is already eighty years old, she is said to be in good spirits and have a clear mind.

Yan Furui grasped at the last straw, completely believing that the Huang family could cure the vine-killing disease, and his hope was rekindled.

However, what they didn't know was that Si Teng, who lived in the mansion, had absorbed that strand of green hair and regained all his power. In order to carry out a certain plan, he forcibly reversed his demonic energy and was currently in an extremely special state...

She has temporarily lost all her magical powers and is no different from an ordinary, weak woman!

She only told Su Ning the news and asked him to keep it a secret.

“My current state is unusual, and I must not let outsiders know.” Si Teng’s face was pale, but his eyes were still sharp. “Perfect, I will use the fear of the Suspended Gate people towards me to force them to work for me. You just need to cooperate with me and maintain the appearance of intimidation.”

Suning then realized that Si Teng was putting on an empty city ruse!

With her frail body, she would use her past infamy and precise psychological manipulation to remotely control those scheming members of the Suspended Gate, forcing them to help her find Bai Ying's whereabouts.

This audacity and shrewdness sent chills down Suning's spine once again.

"Sito, should we prioritize safety and retreat first?"

"What? Are you scared?"

"No, that's not it! It's just that it's such a pity that you've just been resurrected and are about to perish again."

"Hmph! You're underestimating me far too much."

……

At the same time, Wang Qiankun was half-pushed and half-shoved into the house by several disciples of the Suspended Gate. The door slammed shut, leaving Yan Furui and Bai Jin outside.

Yan Furui peered through the crack in the door, but couldn't see anything. He could only dejectedly take two steps back and pace back and forth in the corridor, rubbing his hands.

As Qiu Shan's nominal disciple, he was now being turned away because he had no skills, and his heart was filled with mixed feelings.

"That's strange..." Platinum, who was live-streaming on her phone, suddenly muttered to herself, "Si Teng clearly knows that the Teng Kill can be countered, so why did she go to all this trouble to use this move to control Wang Qiankun?"

These words flashed through Yan Furui's mind like a bolt of lightning.

He stopped abruptly, about to speak, when a shrill scream suddenly came from inside the house, followed by a muffled thud of something falling to the ground and the sound of hurried footsteps.

The two exchanged a glance and hurriedly pushed open the door to enter.

The once-arrogant disciples of the Suspended Gate were now sprawled on the ground, blood trickling from their mouths. Only the woman dressed in Miao ethnic clothing stood alone in a corner, her face as pale as paper, her fingers tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her knuckles white.

"Quick! Help!" Yan Furui shouted as he rushed forward, and Bai Jin quickly put away his phone to help.

In the midst of the chaos, no one noticed the Miao woman quietly retreating into the shadows, a strange glint in her eyes.

After settling the wounded, Bai Jin took a deep breath, took out his phone, and dialed Si Teng's number.

The woman's voice on the other end of the phone was languid with a hint of mockery: "I already asked Yan Furui to pass on a message, it's just that I wanted to ask you all for help with some things. Who knew he wouldn't take it to heart at all, which is why this situation has arisen."

Upon hearing this, Yan Furui blushed deeply.

He did remember that Si Teng had asked him to pass on a message, but he never expected it to be an "invitation" in this way.

Even more surprisingly, Si Teng suddenly chuckled and said he would host a banquet for everyone.

These words were transmitted throughout the room via speakerphone, and the several still-sane disciples of the Suspended Gate were so angry that they trembled all over.

Who would use a vine-slaying gesture to force someone to treat them to a meal?
Master Canghong, who was lying in the rocking chair, slowly opened his eyes. He was the oldest and most senior among them.

The old man coughed lightly and spoke in a trembling voice, "Since we're going to this trap, why don't we ask Old Lady Huang Cuilan first? Since she knows the method to remove the vine, she might also know a lot about Si Teng's past."

"Thank you for your help, President Cang Hong."

Then, under Cang Hong's arrangement, the group visited Huang Cuilan, who was living in seclusion in the suburbs, the next day.

The old man sat in the courtyard covered with vines, holding a cup of tea, and slowly recounted a long-forgotten story.

This was the first time Yan Furui had heard of his master Qiu Shan's secret. Although he had been a disciple for many years, he had never learned any of the skills required for the Suspended Gate.

It turns out that all of this stemmed from the fact that Si Teng's strange behavior was orchestrated by Qiu Shan.

“Qiu Shan was exceptionally intelligent but came from a humble background and suffered constant ostracism within the Suspended Gate,” Huang Cuilan sighed. “He harbored evil intentions and wanted to prove himself by taming a powerful alien. Si Teng was his pawn and his sacrifice.”

Qiu Shan succeeded.

Sito's immense power brought him fame, but he never regarded Sito as an equal, only as a servant to be used.

The cruelest thing was that he deliberately made Si Teng reveal his true colors in front of his beloved, completely shattering the last bit of warmth in Si Teng's heart.

Just as Qiu Shan was about to achieve great success and officially enter the core circle of the Suspended Gate, an anonymous letter of whistleblowing suddenly appeared, revealing his secret of privately raising aliens.

Overnight, he went from being a favored son of heaven to a public enemy of the government.

“That letter…” A complex look flashed in Huang Cuilan’s cloudy eyes. “No one knows who wrote it. But since then, Qiu Shan and Si Teng have disappeared from Xuanmen’s sight.”

Yan Furui was stunned.

He never imagined that his usually taciturn and indifferent master had such a complicated past.

The relationship between Si Teng and Qiu Shan is not just simple hatred, but also a twisted symbiotic relationship.

As the sun set, everyone bid farewell to Huang Cuilan.

Yan Furui glanced back at the old man's hunched figure and suddenly realized that Si Teng's banquet was probably more than just "asking for a favor".

The truth behind Fujisatsu seems to be far more profound than they imagined...

...(End of chapter)