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Seeing this somewhat eccentric Si Teng, Su Ning couldn't help but frown.

"Si Teng, this trip to Yunxi Village is fraught with danger. The enemy has clearly laid a trap. Are you really... not going to make any preparations soon?"

Si Teng glanced at him sideways but didn't answer, as if she didn't take the trap to heart.

She stretched out her slender fingers, circled them to her temple, and quietly cut off a section of her jet-black hair.

She handed the strand of hair to Su Ning, her movements slow yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"When you go to see Shen Yindeng, be sure to keep it close to your body."

Su Ning subconsciously took the cool, soft strand of hair. The touch was strange. He paused for a moment, then blurted out, "What is this? A token of love?"

His tone carried a hint of anticipation that he himself was unaware of.

Si Teng snorted coldly, his eyes sweeping over him like knives: "Hmph! Dream on. This is a treasure that can save your life in a critical moment."

"Just this small section of hair, and it's so amazing?" Su Ning pinched the hair, examining it with a suspicious look.

"Don't you believe me?" Si Teng raised an eyebrow, his tone revealing a dangerous undertone.

"Hehe," Su Ning chuckled dryly, then boldly complained, "It's not that I don't trust you, it's that I don't believe you're so kind! You forced me to sign a contract to become your servant for no reason, and now I'm being bossed around every day without getting any real benefits..."

"Oh?" Si Teng seemed intrigued by his words and asked leisurely, "Then tell me, what practical benefits do you want?"

Su Ning's eyes darted around, his heart inexplicably racing, and he inexplicably grinned and said, "As for the benefits... how about I hug you first?"

As soon as he said it, he was startled, but he forced a nonchalant expression.

"You're courting death!" Si Teng's eyes suddenly turned cold, the pressure around him dropped sharply, and a faint light began to gather at his fingertips.

"Tch! Just kidding, why are you being so fierce?!" Seeing this, Su Ning felt a chill run down his spine and immediately backed down.

Despite his shouting, he turned around with lightning speed and practically scrambled away from the scene, leaving behind a disheveled and pathetic sight.

Si Teng didn't actually make a move. He just stood there, watching Su Ning's panicked figure disappear into the distance. The slight anger on his face gradually dissipated, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

With her keen perception, she could naturally sense that beneath those seemingly frivolous and joking words lay a few genuine yet clumsy thoughts from Su Ning.

He wasn't entirely joking; he was just using this facade to cautiously test her boundaries.

"Hmph!" She withdrew her gaze, muttering to herself in a complex and ambiguous tone, which seemed to be both mockery and a faint sense of helplessness, "As expected, she is audacious and doesn't know what she's getting herself into."

That strand of hair still seemed to carry the warmth of her fingertips, quietly following Su Ning's side.

……

Deep within Yunxi Village, the perpetual fog hangs like an inescapable miasma, heavily pressing down between the mountains and the ancient stilted houses.

In a secluded underground cave, hidden by vines and rarely visited by humans, a meticulously planned conspiracy is being quietly woven in the darkness.

Shen Yindeng, abandoning her usual gentle demeanor, now had a sharp, eagle-like gaze as she personally directed several workers in their busy work.

They are building a deliberately aged, seemingly ancient and eerie nest, imitating the legendary habitat of the Red Umbrella.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of freshly turned earth mixed with a strange spice, making one's breath feel sticky.

On the cave walls, newly carved ancient runes gleamed with an ominous glow under the dim light.

Footsteps echoed down the steep stairs; Wang Qiankun had been ordered to supervise the construction.

He walked down the steps and saw Shen Yindeng carefully placing a handful of dark red soil, as if soaked in blood, in the center of the nest. Her focused expression made his heart tighten.

He couldn't help but step forward and advise, "Miss Shen, you are pregnant. You can leave these heavy and damp jobs to us. Please take good care of yourself."

Upon hearing the sound, Shen Yindeng turned around, her face instantly switching to a perfectly appropriate expression of sorrow and fragility.

She subconsciously stroked her still-flat stomach, her voice slightly choked with worry and fear: "I'm just afraid... afraid I won't live to see this child born. If we don't take this opportunity to get rid of Si Teng completely, our descendants will probably live under her fear and shadow forever, never having a peaceful day..."

Her poignant confession, coupled with her tearful appearance, instantly struck the softest spot in Wang Qiankun's heart, arousing his pity and protective instincts, and making him even more determined to do everything in his power to help her.

He nodded vigorously, his tone resolute: "Don't worry! With so many of us, we will definitely wipe out that Si Teng this time and eliminate him forever!"

“Yes,” Shen Yindeng lowered her eyelids, concealing the cold glint that flashed in her eyes, her voice soft but firm, “We absolutely cannot let her wreak havoc on the world again.”

……

Meanwhile, Suning and Si Teng have also arrived at Yunxi Village to check on the situation.

The village was unusually quiet in the early morning. The stilted houses, layer upon layer, were faintly visible in the milky white mist, like a fairyland, yet there was an inexplicable eeriness and dullness about them. Even the crowing of roosters and the barking of dogs were pitifully rare.

Yan Furui woke up late and, rubbing his sleepy eyes, walked out of his temporary lodging. He happened to see Shen Yindeng's husband, Yang Bo, sitting on a small stool by the door, intently polishing a piece of silver jewelry. His technique was skillful and his eyes were focused, as if all the disturbances of the outside world were irrelevant to him.

Yan Furui stepped forward to inquire about the whereabouts of the people.

Yangbo didn't even look up, and simply replied in heavily accented Mandarin, "She must have gone to Blackback Mountain. Her family's ancestral graves are there, and she often goes there to pay her respects."

His tone was as natural as if he were talking about the weather.

Meanwhile, Su Ning wasn't idle either. He quickly pieced together the terrifying legends about Blackback Mountain from the evasive and reverent attitudes of several local elders...

It does produce a special kind of red soil there, but the mountains are steep, the forests are dense and secluded, and there are even terrifying rumors of mountain spirits and ghosts. Anyone who goes up the mountain to collect herbs or dares to steal soil often never returns.

A chill ran down Su Ning's spine. He looked at Si Teng with concern and said, "Si Teng, everything is going too smoothly. It's like someone calculated our every move and deliberately led us to Blackback Mountain. I'm worried... that it's a trap tailor-made for us."

Upon hearing this, Si Teng's lips curled into a knowing smile, his eyes calm, as if he had already seen through all the fog.

"Since our host is so hospitable, showing us the way at every turn,"

Her voice was calm, yet tinged with a cold mockery, "If we don't go, wouldn't we be wasting this painstakingly crafted 'kind intention'?"

"I'm afraid we might capsize unexpectedly." Su Ning frowned, still feeling uneasy.

"Hmph!" Si Teng scoffed lightly, took a step and looked towards the direction of Blackback Mountain. The mountain's shadow in the mist resembled a lurking giant beast. "It's nothing but some underhanded tricks of demons and monsters, not worth mentioning."

……

As dusk settled, Yunxi Village was enveloped in a tranquil atmosphere, as if a storm was brewing.

Bai Jin found Shen Yindeng deep in the corridor of the stilted building and tried to make a final effort.

His words were earnest, tinged with the worry of an elder: "Yindeng, after careful consideration, there are indeed many suspicious points regarding the disappearance of the tile house. It may not really be the work of Si Teng. Perhaps... we should find an opportunity to have an open and honest talk with her? It's better to resolve conflicts than to perpetuate them."

Shen Yindeng turned around abruptly, a sharp glint in her eyes. Her tone was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation: "Talk? What is there to talk about with her! Senior Bai Jin, do not be deceived by her appearance! Those who are not of our kind are bound to have different hearts! There is absolutely no room for discussion on this matter!"

Her determination even bordered on an irrational obsession, as if any rational persuasion would offend her sensitive nerves.

These resolute words were heard without a word by Yan Furui, who had secretly followed them and was hiding in the shadow of the pillars.

His doubts grew wildly like vines, and Shen Yindeng's reaction was so intense that it seemed suspicious.

At that moment, his thoughts coincided with Platinum's: perhaps they had really misunderstood Sito.

……

That evening, Shen Yindeng was still somewhat uneasy, so she tried to avoid being seen and met with Su Ning alone.

The two stood in the quiet bamboo forest by the village, the bamboo leaves rustling.

Shen Yindeng spoke earnestly, her eyes sparkling, trying to build rapport.

However, during the conversation, a strange purple light flashed rapidly in the depths of her eyes, and an invisible allure quietly wrapped around Su Ning like spider silk.

At this critical moment, the strand of Si Teng's hair that Su Ning kept close to his body seemed to be touched by an invisible force, quietly emitting a soft light that was almost imperceptible. A cool aura instantly flowed through Su Ning's body, forming a tough, invisible barrier.

Shen Yindeng's sorcery vanished without a trace, failing to cause even the slightest disturbance.

Although Su Ning did not fully understand the danger that had just occurred, he instinctively felt a strong sense of palpitation and unease. The seemingly gentle eyes opposite him made his spine go cold.

He instinctively took a half step back, hastily made up an excuse, and almost fled away.

Shen Yindeng was left standing there, her expression shifting in the shadows of the bamboo forest.

"Sito, you've actually fallen for a man?"

……

At this moment, Sito stood alone by the window, the cool moonlight outlining her serene profile.

She gazed into the distance at the blurry and oppressive outline of Blackback Mountain in the darkness, as if staring at a lurking, predatory beast.

The unusual atmosphere permeating the mountains, Shen Yindeng's extraordinary urgency, and the various mysteries surrounding the disappearance of the tile-roofed house had all formed a clear outline in her mind.

She knew that stepping into that mountain tomorrow would be fraught with danger and peril.

But she was also absolutely certain that behind these layers of fog, the truth of all the conspiracies would be completely revealed there... Deep in Blackback Mountain, the perpetual fog clung to the jagged rocks and withered trees like vengeful spirits.

Si Teng, dressed in plain clothes, stood in the center of a messy open space. Opposite him, Shen Yindeng, the demon that had revealed its true form of the Crimson Umbrella, was emitting a sharp screech.

At this moment, Shen Yindeng was no longer the gentle and sorrowful woman she appeared to others.

Her body twisted and swelled, and countless dark red mycelia burst forth from under her skin, dancing wildly in the air and converging into a huge and bizarre, grotesque shape like a blood-red umbrella.

The thick stench of blood and the decaying aura of evil wafted over, almost suffocating one.

"Si Teng!" Chi San's voice was distorted and echoed with the wails of countless vengeful spirits, "We are both from the Kagura clan, why don't we merge with each other and fight against the Suspended Gate together?"

Si Teng's eyes were cold and clear, and dark green vines were quietly spreading from her fingertips, like a venomous snake raising its head.

"You and I have never been the same." Her voice was not loud, but it carried an unwavering resolve. "You crave blood and food, corrupt people's hearts, and use the essence of others to cultivate evil arts, committing heinous sins. Today, I will cleanse the house for the innocent lives lost on Blackback Mountain!"

"Clean house? What a boastful tone!" Red Umbrella laughed wildly, its huge canopy spinning violently, unleashing countless scarlet spores, each imbued with deadly poison and resentment, at Si Teng like a torrential downpour!

Si Teng remained motionless, and countless thick black vines burst forth from the ground beneath his feet, weaving together to form an impenetrable barrier that blocked all the poisonous spores, emitting a sizzling, corrosive sound.

The next moment, Si Teng moved.

Her figure moved with ghostly speed, dodging the giant mycelial tentacles lashed out by the red umbrella, and closing in on him.

With a light flick of her wrist, her fingertips gathered extremely compressed demonic power, transforming it into the sharpest blade, which pierced straight towards the core of the Crimson Umbrella!
The red umbrella emitted a painful shriek, and the mycelium launched a frenzied counterattack, attempting to entangle and devour the vine.

In the mountains and forests, two figures, one in white and one in red, clashed fiercely. The demonic power surged, destroying vegetation and sending rocks flying.

Vines and mycelium intertwined and strangled each other, and eerie green light and ominous blood-red light flashed alternately, turning this area into a terrifying battlefield of demons.

Although Shen Yindeng was fierce, Si Teng's power was more refined and ancient, and it carried a dignified aura that could restrain evil spirits.

Gradually, the crimson umbrella's offensive was suppressed, and cracks appeared on the huge umbrella canopy, emanating black demonic energy.

"No—!" Sensing its primal power rapidly draining away, Crimson Umbrella let out a desperate howl.

There was no pity in Si Teng's eyes, only a cold indifference.

She formed hand seals, and a dazzling green light erupted from her body, with countless runes emerging and swirling around her.

"Swallow evil and transform it into essence, trace back to the source... Contain!"

She gave a low shout, and a powerful suction force erupted from her palm, forming an invisible vortex.

The remaining demonic body of the Crimson Umbrella could no longer maintain its form, emitting a series of unwilling screams. Finally, it was forcibly torn apart and compressed, turning into a pure but dark energy stream, which was continuously absorbed into Si Teng's body!
The process of devouring brought a violent impact. Si Teng frowned slightly, feeling the demonic power belonging to the Red Umbrella, full of resentment and greed, rampaging through his meridians, attempting to backfire.

She steadied herself and used her even stronger primal power to forcefully suppress and refine it.

After a long while, the mountains and forests returned to deathly silence.

Si Teng slowly opened his eyes, a flash of dark red light appearing briefly before returning to a deep, still gaze.

Her aura seemed even more profound and unpredictable than before.

Only withered and broken mycelial remains remained on the spot, testifying to the terrifying engulfment that had just occurred.

At this moment, the mist over Blackback Mountain seemed to have thinned a little.

……

Then, after hearing from Su Ning that Qin Fang had also appeared in Dana, Si Teng suspected that Qin Fang might be related to Bai Ying, so he asked Su Ning to find out more about Qin Fang.

After navigating the winding cobblestone path, Si Teng and Su Ning finally stopped in front of the Qin family's old house, hidden deep within the city.

Time has etched mottled marks on the lintel, and withered vines entwine the faded carved beams, silently telling of its former glory and its fallen splendor.

The courtyard is deep and the walls are high, as if every brick and every tile is carefully sealed away, preserving a long-forgotten story that no one wants to see.

The courtyard was silent, save for the sound of the wind rustling through the barren grass and trees.

Si Teng's gaze fell once again on the old photograph, on the elegant yet powerful inscription: "Given to my dearest friend, may you be like the evergreen vine, resilient and evergreen."

At the end of the signature, that name, like a mark of destiny, once again pierced my eyes: Bai Ying.

"This handwriting is definitely not something Qin Fang's great-grandfather could have written." Si Teng's fingertips lightly brushed the edge of the cool photographic paper, his voice low and certain. "It's the 'Bai Ying' he's mentioned several times. Who exactly is she?"

This recurring name, like a stubborn key, repeatedly tries to pry open the door to the mystery that has been tightly locked by time.

Her thoughts drifted away, recalling many years ago, to Shao Yankuan, the only man who patiently taught her to read and write and allowed her to glimpse the world of human emotions.

He was once a ray of light that shone into her long, lonely life, giving her the illusion that she could truly feel warmth, but in the end, he also made her taste the coldness and hypocrisy of the deepest part of human nature.

“Shao Yankuan…” Si Teng murmured, a complex mix of reminiscence and coldness flashing in his eyes. “Su Ning, your ‘meeting’ me in Dana, and the Qin Fang you mentioned, was no accident. All these seemingly scattered threads seem to have ultimately circled back to this person.”

When Su Ning mentioned that Qin Fang's father had asked him to find a person named "Jia Guihong," a rare look of confusion flashed in Si Teng's eyes. She had no recollection of this person; the name was like a stone thrown into a deep pool, failing to stir any ripples in her memory.

Then Si Teng sent Su Ning to investigate in detail again.

Suning's actions quickly received a response.

He asked around and brought back news about Shao Yankuan's final fate: In 1948, Shao Yankuan, whose family had fallen on hard times, took his most beloved third concubine with him and attempted to go to sea to make a living, but they encountered a shipwreck and ended up with no remains.

His legal wife and eldest son remained in Shenhai, guarding the family business that gradually declined and eventually faded into obscurity.

During their search for the descendants of the Shao family, the two stopped briefly at an elegantly decorated Western-style tea restaurant.

Si Teng showed no interest in the table full of exquisite dishes.

Suning then ordered a table full of various drinks for her, from rich and fragrant English milk tea to novel sodas with bubbly bubbles and vibrant colors.

Si Teng was like a child exploring the world for the first time, cautiously and curiously picking up each cup to taste. The subtle expressions of her slightly furrowed brows or quietly relaxed when her tongue touched different flavors were lively and vivid, quite unlike the great demon who had seen all the vicissitudes of life and exuded an aloof aura.

Su Ning watched quietly from the side. The gloomy mood that had been building up over the past few days due to the disappearance of the tile house and the many conspiracies was unknowingly dispelled by her novel reaction.

However, this brief peace and ease vanished when he finally met Shao Yankuan's elderly grandson.

In that living room filled with the atmosphere of the old era, where the furniture exuded a mixture of camphor wood and dust, the old man tremblingly brought out a thick family photo album.

Sito turned the pages one by one, his gaze suddenly fixing on a faded black-and-white photograph...

In the photo, Shao Yankuan is standing side by side with a serious-looking man wearing a Taoist robe. Both of them have smiles on their faces that seem quite familiar and even harmonious!
That Taoist priest was none other than Qiu Shan!
Si Teng's heart suddenly tightened, an indescribable chill and resentment choked her, and she paused in her breathing.

Back then, Shao Yankuan did indeed make vows of eternal love to her, showering her with sweet words, proposing to her, and promising a seemingly attainable and beautiful future.

In the end, however, it was not she who actually wore the phoenix coronet and wedding robes and married into the Shao family mansion as the second wife.

She was like a face that had been forcibly removed from a family photo, her existence completely erased, and not even a name was remembered by the descendants of the Shao family.

"Her name is Si Teng." Si Teng's voice was icy cold and carried an unquestionable authority.

The name was thrown at the bewildered descendants of the Shao family.

He then resolutely turned and left, ignoring the astonishment in the room behind him and Su Ning's hurried and awkward explanation.

The evening breeze was cool, gently blowing against Si Teng's clothes and hair.

As she walked down the street at dusk, she frankly told Su Ning beside her that Shao Yankuan and Qiu Shan were ultimately different.

“Qiu Shan sees me as an outsider, a tool, a servant whom he can use and kill at will. As for Shao Yankuan…” She paused, her voice carrying a faint yet deeply ingrained sarcasm, “After learning my true identity, he revealed the deepest fear and hypocrisy beneath his mortal exterior, avoiding me like the plague and loathing me like filth.”

She was once swayed by those sweet words and her heart wavered, but in the end, the one who wore the wedding dress and entered the prestigious Shao family was another "she" who bore her name and perhaps had a similar appearance to her.

"Therefore, the person who actually married Shao Yankuan and became the second concubine of the Shao family was someone else."

Si Teng's words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up waves of turmoil in Su Ning's heart.

A bold and startling conjecture suddenly took shape in his mind...

Sito may not be alone; she may have a sister who looks extremely similar to her and may even have a deep connection with her.

Because she deeply loved Shao Yankuan, that sister did not hesitate to steal or be forced to use Si Teng's name to marry into the Shao family, becoming the deliberately forgotten second concubine in that confusing past, the woman named "Bai Ying".

He suddenly looked at Si Teng, trying to find the answer in her calm profile: "You came back this time, trying every means to investigate the past, not only to find out the mystery of your own resurrection, but also to find her, right? The one who married in your place... Bai Ying?"

Sito did not answer directly.

Her gaze was fixed on the deep twilight and the dazzling city lights in the distance, as if trying to pierce through the fog of time and reach the root of everything.

“I’ve come to find the person who sent me to Dana more than seventy years ago.” Her voice was soft, but carried an unwavering determination. “All the answers, the final mystery, lie with ‘Bai Ying’.”

...(End of chapter)