Provocation

“...”

She was saying this kind of thing again.

She always said this kind of thing.

Just how many people had she said those words to?

Wen Tang's brow furrowed, the coldness in her eyes deepening. A faint trace of disgust flickered across her indifferent gaze as she parted her thin lips and spat out a single cold word: “Liar.”

With that, she turned and left.

The door was shut and locked with a click, sealing her inside.

Sitting on the bed, Song Yao blinked and muttered in defense of her reputation, “How am I a liar? When have I ever lied to anyone...?”

No one paid attention to her now.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes and buried her head back into the soft quilt.

She was still sleepy.

Her body still felt uncomfortable.

This time, she found a benefit to being locked up here—no one would disturb her sleep.

Not only that, but this place was incredibly quiet, without even the sound of a bird chirping.

Splendid, truly splendid.

Recovering from injuries required resting in a place like this.

As for the messy affairs outside, someone else would handle them. It had nothing to do with her.

Song Yao was just preparing to have a deep sleep when, before long, someone fished her out of the quilt again.

Wen Tang sat on the edge of the bed, holding a bowl of medicine with a furrowed brow. “Why are you sleeping all the time?”

Song Yao was shocked. “I'm not even allowed to sleep?”

Wen Tang was concise. “Yesterday, you slept for sixteen hours.”

She had slept that long yesterday?

Sleeping again now was indeed a bit ridiculous.

Song Yao said listlessly, “But I'm tired.”

It was worse than reading pill manuals.

An indescribable emotion flickered in Wen Tang's eyes as she said firmly, “Why is your health so poor?”

Song Yao pondered for a moment. “Hard to say.”

“...”

She quietly stared at Song Yao for a moment. Once all the chaotic emotions in her eyes faded, she scooped up a spoonful of dark medicine with a porcelain spoon and held it to Song Yao's lips. She said concisely, “Drink.”

Song Yao reached out to take it. “I'll do it myself.”

Before she could even touch the bowl, a red cord shot out from Wen Tang's sleeve, suddenly binding her wrists and tightening, forcing her to stop.

Wen Tang's expression was cold and indifferent, carrying an implicit warning. “Be good, Song Yao.”

“...”

Well, this was just great.

She didn't even call her senior sister anymore.

A fully corrupted Wen Tang was even more terrifying than Zhu Zhao.

She didn't even know how to make her go back to normal.

Song Yao tried to struggle a bit, but the red cord was tied too tightly, leaving a faint mark on her wrist instead.

She gave up once more, obediently drinking the medicine from Wen Tang's hand.

But drinking medicine like this was sheer torture.

Sip by bitter sip, it was agonizing. It would have been better to just chug it down in one go.

The more she drank, the more her face wrinkled. Finally, she shrank back slightly. “Wait, wait, wait. Let me drink the rest in a bit. I need a moment. It's too bitter, Tangtang.”

Wen Tang wasn't in a hurry. She pulled her hand back and stared at her without blinking.

She had become even better at acting spoiled and playing pitiful than before.

The old Song Yao had a very beautiful, delicate face. With her round, almond eyes, she easily won people over. She was always smiling warmly at everyone, carrying a spirited, youthful energy.

The current Song Yao was also beautiful, but not in a soft way. She was cold and detached, making her feel unapproachable.

Such a person seemed naturally destined to stand on a high platform, looked up to and worshiped by others.

Yet at this moment, her eyes were lowered, shimmering with a watery mist that added an inexplicable touch of grievance.

One look, and one's heart would ache and swell along with her.

Wen Tang's hand holding the porcelain spoon tightened. Only after a long while did she loosen her grip, set the bowl aside, and push the door open to leave.

A moment later, she returned with a small dish of crisp candies, picking one up to feed to Song Yao.

The sweet candy melted in her mouth, instantly washing away the bitterness.

With her hands tied, Song Yao turned with difficulty and held them out to her. “More.”

“...Don't look at me with those eyes.”

“?”

What eyes?

Surely her Fifth Junior Sister didn't think she was taunting her?

This kid was really hard to please.

Giving up, Song Yao withdrew her hands and lay back down. “Fine, I won't eat them then.”

But a section of the red cord wrapped around her waist, forcing her to sit upright again.

Wen Tang held the medicine to her lips once more. “Finish the medicine first, then you can eat them.”

“...”

With great difficulty, she finished the medicine. A row of puppets then slowly walked in from outside, their expressions rigid as they silently carried food containers.

Upon reaching the table, they silently arranged the exquisite dishes one by one on the table. Once everything was set, they silently turned and retreated.

The red cord binding Song Yao's wrists loosened. Wen Tang said, “Eat.”

Sitting at the table and looking at the lavish feast, Song Yao inexplicably felt a strange illusion of being kept by force.

Had Wen Tang read too many romance novels while she was away?

And the highly inappropriate kind, at that.

She deeply missed the little junior sister of the past, who had smiled and acted cute all day, and couldn't help but curse Ye Chongguang in her heart again.

It was definitely all Ye Chongguang's fault.

But now that her Fifth Junior Sister was out of his control, Ye Chongguang would probably take countermeasures, right?

Song Yao wanted to say something, but ultimately closed her mouth and buried her head in her food.

Forget it.

This version of Wen Tang wouldn't listen to anything anyway.

Since she had already ended up in this situation, she could only take things one step at a time.

...

Inside the grand hall of the Beiyao Sect, the candlelight flickered.

Ye Chongguang gripped the transmission token in his hand, squeezing so hard he nearly crushed it. He roared in a low, furious voice, “What did you say?! Not only did you fail to find Chen Qingqiu, but Wen Tang has also lost control?! Didn't I already hand a portion of the soul-controlling device to Chang'an?!”

The cultivator reporting below was in a state of utter disarray. Hearing this, his legs gave out, and he fell heavily to his knees with a thud, pressing his forehead against the cold jade floor. “I heard... I heard that the young master wanted to refine someone, and as a result, Wen Tang... Wen Tang suddenly tried to kill him. She... she also used puppets to take over the entire Black Cloud Mountain. All those evil cultivators are listening to her now...”

“The young master's current whereabouts are unknown. He is likely... likely imprisoned by Wen Tang.”

He added weakly, “Your subordinate has already gone back to check. The young master's soul lamp is still lit, so his life is not in danger for the time being...”

On the side seat of the high platform, Feng Qing leaned lazily against her couch, tapping her fingers lightly on the armrest. She chuckled, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Didn't Pavilion Master Ye confidently guarantee before that you could control Wen Tang? From the looks of it now, she's about to crown herself king of Black Cloud Mountain.”

Ye Chongguang looked up with a cold glare. Forcing down his rising anger, he took a deep breath. “Sect Master Feng, you and I are in the same boat now. What is the point of your sarcasm?”

Feng Qing picked up her teacup, took a sip of the clear tea, and slowly curled her eyes, feigning a worried expression. “Sect Master Ye wrongs me. This venerable one is merely worried for Young Master Ye. Wen Tang and Chang'an have a deep-seated grudge. This venerable one is worried that Wen Tang will deal ruthlessly with him.”

She changed the subject. “Furthermore, after all this time, the guests who came to attend the ceremony have already dispersed. Rumors are spreading wildly in the streets. After this fiasco, the faces of both our sects have been completely dragged through the mud.