Jian Cunyi's good intentions went wrong, but the result was good

"Thump!"

After Lin Yu let go, the woman in black dared not run away and obediently knelt on the spot, placing her hands obediently on her knees.

"Now you know fear?" Lin Yu looked at the woman in black, then at Jian Cunyi, his expression still contorted with a ferocious and exaggerated look. "Brother Jian, you've been too polite to humans—these humans are all spineless cowards who bully the weak and fear the strong!"

Jian Cunyi finally snapped out of his daze when he saw Lin Yu responding to him.

He glanced at the woman in black before him, hesitated for a moment, then tugged at Lin Yu's sleeve and said, "Brother Lin is right... However, let's speak privately for a moment."

He pulled Lin Yu aside, then raised his hand, and an invisible barrier seemed to appear between the two of them and the woman in black.

Before Jian Cunyi question, Lin Yu said, "Brother Jian, I know what you want to ask... This Yaomo technique was created by another 'Player' using that [Item]' Item, and after several twists and turns, it ended up in my hands."

Jian Cunyi said, "I do know about that... I was also involved in your 'Order's' 'Grandmaster' dealing with the 'Thousand-Eyed Thousand-Silk Demon Lord' a few years ago—I've also heard about what happened at the 'Ground of No Return' before."

"I'm not surprised you used 'Yaomo methods'... but did you really intend to kill her just now?"

Jian Cunyi spoke, Lin Yu waved his hand.

"How could that be... Brother Jian, you yourself said that this guy at least practices Righteous Path Martial Arts —so, although she seems a bit cunning and looks like she's here to steal, I certainly wouldn't go so far as to kill her outright."

"I was just trying to scare her—it was all an act."

Upon hearing Lin Yu's words, Jian Cunyi was quite puzzled. "Acting skills?"

"Yes, acting skills... Brother Jian, as you know, my code name is 'Director,' and if you do some research, you'll find that I'm even a 'Unique Profession' actor, a 'Best Film Emperor,' so it's only natural that my acting skills are good," Lin Yu smiled and patted his chest. "What, was your acting too realistic just now? Did it scare you?"

Jian Cunyi admitted, "It really was a bit... Brother Lin, your acting is too good, I really didn't react for a moment -- I was overthinking it."

Jian Cunyi paused for a moment after saying this, then continued, "However... Brother Lin, while your acting is excellent, do we really need to pretend to be two Yaomo or members of the demonic path to communicate with this woman?"

Lin Yu shrugged. "Didn't you realize how efficient this is? You were just too polite before, and she figured out you were on the Righteous Path, that's why she bullied you, Brother Jian!"

"I scared her a little, and she immediately behaved!"

"Brother Jian, you've been in contact with too many Righteous Path lately, and your enemies are mostly Yaomo... or 'Diviner' and the like. I reckon you haven't really encountered many of these 'villains'."

As Lin Yu spoke, Jian Cunyi said seriously, "That 'Diviner' is a villain—if he's not a villain, how could he be a gentleman?"

Jian Cunyi spoke, Lin Yu helplessly interjected, "That's true... but a 'scheming' villain and a 'opportunistic' villain are two different things—the guy we encountered this time was clearly the latter."

"To be honest, if we weren't in a rush, we could indeed slowly build trust with her and get help from her... But now that she's said there's something strange about this Duxuan Sect, and given that we need to pursue the 'Diviner,' we don't have much time to waste in this Duxuan Sect, so... pretending to be Yaomo and communicating with her is obviously a more efficient method."

"You see, driven by fear, she has already shared a lot of useful information with us, hasn't she?"

Upon hearing Lin Yu's explanation, Jian Cunyi nodded in agreement.

But then he added, "That being said, Brother Lin... you shouldn't underestimate the hatred and hostility the people of the Prison Mountain Realm have towards Yaomo."

"Especially martial artists and Daoist Sect practitioners... Even if the woman we encountered is indeed as 'opportunistic' as you say, and she does seem weak and timid, given the chance at a crucial moment, she might choose to perish together with us!"

"I have seen many Jianghu figures in the Prison Mountain Realm whose character cannot be described as noble, and some of them are even despicable, yet when faced with Yaomo, they chose to stand on the side of righteousness and sacrifice themselves—although in my opinion, such sacrifice and choice cannot erase their previous despicable acts and sins... but I do admire them for this."

Jian Cunyi spoke, Lin Yu nodded.

"Of course I'm aware of that... Choosing to use 'fear' to drive others inevitably carries the risk of Backlash by that fear."

Lin Yu never thought he had completely controlled the woman in black just because she was compliant and cooperative. On the contrary, pretending to be Yaomo might actually make her choose to fight to the death, just as Jian Cunyi had said.

"But... Brother Jian, besides wanting her to cooperate, I also did this to prove... that she herself has no connection with Yaomo."

"Don't forget those two corpses dressed in black from before... Although you say this woman's aura is Brother Jian, the previous two weren't."

"I told you before, Brother Jian, not to mention the corpses—their clothing was so similar, to say they were completely unrelated... I think that's highly unlikely."

Upon hearing Lin Yu's words, Jian Cunyi slowly nodded. "So Brother Lin has this concern as well."

"Yes, so Brother Jian, you don't need to worry too much," Lin Yu held up one finger, "Don't forget, there's the most crucial point—we're not really Yaomo."

"After operating for a period of time, confirming that she is not Yaomo, and understanding the Duxuan Sect, we can proactively reveal our identities to her and explain that our earlier impersonation of Yaomo was merely a temporary measure."

Jian Cunyi blinked. "So that's how it's done... it does seem like a solution."

But he still hesitated. "Will this really work?"

Lin Yu nodded. "Don't worry, Brother Jian, dealing with people who look like they belong in the lowest rungs of the martial arts world... I'm an expert!"

"Besides... don't forget, Brother Jian, you are a Tier 4 expert, a top-tier powerhouse. With you backing you up, even if something really goes wrong, it definitely won't be fatal, right?"

Jian Cunyi also decided to trust Lin Yu.

"Then let's do as you say, Brother Lin... However, I don't have your acting skills, Brother Lin. I'm afraid I'll give myself away when I'm playing Yaomo."

Lin Yu looked at Jian Cunyi, "It's alright, Brother Jian. Just stay aloof and say little—with me keeping intimidating her, this woman will most likely be too preoccupied to notice or distinguish between your true and false intentions."

"When it's time for you to speak up and perform... Brother Jian, you've seen Yaomo before, haven't you? Having seen so many, learning shouldn't be difficult for you."

As Lin Yu spoke, Jian Cunyi: "That's true, Brother Lin—I will do my best!"

"Alright, I have no more questions... Let's continue!"

Jian Cunyi spoke, he removed the barrier—the woman in black remained in place, not daring to breathe.

Lin Yu stepped forward and said, "Brother Jian and I just discussed it, and there does seem to be something strange about this Dao Sect... We will spare your life for now."

"But you also have to prove to us that there really is something terrifying here, and that you are useful to us—even if there really is a great terror here, what can a weakling like you do for us?"

As Lin Yu spoke, the woman in black quickly spoke up.

"Your Majesties, I truly did not lie to you. There is indeed a great terror here... I have indeed stayed here for a month; there is absolutely no deception."

"The reason I've been trapped here for a month is because this sect, seemingly peaceful and harmless, is actually... the moment you even consider leaving and approach its borders, you'll instantly enter another terrifying place superimposed on the ruins of the Duxuan Sect. It's filled with blood and demonic energy, teeming with vengeful spirits and corpses—if you consider the normal ruins of the Duxuan Sect as the 'Yang Side,' then the terrifying place is the 'Yin Side'!"

"And what I just mentioned, the 'Yang Time' and 'Yin Time'... also correspond to the fact that every so often, the Yin Side will encroach upon the Yang Side!"

"Every time the Yin Time arrives, and the Yin Side invades, it sucks in those from the Yang Side, leaving them without a trace—in fact, I didn't come here alone at first."

"A month ago, I entered the Duxuan Sect with my companions—there were eighteen of us in total!"

"And now... I've seen both kings, and I'm the only one left!"

The woman in black said with a mournful face.

Lin Yu nodded. "What you're saying doesn't sound like you're lying... It seems that the Duxuan Sect is indeed a bit stranger than we imagined—but since you're also being forced to cling to life by the terror within the Duxuan Sect, what use is there for us to keep you as a burden?"

"It would be more practical to use you as Blood Food to enhance our combined power!"

As Lin Yu was speaking, Jian Cunyi suddenly spoke up from the side.

"Hehehe, Blood Food! Hehehe!"

As he spoke, Jian Cunyi licked his lips.

"I like to eat human hearts, livers, and then eyeballs!"

Lin Yu, who was originally Jian Cunyi on playing the mysterious Yaomo, was a bit confused by Jian Cunyi's sudden addition of scenes. Even Lin Yu... was a little unable to keep up with Jian Cunyi's abrupt impromptu performance.

After Jian Cunyi finished his performance, he seemed to realize that he had overdone it when he saw Lin Yu's reaction, and he stood there stunned for a moment.

As the two were staring at each other, Lin Yu suddenly heard a "tick-tock" sound.

The woman in black had somehow gone from kneeling to slumped on the ground, her face drenched in sweat.

Her face was deathly pale, she trembled violently, and she spoke in a shaky voice.

"I... I... I... I really am useful, Your Majesties! Please, please, please, please don't eat me!"

"I don't like to bathe and I have body odor. I'm sour, smelly, and dry. Eating me would only cause the two kings' power to decline, which would be a huge loss!"

Looking at the other person's expression, Lin Yu felt somewhat helpless.

Okay...

Brother Jian's performance was somewhat of a fluke.

The woman in black was actually terrified and broke down.