Fragrant Incense Gone, Jade Body Perished

Huang Rong's heart skipped a beat. "Could Lord Ling have fallen for the soul-confusing technique from the Nine Yin Manual?" Just as she was about to step forward and investigate, she saw how happy Ding Dian and Ling Shuanghua looked, and hesitated.

A thought flashed through Huang Rong's mind. The marriage between Ling Shuanghua and the young master of the Lü family had caused a rift between the Ling and Lü families. It was better to resolve this lingering issue now, to put both sides' minds at ease. Brother Jing was solely focused on national affairs and never considered family matters, but she couldn't afford to neglect her own family's future. Fu'er was growing up, and that young master Lü was from a distinguished family, accomplished in both civil and martial arts. If they could become in-laws, Lü Wenhuan would likely cease to obstruct and guard against Brother Jing so much...

Having made up her mind, Huang Rong smiled faintly and let them leave. As Song Qingshu passed by her, Huang Rong lowered her voice and said with a half-smile, "Young Master Song, your Nine Yin Manual practice is quite good."

Madam Hu was already waiting outside the mansion to greet them. The four of them left Jingzhou City overnight. It wasn't until they reached a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the city that Song Qingshu let out a sigh of relief, his back already soaked with cold sweat. He had planned everything, but he had forgotten that Huang Rong also practiced the Nine Yin Manual. He wondered why she hadn't exposed him, and inwardly exclaimed his good fortune.

Clearing his throat, Song Qingshu walked over to Ding Dian and Ling Shuanghua. "Great Hero Ding, I told you lovers would end up together. I wish you both a speedy childbirth and a long, happy life together... But I hope you'll keep your promise and tell me the latter half of the Divine Light Scripture."

Ding Dian chuckled, "Alright, listen carefully."

Song Qingshu concentrated and leaned in, but Ding Dian suddenly threw a punch.

Madam Hu had felt something was amiss when Ding Dian chuckled and had been paying attention. However, Ding Dian's move was too fast. She only managed to fly forward and block in front of Song Qingshu.

Ding Dian's fist landed on Madam Hu's back. Madam Hu grunted, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out.

Song Qingshu's eyes widened in fury. He pulled Madam Hu into his arms, feeling her body go limp, as if she had no bones. Not knowing how badly she was injured, he turned and roared at Ding Dian, "Are you insane?"

Ding Dian stared blankly at his fist, regretting it inwardly. But hearing the question, he sneered, "Hmph, your scheme with Ling... might fool others, but it won't fool me."

Song Qingshu was almost dizzy with anger. "Was your brain caught in the door? I already had Ling Tuis personally betroth Miss Ling to you. What more do you want?"

"That's right, Brother Ding, is there some misunderstanding here?" Ling Shuanghua, standing beside them, was also stunned by the sudden turn of events.

"Shuanghua, you don't know how wicked people's hearts can be. The day he said he had a way to bring us together, I became suspicious. I secretly followed him and discovered that this was all a scheme he and your father had planned. I played along with their plan to successfully bring you out of Jingzhou City. This time, they'll be the ones who lose out!" Ding Dian recounted to Ling Shuanghua how he had followed Song Qingshu that day and overheard their conversation and plans.

Song Qingshu laughed in extreme anger. "Are you an idiot? I infiltrated the Ling mansion alone. How else could I have tricked that old fox Ling Tuis? Besides, Ling Tuis craves your Liancheng Jue, but I don't. Do you think I would have any reason to conspire with him?"

Ding Dian was suddenly shocked. He remembered that Song Qingshu clearly knew the secret of the Liancheng Jue, so he had no motive to cooperate with Ling Tuis. Recalling the entire incident calmly, he suddenly understood, regretting being tricked by Ling Tuis. Having seen people's schemes all his life, he had judged everyone as malicious and, upon finding a sliver of evidence, had selectively believed his initial judgment.

Seeing her lover's expression, Ling Shuanghua knew he had wronged a good person. She knelt down to check Madam Hu's injuries. Seeing her pale face and faint breaths, her own face lost its color. "Brother Ding, Sister is dying! Quickly, find a way to save her!"

Song Qingshu's teeth were grinding together, and he stared at the two of them with hatred. He thought that if it weren't for him, his sister-in-law wouldn't have to lose her life...

His eyes bloodshot, he looked at Ling Shuanghua's fair neck beside him. Song Qingshu's mind went blank. A crazed smile appeared on his lips, and he quietly drew a dagger from his embrace, preparing to slash it across her delicate neck, to let her be buried with his sister-in-law and make Ding Dian regret it for life! As for the furious retaliation he would face from Ding Dian afterward, it no longer mattered.

"She can be saved!" Hearing Ling Shuanghua's voice, Ding Dian woke up as if from a dream and quickly said.

Song Qingshu's heart leaped. He looked up at Ding Dian, and a sliver of color slowly returned to his pupils.

"Then why aren't you saving her?" Ling Shuanghua said, exasperated and annoyed. She wondered why Brother Ding had suddenly become so slow.

Ding Dian hesitated, then finally stammered out the rest, "I can save her with the Divine Light Scripture, but Madam Hu is too severely injured. It might require her clothes to be removed, and then I'll have to circulate my energy through her acupoints. This... this is improper for a man and woman. I... I..."

Ling Shuanghua saw his face turn red with anxiety. She knew her lover was a gentleman and wasn't deliberately trying to take advantage, but a woman's reputation... She glanced at Song Qingshu with a troubled expression.

Song Qingshu, hearing that Madam Hu could be saved, was overjoyed and no longer cared about anything else. He quietly put away the dagger and shouted, "Stop hesitating and save her quickly!" As a transmigator, Song Qingshu didn't care much about this matter. At worst, he'd consider it as Madam Hu having a full-body spa.

At this moment, Song Qingshu felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. He looked down and saw Madam Hu slightly open her eyes. Her voice was weak but firm as she said, "Qingshu, forget it. I will never let another man see my body again. Promise me, don't let any other man touch me!" Seeing Song Qingshu nod hesitantly, Madam Hu smiled sweetly, her eyes began to glaze over, and she murmured, "Take care of Fei'er for me in the future. He lost his father when he was born, and now he's lost his mother. He's truly pitiful..."

Feeling her voice grow weaker, Song Qingshu's vision began to blur. Thinking of her as the person who had treated him best since he arrived in this world, he was overcome with grief and burst into tears while holding her.

Ding Dian stood by, looking helplessly at the weeping Song Qingshu, filled with remorse. Ling Shuanghua's heart also ached. She even started to overthink, wondering if the heavens were punishing them for some transgression after they had finally found happiness together, only for such a tragedy to occur.

Suddenly, they noticed the crying had stopped. Snapping back to attention, they saw Song Qingshu slowly raise his head. In a voice as cold as ice, he said, "Recite the latter half of the Divine Light Scripture to me. Quickly!"