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At those words, even Chaoyan, who considered herself a female demon, froze on the spot.

Did she have no shame? Huh? No shame at all? What kind of great love was this? She'd actually made having several partners sound so pure and refined... What kind of people were Sword Cultivators?!

Chaoyan was left speechless by her words, and anger flared in her heart.

Though this little girl called herself a "Sword Cultivator," with her frail little frame and carefree personality, she didn't seem like much of a threat. Rather than listen to her babbling on and on, Chaoyan might as well deal with her and eat her now.

She made up her mind and was about to attack when Ning Ning suddenly said, "I'll tell you a secret."

The girl stepped closer and lowered her voice to a whisper. "I'm a disciple of the Xuanxu Sword Sect. I saw through you long ago—you're a monster."

Actually, Ning Ning hadn't wanted to reveal her identity outright.

The woman was clearly about to attack her. If Ning Ning knocked her out or killed her now, the Ghost Mother would surely notice.

But she hadn't yet thought of a way to deal with that monster, so all she could do was buy time.

Besides, she needed more information. She had to pry it out of this demoness.

Chaoyan was stunned for the briefest moment.

Then she stopped pretending. Her face full of Killing Intent, she rasped, "You're talking nonsense! Everyone in the Xuanxu Sword Sect is a powerful Sword Cultivator. How could you be one?"

Ning Ning formed a hand seal with one hand and effortlessly blocked the Gale Wind she sent stabbing toward her. "Nonsense? I'm far stronger than you. I don't need to waste time lying."

Her spiritual energy was abundant, and her cultivation really was far beyond Chaoyan's.

After her attack was easily blocked, Chaoyan knew she was no match for the girl. Unfortunately, there was no one else around, and she couldn't call for help.

Once a demon fell into a Sword Cultivator's hands, there was no escape. She gritted her teeth and came up with a plan.

The little girl looked inexperienced, and Chaoyan's human-skin mask made her seem so frail. If she made up a story and claimed the White Bone Lady had forced her—

To her utter surprise, as soon as the thought crossed her mind, Ning Ning beside her sighed. "I came to Zhaixing Pavilion to eliminate the great demon who devours people's vital essence and blood. Big sister, you look so frail and kindhearted. You must have been forced by that monster, right?"

Chaoyan: ...?

Wait, why had the girl stolen her lines?

After a brief moment of surprise, the demoness sneered inwardly.

The idiot must have seen how beautiful and pitiful she looked and imagined some story about a frail young woman being forced into submission. What a fool.

It was exactly what she wanted.

So Chaoyan answered without hesitation, "That's right! The White Bone Lady forced us to come here and entertain guests, threatening to wipe us all out otherwise. I had no choice."

Ning Ning wore an expression of pure delight.

Hmph. This stinking Sword Cultivator thought she'd seen through the secrets of the House and was pleased with herself.

She thought she was on the second level, never realizing Chaoyan was one step ahead and had already reached the third.

Ning Ning nodded righteously. "What exactly is going on in this building? Would you mind telling me?"

"We were demons from the mountains. The White Bone Lady forced us to come here and drain ordinary people of their spiritual energy and vital essence."

Chaoyan continued, "The girls in this building all wear beautiful human-skin masks so they can make the guests fall for them."

No wonder she was such an innocent young disciple, fresh out of the sect. A hint of fear appeared in the girl's eyes. "Were the masks made by stripping people's faces off?"

"The Human Masks are formed from spiritual energy. They aren't made of human flesh. If we meet a beautiful female guest, we can also conjure a face identical to hers, for future use."

To comfort the frightened girl and show how kind and considerate she was, Chaoyan flicked her finger. A mask identical to Ning Ning's appeared in her hand. "Just like this."

"Oh, I see!"

Ning Ning carefully took it from her. The fear faded from her almond-shaped eyes, and her smile deepened. "I've got it."

Chaoyan was curious. "Got what?"

The girl in purple smiled, her eyes curving and her voice soft and gentle. Yet the words spilling from her lips sent a chill down Chaoyan's spine. "I've figured out... how to flatten this whole building."

She finished with a sweet smile. "Goodbye, big sister."

A fierce sword light flashed, tearing through the sultry night.

The moment the Star Trace Sword pierced her body, the demoness cursed her head off.

She'd taken Ning Ning for an idiot. She hadn't expected that Ning Ning had been plotting all along, treating her as a tool for extracting information.

Her heart, dark as pitch, had been misplaced after all.

Who could have guessed? She'd thought she'd reached the third level, while that idiot was actually on the fifth.

Chapter 7

The Yinshan Ghost Mother's lair was hidden beneath Zhaixing Pavilion. Ning Ning made her way down from the top floor, the winding staircase seeming to have no end.

The flying pavilions gleamed with cinnabar, and the terraces and halls were as beautiful as jade. Men and women laughed, their voices drifting freely on the evening breeze. It was a scene of songs, revelry, and prosperity—a Jade Palace.

Yet as she walked through it alone, a gloomy killing intent always followed like a shadow, leaving her unable to relax.

The candle flames in the lanterns lining both sides of the corridor flickered and dimmed, as though countless demons and ghosts were suspended inside them. Their faint orange light flowed sluggishly like water, swallowing the girl's slender figure whole.

The wavering points of light fell upon the ancient carved beams and painted rafters along the walls. One wooden face after another—some drunken with pleasure, some laughing wildly—flickered into view. They looked less like revelers than a mass of ferocious, ravenous ghosts.

Ning Ning descended the stairs slowly. The Yinshan Ghost Mother had probably noticed that one of her puppets had died and sent other puppets to investigate.

Ning Ning had left the private room long ago. The building was packed with people and noisy everywhere, so it wouldn't be easy for the Ghost Mother to find the culprit herself.

—Ning Ning decided to go find her first.

The underground cavern lay beneath a secret passage somewhere on the first floor. Following the original text, Ning Ning felt her way around until she finally found the incredibly well-hidden passage. The moment she opened the concealed door, a rush of blood stench poured out of the cavern.

She frowned slightly but didn't show any particular disgust. After taking a quiet breath, she turned and slipped into the passage.