After speaking, the Fox Woman raised a hand and carefully straightened the gauze across her chest.
The tiger-striped man's face darkened like water. His fists tightened slightly. "Hu Sanniang, are you using the Fox Mother to pressure me?"
Hu Sanniang smiled faintly. "Hu Rong, you don't seem pleased. But given the Tiger Clan's situation, what if I am?"
Hu Rong's gaze darkened further. Then his clenched fists loosened, and he sighed as though resigned to his fate. "I came to this partnership in good faith. There's not a shred of deceit in me."
Since ancient times, foxes had borrowed the tiger's might. But the Fox Mother's clan in Ling Prefecture had turned heaven and earth upside down.
The tiger demons of Ling Prefecture had once been a mighty force. Even the monkeys and Tree Lord of Azure Cloud Valley had treated them with respect.
But recently, the tiger demons had stirred up a calamity. The Evil Extermination Division's lackeys had caught their trail and nearly wiped them out.
Now the Tiger Clan's Secret Treasure held the key to their survival. It could help the clan return to its peak.
But the Tiger Clan lacked the manpower. They could only swallow their pride and rely on the Fox Mother to obtain the treasure.
Those people were merely one part of the plan: the bait that would provide enough cultivator blood to open the treasure.
As for why they had not targeted cultivators from the sects, it was because the Evil Extermination Division's people possessed the strongest blood and vitality.
The Cultivation Methods they practiced, bolstered by vast quantities of Blood Crystals won at the risk of their lives, gave them far greater blood and vitality than Ling Prefecture's other forces.
That was why the Evil Extermination Division stood as firm as a mountain.
Hu Rong could only swallow his anger at Hu Sanniang's threat today, grinding his teeth to pieces and forcing them down his throat.
Hu Sanniang covered her mouth and laughed coquettishly. "If you're sincere, that's good news."
Hu Rong's eyes flickered. "What do you intend to do?"
The Evil Extermination Division's people had already entered the trap, but Hu Rong did not know what Hu Sanniang had in mind.
To be safe, he needed to know the entire plan.
Hu Sanniang extended a fair, delicate finger and touched it to the spot between her brows.
The next moment, three snow-white tails sprang from behind Hu Sanniang's rounded hips.
Two of them fell to the ground and transformed into naked women identical to Hu Sanniang.
Hu Sanniang lowered her hand, a cold smile lifting the corner of her mouth. "Three Bronze Prefecture Captains came this time. My two doubles, together with you and me, will draw them in three different directions."
"You and I will strike with all our strength and kill one Bronze Prefecture Captain first. Then we'll find the next. We'll go back and forth until they're all dead."
Hu Rong's eyes widened like bronze bells. "Are you mad? I only need the Prefecture Clerks' blood."
Hu Sanniang shook her head. "It won't be enough. You don't want to come up short on blood and vitality and fail to open the treasure, do you?"
Hu Rong fell silent for a long while. Then the stripes across his body seemed to turn into a murderous aura that surged toward the heavens. "We kill Nie Hu first. His hands were stained with plenty of blood during the massacre of the Tiger Clan. And of the three Bronze Prefecture Captains, he's the strongest."
Hu Sanniang nodded slightly. "That suits me."
The night grew deeper, thick as ink.
Inside the room, the Oil Lamp flickered, casting mottled shadows.
Nie Hu and Ma Rou were immersed in cultivation, leaving only a sliver of awareness to watch for anything amiss.
Qin An had long since wiped down his Black Blade and returned it to his waist, but his hand had never left its hilt.
The quiet was rather dull, but Qin An was used to it.
He liked being alone. Having no one disturb him was a good thing.
Threads of cold wind slipped through the window, and the Oil Lamp flickered faintly.
Qin An sat sprawled in his chair. Suddenly, he raised his brows a fraction and swept a calm gaze toward the window.
A figure moved beyond it. Soft footsteps reached him, light as fine rain.
Nie Hu and Ma Rou opened their eyes at the same time and frowned.
The breeze strengthened slightly, blowing open a crack in the unbolted door.
Out on the street, the villagers emerged from their homes one after another.
Their eyes were vacant and their limbs stiff, like puppets on strings.
"It's here... I'm coming..."
Murmuring to themselves, the villagers split into three groups and walked in three different directions.
By then, the Evil Extermination Division's Prefecture Clerks had already left their rooms, just as Nie Hu, Qin An, and Ma Rou stepped outside.
Horse Rou's fine brows drew together. She took the Life-Taking Rope from her waist and said, "Something's wrong in all three directions. There are too many uncertainties. Be careful."
Nie Hu waved a hand. "We'll each take some people and follow a group."
As they spoke, the villagers seemed unaffected. Even Village Chief Yang walked in one direction with vacant eyes.
Qin An rested a hand on his Black Blade and said thoughtfully, "Splitting up isn't a good idea."
Something was wrong. If they divided their forces, they might be picked off one by one.
At that, Nie Hu gave a cold smile.
"How long have you been a Bronze Prefecture Captain, and how long have I?"
"If the Fox Woman could crush us outright, why would she need this performance?"
"She's baiting us, but I'm baiting her too. If she drains the Primordial Yang from two of these three groups while we follow only one, won't we have fallen for her trick?"
Three questions in a row, yet Qin An's face remained as calm as still water.
Nie Hu's reasoning made sense too.
If they kept their forces together, the Fox Woman could take the Primordial Yang from the other two groups and flee. They would be left drawing water with a bamboo basket.
But Qin An knew Nie Hu's words were aimed at him.
Horse Rou shook her head gently and shot Qin An a look, asking him not to take offense.
Qin An raised a brow. "You've asked me three questions. I'll ask you one."
Nie Hu frowned. "What?"
Qin An said evenly, "We're both Bronze Prefecture Captains. What gives you the right to speak to me like that?"
Silence fell over everyone.
Quite a few Prefecture Clerks were still awaiting orders. Hearing Qin An's sharp retort sent chills down their spines.
Cheng Sufeng had many Bronze Prefecture Captains under him, but only Nie Hu had a temper like fire.
After what Qin An had said, conflict could erupt at any moment.
Nie Hu's black hair bristled. "You're just a newly appointed Bronze Prefecture Captain. How dare you speak to me like that?"
Horse Rou felt helpless.
She knew what Cheng Sufeng had intended by sending her: she was there to smooth things over. Unfortunately, neither man was inclined to keep the peace.
Qin An looked Nie Hu in the eye. "If you object, we can settle it here, or we can let our skills speak when we get back."
He had joined the Evil Extermination Division only to obtain Cultivation Methods and Blood Crystals. He had never wanted to get tangled in its rivalries.
If Nie Hu kept targeting him, Qin An would not mind sending him on his way with the Black Blade.
Nie Hu narrowed his eyes, a fierce glint flashing through them like lightning. "The mission comes first. I'll come for you when we get back. Just wait."
"Split up and give chase!"
His temper burned hot, but he still knew what mattered most.
At his order, the Prefecture Clerks divided into three groups.
Nie Hu led one group after the villagers heading in one direction.
Horse Rou said, "Qin An, take care of yourself."
Qin An nodded slightly. After watching Ma Rou leave, he waved to the remaining Prefecture Clerks. "Let's go."
Before long, the village fell quiet again. Not a soul remained.
There was no moon in the night sky.
Qin An followed the villagers straight on until they reached a spot three miles beyond the village.
Suddenly, the stiff-moving villagers stopped. Their eyes rolled back, and they all collapsed unconscious.
Qin An drew the Black Blade from his waist and swept his gaze ahead, killing intent bursting from him.
From the silent darkness, a graceful figure slowly emerged.
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