Jiao Liqiao 5

One day, drawing on her memories of both her previous life and this one, Jiao Liqiao realized that a grand drama was about to begin in Jade City. At that time, Jade City would also be a gathering place for heroes: Fang Duobing, the next master of the Sigu Sect, her former master Di Feisheng, and Li Lianhua, who was soon to die.

Jiao Liqiao toyed with the potent detoxification pill in her hand and couldn't help chuckling. She was getting a little tired of being the Nanyin Cult's leader, and thanks to her efforts over the years, she had already dealt with nearly all the karmic burden that lingered on her.

The tiny wisp that remained belonged to the portion imposed by heavenly punishment. As long as Li Lianhua, the son of fortune, remained unwell, that karmic burden could not be wiped away.

Li Lianhua had probably tempered himself enough by now. He could take over from her.

She summoned Feng Qing and asked, "Is Shan Gudao's corpse still preserved?"

Feng Qing bowed respectfully. "Reporting to Cult Leader, after you gave the order, I called on the Nanyin physicians to preserve the impostor's corpse in the finest medicinal coffin. It still looks lifelike even now."

Jiao Liqiao tossed Feng Qing a potent detoxification pill. "This is the antidote to the poison in your body. Feng Qing, your performance over the years has pleased me greatly. Keep Shan Gudao's corpse well preserved; it might serve as a token of your allegiance to your new master."

Feng Qing hurriedly knelt and respectfully placed the detoxification pill to one side. "I am utterly loyal to you, Cult Leader, and harbor no divided loyalties. The poison was retribution for my blindness, and I dare not utter a single word of complaint."

Seated upright on her throne, Jiao Liqiao said irritably, "Enough. I'm not saying the opposite of what I mean. Your merits over the years can make up for the wrongs you committed before. Besides, I've received word that Li Xiangyi may still be alive. If I find him, he will naturally become the next leader of the Nanyin Cult after me. You need only remain loyal to him and the Nanyin Cult. Don't lose your head again."

Delighted, Feng Qing swallowed the detoxification pill and asked, "Might I ask where our master is now? Would Holy Maiden like me to accompany you on this journey?"

Jiao Liqiao sneered. He was quick enough to change how he addressed her, but she didn't care whom Feng Qing was loyal to. "No need. Just continue managing the Nanyin Cult well. You and I both know what kind of man Li Xiangyi is. I don't need to tell you how the Nanyin Cult should develop, do I?"

Feng Qing naturally knew that Li Xiangyi was a man of unyielding righteousness who could not tolerate a grain of sand in his eye. Fortunately, Jiao Liqiao had kept him in check over the years, and he had not dared commit any evil while managing the Nanyin Cult. So he naturally understood how he should conduct himself in the future.

With the Nanyin Cult's affairs settled, Jiao Liqiao was overjoyed at the thought that she would soon be free.

Though she had been rather busy these past years, she had not gone without benefits herself.

As her merit accumulated, it had not only offset most of her karmic debt but also allowed her to cultivate the Heavenly Devil Instruction without bottlenecks. The Chaos Pearl had also swallowed some of her merit and accumulated quite a bit of energy. Besides the space within it growing larger, the Chaos Pearl had gained a well. Though the water had no special effects, it was clear and sweet.

The Chaos Pearl was a primordial innate supreme treasure. As time passed and energy accumulated, who knew how many good things would be restored?

Taking only some gold and silver and a bundle, Jiao Liqiao set off for Jade City.

By the time she arrived, Wu Yan was leading his subordinates in respectfully welcoming Di Feisheng out of seclusion.

Jiao Liqiao had long known from her memories that this was where Di Feisheng had gone into seclusion to heal. She had even found the place for him. She hadn't expected that, even after she left, he still hadn't moved elsewhere.

She wondered just how confident Di Feisheng was in himself, or how little he thought of her.

Jiao Liqiao happened to stop in front of Li Lianhua, shielding him from the stones that blasted outward.

As she looked at the mighty, imposing Di Feisheng, the original owner's feelings surged through her body again, ceaselessly murmuring, Master, master.

Jiao Liqiao helplessly rubbed her temple, then said with a coquettish laugh to Di Feisheng, who was watching her, "Congratulations on emerging from seclusion, Alliance Master Di!"

Di Feisheng had already learned from Wu Yan that Jiao Liqiao had left the Golden Mandarin Duck Alliance. He gave a couple of cold chuckles. "A traitor to her master, and you still dare show yourself."

Before his words had faded, he was at Jiao Liqiao's side, reaching out to seize her by the throat.

If the original owner's emotions had stirred two parts anger in Jiao Liqiao, Di Feisheng's action now roused the remaining eight.

She sneered twice and made no move to dodge. Instead, she opened her mouth and breathed out a plume of black poisonous smoke, activating the Gu worm in Di Feisheng's brain.

Caught off guard, Di Feisheng was forced to his knees by the agonizing pain in his head.

Jiao Liqiao seized Di Feisheng by the chin. "I had intended to settle our past grievances with a divine medicine, so that my infatuation with you back then would not have been in vain.

"But you refused the toast only to drink the forfeit, and you even dared grab me by the throat! Who gave you the guts?!"

Behind Jiao Liqiao, Li Lianhua secretly edged farther into the woods. Jiao Liqiao's temper had grown much more explosive.

Just then, Fang Duobing and Shi Shui arrived with their people. Seeing the situation, they too were stunned for a moment.

Jiao Liqiao's anger had yet to subside. She drove them back with a palm strike. "Get lost!"

Fang Duobing was about to speak, but Shi Shui, who knew full well how unreasonable Jiao Liqiao could be, covered his mouth and dragged him away at once.

Wu Yan, however, promptly knelt. "Holy Maiden Jiao, you know the alliance master's temper. For the sake of the life he saved, please show him mercy."

Seeing the defiance in Di Feisheng's eyes, Jiao Liqiao gave him a vicious slap.

Even as Di Feisheng endured the excruciating pain, he shouted angrily, "How dare you!"

Jiao Liqiao slapped him again. "Why wouldn't I dare? Di Feisheng, it seems I've been giving you too much face. With the parasite worm in your brain, your life and death depend on a single thought from me. What gives you the right to act so arrogant with me?

"Since you saved me in the past, and I also schemed against you, we are even. If you dare do anything so insulting to me again, I will take your life. You'd better watch yourself."

With that, Jiao Liqiao did not spare Di Feisheng another glance. She took Li Lianhua and used her lightness skill to leave.

Li Lianhua seemed to have been frightened by Jiao Liqiao. Only after she had carried him through the air for a long while and landed did he timidly ask, "Cult Leader Jiao, I am but a mediocre physician. May I ask why you brought me away with you?"

Still affected by the original owner's emotions, Jiao Liqiao was in no mood for idle talk. "Li Xiangyi, I know where your senior brother's corpse is. Agree to three conditions, and I'll take you to it."

Every expression vanished from Li Lianhua's face. "How can I be sure whether you're telling the truth? And if you ask me to murder people and set fires, never mind whether I'm willing or not-in my present condition, I couldn't do it anyway."

Jiao Liqiao smiled. "In your present condition, you have no right to say no. As for the three conditions, they won't go against the way of chivalry or harm your friends and family. How about that?"

Li Lianhua flicked the hem of his robe. "I do indeed have no right to say no. Tell me your conditions. And please, call me Li Lianhua."