All The Female Disciples Want To Kill Me

"Incense!?"

Ji Nanjue's eyes widened in astonishment; he finally seemed to understand the reason for the persistent fragrance that always clung to the Empress.

Stepping forward, he curiously picked up the Phoenix Belly Band.

It was indeed that scent.

Do women actually busy themselves with such trivial matters?

Feeling a peculiar sensation, he was about to put it down when he heard a voice, shocked to its core, exclaim, "What is the Emperor... doing!?"

「...」

Lin Jinyu hurried toward the courtyard, grinding her sharp teeth as she went, her lips moving in agitated mutters.

Her heart swelled with an ever-increasing loathing for that detestable figure.

It wasn't just because of Su Bei; there was also a long-standing, simmering resentment towards Ji Nanjue that fueled her anger.

Just as she was about to return to her room, she witnessed the scene before her.

—Ji Nanjue was furtively taking her Phoenix Belly Band.

Under normal circumstances, Lin Jinyu might have felt a slight thrill in her heart, as this would have proven her earlier assumption wrong—that he was, indeed, still interested in women.

But... having just returned from Su Bei's place, her mind was still in disarray, and this scene seemed to further confirm her recent suspicions.

Was he stealing it to use for himself!?

Lin Jinyu felt an indescribable sense of grievance and a profound despair welling up inside her.

Why on earth was this happening?

Ji Nanjue casually put down the Phoenix Belly Band. Seeing her gloomy face, he looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Where did the Empress go in the middle of the night?"

Lin Jinyu remained silent for a moment. "This concubine is fine," she said offhandedly, not giving him another glance. "Just a bit tired." She then lay down on the bed and closed her eyes.

Her head was buzzing.

Let it be a mess.

Ji Nanjue's expression was odd, but he didn't dwell on it. Shaking his head with a sigh, he returned to his own room.

「...」

In a dim cave outside Wu City, a group of masked men in black gathered silently, staring at the moon in the sky.

Eventually, a gaunt masked man with a scar on his arm stepped forward, surveying the crowd, and asked in a raspy voice, "Has the task been confirmed and set in motion?"

A dense crowd of men in black, exuding a bloody Evil Qi that permeated the entire cave, stood in solemn silence. Finally, a man in black from the far left spoke out, "Wu Nan Cliff has been secured."

Following his declaration, more voices chimed in succession:

"Xiao Feng Cave has been secured."

"The Fish Route has been secured."

"Red Lake has been secured."

"..."

Finally, as time passed and the last report was given, the gaunt man said softly, "What about the people from Dongting Stream?"

The group remained silent.

The man narrowed his eyes and murmured, "Very well, let's disperse for now."

After a brief pause, WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH—

The figures vanished in an instant.

The man removed his mask, revealing a pallid face. If anyone had seen him, they would have recognized him as the man who often stood behind the South Emperor.

The past is but a Nanke dream; the mortal realm, a self-spun web. How could he possibly escape?

Success or failure hinges on this one move.

「Dongting Stream.」

Two men in black, their bodies swirling with Evil Qi, finished setting the last bead in place. They then rose, preparing to head towards Wind Soul Cave.

This was a beautiful spot, a picture of serenity with its clear waters and verdant mountains.

Suddenly, one of the men sniffed.

"Yi Er, do you feel something is off?" His voice was hoarse, even as he gripped the Soul-binding Sickle at his waist.

This mission was unprecedented in scope, a long-planned endeavor. If successful, it could throw the Dongfeng Ancient Country into chaos for a considerable time.

The man beside him remained silent, but his eyes were fixed intently on the lake's surface.

TAP TAP TAP—

An old man appeared not far behind them. He wore a straw raincoat and a conical hat, his trouser legs rolled up high, and straw sandals on his feet—the very image of an ordinary fisherman.

It seemed an ordinary sight.

Yet, such a mundane scene caused cold sweat to break out on the backs of the two killers.

Although this was indeed a place for fishing, why had they not noticed his arrival at all?

Yi Er turned abruptly to look at the figure in the night. Beneath his mask, his face grew even paler, and his whole body began to tremble slightly.

His companion remained silent, but his eyes showed utter despair. The composure he'd had moments before vanished instantly, replaced by an unconcealable fear.

They both recognized this old man.

Or rather, it was precisely because they recognized him that these two Peak Refining Void experts were filled with such terror.

The old fisherman smiled at them, revealing a yellowed tooth. He flicked his fishing rod, sending ripples across the lake's surface.

At his waist, wrapped in tattered cloth, a sword gleamed with a sinister cold light.

"The mission has failed..." Yi Er sighed in despair.

The golden Token in his hand was immediately crushed to bits.

The old man glanced at the two, took a swig from his wine gourd, and then burst into loud laughter. "Let me ask you something: where is your master?"

The two exchanged a glance and nodded. Instantly, their terrifying Evil Qi surged toward the old fisherman.

They knew they wouldn't survive. They channeled all their energy into their Dantians, even as their Divine Senses had already begun to ascend into the sky.

Their physical bodies could be seized again if lost, but if their Divine Sense was extinguished, they would truly be gone.