TNIBFT -Chapter 274 Playing Tricks and Feigning Spirits

“Hmph!”

The little girl’s voice was muffled and plaintive, filled with grievance.

Old Yang’s body stiffened. This was the first time a child willingly approached him. Usually a man of iron will, at this moment his heart felt like it was melting.

Ye Shuangxue snorted coldly in defiance and trotted away in a huff.

“Ah, I really am scared of you!”

Old Yang rose helplessly. He casually wiped his hands and strode after Ye Shuangxue. “Wait for me!”

A cute little girl—she only wanted to act spoiled, to go out of the city for a little while. She wasn’t trying to take his life. What was wrong with indulging her?

Hadn’t Ye Tian often said that daughters are meant to be spoiled?

At this moment, Ye Tian was in the main hall discussing matters with Duan Qingshan, and things were beginning to take shape.

Seeing his daughter dash out from the backyard, Ye Tian was about to speak, but seeing Old Yang following closely behind, he didn’t say anything.

“I heard it’s a Jianghu organization.”

“This Divine Maiden Palace… as long as the price is right, they’ll take on anyone, no matter who they are!”

Duan Qingshan spoke seriously.

Divine Maiden Palace?

The name was extremely familiar to Ye Tian. In the original story, the mighty Ye Shuangxue’s faction, after she took command, was notorious for her cruel methods, striking terror into everyone.

She excelled at all kinds of assassinations and traps.

Any target they set their sights on—be it nobles or famous Jianghu figures—none could escape.

Back in Mingfeng Village, Sun Wuji had given the three children small pouches, and inside were tokens of the Divine Maiden Palace. It was likely these people had been lurking near Sifang City all along.

“Gather the men!”

“Start searching outward from Lingfeng Village, covering a radius of twenty miles first!”

Ye Tian ordered.

Duan Qingshan immediately cupped his fists in acknowledgment. He was about to withdraw when Xiao Jiang and the eldest son came trotting from the backyard.

“Father!”

“Father! Sister Ling’er said those people are in Jianggu Village, twenty miles outside the city!” Xiao Jiang panted. “We need to hurry to rescue them. These people specialize in torturing, and if they fall into their hands, they’ll either become tools for them or be mercilessly killed.”

As for Sun Wuji’s combat power, there were probably no others in the world who could kill him.

Ye Tian was certain, because the author had made a point multiple times to emphasize Sun Wuji’s strength, giving the protagonist an overpowered advantage.

His daughter had just left, and Xiao Jiang and the eldest son came immediately to report—Shuangxue must know something.

Thinking of his daughter, Ye Tian’s expression turned tense. “Not good. Shuangxue must have left the city!”

“Old Duan, take the archers and cavalry. We’re leaving the city immediately!”

…

Meanwhile, on the snowfield, in Jianggu Village.

The village was secluded but not small, nestled in a valley. A winding main road led directly to it, but the road was obviously newly built, with yellowish mud scattered across the snow along its sides.

Qin Fengyi narrowed her eyes, watching the village warily.

“Stay alert. There might be traps along this road!”

Nanfeng nodded. “Boss, do you smell something?”

“The scent of blood!”

Qin Fengyi’s face darkened as she nodded gravely. “I fear that the villagers here have all become victims under the blade.”

As the group approached the village, the daytime silence was terrifying. Not a single dog barked, and the villagers were nowhere to be seen.

An eerie quiet.

The Ironclad Army moved cautiously, flanking Qin Fengyi on both sides.

“No one!”

“Why is there not a single person?”

Looking at the empty houses, Sun Yang and the others frowned, riding ahead to scout. “Swoosh!”

Feathered arrows tore through the wind.

Sun Yang tilted his head slightly to dodge and shouted, “Ambush! Every building has people inside! Everyone, be careful!”

“Whoosh!”

“Whoosh!”

Arrows rained down from all directions. Qin Fengyi held her silver spear with one hand, effortlessly blocking the projectiles. She shouted coldly, “Those smart enough, hand over Sun Wuji! Otherwise, I’ll slaughter you to the last man!”

Clearly, threats were useless!

Hidden archers continued their sneak attacks, but Qin Fengyi led the charge, tossing her silver spear. A muffled thud came from the shadows.

“Kill them all!”

Qin Fengyi waved her hand. The Iron-armored Army received the order and surged forward, swinging their long blades.

The Black-armored Army was a regular army, seasoned in years of battlefield experience alongside Qin Fengyi. Their combat ability and experience made them far superior. Against a group of women from the Goddess Palace, it was absolute domination—the underlings weren’t even a challenge.

“Lord, what’s over there?”

Nanfeng’s expression turned serious as he pointed toward the mountaintop, where newly built red houses stood prominently even from the foot of the mountain.

“Boss, there are a lot of people there!”

“Boss, there are people here too!”

The subordinates shouted in alarm.

Within just a few minutes, the Iron-armored Army had gathered the villagers they found. Kneeling in the snow, these people trembled all over. Some pleaded, “Don’t kill us! We don’t know anything! They forced us to work for them.”

“Please, sir, spare us!”

“These women—they worship the Goddess. We work day and night, and whenever we have a moment, they take us to the mountaintop to pay respects…”

“The Goddess… the Goddess herself is at the top of the mountain! You’re all going to die… haha… all of you…”

Some went mad, standing and pointing at Qin Fengyi while laughing maniacally.

Sun Yang dealt them a single slash, then sheathed his long blade. “Lord, these people are playing god and ghosts—superstitious fools. Let’s go up now and see what this so-called Goddess really is!”

Qin Fengyi glanced coldly at the kneeling villagers.

Sun Yang asked, “All handled?”

Qin Fengyi raised her hand to stop him. “Let Ye Tian handle it. After all, this is his city.”

“Nanfeng, come with me up the mountain to save the people!”

“Yes!”

The Iron-armored Army split in two. Sun Yang led one group to continue searching, while Qin Fengyi led another up the mountain.

The red houses on the mountaintop were grand and imposing, with a plaque reading ‘Goddess Palace’ above the entrance.

Before Qin Fengyi could enter, batches of women in red cotton garments surged out from all directions, throwing caution to the wind. These women were far stronger than those at the foot of the mountain. Qin Fengyi swung her silver spear like divine wrath—these women had no chance to resist.

Blood dripped from the smooth silver spear onto the snow below.

The mountaintop wind howled fiercely, swirling snow across the corpses scattered on the ground.

Silence.

The surroundings were eerily quiet. From inside the red house, one could hear faint laughter and crying—soft, mournful sounds that sent chills down the spine.

The Iron-armored soldiers gripped their weapons, eyes alert, flanking Qin Fengyi.

“Bang!” A loud crash resounded.

Qin Fengyi kicked the main door open. Standing on the steps, her pupils narrowed. Inside the courtyard, corpses lay everywhere, rivers of blood flowing, snow stained bright red. In the spacious courtyard, a disheveled figure stood among the bodies, head down, motionless. His snow-white hair was dyed crimson with blood.

Sun Wuji?

Qin Fengyi frowned, feeling the scene was extremely strange. What on earth was happening?

“Hahaha… so you’ve come too?”

“Want to stay awhile?”

A sinister, feminine voice echoed from the main hall. Its tone was terrifying. Qin Fengyi swung her silver spear and demanded coldly, “Who’s there?”

“I’ll give you one chance—come out, now!”