136: Let's see who jumps out first.

"Master."

"Am I still alive?"

Xu Feiyan and Feng Qingwu woke up almost simultaneously, their starry eyes opening for the first time, carrying a trace of confusion from their lingering dreams.

The previous torture of being swallowed by endless darkness and cold, as if their Divine Souls were being gnawed by thousands of poisonous insects, still clung to them like maggots on a bone, causing their delicate bodies to tremble with lingering fear.

"Silly girls, of course you are alive."

Han Qing's face was filled with relief as he gave a warm smile, his hand gently stroking the two women's pale cheeks, as soft as if he feared breaking delicate glass. "With this Venerable one here, even if the God of the Underworld himself came, he wouldn't dream of taking you from my hands."

His words seemed to have a soul-calming effect, instantly dispelling the fear in their hearts and allowing their panicked minds to gradually settle.

When their gaze finally focused on Han Qing's handsome face, filled with concern and tenderness, the two women's misty eyes were instantly flooded with tears.

The various previous tortures, intertwined with the ecstasy of having him back, were like a flash flood breaking a dam, impossible to suppress.

They almost simultaneously reached out their weak, jade-like arms, tightly encircling Han Qing's neck and burying their cheeks deep in his broad, warm chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Master, I thought... I would never see you again..."

"I was so scared, I was really scared to death."

Han Qing let them vent, his large hands gently patting their slender shoulders, silently conveying comfort.

After their emotions calmed slightly, Han Qing said softly, "Alright, it's all over. You've just woken up and your bodies are still weak; rest well."

He carefully settled the two women back onto the bed and meticulously tucked in the corners of the blankets.

"Shishi, Rushi, you've worked hard too. You may withdraw for now; this Venerable one will stay here."

Han Qing turned to Liu Shishi and Ying Rushi, whose eyes were also red and swollen and whose expressions were haggard.

"Yes, Brother Qing / My Lord."

The two women bowed in response and, with a bit of reluctance and worry, quietly exited the side hall.

Tranquility returned to the side hall.

Han Qing's gaze fell once more on the two beautiful faces on the bed, still pale and weak but now deep in sleep.

The warmth on his face gradually faded, replaced by a bone-chilling coldness.

"Exactly who would use such a vicious hand against two weak women who rarely leave their home?"

Han Qing's brow furrowed tightly as anger surged in his chest.

Since following him, Xu Feiyan and Feng Qingwu mostly stayed at the Spirit Peak of the Hundred Flowers Valley, focusing on their Cultivation or attending to him. They rarely had contact with the outside world, so where could such deep hatred come from?

If someone wanted to take their lives, why use such a bizarre and malicious evil technique?

"It seems this matter is directed at me, Han Qing!"

A sharp killing intent flashed through his eyes!

They were merely innocent victims caught in the crossfire!

"Someone wants me dead!"

This thought, like a bolt of lightning, made his heart tighten suddenly!

Who? Who exactly had moved with such murderous intent against him?

Han Qing's mind raced, sorting through every person and every event since his Transmigration, trying to find a clue.

He had offended quite a few people, but there didn't seem to be many factions with the ability, motive, and mastery of such an evil technique.

"The Misty Forest, the Eight Great Demon Venerables!"

In the past, he had caused a massive scene in the Misty Forest, slaying a Yao Race Nascent Soul and forcing the Black Wind Demon Venerable to sign a humiliating treaty, extorting a massive amount of resources. He had already become a major threat to the Yao Race's plans for a Demon Disaster.

Those Eight Great Demon Venerables hated him to the bone and wanted nothing more than to eliminate him!

With the Yao Race's mysterious Legacy, it wasn't impossible for them to possess a malicious curse technique.

"Then there are the various families of the Tianxuan Domain!"

Han Qing's brow furrowed even deeper.

On the surface, he had settled his grievances with the top powers of the Tianxuan Domain and even reached a state of friendly cooperation.

But he knew well that this was merely a temporary measure due to the imbalance of power.

The Tianxuan Domain was, after all, one of the legendary eight Dominator Heavenly Domains, with complex factions, a multitude of experts, and unfathomable foundations.

When had they ever suffered such a great loss at the hands of a Cultivator from a remote borderland?

People dead, face lost, apologies made, territory ceded—and they even had to fully support the development of the Four Seas Immortal Alliance.

To those haughty Tianxuan Domain Cultivators, this was a supreme humiliation!

They were polite on the surface, but in secret, they likely wished to grind his bones to ash!

With the foundation of the Tianxuan Domain, finding some sinister method for a long-distance curse would not be difficult.

"The Demon Venerables... the Great Families..."

Who exactly was it?

Han Qing's brow was knit tight, and he felt restless and uneasy.

Both suspects had the motive and the strength, but he lacked clues; it was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

The enemy was in the dark while he was in the light; this feeling left him extremely frustrated.

Just as Han Qing was troubled by this, a familiar voice, slightly husky yet naturally seductive, sounded from behind him:

"Is My Lord still worried about this matter?"

Han Qing turned back in slight surprise to see Ying Rushi's mature and curvaceous figure, which had quietly appeared behind him at some unknown point.

"Rushi? Why have you come back?" Han Qing asked, slightly startled.

Ying Rushi moved with light steps, swaying over to Han Qing's side. Her plump shoulder brushed almost imperceptibly against his arm, and the scent of mature orchids from her body quietly drifted into his nose.

She lowered her head slightly, whispering like a lover: "My Lord, This humble one was outside the hall and saw My Lord's troubled expression, and my heart could not bear it. This humble one is bold enough to have thought of a humble opinion that might help My Lord find the mastermind. I wonder if My Lord is willing to listen?"

"You have a way?"

A sharp light flashed in Han Qing's eyes as he asked urgently, "Speak quickly! What is the idea?"

Seeing that he was indeed interested, a flash of nearly imperceptible shrewdness crossed Ying Rushi's phoenix eyes.

She stood slightly on her tiptoes, bringing her cherry lips, which radiated an inviting flush, close to Han Qing's ear.

In a tone audible only to the two of them, yet filled with endless allure and mystery, she laid out her clever plan... Han Qing nodded continuously, his tightly furrowed brow gradually relaxing.

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"

After Ying Rushi finished, Han Qing clapped his hands and laughed. His gaze toward her was filled with unmasked appreciation: "Steward Ying, how did you develop such an exquisite mind? To think of such a plan that kills two birds with one stone!"

He tilted up Ying Rushi's smooth chin: "As expected of the Chief Steward personally appointed by this Venerable one! You are indeed beautiful, intelligent, and matchlessly resourceful!"

Ying Rushi was flustered by his sudden intimacy and blunt praise. Her pretty face flushed, and her phoenix eyes shimmered with a seductive charm.

She lowered her head slightly, her breath hitching almost imperceptibly: "My Lord overpraises me. How could This humble one's shallow tricks dare to be shown before a talent of such world-shaking caliber as My Lord..."

Looking at her bashful and seductive appearance, Han Qing's heart couldn't help but stir, and a familiar heat rose from his lower abdomen.

He chuckled: "Enough, no more modesty. This Venerable one is extremely satisfied with your idea!"

A meaningful smile curled at the corners of his mouth as his eyes burned while staring at Ying Rushi's moist red lips: "However, the specific arrangements of this plan, as well as the various variables that might arise later, still require the two of us to have a good, in-depth discussion and scrutinize it several times to ensure nothing goes wrong."

"So, Steward Ying, you shall stay here for today and need not return. This Venerable one still has many details that I need you to clarify for me..."

How could Ying Rushi not understand his meaning upon hearing this?

Her already gorgeous face instantly turned as red as a ripe peach, as if blood were about to drip from it.

In her watery phoenix eyes, a soul-stirring shyness flickered.

She lowered her head slightly.

She could clearly feel her body throbbing and burning wildly for the man before her... A single lamp like a bean, two hearts reflecting each other; within the hall, a world of its own—this part shall not be detailed.

One day later.

A piece of shocking news sufficient to shake the entire Four Seas Immortal Alliance and even several surrounding domains spread like it had wings to every corner of the Alliance!

The Four Seas Immortal Alliance's Chief Deacon, Ying Rushi, personally issued the Alliance Leader's Order.

Effective immediately, all external expansion plans of the Four Seas Immortal Alliance were to be suspended!

All Alliance Disciples who had been dispatched to open new territories or establish new strongholds were to be withdrawn within a set time limit!

Furthermore, the Four Seas Merchant Guild, which was under the Alliance's banner and spread across dozens of surrounding regions, making money hand over fist, was to immediately stop all external operations and drastically shrink its business scope!

Except for the core controlled areas of the Tianhuang Domain and the Zhilan Domain, the branches, shops, trade routes, and industries in all other regions...

Regardless of profit or loss, all were to be closed and abolished within the time limit!

Once this order was issued, the Four Seas Immortal Alliance instantly exploded with activity!

Countless Alliance Disciples, Elders, managers, and even small and medium-sized factions dependent on the Alliance were shocked and confused!

Currently, under the leadership of the powerful Alliance Leader Han Qing, the Four Seas Immortal Alliance was in its golden age of rapid expansion!

Its sphere of influence was no longer limited to the Tianhuang and Zhilan Domains, extending wildly like an eight-armed giant beast!

The flag of the Four Seas Merchant Guild was planted across billions of miles! It was already the undisputed uncrowned king of the surrounding domains!

Why, at such a time of peak prosperity, would the Alliance issue such an absurd order that was like cutting off its own arms and destroying its own Great Wall?

Why exactly?

For a time, people were panicked, and discussions were rampant.

Various guesses and rumors spread like a plague.

Some said the Alliance Leader Han Qing had suffered a Qi Deviation during secluded cultivation and was no longer of sound mind.

Some said the Immortal Alliance had offended an even more powerful and terrifying force and had to retreat to avoid disaster.

Some even said there was a power struggle within the Alliance, and Ying Rushi wanted to take advantage of the Alliance Leader's seclusion to seize power... In short, everyone had something to say, and the entire Alliance was shrouded in a bizarre atmosphere of confusion and unease.

A group of veterans including Gao Qiuye, Sima Kong, Luo Qianyun, Song Tianye, and Tie Xinshu were shocked and angry upon hearing the news. They immediately sought out Ying Rushi together to demand an explanation.

"Chief Executor Ying! What exactly is going on?"

The hot-tempered Gao Qiuye was the first to speak out: "The development momentum of our Four Seas Immortal Alliance is at its peak! How much effort did we put in to expand our territory? We were just about to see the results; why suddenly retreat on all fronts now? Isn't this throwing away all our previous efforts and destroying our own Great Wall?"

Although Sima Kong and the others were not as agitated as Gao Qiuye, their faces were also solemn and confused.

They truly couldn't understand why the always shrewd and capable Chief Deacon would make such an absurd decision.

Facing the questioning of the veterans, Ying Rushi's beautiful face always maintained a calm and indifferent smile, and she did not give a specific explanation: "Elders, please calm yourselves. This matter is a decision made by this Chief Steward after careful consideration and comprehensive evaluation. As for the reason, it cannot be disclosed for the time being."

"What kind of explanation is that?"

Gao Qiuye was so angry his beard fluttered: "Chief Executor Ying! we respect you for sharing the Alliance Leader's burdens and for your great contributions! But for a decision of this magnitude that concerns the survival of the Immortal Alliance, you should at least give us an explanation!"