Chapter 187: The Fate of a Heartless Man

Roughly an hour later, estimating that the enemies had left, Song Yufeng was about to depart with Nangong Chen.

"What's wrong? Did you poison me?"

To her horror, Song Yufeng discovered she couldn't mobilize even a trace of spiritual power; Nangong Chen was in the same predicament.

Wang Changsheng hastily took out and swallowed a Yuqing Pill, then applied a protective shield to himself and released several second-tier puppet beasts.

"I had thought you wouldn't fall into my trap, but it seems even heaven couldn't stand it anymore and lent me a hand. You deserve to die."

Zhao Ningxiang flicked her sleeve towards the corner; a blue light flashed, revealing a small azure cauldron in which a stick of azure sandalwood incense was burning.

"This is Spirit-Dissolving Incense. It's colorless and odorless. Now you have no spiritual power whatsoever. A year from today will be the death anniversary of you two."

Zhao Ningxiang cackled maliciously, looking utterly terrifying.

Nangong Chen and Song Yufeng had deliberately avoided using their spiritual power and had withdrawn their protective shields to prevent detection by the enemies, which was how they were poisoned. Had it not been for someone coincidentally battling nearby, they wouldn't have been poisoned at all.

"Junior Sister Zhao, don't act recklessly. If you kill us, my father won't let you off. If Uncle-Master Zhao finds out, he won't spare any of you, including your family."

Song Yufeng feigned calmness as she spoke, though her eyes were filled with panic.

Zhao Ningxiang's figure flickered, and she suddenly appeared before Song Yufeng.

*Smack!*

She slapped Song Yufeng twice, her face full of grief and indignation as she spat, "Bitch! What did you promise me? I gave you years of my savings so your father could intercede with Uncle-Master Zhao, to prevent our Zhao family from being conscripted. But what did you do? You played me for a fool! My grandmother was indirectly killed because of you. My father and the others—my grandmother's death was all because of you!"

Song Yufeng's cheeks immediately swelled. She bit the bullet and explained, "I already told my father; he might have forgotten. Junior Sister Zhao, how about this: once we return, I'll have my father give you two Foundation Establishment Pills. With those, your Zhao family can cultivate more Foundation Establishment cultivators."

Zhao Ningxiang flipped her delicate hand, and a yellow short sword appeared. Song Yufeng, now powerless, had no ability to resist. Zhao Ningxiang repeatedly stabbed Song Yufeng more than a dozen times with the yellow short sword, roaring as she did so, "Go tell these words to my grandmother! You indirectly caused her death; now it's blood for blood!"

Song Yufeng's face turned pale, and she collapsed onto the ground.

Witnessing this scene, Wang Changsheng's brows furrowed deeply. He finally understood what Zhao Ningxiang's words had meant last time.

Nangong Chen saw Song Yufeng's tragic death, and his face went pale. He hastily hugged Zhao Ningxiang's legs, saying in a panicked tone, "Junior Sister Zhao, you are the only one in my heart! This woman was forced upon me by my father and the others. I never thought of breaking my vows, truly! Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. After we go back, I'll immediately tell my father that I'm marrying you. You are truly my wife, Nangong Chen's wife!"

Zhao Ningxiang chuckled softly and casually released a sound-proof barrier, enveloping herself and Nangong Chen. She gazed at Nangong Chen with a face full of tenderness. "Senior Brother Nangong," she said, "am I truly the only one in your heart? You wouldn't break your vows?"

"Truly! I, Nangong Chen, swear to heaven, you are the only one in my heart, Junior Sister Zhao! I will not break my vows. I will definitely take you as my wife!"

Nangong Chen repeatedly agreed. His life and death now entirely at Zhao Ningxiang's whim, he would say anything to save himself.

Zhao Ningxiang's face twisted into a maniacal expression. She burst into maniacal laughter, then her expression turned cold. "Then tell me, who is that on the ground? If you truly want to marry me, stab her a few times."

Zhao Ningxiang cast a protective shield on herself and tossed a blue short sword to Nangong Chen.

Nangong Chen's face showed hesitation, but when Zhao Ningxiang placed the yellow short sword against his neck, he gritted his teeth. He shakily picked up the blue short sword and stabbed Song Yufeng's corpse twice.

"Haha, Song Yufeng, do you see this? This is your husband, treating you like this for his own life! We were all mistaken about him!" Zhao Ningxiang laughed loudly, her expression grotesque.

"Junior Sister Zhao, you are truly the only one in my heart, believe me!"

Nangong Chen pleaded desperately, his expression extremely tense.

Zhao Ningxiang calmed down, a look of reminiscence on her face. She asked indifferently, "Senior Brother Nangong, do you still remember the vow you made under the peach blossom tree that night? Tell it to me."

Nangong Chen's face went pale, and he dared not speak. Zhao Ningxiang moved the yellow short sword in her hand to his head.

He shivered, swallowed hard, and stammered, "I, Nangong Chen... only love Zhao... Zhao Ningxiang alone. If I ever violate this, may I be struck by lightning, cut into a thousand pieces, pierced by ten thousand arrows, and die a terrible death."

He had originally pursued Liu Yuerong, but she didn't reciprocate his feelings. At that time, Zhao Ningxiang and Nangong Chen were very close, and in his despondency, Nangong Chen became involved with Zhao Ningxiang. One night, they went to the peach blossom grove to admire the moon. Nangong Chen, full of youthful vigor, drank a lot of spiritual wine and lost control, becoming intimate with Zhao Ningxiang. She initially didn't agree, but Nangong Chen repeatedly pestered her and made solemn vows, which eventually convinced her.

Not long after, Nangong Chen became cultivation partners with Song Yufeng. Heartbroken, Zhao Ningxiang took on a task to guard a spirit stone mine, moving far away from the sect. She originally didn't intend to seek revenge, but the death of Zhao Yuhui became the last straw that pushed her over the edge. Once the seed of hatred was planted in her heart, it quickly took root and sprouted, leading to the scene playing out today.

"If you hadn't made such solemn vows, how could I have given myself to you? You deceived me into sleeping with you, which I could consider repaying your Zhao family's kindness. But that bitch Song Yufeng sweet-talked me, deceived me out of years of my savings, and indirectly caused my grandmother's death! It's all your fault; you deserve to die!"

Zhao Ningxiang roared, her expression grotesque.

The next moment, she gazed at Nangong Chen with a face full of tenderness again. "Senior Brother Nangong," she said, "you have broken your vows. I'll just have to cut you into a thousand pieces, to let you know the fate of a faithless man."

"Ah! No, Junior Sister Zhao..."

Without spiritual power, Nangong Chen was no match for Zhao Ningxiang. She proceeded to cut him into a thousand pieces.

Nangong Chen bled profusely, his flesh mutilated beyond recognition. He died a terrible death.

Wang Changsheng watched Zhao Ningxiang torture Nangong Chen, feeling somewhat nauseated. He quickly turned his head away.

After killing Nangong Chen, Zhao Ningxiang took the storage pouch from Song Yufeng's waist and tossed it to Wang Changsheng. "Cousin," she said indifferently, "go back to Qinglian Mountain! Don't return to the front line. The four great sects of Great Song aren't worth you risking your life for them. If you want to expose me, go ahead!"

"Cousin Ningxiang, are you still returning to the front line?"

Zhao Ningxiang nodded. "Mm," she said, "I told you, I have other things to do."

"Cousin Ningxiang, take care of yourself. If you don't return, I will definitely help you look after the Zhao family, I promise."

Zhao Ningxiang nodded with satisfaction. "Then I'll trouble you. Hurry and go!"

Wang Changsheng put away the storage pouch. Escorted by several second-tier puppet beasts, he flew out of the cave. He didn't ascend high into the sky but instead traveled on foot.

Not long after, he disappeared into the dense forest.