In the blink of an eye, several days had passed since the incident in Baoying City.

But instead of subsiding, the storm only intensified.

Everything unfolded just as Huang Rong had predicted — merchants and travelers moving from north to south spread the news of the Celestial Maiden under Celestial master Taiyi descending to the mortal realm, and they did so with remarkable speed for this era.

More and more people flocked to Baoying City. Without exception, those who arrived — upon seeing the city’s spring-like scenery, so distinct from elsewhere, and the celestial  jade on the long street — had all their doubts dispelled.

Could the Celestial Jade that suppressed the demon be fake? Could the city bursting with blooming flowers be false?

When an imperial envoy from Lin’an arrived in Baoying and saw it all with his own eyes, he immediately rushed back to Lin’an that very night.

But just as his entourage departed, another group of people quietly and stealthily slipped away.

Wanyan Honglie could no longer spare a thought for preventing the alliance between the Mongols and the Song. He now had to return to the capital of the Jin Kingdom at once to report to the court all that he had seen and heard in Baoying.

However, he had barely gone ten miles beyond the city when, riding at full gallop with his men, Wanyan Honglie’s pupils contracted sharply and he pulled on his reins.

Standing in the middle of the official road ahead was a stunning young woman in a red robe and crimson skirt.

Her beauty was rare in the world, but the look she gave Wanyan Honglie was filled with seething hatred.

Wanyan Honglie and Yang Kang rode side by side. They exchanged a glance — both recognized who she was.

Wasn’t this the adopted daughter of Yang Tiexin?

That day, Yang Tiexin and his wife had both died at the gates of the Jin capital. Though the others had scattered and escaped, the two of them remembered this girl clearly.

Now that she stood here blocking the road, it was clear she had come to avenge Yang Tiexin and his wife.

Wanyan Honglie didn’t hesitate. He raised his hand and ordered, «Kill her!»

The guards behind him immediately urged their horses forward, drawing their curved blades, ready to strike.

Mu Nianci saw the guards charging at her and did not dodge. She raised her weapon, aimed it at one of the guards, and silently pulled the trigger.

A bright white flash, clearly visible even in broad daylight, silently pierced through the guard’s chest. Facing the stunned Wanyan Honglie, Mu Nianci stepped forward, one step at a time, and coldly said:

«Prepare to die, Wanyan Honglie. Today, I shall avenge my foster father and mother!»

«Stop her! Stop her! Stop this demon girl!!!»

Completely unaware of what kind of sorcery Mu Nianci had used, Wanyan Honglie felt an icy chill all over and turned his horse around to flee, no longer caring even about his beloved son Yang Kang.

«Father!?»

Yang Kang cried out in shock. As he turned his head, he saw a beam of white light flash before his eyes.

Mu Nianci had anticipated Wanyan Honglie’s escape. Just as he turned his horse around, she aimed for his back and fired cleanly.

Times have changed, Wanyan Honglie!

«Pfft—!»

Wanyan Honglie only felt a burning pain in his chest. Lowering his head, he saw a round hole the size of a fingertip in the center of his chest.

The flesh around the hole had been scorched into charcoal, emitting faint white smoke.

But Mu Nianci still wasn’t satisfied. That shot had not been aimed at a fatal point — she didn’t want Wanyan Honglie to die easily.

This mysterious and terrifying technique struck such fear into Wanyan Honglie’s guards that none dared step forward — nor could they muster the courage to intervene.

Even Yang Kang was drenched in cold sweat, as if caught in a nightmare.

He suddenly felt a blade-like gaze stab into him. Meeting Mu Nianci’s eyes, Yang Kang shuddered, dismounted, and fled in panic, crawling and rolling away in terror.

The same Yang Kang who had been so lovingly fathered by Wanyan Honglie just days ago now abandoned his “father” without a second thought.

Mu Nianci’s eyes showed disappointment — the foster son of a loyal man like Yang Tiexin, the heir of the Yang family bloodline, how could he turn out to be such a heartless wretch?

She shook her head. But considering he was the son of her foster father, Mu Nianci let him live and walked step by step toward Wanyan Honglie, who had fallen off his horse and was now sprawled on the ground.

The guards let Mu Nianci pass, not daring to stop her. Eventually, overwhelmed by fear, they wailed in panic and scattered.

«Wanyan Honglie, no one can save you now.»

Standing before him, Mu Nianci stared at her enemy, who was wheezing in pain, her eyes red. She raised her gun once more.

«W-wait! Young lady! I can—waaah!»

Biu!

The shot pierced through Wanyan Honglie’s right leg.

Mu Nianci did not stop. Left leg. Right arm. Left arm. It was as if she were venting all her hatred, riddling Wanyan Honglie with dozens of bullets. Only after that did she fire a final shot, piercing the center of his forehead.

«Tsk, tsk, how pitiful!»

From the dense forest beside the official road, Li Mochou skipped out and looked at Wanyan Honglie’s lifeless face, shaking her head repeatedly.

«But I think killing him with that last shot was too easy. You should have left him here to die slowly in agony.»

Mu Nianci stood there dazed, not hearing what Li Mochou said.

Suddenly, she knelt on the ground and cried bitterly, «Foster Father! Foster Mother! I’ve avenged you! I’ve taken revenge!»

Li Mochou sighed and didn’t say anything further. Only after Mu Nianci calmed down did she speak:

«Let’s go. I still have to go with you to retrieve your foster parents’ remains and bury them in Niujia Village.»

«The sooner we finish, the sooner we can go back to find Big Brother Shen!»

Mu Nianci wiped her tears, gathered her emotions, and nodded. «Yes, Sister Mochou is right. Let’s set off quickly. Long’er and the young master are still waiting for me to return and take care of them.»

Mentioning Long’er, and thinking of the child she had seen in that wondrous immortal land called Zishan a few days ago, Mu Nianci inevitably thought of Xuan Yuan  .

«Young master… thank you.»

She lowered her eyes and whispered her thanks.

Li Mochou then called for a ceremonial carriage, leapt onto it, and shouted cheerfully, «Let’s go, let’s go! This time I want to drive manually!»

Inside a courtyard of a Beggar Sect stronghold in Baoying City.

A young man with a heroic appearance was practicing a set of palm techniques with fierce momentum. Those watching were amazed, but Hong Qigong kept shaking his head.

«No, no, no! Jing’er, that Dragon’s Tail Sweep move isn’t right. Watch me demonstrate!»

With that, he stepped forward and struck with his palm, channeling his inner energy, forcing Guo Jing back repeatedly.

Ever since the Celestial Maiden descended and slew the demon, Hong Qigong seemed to feel that the world was about to change drastically. Remembering that Guo Jing had only learned the «Regretful Dragon» move from him — and was, in some way, his only disciple — he suddenly felt the urge to pass down the complete Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.

From that day, Guo Jing formally became Hong Qigong’s disciple and began preparations to take over leadership of the Beggar Sect at the next Junshan Assembly.

While this master and disciple duo were teaching and learning diligently, none of them noticed a tiny bird perched on a tree branch in the courtyard.

That bird stared intently at Hong Qigong and was transmitting the essence of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms… elsewhere.