People had gone to Lotus Pier for protection.

There, Jiang Cheng, Lan Xichen, and Wen Ning had guarded the entrance to Lotus Pier. They would let people take shelter inside, while killing fierce corpses. Despite that the guard disciples had been hypnotized to sleep, the two Clan Leaders and Wen Ning were able to work productively.

"Why are there so many fierce corpses?" Jiang Cheng snarled.

His whip, Zidian, let out a few sparks before whipping a fierce corpse's head off.

Lan Xichen was contemplating that question, while pulling out his sword, Shuoye to cut at the fierce corpse's limbs. Meanwhile, Wen Ning helped bind the fierce corpses with his chains. The three cultivators cooperated well.

"There are indeed more fierce corpses than expected." Lan Xichen sighed.

He directly decapitated a fierce corpse, letting it fall at his feet.

"What should we do?" Wen Ning asked, his voice containing a hint of politeness. He leaped backwards, avoiding a blow to the head by another fierce corpse. Then, Wen Ning threw his chains, tying the fierce corpse down. Jiang Cheng slashed the fierce corpse's head off.

The pair used to never get along. However, surprisingly, once they must work together, they will cooperate.

"What else?" Jiang Cheng spat. "Continue to fight."

Inside Lotus Pier were the asleep Yunmeng Jiang disciples, and a bunch of citizens. To sum it all up, Lotus Pier has become a safe zone, while outside has become the definition of the apocalypse.

The purple whip, Zidian had continued to thrash and slash at the fierce corpses.

Wen Ning continued immobilizing them, with Lan Xichen's swordsmanship as the final touch.

"Brother!" All of a sudden, a familiar voice had piped in the battlefield. In came the three couples, with a captured Yi Ran dragged alongside the floor. Lan Zhan had seen the amount of fierce corpses, which blindly struggled against their swords.

He drew Bichen, cutting down the fierce corpses in his way.

"You've... captured the perpetrator?" Lan Xichen looked at Yi Ran, who was frantically clawing at the pavement, to prevent herself from descending further into their hands.

"I'M NOT!" Yi Ran put up a last struggle. "I'M AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"

Lan Xichen looked through her like transparent glass. He sighed, "It seems like you guys truly have caught the perpetrator. However, I didn't expect it to be a girl."

"I'M A WOMAN! NOT A GIRL!" Yi Ran seethed.

Jiang Cheng shot a look at her. He seemed to be contemplating something.

"Clan Leader Jiang," Lan Xichen looked over at him. "Your orders?"

Jiang Cheng sighed. He kneaded a hand at his temples, "Retreat."

The doors to Lotus Pier had been boarded shut. Several fierce corpses attempted to invade, but, they couldn't get past. Inside Lotus Pier, the people shuddered with fear, as the sound of pounding doors had resounded through the entire building.

Inside the Clan Leader's office, were Jiang Cheng and Yi Ran.

"Tell me, what were your plans?" Jiang Cheng interrogated.

Sprawled on the floor was Yi Ran, who was bound by Ruoye. She pursed her lips, deciding to stay silent. There was a definite anger sparkling in her eyes.

"Won't talk?" Jiang Cheng sneered. "You've killed my people! If you don't want to be tortured... you better fess up and plea for your life!"

Yi Ran found her eye twitching. "Pei!" She spat at him, "I know that I've killed your people! Who do you think I am?"

Jiang Cheng fell silent, as he was spat at by a woman.

His head lowered, with shadows falling over his face, cloaking his expressions. Finally, after a moment of silence, Jiang Cheng lifted his head. The shadows flipped off from his face, unveiling the anger roaring wildly like an untamed beast.

"So, it seems like you've picked violence." Jiang Cheng rubbed against his silver ring, which shone brighter throughout every touch.

Outside of the office, the sounds of Zidian colliding against skin and ripping apart flesh had leaked. The three couples shuddered outside, for they knew that getting on Jiang Cheng's bad side was like challenging against an enraged beast.

"Do you think we'll get anything out of her?" Xie Lian asked.

Wei Wuxian eyed him, "Perhaps we will. Perhaps we won't. After all, Yi Ran might die before Jiang Cheng's temper dies out."

The remaining couples, "..." They felt a shiver go down their spine.

"Will Uncle truly kill the perpetrator?" Jin Ling shuddered. The three junior disciples, Jin Ling, Lan Jingyi, and Lan Sizhui had taken shelter inside Lotus Pier as well.

"Do not worry." Lan Xichen patted Jin Ling on one shoulder. "Clan Leader Jiang isn't that kind of person."

"No no," Wei Wuxian patted Jin Ling on the other shoulder. "Clan Leader Jiang is exactly that kind of person."

The poor junior disciple could only stay rooted in the centre, feeling nervous and conflicted at who to trust.

Gradually, the sound of whips clashing against flesh had come to a stop. "Could it be that she finally surrendered?" Lan Jingyi asked. After all, who would be able to resist Jiang Cheng's repetitive whips of Zidian!?!

The door to the office opened.

Jiang Cheng came out, massaging his shoulders. He saw the expectant looks on the people's faces. Instead, he shook his head disappointedly. "Not a single word of information."

"She's that strong?" Lan Jingyi blurted.

Jiang Cheng's mood was unstable. He sighed, "She told me to whip her some more."

The three couples fell silent. They had no comment to that statement.

"It seems like we can only try to crack the truth of the mystery ourselves." Shen Qingqiu sighed. He kneaded his temples, clearly feeling a headache forming. "I'm more curious as to how so many fierce corpses managed to enter Yunmeng Jiang without our notice."

The others agreed.

Suddenly, the pounding on the outer doors became more prominent and deafening. The innocent citizens could feel their hearts throb against their chests, threatening to jump out of their throats. They were all trembling in fear, shrinking to the corners of the residence.

"Although we can't get anything out of Yi Ran at the moment," Jiang Cheng sighed, "We'll have to keep her under our radar. Who knows if she tries to escape."

Xie Lian nodded. He entered the office, then gestured to Ruoye.

The white silk bandage, which wrapped around Yi Ran, had tightened its grip and also attached itself to a pillar. If Yi Ran wanted to escape, she would have to pull the entire Lotus Pier residence down with her.

Yi Ran saw this and gave up on struggling.

Ever since she was absorbed of her spiritual energy from the needle, she couldn't muster up any spiritual energy. Therefore, she had no way of escape!

"A bunch of cannon fodders." Yi Ran bit her mouth. "One day, I'll designate a grave for each of them."

Naturally, the others heard her, but ignored the words she'd spoken. The door to the office had shut close, and the group had focused back on what was occurring outside.

By then, a flurry of fierce corpses were pounding at the doors.

Their sharp claws had already clawed through the first layer of wooden boards. There were five layers in total, and it was impossible for anyone to leave the residence. Therefore, the people inside Lotus Pier could only wait in trepidation. There was no escape route.

"I'm scared!" A child covered their ears.

"Shhh!" The child's mother patted their head. "Don't worry. We have Clan Leader Jiang to save us. There is nothing that our ruler can't do."

Jiang Cheng heard this.

He lowered his head, trying to cover up the sadness clouding over his eyes-

"We'll guard at the entrance." Xie Lian piped up. "San Lang and I will guard right before the doors. If the doors manage to barge down, there's no way that any fierce corpses will get past us."

The rest of the three couples heard this.

Wei Wuxian cheerfully reported, "Lan Zhan and I will be right behind you guys."

"Binghe and I can protect the civilians." Shen Qingqiu added.

Seeing the results, Jiang Cheng found his expression softening. He then coughed, "As the Clan Leader of Yunmeng Jiang, I will be in charge of leadership. Nobody shall disobey my orders."

"Yes, Clan Leader Jiang!"

At that moment, it seemed like as long as everyone united together, they were unstoppable. This feeling was so unreal that Jiang Cheng couldn't help but press a finger against his chest, testing his racing heartbeat.

He bit his lips. "Alright. Let's get a move on."

Guarding the entrance, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng stood right behind the doors. Behind them were Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan. In the rear end were Lan Xichen, Wen Ning, and Jiang Cheng. Lastly, the three junior disciples and civilians were protected by Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe, who were situated at the very back of the residence.

"The third layer is down." Xie Lian reported, by using his divine sense to sense the outside's situation.

There were only two layers of wooden boards left on the doors. The fierce corpses had torn down the first three layers, aiming to claw at the remaining two.

"These shouldn't be specially trained fierce corpses, right?" At the back, Wei Wuxian joked.

"You can train fierce corpses?" Shen Qingqiu was baffled. "What are they? A dog on the leash?"

"Shizun..." Luo Binghe cooed. "Don't compare those corpses to me. Only I can be your dog..." The sweet love talk made the surrounding civilians feel less frightful. After all, as long as there was enough dog food, even the worst scaredy cats would feel brave.

"Fourth layer is demolished." Xie Lian informed.

There was only one wooden board left on the doors! If that last layer is broken... then the fierce corpses can charge right inside the residence!

Abruptly, the last layer of wooden board had been torn off.

Immediately, a torrent of fierce corpses had flooded inside the residence. The doors were knocked down, and several screams rang at the back of Lotus Pier.

"I can take care of this, Gege." Hua Cheng deadpanned.

He raised E-Ming, planning to chop all the enemies down in one shot.

However, his plan had been interrupted, when a sudden burst of light engulfed the fierce corpses. The light belonged to the reflection of a blade.

A familiar sword cut through tens of the fierce corpses, with the corpses collapsing.

"What is this..." Wei Wuxian had wanted to shield his eyes, but Lan Zhan had already plastered a firm hand over his lover. All the Yiling Patriarch could see was the peerless hand of his husband.

Unknowingly, both lovers' ears had turned red.

Shen Qingqiu was the first to recognize the owner of that sword. "Liu Qingge!" He blurted that name aloud. "You guys arrived!"

Outside of the residence, Liu Qingge gripped onto his sword and slashed down the fierce corpses, mercilessly. By his side was Qi Qingqi, the only female Peak Master in Cang Qiong Mountain. Slowly, more familiar faces from Cang Qiong Mountain had showed up.

There was Yue Qingyuan and Shang Qinghua. Even MoBei-Jun, the blue-marked demon had made his entrance.

Several fierce corpses had died and collapsed at their feet.

By the time they thought it was over, a sudden fierce corpse leaped out from amongst the crowd. The fierce corpse had a young figure, and was agile as it jumped to its commands.

Surprisingly, the three couples recognized this figure.

It was Su Nan, the tanghulu shopkeeper's son!

Wei Wuxian felt conflicted. Why did Su Nan become a fierce corpse? Was the Su Nan they've met before... was he already a fierce corpse? If so, when did the child die? Did Yi Ran kill him?

These questions were unanswered, as Su Nan landed flexibly on the ground.

Liu Qingge slashed his sword at the fierce corpse's head, but Su Nan dodged it.

Seeing this, Liu Qingge was surprised. This little boy was merely a fierce corpse, and yet, he moved around so agilely! Weren't fierce corpses not supposed to have their consciousness?

"Damnit!" Liu Qingge swore. This time, Su Nan went on the offensive, and threw his sharp claws at the Peak Master. Liu Qingge had to dodge, block, and avoid all the collective punches.

Su Nan threw another punch.

This time, his punch was concise and quick. Even the wind began to blow wildly at the speed. Before Liu Qingge knew it, the fist was merely inches away from colliding into his own face-

A sword blocked the impact.

Yue Qingyuan kicked at Su Nan's abdomen, throwing the fierce corpse back by several metres. The fierce corpse saw that it couldn't win, and so, he fled.

"Should we chase after it?" Liu Qingge asked.

"Wait." Yue Qingyuan frowned. "It's best to not take action. After all, that fierce corpse... has its own consciousness."

"How?" At the back, Wei Wuxian heard all of this.

The only conscious fierce corpse that exists was Wen Ning!

"It's movements clearly showed that it can control itself, and knows what it was doing." Yue Qingyuan sighed. He slashed at another incoming fierce corpse. "I'm afraid that this won't be so easy."

In about a day's worth of time, the Peak Masters from Cang Qiong Mountain had managed to clear all the fierce corpses in Yunmeng Jiang. Only Su Nan, the child fierce corpse who has its consciousness wasn't to be found.

"Phew..." Shen Qingqiu sighed. "When I first saw Bo Fan challenging the five hundred disciples, I felt like something was off. Immediately, I sent a letter to contact our Sect Leader. Thankfully, they arrived on time."

"As expected." Luo Binghe didn't hesitate to suck up. "Shizun is the most thoughtful."

Hua Cheng and Lan Zhan shot a dark look at him. Clearly, their thoughts differed.

The civilians of Yunmeng Jiang had taken a breather as well. Their panic from earlier diminished into heartfelt gratitude. They couldn't thank the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect enough.

Earlier, Jiang Cheng felt regret. He thought that if he hadn't saved Cang Qiong Mountain from the demons, then none of this would've happened. Yunmeng Jiang wouldn't be targeted by Bo Fan and Yi Ran, and his civilians wouldn't die out so easily.

However, it was only because he saved Cang Qiong Mountain back then, did they save him back.

Lan Xichen understood what he thought. "Your kindness will be rewarded."

Jiang Cheng: in the process of whipping Yi Ran

Yi Ran: Is this the hardest you can do? You're so weak, what a disgrace to your Clan-

Jiang Cheng: SHUT UP (#｀皿')