A report was written down.

"It is confirmed the amount of fierce corpses in Yunmeng Jiang amounted up to three hundred. Additionally, all three hundred of fierce corpses have been taken care of. Other than the child-figured fierce corpse that goes by the name of Su Nan, there are no fierce corpses that are missing."

"It is confirmed the amount of injured people in Yunmeng Jiang amounted up to two hundred. While, it s confirmed that the amount of deaths amounted up to... six hundred."

Listening to the report, a solemn look was plastered over Jiang Cheng's face.

The three couples felt pensive as well.

They had all stayed inside Lotus Pier, discussing the aftermath of the incident. Meanwhile, Yi Ran was still bound by Ruoye at the pillar in the corner of the room. She sat there, staring at them with a deadpanned expression. She appeared like she wanted to eat them.

"There are many casualties. Send out troops to tend to the injured people first." Jiang Cheng ordered. He tapped a slender finger on the surface of the table.

The reporter, a Yunmeng Jiang soldier had nodded.

He wanted to go send out troops, but then was interrupted by a sudden laugh in the back.

"Are you sure you want to send out troops?" Yi Ran asked. A mischievous look was visibly displayed on her face.

Jiang Cheng arched an eyebrow at her. "What? You want me to just not treat my people?"

Yi Ran's smile broadened. "It seems like you don't understand what I meant. Are you sure you want to let your troops get close to your people?"

"What?" Jiang Cheng spat. "Are you saying that my troops are untrustworthy? Do you really think that I'll fall for your mind games."

"Are you sure it's mind games?" Yi Ran cooed.

She seemed to be a fox demon, playing and controlling with all of them in her hands. If she wanted them to turn left, she'll control the strings and make them turn left. If they didn't want to turn left, then she'll control the gears in their mind and make them want to turn left.

"Have you forgotten?" Wei Wuxian cut in. "You're a hostage. Your life is in our hands."

Yi Ran saw him and argued back, "Are you sure about that? I still have unspoken information. You guys won't kill me before I spill the beans."

Shen Qingqiu kneaded his temples. "Whether you tell us information or not, we'll manage to figure it out on our own."

Wei Wuxian chirped, "That's right! What Shen-xiong said is right!"

Yi Ran sneered at him. "Shut up! I don't want to hear you! Just continue hiding behind your friend's back! You coward! You moron! If you're not chicken, then untie me and fight me head on!"

Wei Wuxian smirked. "Whether I'm chicken or not has nothing to do with you."

Yi Ran saw that her insults were no use to the shameless Yiling Patriarch. She puffed her cheeks like a pufferfish and proceeded to ignore them, no matter the amount of glares and questions shot at her.

"...ignore her." Lan Xichen told Jiang Cheng, sensing his solemn mood.

Jiang Cheng nodded. He then was about to tell the Yunmeng Jiang soldier to continue onwards, but then, Lan Zhan suddenly slammed a fist on the table.

The table broke into pieces, then withering into dust.

The three couples, three junior disciples, Jiang Cheng, Lan Xichen, and Wen Ning had fell silent. They went expressionless, with black lines falling across their faces. Even Yi Ran, who was ignoring them, had perked up in surprise and shock.

"The fuck are you doing?" Yi Ran ended the silence.

Then, Lan Zhan shot a look at her. His expression was cold and frosty, then his cheekbones were strung high and strong. "The Yunmeng Jiang disciples." He looked over to Jiang Cheng. "How did Bo Fan escape?"

Jiang Cheng suddenly felt a spark of idea. "They were suddenly possessed after the drums began playing. We thought that it was the work of a ghost, and that they were being possessed. So then, Clan Leader Lan played a melody and hypnotized them to sleep. Right now, the five hundred disciples are still unconscious. But since you've caught the drums player, they should be fine."

"Why do you ask?" Jiang Cheng asked. "I still have a few other five hundred disciples from the second troop. We're not missing out on troops, you know."

Lan Zhan stared at Jiang Cheng. The latter felt slightly oppressed when being stared so intensely at.

"Did you not think there was something wrong with the possessed disciples?"

Suddenly, Lan Xichen blurted out loud, "They looked like fierce corpses!"

He remembered how the disciples' skin began rotting imperceptibly, with veins beginning to prod out from underneath the pale and blemished surface. That look reminded him of fierce corpses.

"You're wrong!" A loud voice blared out.

Yi Ran wore a smile on her face. "Since you're so close to the truth, I might as well spill everything out." She leaned forwards, with a strip of snow white hair falling across her forehead. "They're not fierce corpses. But rather living corpses."

Realization blundered Wei Wuxian. He blurted out, "Corpse poisoning."

He remembered how in the past, a familiar man that went by the name "Xue Yang" had transmitted the powder of corpses, making almost all the junior disciples inhale and become corpses themselves. Thinking about this, wasn't the situation in Yunmeng Jiang the same?

"You said there are only three hundred fierce corpses. There are two hundred casualties, and six hundred deaths. However..." Yi Ran smiled. "In reality, there are nine hundred deaths. The three hundred fierce corpses that you've all killed... were all civilians of Yunmeng Jiang."

The people fell silent.

All the fierce corpses they thought they killed for the sake of justice... they were originally civilians of Yunmeng Jiang! Doesn't this mean... they were killing their own people?

A haunting smile revealed on Yi Ran's face. "Clan Leader Jiang... can't you even recognize your own people?"

The one with the worst mood was Jiang Cheng.

His head was lowered, which prevented them from seeing just how horrible his expression was. The three couples could already imagine the storm that was looming overhead! Jiang Cheng had a hand fumbling around with his silver ring, pondering on whether or not he should control his temper.

"Wait," Shen Qingqiu cut in. "If you were spreading corpse poisoning among the people, how come nobody noticed anything?"

That was a good point.

The three couples found a day of sunshine shining through the dark clouds.

Yi Ran was dumbfounded, "Are you all dumb? Why do you think I chose that day to take action?"

That day... the three couples understood. That day, the tanghulu shopkeeper's son had fled to the woods. Su Nan had bumped into Yi Ran, who was disguising herself as a young lady. Yi Ran didn't show mercy, and directly killed the child. Who knew what happened afterwards. Perhaps Su Nan was fed corpse poisoning, or perhaps his spirit turned into a fierce corpse.

The next day, Yi Ran had burned down the forest. She attracted a few nearby villagers, who fled to the cave for shelter. Seeing that, Yi Ran could spread the corpse powder, turning them slowly into living corpses.

However, they wouldn't turn until they were back at Yunmeng Jiang, which was how long the transformation would take.

Yi Ran was taken to Yunmeng Jiang, where she spread more corpse powder. That day, there was rain amidst the fire. Nobody could see the corpse powder, so they'd unknowingly inhale it. And so, right afterwards, Bo Fan came forwards and challenged the five hundred disciples.

He distracted the five hundred disciples, however, some of them had already inhaled the corpse powder. They were slowly turning into living corpses. And the moment Yi Ran began playing her drums, all the living corpses in Yunmeng Jiang was under her control.

This was the mission Yi Ran had completed.

"Do you understand now?" Yi Ran asked. "Clan Leader Jiang, you really shouldn't let bad people infiltrate so easily into your Clan."

Jiang Cheng was still silent. His head was still lowered.

Nobody knew what thoughts were roaming in his mind.

"Don't listen to her, Jiang Cheng!" Wei Wuxian blurted. He understood that his Junior brother would easily hold grudges, and would easily break out into fights. All in all, Jiang Cheng was a hot-tempered person. Who knew what would happen if he suddenly broke out into crying.

"Don't listen?" Jiang Cheng muttered. His head raised, revealing the sparks of anger in his violet eyes. He turned towards Yi Ran, "I don't know why you told us everything, but I thank you."

He turned back towards the Yunmeng Jiang soldier. "Corpse poisoning can be stopped if the body consumes glutinous rice. Make sure to alert all disciples and civilians about the corpse powder. Make sure they all consume the needed antidote."

"...Clan Leader Jiang," Yi Ran spoke up. "Aren't you afraid that there won't be enough?" The same haunting smile was visible on her face.

"Why wouldn't there be enough?" A new voice towered above them. Yue Qingyuan stepped in, his robes swaying behind his tall figure. "With my Cang Qiong Mountain Sect here, there will definitely be enough."

Yi Ran froze. She stiffly nodded, "Oh, then you do you."

Yue Qingyuan turned towards Jiang Cheng. "We will distribute some of our glutinous rice to the Yunmeng Jiang Clan, as thanks to your kindness from saving us from the demons."

Jiang Cheng nodded. He then sneered at Yi Ran, "See? Why wouldn't we have enough?"

Yi Ran stiffened under his gaze. "How would I know? You bunch of ants... ganging up on me physically and mentally..." She gritted her teeth. "Absolutely unforgivable!"

The cultivators ignored her. They continued discussing the distribution of glutinous rice.

Yi Ran saw their attitude, then turned silent. She decided to pound her head at the pillar, wondering which will break first; her head or the pillar.

"Alright." Yue Qingyuan nodded. "I'll have my Sect distribute that much glutinous rice to Yunmeng Jiang. Meanwhile, Clan Leader Jiang, you should take action as soon as possible."

"I know." Jiang Cheng lightly sneered. However, his voice was so thin that they could hardly hear a single word.

They continued sorting things out. Meanwhile, Xie Lian was still pondering over a lot of ideas. Why did Yi Ran give up so soon and spill all the information? It didn't make sense. Was she trying to preserve her life? No, there was a high chance that after learning everything, Clan Leader Jiang would just directly kill her.

Therefore, why did Yi Ran take the route of confessing everything? That was tantamount to suicide... Was it because she knew that she wouldn't die? And why does she know she wouldn't die?

Was it because... there was someone helping her?

"Wait!" Xie Lian blurted. His eyes were wide, and he flailed his arms pathetically to capture everyone's attention. "Something isn't right here-"

CRASH!!! Almost immediately after his warning, a loud crash resounded through the office. The pillar holding down Yi Ran and Ruoye together had been resolutely smashed. Losing grip of its stronghold, Ruoye wrapped fervently around Yi Ran.

All of a sudden, a strong sword intent entered the room.

A sword intent was when the belief or... the Dao of a sword is being displayed. It is similar to a killing intent, which makes anyone shiver in fear or feel as if they were to be cut by a sword.

Ruoye and Xie Lian could feel that strong sword intent.

If that blade cut through Ruoye... the white silk bandage will be cut for good!

Ruoye was quickly retrieved, which allowed Yi Ran to slip through and escape. "Not good!" Wei Wuxian blurted. The rest of the cultivators hurried to recapture Yi Ran, but another figure slashed through the air and landed on the ground.

Bo Fan smirked, "How were you captured?"

"Shut up!" Yi Ran shoved him.

Jiang Cheng found his three world views shaking. How did Bo Fan come back? How was it possible for this demon to come back? Jiang Cheng had already sent over two hundred disciples to guard the entrance of Yunmeng Jiang! There was no way Bo Fan would charge in alone!

And it was confirmed that he didn't have corpse powder... it was Yi Ran who had.

Then that meant...

Bo Fan never left!

A) An entire fight happens

B) Cries and sobs from failure

C) Jiang Cheng shows off to his nephew's future aunt-in-law

D) Victory! There are only 34 chapters!

Shen Qingqiu: You know, normally on multiple choice questions, I would always go for C)...

Jiang Cheng: SHUT UP! (#｀皿')