Chapter 181: Chapter 180: Don’t Worry, She Will Die Before You

When Jiang Zuo saw that it was these two Ghost Cultivators, he was a bit disappointed.

’More cannon fodder.’

Any information he got here wouldn’t be very accurate.

"Speak," Jiang Zuo said coldly. "If you don’t have any useful information, don’t waste my time. I’ll send you on your way right now."

A chill ran through the Ghost Cultivator Ying Liu. He knew he was already insignificant in this person’s eyes.

The kind of person who could be killed without a second thought.

At that moment, the Ghost Cultivator Mei Wu immediately said, "No, that’s not it! We’re the ones leading this operation—the leaders of two of the plans, in fact."

Jiang Zuo was a little surprised. "Just the two of you?"

The Ghost Cultivator Ying Liu sighed. "Yes. Most of the Ghost Cultivators are dead. The ones who are left are all weak."

"A backup plan?" Jiang Zuo asked.

If that was the case, it was possible. The first plan was the main one and would have mobilized the majority of their forces.

But the first plan had failed, and everyone involved had died.

It was plausible that the Ghost Cultivators were now in a weakened state.

The Ghost Cultivator Ying Liu nodded. "Yes, the second and third are both backup plans. Much of it was prepared long in advance, so they don’t require many people."

"What’s your plan?" Jiang Zuo asked.

"To put it simply, it’s similar to what we told you last time, but with some extra steps for concealment. These steps were originally the third plan, but now they’re being used to support the second," said Ying Liu.

He was actually quite frustrated. He couldn’t understand how this man had found and recognized him so quickly, even after he’d changed his disguise.

Jiang Zuo thought for a moment before asking, "Was placing Ghost Cultivation Marks on ordinary people the third plan?"

Ying Liu was stunned. "How did you know?"

’We were so careful when we placed the marks. The Ghost Cultivation Mark is incredibly difficult to notice, even more so on an ordinary person. How did he find out?’

Jiang Zuo said nothing, merely motioning for the Ghost Cultivator Ying Liu to continue.

"Actually, this plan is quite simple. We’re stirring up some trouble with all that Ghost Qi, but it’s just for show. The Ghost Qi itself doesn’t actually do anything to people.

The purpose of the Ghost Qi is just to mask the eruption of the marks on the ordinary people.

The real trap is already in the water. Once the Holy Land finishes dealing with the ordinary people, others will definitely go fishing again. That’s when we’ll place the marks."

Jiang Zuo mulled it over for a moment before speaking. "With an Array, you could place a mark on every angler simultaneously. But without an Array’s help, you can’t place the marks without being detected.

So, your targets became the Cultivators who actually catch a fish?"

It wasn’t so easy for a Ghost Cultivator to place a mark on someone. If they could do so at will, they would be invincible.

A normal Cultivator wouldn’t just absorb some random external power, and as long as they didn’t, they couldn’t be afflicted by a Ghost Cultivation Mark.

However, one would absorb power while fishing. As long as the Ghost Cultivators were subtle enough, they had an opportunity.

At this point, Ying Liu didn’t bother denying it. "That’s right. And we also have the Heart-piercing Snakes. We’ll wait a while after they’re done fishing and then send another wave, which should scare some people off. By then, it’ll be too late for the Holy Land to secretly help with detection. If the results are good, we’ll retreat. If not, we’ll continue."

Jiang Zuo looked at Ying Liu. ’I have to admit,’ he thought, ’this Ghost Cultivator isn’t half bad.’

After finishing his explanation, the Ghost Cultivator Ying Liu watched Jiang Zuo, ready to flee the instant he made a move.

He wasn’t one to sit around and wait for death. ’As for the Ghost Cultivator Mei Wu,’ he thought, ’she can be sacrificed.’

Jiang Zuo, however, said nothing. He simply turned to leave.

The moment Jiang Zuo turned, however, both Mei Wu and Ying Liu tensed. They knew he was about to strike.

’Definitely. This is years of instinct talking.’

Ying Liu had been about to flee on his own, but a hand suddenly grabbed him. A powerful force seized control of his body, leaving him stunned. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

He couldn’t resist it at all. By the time he could even try, he was already being thrown toward Jiang Zuo.

The one who had done it was, of course, Mei Wu.

In that instant, Ying Liu understood. He finally realized how she always managed to survive while all her former partners died. She, who seemed so foolish, was the one who most deserved to die, yet she always made it to the end.

It was because she was the smartest and most ruthless of all.

Just then, Ying Liu heard Jiang Zuo’s voice drift over. "Don’t worry, she won’t get away. I’ll let her die before you."

Then, to Ying Liu’s horror, the Heart-piercing Snakes erupted from the lake, soaring into the air and swarming toward the fleeing Mei Wu.

Mei Wu was horrified. She threw out one life-saving treasure after another, but it was useless. Nothing could stop the Heart-piercing Snakes’ assault.

"Fellow Daoist! I know many secrets! I know of countless great opportunities! We can make a deal! No—just spare my life, and I’ll agree to anything!" Mei Wu screamed.

But Jiang Zuo turned a deaf ear to the woman’s words.

’Secrets? Deals? Opportunities?’

’What a joke.’

Then, innumerable Heart-piercing Snakes pierced through Mei Wu’s body.

Ying Liu smiled, then closed his eyes for the last time.

The Heart-piercing Snakes returned to the lake and submerged themselves once more.

The events here didn’t affect the people on the sixth floor. They were likely still fishing.

Jiang Zuo didn’t bother checking if there were any other Ghost Cultivators around, nor did he care whether other people would be marked. The Holy Land would handle it.

Now, Jiang Zuo needed to head to the second floor.

「Meanwhile, on the second floor.」

Casualties had begun to appear. Boss He was covered in Ghost Qi, but Xiaoye’s condition was even more terrifying. Not only was she covered in Ghost Qi, but her body was also turning ice-cold.

Xiaoye’s consciousness was already starting to fade.

"Xiaoye, hang in there! You’re going to be okay," Boss He said, clutching Xiaoye.

He wanted to find help, but he didn’t know who to turn to. The people from the Holy Land said they were working on a solution and had even run some tests, but the results weren’t good.

Now, there was only one person Boss He could think to ask for help: Jiang Zuo.

As Xiaoye’s body grew colder and colder, the only thing suppressing the chill was the piece of Jade she wore—the one Jiang Zuo had given her.

Xiaoye was very weak, but her condition wasn’t much worse than anyone else’s, all thanks to that piece of Jade.

That’s why finding Jiang Zuo was his only hope.

"Daddy, I’m so cold."

"It’s okay, you’ll be okay. Here, Daddy will put his coat over you."

Boss He was frantic with fear, especially since he couldn’t find Jiang Zuo.

He had no idea what to do.

He couldn’t lose Xiaoye. She was his daughter, the daughter he would trade his own life for.

"It’s okay, it’s okay."

Boss He muttered obsessively. By now, Xiaoye had fallen into a coma, her body growing ever colder.

It was as if she were already dead.

Sensing this chilling change in Xiaoye, Boss He was on the verge of total despair.

"Somebody save my daughter!"

Clutching Xiaoye, Boss He fell to his knees, crying out, "Please, save my daughter! I’m begging you! I’ll do anything!"

For someone to be affected as severely as Xiaoye so early on was truly a rare exception.

"Throw her in the water." The sudden voice made Boss He freeze.