Looking at the message, Zhou Qing and Luo Lingling exchanged a glance, their eyes instantly lighting up.

"Chuan, it must be Xiang Chuan. He should have been taken by the leader, doesn't that mean—" Luo Lingling was full of excitement.

A spark flashed in Zhou Qing's eyes: "No mistake, it's definitely Senior Brother using Xiang Chuan's Jade Talisman to communicate!"

"Then what are we waiting for?" Luo Lingling grabbed the backpack swiftly, deftly tucking the hen under her arm.

Just as they were about to set off, Zhou Qing suddenly froze in place.

"But we don't know where the Blood Maple Forest is?" Zhou Qing frowned and said.

Upon hearing this, Luo Lingling's lips curled into a sly smile.

She pinched a tactic with one hand, and a Jade Scroll emitting a blue glow slipped from her sleeve, spinning around in her palm.

"Bought it when I was inquiring about news," she said proudly, shaking the Jade Scroll, "It's a complete map of the Imperial City; a mere Blood Maple Forest is no problem."

Zhou Qing couldn't help but smile, the Second Senior Sister truly lived up to her name, always planning ahead.

The two quickly cleaned traces of the place and boarded the Flying Ship with the unconscious Lan Caiwei.

As the Array lit up, the ship turned into a stream of light and broke through the sky.

... 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Five days later.

The Flying Ship broke through the dense clouds, Zhou Qing stood at the bow, his robes flapping in the fierce wind.

In the distance, a crimson maple forest gradually appeared on the horizon, resembling a menacing wound on the earth.

"Is this the Blood Maple Forest?" Zhou Qing squinted his eyes, instinctively feeling a chill of apprehension.

Luo Lingling unfolded the Jade Scroll and said gravely: "According to records, the maple leaves here are red all year round and never fade."

"It's said that in ancient times, millions of cultivators fell here, their blood soaking ten inches of soil, the resentment lasting a thousand years, thus dyeing the entire mountain forest."

As they got closer, the eerie scene became ever clearer.

Twisted trunks seemed like struggling Resentful Spirits, their bark cracked and ceaselessly oozing dark red liquid, like dried blood.

Even more eerily, the maple leaves were moving autonomously without wind, whispering softly.

"The leader chose this place for settling accounts, it seems there is deep meaning behind it." Luo Lingling also stood up and looked below.

Zhou Qing nodded: "Xiang Chuan was taken by Senior Brother at least half a year ago, now he contacts others under the guise of the Communication Jade Scroll, it looks like these past times were spent either healing or preparing."

His gaze swept over the bizarre maple forest, "This place must have something special, maybe hiding an escape route."

Luo Lingling nodded, "That's right, after the previous mishap and years of agony from the toxic episodes, they would certainly notify the Nangong Family to come along."

Zhou Qing said no more, retracting the Flying Ship, as they quietly approached the depths with Lan Caiwei.

...

Meanwhile, deep in the Blood Maple Forest.

A young man stood with his hands behind his back, a broad Ancient Sword on his back exuding a timeless aura.

The runes on the sword sheath appeared and disappeared, as if breathing.

"They're here." he suddenly spoke.

From the sky came the sound of breaking wind, a burly man with a tiger back and bear waist stepped in the air, the wolf-tooth club on his shoulder glinting coldly under the sun.

"You've lost a lot of weight!" Zhao Hanyue looked towards Man Jinggang.

Man Jinggang touched his sunken cheeks, smiled bitterly and said: "Every few days I have to endure the torment of a thousand ants devouring the heart, who wouldn't lose weight?"

He appraised Zhao Hanyue, "You're not much better off either."

Zhao Hanyue sighed deeply and said: "I hope this time Xiang Chuan's message is true, so we can be liberated sooner…"

"Can we really be liberated?" A cold female voice interrupted him.

Mo Lanxin came gracefully with an elegant lute, her robes fluttering, but her eyes were a sea of dead calm.

She gently caressed the strings, emitting a crisp sound: "The Nangong Family spares our lives, only to have us kill each other."

Zhao Hanyue's expression tightened: "But we can't solve the toxins in our bodies, and there's still a trace of soul blood with them, they can take our lives at any moment."

The three looked at each other, eyes filled with bitterness.