Peng Ying walked out the door, followed closely by guards.
The two arrived at the underground execution ground of the Yu Nan Church, a place Peng Ying had privately built to punish those who disobeyed, even giving it a name—Purgatory.
Generally, no one who came to Purgatory ever expected to leave alive. Many chose suicide before even being informed they were to be sent there, preferring death to Purgatory.
At this moment.
Peng Ying arrived at Purgatory and found the bound and gagged lackey, Qiao Da.
"Hmm, so you were the one who shot and killed Shi Hengxiao?" Peng Ying asked.
Qiao Da's face was streaked with tears; he had clearly been crying uncontrollably. When asked about shooting Shi Hengxiao, Peng Ying cried out excitedly, "I didn't intend to kill the Moon Emissary! I was acting out of concern for my master and accidentally killed him. Star Emissary, you must understand my painstaking efforts! I truly didn't do it on purpose."
Peng Ying chuckled.
She said, "You don't need to cry, and I'm not blaming you. Not only am I not blaming you, but I want to thank you. You shooting that damned Shi Hengxiao is a tremendous favor to me. Qiao Da, you did wonderfully."
"Ah?"
Qiao Da was completely bewildered, not understanding why Peng Ying would say that.
However, Peng Ying was notoriously unpredictable.
Qiao Da pleaded, "Star Emissary, can you spare me? Let me live. It was wrong for me to accidentally kill the Moon Emissary, and I'm willing to accept punishment, but please, don't execute me!"
To live was Qiao Da's sole wish at that moment.
Unfortunately.
Peng Ying shook her head.
She said, "I'm sorry, although you've helped me greatly, and I truly wish to repay you, I must give an explanation to the Left Protector. You, must die. But don't worry, I won't torture you; I'll give you a swift end."
Then, she snapped her fingers and said, "Make him into a scarecrow."
A scarecrow?
Qiao Da immediately realized what was about to happen.
Turning a living person into a scarecrow meant draining their blood, hollowing them out, and stuffing them with straw, using the human body as a base for a scarecrow.
It was incredibly disgusting, terrifying, and horrific.
Peng Ying had done such a thing before; it was sheer madness.
Qiao Da was so terrified he lost control of his bowels on the spot, shouting, "No! I don't want to be made into a scarecrow! Star Emissary, if you must execute me, at least give me a quick death!"
Heh.
This was already considered a swift end.
Peng Ying yawned and said to her subordinates, "Hurry up and kill this noisy fellow, make him into a scarecrow, and send it to the Jiang family."
"Ah? Send it to the Jiang family?" the guard stammered.
Peng Ying said, "Yes, send it to the Jiang family to give them a warning, to remind them that they are next to die!"
To openly oppose the White Lotus Sect and still expect the Jiang family to live comfortably?
Of course not!
The moment Shi Hengxiao died, it was destined that the Jiang family and the White Lotus Sect stood on opposite sides, with irreconcilable conflict arising between them.
If the Jiang family was not destroyed, the prestige of the White Lotus Sect would cease to exist!
The Jiang family, in peril!
A storm of bloodshed against the Jiang family was quietly approaching.
...
Meanwhile, on Jinling's Ying Tian Avenue, inside a white SUV.
The renowned Three-Star General Murong Shuang was resting with her eyes closed. Her副将 Qin Tong suddenly exclaimed, "Whoa, General, big news!"
Murong Shuang said calmly, "What's with all the fuss?"
Qin Tong grinned, "Your fiancé—Lu Ming has returned to Jinling, and as soon as he got back, he's caused a massive sensation."
Oh?
The name Lu Ming successfully piqued Murong Shuang's interest.
She opened her eyes and said disdainfully, "Xiao Tong, be more careful with your words from now on. Fiancé? I canceled that engagement long ago. Don't make such jokes anymore; they're not funny at all."
Qin Tong covered her mouth, "I was just teasing you, General."
"I don't find it amusing," Murong Shuang said coldly. "Tell me, what earth-shattering thing has that poor grave watcher done now?"
"He killed Shi Hengxiao!"
"Ah?"
Murong Shuang was startled and looked at Qin Tong seriously, "You're not joking with me, are you?"
"It's true! Although, to be precise, he didn't kill Shi Hengxiao directly; Shi Hengxiao was accidentally killed. But ultimately, Shi Hengxiao's death is all because Lu Ming stirred up trouble."
Subsequently, Qin Tong explained the details of the situation to Murong Shuang.
Upon hearing it, Murong Shuang was momentarily stunned.
"Good heavens, this Lu Ming is truly a troublemaker," Murong Shuang said with a wry smile. "He always loved causing trouble before, but this time it's even worse; he even managed to get Shi Hengxiao killed. Tsk tsk tsk, it seems he's certainly not going to survive this, and even the Jiang family will suffer along with him. The White Lotus Sect will never let them go; they will surely avenge Shi Hengxiao."
The immense power of the White Lotus Sect was something even Murong Shuang had to steer clear of.
How could the Jiang family possibly contend with such a colossus?
Qin Tong pouted slightly and said, "Actually, General, I think Shi Hengxiao's death is a good thing. That old pervert has always coveted your beauty and spoken disrespectfully many times; he deserved to die long ago."
Indeed.
Shi Hengxiao's desire for Murong Shuang was not a new development.
If not for the White Lotus Sect behind him, Murong Shuang would have dealt with him long ago. Now, with Lu Ming's 'help,' this pervert was successfully eliminated, which was also a favor to Murong Shuang.
Murong Shuang mused, "Speaking of which, should I be thanking Lu Ming then?"
Qin Tong nodded, "I think so."
Murong Shuang sighed, "But he's caused such a huge mess. Even if I wanted to protect him, it would be difficult. The White Lotus Sect won't let him go."
Qin Tong said, "There's no need to protect him; we don't need to go against the White Lotus Sect for his sake. However, I know Lu Ming is in dire need of something, and we happen to have it."
"What is it?"
"The Talisman of Life and Death!"
The Talisman of Life and Death was Shi Hengxiao's exclusive secret technique, specifically used to control others. He even intended to use it to control Murong Shuang.
Therefore, Murong Shuang had sent people to acquire the Talisman of Life and Death long ago and had arranged for experts to decipher it.
Qin Tong explained, "Lu Ming is currently with the direct disciple of a renowned Chinese physician, likely seeking their help to crack the Talisman of Life and Death. Since we possess the Talisman, we can send a copy to him, which will better assist them in deciphering it."
Makes sense.
Murong Shuang nodded. "Alright, Lu Ming killing Shi Hengxiao this time was a great help to me, so it's only right that I repay him. Let's go; let's take a detour to find Lu Ming."
"You got it."