Chapter 53

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Chapter 53: Title

"I can’t remember clearly, probably about a month after Lingyang Secret Realm closed…"

At that time, the Realm of Canghai remained peaceful, and the two sect leaders hadn’t openly clashed yet.

Until—

"Leader, two more disciples suddenly went mad today." Jiang Wan brought the restrained Canghai disciples to Four Seasons Hall, reporting to Jiang Liu.

Jiang Liu frowned at the two disciples. Including these, thirty-seven inner sect disciples with good talent had fallen to this madness.

Clearly someone was targeting Canghai.

"Any progress finding the illness source?"

Jiang Wan shook her head. "It appears suddenly – no traces to investigate."

The madness spread unease through all. Dark clouds hung over Realm of Canghai, pressing on every disciple until breathing felt difficult.

"Gather everyone at Four Seasons Hall tonight." Jiang Liu sighed, turning to Jiang Wan. "Ah Wan, this will burden you. Later, check on your sister."

"Understood."

Jiang Wan withdrew toward Sea Devouring Tower.

On the path, she met Jiang Xinian and Liu Sheng walking together.

"Sister Wanwan!" Jiang Xinian bounded over. Noticing her grim expression, he asked, "Trouble?"

Seeing his return from Sihai City, Jiang Wan warned, "Don’t wander about. More disciples fell ill."

"That bad?" Jiang Xinian exchanged smirks with Liu Sheng.

"Sister Wanwan! I know someone who might cure this madness!"

Jiang Xinian thumped his chest. "I’ll fetch them right now!"

"Wait—" Jiang Wan stopped him, brow furrowed. "The Leader already contacted Divine Doctor Valley – no solution yet. Who’s this person…?"

Now wasn’t the time for strangers.

"The healer!"

Jiang Wan blinked. "The healer? Has Divine Doctor Valley’s master come?"

Only Hua Sheng of Divine Doctor Valley deserved that title. But if he’d arrived, the Leader would know.

"No!" Jiang Xinian shook his head. "Another healer!"

"Name?"

Jiang Xinian’s mouth froze open. He turned to Liu Sheng. "What’s her name again?"

Liu Sheng’s fan paused. "Didn’t ask."

Jiang Xinian: "……"

Jiang Wan sighed, done with their nonsense. "We’ll wait for Divine Doctor Valley’s reply. Discuss your healer later."

She hurried toward Sea Devouring Tower.

Jiang Xinian and Liu Sheng watched her retreating silhouette.

"Sister Wanwan’s always steady – never seen her this rattled before."

"Liu Sheng, let’s go find the healer," Jiang Xinian clapped his hands and pulled Liu Sheng outside again.

Jiang Wan rushed to the Sea Devouring Tower, pausing below to steady herself before climbing the stairs.

The upper level’s door gaped open, revealing a figure slumped by the threshold.

"Huashang!"

Jiang Wan dashed forward, checking the woman’s pulse. Relieved to find her alive, she drew her twin blades – Moonlight Blade in her right hand, Cloud Sweeper in her left. Her eyes blazed as she strode into the room.

"Show yourself!"

A dark chuckle echoed from the inner room. Jiang Wan froze.

"Mother?"

The inner door creaked open. A tall woman emerged, cradling Jiang Yun’s limp form.

"Release her!" Jiang Wan barked.

She studied the intruder – the woman’s killing intent thickened the air, worsened by the cursed blade on her back dripping black energy.

"Blood-Draining Knife," Jiang Wan spat. "Blue Knife, Floating Life Palace Master of the Thirteen Ghost Domains."

Blue Knife’s lips curved. "Then step aside. I’ve no quarrel with you."

"Harming her would displease my beloved." Her voice softened, gaze lingering on Jiang Yun’s face.

"Don’t you dare look at her!" Jiang Wan’s blades trembled, restrained by fear for her mother’s safety.

"Dare?" Black Mist erupted around the tower as Blue Knife’s fury exploded. "Thank your mother’s blood in your veins. Without it, you’d have joined my victims centuries past."

The Blood-Draining Knife sang from its sheath, black energy coalescing into a lethal arc.

Jiang Wan crossed her blades defensively. The impact drove her backward until the doorframe halted her retreat.

Canghai disciples swarmed the tower below. Sect Leader Jiang Liu pushed through the crowd.

"You’re trapped," Jiang Wan growled.

Blue Knife smirked at the approaching figure. "Am I?"

Jiang Liu’s hand clamped his daughter’s shoulder, shoving her aside as he intercepted the dark blade’s strike. Rage contorted his face at the sight of Jiang Yun in the intruder’s arms.

"You wretched traitor! The Floating Life Palace Master… To think the upstart from a century ago was YOU!"

"You should’ve perished in that lightning storm!"

"Did I do wrong?" Blue Knife stared at him, demanding bluntly, "Sect Master Jiang Liu, was I wrong back then?"

Jiang Liu looked at her with disappointment, his face reddening with anger. "You still won’t admit your mistakes even now!"

"Mistakes? Why should I?" Blue Knife sneered. "I only regret not burning the Xu family to ashes! Annihilating their entire clan was letting them off too lightly!"

"You!—"

Jiang Liu’s words were interrupted by arriving disciples. "Leader! Intruders are attacking the forbidden area!"

"The infected disciples have gone mad! They’re injuring our own!"

Blue Knife raised an eyebrow, waiting to see whether the Canghai Sect leader would handle the crisis or keep fighting her.

Jiang Liu clenched his teeth. "Where’s Jiang Fenghe!?"

"The second leader was defeated and knocked unconscious!"

Blue Knife laughed loudly, covering the ears of the person in her arms. "Leader Jiang, those treasures in the forbidden area are Canghai’s most prized possessions. Won’t you protect them?"

"Uncle!" Jiang Wan turned pleadingly toward Jiang Liu.

If he left now, this woman would take her mother away.

"Jiang Fenghe!" Jiang Liu’s eyes widened furiously, his chest heaving. After a moment, he finally waved his sleeve. "Four Seasons Hall disciples, follow me to the forbidden area!"

Tears fell from Jiang Wan’s eyes as she shouted after him, "Uncle!"

He was leaving. Did this mean he’d abandoned her mother?

All elite Four Seasons Hall disciples followed their leader, leaving only weaker ones guarding the Sea Devouring Tower.

"Typical Canghai Sect priorities." Blue Knife scoffed, walking out with the Blood-Draining Knife clearing her path. "Move if you value your life!"

This warning was for Jiang Wan. The girl couldn’t stop her, but might foolishly try.

"I’d rather die than let you take her!" Jiang Wan shouted to remaining disciples. "Everyone! Rescue mission!"

"We obey the Token Lord!"

A hundred disciples charged toward the tower.

Blue Knife snorted. "Useless."

The Blood-Draining Knife vibrated, releasing raging waves of Black Mist.

The Jiang family’s secret technique: Broken Mountain Sea.

"Broken Mountain Sea!!!" Lu Ciyou’s sudden scream startled everyone.

Suiyin pulled her back down, annoyed. "Why are you shouting?"

The young lady kept muttering, "Strange. A Jiang family secret being used so skillfully by Thirteen Ghost Domains members…"

Yan Li tugged her sleeve, whispering, "Jiang’s heir is here. Watch your words."

Lu Ciyou finished speaking and realized her misstep, turning to the dejected Jiang Xinian. "Sorry."

"It’s nothing." Jiang Xinian’s lips trembled. "She… was once part of the Jiang family."

"What?" Lu Ciyou gasped. "You mean the Floating Life Palace Master Blue Knife used to be a Jiang?"

Yan Li interjected, "If true, her mastery of Broken Mountain Sea makes sense now."

"Who breached the Forbidden Area of Canghai?" Xia Shi recalled the man who rescued Qing Gui. "One or two intruders?"

"City Lord Qing Gui of Wanfu. She controlled all the maddened disciples." Jiang Xinian added bitterly, "The Thirteen Ghost Domains planned this thoroughly."

"But they only had two operatives. Canghai’s defenses should’ve held." Yan Li frowned.

Jiang Xinian nodded weakly. "When my father reached the forbidden area, Qing Gui had already fled. The assault was just bait – a diversion."

"That night, Aunt Yun was taken by Blue Knife. Sister Wanwan abandoned her position as Golden Token Lord and left Canghai wounded, her heart full of resentment."

"Then how…" Lu Ciyou gestured at his legs.

The worst of Jiang Xinian’s injuries lingered in his shattered limbs. Without medical cultivators among them, proper treatment proved impossible.

"Jiang Feng conspired with the Thirteen Ghost Domains for years." Jiang Xinian’s voice cracked with emotion. "He turned over half our inner disciples into puppets, slaughtering dissenters."

"My father suffered betrayal by trusted aides, fell into qi deviation, and got imprisoned. When I tried rescuing him, Jiang Ying caught me." His nails dug into the sheets. "He broke my legs and dumped me in the Blood Leech Pool."

The creatures feasted on living flesh, devouring meridians from conscious hosts.

Jiang Ying had wanted him consumed alive.

"That vile snake!" Lu Ciyou ground her teeth. "I should’ve broken Jiang Ying’s face at the Immortal Sect Conference!"

"After that… everything goes dark." Jiang Xinian studied his rescuers. "Where did you find me?"

"Ping City." Lu Ciyou jabbed a thumb toward the deck. "Jiang Jin tried finishing you off. She’s trussed up outside if you want vengeance."

"Jiang Jin…" Blood sprayed across the sheets as Jiang Xinian lurched forward. "SHE poisoned Father’s mind! SHE caused his qi deviation!"

Xia Shi silenced him with a fingertip to the forehead. "We need a medical cultivator. His legs won’t last another day."

"Need healing?" A voice drifted from above the flying boat.

A monotone echo followed: "My master mends all wounds."

Xia Shi and Suiyin exchanged glances.

The Beauty Manor healer?