Chapter 144

The night grew increasingly gloomy, the wind sweeping wildly, spreading an oppressive breathlessness that weighed on people's hearts.

Chen Zheng's ancestral home stood quietly in a corner of the street; upon closer look, it was merely an utterly ordinary old house. But Chen Zheng and I both knew that this seemingly tranquil, dilapidated old house concealed a chilling killing intent.

After witnessing the strangeness of those insects, Chen Zheng and I hurriedly bought some supplies at the pharmacy, packed them, made thorough preparations, and then came to Chen Zheng's ancestral home.

Chen Zheng and I reached Zheng Ge's ancestral home before Yuan Qiu did; we had originally planned to wait for QingSongShu to join us before entering. But when we saw the moon in the sky about to vanish and faintly encircled by a halo, we realized the celestial signs had shifted, and there was no time left to wait.

Without hesitation, we pushed open the heavy gate, Chen Zheng and I carrying our small packs, one after the other, and stepped inside.

In the courtyard, within the Nine Yin Formation, all eleven flags had simultaneously been bound with a living soul. Chen Zheng and I recognized two of the souls: one was the female corpse from the alley, the other was the Northeast Tiger. The remaining empty flag, I thought, was prepared for Chen Mo.

Dong Yumin and Chen Zheng stood quietly outside the formation, with a group of black-clad bodyguards following behind them. Dong Yumin had changed into a green long robe, and within the formation's eye, an artificial Innate Bagua had already appeared.

With our eyesight, it was obvious that the Nine Yin Formation had changed; the Innate Bagua within it seemed to be playing a birthing role, continually gathering the yin qi within the Nine Yin Formation.

When the gate was pushed open, Chen Zheng and Dong Yumin both turned to look at us. Seeing Chen Zheng and I, Chen Zheng's eyes flashed with an undisguised surprise.

"How could it be you, Fan Wuchang?" Chen Zheng asked in a low voice.

Pangzi stepped forward anxiously and said to Chen Zheng: "Elder Brother Zheng, hear me out…"

But before Pangzi could finish his words, a low, angry shout came from the air: "Attack."

The surrounding black-clad bodyguards, like soldiers hearing a general's order, swiftly surrounded us. On each of their foreheads was clearly a black mole the size of a soybean; without exception, they were all insect-raised corpses.

Only then did Chen Zheng and I faintly make out that beside Chen Zheng, at the edge of the Nine Yin Formation, stood a person completely enveloped in a black robe. His figure was hidden in the night, faint and elusive; if not looked at carefully, one would not even notice that someone was standing there.

This must be the one who has been lurking in the shadows, directing Fan Wuchang to control the snake infant to kill people. It is also he who controlled the insects to save us from beneath the mountain tiger's gun barrel.

The mastermind behind the scenes had finally appeared; at this moment, I involuntarily recalled the vanished snake infant and those innocents who had been slaughtered. My surging anger could not be contained, rising from my heart, and I struck the surrounding insect-raised corpses with greater force.

Soon, Pangzi employed his old technique again, launching the Thirteen Needles of Ghost Gate from his hand; they struck without exception the foreheads of these insect masters, turning them into pools of blood.

Only Chen Zheng and I remained, leaning on each other in the courtyard, of course, plus the insect master hidden in the dark corner.

After we eliminated the insect-raised corpses, the black-robed insect master also struck, drawing a strange rune in the air and then chanting an incomprehensible incantation.

A soft rustling quickly rose in the quiet courtyard, like the trembling of tree buds, and like countless insects crawling. Soon, as the sound intensified, a large pile of poisonous creatures reappeared in the courtyard.

But Chen Zheng and I had long prepared a countermeasure for these troublesome insects.

As these insects slowly crawled toward us, Chen Zheng and I quickly took the packs from behind us and poured their contents onto the insects.

The pack on my back contained realgar powder, while Pangzi's pack held red phosphorus powder. Realgar repels insects, especially having a natural restraint against snakes, while red phosphorus is used by ancient alchemists, like gunpowder, and is flammable.

Instantly, Pangzi pinched his fingers, sealed the killing, and then threw a Samadhi Fire Talisman onto the insects on the ground.

The fire quickly spread among the insects, the courtyard filling with the smell of burnt toxic vermin and the pungent scent of realgar powder. As the realgar powder's aroma drifted on the wind, the insects grew more panicked, flailing about like blind flies.

Just then, a gleaming golden light, like a pair of scissors, came flying from Pangzi's left side. Instinctively, I unleashed a Yinshan Command toward the incoming golden light.

After the palms collided, a scorching heat surged through my hands… This technique, too, seemed to be a martial art.

Heaven's Five Thunder Generals, Earth's Five Thunder Masters, generals and masters together… Pangzi let out a low shout, and his radiant Five Thunder Palm struck toward the insect master.

With a bang, the black-robed insect master was blown back by Pangzi's palm, retreating several steps before staggering and falling to the ground.

Chen Zheng and I exchanged a glance, both astonished, unable to hide our suspicion.

This makes no sense—how could this insect master be so weak?

"Chen Zheng, aren't you going to act? Do you still want to extend your wife's life?" the insect master staggered to his feet and shouted urgently at Chen Zheng.

His words completely revealed his age. Earlier, when he had ordered those insect masters to attack, he deliberately lowered his voice, making Chen Zheng and I think he was an elderly man. Now, in his panic, we could roughly tell from his voice that his age was not much greater than ours.

I couldn't suppress the doubt in my heart, frowning as I looked at him. Is this insect master really the mysterious figure behind the scenes, Ou Yaofeng's master? Why does his strength feel comparable to that unlucky guy Ou Yaofeng?

But this doubt could only be pondered later, because after hearing the black-robed insect master's words, Chen Zheng actually prepared to attack us.

We had already seen Chen Zheng's skills in the secret passage; a master of internal boxing who could even repel that strange flying sword. His punch truly isn't something an ordinary person can withstand.

"Wait, Zheng ge, listen to me—you've been deceived, this whole thing is a setup from start to finish. He never truly wanted to prolong your sister-in-law's life; he's using you, using you to set up this formation, then refining your sister-in-law into an evil spirit." Seeing Chen Zheng's momentum rising like a thunderbolt, I quickly stepped forward and repeated to Chen Zheng what I had told Fan Wuchang.

I believe Chen Zheng will listen to us, because this concerns Dong Yumin's safety.

Sure enough, after hearing our words, especially learning that Dong Yumin would be refined into an evil god, Chen Zheng's brows furrowed immediately and his clenched fists slowly relaxed.

He pointed at us, staring at the black-robed figure on the ground and asked, "Are what those two saying true?"

Faced with Chen Zheng's accusation, the black-robed insect master seemed a bit flustered, but quickly she forced composure, glaring at Chen Zheng: "Hmph, Chen Zheng, I tell you, if you don't kill those two, your wife will never be able to prolong her life. When my master blames us, neither you nor I will get off easy."

The black-robed insect master's words made my heart jolt—does he have a master? Could it be that, like Ou Yaofeng, he's merely a disciple of that hidden mastermind lurking behind the scenes?

The more I thought, the more I felt this possibility was true. I never imagined that after enduring countless hardships, thinking we were about to find that mysterious black hand, we would discover it still concealed behind the scenes—we haven't even seen a corner of its robe, let alone its silhouette.

When the insect master uttered that threat, I and Pangzi really worried Chen Zheng might yield. But we soon realized that concern was unnecessary.

Chen Zheng not only didn't yield, he stepped toward the black-robed insect master and said coldly, "You didn't explain, you just used your master to pressure me—you're nervous. Do you really think I, Chen Zheng, am a fool?"

The last sentence seemed to roar from his dantian, shaking the dust on the ground; Chen Zheng stepped forward quickly, stared at the black-robed insect master, and pressed on, asking.

"Speak, what exactly is your scheme—are you trying to prolong my life, Chen Zheng, or to harm my wife?"

This underworld boss finally flew into a rage; Dong Yumin is his reverse scale, and anyone who offends him must die.

Seeing Chen Zheng angry, the black-robed insect master wasn't afraid at all; she stared at him and let out a wild laugh.

"Then I have no choice but to kill you, find what my master wants, Chen Zheng—your time is up." After saying that, he lowered his voice, grim, and said, "Attack."

My heart tightened with Pangzi's, thinking he'd brought reinforcements; we hurriedly searched the yard for anyone else. Seeing the black-robed insect master act so fearlessly, her backup must be formidable.

But we searched long and found not a trace of unusual energy—not even a worm's presence. In the whole estate, aside from me, Pangzi, Chen Zheng, there was only Dong Yumin.

Right, Dong Yumin!

My heart skipped a beat as I instinctively looked at Dong Yumin. Not looking would have been fine, but one look and I was thoroughly frightened.

I saw Dong Yumin's body emanate a faint chill; the pallid moonlight cast a grayish face, and at the center of her forehead hovered a faint black speck.

An insect-raised corpse—and not a low‑level one at that!

My heart clenched hard, and I hurriedly warned Chen Zheng loudly: "Be careful."

Chen Zheng frowned at me, his eyes showing some doubt.

Perhaps out of a martial artist's instinct for danger, he instinctively shifted his body to the left and darted back.

Just as Chen Zheng dodged, a blade flash sliced past his waist; fortunately his quick sidestep meant the dagger only tore his clothes.

After the dust settled, when Chen Zheng clearly saw the person holding the dagger, despite his composure, he couldn't help but turn pale.

"Yu Min, how could it be you?"