[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-nothing-is-taboo":3,"chapter-nothing-is-taboo-nothing-is-taboo-chapter-379":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Nothing Is Taboo",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2310764,4514,"Chapter 379: Unfinished Desires (Combined Three)","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-379",379,"\u003Cp>Gao Guanzi stood atop a massive boulder shaped like a statue, glancing back at Gaocun village on the mountaintop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re only leaving temporarily—this is not a permanent move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Guanzi now had immense faith in Master Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more than Bai Lao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Gao Guanzi decided to “add fuel to the fire” for Master Xu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He called his son, ordered him to lead the villagers ahead, then slipped quietly into a ravine overgrown with waist-high wild grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, strange rustling sounds erupted from within the grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The long blades of grass curled like hooked tentacles from all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the shadow of the grass, countless tiny blood-red eyes suddenly opened!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Guanzi cursed: “Blind dogs! Daring to try and eat me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These malevolent entities in the grass were the lowest tier in Ghost Witch Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, they scrambled back in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a few had gone utterly mad, lunging at Gao Guanzi and clinging to him—he didn’t hesitate, swatting them dead like mosquitoes landing on his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Gao Guanzi’s proud expression was that of a seasoned mountain runner with real standing in Ghost Witch Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Gao Guanzi moved stealthily through the ravine, he muttered under his breath about the miserable days he’d endured—captured by Li Shu, scolded, beaten…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty li from Gaocun village stood a vast cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its entrance constantly belched thick smoke, scorching hot inside and out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, the land around the cave was barren.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only vegetation nearby was this very ravine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gao Guanzi didn’t approach the cave—only shook the grass twice, then turned and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the thick smoke from the cave slowly drifted over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon it spread and drowned the entire patch of grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grass shook violently, as if choking and coughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smoke quickly detected Gao Guanzi’s trail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then it followed the ravine’s grass, tracing backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Guanzi had already returned to the villagers’ group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the smoke rose and drifted, soon discovering Gaocun village had become an empty village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A violent sound erupted from the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like wild laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound rode the smoke, traveled the long ravine, and reached the sky above Gaocun village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grass in the ravine and the malevolent entities beneath it trembled violently, writhing in agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the cave suddenly vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several hours later, in Gaocun village, the original pond had become a bottomless abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rolling smoke rose from within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From afar, the mountain peak where Gaocun village stood looked like… a volcanic crater!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This cave entity was Gaocun village’s longtime enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feud began because it believed this mountain peak was perfect for itself, and had long sought to drive Gaocun away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cave entity still thought of itself as a child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It should grow into a volcanic crater, billowing smoke and boiling lava.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Princess Consort’s procession encountered several attacks by malevolent entities en route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Princess Consort, Seventeenth Uncle, maid Ruirui, and Gao Wanli were all unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But their subordinates had been reduced to only four Seventh-Rankers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Ruan Tianye’s travel permits, the mountain’s malevolent entities attacked them freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was only because high-level cultivators were present, their aura intimidating most malevolent entities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet some still remained—crazed, irrational things that charged without regard for danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh-Rankers normally didn’t do servant work, but now… in both status and cultivation, they were the lowest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reluctantly, they did it—and the cruel Princess Consort still complained they were clumsy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally locating Qidou village, the Princess Consort was about to step into the forest when Seventeenth Uncle stopped her: “Your Highness, please halt. Stay here—I’ll go. If there’s anything you need in that lake, I’ll risk my old life to bring it back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Rongrong’s memories, the danger zone was near that lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Seventeenth Uncle, old and cunning, felt the entire twenty-li radius of dead silence concealed lethal peril.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Princess Consort deeply trusted him, nodding respectfully: “Thank you, Seventeenth Uncle! Should I bear a legitimate son, I’ll choose one of your descendants as his concubine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeenth Uncle nodded, then gestured to Gao Wanli: “Come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeenth Uncle had two sons and one daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He originally intended for the Princess Consort to take his daughter as a concubine—she and the Prince had been childhood companions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after the Princess Consort entered the mansion, she forbade the Prince from taking any other woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No hope remained for this generation—the Princess Consort had promised the next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeenth Uncle walked slowly, observing carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes twin black-yellow flames flared in his eyes; sometimes he wore a single eyepiece of a Fan Gui; sometimes he swallowed a pill emitting a foul odor, as if his soul had left his body…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strangest method: he cut off a small piece of flesh from his chest, kept it in a gray clay jar used for raising crickets; after only ten breaths, he lifted the lid—and a translucent strange insect flew out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The insect flew away, vanishing into nothingness!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He switched between all these methods, yet still detected nothing unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeenth Uncle frowned deeply—he’d explored over eighty “uncivilized lands,” yet never encountered such a sinister place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having exhausted all methods with no result, he could only “urge” Gao Wanli to reach the lake’s edge and release a “Skin Man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wore a human skin on the outside, its interior a mechanical artifact crafted by Gao Wanli using Fan Gui techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Princess Consort had provided premium materials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This artifact was Seventh-Rank quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wanli was proud of her new craftsmanship, and after releasing the Skin Man, boasted: “Western craftsmanship is precise and exquisite, with strict standards and a complete system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My artifact surpasses all Seventh-Rank creations of the old artisans—and all Seventh-Rank cultivators!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeenth Uncle found her attitude deeply annoying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially… the skin used was from a blue-eyed barbarian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Gao Wanli, it was her favorite “collection.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She found it impossibly handsome, more beautiful than any man in the Ming Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even her own male concubines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being released, the Skin Man mechanically took a few steps, then stumbled on the uneven lakeshore terrain, fell, and crawled forward on all fours like a gorilla toward the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeenth Uncle, old and patient, held his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the other four Seventh-Rankers burst out laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blue-eyed barbarian had thick body hair, and with this posture… all one could say: it truly looked like one!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wanli scowled and snapped: “What’s so funny?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four continued laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were from the Xiang Prince’s household—they didn’t fear Gao Wanli even if they were low-level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeenth Uncle stared at the gorilla… no, the Skin Man—it reached the lake’s edge, dove in, and its eyes emitted twin beams of intense light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeenth Uncle put on the crystal spectacles Gao Wanli handed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What the Skin Man saw, he saw too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lake water was murky, lifeless—no fish, no shrimp, not even a water insect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He searched repeatedly, yet found no trace of the “dragon” Rongrong had seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wanli, beside him, smugly said: “Western craftsmanship also includes a technique you’ve never seen—it can instantly confirm whether the lake holds what you seek…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeenth Uncle’s face suddenly paled as he realized: “Don’t do it—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gao Wanli had already activated the artifact—the Skin Man in the lake opened its mouth and unleashed a violent shockwave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THUD!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vibration spread through the water—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, dark emotions of loathing, disgust, and hatred filled the entire void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if a terrible, silent rebuke came from an unreachable distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though unheard, every person—including Gao Wanli—clearly perceived it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Skin Man in the lake and the four Seventh-Rankers were instantly snatched into the air by an irresistible, invisible force, then vanished with a crash from this mortal world!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeenth Uncle turned and ran—just as he took a step, he too was lifted into the air—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, not far in midair, was Gao Wanli!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aaaahhh—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wanli turned deathly pale, her scream piercing the clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeenth Uncle’s mind raced—he swiftly pulled two dolls from his robe and hurled one toward Gao Wanli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud! Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two crashed heavily to the ground, while in midair, two puppets replaced them, snatched away by an irresistible force from this mortal world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Seventeen seized Gao Wanli and dashed into the forest at top speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That puppet was no mere crafted object—it was Uncle Seventeen’s own special creation, an exorbitantly expensive “White Duck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among wealthy families, if someone committed a capital crime, they would spend vast sums to bribe officials up and down the chain, then pay another to die in their place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This trade was called “Slaughtering the White Duck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said that in Zhengzhou, one could buy a man to die in place for as little as five hundred taels of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Seventeen cultivated the “Litigation Art,” and understood every shadowy transaction within the yamen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Litigation Art had an entire category dedicated to buying verdict changes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no case unsolvable—only money not spent sufficiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This aspect bore some resemblance to the “Commerce Art.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Seventeen sprinted through the forest, dragging Gao Wanli behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intense malice in the void pursued them relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind Uncle Seventeen, silver notes fluttered down in a steady stream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those silver notes danced like snowflakes, forming “paper people” in midair, only to be seized by an irresistible force and dragged from this mortal world!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Seventeen moved at blinding speed, and the silver notes were consumed just as rapidly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he burst out of the forest’s edge—his heart ached with loss, every last taels of silver spent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, give more money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Princess normally merely gestured, and her two maids would immediately dispense silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Uncle Seventeen demanded far more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Crown Princess winced at the cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, during that frantic escape, she estimated they had spent at least one hundred thousand taels of silver!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xiang Prince’s household was indeed vast and wealthy, but such reckless spending was unsustainable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Crown Princess secretly resented Uncle Seventeen for wasting one of his precious “White Ducks” to save Gao Wanli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a priceless item, used for this woman—what a waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only purpose of bringing this woman was to use her to test the lake water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now she was useless; let her die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would the Gao family dare demand an explanation from Your Imperial Highness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Uncle Seventeen was worldly-wise, he could never have imagined that this very act had stirred the Crown Princess’s displeasure…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Wanli is your person—I saved your person!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since that man is no longer here…” The Crown Princess mused, recalling the images transmitted by Rongrong, and naturally recalled another vital clue: “That mountain runner—he’s from Gao Village. Go to Gao Village!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This journey now had only five people left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Princess, Uncle Seventeen, Gao Wanli, Ruirui, and the guide boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruirui felt her fate was bitter—she would have to serve herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guide boy was merely a mountain villager, utterly ignorant of court etiquette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting him serve would offend Her Highness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the boy was still somewhat useful; though he took a few wrong turns, he ultimately led them to the foot of the mountain where Gao Village lay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy stared at the thick smoke rising from the mountaintop, bewildered: “This is definitely the place—but has Gao Village been burned down?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Princess snorted. Had that mountain runner known he’d be punished, so he fled with the villagers and set fire before leaving?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go up and see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guide boy shrank back in fear: “I’ll wait down here—those mountain runners from this village are extremely vicious…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Crown Princess sneered. Do you think you have a choice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruirui seized the boy and dragged him up the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment these people reached the mountaintop, the evil within the cave erupted in fury!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Drifting drifted down from the Bronze Coffin Cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tongue curled, covering most of his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his way of showing shame—too embarrassed to face others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Master Xu again, Mr. Drifting sighed softly, knowing his old friend Bai Lao had betrayed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Xu grinned: “I need to meet the master of this place. Please, sir, introduce me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Drifting: “Wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was a scholar—even when embarrassed, his manners remained impeccable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too bad… now he had a shrew of a wife, and all the beautiful female ghost readers had been dismissed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, he would have summoned them to brew tea and entertain his old friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Drifting ascended again, and soon returned, bowing deeply: “Your Excellency, please—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added a warning: “They… are about to rinse their mouths. You have little time. Say what you must, quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rinse their mouths?” Xu Yuan thought a moment, then recalled: Bai Lao had said that every seven days, dozens of ancient corpses would open their coffins and exhale, shrouding a ten-li radius in thick, black-green mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anything that wandered into it unknowingly would turn into a corpse within five steps!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Xu muttered to himself: So this is the ancient corpses rinsing their mouths?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their breath must be foul indeed—no wonder they rinse so often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cliff rose seven hundred zhang high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were forty-one bronze ancient coffins in total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most rested at five hundred zhang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At seven hundred zhang, only one bronze ancient coffin remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, a palace-like stone chamber had been carved out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Drifting climbed up first, then Xu Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within the dim chamber, oil lamps flickered to life one by one—their glow a sickly green, trembling as if burning tormented souls, emitting screams that could not reach the mortal world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the largest central chamber, the massive bronze ancient coffin, once lying flat, suddenly rose upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lid opened, instantly swallowing both Xu Yuan and Tian Jing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan immediately understood: this ancient coffin was the cliff, and the cliff was the coffin!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To ascend this cliff was to fall into its coffin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chilling, slimy sensation crept up his heels like a living serpent, swiftly climbing his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead, dim lantern light revealed a deep, dark tomb passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its end sat a terrifying ancient corpse, hundreds of zhang tall, its body black-blue, eyes crimson, fangs bared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wore a crown and a python robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its hair writhed like maggots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its left hand pressed upon a blood-engraved seal carved from an elephant skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its right hand gripped a bronze straight sword of Chiao-chih design.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an ancient corpse empress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stared coldly at Xu Yuan and Tian Jing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merely that gaze radiated an overwhelming taint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was her realm of the dead—she held absolute, life-and-death authority!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Jing lost control; from his lower body erupted countless roots—thick and thin, long and short—spreading in all directions!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Drifting cried out in alarm: “No—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was too late. From the eye socket of the elephant-seal beneath the ancient corpse empress’s left hand, a swirling crimson light flared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unimaginably terrible force descended from nowhere, crushing Tian Jing and all his roots beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if a ten-thousand-jun elephant had stomped down upon him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ancient corpse empress seemed enraged. She raised her bronze straight sword, aiming it at Xu Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan said coldly: “Soon, a group of cultivators will arrive at the Bronze Coffin Cliff. One of fourth-rank, one of fifth-rank, and one of sixth-rank Wu Xiu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ask Your Majesty to kill them for me. What is your price?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Drifting was stunned, his long tongue quivering violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Xu, how dare you be so bold?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You want to use someone else’s blade to kill—and you say it so openly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan had no intention of hiding it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To use the Bronze Coffin Cliff to eliminate the Crown Princess’s party, he could indeed incite both sides, set traps, and make them turn on each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Uncle Seventeen was fourth-rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this one on the Bronze Coffin Cliff refused to give full effort, no matter how cleverly he arranged things, the end result might be a fierce battle followed by a conversation, revealing a misunderstanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then both sides would call it quits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their levels were too high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unlikely either side could kill the other within the first few exchanges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Seventeen is old but cunning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And since this Corpse Empress has long sought to make Master Drifting her consort, she must possess great wisdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one would let themselves be used to fight a powerful enemy to the death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Xu Yuan holds sufficient leverage, he can negotiate directly with the Corpse Empress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan fears only Uncle Seventeen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Corpse Empress demands too much, Xu Yuan will settle for less—so long as she keeps Uncle Seventeen occupied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan will kill the Princess Consort himself, then obtain the later sections of the Dragon Transformation Scripture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan wears a clay mask; Uncle Seventeen has no direct proof that he is the killer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the Fu family and the Xiang Prince’s Mansion, they will surely suspect him—yet the Fu family has always suspected him; now they merely add the Xiang Prince’s Mansion to their list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any case, Xu Yuan is determined to obtain the Dragon Transformation Scripture!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leverage Xu Yuan holds for negotiating with the Corpse Empress is the business that Jiao and Tian Jing run on Guanghuo Street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great evils seek only two things: blood offerings, or items that enhance their own power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan will never accept the former.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for the latter, whatever the Corpse Empress needs, Xu Yuan can acquire it for her on Guanghuo Street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the Corpse Empress seemed not to hear Xu Yuan at all; her ancient bronze straight sword continued rising uncontrollably, pointing at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan glanced at Master Drifting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When will you, my favored concubine, finally whisper your poison into her ear?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Drifting gritted his teeth, flicked his tongue, and drifted forward to block Xu Yuan: “Your Majesty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the bronze sword did not pause for an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Drifting clenched his eyes shut tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This life was saved by Master Xu—I return it to him—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after waiting a long while, he felt no sensation of soul dissolving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cautiously opened one eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Corpse Empress held the bronze sword steady, as if utterly unwilling to relent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she had not struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her grim, terrifying face grew even darker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Drifting smiled with elegant composure and praised: “I hadn’t noticed before, but Your Majesty is wearing the necklace I sent you a few days ago—yes, it suits you perfectly, making you even more radiant than before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Jing instantly understood why Master Drifting could live off soft food while he could not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ghastly sight—hair crawling with maggots—and yet “radiant”?!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Corpse Empress finally spoke; her voice, though slightly hoarse, was surprisingly pleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her words were far from flattering: “What kind of disreputable friends have you been keeping outside?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Drifting floated upward with a smile, brushing past the blade’s side, and sat beside the Empress on the dragon throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, why not hear his terms? I know you still have unfulfilled wishes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Drifting pointed with his tongue at Xu Yuan: “This man is the Chief Inspector of the Imperial Purification Bureau’s Zhan City branch—he wields considerable power in the mortal realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Master Drifting sat upon the dragon throne, the illusion of the Corpse Empress’s “hundreds of zhang” size vanished from Xu Yuan and Tian Jing’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Corpse Empress was indeed very tall—taller than Master Drifting by a full head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still within normal bounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan tilted his head, surprised himself: Sitting together, they somehow looked perfectly matched!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kill four streams, five thousand living blood offerings…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the Corpse Empress spoke, Xu Yuan waved his hand: “I will never deliver living people to evil spirits to consume.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Corpse Empress flew into a rage; a horrific emerald-green flame erupted with a roar along the bronze sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan immediately felt a strange force surging toward him from all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if dozens of giant serpents were coiling tightly around him, squeezing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Xu!” Master Drifting began to “rebuke” him: “You show insufficient respect to my Empress! If you persist in this attitude, I will sever ties with you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This attitude pleased the Corpse Empress greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yuan soon felt the invisible serpents around him loosen slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is my fault,” Xu Yuan immediately followed Master Drifting’s lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help thinking: Master Drifting, truly a treacherous concubine!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty,” Xu Yuan said again, “I do not deal in blood offerings. If you have other conditions, we may discuss them. But if you insist on blood offerings, I must take my leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, he added: “In my view, Your Majesty does not seem to need blood offerings at all. Let us speak openly and discuss this seriously—I am truly sincere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Corpse Empress turned her stiff neck toward the treacherous concubine beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood-red light flickered in her eyes, as if asking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Drifting said: “Give him one chance, Your Majesty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Corpse Empress nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bronze sword lowered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her terrifying form gradually faded; in moments, she truly became a beautiful corpse!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet her complexion remained slightly bluish-black, and the chill around her did not lessen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Ruan family stole my dynasty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This grudge is unforgivable, eternal, unextinguishable!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In these mountains, there remains a descendant of the Ruan impostor queen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Help me eliminate it, and I will kill that group for you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tian Jing and Master Drifting stared in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They never imagined the Corpse Empress’s unfulfilled wish was this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Ruan is the greatest evil in these mountains—even the River Dragon King fears him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could they possibly negotiate this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Xu Yuan thought for a moment, then smiled and said: “Your Majesty’s condition is not entirely unnegotiable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3640,"2026-06-20T12:07:24.624Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","80670d3ac431fe0c9d69c2cb3e6273355b2764f93c3ba7ac87301a88e24798db","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-380","nothing-is-taboo-chapter-378",413,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fnothing-is-taboo-cover.jpg"]