Chapter 133: The Old Woman's Decision

"Your daughter is already dead; doing this, she still won't come back to life."

Jiangnan's voice was low.

"I know."

The Old Woman's voice calmed.

"But I will make them pay!"

"This is the only motivation for me to keep living!"

"You..."

Xia Yurou tried to say something, but Jiangnan stopped her.

"You should leave."

Jiangnan looked at the Old Woman, his voice calm.

"What?"

The Old Woman was startled, a bit unable to believe her ears.

"I said, you should leave."

Jiangnan repeated it.

"I won't kill you."

"Why?"

A hint of doubt flashed in the Old Woman's eyes.

"Every grievance has a source, every debt has an owner."

Jiangnan's voice was low.

"Your enemy is the townsfolk of this village, not us."

"Moreover, you are also a pitiful person."

"Ha ha..."

The Old Woman suddenly burst into laughter.

"Pitiful person?"

"You actually call me a pitiful person?"

"That's right, I am a pitiful person."

"But I don't need your pity!"

Determination flashed in the Old Woman's eyes.

"Today, since you came here, don't even think of leaving alive!"

As soon as the words fell, the Old Woman raised her cane and struck the ground forcefully.

"Thud!"

A muffled sound rang out, and the ground trembled.

Then, a series of "clack" sounds came from all directions.

Xia Yurou and the two others' faces changed abruptly, and they looked around in terror.

In the surrounding darkness, one figure after another slowly appeared.

Those figures were exactly the puppets seen earlier.

Their faces were snarling, eyes blood‑red, and they let out intermittent roars.

Like demons crawling out of hell, they were hair‑raising.

"This... so many..."

Xia Yurou's complexion turned pale, her body trembling.

"We... we are surrounded..."

Zhou Hexuan's voice was sobbing, his eyes filled with despair.

"Protect yourselves!"

Jiangnan's voice was low, his gaze calm.

He quickly surveyed the surroundings, searching for an escape route.

"Ha ha... you can't escape!"

The Old Woman laughed wildly.

"These puppets are all meticulously crafted by me."

"They possess boundless strength, never tire, and are undying!"

"Just obediently become one of them!"

The Old Woman waved her cane, and the puppets surged toward the four like a tide.

"Stay close to me!"

Jiangnan let out a low shout.

His eyes flashed like lightning, fixed on the front.

The puppets advanced, baring fangs and claws, as if to tear them to pieces.

"Jiangnan, what should we do?"

Xia Yurou's voice trembled with sobs.

"Don't be afraid."

Jiangnan's voice was calm, yet carried a reassuring power.

He inhaled deeply, and his internal true Qi surged.

He formed hand seals with both hands, muttering words.

"Approach, soldiers, fight, this, all formations, ranks, forward, go!"

The nine-character mantra echoed through the ancestral hall.

A burst of golden light erupted from Jiangnan's body.

The dazzling light drove away the surrounding darkness.

The golden light turned into countless runes that danced in the air.

The runes flickered, exuding a powerful aura.

The puppets turned to ash the instant they touched the runes.

"Ah……"

Shrieks of agony rose and fell one after another.

The puppets, like moths to a flame, kept rushing toward the golden light.

Yet they continually dissipated.

In a moment, most of the numerous puppets had vanished.

"What…… what is this?"

The old woman's face showed a look of terror.

She had never seen such miraculous Dao arts.

"Insect Carving Minor Technique."

Jiangnan's voice was cold.

He formed seals again, and the golden light blazed brightly.

The remaining puppets vanished into nothing within the golden light.

Within the ancestral hall, silence returned.

Only the old woman remained, standing there alone.

"Who…… who exactly are you?"

The old woman's voice trembled, her eyes filled with fear.

You don't need to know.

Jiangnan walked slowly toward the old woman.

Do you have any last words?

His voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.

Last words?

The old woman gave a grim smile.

In this life, I have long had nothing left to live for.

My daughter is dead; I have lived long enough.

Go ahead, I consider my life complete.

She closed her eyes, awaiting death's arrival.

Jiangnan raised his palm, gathering his true qi.

Just as he was about to strike, a strange melody drifted from afar.

The sound was ethereal, with a hint of gloom.

Accompanying the music, a green mist slowly drifted in.

Within the mist, vague silhouettes could be seen swaying.

"This……"

Jiangnan furrowed his brows, halting his action.

Xia Yurou and Zhou Hexuan also showed looks of surprise, gazing toward the direction from which the mist came.

"Kekeke……"

A chilling laugh echoed from within the mist.

Old woman, why do you bother again?

The voice was hoarse, tinged with mockery.

Who is it?

The old woman suddenly opened her eyes and shouted angrily.

Old friend, you don't recognize me so quickly?

The voice sounded again.

The green mist drew nearer, gradually enveloping the entire ancestral hall.

Within the mist, a figure emerged.

It was a man clad in green robes, holding a jade-green bamboo flute.

His face was gaunt, his eyes sinister, and a strange smile played at the corner of his mouth.

It's you!

The old woman's pupils contracted, a flash of fear crossing her eyes.

Green Robe Elder Ancestor!

That's right, it's me, the old man.

The green-robed man chuckled lightly.

Old woman, why put yourself through this again?

"For a dead daughter, I turned myself into this in‑between state of neither man nor ghost."

"You…"

The Old Woman trembled with anger.

"What do you understand?"

"You demon, how many people have you killed?"

"Ha—…"

Green Robe Elder Ancestor laughed up at the heavens.

"One does not act for others; Heaven punishes, Earth destroys."

"Everything I do is for myself."

"Old woman, you are still too naive."

"This world has always been the law of the strong eating the weak."

"Only the strong can survive."

"You are talking nonsense!"

The Old Woman roared.

"My daughter's death cannot be separated from you!"

"Oh?"

Green Robe Elder Ancestor raised an eyebrow.

"So what?"

"What can you do to me?"

"You…"

The Old Woman was angry.

"Enough, old woman, stop being obstinate."

Green Robe Elder Ancestor's voice turned cold.

"Hand over your soul, and I can reunite you with your daughter."

"Don't even think about it!"

The Old Woman flatly refused.

"Refuse a toast and you drink a penalty wine."

Green Robe Elder Ancestor snorted coldly.

He placed the Bamboo Flute to his lips and played gently.

The eerie music sounded again.

This time, the music was faster and more sinister.

The green mist also grew denser.

Within the mist, countless ghostly silhouettes flickered, emitting wails of sorrow.

"Ah—…"

Xia Yurou and Zhou Hexuan covered their ears, crouching on the ground in pain.

"Is this… the Soul‑Capturing Melody?"

Jiangnan's complexion changed.

He felt his soul as if being drawn away by the music.

"Impressive."

Green Robe Elder Ancestor glanced at Jiangnan.

"But today, you all must die!"

He intensified his playing; the music became even more piercing.

Jiangnan endured the tearing of his soul, circulating true Qi to protect his mind.

"Who exactly are you?"

He looked at Green Robe Elder Ancestor, his gaze blazing.

"I am someone you cannot provoke."

Green Robe Elder Ancestor sneered coldly.

"Obey and meet your death!"

He played the Bamboo Flute again; the green mist churned, turning into poisonous snakes that lunged at Jiangnan.