Chapter 71: The Joy of Spectators Is Priceless

"You—you weren't affected by the enchanted incense?" Northern Demon Bell stared in terror at the hand gripping her throat. The force was immense, far beyond what a soul in spirit form could exert.

Only then did she notice that the body of Wen Jingge, which had originally been held hostage, was now worn by her.

"What are you all doing? Useless fools! She’s escaped!"

The demon attendant finally realized his arms were empty—the body he was supposed to restrain was gone.

He felt entirely innocent. What had just happened? He hadn’t even blinked, so how had she managed to end up on the other side?

"No! They aren't useless," Wen Jingge defended them, seeing Northern Demon Bell about to erupt again. She quickly explained, "Really, they're not. I'm just too strong."

Northern Demon Bell rolled her eyes, wishing she could faint, but Wen Jingge’s mischievous fingers pinched the philtrum to keep her awake.

"My incense...," Northern Demon Bell clung to her last hope, struggling to resist. "Why, why didn't it work on you?"

"Because I'm a soul! What kind of enchanted incense affects a soul?"

This girl must have a hole in her head. It had to be because she was too beautiful—it drove Northern Demon Bell to madness.

Northern Demon Bell blushed, then flared up in anger.

"You—you—what are you doing?"

"Making you a pretty butterfly bow," Wen Jingge replied with sincere earnestness, tying her up with the demon-binding rope. "Does it look good?"

"Untie me!" she growled through clenched teeth, glaring at her demon disciples. "What are you standing around for? Can't you see your Lady is being held hostage? Can't you show some initiative?"

"Ahem." The previously scolded attendant pressed his blade to Wang Xi’s neck, his hand trembling. "Let—let go of our Saintess, or—or I'll spill her blood right here!"

"There's a lump in your head," Wang Xi replied coldly, unfazed by the knife at her throat.

Wang Xi had joined the Xuan Cloud Sect for Wen Jingge, much like fans chasing idols in later generations. Her heart belonged wholly to Wen Jingge, and she had mastered nearly all of her habits.

Now, facing a blade at her throat, she was utterly unafraid, pulling sugar pills from her storage pouch and sharing them with Yang Wen’nan.

"If you’re going to do it, hurry up," she nudged the demon attendant behind her, still fearless. "I've only lived a few peaceful days in the Xuan Cloud Sect. Before that, I’ve survived at least a hundred assassinations, ambushes, and kidnappings. Compared to them, you’re not even a novice."

"I—it's my first time."

"No wonder," Wang Xi muttered, "Your blade isn’t even sharpened."

"You—you—you!" Northern Demon Bell was so furious she couldn’t speak, because now the demon attendant was the one being held hostage. "You’ve got a lump in your head!"

"Not really. He only has horns on his head," Wang Xi glanced at the demon attendant she was restraining, her tone serious.

She held a dagger she had pulled from her storage pouch, slipped into her sleeve while eating sugar beans. No one expected that a bag for sweets would also contain two poisoned daggers.

This was her, a princess who had lived her whole life amidst assassinations and murder attempts—the basic guarantee for her survival.

Yang Wen’nan was doing the same, their coordination flawless, clearly prepared for this scenario. Liang Si seized the chance to slip back into his own body, so now, aside from Yuan Qingling, everyone was in their proper place.

The reversal happened in an instant.

Northern Demon Bell was stunned. The demon disciples were stunned. Now, they were the ones at a disadvantage.

"That’s right," Lu Wei chuckled coldly, as if mocking his earlier worry. "How could an old fox ever raise a little white rabbit?"

"Hmm?" Wen Jingge bit her lip, glaring at him with dissatisfaction. "I am a little white rabbit!"

Northern Demon Bell closed her eyes, abandoning resistance. If this went on, she’d only hear more torment. "Kill..."

"Not killing."

"Rob for wealth..."

"Rob for beauty."

Northern Demon Bell: ...

Is this truly the legendary Immortal Wen? That otherworldly figure—even if she lowered her standards, she wouldn’t debase herself so!

Once lofty, arrogant, disdainful of all, with a heart untouched by worldly concerns—that was Immortal Wen.

She was supposed to deal with that person, not this female rogue before her!

"I am a little white rabbit!"

"A little white rabbit!"

"White rabbit!"

"Yes, you’re white," Lu Wei covered his face. If only he hadn’t acted recklessly and taken over Qiao Yu’s body. Now, looking at Northern Demon Bell, he felt a pang of regret. "You... I don’t want her body."

"Ha?" Wen Jingge’s expression cracked. Was he really not joking?

She pointed at the blushing, flustered Lu Wei, then at the wide-eyed, terrified Northern Demon Bell, murmuring, "Are you sure—really sure—you like this style?"

"I do not!"

"No, no, what Master means is, if Grandmaster likes it, we can go along," Wang Xi rubbed her hands, knocking out the demon disciple who failed his very first kidnapping. "After all, I like beauties too. Third Senior Brother, do you like them?"

Yang Wen’nan, coldly knocking out another demon disciple and laying him on the ground, stared at his toes, slightly embarrassed. "I do."

He needed to fit in.

The Master always managed to subdue the Grandmaster.

Having chosen sides so many times, there was no psychological burden left.

As for those being bullied—not his problem. The joy of being a spectator couldn’t be bought with money.

"I have no objections." Lu Wei glanced at Liang Si’s serious demeanor, then at the tears streaming down Northern Demon Bell’s face in panic, finally understanding—the little brats were playing with his feelings again.

In that moment, he was like a strong-willed woman wounded by a heartless man—he turned on his heel, whipped his hair, and vented his fury on the demon disciples.

"Grandmaster! When it comes to fighting, I admire you the most," Liang Si remained solemn, serious, calm, but the words made Lu Wei wish he could switch back to Qiao Yu immediately.

It seemed he’d been played again.

Clap, clap, clap.

Applause rang out, led by Wang Xi. "Grandmaster is amazing! First Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, let’s go!"

Lu Wei: ...

This day, he had endured too much.

Most of it was Wen Jingge’s schemes.

"Was it really necessary?" he fumed, but losing his temper at the juniors was beneath him, so he sought someone higher to take the blame. "I’ve been asleep so long, and you know I’m slow-witted, yet you keep manipulating me."

"I just..." Wen Jingge hesitated, rummaging through her storage pouch, then pulled out a coffin and gestured for silence.

"Why—why did you bring that out?"

The coffin Wen Jingge produced was the one she had swiped from the Burning Heaven Gate early that morning. The black iron gleamed in the firelight, looking robust and lively. "As long as the coffin is here, I am here!"

Lu Wei: ...

"Slay demons when you meet them, cut down immortals when you encounter them, destroy gods if you face them—that’s my ideal. If I die, I’ll just lie in here."

"This is..." Lu Wei was at a loss for words, thinking of the lightning tribulation that could strike her at any moment. "You’re afraid of dying!"

"Shh!" Wen Jingge shook her head. "What are you saying? Why not keep it as my companion in the mortal world and live carefree?"