Once Xia Xianning released her, Zhu Caiwei immediately ran to the Chiqiong tribe members and said: “The tribal leader’s body was thrown into the mountain cave over there. I tried to stop him.”
She spoke just a few sentences, with tears streaming down her face.
This was precisely why Zhu Caiwei had cut the tribal leader’s hair and cleaned him – in the past, she had let the fake Sang Dadan impersonate the real one, using the entire Chiqiong tribe as her tool.
Now she was about to leave, and before leaving, in order to drag Xia Xianning down, she had killed Sundadan, who could be passed off as a fake Sundadan’s corpse.
Zhu Caiwei knew that Xia Xianning would not harm innocent people. Hiding behind a group of ignorant Chiqiong tribespeople, he dared to spout nonsense. Everyone looked at each other, with some surrounding Xia Xianning while others rushed into the cave, discovering Sundadan’s body.
A wave of crying suddenly spread around. Zhu Caiwei’s lips curved, and she covered her face with her sleeve, tears falling.
Just moments ago, the real Sundadan had been killed by her, and the fake Sundadan had also died by Zhu Caiwei’s hand during the so-called “departure moment” hours earlier, with no witnesses.
After all, the Chiqiong tribe knew that the clan leader had been good to her, and killing him would be disadvantageous. So no one would suspect Zhu Caiwei, leaving Xia Xianning unable to clear himself of suspicion no matter what he said.
Zhu Caiwei did not believe that this method could cause substantial harm to Xia Xianning. She was self-aware about this.
All she wanted was for Xia Xianning to be temporarily troubled, so he would not have the chance to interfere with her final plan.
As Zhu Caiwei was thinking this, she suddenly heard Xia Xianning say lightly amidst the crying and cursing: “Who said Sundadan is dead?”
His tone was flat, but when this cold voice reached Zhu Caiwei’s ears, it instantly interrupted her feigned crying, causing her to tremble all over.
Zhu Caiwei’s face hidden behind her sleeve became exceptionally ugly. Her heart was beating rapidly, secretly calculating the meaning of Xia Xianning’s words.
Everyone’s attention was drawn to Xia Xianning, and no one was paying attention to her. Zhu Caiwei suddenly lowered her hand and looked forward.
She saw Xia Xianning bending down, shaking Sundadan’s shoulder, saying: “Wake up.”
And then Sundadan woke up.
The moment she saw him open his eyes, Zhu Caiwei’s inner terror was indescribable. She had personally used curse techniques to kill Sundadan. Xia Xianning could not have had the opportunity to save him!
At this moment, Zhu Caiwei did not know that Xia Xianning’s memory and powers were gradually recovering, becoming increasingly skillful.
At that time in the cave, although Xia Xianning had not completely guessed Zhu Caiwei’s plan, he could sense that she was using curse techniques. Sundadan was a key figure, and no matter what, Xia Xianning could not let him die in front of him.
With his intention formed, the magical seal was created. A mysterious feeling suddenly arose in his heart. Without even needing to recite the incantation, the qi in his hand moved with his intention, shooting out silently and precisely neutralizing Zhu Caiwei’s curse.
Sundadan had fainted silently, and it happened to coincide with ground tremors. Zhu Caiwei was first afraid that Ge Panming would suspect her of killing Sundadan, and secondly, she had not expected anyone could save someone right under her nose. So she hurriedly left the cave without checking thoroughly.
Now, seeing Sundadan alive and well, once the Chiqiong tribespeople discovered her actions, they would surely turn against her.
How Sundadan survived was not the key point. The key was to prevent him from speaking, at any cost!
Zhu Caiwei’s fingers had already gripped the silver arrow she had previously intended to use to ambush Xia Xianning at Changliu Sect, wanting to secretly aim at Sundadan.
However, at this moment, Xia Xianning, who had been facing away from her, seemed to have some kind of sensing and suddenly turned back, coldly glancing at Zhu Caiwei.
A chill spontaneously arose in Zhu Caiwei’s heart. From her perspective, Xia Xianning’s position perfectly blocked all of Sundadan’s vital areas. Even if she took the risk, she would have no way to succeed.
Zhu Caiwei was so angry her teeth itched, but her actions did not hesitate at all. Seeing many people looking at her following Xia Xianning’s gaze, she immediately showed a shocked and joyful expression, with tears still hanging on her face: “You’re awake! You’re not dead! This is wonderful!”
She ran out from the crowd, rushing directly to Sundadan’s front, placing her hands on his shoulders.
To others, this appeared to be an overwhelmingly joyful reaction. In reality, it was Zhu Caiwei’s strategy to position herself to use Sundadan as a human shield when Xia Xianning might attack her.
Even with her excellent acting skills, the entire event was too strange and aroused some people’s suspicions.
Zhao asked: “Didn’t you say the clan leader was killed?”
Zhu Caiwei said with tears: “Yes, I clearly saw it at the time. I never thought he could escape. This must be divine protection!”
She turned to Sundadan: “Didn’t Xia Xianning use a curse technique on you? How did you dodge it? Were you deliberately playing dead to fool him? You, how could you even deceive me? Don’t you know how worried I was?”
The children at home are still so young.”
This explanation conveniently provided a reason for Sundadan’s “resurrection”, and by mentioning his two children to threaten him, Sundadan swallowed back the truth he was about to reveal.
Feeling guilty, he looked at Xia Xianning, but this young man who had saved his life seemed in no hurry to clear his name, just standing silently with his arms crossed, watching Zhu Caiwei.
Sundadan felt a chill all over, not from fear, but from hatred. Looking at the woman before him with such apparent sincerity, he felt like vomiting. Zhu Caiwei’s hands on his shoulders were like two snakes lying there—cold, sticky, and nauseating.
But because of this, he knew Zhu Caiwei’s ruthlessness, and out of concern for his son, he dared not expose her on the spot. For a moment, he could not bring himself to respond according to Zhu Caiwei’s intentions, and both sides were at a stalemate.
Sundadan’s silence gradually aroused suspicion among others: “Clan leader, why aren’t you speaking?”
Zhu Caiwei’s hand gripped his shoulder tightly: “Yes, say something!”
Xia Xianning looked at her indifferently, witnessing Zhu Caiwei’s demeanor shift from composure to gradually losing her footing.
He had not interrupted earlier, just wanting to see if she would regret it.
Xia Xianning thought to himself, when Zhu Caiwei had initially decided to ambush Luo Mingbai to curry favor with Ge Panming, after stabbing Luo Mingbai with a knife and fleeing, would she feel the same panic and fear as she did now? Had she felt even a shred of remorse or guilt for her actions?
Such a person would not, would they?
Xia Xianning watched Zhu Caiwei perform long enough, then spoke coldly: “He is not speaking because he is afraid. Because the person who wants to kill him is not me, but you. I chased you to the Extinction Meng Hill with three reasons, and if you want to cover it up, I’ll say it myself.”
As he finally spoke, Zhu Caiwei heard his cold voice and felt a chill run through her entire body. Before she could refute, a sense of trembling arose from the depths of her heart.
Xia Xianning slightly raised his voice: “You were originally a disciple of the Changliu Sect, orphaned at a young age. The entire sect treated you well, with all masters and uncles treating you like their own child. But you were ungrateful, attacked a fellow disciple, and betrayed the sect. That’s one.”
