Chapter 113: So, are you interested in giving it a try?

Riding on the flying sword, Li Dabao asked curiously, “Immortal, what kind of pill did you give Chief Zhu?”

Jiang Yan’s lips curled into a sly, sinister smile.

“Oh, it was merely a carefully concocted, highly poisonous pill—one that traps a person in a desperate plight of neither escaping life nor death. Why, are you interested in trying some?”

Li Dabao quickly shook his head, a look of horror flashing across his face.

“No, no, Immortal, I was just curious. If it’s such a ruthless poison, then Chief Zhu will surely obey your orders obediently.”

Beside him, Yun Yun’s eyes brimmed with admiration as she softly echoed, “Brother Yan’s methods are naturally unparalleled and exquisite.”

Swallowing nervously, Li Dabao silently thanked his stars that he was not on hostile terms with these two.

Receiving Yun Yun’s praise, Jiang Yan felt a strange sense of pride—as if he truly had the potential to become a villain.

Wait—that feeling was off.

Could it be the influence of the Ink Evil Sword?

...

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

Just as Jiang Yan and the others were about to give up hope, thinking the woman in black would no longer visit the Pig Demon Tribe, the communication jade suddenly buzzed.

Li Dabao grabbed the jade excitedly and answered. A strange voice came through:

“Chief Li, the woman in black has arrived.”

“Hmm,” Li Dabao replied tersely before ending the communication.

“Excellent! Finally, we can catch that wicked woman!” Yun Yun’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Jiang Yan took three invisibility talismans from his spatial ring. “Everyone, put these on. Remember, try not to make a sound. Our goal is to quietly apprehend the woman in black.”

“Immortal, don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”

“Brother Yan, understood.”

At the Pig Demon Tribe, Lin Ruyan still wore black and concealed her face with a purple mask.

“Benefactor, you’ve finally arrived!” The Pig Demon Chief smiled broadly, warmly ushering Lin Ruyan into the spacious council hall.

Lin Ruyan took her seat with grace and asked, “You said you have a treasure to show me? What kind of treasure?”

The Pig Demon Chief’s eyes rolled anxiously. He had waited ten days just to contact this woman.

Alas, he had told Chief Li that he had no contact with the woman in black...

He had thought the pill the terrifying youth gave him was just a bluff, but who knew that on a recent late night, it struck him hard.

His head throbbed as if he stood on the threshold of death, only clearing by daylight.

He even sought the tribe’s divine doctor, who diagnosed a deadly poison but could not concoct an antidote.

Forcing a smile, the Pig Demon Chief said, “Benefactor, please be patient. The treasure is a legendary divine sword and will be delivered to you soon.”

“Oh? A divine sword.”

A flicker of curiosity passed through Lin Ruyan’s eyes. It was surprising that the Pig Demon Chief could obtain a divine sword.

She wondered what the sword looked like.

Could it be that the Pig Demon Chief, lacking discernment, had been swindled with a fake?

“That sword has already nurtured a sword spirit...” The Pig Demon Chief described the sword’s characteristics exactly like the Ink Evil Sword, his voice growing more excited as if the sword stood before him.

Watching the Pig Demon Chief’s vivid expressions, Lin Ruyan felt moved. She sensed he was not lying and decided to stay to witness the sword’s true face.

At that moment, Jiang Yan and the others silently infiltrated the council hall, overhearing the Pig Demon Chief’s vivid description of the sword.

Jiang Yan inwardly gasped. It seemed the Pig Demon Chief still had designs on the Ink Evil Sword.

Ink Evil, looks like you’re useless after all—despite all your fierce moves, others still covet you.

Lin Ruyan’s tone was calm, but a sharp glint flashed in her eyes: “In that case, the sword belongs to me. Chief Zhu, you have no objections, I hope?”

The Pig Demon Chief chuckled, “Benefactor, that sword was prepared especially for you. Your help to our tribe has been immense; such a treasure naturally belongs to you.”

Lin Ruyan sipped tea and slowly said, “It’s good you think so. I suppose my efforts weren’t in vain.”

Jiang Yan watched the woman in black closely, feeling her figure and voice were somewhat familiar.

Wait... could it be... damn it—the original female lead, Lin Ruyan!

It was her!

The Chaos Pearl must be with her...

Just as Jiang Yan prepared to seize Lin Ruyan, a youthful voice suddenly rang out, “Run!”

The Spirit Pearl sensed the aura of the Child of Destiny drawing near and urgently warned Lin Ruyan.

Her face changed dramatically as she realized she was trapped.

Quickly tossing a phantom smoke from her sleeve, she drew her sword and sped like lightning toward the council hall’s exit.

Inside, two violent coughing fits erupted.

“Cough, cough, cough...”

“Cough, cough, cough...”

The Pig Demon Chief and Li Dabao were choked by the phantom smoke.

Jiang Yan and Yun Yun had already been alert when the voice sounded and had swiftly set up a protective barrier.

“Pursue!”

Jiang Yan tore off his invisibility talisman. Since they’d been exposed, stealth was useless.

His figure flickered as he sped after her.

Lin Ruyan was indeed a heroine; wielding some mysterious artifact, she flew on her sword with incredible speed.

Jiang Yan hastily applied two acceleration talismans to himself and gave chase.

“Lin Ruyan!” Jiang Yan shouted ahead.

Lin Ruyan hesitated slightly at her name and glanced back to see Jiang Yan closing in relentlessly.

Panic flickered in her heart but was quickly replaced by resolve. No matter what, she could not be caught or have her identity exposed.

“Spirit Pearl, help me fly faster!” she urged.

The Spirit Pearl’s tense reply came, “This is the fastest I can go!”

Jiang Yan slapped on another acceleration talisman, drew the Ink Evil Sword, and gave chase with all his might.

As the distance shrank, Jiang Yan commanded the Ink Evil Sword, “Ink Evil, block her!”

The sword obeyed instantly, flying out to intercept Lin Ruyan.

Forced to stop, Lin Ruyan’s heart raced. “Spirit Pearl, what now?”

After a brief pause, the Spirit Pearl made a decisive choice. “Don’t worry, I will transmit more destiny energy to you!”

Jiang Yan closed in and shouted, “Lin Ruyan, hand over the Chaos Pearl!”

A flicker of panic crossed Lin Ruyan’s eyes, but she quickly calmed and replied coldly, “What are you talking about? I don’t know you!”

Jiang Yan sneered and ordered the Ink Evil Sword, “Ink Evil, help her remember.”

The sword’s tip lightly grazed Lin Ruyan’s mask before she could react, shattering it and revealing her face.

“Lin Ruyan, it really is you!”

Lin Ruyan met Jiang Yan’s gaze fearlessly. “So what if it’s me? I don’t have the Chaos Pearl you speak of.”

Her expression was sincere, as if every word was true.

Jiang Yan was stunned. No wonder she was the heroine—anyone unaware would think she was wrongly accused.

“You helped the Pig Demon Tribe transfer the destiny energy of the Xuan Zhu Clan’s mountain, right? Don’t deny it; I heard it with my own ears.

“Oh, and coincidentally, I recorded your conversation perfectly with a recording stone.”

“Jiang Yan, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I only helped the Pig Demon Chief restore the mountain’s spiritual energy.”

“I just heard you talking to something. That must be the Chaos Pearl—an evil artifact. I advise you to hand it over before it harms you.”

Hearing Jiang Yan’s words, Lin Ruyan’s confusion grew like a snowball.

The Spirit Pearl was the Chaos Pearl? And an evil thing at that?

Before she could ponder further, the Spirit Pearl suddenly spoke, “He’s lying to you. He only wants me.”

Jiang Yan scoffed, “Ha, what a prize you think you are! You evil thing, stop hiding or come out yourself. Otherwise, I’ll have to deal with you personally.”

Just as Jiang Yan prepared to subdue Lin Ruyan, a powerful oppressive aura filled the air.

“Pfft...”

“Pfft...”

Both Lin Ruyan and Jiang Yan spat blood nearly simultaneously, their bodies staggering.

The Spirit Pearl quickly transmitted a surge of destiny energy to Lin Ruyan, helping her steady herself.

“Run!” the Spirit Pearl urged anxiously.

Without hesitation, Lin Ruyan soared away on her sword’s light. Strangely, the imposing power did not pursue.

Jiang Yan, seeing Lin Ruyan flee, swallowed several pills and was about to give chase when a deep, imposing voice boomed from midair.

“Shameless brat, I’ve finally found you!”

The voice belonged to Sword Venerable Ling Xiao, who hovered upright in the air, wielding the Shadowless Sword, dressed in flowing white robes.

Jiang Yan looked up at the venerable elder, puzzled—he seemed to have no prior entanglement with this figure.

“Senior, is there some misunderstanding? I don’t know you.”