Chapter 618: Savior
Ning Zhuo gazed at Yang Weida’s corpse, falling into silence for a long moment.
Yang Weida’s face looked calm, as though he were merely asleep.
He could not help but recall their past interactions.
At the very beginning, he had met him aboard the ship.
On the surface, he had appeared simple and rough, yet in truth he had been shrewd and bold. He had demanded a reward from Qingyan, asking for the stomach pouch of a Bone-Piercing Crocodile, only to be rejected without hesitation.
But in Ning Zhuo’s view, this had been nothing more than bargaining tactics—starting with an inflated price.
In the end, Qingyan had still given him six artifact-grade Soul-Crossing Lamp Wicks.
Afterward, Yang Weida had been taken away by Wen Ruanyu.
Later, at Zangyang Villa, he had peddled his virility ointment to the male cultivators around him, and it had been extremely popular.
Then at Zhuangyang Courtyard, he had cultivated diligently and struggled with painstaking effort.
Finally, when the Golden Swallow Fork had gained a new master, he had decisively pledged allegiance to Ning Zhuo, presenting a considerable sum of wealth.
He had claimed it was his entire fortune, though there was no proof. Ning Zhuo had maintained some doubt. Even so, the wealth Yang Weida had offered voluntarily would have been an enormous sum to most Foundation Establishment cultivators.
To speak honestly, Ning Zhuo had rather admired him.
His aptitude had not been outstanding, yet he had always worked tirelessly, never begrudging sacrifice, possessing a spirit willing to take risks. Even after repeated setbacks, he had not lost his fighting will, and he had been able to adjust flexibly according to circumstances.
When Ning Zhuo had promised to arrange a future for him in White Paper Immortal City, it had not been merely because he valued his gesture of allegiance, but because he had valued the man himself.
Yet…
He was dead.
All his efforts, the bitterness and hardship of his past, had dispersed with the wind, unnoticed by anyone.
Because this time, too many male consorts had died—almost everyone in Zhuangyang Courtyard. Yang Weida had only been one among them.
Ning Zhuo’s emotions were complicated.
White Paper Immortal City was like a massive vortex. From the past until now, countless lives had been swept into it and lost.
Brutal warfare reduced cultivators’ lives to mere weeds.
Yang Weida had once confided his bitterness to Ning Zhuo, saying that the things he had desperately pursued yet never obtained were things Ning Zhuo possessed yet treated with indifference.
Their joys and sorrows had not truly been shared, and yet, in another sense, they had pitied one another in mutual affliction.
Yang Weida’s death stirred Ning Zhuo deeply.
“What difference is there between Yang Weida and me?”
“To the White Paper City Lord and the Lord of the Forgetting River Underworld, I too am but an ant.”
“In this turbulent vortex, with the slightest misstep, I would perish and my Dao would dissipate.”
Wen Ruanyu, who rushed to Zhuangyang Courtyard, had a flushed face filled with fury.
“That damned traitor! Who exactly is he?!”
He wished he could immediately fight the traitor to the death.
Previously, he had believed that with full surveillance, the traitor would no longer find an opportunity.
Yet now it seemed the traitor had merely refrained from acting—or had been preparing a deadly scheme, waiting to unleash it.
Wen Ruanyu clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging on the backs of his hands.
He dared not imagine how the news of Zhuangyang Courtyard’s near annihilation would ferment, nor how immense the blow to the entire city’s army morale would be.
Whenever he thought of it, a chill rose from the depths of his heart.
Ning Zhuo spoke from the side, “If the traitor cannot be identified soon, panic will inevitably spread.”
“Even I feel that this traitor possesses unfathomable abilities!”
Wen Ruanyu nodded, his voice hoarse. “We must investigate with all our strength. We must uncover the traitor’s identity and give an explanation to everyone in the immortal city. Otherwise, White Paper Immortal City may very well collapse into rout!”
This strike by the traitor had placed White Paper Immortal City in an extremely dangerous situation.
And Ning Zhuo and Wen Ruanyu, who had been responsible for this matter all along, now bore immense responsibility.
Soon, related cultivators came to report.
“You mean these male consorts all died from poisoning?” Wen Ruanyu frowned.
Ning Zhuo showed no surprise.
There were no wounds on their bodies; only twisted expressions of agony. Poisoning had been the most likely cause.
“What kind of poison? Do we have any leads?” Wen Ruanyu pressed.
“A potent toxin, originating from… a certain Spirit Food,” the cultivator replied immediately.
“Where did the Spirit Food come from?” Wen Ruanyu demanded.
The cultivator gave a name, causing Ning Zhuo’s eyes to widen instantly.
Wen Ruanyu also found it unbelievable. “From his hands? Are you certain? Impossible! It cannot be him.”
He even spoke in defense of the suspect first.
For that man was an old resident of White Paper Immortal City, a senior Spirit Chef of the Dark Path culinary faction, and the very elder who had voluntarily gifted Ning Zhuo the Spirit Chef inheritance.
Soon, the Spirit Chef elder was brought before Wen Ruanyu and Ning Zhuo.
“This is utterly ridiculous!” The elder, bound tightly, flatly denied everything, extremely agitated.
“Chef Elder, please calm yourself. With me here, you will not be wronged,” Wen Ruanyu assured him first.
The Spirit Chef elder was furious. “Of all people, you should not suspect me!!”
“Yes, yes.” Wen Ruanyu nodded repeatedly, bowing slightly, sweat seeping onto his forehead.
Though the elder firmly denied it, for the moment he was the only suspect.
After much persuasion, Wen Ruanyu convinced him to remain temporarily detained for questioning and advised him to think carefully of evidence in his own favor.
Ning Zhuo also offered a few words of persuasion.
Once only the two of them remained, Wen Ruanyu rubbed his forehead. “This is becoming more and more complicated. I am almost certain this is the traitor framing Chef Elder.”
“The move may be childish, but it is utterly disgusting!”
“The traitor wants to disturb our state of mind. We must not become overly agitated.”
Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly, arms folded. “At first, I shared your judgment. This is clearly a framing scheme, but…”
“But what?” Wen Ruanyu asked. “You have been thinking ever since earlier.”
“I know you received Chef Elder’s favor and accepted his Spirit Chef inheritance. Yet during the negotiation just now, you spoke only a few sentences.”
“If outsiders saw it, they might even think I was the one who received that inheritance.”
As a Confucian cultivator, even his criticism was indirect.
Ning Zhuo continued to shake his head, expressionless. “You misunderstand me. I only find it somewhat strange.”
Wen Ruanyu’s interest was piqued. “Oh? What is strange?”
He held Ning Zhuo in high regard. If Ning Zhuo felt something was off, there was likely a problem.
But in the next moment, Ning Zhuo shrugged and gave a bitter smile. “It is merely a vague feeling. I sense something is wrong, yet when I try to examine it, I cannot grasp it.”
“I see…” Wen Ruanyu sighed in disappointment. “If you figure it out, inform me at once.”
“Mm.” Ning Zhuo nodded. “Before that, I will go to the prison and personally instruct the jailer to take good care of Chef Elder.”
Wen Ruanyu shook his head. “With the traitor so rampant and ruthless, it is better not to expose your status as Vice City Lord. I will go. If you are uneasy, you may accompany me.”
“Then forget it.” Ning Zhuo frowned and declined. “As long as Chef Elder is well taken care of. The key issue now is to uncover the traitor.”
“I want to personally search the scene.”
“Mm.” Wen Ruanyu nodded. “I will go with you.”
The two joined forces and thoroughly inspected Zhuangyang Courtyard, but found nothing.
“I only feel it is even stranger…” Ning Zhuo watched as the corpses were collected one by one, still unable to grasp the clue.
Wen Ruanyu sighed. “Think carefully. I will gather manpower and figure out how to deal with this mess.”
Ever since the death of the Mourning Music Ghost Actress, his pressure had increased significantly.
Now, with such a major incident, it had surged sharply.
The next day.
Ning Zhuo received Wen Ruanyu’s Flying Message.
The contents caused his expression to change instantly. After his shock came incredulity.
He hurried to the prison and met Wen Ruanyu and the Spirit Chef elder there.
The elder bore multiple wounds, bound tightly, his breath faint.
Wen Ruanyu stood before him, glanced at Ning Zhuo, then turned back. “You truly confessed? This is no joke!”
The Spirit Chef elder sneered. “I did it! I killed those male consorts. I am one of the traitors.”
“The White Paper City Lord wishes to use the Golden Swallow Fork to restore the old order and reclaim central authority. Impossible!”
“Heh heh heh.”
“The Sun Family is far too eager for glory. And you cultivators secretly supporting Sun Tiesheng are naive and shallow. I came and went several times as if entering an empty land.”
“You held a celebration banquet and even invited me to prepare Spirit Food. In my eyes, how was that any different from courting death?”
“Hahaha, this was a heaven-sent opportunity. White Paper Immortal City was fated to perish!”
The Spirit Chef elder admitted his crimes without reservation.
His attitude had undergone a complete reversal.
No matter what Wen Ruanyu and Ning Zhuo said, he clung firmly to his confession without changing a word.
With no other choice, they arranged for the elder to be properly settled, then stepped out to discuss.
“Do you believe he is the traitor?” Ning Zhuo asked first, then answered himself, “I believe he is not.”
He vividly remembered the elder preparing Spirit Food for him personally and gifting him the Spirit Chef inheritance.
There was no reason for a traitor to do such things.
“But if he is not, why would he admit it?” Wen Ruanyu frowned deeply. “And he is so resolute. He must know that the outcome awaiting him is execution!”
Ning Zhuo stared at Wen Ruanyu. “In truth… his confession benefits both of us, does it not?”
They had long been tasked with investigating the traitor, yet achieved nothing.
This time, the traitor’s strike had nearly wiped out all the male consorts of Zhuangyang Courtyard. The burden upon them was enormous.
Moreover, Ning Zhuo, as one of the few surviving ordinary male consorts, himself carried significant suspicion.
If they followed the current, at least for now, the pressure on both Ning Zhuo and Wen Ruanyu would be greatly reduced.
Wen Ruanyu met his gaze without hesitation. “Why test one another? I know your character, and you should know my aspirations and convictions. I am a Confucian cultivator. I cannot fabricate a wrongful case for personal gain by forcing a confession!”
His tone was decisive, expression firm.
Ning Zhuo nodded. “Was it you who ordered him tortured?”
Wen Ruanyu shook his head again. “Absolutely not. After leaving with you last night, I did not return. I also issued strict orders: aside from you and me, no third person was to approach the prison. Violators would be executed immediately!”
Ning Zhuo nodded once more. “Very well. Since it was not you, then who else could have issued such an order? Who else could quietly enter the prison?”
Wen Ruanyu’s face darkened. He lowered his head, staring at the floor tiles, sinking into deathly silence.
After a long while, his voice turned hoarse and strained. “I know what you are implying.”
“The current City Lord indeed once saved the elder’s life…”
The simple sentence weighed like mountains upon him.
Ning Zhuo turned his gaze away, looking toward the City Lord’s Mansion.
“How long has it been since you saw the City Lord?” he asked meaningfully.
After a pause, he added, “I mean her true body.”
Wen Ruanyu shuddered and also looked toward the mansion. “A long time. Truly… a very long time.”
Wen Ruanyu was the City Lord’s right-hand man. Since the sacrifice of the Mourning Music Ghost Actress, only Wen Ruanyu and Tie Guzheng remained as true pillars in the vast White Paper Immortal City.
And Ning Zhuo held the post of Vice City Lord.
The only person who could stand above them both, quietly enter the prison, and alter the Spirit Chef elder’s attitude was likely the City Lord alone.
Why would she do this?
Ning Zhuo could answer that himself—“For White Paper Immortal City.”
The incident at Zhuangyang Courtyard had grown too large. Panic spread through the city, and army morale suffered a devastating blow.
Everyone would inevitably imagine: if even heavily guarded Zhuangyang Courtyard could be wiped out, what about the rest of them?
The City Lord’s Mansion had repeatedly disappointed them. Could they truly withstand this ghost tide under her leadership?
And this ghost tide was not merely a tide—it was accompanied by a great army from the Underworld!
Under such circumstances, sacrificing one cultivator to demonstrate swift investigation and the capture of a traitor was undoubtedly the fastest way to resolve the crisis.
It had to be fast!
If public panic continued to spread, affecting the entire city and leading to total rout, the consequences would be irredeemable.
Ning Zhuo’s heart was filled with mixed emotions.
“I understand the City Lord. Everything is for the greater good. One must endure humiliation. And often, such sacrifices are necessary and worthwhile.”
Endurance…
Just as he himself had endured for over a decade in Fire Persimmon Immortal City.
Ning Zhuo frowned, feeling deeply uncomfortable.
If it had been his former self in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, he would have swallowed all complicated emotions, lowered his head, clenched his teeth, and endured silently.
But after many journeys and changes, another voice now rose from the depths of his heart, growing louder and louder: “If I were the White Paper City Lord, I would not do this! Even if someone were willing to die for me!”
There was such a person by his side.
He had no doubt that Sun Lingtong would sacrifice himself for him.
Just as he had no doubt that he himself would willingly do the same for Sun Lingtong.
This had already been proven in Fire Persimmon Immortal City during their confrontation with Qi Bai.
“The White Paper City Lord granted me the Four Treasures of Soul Cultivation, appointed me Vice City Lord, and later strongly supported the Qingjiao Army. But in her heart, what exactly am I—this so-called savior?”
Subconsciously, he looked toward the southern part of the city, where the giant paper effigy left by his mother stood.
Meng Yaoyin had once been the savior. To rescue the city, she had exhausted her lifespan and now remained only as a paper effigy.
“The White Paper City Lord arranged for the old Spirit Chef this way. She once arranged for my mother as well.”
“What about me?”
“How will she arrange me?”
“Savior…”
At that very moment, ghostly wails echoed from outside the city.
War drums thundered, battle flags billowed.
The ghost tide arrived once more, far greater than before.
The city defense battle began again.
Tie Guzheng’s face was as dark as water as he stared into the distance, seeing the vast Yin army appear on the horizon.
Based on gathered intelligence, he immediately judged that this ever-growing Yin army had mobilized in full force this time!
The traitor had nearly annihilated Zhuangyang Courtyard, and just as panic gripped the city, the enemy advanced. It was indeed an excellent opportunity.
White Paper Immortal City—was in peril!