Chapter 870: The Impossible

“Speak!” Thinking that Song Qingshu might be in mortal danger, Zhou Zhiruo grew frantic.

“Cough, cough—” Tang Sai’er struggled under her grip and pointed at the hand around her throat. “Let go first… then I’ll talk.”

Zhou Zhiruo snorted. “If you dare play tricks again, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” Still, she released her.

Tang Sai’er took several deep breaths before saying, “I’ll tell you, but you have to unseal my acupoints first.”

“No! But I promise to let you go afterward,” Zhou Zhiruo refused flatly. Surprisingly, Zhao Min beside her agreed with her judgment.

Tang Sai’er bit her lip. “If you don’t unseal me, I’ll have no way to resist if you go back on your word. I’m not that stupid.”

“You have no choice but to trust me.” Zhou Zhiruo flexed her fingers subconsciously. The reason she wouldn’t agree was simple—Tang Sai’er’s martial arts were too formidable, and she was cunning. Once freed, there was no guarantee they could control her again.

Noticing her movement, Tang Sai’er’s eyes twitched. She had no desire to relive that suffocating agony, but she also knew she couldn’t back down now. “Fine, then let me accompany your man to the afterlife. As sisters, I might even help you take care of him in the underworld. Don’t be jealous, little sister.” She giggled teasingly.

Zhao Min couldn’t help but sigh. “Your shamelessness reminds me of my younger self—though now, I find it utterly repulsive.”

Zhou Zhiruo shot her a glare. “So you do know how disgraceful you were back then.”

Zhao Min raised an eyebrow. “What, looking for a fight?”

Zhou Zhiruo glanced at the red mark on her face and smirked. “I might not win an argument, but I can certainly beat you.”

Zhao Min’s breath hitched.

In the past, their martial skills had been nearly equal, with her holding a slight edge. But after Zhou Zhiruo mastered the Nine Yin Scripture, she was no match for her.

Her eyes darted craftily before she hurried to Song Qingshu’s side, clinging to his arm. “Brother Qingshu won’t let you bully me!”

Song Qingshu sighed. “Only when you need something do you call me ‘Brother’?”

“None of your business.” Zhao Min pinched his waist discreetly.

Watching their intimate exchange, Zhou Zhiruo narrowed her eyes. “Using the same old tricks again? Back then, Zhang Wuji protected you. But now, the man you’re clinging to is my husband. Do you really think he’d side with you over me?”

“Oh, so just because he’s your husband, that makes you special? I could make him my husband too—then we’d be even.” Zhao Min grinned.

Zhou Zhiruo was finally defeated. “Are all Mongol women as shameless as you?”

“What’s the point of shame? I only want Brother Qingshu.” She shook his arm playfully.

Song Qingshu rubbed his temples. He knew Zhao Min was just using him as a shield and didn’t take it seriously. “Enough arguing. I’m still poisoned, remember?”

The two women huffed but finally fell silent.

He turned his attention back to Tang Sai’er. “Miss Tang, I must admit, your earlier trick was impressive. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in such danger.”

Before Tang Sai’er could reply, Zhou Zhiruo cut in sourly, “If you hadn’t been so smitten by her beauty and let your guard down, you wouldn’t have fallen for her trap.”

Zhao Min protested, “Brother Qingshu got hurt saving me! Don’t slander him.”

“Call him ‘Brother’ one more time, and I’ll rip your mouth apart.”

“Brother Qingshu, Brother Qingshu—go ahead, try it!”

“…”

Tang Sai’er and Song Qingshu exchanged glances. Finally, she smiled faintly. “Young Master, the blessings of two wives aren’t so easy to enjoy, are they?”

“Shut up!” For once, Zhou Zhiruo and Zhao Min were in perfect agreement—when it came to Tang Sai’er harming Song Qingshu.

Rubbing his forehead, Song Qingshu changed the subject. “Miss Tang, I’ll agree to unseal your acupoints, but first, answer a few questions.”

After a pause, Tang Sai’er nodded. “Fine.” She had already resolved to keep the secret of who could remove the Life and Death Talisman—answering a few questions wouldn’t hurt.

“Earlier, you fired three Life and Death Talismans, striking my Shaoyang, Shaoyin, and Jueyin meridians. For each one, what was the balance of yang and yin energy?” His gaze locked onto hers.

Tang Sai’er’s vision blurred momentarily, and she answered reflexively: “The Shaoyang talisman was 80% yin, 20% yang; the Shaoyin was 60% yang, 40% yin; and the Jueyin was 70% yang, 30% yin.”

“I see…” Song Qingshu nodded thoughtfully.

Tang Sai’er jolted awake, horrified. “That was… the Soul Capture Technique from the Nine Yin Scripture?”

“Correct. So you might as well talk willingly,” Zhou Zhiruo said coldly. She hadn’t used the technique earlier because she wasn’t proficient in it, nor was she confident it would work on someone of Tang Sai’er’s caliber. But now that Song Qingshu had succeeded, relief washed over her—if they could learn who could remove the talisman, he would be saved.

Tang Sai’er’s face paled, then flushed. “Even if you hypnotized me, it’s useless! I don’t know how to remove the Life and Death Talisman! And even if you find out who can, without my help, she’d never agree to cure you.”

“You’re talking about the Tianshan Tonglao, aren’t you?” Song Qingshu’s voice was calm.

Tang Sai’er stiffened. “H-how did you know?”

Instead of answering, Song Qingshu pressed on. “What’s your relationship with her?”

Tang Sai’er clamped her mouth shut and turned away.

“If you won’t talk, I’ll just use the Soul Capture Technique again,” Song Qingshu said lightly.

After a tense silence, Tang Sai’er whispered, “Tianshan Tonglao… is my master.”

“What?”

The three of them exchanged stunned looks.

Song Qingshu chuckled. “How strange—the successor of the ruler of Lingjiu Palace on the Ethereal Peak ends up in the south as the White Lotus Sect’s saintess…”

Tang Sai’er hurriedly added, “My master is the only one in this world who can remove the Life and Death Talisman. If you kill me today, she’ll know what happened the moment she sees the talisman in you. Do you really think she’d save you then?”

“The only one in the world?” Song Qingshu shook his head. “Not necessarily. I can remove it myself.”