With Sheng Lengshuang's words, the hidden guards no longer held back. Some protected Sheng Lengshuang and her son as they moved to safety, others were responsible for evacuating nearby servants, some engaged the puppets, and the rest used fire to burn them.
Before long, the courtyard was engulfed in flames, and a few puppets that hadn't managed to escape were turned into fiery figures.
However, these puppets were without sensation, felt no pain, and would not stop. Even as they were torn apart by the fire, they continued to attack the hidden guards, relentlessly closing in on Sheng Lengshuang and her son.
Seeing this, Sheng Lengshuang's gaze turned to ice, inch by inch. She silently sprinkled several types of powders around herself, just in case.
Was it the Black Hand wanting to capture her and Xiao Feng, or did this person want to capture the mother and son? Or both?
It was difficult to say for sure at the moment.
Just then, the hidden guards protecting Sheng Lengshuang and her son began to fall to the ground, one after another, without any warning.
The surrounding hidden guards, seeing this, immediately rushed to protect Sheng Lengshuang and her son, but were entangled by several puppets, preventing them from reaching them in time.
Sheng Lengshuang pulled Xiao Feng protectively into her arms. Suddenly, a magnified old face, like mulberry bark, appeared before her. The way he looked at her was as if she were an amusing toy.
Without a second thought, she kicked him in his most vulnerable spot and quickly retreated with Xiao Feng, scattering a large handful of powder.
Old Ghost truly hadn't expected such a reaction from Sheng Lengshuang, and what's more, she wasn't afraid at all and reacted swiftly. He clutched his legs in pain, curling into a ball, unable to utter a single word.
He seemed unfazed by the powders.
Sheng Lengshuang's goal was precisely this lack of fear. She calmly observed him and the surroundings.
"Bitch!"
Hearing Old Ghost's angry curse, Sheng Lengshuang scoffed, "Not as cheap as you. Look at your face, as ugly as a mulberry… apologies, comparing you to ghosts is an insult to the spirits; I am truly sorry to them."
"Someone like you, hundreds of times uglier than ghosts and monsters, capable of scaring ghosts to death with your appearance, yet you dare to try and seduce me with that face. Truly shameless."
When had Old Ghost ever endured such humiliation? He glared at Sheng Lengshuang with venomous eyes, looking as if he wanted to tear her to pieces. "I've decided. I will make you watch as your precious son is refined into a puppet right before your eyes."
These words caused Sheng Lengshuang's anger to erupt like a volcano, but she remained remarkably composed. "You?"
"Look at what you are. You dare to fantasize about taking us mother and son from Mingrui King's manor. It's pure delusion."
Old Ghost ordered the puppets to seize Sheng Lengshuang and her son, laughing hoarsely like a crow. "Wait..."
"Your laughter is so unpleasant; my ears are suffering," Sheng Lengshuang pouted, saying with extreme disgust.
Xiao Feng nodded in agreement and said very earnestly, "Mother, for everyone's ears, can we make it so this person can no longer speak?"
Sheng Lengshuang readily agreed, "As our Xiao Feng says."
"You all deserve to die!" Old Ghost was furious. For so many years, no one had dared to treat him like this; even his master had to be courteous to him.
Sheng Lengshuang glanced at the puppets, unable to break through the encirclement, and estimated how long it would take for the powders to take effect. She said to Old Ghost with cold eyes.
"It's you who deserves to die. No need to rush; I'll send you on your way soon, ensuring you experience the most extreme pain before you die."
Judging by his methods and words, it was clear this person was a ruthless killer who never valued others' lives.
Seeing that all the puppets were blocked and he had lost many of them, Old Ghost gnashed his teeth in hatred. Refining puppets was extremely difficult, and he had only managed to create so many after much effort, only to lose a significant number.
He would not let Sheng Lengshuang and her son go.
Sheng Lengshuang saw Old Ghost charging forward, a handful of powder in his hand. She retreated with Xiao Feng, shielding him. The powders hadn't taken effect for so long, likely due to the high resistance of these people.
She needed to stall for more time.
As soon as she thought this, she saw Old Ghost and the puppets falling to the ground one after another, some puppets twitching several times.
Old Ghost was stunned by the blow. He instinctively tried to get up, but his limbs were weak, and he collapsed back down, making him even more bewildered. Why was he so weak all over?
"The medicine has finally taken effect," Sheng Lengshuang said, clapping her hands as she instructed the hidden guards to deal with the puppets and capture Old Ghost.
She remained highly vigilant, not stepping forward, and kept an eye on the surroundings. Who knew if the Black Hand wouldn't appear as the mantis to catch the cicada?
Some hidden guards protected Sheng Lengshuang and her son, while others were responsible for clearing the puppets.
Old Ghost, who had spent most of his life dealing with poisons, finally realized he had been poisoned, which made him even more shocked and disbelieving.
How was this possible!?
He was the ancestor of poison manipulation; no poison in the world could harm him in the slightest.
"Sheng Lengshuang, you bitch, what did you do to me?"
Suddenly, a group of masked figures appeared. Some headed straight for Sheng Lengshuang and her son, while others rescued Old Ghost and the remaining puppets, killing several hidden guards in the process.
Sheng Lengshuang let out a cold snort, "So you finally showed up. I knew your master wouldn't let this thing come alone."
"Sheng Lengshuang, don't get cocky. I can't deal with you, but I can deal with your parents. I will make you suffer endlessly before turning you into a puppet!" Old Ghost shouted furiously.
Sheng Lengshuang's eyes were filled with cold light. She said sternly, "You're welcome to try. If you lay a finger on my family, I'll make sure you beg for death and can't find it."
Faced with such Sheng Lengshuang, Old Ghost couldn't help but shiver. Was this Sheng Lengshuang? How could this woman be so terrifying?
"Sheng Lengshuang, if you kneel before me now and beg for mercy, I might consider not tormenting you and your family."
Sheng Lengshuang calmly replied, "You should worry about how you're going to detoxify yourself. This powder was personally concocted by me. If I don't give you the antidote, it won't be easy for you to detoxify."
Upon hearing this, Old Ghost's gaze towards her changed. No wonder his master was so wary of Sheng Lengshuang; her poison skills alone were enough to make anyone cautious.
"Just a minor poison... you scoundrel, I wasn't finished speaking, where are you taking me?"
Sheng Lengshuang watched as Old Ghost was taken away by the masked figures and did not have the hidden guards pursue them.