"Impossible, they're clearly not dead. How could the Corpse Manipulation Technique be activated?" Rong Zhi was astonished. Moreover, there were only three people here, but four corpses buried underground. This did not fit the conditions for activating the Corpse Manipulation Technique.
"Xiao Mo, be careful!" Xia Yunting pulled Rong Zhi into his embrace. Rong Zhi saw a shadow flash before her eyes; it turned out Xia He had lunged at her. If Xia Yunting hadn't pulled her away, she would have likely been pinned to the ground.
Xia Yunting kicked out at Xia He. The movement of his leg stirred up a gust of wind, and Rong Zhi was certain he had used eighty percent of his strength. However, Xia He merely took two steps back, seemingly unfazed and unharmed.
Xia Yunting narrowed his eyes. "Their bodies have undergone changes." That kick had felt like striking a stone.
Rong Zhi's expression was grave. She only knew how to break the Corpse Manipulation Technique before it was activated, but she didn't know how to rescue those who had already been controlled.
If they were corpses, she might have been able to burn them. But they were still living people.
"Run, lure them to an open area." It was difficult to fight effectively in here.
Xia Yunting then swiftly led Rong Zhi outside. They soon reached the backyard, which had already been cordoned off by Xia Yunting's men. A burnt smell filled the air – the smell of burning corpses.
However, now that the Corpse Manipulation Technique had been activated, burning the corpses would be too late.
The faces of the three girls were still a grayish-blue, and their movements were stiff. Yet, they were incredibly swift, quickly catching up to Xia Yunting and Rong Zhi.
The surrounding guards had never witnessed such a scene. They held their breath, gripping their weapons tightly, ready to strike at any moment.
"Everyone be careful, these individuals might be impervious to weapons."
Xia Yunting's earlier kick had had almost no effect. Rong Zhi guessed that sharp objects would also be unable to harm them.
Just then, as if receiving an order, the three girls suddenly charged forward. The surrounding guards swiftly formed a formation, encircling them.
Realizing their danger, the guards unleashed their full strength. But as Rong Zhi had said, blades landing on them were like striking steel. The girls were unharmed, while the guards' wrists were nearly numb from the impact.
Fortunately, they outnumbered their opponents and could hold them off for a while.
Seizing this opportunity, Rong Zhi desperately searched her mind for a solution, but she had never seen this before. How could she possibly imagine a way out?
She only knew about this Corpse Manipulation Technique because, during a drought in Cangzhu County years ago, she had passed through and seen the suffering of the refugees. She had stayed for a short period and later encountered a young man from a Xuanmen family who was performing it.
While he was demonstrating, Rong Zhi had casually asked how to break the technique. As for what to do afterward, Rong Zhi knew nothing. Now, she couldn't even recall the man's name or face.
As she pondered, a clanging sound of metal echoed from the open space. It turned out that several people had collaborated to place a large iron cage over the three girls.
The iron bars were as thick as an adult's wrist, and the cage looked to weigh several hundred pounds. Yet, it had been carried over by only four people.
Once the iron cage landed on the ground, four guards each pulled out four chains from its corners. Each chain was attached to a steel spike three feet long and as thick as an arm. The four men moved in perfect unison, throwing the spikes to the ground and then stepping on them with force. The spikes, along with the chains, sank deep into the soil. Such power was needed to drive an entire three-foot chain underground!
The iron cage soon began to rattle and shake precariously. The three girls inside thrashed wildly, their expressions manic, no longer resembling normal humans. But no matter how hard they struggled, the cage showed no signs of opening.
"Report to the General, the individuals have been apprehended."
Xia Yunting nodded. "Mm, you may all stand down."
"But General, these few haven't been dealt with yet." The guards looked at the cage behind them, which continued to emit strange noises, with some concern.
"It's alright, go!"
Xia Yunting appeared confident, and the guards left with the others.
At this point, Zhang Can also came to report that the corpses had been burned and the scene cleaned up. Xia Yunting then instructed him to return to his room and not come out without orders.
In a short while, only Rong Zhi and Xia Yunting remained in the courtyard. Rong Zhi said disapprovingly, "Xia Yunting, these people haven't been dealt with. They shouldn't leave."
Xia Yunting replied, "Don't worry, they won't get out of this cage."
He spoke with certainty, but Rong Zhi felt uneasy. "Xia Yunting, don't you see any loopholes?"
Xia Yunting asked, "What is it?"
Rong Zhi said, "There were four corpses in total. If there are only three people here, where did the soul of the fourth corpse go?"
Xia Yunting furrowed his brows. "You mean?"
"Only people with a specific birth date and time can receive those souls. But now, one person is missing, and the Corpse Manipulation Technique was still activated. I don't know what will happen with that extra soul."
As soon as she finished speaking, a commotion suddenly erupted from a room in the back mansion, as if people were fighting.
"Oh no, General! There's a problem here..."
They didn't hear the rest of what was said, because the noise abruptly stopped. Both Rong Zhi and Xia Yunting had a bad premonition that it was related to the fourth corpse.
Without a word, Xia Yunting rushed towards the back mansion. Seeing him go, Rong Zhi stayed behind, as someone needed to keep watch.
She felt something was amiss. Xia Yunting was a cautious man. With such a major incident, even if the iron cage was exceptionally strong, someone should have been left to guard it. Yet, Xia Yunting had withdrawn everyone.
Thinking this, Rong Zhi became curious. She approached the cage. As she got closer, her vision suddenly blurred, and with a clatter, the cage lifted off the ground. The three girls sprang out.
Rong Zhi quickly retreated, but the three girls were too fast. Wherever she dodged, they pursued.
Sounds of crashing and banging continued to come from the backyard, indicating a significant problem. However, no matter how difficult the situation, Xia Yunting should have heard the commotion here. Why didn't he send help? Did he really think she, with her limited understanding of the Corpse Manipulation Technique, could handle these three girls alone?
*Swish!* Rong Zhi heard the sound of tearing fabric behind her. A chill ran down her back. Not only had one of them ripped her clothes, but a long gash appeared on her back.
Rong Zhi winced in pain and reached for her sleeping powder, scattering it towards the three, but it had no effect.
It seemed these three were now immune to all poisons and impervious to weapons. Rong Zhi's own power, already thirty percent less than in her previous life, felt even more inadequate in this situation.
Just as she was at a loss, Rong Zhi noticed the iron cage lying not far away. An idea suddenly struck her.
She leaped into the air, taking two or three bounds to reach an open space. As expected, the three followed. When they drew near, Rong Zhi leaped above them and stomped down forcefully.
A crack appeared on the ground beneath the person she stomped on, and Rong Zhi actually managed to stomp them into the ground!
This was a move used by the short one among the Five Ghosts. Rong Zhi had thought of this trick the moment she saw the iron cage's spikes deeply embedded in the ground.
The move was effective. The person stomped into the ground struggled for several moments but couldn't break free. The ground of the General's mansion was incredibly hard, and Rong Zhi had used her full strength. Even if it didn't trap them completely, it would buy her some time.
Next, Rong Zhi did the same, trapping the other two.
On the flat ground, only three heads remained, shaking outwards. Rong Zhi landed on the ground, letting out a long sigh of relief.
She didn't know how Xia Yunting was faring. Rong Zhi decided to go and check. The moment she turned, her face turned pale. Sharp pain shot through her shoulder. Turning her head, she saw a hand grasping her shoulder, piercing five bloody holes into her flesh!
It was Dong Mei!
She had somehow emerged from underground. As Rong Zhi prepared to defend herself, she suddenly felt dizzy. It turned out she had used most of her strength during the previous fight.
The other two also crawled out one after another. Rong Zhi found herself surrounded by them. Seeing Qiu Ju's hand reaching towards her chest, clearly intending to tear out her heart.
Rong Zhi spat out a mouthful of blood and cursed Xia Yunting in her mind. Why hadn't he come at this critical moment? Had he not heard the commotion, or was he unable to protect himself?
She felt her vision blurring. Before she lost consciousness, a tall figure seemed to descend from the sky. She heard a familiar voice.
"Zhi'er..."
A figure in black landed. He flicked three yellow talismans from his sleeve. The talismans seemed to have eyes, flying directly towards the heads of the three girls.
Miraculously, the moment the talismans touched them, the three girls fell silent.
Xiao Jianli gently helped Rong Zhi up from the ground. His weathered eyes were filled with heartache.
"Zhi'er, I didn't expect you to be pushed to such a desperate state by these mere low-level opponents."
Noticing a torn section of her clothes at her back, he carefully shielded her.
Suddenly, the sound of armor clashing echoed around them. Countless arrows were aimed at him, and bowstrings twanged with a chilling killing intent.
Xiao Jianli scanned his surroundings, his gaze finally settling on a tall figure to his right.
"General Xia, what is the meaning of this?"
"Nothing much, I just wish to test Commander Xiao's skills. After all, I've known Commander Xiao for many years, and I've never heard that you know the Corpse Manipulation Technique."
Xia Yunting slowly approached, his brow furrowing as he looked at Rong Zhi, who was being held by Xiao Jianli.
"You know her?"
Xiao Jianli carefully placed Rong Zhi on the ground, his expression returning to its usual coldness. "She resembles an old acquaintance of mine."
A look of deep meaning appeared in Xia Yunting's eyes.
It was clear he did not believe this explanation.
Xiao Jianli, the most skilled fighter among the Plum Blossom Guards, was also known for his cold demeanor. He would never show such tenderness to a woman he didn't know, unless there was only one possibility: he knew this woman.
With this thought, Xia Yunting became even more convinced of his earlier suspicion.