A Threat Looms

As Xiao's legs gave out, Yanmei immediately hurried next to her lover's side, offering her shoulder.

From her mask, Xiao ingested a detoxification pill to lessen the effect of the overdose, allowing her to stand once more with Yanmei's help. Although the damage had already been done to her meridians and would no doubt delay her cultivation for the coming weeks, Xiao stared at Qiang's corpse, it was all worth it.

"We did it, Xiao!" Yanmei rejoiced.

Her lover's glee was contagious, as Xiao's lips arced into a smile.

It was no good, a smile would be lackluster to show how much Xiao appreciated Yanmei's help.

Xiao lunged at Yanmei, sealing their victory with a kiss. A rather passionate one as Xiao's hands bent Yanmei. Their forms entwined under the moonlight, completely forgetting that they had another person tagging along…

"Uhmm, forgive me, but you gave your word that you would help me search for Xiao."

Two women kissing!? Highly inappropriate! Liu had to break the two apart as soon as possible!

Yet she couldn't just lecture them. Liu knew it in her bones that if she took the high road on those two, she might never see tomorrow's sunrise.

The anxious Liu gulped as the two separated, gazing at her with unpleasantness. Did she make her distaste for their perversion too obvious?

"Yeah, I forgot about that. Follow me inside." Xiao beckoned towards the abandoned building.

+++

As Xiao led Liu by the stairs, Xiao's tone took on a more threatening flair.

"You saw my lover's true form haven't you?"

Terror gripped Liu's heart as she knew the implication of that question.

"I…I d-did. But you have no need to worry, I don't even know the both of you, nor do I have the intention of finding out! It is a secret that I will carry to my grave!"

"Good, because if a single soul ever found out. I won't just come after you, I will go after the entire Shen family."

"I understand." It was a threat that Liu had no choice but to bite her lip and endure. With the strength that the masked woman wielded, Liu assumed that even their sect master would be no match for her.

Stopping at what Xiao deigned to be an empty room, she instructed Liu to wait outside while she went inside.

<>

Zhen raised her concern, as it seemed like her student had finally gone insane.

With an ominous grin, Xiao started tearing the clothes of her 'Mannequin of Reflection'. It will be the evidence of a struggle that would corroborate Xiao's claim. Xiao also planned to apply wounds all over, but even with her higher cultivation, she won't be able to suppress her mannequin in such a battered state.

Muffling her voice, Xiao answered, "This will be my revenge, Master. You've seen what happened to Fang Xuan when he tried to punch this mannequin. I know Liu, she's going to be itching to hurt me."

<>

With her preparation finished, Xiao held the mannequin in her arm, her expression beneath the mask was solemn as she ruminated on her master's question.

Finally, Xiao answered, "Then let that be her karma."

+++

Liu heard the masked woman's voice inside the room. She desperately wanted to stick her ears in the door, but she was afraid that what she might hear could lead to her demise.

With a creak, the door opened.

"Is this the woman that you're looking for?"

Liu was so surprised that she couldn't even answer the masked woman, much less close her mouth. Praise the heavens, Liu's family would finally be saved from poverty!

Liu took the Xiao into her arms.

"Xiao, it is me, Liu! I have come to apologize!"

The elation from Liu's face morphed into distress as she noticed how unresponsive Xiao was. Liu tried to shake her shoulder and repeatedly call out to Xiao, but her unmoving eyes did nothing but stare into the ceiling. Utterly lifeless. Liu likened her to a doll.

The distraught Liu questioned the masked woman, "What happened to her, why is she like this?"

"She was trapped inside the hideout of demonic cultivators." To give credence to her acting, Xiao dramatically swayed her head. "Ah, One could only imagine the horror that they put her through."

Guilt passed through Liu's heart like a dagger. She stared once more at the unresponsive Xiao in her arms. It was because of her, she did this.

Xiao won't be able to convince Lin while she's in such a state, in fact, seeing Xiao like this might enrage Lin even more.

The Shen family was still doomed. Unless…

"I've had enough of this place, I will now leave. Best of luck to you…" Xiao's lips twisted ominously as her gaze fell to her mirror image. "...and to this Xiao."

As Xiao was about to retire for the evening, she head Liu call out from behind.

"Wait! How would you like to work for the Shen family? We're in a bit of a bind right now but once we regain our footing, I can promise you that you will be swimming in spirit stones."

Although it was tempting to witness firsthand how her mannequin would cause Liu's downfall. She still had a responsibility to attend to.

"I'm sorry but I am currently the elder of a sect, my time is too precious to be divided."

Adamant on saving her family, Liu insisted.

"Let us commission you for one night! We just need you to intimidate a certain family!"

Xiao tilted her head, "Which family?"

"The An family."

The two biggest families in Jiang Shian are now clashing. Unfortunately, the An family was a powerhouse compared to the Shen family. Now, Xiao knew the reason behind Liu's desperation.

"Interesting. Explain to me your conflict in full and I might just help."

Liu explained. Everything, how Lin invaded the Shen family mansion for Xiao's sake, how they are in deep waters because the An family had brought out their market shares and disrupted their business.

"Alright, I'll help give me a few days once my meridians have recovered." Xiao agreed to mediate. First and foremost, her main reason was to see her plan in motion with her mannequin. Anything that would unfold after that was only secondary.

Joy overflowed from within Liu, her she was ready to jump for Joy if she didn't have someone (something) in her arms.

"Really!? Thank the heavens above!" Liu quickly composed herself, no matter how gleeful she was, being a prim young mistress always comes first. "I mean. The Shen family would be highly grateful."

+++

Xiao and Yanmei left the decrepit building.

The smile on Yanmei's face turned into vexation as she saw Liu carrying Xiao's mannequin.

As Xiao took her lover's side, Yanmei immediately grilled Xiao in low tone to prevent being overheard.

"Let me get this straight, this Liu got you kicked out of your old sect, but not only are we letting Liu live even after witnessing my secret, you're also giving her your mannequin of reflection?"

Xiao's actions made no sense at all. How could Xiao let Liu's transgressions go unpunished? To Yanmei, It was like catching a robber in the act of ransacking your home, but instead of executing them, you let them go with your belongings and even invited them to come back for tea the next day.

Xiao whispered in her lover's ear, "Trust me, I will tell you about my plan later.

As they prepared to separate, their senses heightened as another demonic qi was inbound, its strength was on par with its tremendous killing intent.

The strength of the person approaching them was so great, it could be akin to a calamity, a tsunami about to crash into their direction, with the exhausted state they are in, they have no choice but to be swept and drowned by the murderous tide.