"Luo Qianqian"
Her dark eyes stared fixedly at Bai Ran, like an endless abyss.
The two looked at each other, Wang Yu's gaze showing no sign of evasion or guilt.
"Luo Qianqian?" Bai Ran sneered, her fingertips playing with her shoulder-length hair. "That's not her, is it?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Yu shrugged nonchalantly. "I know you're trying to trick me, but unfortunately, she, Luo Qianqian, is the King of the demonized."
Her mind was sharp and her reactions quick. If she were lying, this Wang Yu would be an incredibly difficult enemy.
Bai Ran twirled a strand of hair around her fingertip, a smile rising to her lips. "Are you her subordinate?"
Wang Yu averted her gaze, her voice low. "I will answer no questions other than those concerning the King."
Bai Ran lowered her eyes and laughed. "In that case, let me ask you, has Luo Qianqian's strength recovered?"
In an instant, Wang Yu's eyes flickered with evasion, her subtle movements precisely captured by Bai Ran.
It seemed her guess was correct...
Having spent time with Luo Qianqian, Bai Ran had noticed that Luo Qianqian had never released any spiritual energy. Now it appeared her strength had indeed not recovered...
But what would happen once her strength returned was anyone's guess.
"Hey, let me give you a friendly reminder," the Wu Shi Beast said to Bai Ran with annoyance. "You really can't kill that Luo Qianqian."
Bai Ran chuckled, raising her eyebrows. "I understand."
Seeing the woman before her stand up to leave, Wang Yu looked at her in confusion. "You're not going to kill me?"
Bai Ran stopped, a smile on her face. "It's not too late to kill you after your protective barrier is removed."
In the blink of an eye, Wang Yu's presence was gone.
The Vermilion Bird soaring in the sky was full of questions. "Master, why didn't you kill her?"
Beside her, Jing Feng's eyes widened. "Miss Bai didn't kill that spy? Why?"
The wind howled, billowing Bai Ran's skirt.
She frowned, her expression grave. "Wang Yu is surrounded by a protective barrier."
A protective barrier not only served to protect but could also track the location of the protected person at any time. This was also why Bai Ran hadn't brought Wang Yu back.
It was likely placed by another, stronger demonized being. If Bai Ran had launched a fatal attack on Wang Yu, not only would she have failed to kill her, but she might have also alerted the enemy.
Jiang Ye's expression turned serious. "Doesn't that mean the demonized being who placed the protective barrier on Wang Yu is also in the Upper Realm?"
Bai Ran nodded. Jiang Ye was right. He needed to be able to reach Wang Yu at the first sign of trouble, so he must be mixed in with the Upper Realm.
"Miss Bai, how is the situation?" Jing Feng's gaze was hesitant.
Hearing this, Bai Ran sighed and reiterated her deductions.
After listening, Jing Feng clearly found it difficult to accept. "So, she is likely feigning kindness now..."
It was merely because her strength hadn't recovered yet... she needed Dongfang Wuji to cover for her...?
Jing Feng's mind was in a turmoil. First, Luo Qianqian had been resurrected, then it was discovered her soul had been replaced by the demonized Wang.
Just as he had accepted the reality and resolved to kill her, the demonized Luo Qianqian didn't seem as bad as he had imagined.
But now, it turned out everything was a meticulously crafted disguise?
On the other side, the moonlight cast shadows on the floor of the room, the environment dim.
She and Dongfang Wuji had already arrived in the Upper Realm.
Luo Qianqian released a carrier pigeon and watched it fly away as if escaping for its life, a sinister smile appearing on her face.
...
Jing Feng, back at the Su Manor in Black Crow City, was restless for a long time.
"Miss Bai, can we trust that Wang Yu? What if she intentionally lied?"
Bai Ran turned around, looking at him calmly. "Jing Feng, although it's highly possible that Wang Yu lied, we still have to be wary of Luo Qianqian."
After all, she carried the genuine soul of a demonized being within her.
If they trusted the current Luo Qianqian too much, they might be completely deceived.
However... Bai Ran narrowed her eyes. "Perhaps there's another possibility."
Both Luo Qianqian and Wang Yu insisted that Luo Qianqian was the King. If she truly were the King, would she openly declare it like this?
When asked if she was the King, Luo Qianqian easily revealed she was. Wang Yu, too, was a spy sent by the demonized beings, yet she directly told Bai Ran Luo Qianqian's identity.
It was all very confusing... The details couldn't connect to form a single, coherent clue...
Who was lying, Bai Ran couldn't tell...
Just then, Jiang Ye spoke, "It would be great if there were a treasure to confirm who is lying."
Instantly, a jade-green flute appeared in Bai Ran's mind—the Soul Guiding Flute.
If she used the Soul Guiding Flute, it would be very easy to find out who was lying and what the truth was...
Bai Ran lowered her head, slowly clenching her fist. "Jing Feng, have Luo Qianqian and Dongfang Wuji arrived in the Upper Realm?"
Jing Feng nodded. "Yes, Miss Bai. They both arrived in the Upper Realm today."
Should she contract the Soul Guiding Flute... Bai Ran hesitated...
"Invite Luo Qianqian over tomorrow. Be careful, and do not let Dongfang Wuji know."
Jing Feng stared blankly at Bai Ran. Did this mean Miss Bai might do something to harm Luo Qianqian, and Dongfang Wuji must not know?
But the next day, Jing Feng brought shocking news—Luo Qianqian refused to come and had told Dongfang Wuji.
In an instant, everyone's spirits plummeted.
"Now we can confirm it," Jiang Ye said, extremely annoyed, scratching his cheek. "That Luo Qianqian is no good thing."
Bai Ran's expression was grim, the temperature around her extremely low. Luo Qianqian was protected by Dongfang Wuji, so they couldn't act rashly.
They needed to change their target—Wang Yu.
"Miss Bai... actually, on my way back, I infiltrated the Xiao Manor..." Jing Feng said haltingly, looking as if he found it difficult to speak.
"That Wang Yu... is gone..."
Jiang Ye stood up abruptly. "What! Gone!"
Did she contact other demonized beings and change their base of operations?
Bai Ran sighed. She knew something like this would happen.
As she moved her hand, a thin thread of spiritual energy materialized before their eyes.
"Yesterday, I left the Nine-Coiled Death Needle on Wang Yu. Unless it's a very powerful demonized being, they wouldn't be able to detect it."
Jiang Ye and Jing Feng breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Miss Bai had the foresight.
"Knock, knock, knock—" City Lord Su knocked on the door.
"Benefactor! A man claims his name is Dongfang Wuji and wishes to see you!"
Dongfang Wuji had come looking for them! Jing Feng clenched his fists, his face as dark as night.
Bai Ran handed the thread in her hand to Jiang Ye. "You leave first and follow it to find out her hiding place."
Jiang Ye nodded and vanished from the room in an instant.
After he left, Bai Ran stood up, her expression grim. "Let Dongfang Wuji in."