"What—what do you want?"
Hong Sha instinctively took half a step back, her pale fingers clutching the corner of her clothes. Her voice trembled as she stammered, "This wedding dress... my mother made it for me by hand..."
"Oh? An antique, is it? Not bad, not bad."
Wei Yueyan licked her lips, her knuckles CRACKING. With a menacing laugh, she slowly advanced toward Hong Sha. "Wearing this dress will only remind you of things and add to your grief. Why don't you entrust it to me? Let me bear this sorrow for you."
If both had been at full strength, Miss Chai, having been AFK for so long and several updates behind, naturally wouldn't have held an advantage in a life-or-death battle. But now, Hong Sha had already been severely wounded by the Triangular Bone Tipped Spear. Even maintaining her form was a struggle, so how could she possibly be a match for Miss Chai?
Wei Yueyan's eyes gleamed like those of a vicious thug, a ruffian bully. Disregarding Hong Sha's desperate pleas, she ripped off her red veil, snatched away her phoenix crown and wedding cape, and didn't even spare her embroidered boots, stripping everything away. She left Hong Sha with only a mandarin green skirt.
Hong Sha clutched the skirt, her face a mask of shame, anger, and sorrow. Tears streamed down as she choked up, unable to speak, yet she couldn't even muster the courage to glare at Wei Yueyan with hatred.
Meanwhile, the utterly shameless Miss Chai held the wedding dress high above her head, examining it closely. From time to time, she clicked her tongue in wonder, admiring the garment's fine craftsmanship.
This wedding dress had accompanied Hong Sha for many years. Soaked in Yin energy, it had, to some extent, become extraordinary equipment. It possessed a certain defensive capability, could nourish a Spiritual Body, and was even capable of self-repair in an environment rich with Yin energy.
Most importantly, it looked good.
Yes, very nice.
Wei Yueyan nodded repeatedly.
Seeing her teammate's extremely shameless behavior, Wei Linglan couldn't help but turn her head away. Her regard for the grandly named Layered Sky Palace dropped a few notches.
"I'll take this dress."
Wei Yueyan sneered cockily, collected the wedding dress, and turned to look at the half-dead White Death.
This fellow's vitality was truly remarkable. Even though Li Ang had slashed his belly open, he was only badly injured. If he were to escape to a place dense with Yin energy, he might very well recover in a few months and be back in top form.
Wei Yueyan reached out a small hand toward White Death. "Your turn. What valuables do you have on you? Out with them, quickly."
"I..."
On White Death's chubby, greasy face, sweat visibly beaded. "My lord, I've been wronged! I don't have any valuables on me, really! I'm just a worthless piece of trash!"
"Nothing?"
Wei Yueyan's almond-shaped eyes narrowed dangerously, like a ruthless, skinflint landlord from a TV drama. "Nonsense! How can a fine young man like yourself say you're worthless? If all else fails, you can still sell yourself!"
She eyed White Death from top to bottom, noticing that the gash on his belly, inflicted by the Triangular Bone Tipped Spear, was slowly healing. Instantly, her eyes lit up as an idea struck her.
Seeing her eyes light up, White Death felt his very soul almost freeze in terror. Sweat poured off him like a waterfall, and his legs trembled uncontrollably.
"Sigh, I really don't want to do this," Wei Yueyan muttered to herself as she took the Triangular Bone Tipped Spear from Li Ang's hand. She stood with her feet shoulder-width apart, holding the spear with both hands. Waving the blade over White Death's body, she said, "Try to bear with it..."
Terror-stricken, White Death saw her preparations and immediately wanted to turn and flee. However, Wei Yueyan was faster. She plunged the spear into his abdomen and, with a slight slash, reopened the recently healed wound at his waist.
White Death screamed in agony. Wei Yueyan, however, as if completely deaf to his ghastly cries, chuckled hideously as she examined the stomach.
White Death's stomach, specially used to store green poison, was exceptionally large. It exhibited an abnormal, dark green color, looking quite peculiar. Could this perhaps be a transcendent material suitable for the Forging Furnace?
Wei Linglan, witnessing Wei Yueyan's brutality, gaped in shock, once again revising her assessment of the Layered Sky Palace. A mysterious organization capable of nurturing such a 'goose-plucking' madwoman was definitely not simple!
White Death, in excruciating pain from having his organ forcibly removed, writhed on the ground, his screams gradually weakening. Had it not been for Hong Sha, moved by a sense of shared suffering, transferring some meager Yin energy to him, he probably would have dissipated, soul and all.
"Very good."
Wei Yueyan handed the spear, with the stomach still impaled on it, back to Li Ang. She then crossed her arms and coldly said to Hong Sha and White Death, "You've paid the toll. You may live."
Yu Zhenghai also chimed in opportunely, "Aren't you going to thank Sister Yue Yan?"
"Thank you, Sister Yue Yan! Thank you, Sister Yue Yan!"
Facing such a ruthless and vicious villain, Hong Sha and White Death couldn't muster a single thought of resistance. They kowtowed repeatedly, incessantly expressing their gratitude.
"You two," Wei Yueyan drawled, savoring the terrified expressions on their faces, and said viciously, "You're not too upset, are you?"
"Not at all, not at all!" Hong Sha offered a dry, placating smile. "For you to take an interest in my dress is a blessing I've cultivated over three lifetimes."
"Indeed," White Death said, clutching his belly, his forehead drenched in sweat, yet still forcing a fawning tone. "For us supernatural beings, what's a mere stomach? Thank you, Sister Yue Yan, for tempering our willpower!"
"Hahaha, don't be so polite. I just love helping others. After all, it's not like I'm some kind of demon, right?"
Wei Yueyan nodded appreciatively and looked at Yu Zhenghai. "Are you going to come with us, or continue hiding?"
"Hmm... I'll observe from the shadows. You all go on ahead."
Yu Zhenghai put away his Bonetip Spear, stowed the stomach that had been on its tip into his inventory, and retreated until he vanished into the thick fog.
Actually, he would have loved to continue using this Vest to maintain a presence in Wei Linglan's sight, ensuring the Special Affairs Bureau remained concerned about the so-called Shadow Disciple Den. Unfortunately, the illusion Special Effect from Cat's Eye wouldn't last much longer, so Yu Zhenghai's temporary Vest had to make its exit.
After Yu Zhenghai's departure, Wei Yueyan, as the most formidable individual present, threatened Hong Sha and White Death into leading the way. Li Ang seized this opportunity to readjust his clothes, replace the illusion he had created, and merge back into the crowd.
As the saying goes, "A tiger's majesty remains even in death." With two powerful specters paving the way, their journey was devoid of any oblivious ghouls or monsters. The twin specters were also quite astute, not leading them toward any peculiar anomalies in the mist.
The group traversed Misty Street, advancing until they were nearly at their final destination, No. 149 Hoshan Road. Suddenly, Wei Yueyan stopped in her tracks, bringing the entire team to a halt.
Wei Yueyan held her breath and focused for a moment, then calmly said to the twin specters, "You may go."
As if granted a full pardon, the twin specters didn't even bother to ask why. They immediately burrowed underground and fled out of sight.
Seeing Wei Yueyan's serene demeanor, Wei Linglan was startled. Could the other woman have figured something out? Did she know that No. 149 Hoshan Road was a stronghold of the Special Affairs Bureau?
Just as Wei Linglan was about to inquire, she saw Wei Yueyan wave her arms, beckoning the dense fog, and her figure vanished from sight.
Meanwhile, the distant high-rise building at No. 149 Hoshan Road lit up. A giant searchlight flared to life, its bright, columnar beam piercing the thick fog and completely enveloping the crowd.
"This is the Special Affairs Bureau's Hoshan Road office! Please identify yourselves!"
A loudspeaker on the high-rise broadcasted the weathered voice of a middle-aged man. Wei Linglan couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief, much of her tension easing.
This voice was very familiar to Wei Linglan. It belonged to the captain of the Second Mobile Detachment team of Yin City's Special Affairs Bureau, who was also her superior officer.
Xing Hechou.