Just as everyone stood ready, they received a message from She Yi. A group went to the gates to welcome them.
Returning to the snake clan, She Yi felt a stab of sorrow. He had only been gone a short while, yet had already become someone else's beast pet. The thought alone was miserable. But his master was right beside him. With a single thought she could end him, so She Yi dared not entertain other ideas and accepted his fate.
"Hahaha, Gong Ye, you finally returned!" The Patriarch strode forward with a crowd at his back, face beaming.
"We have been waiting for you for so long!" He stepped up to clap Gong Ye on the shoulder, but Gong Ye avoided the touch. The air froze for a beat.
The Patriarch's face shifted, then quickly recovered. "Please, come in. You have been away from the snake clan for a long time. Everyone has been eager for your return."
Saying so, he led the group toward the snake clan's territory.
Gong Ye followed behind with a smile that did not reach his eyes. He wanted to see exactly what schemes the snake clan was playing.
Song Wanníng's avatar walked in the rear and was immediately surrounded by several elders.
She Yi tensed up, worried that Song Wanníng might give herself away. If a fight broke out, he would not even know whom to help.
Fortunately, Song Wanníng's disguise was impeccable. The simmering jealousy and resentment on her face looked lifelike, arousing no suspicion.
They passed inspection by the skin of their teeth.
With that information in hand, Song Wanníng's true body began preparing to infiltrate the prison and conduct the rescue.
The Illusion Beast Pills were already refined. She had Mei Huan take one to test the effect. Not only did the illusion last longer, its realism was greatly enhanced. Ordinary cultivators would not be able to tell the difference.
With her own pressure layered on top, the beast cultivators should notice nothing.
"Wanníng, this pill works too well!"
Mei Huan's eyes shone with excitement. Her resolve to cling to Song Wanníng only grew stronger. With pills like these, she might even surpass that person in her clan. Then she would no longer need to flee and hide, drifting from place to place. After all, if one could live in peace, who wanted to gamble their life plotting against others?
"I…"
She stared at Song Wanníng with pleading eyes that all but spelled out I want more.
Song Wanníng chuckled and patted her head. "Relax. Help me finish this task, and you will not lack for beast pills."
She always repaid favors. Since Mei Huan had helped, she would be rewarded.
"Hey, you are too polite." Mei Huan waved shyly, but delight bubbled in her heart. She brimmed with energy for the reconnaissance to come.
The two of them hurried toward Bai Yao Palace and reached its outskirts by dusk.
When the illusion took hold, all others saw Song Wanníng as Gong Ye.
With Song Wanníng deliberately releasing a domineering aura, every beast cultivator they met lowered their head and saluted.
Mei Huan, meanwhile, was tucked into Song Wanníng's arms, looking intimately close.
The disciples found nothing strange. The Beast King Dàrén often brought women back.
They passed through the palace gate smoothly. Song Wanníng's divine sense swept everywhere, alert to the slightest movement.
But when they reached the palace's center, they encountered one of Gong Ye's trusted aides.
Mei Huan's heart clenched. Then she remembered she had taken a high-grade Illusion Beast Pill. Confidence steadied her. She leaned into Song Wanníng's embrace with a sultry look.
"Your Highness, did you not go to the snake clan? Why have you returned?" The aide found it strange, yet his tone held nervous respect.
Song Wanníng cast him a cold glance and surged pressure straight at him.
Thud.
The aide dropped to his knees, trembling.
"Your Highness, I meant no offense. Please forgive me!" He kowtowed repeatedly, truly terrified.
"Hmph. I will spare you this time. If there is a next time…" Song Wanníng snorted and withdrew her aura, though her gaze stayed sharp.
The aide thanked her profusely, then scrambled away in a panic. His question had been pure habit. He had completely forgotten that His Highness loathed interference. Having kept his life by luck, he dared not look back. He wished never to stand before the Beast King again.
With another obstacle fooled, Song Wanníng exhaled quietly. If not for the risk of alerting the enemy, she would not have crept around like a thief.
After that display of temper, everyone sensed that "Gong Ye" was in no mood to be bothered. No one else dared approach. They kept their distance and hurried past with heads bowed, eager to vanish from Song Wanníng's sight.
Pleased by the path clearing before them, the two reached the prison area half an hour later. The guards were strict. Even seeing "Gong Ye," they held their weapons at the ready and did not slacken at the gate.
As Song Wanníng stepped up to the door, another trusted aide approached.
"Your Highness, are you here to interrogate her again today?"
His head was slightly lowered, respect in his eyes.
Only…
His curious gaze flicked to Mei Huan. His Highness had never brought a woman here.
Sensing the doubt, Mei Huan panicked and threw the aide a flirtatious wink without thinking.
Startled, the aide snapped his head down, afraid the Beast King would notice. Catching the off note and recalling the question, Song Wanníng replied, "Mm. This fox beast is skilled in illusion. I brought her to see if we can make a breakthrough.
Without my orders, no one is permitted to enter. Understand?" A hint of coercion colored her voice. The aide's heart jolted.
"Please rest assured, Your Highness. With us here, not even a fly will get through." He stepped aside at once.
The sealed gate swung open.
A fishy stench rolled out, foul and damp.
A water prison.
Song Wanníng's brows lifted a fraction. With Mei Huan at her side, she strode in as if she owned the place.
Seeing this, the aide warned the surrounding guards not to slip up, then stationed himself at the door without moving an inch.
As the gate closed, Mei Huan's heartbeat gradually steadied. Their gazes skimmed over the figures in the flooded cells. The prisoners were all barely breathing, bodies covered in wounds, bearing the marks of long torment.
Song Wanníng's fist clenched. She had not expected the senior's descendant to be suffering here.
Good. She had come in time.
She quickened her pace, following the pull of the bloodline guide.
At last, she stood before the deepest cell.
A person hung shackled within. It seemed to be a woman.
Her head drooped. Her hair veiled her face completely, making it impossible to see.