The person before her was covered in unhealed wounds, their clothing torn and ragged beyond recognition.
At that moment, a flash of killing intent crossed Song Wanníng's heart. The descendant of her Senior had suffered such torment. Gong Ye deserved death!
Meanwhile, Liu Lanyi, who had been meditating, sensed someone's arrival. She opened her eyes slowly, a glint of killing intent flickering within. They were here to interrogate her again.
But she would not speak. Not now. Not ever.
If they had the ability, they could imprison her for life.
Liu Lanyi raised her head, her eyes cold and sharp, but the next second she froze in disbelief.
Their gazes locked, and Song Wanníng also stood stunned.
The two stared at each other blankly for several breaths before finally coming back to their senses.
"Martial Uncle? How is it you?"
"Wanníng, how is it you?"
Their voices overlapped, filled with utter shock.
Song Wanníng had deliberately dispelled the fox beast's illusion to avoid suspicion, never imagining that the one imprisoned here would be her Martial Uncle.
The Martial Uncle she had been searching for all this time!
Realization struck her, and her eyes filled with a terrifying murderous gleam.
"Gong Ye, how dare he…"
She didn't even want to imagine the suffering her Martial Uncle had endured all these days.
"Wanníng, I don't care how you got here, but you need to leave at once!"
Liu Lanyi's expression sharpened as she regained her composure, her voice full of urgency.
"Gong Ye is a peak Mahayana cultivator. Leave now, or it will be too late!" Her first instinct was to get Song Wanníng to safety. She had no intention of being rescued, because Gong Ye was not someone Song Wanníng could fight against.
"Go, quickly!" Liu Lanyi urged, her eyes darting to the front of the water prison, fearing that Gong Ye or others might walk in any moment.
The sight of her Martial Uncle like this deepened Song Wanníng's pain. Just her Martial Uncle's tension and fear spoke volumes about her suffering.
The once-proud Martial Uncle was now reduced to this state. Song Wanníng clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, her hatred for Gong Ye boiling over.
"Martial Uncle, I came here to save you!" Her voice was firm, unwavering. She would save her Martial Uncle no matter the cost.
"Wanníng, this isn't the time to be reckless!" Liu Lanyi frowned, her anxiety mounting.
But she knew Song Wanníng's temper. This girl was stubborn to the bone. She would never stand by and watch her Martial Uncle suffer. With a sigh, Liu Lanyi felt a helpless weight settle on her shoulders.
"Martial Uncle, I'm already capable of fighting Mahayana cultivators. You don't need to worry about me.
I wouldn't have come if I weren't sure I could take you out safely." Song Wanníng smiled, trying to comfort Liu Lanyi. If this rescue was to succeed, her Martial Uncle needed to cooperate.
Only then did Liu Lanyi realize that Song Wanníng's cultivation had already reached late Out-of-Body stage.
Her lips parted in shock.
So fast… far too fast!
And what was this she heard?
Song Wanníng claimed she could fight Mahayana cultivators?
Liu Lanyi's gaze trembled slightly. She knew Song Wanníng's character well. The girl would never boast without reason. If she said so, then she must have a way to contend with Mahayana powerhouses.
"Martial Uncle, this isn't the time to catch up. Master and I have been searching for you all along. You must come with me!"
Song Wanníng's heart was restless. Although Gong Ye was still occupied with the snake clan, a single mistake here could ruin everything. Whatever they needed to say could wait until they were safely away.
"Trust me. I will get you out of here. You know me. I wouldn't joke about something like this!" Her expression was serious, her tone resolute.
Liu Lanyi looked at her and, for the first time in a long while, felt a glimmer of hope.
"Alright, but if danger arises, don't worry about me. Save yourself first! Gong Ye still needs me alive. He won't kill me. But you… you're different." Liu Lanyi's priority was Song Wanníng's safety over her own.
"Okay, I understand." Song Wanníng nodded, though whether she'd follow through was another matter entirely.
With their plan settled, Song Wanníng focused her attention on removing the bone nails restraining her Martial Uncle.
Meanwhile, Mei Huan, who was acting as a lookout, couldn't help but marvel at the coincidence. Of all people, the one they had come to save turned out to be Song Wanníng's Martial Uncle.
What a twist of fate.
Elsewhere, in the snake clan's territory, Gong Ye was still engaged in conversation with their Patriarch. Listening to his honeyed words, Gong Ye's smile grew colder and colder.
"We're only thinking of your best interests. With so many beast clans eyeing Bai Yao Palace, wouldn't it be better for you to return to the serpent clan? We'll provide you with protection and help you fend off your enemies."
"What do you say?"
The Patriarch wore a concerned expression, as if his words came from genuine care.
But Gong Ye knew the truth.
All of this was just for Bai Yao Palace.
How ridiculous.
Gong Ye fixed the Patriarch with a cold smile. "I wouldn't know how many beast clans are plotting against Bai Yao Palace, but I do know for certain that the snake clan has its eyes on it."
"Am I wrong?"
The room fell silent as the elders' expressions shifted dramatically.
"Gong Ye, how dare you! This is the serpent clan, not Bai Yao Palace!"
"Exactly! You are one of us. How dare you slander the serpent clan and betray your own kin?"
The elders' tempers flared.
Gong Ye's cultivation might be high, but the Patriarch was also a peak Mahayana cultivator. There was no need to fear him. Besides, they were here too. Gong Ye would not run rampant today.
The Patriarch's face darkened. He had lowered himself to speak kindly ever since Gong Ye returned, but Gong Ye's blatant arrogance had made him lose face.
Continuing to tolerate him would only damage his own authority.
Gong Ye noticed the shift in the air and sneered. "What's the matter? You can't keep up the act anymore? Then again, you people have always been arrogant. Even pretending otherwise doesn't suit you.
Let me remind you, when you all deemed me useless, you cast me aside like trash. Now that I've risen to power, you think you can swoop in and seize Bai Yao Palace from me? Do you think I'm a fool?
Or do you simply think I, Gong Ye, am easy to bully?" Gong Ye's aura erupted like a tidal wave, crushing down on everyone present.
The Patriarch swiftly unleashed his own pressure to shield the elders.
The atmosphere grew tense, a battle ready to erupt at any moment.
Song Wanníng's clone watched this scene unfold from afar, silently praying for a fight to break out—and for it to be as intense as possible. The greater the chaos, the better their chance of rescuing her Martial Uncle.
Back at the water prison, Song Wanníng's gaze locked onto the bone nails.
Her expression tightened with worry. Moving those nails would undoubtedly alert Gong Ye!