Hong Ning replied evenly, “There seems to be no shortage of people repaying kindness with betrayal.”
“Well said.”
Ignoring her sarcasm, Yang Zhen actually smiled. He raised his hand and tossed a talisman toward her.
“With such a great favor from you, how could I possibly forget?”
Hong Ning caught it without so much as a flicker of emotion.
“Is there something wrong with this transmission talisman?”
“The talisman itself is fine.”
Yang Zhen pulled another yellow talisman from his sleeve, his voice calm.
“What’s strange is that I found another one in my room just now. It should also be your handiwork. How do you explain that, Miss Hong?”
Hong Ning had never expected him to notice.
For the first time, she was genuinely caught off guard.
Yang Zhen was quite pleased with her reaction.
“Dropping it beneath my window while I wasn’t paying attention… Miss Hong, you seem awfully invested in my affairs.”
Hong Ning forced herself to remain composed. “If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do about it. Young Master Yang holds an extraordinary status—killing someone should hardly be difficult for you. Consider it my mistake for saving the wrong person.”
“Saving me?”
Yang Zhen stepped closer, lowering his head until his lips were near her ear. His voice was low, laced with amusement, yet carrying a dangerous edge.
“I’d say you were using me as bait.”
Though his tone was almost teasing, the intensity behind it made it clear he was absolutely furious.
Hong Ning remained silent.
Yang Zhen returned to his seat, his expression unreadable.
“Using sorcery to frame another… That alone is enough to have you executed.”
Hong Ning responded calmly, “But you have no proof, do you? So you can’t convict me just yet.”
Yang Zhen shot her a sidelong glance.
“I’ve already sent people to the city to consult Master Liu. The truth will be revealed soon enough. How could I wrongly accuse my so-called savior?”
Hong Ning said nothing.
Her lack of expected panic took Yang Zhen by surprise.
“Do you have nothing else to say?”
Hong Ning replied, “If I were you, I’d take my men and leave this place immediately. Head to a nearby manor and wait for your so-called truth to come to light. After all, I have no plans to run for now.”
Yang Zhen let out a quiet scoff.
“You’re rather bold.”
Hong Ning shrugged. “Boldness isn’t always useful. Some things are beyond a mortal’s ability to handle, and reckless stubbornness will only get others killed.”
This time, Yang Zhen did not get angry.
“And yet, you’re a mortal as well.”
Hong Ning met his gaze. “Which is why I’m not certain either.”
Yang Zhen pondered for a moment before asking, “Since this thing was born from a peach tree, why not find its roots and burn them?”
Hong Ning said, “A thousand-year-old peach demon has already separated its soul from its physical form. It no longer relies on its original tree for survival. Even if you burn down the entire forest, it will simply escape elsewhere…”
She suddenly stopped mid-sentence, lost in thought.
Yang Zhen asked, “What is it?”
Hong Ning snapped out of it and looked at him. “You truly want to capture it?”
Yang Zhen replied, “If we can catch it, I will spare your life.”
This was precisely what Hong Ning had been considering. Hearing his words, she smiled.
“I was just about to ask for your help, but I feared you wouldn’t agree.”
Yang Zhen gestured for her to continue.
Hong Ning took out another talisman and placed it on the table.
Without a word, she muttered an incantation while slowly passing her right hand over it. Wisps of green energy swiftly gathered, flowing from the air into the talisman before vanishing completely.
She then pushed the talisman toward Yang Zhen.
0 Comments