Chapter 325: The Stand-in Trope, Though Late, Has Arrived

When Cangming captured Ye Zhiyao, he didn’t treat her like the others by tossing her into his Sleeve Universe. Instead, he physically carried her all the way back to the Cold Crow Sect.

That was why everyone was so surprised to see Ye Zhiyao. They couldn’t understand how she had been captured too, much less why she was being treated differently.

The only person who wasn’t surprised, of course, was Lu Sangjiu.

After all, she had long known that Cangming was a member of Ye Zhiyao’s harem. It wasn’t the least bit strange that he would capture her and bring her back.

When she first read that part in the book, Lu Sangjiu had refused to believe it.

’That was Cangming! The Cangming she’d followed for so many years! How could he have been so blind?’

’Besides, she had never seen him show any interest in women after all those years. Why on earth did he fall for Ye Zhiyao?’

It was only after reading further that Lu Sangjiu understood. ’Oh... so Ye Zhiyao was just a substitute for his lost love. That makes a little more sense.’ Although, Lu Sangjiu had no idea who this lost love was.

In any case, the name of Cangming’s lost love never appeared in the book. However, reading between the lines, it was clear she was already dead. His love for her had been unattainable, so when he discovered Ye Zhiyao’s striking resemblance to her, he projected his feelings onto Ye Zhiyao instead.

Of course, that wasn’t what angered Lu Sangjiu the most. It was that damn Cangming was completely bewitched by Ye Zhiyao, while Ye Zhiyao acted as if she were some noble heroine, biding her time and enduring humiliation for a greater cause!

In the end, Cangming gave her his all, only to be stabbed in the back by Ye Zhiyao. He died by her hand, and the entire foundation of the Cold Crow Sect was lost.

The treasury she had left behind in the Moon Palace had mostly been claimed by the Cold Crow Sect, so in the end, it all fell into Ye Zhiyao’s hands. This was one of the reasons for Lu Sangjiu’s deep hatred of the woman!

Not to mention she stayed by Cangming’s side for so long, gathering countless pieces of intelligence. In the end, she not only killed Cangming and stole his treasures, but also led the Cultivation World to crush the Western Demon Realm.

Finally, she became a hero of the Cultivation World, ascending to the Upper Realm in a blaze of glory.

The moment Lu Sangjiu thought about the "script" the Pseudo Heavenly Dao had written for Ye Zhiyao, she gritted her teeth in fury. Any of the hatred she’d felt for Ye Zhiyao that had faded over time was now blazing anew.

’Yep... I still really want to kill her.’

A whirlwind of emotions churned within Lu Sangjiu, but of course, none of the others could possibly understand.

When Ye Zhiyao heard the others’ questions, she simply looked at Cangming, her face full of grievance. "I’d like to know that too. Who are you? Why did you capture me?"

The thought of this man snatching her away right in front of her master—who had been completely powerless to fight back—filled her with terror.

’I don’t want to die. I especially don’t want to die for no reason in a godforsaken place like this!’

Only then did Cangming finally raise his eyes to glance at them. His indifferent gaze swept past Lu Sangjiu and the others before finally settling on Ye Zhiyao.

He stared intently at her tear-streaked face. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his voice sounded somewhat hoarse when he spoke. "...What’s your name?"

Seeing his reaction, Lu Sangjiu’s lip twitched. ’What the actual fuck...’ she thought. ’Things are really heading in the most cliché, melodramatic direction possible.’

Ye Zhiyao flinched, feeling even more aggrieved. ’You don’t even fucking know my name, so what the hell did you capture me for?!’

But she wasn’t a person of great courage. Driven by fear, she still quietly gave her name. "...Ye Zhiyao."

"Ye Zhiyao..."

Cangming murmured her name, and in the depths of his icy eyes, it seemed as if the tip of an iceberg had quietly begun to melt.

"Guards. Take... Miss Ye to the guest room next to my own bedchamber. See that she is well taken care of."

His voice had barely faded when guards in black armor entered the hall and motioned for Ye Zhiyao to accompany them.

Hearing that she was to be taken away, Ye Zhiyao felt that the instruction to "take good care of her" held a sinister, hidden meaning. A wave of panic washed over her. "What are you doing? I won’t go!"

Unfortunately for her, Lu Sangjiu had already sealed her cultivation, which saved Cangming the trouble. Without him needing to do a thing, Ye Zhiyao was led away, completely unable to resist.

Luo Linlang and the others certainly felt no concern or sympathy for Ye Zhiyao. Still, they were all in the same predicament. Seeing her taken away, they couldn’t help but feel a chilling fear, like a fox grieving for a dead rabbit, knowing it could be next.

Luo Linlang tugged on Lu Sangjiu’s sleeve, her voice trembling on the verge of tears. "Little Junior Sister... are we really going to die here?"

Lu Sangjiu patted the back of her hand. "Don’t panic. I’m here."

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it didn’t escape Cangming’s notice. He looked up, his gaze landing on her.

"You... are Lu Sangjiu?"

Hearing this, Lu Sangjiu’s heart clenched. ’Does this mean he was specifically looking for me?’

’It seems I really did drag everyone else into this.’

She stepped past the others to stand at the forefront, her eyes locking with Cangming’s. "I am. May I ask, Senior Cangming, for what purpose you’ve invited a group of us juniors to the Cold Crow Sect in such a... forceful manner?"

The moment the others heard the names "Cangming" and "Cold Crow Sect," their eyes filled with absolute terror.

They had already been steeling themselves for the worst, but they’d never imagined things could be this dire.

Cangming! He was the legendary Great Demon, a monster who killed without batting an eye!

During the ancient Immortal Demon war, countless Immortal Cultivators had perished from his Blood Evil Curse. After so many years, his cultivation had surely only grown more profound.

At this, the last sliver of hope cherished by the group was extinguished, replaced by utter despair. ’Brought to the Cold Crow Sect by Cangming himself... what chance do we have of getting out of here alive?!’

A flicker of surprise crossed Cangming’s otherwise indifferent face the moment he heard Lu Sangjiu say his name. "...You actually know who I am?"

Lu Sangjiu smiled. "It was a guess. And judging by your reaction, it seems I guessed right."

The corner of Cangming’s mouth twitched into a smirk. "You’re a clever one."

Though it was a smile, it was clearly not one of praise. It was more like a lofty god watching an ant at its feet trying to be clever.

He lowered his gaze, his tone turning cold once more. "I hear... the domination map has become your Lifebound Magical Treasure?"

Hearing him mention the domination map, Lu Sangjiu wasn’t too surprised.

She had considered all sorts of possibilities on the way here, including the chance that he was after the domination map.

Last time at the Fang Family’s estate, even True Monarch Liu Feng knew she possessed the domination map, so it was hardly surprising that Cangming would know as well.

When Li Qiancheng and the others heard this, their hearts leaped into their throats, and they instinctively wanted to deny it on her behalf.

But Lu Sangjiu answered before any of them could. "Yes."

Li Qiancheng and the others were immediately beside themselves with anxiety, but they didn’t dare make a reckless move. They could only reassure themselves that if Lu Sangjiu could answer so readily, she must have a plan.

Cangming stared at Lu Sangjiu for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. Finally, he spoke. "Take it out. Let me see it."