262: The widow Ya sought out

As the moon gradually tilted toward the west.

The Restriction of the Nether Crow Cave Mansion suddenly trembled violently, and a bluish-purple halo abruptly lit up.

It was no longer the scattered, fine glimmers from before, but turned into a bolt of purple lightning that tore through the night sky, instantly illuminating the entire valley camp as if it were broad daylight!

Amidst the interplay of light and shadow, even the gravel on the ground and the canvas of the tents were clearly visible. However, the people in the tents throughout the valley seemed accustomed to it; only those on night watch gave a bored glance before looking away.

At the campsite, the Guards, encountering this sudden scene for the first time, had their pupils shrink as they instinctively gripped the hilts of the sabers at their waists.

But before they could recover from their surprise at the celestial anomaly.

The next moment, a completely different pressure slowly descended, carrying traces of icy frost and hostility, weighing down on the Guards' hearts.

This pressure only enveloped Situ Jun's camp. Every strand of it exuded the majesty of one long in a high position, making the camp Guards instinctively hold their breath. Their movements of drawing their swords even froze mid-air, and not a single sound could escape their throats.

On the open ground drenched in moonlight, a figure stepped forward through the light.

She did not deliberately hide her tracks. Her purple palace-style long dress swayed gently in the night breeze, and the Poison Scorpion totem outlined in gold thread on the hem was exceptionally striking.

With every step, the gold thread seemed to come alive, flowing slightly. The scorpion's claws and tail stinger shimmered under the moonlight, as if they would leap from the hem at any second to bite the surrounding living beings.

The hem of her skirt fell to her ankles, just revealing a pair of brocade shoes embroidered with the same color-themed Poison Scorpion pattern.

The fine pearls adorning the tips of her shoes swayed gently with her steps, making "ding-ling, ding-ling" clinking sounds that were crisp but not noisy. Like jade pearls falling onto a plate, it added a touch of composed elegance.

She wore no veil, and her well-maintained face was clearly visible in the moonlight.

Her eyes and brows carried a charm settled by time. That mature and lazy allure was as mellow as aged wine, making people feel unconsciously drawn to her.

Her skin was as white and lustrous as jade, without a single fine line, as if it had been meticulously nourished by spiritual power. Her vermilion lips were red even without makeup. Even when she wasn't smiling, the corners of her mouth seemed to hold a hint of a smile, revealing a pair of shallow dimples that added a touch of gentleness.

However, this gentleness was completely shattered by her pair of Phoenix eyes.

Her eyes were startlingly bright, with the corners slightly upturned, hiding both the charm of a mature woman and an unquestionable majesty.

Her gaze toward the main tent seemed like scrutiny, yet also carried a bit of complex inquiry. Deep within her eyes, there was also a hidden, barely perceptible trace of coldness.

No poisonous mist swirled around her; only a black-and-red Scorpion-tail Magical Artifact was wrapped around her wrist.

The Magical Artifact was about half a foot long, with the barb at the end glinting coldly. Even when stationary, it faintly exuded heart-palpitating fluctuations of spiritual power, as if it would deliver a fatal blow to an enemy at any moment.

Clearly trespassing into someone else's camp, she nevertheless walked with unhurried composure.

Every step followed the rhythm of the clashing pearls. Her posture was elegant and upright, as if she were not stepping through a heavily guarded camp but visiting the courtyard of her own residence. Between her every move, she exuded both breathtaking beauty and a powerful aura of total control, leaving the surrounding Guards afraid to even breathe loudly.

Once she stood still before the main tent, she slowly raised her hand to tuck back the black hair falling by her temples.

That black hair was shiny and dark, like fine silk, loosely tied in a Flowing Cloud Bun. A Scorpion-shaped Gold Hairpin was inserted in the center of the bun, and the scorpion's eyes on the head of the pin were inlaid with rubies, flashing with an eerie light under the moon.

A few strands of hair hung by the side of her neck, adding a touch of coquettishness to her fair and delicate neck, making her look even more enchanting.

The pressure dissipated. Among the camp Guards, someone recognized the iconic scorpion totem and Magical Artifact, their voice carrying uncontrollable horror:

"It's the Poison Scorpion Cult's Vice Cult Master... Widow Ya!"

No one expected that this legendary ruthless female cult leader would actually come here personally and alone in such a stunning and forceful manner!

The Guards who came to their senses finally broke free from the shackles of the pressure. Harsh shouts and the "clanging" of swords unsheathing immediately rang through the camp:

"Halt, who goes there!"

"This is City Lord Situ's camp!"

Forcing down the sense of oppression in their hearts, the Guards surrounded her with weapons raised, yet not a single person dared to be the first to step forward.

However, Widow Ya did not take these Guards seriously at all.

She didn't even glance at the surrounding crowd, only lifting her eyes to stare at the curtain of the main tent.

Her red lips parted slightly, and her voice carried the low, melodious quality unique to mature women, sweeping across one's ears like a feather. Yet the coldness in her words seemed to freeze the very air:

"Hanxiang! You treacherous wretch! Get out here and face this seat!"

Inside the tent, the moment Hua Hanxiang heard this voice, her whole body jolted violently. Her half-closed eyes suddenly snapped open, and her face instantly turned as pale as paper, devoid of all color.

She was leaning in Situ Jun's embrace. At this moment, her fingers tightly gripped Situ Jun's lapel, her nails almost sinking into his flesh, her knuckles turning white.

She looked at Situ Jun in terror, her lips trembling, barely able to speak a complete sentence:

"It's... it's the Vice Cult Master! She... she came personally! What should we do? She must have come to take me back!"

In fact, Situ Jun's Divine Sense had already perceived Widow Ya's approach when she was within a hundred zhang of the camp.

He had wanted to accompany the already exhausted Hua Hanxiang for a peaceful sleep and handle her matters at the Poison Scorpion Cult's camp after daybreak. But things didn't go as planned. This sudden disturbance immediately caused a hint of anger to rise in his heart—this Widow Ya actually dared to disturb his Dao Companion's peaceful dreams in the middle of the night.

He gently patted Hua Hanxiang's trembling back, pulling her tightly into his arms to comfort her:

"Don't be afraid. Her strength is far inferior to mine; she can't stir up any significant trouble. Sleep peacefully in the tent. I'll go take care of this person who disturbed our dreams and will be back soon."

After saying that, he got up and tucked the corners of the quilt for Hua Hanxiang, leaving a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead. His fingertips, still carrying his body heat, lightly brushed her cheek.

In the next second, his figure blurred, and he appeared outside the tent like a ghost, facing the purple-clad woman from a distance.

Situ Jun was dressed in black robes that fluttered in the night wind. Although his aura was deliberately restrained, he naturally possessed the grand presence of a Grandmaster, steady as a mountain.

The Half-step Nascent Soul pressure emitted by Widow Ya was quietly neutralized the moment it touched within three feet of him, without even causing a ripple.

He looked up at Widow Ya, his gaze calm and expressionless, but his voice carried an unquestionable coldness:

"Your Excellency must be the Poison Scorpion Cult's Vice Cult Master, Widow Ya? I wonder what business you have, trespassing into my camp late at night and berating my Dao Companion?"

"Dao Companion?"

Hearing those two words, Widow Ya's gaze instantly pierced toward Situ Jun like poisonous needles. The ice in her eyes instantly turned into a raging inferno, and even the surrounding air seemed to be ignited:

"Your Dao Companion? Hmph! Situ Jun, I don't care what underhanded methods you used to bewitch her! Hua Hanxiang is an Elder of my Poison Scorpion Cult. To betray the cult without this seat's permission and collude with you, an outsider! This is an internal matter of my Poison Scorpion Cult. If you know what's good for you, hand her over immediately! Otherwise..."