With no time to lose, we asked the old man for directions to Jingyin Mountain and set off under the starry sky to find my older sister. The old man gave us three instructions: go in the direction where the moon is, the entrance at the foot of the mountain is marked by a massive banyan tree, and if we saw Jinbao'er and Gui Fang’s man, we absolutely had to bring back their whole corpses. Then, his eyes swimming with tears, supported by Guizhi, he escorted us to the edge of the village.

Only then did I understand the crushing weight of a mission. This journey wasn't just about saving my own life; it was about saving Wang Jue’s, rescuing my sister unharmed, and returning with two complete zombie bodies. And we had to be fast, swift, because back home, Hua Gu and Ah Li were hanging by a thread under the clutches of the ghost infant.

We followed the moon, and soon enough, we arrived near the banyan tree. I lunged forward impulsively, but Wang Jue grabbed me, pulling us both into the nearby thicket. He motioned for me to calm down and observe the surroundings carefully.

Good heavens, what I saw was a shocking sight! A whole squad of zombie suicide troops, neatly lined up beside the banyan tree—about one or two hundred of them.

If that troop decided to charge at me and Wang Jue, within two minutes, we would both be ripped to shreds.

"What are they preparing to do?" I whispered to Wang Jue.

"They're waiting for the two of you!"

"Waiting for who?" I found Wang Jue’s words nonsensical, and his voice was surprisingly loud—wasn't he afraid the zombies would hear? I shot him a reproachful glance.

But that single glance hit me like a lightning strike. My mind instantly collapsed with a deafening boom; the world spun violently, leaving me utterly lost!

Standing right beside us was Li Xiaohao, the man who had pointed his scythe at us last night only to depart so cheerfully! Wang Jue was already frozen stiff, unable to move a muscle, his eyes the only things capable of independent motion. I was too astonished to speak; my brain refused to process, my feet wouldn't lift, my hands couldn't rise—my entire body was paralyzed.

It’s over, it’s over. After all my calculations, I still couldn't outwit Li Xiaohao. I thought I was going to save my sister, only to realize I was merely bait for his trap.

Bai Huaqian stepped out from behind Li Xiaohao, a hint of mockery in her voice as she said, "Xiaoyu, we meet again! How have you been since we parted ways in Miao Village?"

I couldn’t utter a sound, only stare at her with my eyes, glaring fiercely. But hatred was useless now; they controlled the situation completely, just waiting to usher me into the cave to lure out Li Xiaoshu.

"Let's go, we’re going to see your sister." Bai Huaqian waved me forward, and I began to walk, step by stiff step, just like the zombies in the ancestral hall, completely powerless to direct my own body.

"Xiaoyu, this is Corpse Control Art. You are no different from a zombie right now. When you see your sister, just shout loudly. The moment you shout, she will awaken," Bai Huaqian commanded as we walked.

I pondered internally that my sister’s (Gu poison) was likely not fully cured, otherwise, Bai Huaqian wouldn't ask me to do this. I didn't know why shouting would wake her, but if I woke her, she might end up controlled by Bai Huaqian just as I was now. Therefore, I resolved that no matter what, I had to fight this plump woman; under no circumstances would I obey her words.

Ugh, what kind of thing is this Corpse Control Art? I'm not a corpse, so why should she be able to control me? I desperately concentrated my will, trying to break free from her command, but my limbs utterly refused to obey. They felt as though they didn't belong to me at all, responding only to Bai Huaqian’s will.