What to do if you receive the wrong package?

Deep in the mountains, there are several tents that rise abruptly from the ground. The tent in the middle is brightly lit, and the sounds of laughter and playfulness can be heard from inside.

Inside the tent, the high shaman lay disheveled on the bed, with a beautiful woman nestled on either side of him. Yet, upon closer inspection, one could still see the fear and tension in the women's eyes.

The high shaman squinted, leaned close to the fair neck of the person on his left, lifted a strand of the beauty's hair, and gently sniffed it.

"It smells so good! It's a pity I can't stay with you all today. Manniang gave me a new gift, and I'm going to treat it very well."

As soon as the shaman finished speaking, the two girls beside him trembled and immediately scrambled to their knees, kowtowing repeatedly and crying as they spoke.

"Please, Great Shaman, spare my life! Please, Great Shaman, spare my life!"

The high shaman straightened his robes, reached out and gently lifted one of the children's chins, saying with a reluctant expression, "Don't be afraid, I'm also very reluctant to part with you. Considering how long you've served me, I promise I'll be very, very gentle."

Suddenly, the hand that had been holding her chin slid down to the woman's slender neck and held her tightly. The woman let out a scream, then her head lolled to the side, and she died instantly at the hands of the shaman.

The shaman casually tossed it aside, and the woman's once black hair turned gray, and her smooth, firm, fair skin instantly became withered and brittle, as if she had transformed from a young girl into a wrinkled old woman.

This terrified the other girl. Her eyes widened in horror, and she sat motionless, waiting for death to come.

Just as the high priest was about to make a move on the second girl, he was suddenly interrupted by a report from outside the tent.

"Come in." The high shaman looked displeased, but still let the man in.

The man in black who came to report saw the shaman's gloomy expression and knew he had angered him, so he quickly bowed his head and said, "Reporting to the shaman, Chief Manniang has sent word that the two people captured yesterday have escaped?"

"What did you say?" The high shaman's eyebrows furrowed, and the corners of his mouth turned down, revealing an indescribable sinister aura.

"Reporting...Reporting to the Great Shaman, the two people captured yesterday have escaped...escaped." The man in black dared not look directly at the person who filled him with fear, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"Ran away? That means my gift is gone." The high shaman suddenly laughed a few times, flicked his sleeve at the man in black, and said with a sinister smile, "Then you can disappear along with the gift."

The man in black pressed his forehead firmly to the ground, suddenly feeling a gust of wind, followed by waves of excruciating, bone-chilling pain. He collapsed to the ground, convulsing, his hands scratching frantically at his body, corroding wherever he touched.

The corrosion began with the skin, which was torn and bleeding profusely by the black-clad men, revealing the white bone beneath the flesh. Then, even the bone dissolved. In no time, the entire person had turned into a pool of blood.

The great shaman, who had killed two people, seemed to be in a better mood. He glanced at the woman who was still sitting there, her eyes glazed over with fear, and curled his lips into a wicked smile.

"Go and get rid of these filthy things. If you do a good job, I'll spare your life."

The woman in the corner seemed to have heard of an immense gift. She scrambled to her feet and, disregarding her fear, numbly pulled the corpse from the ground and walked out of the tent.

After disposing of the body, the woman returned to the tent. Facing the last remaining pool of blood on the ground, she suppressed the churning in her stomach, quickly took off her outer garment, and used it to wipe the blood away bit by bit. Once it was completely clean, the high shaman waved his hand and drove her out of the tent alive.

Manniang searched the mountains but found nothing.

If only Jiang Si and his companion had escaped, it wouldn't have been so bad. But Xi Ming, who was imprisoned in the cave, also disappeared. Xi Ming is quite knowledgeable about the affairs of Qixia Mountain, and if he were to reveal this information to others, it would likely cause further trouble.

After thinking for a moment, Manniang decided to report the matter, but when she heard that the shaman had killed the man in black who reported it, she hesitated.

Knowing that the Great Shaman's methods were extremely cruel, she had no intention of trying them.

Otherwise, go find Xi Hui. After all, Xi Ming is Xi Hui's older brother, and the trouble Xi Ming caused will likely affect Xi Hui as well.

Thinking about this, Manniang felt it was feasible even more, and led her people directly towards Xi Hui's residence.

Inside the bamboo pavilion built against the mountain.

"Third Elder, Chief Manniang requests an audience."

Xi Hui, who was playing chess alone, was not disturbed at all and said without looking up, "I won't see you."

The person who delivered the report looked troubled, hesitated for a moment, and then continued, "Third Elder, Chief Manniang said that this request for an audience is related to your elder brother."

Xi Hui paused for a moment, then continued to place the black piece in its proper position.

"Bring it in."

A short while later, the man in black led Manniang into the house.

Manniang looked around at the simple furnishings in Xi Hui's room, completely unconcerned about Xi Hui's disdain. "Third Elder, your room is too simple. I'm afraid even the master would feel sorry for you if he saw it."

"Just say what you want to say." Xi Hui really couldn't be bothered to play games with Man Niang. He simply looked down on this brainless woman who only knew how to flatter the high priest.

Manniang knew that Xi Hui disliked her, but since she needed Xi Hui's help now, she could only swallow her anger.

"Third Elder, you are so cold-hearted. Aren't you afraid of hurting my feelings? I came here to inform you because I discovered that your brother is missing and I was worried about causing trouble."

"Xi Ming is missing?" Xi Hui turned his head, looked at the pretentious Man Niang in front of him, and said unhurriedly, "What does that have to do with me? I remember Xi Ming was locked up with you. Why are you looking for me now that he's gone?"

Manniang hadn't expected Xi Hui to be so difficult to talk to, and she felt a little impatient. "Xi Ming knows a lot of things. If it all gets out, it will only do more harm than good to the master's plans. Besides, Xi Ming is your brother. How do you know the master won't blame you for this?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xi Hui's face suddenly darkened. Before anyone could see what he was doing, there was a loud "bang," and the teapot next to Man Niang shattered into pieces.

Manniang was startled. "What do you mean?"

"It's nothing, I just slipped while playing chess and accidentally threw the piece away." Xi Hui smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. He understood the threat in Man Niang's tone, but he also couldn't refute the fact that there was some truth to what she said; Xi Ming's escape would indeed bring many negative consequences.

"Someone, bring Chief Manniang another pot of good tea."

Since Xi Hui had offered her a way out, Man Niang naturally couldn't turn her back. Besides, her goal this time was to persuade Xi Ming to act with her.

"Then Manniang thanks the Third Elder."

Soon, a pot of hot tea was placed between the two, and Xi Hui took the initiative to sit opposite Man Niang.

"Judging from what Chief Manniang said, these people who escaped are very likely heading towards the great formation?"

"If that's the case, then Chief Manniang doesn't need to worry too much. The master and the Grand Elder entered the formation not long ago to find a way to activate it. Not to mention the master, the Grand Elder alone is enough to make sure they don't return."

Man Niang was slightly surprised, not expecting to hear that her master and the Grand Elder were already in the formation, but she was still a little worried.

"Regardless of whether we encounter our master and the others, as long as they remain in Qixia Mountain, they will be exposed sooner or later. I'm afraid that the person who escaped is trying to leave Qixia Mountain with Xi Ming. Once they leave our territory, it will be even more difficult to take action."

"So, what does Chief Manniang mean?" Xi Hui asked slowly, taking a sip of tea.

“Now all the paths out of the mountain have been completely blocked by my men. Anyone who tries to leave the mountain will be intercepted. As everyone knows, the Third Elder is a peerless martial artist. If the Third Elder can lend a hand, we can definitely capture the escapee and Xi Ming with ease.”

Xi Hui put down his teacup, stood up and returned to the chessboard, and said in a deep voice, "It's possible, but I will only make one move."

"Alright, then I thank the Third Elder in advance." Having heard Xi Hui's promise to help, Man Niang felt she had achieved her goal and stood up to bow slightly to Xi Hui.

"There is a path down the mountain at the bottom of the cliff behind the mountain. Send more people to keep an eye on that place."

Manniang was taken aback, then immediately summoned the man in black and gave him the order.

"Thank you for the reminder, Third Elder."

"No need. If Xi Ming is really brought back, I will personally guard him."

"Of course. I won't disturb the Third Elder's rest any longer."

Manniang watched as Xi Hui resumed the game of chess, then turned and left without saying anything more.

---------------

No one has walked this path at the bottom of the cliff for many years. The wild grass, which is more than half a person tall, completely blocks the path. If Xuan Yi hadn't been ahead, cutting down the wild grass as he went, Jiang Si, who was carrying Xi Ming on his back, would have been unable to move an inch.

"How about it, Jiang Si? Want to switch?" Xuan Yi shook his wrist, which had been gripping the knife tightly, and turned to ask.

"It's alright, I can still manage." Jiang Si shook his head, his steps still steady and powerful.

After walking a while longer, the weeds finally stopped growing so tall, and there were some small trees around that cast dappled shadows.

Suddenly, Xi Hui felt the person beneath him seem to stop. He opened his eyes, patted Jiang Si's shoulder, and asked softly, "Do you want to rest for a while?"

Xuan Yi took the water pouch and offered it to Xi Hui's lips: "Senior, let's not go any further. Please have some water and rest for a bit."

After finishing his drink, Xi Hui smiled silently and spoke first: "Since you're here, why hide? Xi Hui, you're becoming more and more like a scoundrel."

Xuan Yi, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but praise Xi Ming, saying, "Senior's challenge was quite impressive."

In an instant, a row of men in black appeared on the flat ground in front of them, and in front of them were Manniang in red and Xi Hui wearing a veiled hat and a black robe.

Xi Hui simply raised his hand and removed his veil, revealing a weathered face. His temples were already gray, and his deep-set eyes gleamed with a sharp light.

"Brother, how have you been?"

Xi Ming didn't want to talk to him, so he simply lay down on Jiang Si and stopped saying anything.

Manniang didn't want to listen to their pleasantries, so she simply raised her hand and waved her hand, sending the row of men in black behind her rushing out.

Xuan Yi raised an eyebrow and smiled, reaching out to block Jiang Si. "I can handle these small fry on my own."

After saying that, he twirled the sharp blade in his hand and muttered, "I've wronged you by cutting grass for so long, so today I'll let you have a good meal."

Xuan Yi weaved among the men in black, his dagger flashing as he precisely severed the trachea in an enemy's neck.

In just a few rounds, Xuan Yi safely retreated to his original position, while countless men in black were killed or injured.

Looking at everything before her, Manniang decisively took out the Golden Bell and activated the poisonous mist.

A wisp of white smoke gradually surrounded the group, but the calm demeanor of Xuan Yi and the others made Man Niang hesitate, wondering to herself: were these people truly unaffected or were they just pretending?

They then dispatched another squad of men in black to attack the group.

Xuan Yi couldn't help but sigh, and charged forward once more. Seeing Xuan Yi's calm demeanor, Man Niang realized that the poisonous fog truly had no effect on them anymore.

"This...how is this possible!?" Manniang took a step back in surprise and quickly turned her gaze to the Third Elder beside her. "Third Elder, don't forget what you promised me. It's your turn to make a move this time."

Xi Hui let out a cold snort, his gaze fixed on the person behind Jiang Si. He stomped his left foot hard on the ground, leaped lightly, and reached out to grab Jiang Si's back.

Jiang Si was already on guard against Xi Hui. He used his lightness skill to leap up more than ten feet into the air and fly backward quickly.

Seeing that Jiang Si had successfully lured Xi Hui away, Xuan Yi stopped pretending and directly killed all the men in black. Then, carrying a short dagger, he went straight for Man Niang.