The last vestiges of fear faded from Jingheng's eyes, leaving behind a steely determination that filled Rong Wan with a sudden sense of dread.
This was definitely not the compliant child who would never question her orders.
Trapped within the cloth doll, Rong Wan's vision was limited but oddly clear. She had never before looked up at Jingheng in this way, and she'd never seen such weariness and sorrow in his eyes. He was a newly formed spirit, yet he seemed like an aged man who'd lived through immense suffering.
"You can't be Jingheng," she said in disbelief. The cloth doll crackled as the blood sigil burned it. While the doll itself felt no pain, her soul suffered as if being sliced by a thousand blades.
Jingheng tilted his head. Indeed, he was no longer the obedient Jingheng from his past life. He gazed up at the trembling demon-restraining chains overhead, knowing that Bai Zhi would arrive with the heavenly soldiers in less than a moment.
By then, Rong Wan would still be trapped in the cloth doll, and the Heavenly Realm was ruthless against other tribes. The investigation into demonic influences would become a significant concern for the Heavenly Realm, and the disappearance of Jingheng would become a mystery.
Rong Wan saw Jingheng's silence as a sign of her defeat. Her anger grew as she witnessed his mocking smile, the smile of someone who had succeeded in their scheme. This was the child she had raised, the one she never intended to let live to become a true god.
Perhaps feeling cornered, she grew calmer, though her chest swelled with uncontrollable rage as she pointed at Jingheng, shouting, "Jingheng was just a flower spirit who gained a position thanks to the true god's blessing. But he's never even learned cultivation techniques. How could he possibly know these dark arts? You monster, you can't deceive me! I advise you to let me out!"
Jingheng said nothing, but the sound of galloping horses grew closer, as if the ground might break beneath their hooves. Soon, there was the neighing of horses as the demon-restraining chains brought the heavenly soldiers to the scene.
Jingheng glanced outside, giving Rong Wan a mischievous smile like a rebellious child, but the innocence was gone, replaced with cold indifference.
"Farewell, Sister."
He vanished into the vastness of the heavenly prison. Rong Wan was stunned for a moment before she realized his intentions, filled with panic and uncertainty.
She slammed into the blood sigil's barrier, her soul feeling like it was being torn apart. But as the footsteps grew louder, the clinking of armor made her feel like she was falling into an abyss.
She shouted, "Jingheng, come back! You monster! You devil! You monster, you betrayed me!"
Jingheng hid in the shadows as Bai Zhi entered with the heavenly soldiers. Rong Wan struggled, but Jingheng discreetly retracted the blood sigil, causing the cloth doll to fall at Bai Zhi's feet.
"What is this?" Bai Zhi asked, bending down. One of the heavenly soldiers pointed at Rong Wan's soulless body, saying, "Isn't that Flower Master Rong Wan?"
Bai Zhi waved his hand, and the soldier examined Rong Wan, pressing two fingers to her nose before gasping in shock, "The Flower Master... she's dead!"
"What?!" Bai Zhi frowned, then demanded, "Where is Jingheng?"
Just at that moment, a faint tinkling sound came from outside the prison, drawing the soldiers' attention. Bai Zhi noticed a key fall onto his shoulder, then slip down his clothes. He picked it up, thought for a moment, then quickly shouted at the soldiers, "He's escaped! Call for reinforcements! How did this woman get in here?"
Rong Wan, trapped in the cloth doll, saw everything but dared not speak. She watched as a shadowy figure left the prison, moving with a casual nonchalance.
What a brilliant plan.