The Spoiled Heiress Who Wasn't Spoiled

Western Region Ghost King Sect

The Ghost King Sect of the Western Region is a dark and feared organization, considered a demonic cult by the righteous sects of the martial world. Established by its founder, Nangong Xie, the sect is led by two left and right envoys, and is comprised of five main leaders representing the elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, along with over a thousand disciples.

Li Mengqu, known for his lack of musical talent, is actually deeply versed in musical theory. It is said that the melodies he plays are heavenly and rarely heard by mortal ears. Besides his musical prowess, Li Mengqu is a martial arts fanatic and a unique individual. He merges his understanding of music and martial arts to create a remarkable book, Qingping Twelve Tunes. This book contains over thirty deadly musical compositions that can be played on any instrument and kill silently.

The Right Envoy of the Ghost King Sect, Nan Ke Meng, practices the Two-Yi Step and is highly skilled in lightness techniques, leaving no trace in the snow. Nan Ke Meng is very different from Li Mengqu; where Li Mengqu is like a pure, pristine jade, Nan Ke Meng is akin to a simple stone or a stream in the mountains. He is clean, straightforward, and approachable, making him feel familiar and comfortable to others.

The Metal Leader, Shen Xinghan, is a hidden wealthy figure who dresses as a scholar and appears refined. A business genius with sharp insight, he is known as the "Divine Calculator" due to his penchant for calculating everything with his golden abacus.

The Wood Leader, Liao Fenfang, is an expert in bird languages and keeps poisonous insects. Her collection of Five Poisons Insects strikes fear in the martial world. She was expelled from the sect by Nangong Xie for breaking sect rules and now resides in Butterfly Valley, known as Madame Butterfly.

The Water Leader, Hua Baobao, is voluptuous and seductive. A black spider tattooed on her right collarbone is a symbol of her dangerous allure. Unlike Liao Fenfang, who is like a lotus unsullied by the mud, Hua Baobao is like a thorny rose. Her seductive movements captivate others, and her eyes seem to hook people's gazes. Hua Baobao’s direct and ruthless nature contrasts with Liao Fenfang’s more manipulative use of poison. Hua Baobao once loved a man deeply, but when he betrayed her, she poisoned him, earning her the nickname "The Poison Widow."

The Earth Leader, Lu Youya, is a bald man with a double chin, large earlobes, and a large belly. He exudes the smell of alcohol and always appears drunk. Once a Shaolin monk, he was expelled for breaking monastic rules. Lu Youya is skilled in drunken boxing, with moves that, while seemingly ordinary, can exhaust and overwhelm opponents.

Apart from these well-known experts, there is a particularly notable figure in the Ghost King Sect: Nangong Xuan, the nine-year-old son of the sect leader, Nangong Xie. At seven, Nangong Xuan practiced the sect’s forbidden technique, Tian Gang Illusion Tortoise Qi, causing his true energy to go awry and resulting in his hair turning white. He now relies on medicine to suppress the demonic nature within him. Nangong Xuan’s mother, Yin Li, was a princess from the small neighboring country of Yilan, known for its blue-eyed, golden-haired, and fair-skinned people. Nangong Xuan, possessing Yilan blood, has strikingly beautiful lake-blue eyes.

Lu Jiu You’s red sedan chair is carried by four bearers to the entrance of the Xuan Huo Sect. Lu Jiu You lifts the curtain and carries Xiyao down from the chair.

The Xuan Huo Sect is eerie and frightening, with a pervasive stench of blood making one feel nauseous. The puppets moving like ghosts create a chilling atmosphere. Despite the number of people, the place feels unusually desolate.

Cold winds blow, making the air feel unnervingly cold despite the supposedly impenetrable walls. Skull-shaped lamps emit a faint red glow, and ice coffins create a chilling ambiance.

Lu Jiu You’s ice coffin, made from a millennium-old ice, greatly enhances his training and speeds up wound healing. He places Xiyao in one of the ice coffins and examines her face with a smile.

“What a beautiful little ghost,” Lu Jiu You says, as the cold of the ice coffin makes Xiyao’s already pale face even paler. She clenches her fists, her face showing pain as she trembles slightly.

Lu Jiu You covers Xiyao with his long robe, just as a black-and-yellow striped poisonous snake, the Giant Spirit Snake, crawls towards her.

“Giant Spirit Snake!” Lu Jiu You frowns and quickly throws a small knife, precisely striking the snake in its vital spot and splitting it in two.

“Lu Jiu You!” A woman’s scream makes Lu Jiu You turn. Hua Baobao, with a fierce look, confronts him.

“How dare you, Lu Jiu You, kill my little pet!” Hua Baobao storms towards Lu Jiu You. Lu Jiu You, holding his red feather fan, shows no sign of fear.

“What of it? It’s just a beast. Do you plan to fight me over a mere beast?”

“Yes, I will!” Hua Baobao’s palm strikes towards Lu Jiu You. Lu Jiu You swiftly dodges, causing Hua Baobao to miss and almost fall.

“You dare to toy with me, Lu Jiu You? I’ll make sure you regret it, today!” Hua Baobao continues to attack, but Lu Jiu You skillfully evades, his expression smug.

“Fine! You’re all here to drink with me, and now you’re playing around! How ungrateful!” Lu Youya stumbles in with a wine gourd, taking no notice of the fight between Hua Baobao and Lu Jiu You. He sits down and continues drinking.

The commotion wakes Xiyao, who slowly opens her eyes and sits up from the ice coffin.

“Where am I?” Xiyao looks around, her voice barely a whisper. Lu Jiu You, Hua Baobao, and Lu Youya all turn their attention to her.

“What a beautiful little girl! Just right for feeding my pets!” Hua Baobao moves towards Xiyao, but Lu Jiu You, using his lightness skills, reaches Xiyao first.

“She’s my chosen puppet. Don’t even think about making any moves on her!”

Lu Jiu You asserts his claim, but Hua Baobao dismisses him.

“This delicate little girl would be wasted as a puppet. Better to use her to feed my pets; it’s a better use!”

Hua Baobao reaches for Xiyao, but Lu Jiu You kicks the ice coffin, making it slide back about three meters. Hua Baobao glares at Lu Jiu You. “Lu Jiu You! I’m claiming this girl for myself today!”

“Fine! I’ll see how you plan to take her from me!” Lu Jiu You responds, and a fight ensues between them. Lu Youya comments on Xiyao’s appearance, “This little girl is so lovely. I think she’d be perfect for soaking in wine!”

As Lu Youya reaches for Xiyao, both Hua Baobao and Lu Jiu You attack him simultaneously.

“I say, old drunkard, why are you interfering? This girl belongs to me, Hua Baobao. Neither of you will take her away today!”

“Then let’s have a competition to see who can take her!” Lu Jiu You challenges, and the three of them start fighting.

“Timeless beauty, unmatched by the world. A beauty that captivates all,” Shen Xinghan recites a poem as he enters the scene. The three fighters are too focused on their battle to notice him.

Shen Xinghan walks up to Xiyao and says, “These three want to use you for their own purposes—one for wine, one for poisonous snakes, and one to cut you open as a puppet. I, however, simply want to trade you for money.”

Xiyao looks at Shen Xinghan with fear and confusion.

“Come with me!” Shen Xinghan grabs Xiyao and lifts her out of the ice coffin.

“Let her go!” Lu Youya, Hua Baobao, and Lu Jiu You shout in unison. Shen Xinghan smirks and carries Xiyao towards the exit.

The three quickly give chase. Shen Xinghan’s lightness skill is inferior to Lu Jiu You’s, and he is soon overtaken. Lu Jiu You confronts him, and Shen Xinghan sets Xiyao down to fight Lu Jiu You.

Hua Baobao and Lu Youya catch up. As Hua Baobao reaches for Xiyao, Lu Youya punches her, forcing her to dodge and defend. The four engage in a chaotic fight, giving Xiyao the chance to escape.