My Demon Husband Is a Snake Chapter 1166: Surrounded by Beauties, Living in Luxury

"Older Sister, do not despair; my companion is remarkably intelligent," Xiao Li said, staying close to Madam Zhao and massaging her shoulders. "The more perilous the situation, the more innovative Su Wan can be."

"Is that so? I hope you aren’t just exaggerating; I detest such talk," Madam Zhao responded with a smile, her gaze fixed on Xiao Li.

"I can attest to that," Wuyue interjected smoothly, "Su Wan possesses a significant degree of cleverness."

Are you two certain you aren’t setting me up for disappointment?

The Madam Zhao before me was clearly a seasoned veteran, and here I was, trying to impress her.

It felt akin to demonstrating my swordsmanship before the legendary Guan Yu.

Summoning my resolve, I pondered for a moment before softly stating, "While I am unable to depart myself, I may be able to locate someone capable of devising an escape method."

"Oh? And who might that be?" Madam Zhao inquired, propping her chin with her hand as she looked at me.

"You might find this difficult to believe," I began, blinking slowly, "but it is Piao Changji."

"Hahaha~" Madam Zhao erupted into hearty laughter, her tone laced with amusement, "He cannot even escape from the painting himself!"

Her mirth was so infectious that she laughed for a considerable duration.

The sudden outburst of laughter startled a vast number of birds residing in the desolate valley, sending them scattering into the air.

Once Madam Zhao’s laughter subsided, I seized the opportunity to address her, "All three of us who are outside the painting have encountered Piao Changji."

A noticeable shift occurred in Madam Zhao’s demeanor; her smiling countenance abruptly turned grave.

Her stern expression lent her an aura of formidable presence.

It was as if she had instantly transformed into an individual of immense authority and commanding stature.

Her eyebrows rose slightly as she cast a glance towards Xiao Li.

Xiao Li responded with a subtle nod.

Perhaps still not entirely convinced, Madam Zhao then directed her attention to Wuyue, whose ability to discern deception was well-known.

"We have vanquished four of Piao Changji’s doppelgangers beyond the confines of the painting," Wuyue confirmed.

A frown creased my brow as I began to analyze the situation aloud, "Each of Piao Changji’s doppelgangers seemingly possesses a shared consciousness, characterized by greed and lasciviousness. Yet, none of them appear to be his true self. This leads me to believe they are not merely remnants left behind; rather, they might be extensions dispatched by the genuine Piao Changji, who is currently entrapped within. If this were not the case, their actions would not be so synchronized, nor would they pursue such a unified objective."

"Dispatching doppelgangers to serve the true self trapped within. What a cunning stratagem! He likely amassed a considerable retinue of women and indulged in exquisite delicacies, living a life of utter indolence." Madam Zhao slammed her hand onto the stone table, causing it to shatter instantaneously. She continued, her voice resonating with anger, "I warned long ago that this individual was prone to causing trouble. How could he remain so quiescent within the painting? It appears he ventured out to sow discord. While I have been engaged in deep meditation, that wretch has been surrounded by beauties, feasting and carousing. Truly, it is infuriating!"

With Madam Zhao’s emphatic declaration, my prior hypothesis was implicitly validated.

This suggested that Piao Changji indeed possessed the capability to project entities from within the painting into the external world.

The sole remaining enigma was the reason behind his own inability to exit.

"Madam Zhao, could you elucidate why Piao Changji’s true form remains confined within this place?" I inquired with utmost solemnity.

Madam Zhao lowered her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. Her long, slender fingers moved with agile grace, alternately clenching and unfurling. "My husband is the one who confined him here."

A sudden realization dawned upon me. "May I presume to ask... are you the wife of Zhao Sihai?"

Upon reflection, the entirety of this residence was imbued with a profound connection to Old Zhao.

Zhao Sihai had been ensnared by reincarnation for millennia; in his absence, it was plausible that this dwelling had transformed into a sanctuary for the Soft-shelled Turtle Spirit.

That wretched turtle likely presumed Zhao Sihai would never return...

And therefore felt fully justified in seizing possession of the estate!

"Tch?" A flicker of displeasure crossed Madam Zhao’s features. "You, an outsider, are aware of his moniker? Is that old geezer still breathing?"

Uh oh...

It became evident that the relationship between Madam Zhao and Zhao Sihai was far from amicable.

"He underwent a death and subsequent reincarnation," I replied truthfully, a bead of sweat trickling down my temple.

Old Zhao had always presented himself as magnanimous and forthright.

He possessed a unique comprehension of the Heavenly Dao, consistently demonstrating gratitude for kindness shown.

The very fact that he was capable of imprisoning his own wife within a painting suggested that my previous perception of him had been fundamentally flawed.

Madam Zhao inclined her head, opting not to pursue the subject further. "Young lady, you stand but a single step away from achieving Physical Sanctification. Overcoming Piao Changji should pose no great challenge. Descend the mountain and seek out that turtle. Coerce him into divulging the method for projecting a doppelganger outwards. I shall await your triumphant news."