3549 Ye Ling When she saw the woman in white, Feng Jiu’s brow furrowed slightly and her expression turned icy. She didn’t move, just stared blankly at the starry sky as if her eyes were pools of still water. Her hair, which was silver-white, was spread out over the stretcher. Between her white dress, white hair and her emaciated appearance, she looked nothing like her former self. All that was left was a visage so horrifying that it was unsettling to look at. In her current state, she resembled a ghost or an evil spirit who roamed at midnight. She showed no signs of life at all, and even a child would probably cry at her sight. “Tie her to the frame,” an elderly man said, telling others to lift her up and bind her. Before moving forward, the two guards paused for a moment. “I’m sorry, Miss,” they whispered. They were simply carrying out orders and were unable to resist. As more people arrived at the peak of Hollow Rise Mountain, they began muttering amongst themselves when they saw Ye Ling bound to the frame with her white robe and white hair. “Ye Ling was known for her beauty here on Hollow Rise Mountain. It’s hard to believe she has turned into such a horrifying sight. If not for her name, I would never have believed this could be the Ye family’s Eldest Miss.” “She’s only in her twenties, but her hair is completely white. It’s truly incredible.” “Before all this happened, Ye Ling was considered a prodigy in the Ye family. I didn’t expect that she would end up in a tragic end like this. It’s truly a shame.” “What’s there to pity? She’s a cursed woman possessed by evil spirits. Keeping her alive would only endanger more people.” “I heard that the Patriarch of the Song family has already called off the engagement between Song Yiping and Ye Ling. Song Yiping, that kid, is probably still outside seeking medical treatment for her. It will be quite the scene when he returns and learns she has been burned to death.” “What can he do? Even if he comes back now, he can’t save Ye Ling. People from all eight families are here tonight. No one can save her.” “Still, how ruthless the Ye family’s Patriarch is to allow his own daughter to be burned like this!” “You can’t entirely blame him. If it weren’t for the Patriarch’s protection, Ye Ling would have died a long time ago. I overheard my father mentioning that the Patriarch had tried to oppose this, but it was futile. The real decision-makers are the clan elders of the Ye family. They even threatened to remove him from his position as Patriarch.” “Think about it,” the man said quietly. “Even if he loses his position, Ye Ling still can’t be saved. Neither end is favourable. Also, I heard those who tried to stop it have been punished by the clan elders. Tonight, the Ye family’s Patriarch isn’t even here, having been placed under house arrest to reflect on his mistakes.” Feng Jiu stood in the shadows, listening closely to these conversations. Her gaze turned to Ye Ling, who was now tied to the frame. The guards placed several branches around the frame before withdrawing. Several elderly men walked up and glanced at Ye Ling, speaking solemnly, “Ye Ling, don’t blame the family for treating you this way. If you weren’t plagued by evil spirits, you wouldn’t have met such a fate.”