“Eldest Senior Sister, I don’t deal in human trafficking.”
Zongzheng Huangyue pursed her lips and smiled lightly. She believed Xie Tinglan might have warned Yao Dai in such a way, but she didn’t believe Yao Dai was saying this without the intent to sow discord.
“Besides, you are my Senior Sister and Master’s favorite disciple. How could I bear to sell you off, and how would I even have the courage?”
Yao Dai’s eyes darkened as she smiled. “Xie Xiao’er always thinks Old Five is the one who acts the most spoiled, has the slickest tongue, and is the best at competing for Master’s attention. But why do I feel… like you’re actually the one most capable of winning Master’s favor?”
Master liked those who were intelligent; Yao Dai had always remembered this and had been constantly refining her own schemes and strategies. Yet, compared to this Old Four, she felt like she might be outmaneuvered if she wasn't careful.
She didn't believe such a person would truly be honest and refrain from competing.
Zongzheng Huangyue’s strikingly beautiful face broke into a soft smile. “Senior Sister misinterprets me. I do indeed have a deep-seated shrewdness, but that is related to the environment I grew up in. I’ve had to be observant and tactful in everything. If Senior Sister dislikes it, I won’t speak out of turn again.”
Her high-end, black-gold robes looked exceptionally noble and dazzling under the sun. Unlike Yao Dai’s vibrant and lively red dress, hers was an introverted, deep, and steady kind of brilliance.
Yao Dai stared at her intently. “There’s no need for that. I actually want to learn more from you.”
“Sure.” Zongzheng Huangyue pursed her lips and smiled modestly. “I also want to learn about Senior Sister’s research into medicines.”
“That’s easy.”
Yao Dai tossed two bottles to her. “Observe everyone’s movements before you decide to act. There’s still Old Five and Old Six behind us. I’ll lend you these two bottles; one is Itching Powder, and the other is a poison that makes one mute for three days.”
Zongzheng Huangyue caught the vials. In truth, she still had various nasty medicinal powders Master had given her when she was tasked with digging holes, but if someone was offering, she would take them.
“Thank you, Senior Sister.”
Lending them to her, or using her to do the dirty work?
...
Eastern Province.
Wanbeiwu, Beiqiong Kingdom.
A black figure appeared on the street, wearing a gold-trimmed veiled hat. The figure was clearly a woman, and her icy aura made people afraid to provoke her.
The woman followed a crooked hand-drawn map until she reached a shop.
Xin Feiliu looked up and saw the four large characters on the signboard: “Virus-Toppling Pharmacy,” written in a dragon-flying and phoenix-dancing calligraphy style. This looked like Wen Bai’s handwriting.
Just as she was about to raise her hand to knock, her hand touched a barrier.
“Closed today. No visitors,” a line of text manifested.
What pretension.
Xin Feiliu’s brows furrowed. Without a second thought, she drew her sword, took three steps back, held the blade behind her to build momentum, and swung it forward with great force.
Whoosh!
A burst of sword energy instantly boomed out, slashing straight toward the barrier.
The barrier trembled and rippled continuously, and a powerful counterattack immediately shot toward her. Xin Feiliu flew up and blocked it with her sword, deflecting the attack away!
A small crack appeared on the barrier!
Deep within the back mountain of the spirit medicine shop.
Wangquan Chumo lay casually on a rocking chair, holding a wine flask and drinking while watching Gu Linshu’s movements. “Raise your wrist another three inches. Doing it that way only makes your movements stiff and weak, like a block of wood.”
“Swing your sword with more elegance. Imagine your heart-loved girl is watching you from the side.”
Gu Linshu, who was practicing his swordplay, spoke up honestly, “S-Senior Brother, I-I don’t have a heart-loved girl.”
He was still young; he had no interest in such matters.
“...”
Wangquan Chumo paused. A certain image flashed through his mind, and a trace of desolate grief crossed his eyes. He then scoffed. “Then imagine your Master is watching you from the side. You need to show her your best sword technique.”
At these words, Gu Linshu felt a surge of understanding. His expression became even more tense and solemn, and the sword in his hand swung with more vigor.
Wangquan Chumo saw that this actually worked and couldn't help but take a sip of wine and shake his head. “Tsk, just how did that Senior train this kid to be so obedient?”
At the same time, a trace of worry flickered in his world-weary, icy eyes. This kid had called him “Senior Brother,” after all. If the Senior intended to do something later…
Then he would have to help this kid no matter what. Otherwise…
As Wangquan Chumo lay there idly, his eyes suddenly moved. A guest had arrived.
“Keep practicing. I’m going to meet a guest.”
“Huh?”
By the time Gu Linshu looked up, the man had already vanished.
In front of the Virus-Toppling Pharmacy, Xin Feiliu had swung her sword no less than twenty times in one breath. Her sharp sword energy was laced with fury, directly shattering the barrier into fine dust. The onlookers nearby were so frightened they immediately left, not daring to watch the commotion anymore.
Seeing the barrier broken, the restless anger at the corners of Xin Feiliu’s brows did not subside; instead, it grew even more intense. She stepped over the shattered array flags of the barrier and walked to the door, giving it a powerful kick.
Bang!
The door was kicked off its hinges and sent flying inward.
“Who dares be so insolent?”
Wangquan Chumo, who had just arrived, appeared with a cold voice. He raised his hand, and a burst of blue spiritual energy froze the door in mid-air just before it hit the medicine cabinets. Narrowing his cold eyes, he sent the spiritual energy swirling around the door, flinging it and the accumulated dust back at the person at the entrance.
“Wangquan Chumo.”
That’s...
Hearing his full name being called, Wangquan Chumo’s eyes trembled. He immediately struck out with another burst of spiritual energy, deflecting the attack that was about to hit the person at the door. The collision hard-shattered half the spirit medicine shop, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.
Boom—
Amidst the dust, Xin Feiliu stepped into the room and took off her veiled hat, her cold eyes full of hatred as she stared fixedly at him.
Wangquan Chumo’s pupils constricted violently. “...You.”
He actually turned around subconsciously, wanting to leave.
Xin Feiliu flashed forward to block his path, pointing her sword at his heart. “Why are you running? Is it because you killed my elder sister all those years ago? You're terrified of seeing me, afraid that I've come to take your life!”
Hearing her mention Xin Yingru, Wangquan Chumo’s expression shifted. He pursed his lips and stared at her intently.
“You’ve come to avenge A'ying.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll return this pain to A'ying first.”
Having said that, he looked at the longsword pointed at his heart and took a step forward without hesitation.
Pfft!
The faint sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out as blood instantly gushed from his chest.
Rate on N.U.
