Whether these people wanted to test her strength or were just being annoying, by the time the battle-axe swung down, it would be too late for regrets.
Pupil of the Instant Scene, activate!
The world instantly slowed down.
The burly man's movements became incredibly clumsy in her eyes.
In the next second, her steel sword unsheathed!
There were no flashy moves, just a basic slash through the air.
But combined with Dominator Rank strength and the Pupil of the Instant Scene—
Splat!
Before the burly man's battle-axe could even land, he crashed to the ground.
“What?!”
Before the other two could even register their shock, a gentle breeze swept past, and Qimeng had already silently appeared behind them.
Clink.
The steel sword slid back into its scabbard.
The two corpses collapsed in unison.
Seeing this, their remaining companions from the camp in the distance roared, drawing their weapons and charging to surround her.
Yet within just a few breaths, the remaining seven were completely wiped out.
A B-rank adventure group, capable of holding their own in any city-state, had been wiped out just like that.
Most of the surrounding groups that had been eager to make a move were also at the B-rank level.
Whether this group had been used as pawns to test the waters or had simply courted death and dragged their teammates down with them, with this warning right before their eyes, the onlookers stared at Qimeng with immense wariness.
It should finally be quiet now, right?
Just as Qimeng thought this, another set of footsteps echoed.
“Splendid skills, Your Excellency.”
The newcomer belonged to a well-equipped group. Leading them was a middle-aged knight clad in light armor, deliberately exuding a Dominator Rank aura.
Qimeng didn't want to pay them any mind, but after getting a clear look at the person, her wide eyes froze.
It was actually the leader of the Wings of Dawn adventure group!
Back in her past life when she was still a human knight, she had collaborated with this group.
Back then, they were only an A-rank group. She hadn't expected them to be an S-rank adventure group now, and their leader had even broken through to the Dominator Rank.
Looking at the familiar face before her, Qimeng couldn't help but feel deeply nostalgic.
After all, she had spent several years buried in the ground since her reincarnation as the Demon Tree. The high-spirited leader from back then now had graying hair at his temples.
When she was ambushed and hunted on her way home back then, although this adventure group hadn't kicked her while she was down... they had never spoken up for her when she was being falsely accused.
They had stood by as cold onlookers, silently drawing a line between themselves and her.
Qimeng didn't really hold a grudge over this. After all, they had an entire team of subordinates to support; there was truly no need to offend the imperial family for an outsider.
She just hadn't expected to meet them here of all places.
The middle-aged knight walked up to Qimeng and nodded politely.
“I am Hugh, leader of the Wings of Dawn.”
“The Demon Tower is about to open, and the interior is highly perilous. I wonder if Your Excellency would be interested in joining us? Once we snatch a stone plaque, we can share the entry slots.”
Facing the invitation of an old acquaintance, Qimeng's expression beneath her mask was highly subtle.
Although the past was already buried in history, and she was now merely a monster lord watching the fun, on second thought, she might be able to gather a different perspective on the incident back then from these onlookers.
Qimeng tilted her small head.
“Sure, then I'll team up with you guys~”
Qimeng readily agreed and naturally walked into the Wings of Dawn's camp.
As for whether the B-rank group she had just wiped out had been sent by these people to test her, it didn't matter anymore.
In any case, getting closer and squeezing out some information was her main objective.
Leader Hugh was very enthusiastic, helping her find a clean and spacious spot, even arranging for someone to lay down a moisture-proof mat.
Not long after Qimeng sat down, a middle-aged woman wearing a blue magic robe walked over carrying steaming tea.
She was the group's vice leader and Sage, Alice.
As a Sage skilled in support and mental magic, Alice possessed a skill called Truth Whispers, which could subconsciously soothe an opponent's wariness and induce them to speak the truth.
“Please, have some tea, Miss Swordsman.”
Alice offered a gentle smile.
She sat down next to Qimeng and handed over the teacup.
“Your swordsmanship earlier was truly swift. If you don't mind me asking, how should we address you?”
“Just call me Meng.”
Qimeng took the teacup, her nose twitching slightly as she immediately detected a faint magical fluctuation.
Hmph, trying to pry information out of me?
Qimeng hid her left hand behind her back and quietly crushed a Sober Fruit.
A refreshing sensation spread through her brain, blocking out the encroaching mental suggestion.
“Miss Meng seems very young. With such strength, I wonder which guild you belong to?”
Alice sipped her tea, seemingly just chatting casually.
“I haven't joined any guild.”
Qimeng held her teacup and blew on the hot steam.
“Oh? Then do you have a master?”
“I suppose. My master and I have been training hard in the forest. Since the appearance of the Demon Tower is a rare opportunity, my master specially permitted me to come out for a trial.”
“So you are the disciple of a reclusive powerhouse.”
Alice's eyes showed a trace of realization.
“Then your master is...”
“A quirky imperial swordsman.”
Qimeng wasn't entirely making things up; she was thinking of the old swordsman instructor she had met back when she was a knight, which brought a genuine sense of nostalgia.
“He forced me to practice my sword every single day and loved to nag me about trivial matters of the Empire. It was annoying to death.”
As they chatted about some of the cultural details of the Empire, Alice noticed something and probed further.
“The current Empire is vastly different. From your tone, it sounds like what your master mentioned is all old news from seven or eight years ago. Your master hasn't been to the Empire recently, has he?”
“We indeed haven't been there in a long time.”
Qimeng had naturally thrown out those pieces of old news on purpose.
First, she was indeed out of touch with the times, and second, it helped solidify her fake persona. She followed along with the topic, pretending to be curious.
“Why? Has the Empire changed that much now?”
“It has changed tremendously.”
Alice chuckled, her eyes searching Qimeng's face.
“After the battle to suppress the traitors back then, the old king passed away from illness, and Her Highness the Princess ascended the throne as the Empress. As for the Royal Knight Order that was so prominent back then... ah, those old faces have long been replaced by a new generation.”
“Is that so?!”
Qimeng put on a shocked expression.
“Then what about the members of that once-glorious Knight Order?”
“Back then, the vice commander of the Knight Order defected, and the members had no choice but to participate in hunting down their former companion. Afterward, everyone felt terrible about it, so they retired or were reassigned one after another.”
Alice sighed softly.
“After all, with an incident like that occurring, it was only natural for the Knight Order to undergo a massive reshuffling.”
Good grief.
Qimeng sneered inwardly.
Those bastards who hunted me down back then actually retired in such a graceful manner? That's really irritating.
However, the more they chatted, the deeper Alice's doubts grew.
It was too strange.
The strength of the girl before her far surpassed what anyone of the younger generation should possess.
Her silent attempt to probe using Truth Whispers also seemed to have failed.
Although she indeed couldn't sense any dark demonic energy, suggesting she was a legitimate human... Alice remained skeptical, silently growing more guarded.
In this manner, amidst their mutual, hidden probing, a peaceful day quickly went by.
Rate on N.U.
