“You… you’ve gone too far. When we return, I will definitely report this to the Emperor.” Shangguan Ruoyu leaped down, her small face flushed with anger as she glared at Yan Qingyu.
“Return? Hah, do you think you can go back? Without the Teleportation Array, how will you return? Besides, Shangguan Lian’er would be more than happy to see you dead sooner rather than later.” Yan Qingyu sneered disdainfully. She understood Shangguan Ruoyu’s situation better than anyone, after all, she was on very good terms with Shangguan Lian’er.
Yan Qingyu wore a smug smile, but when she turned her head, her expression instantly froze.
At the critical moment, a flash of silver light erupted from Yan Wuxin’s hand, its fierce momentum like thunder. Her ghostly figure darted through the air, narrowly evading the tiger’s attack.
Yan Wuxin spun around once more, her body pivoting as she kicked off a nearby sapling.
“Soaring Clouds in the Sky.”
Red Huanli burst from the tip of her sword, carrying a powerful force that tore through the sky, striking directly at the tiger.
The tiger roared in pain, swiping fiercely and tearing the veil from her face in an instant. A breathtakingly beautiful countenance was revealed before everyone’s eyes.
Witnessing this scene, everyone present was stunned. Who would have thought that the infamous waste, the universally despised ugly girl, would not only possess such peerless beauty but also be capable of evading the attacks of a Fourth-Rank Phantom Beast?
The battle between the girl and the tiger raged on, neither gaining the upper hand for a time.
‘Sister, although the Fourth-Rank Phantom Beast is powerful, its weak point is the center of its forehead. Aim for its brow,’ Xiao Li reminded her from within Kongjian.
Yan Wuxin nodded, then shot toward the tiger, channeling Huanli into her sword with a surge of energy.
As the tiger lunged forward, Yan Wuxin seized the opportunity, leaping into the air and hovering mid-flight. In an instant, she thrust her sword downward, piercing the tiger’s forehead.
Roar…
A pained roar echoed through the surroundings. The tiger glared at Yan Wuxin with bitter resentment, but she merely cast a cold glance in its direction. The beast collapsed to the ground, its ragged breathing convulsing twice before ceasing entirely.
This was unbelievable!
Yan Wuxin, a mere Spirit Master Junior Grade, had actually slain a Fourth-Rank Phantom Beast. Meanwhile, they—six Spirit Master Intermediate Grade cultivators—had been beaten half to death. Was it their incompetence, or…?
The Mei family members stared at Yan Wuxin in shock, unable to utter a word.
“Yan Wuxin, hand over our Shoujing,” the Fourth Prince demanded angrily. He had originally intended to subdue the tiger, but Yan Wuxin had killed it instead. He was seething with rage.
Hearing this, Shangguan Ruoyu’s temper flared. “Fourth Prince, this belongs to the Fourth Miss Yan.”
Earlier, they had endangered Fourth Miss Yan without lifting a finger to help. Now, they had the audacity to demand the Shoujing. Even if he was a prince, he shouldn’t openly rob someone like this!
Yan Wuxin glanced at Shangguan Ruoyu in surprise. It seemed this girl was finally starting to see the light.
“If it weren’t for Sister Mei and the others weakening the tiger to the brink of death, how could a mere Spirit Master Junior Grade like you obtain the Shoujing so easily? Therefore, this Shoujing belongs to Sister Mei and her group,” a gaudily dressed woman said with disdain, as if forgetting their earlier glee at watching the spectacle unfold.
“That’s right. If you hadn’t shown up, we would have already killed this Fourth-Rank Phantom Beast. Yan Wuxin, hand over the Shoujing,” Mei Ruolan said, her eyes burning with jealousy as she stared at Yan Wuxin’s face. If the Fourth Prince weren’t present, she would have ruined that beauty without hesitation.
“Yan Wuxin, hand over the Shoujing, and we might spare your lives. Otherwise…” A man standing beside the Fourth Prince let his gaze wander over Yan Wuxin’s figure.
“The Fourth Miss is truly a beauty that could topple cities and kingdoms, I just wonder… how she tastes?”
Yan Wuxin’s eyes turned icy. At this moment, she exuded a chilling aura akin to that of a grim reaper. She raised her head, coldly staring at the man who had insulted her, a dagger instantly appearing in her hand.
“You have gone too far.” Just as Yan Wuxin was about to strike, an angry voice rang out.
Yan Wuxin turned to look and saw a refined young master approaching. He carried a fresh, orchid-like scent, and his face, usually as gentle as a spring breeze, was filled with fury.
“Big brother.” Yan Qingyu looked at the newcomer in surprise.
Big brother?
Yan Qingcheng’s full-blooded brother, Yan Qixuan. Ten years ago, Yan Qixuan had been favored by the Xiaoyao Sect and taken up the mountain with them. Since then, he only returned home once a year. Each time he came back, the father and his two daughters would be sent away. Unexpectedly, they had run into him here.
“You must be Wuxin, right?” Yan Qixuan looked at Yan Wuxin, offering a slight smile.
Yan Wuxin’s cold aura receded. She glanced at him indifferently. In her memories, Yan Qixuan had gotten along very well with her brother when he was home, even helping them out at times. But ever since he went to Xiaoyao Gu, they had lost contact.
She couldn’t bring herself to dislike Yan Qixuan.
“Hmm.” Yan Wuxin gave a faint nod, a trace of distance in her eyes.
Yan Qixuan pursed his lips, then turned to the Fourth Prince. “Fourth Prince, regarding today’s matter, if you don’t want the Emperor to find out, I advise you to give up now. Moreover, the Shoujing was obtained by my sister. Forcibly seizing it is the act of a robber. Fourth Prince, you wouldn’t want to ‘gain fame throughout the land’ for this, would you?”
The Fourth Prince clenched his fist tightly, then released it, narrowing his eyes to glare at Yan Qixuan. “Don’t let me catch you next time, or else… Let’s go.”
After throwing down this threat, the Fourth Prince stormed off with his team. Yan Qingyu had wanted to exchange a few pleasantries with Yan Qixuan, but he didn’t even glance her way, so she could only follow the Fourth Prince and leave.
“Xin’er, this time, Xiaoyao Gu is also here for training. I happened to get separated from my team. May I join you?” He couldn’t quite figure out this younger sister of his now.
Yan Wuxin pressed her lips together without speaking, but Shangguan Ruoyu answered instead, “You helped us just now, and you’re the Fourth Miss’s brother, so of course we can go together.”
Yan Qixuan sighed. “Since my sister is unwilling, as her brother, I won’t force it.”
With that, he made as if to leave.
“Let’s go together.” Yan Qixuan had always helped them out. She was someone who repaid kindness and avenged wrongs. Besides, she didn’t dislike Yan Qixuan.
Yan Wuxin placed the Shoujing into her Kongjian for Xiao Li to keep safe. Then, the party of two—no, the party of three—set off ahead.
Along the way, the atmosphere was unusually tense. None of the three spoke. Finally, Yan Qixuan broke the stiff silence.
“Xin’er, why does Third Uncle avoid me every time I return home?” To this day, he couldn’t understand what he had done wrong.
Hearing this, Yan Wuxin stopped walking. After a moment of contemplation, she raised her head. “You should ask your parents about that, not me.”
Parents?
Yan Qixuan was stunned, but the resolute figure before him made him suspect that Third Uncle’s avoidance each time was related to his own father and mother.
“After this training session, I can return home? By the way, why isn’t Wuhan with you?” He had seen many members of Yan Jia, but Wuhan was the only one missing.
Yan Wuxin gave him a meaningful look, to which the latter scratched his head awkwardly. “Xiaoyao Gu has no contact with the outside world, so I know very little about many family matters. Even during my two visits back, my parents never mentioned anything.”