Stranger Danger

It was a shame Chu Wangsun managed to escape. This was easily the best chance he ever had at ending the pretentious bastard once and for all. It was also the closest he ever got to success. Unfortunately, the plan failed at the very end, and his next chance to kill Chu Wangsun would be so, so much harder to grasp.

After all, Chu Wangsun was only one step away from becoming a Trueman. The next time they met, he would surely have entered the next stage already and become much harder to kill.

Ye Qing wasn’t too annoyed or worried though. After all, he had already surpassed Chu Wangsun. In the future, that gap would only widen until it became an impossible chasm. Why would he fear such an opponent?

It was only a matter of time now.

Murong Xianxian seemed to have lost her interest after asking about the Chief Libationist. She asked in a lazy voice, “Are you done resolving your personal matters? If not, then please resolve them before we continue!”

Hmm? Is it just me, or is she sneaking glances at me? She can’t have noticed what I did… right?

He wondered if he was just paranoid, but he had this feeling that Murong Xianxian was glancing at him as she spoke. It was almost as if she wanted him to know that she knew.

No, there’s no way.

Ye Qing mentally shook his head. His demonic thought was invisible, traceless, and extremely difficult to detect. If even the victim himself, Cui Qiuyuan, did not notice anything amiss, there was no way an observer would notice it.

However, Ye Qing quickly recalled how Murong Xianxian had sussed him out earlier even though he thought that his disguise was perfect. What if? He could not help but think. This was the legendary Murong Xianxian. He couldn’t just write her off.

As his thoughts raced, Ye Qing instinctively glanced at Murong Xianxian again. As if on cue, the woman met his eyes at the exact same time and… winked at him.

“...”

This time, Ye Qing was truly quaking in his boots. She knows! She knows! But how? What a scary woman!

Unaware of the interaction, Zhang Lingyang was letting out a sigh of relief after confirming that Chu Wangsun was safe and sound. While glancing about the hall, a hint of pity flashed in his eyes as he drew Murong Xianxian’s attention to himself. He said, “Miss Murong, this junior has an insignificant and immature suggestion to make. These people have no grudge against you, nor you they. Killing them just because they’re convenient is a little too cruel, don’t you think? You’re such a gentle, beautiful, and intelligent woman. I’m sure you can come up with a better way to rid yourself of your predicament, right?”

“You want me to let them live, Little Heavenly Master?” Murong Xianxian asked.

“Got it in one!” Zhang Lingyang grinned.

“The only reason you’re still alive is because Mistress Qu pleaded for your case. You best not ask for more,” Cui Qiuyuan interrupted icily. Due to recent events, he was loathing these so-called promising geniuses more and more.

“It’s fine. It’s not everyday you encounter an interesting child like him.” Murong Xianxian stopped Cui Qiuyuan smilingly before answering, “Sure. I can let them live.”

Zhang Lingyang clapped his hands happily. “I knew you’re as kind as you’re beautiful, Miss Murong!”

“Don’t be so hasty. I’m not finished yet.” Murong Xianxian continued to smile. “I can let them live, but in exchange, you’ll have to give me your life.”

“Huh? You want me to give up my life for theirs?” Zhang Lingyang blinked. “Are you joking, Miss Murong?”

“All things come at a cost. Surely you understand this simple logic?”

Murong Xianxian’s smile widened. “It’s not like it’s an unfair trade. You’ll be saving so many people’s lives at the cost of just one. Isn’t it worth it?”

“Hahaha, it seems you’re quite the joker as well, Miss Murong.” Zhang Lingyang laughed in a deadpan manner.

“What’s wrong? You don’t like the trade? Is your kindness and benevolence all talk?”

Murong Xianxian’s smile grew scornful. “Tsk tsk… eight hundred years ago, the Heavenly Master Mansion was already a bunch of hypocrites who say one thing and do another. It looks like nothing has changed even eight hundred years later. Truly, yours is a righteous and orthodox sect. Hahaha…”

Red-faced, Zhang Lingyang opened his mouth to say something. He couldn’t though. There was nothing he could say in retort against Murong Xianxian’s claim because it was the truth.

Even Cui Qiuyuan was sneering. “Indeed, what a righteous and orthodox sect. They always carry the words ‘mercy’ or ‘benevolence’ in their mouths, but never actually carry it out for real.”

“Powerless benevolence is just that, powerless. It is as amusing as it is feeble.”

Murong Xianxian then ordered in a lazy voice, “Whatever. You may leave.”

“Miss—”

Zhang Lingyang wanted to say more, but Cui Qiuyuan stepped forward and let loose his Trueman’s aura, threatening, “Didn’t you hear her? Get lost!”

It was at this moment Defeated interrupted, “Brother Zhang. You heard senior. Let’s leave.”

Unlike Zhang Lingyang, Defeated had lurked in the jianghu since he was a child. He had long since adapted to its cruelties, and he only cared about martial arts. In his opinion, the winner always thrives, and the loser always suffers. That was all.

As for the Holy Son of Maitreya, he was a member of one the Nine Dark Ways despite not being a true villain. To him, benevolence too was nothing more but an interesting concept.

That was why neither Defeated nor the Holy Son of Maitreya felt much for these people’s inevitable demise. At most, they lamented the excessive loss of lives.

“Sigh…”

In the end, Zhang Lingyang gave in and said, “Very well. Miss Murong, Mistress Qu, and seniors, this junior shall take his leave.”

When he was at the exit though, Zhang Lingyang paused for a moment before declaring loudly, “All life is a reflection. What I do, the others will do. What the others do, I will do as well. To sacrifice oneself for others is a noble, sagely act, and right now, I am incapable of it. But just because I can’t do it now doesn’t mean I won’t be able to do it in the future. Until then, I will hold a benevolent heart in my chest rather than an indifferent one, even if my path may become thornier as a result.”

“Maybe I only carry my kindness in my mouth. Maybe my benevolence is all internal. Even so, I truly wish that all hearts will face toward the sun like the plants!”

……

“He really is an interesting boy!” Murong Xianxian remarked after Zhang Lingyang was gone. “Anyway, those who should be gone are now gone, so without further ado, let us begin!”

“As you command, Miss Murong,” Cui Qiuyuan and Qu Langhuan responded as they saluted her.

Ye Qing too stepped to the side to show that he had no qualms with this.

He did not know these warriors, and he did not really care to save their lives. He had also rescued Mountain Tunneling King and sent him away prior to entering this place, so he did not need to test Murong Xianxian’s patience a third time.

Was he a cold person? He did not think so. It was just that the jianghu wasn’t a place where much benevolence or good could thrive.

Besides, there was a reason why people said that you reaped what you sowed. These people knew the risks when they came in search of fame and fortune. Now that the risks had come to bite them, they only had themselves to blame.

Murong Xianxian’s lips parted, and blood flew out of everyone’s eyes, ears, nose and mouth. They quickly joined into a river and entered the woman’s mouth.

The victims withered away like grass, while Murong Xianxian’s complexion grew rosier and rosier. By the time all the blood had entered her body, she looked even more lifelike and attractive than before.

Finally, she opened her mouth and blew at the consumed warriors. Their bodies immediately disintegrated and scattered into the wind.

“Alright, it’s your turn now. Please remove ‘Repentance’ from my forehead.”

Murong Xianxian instructed, “Be warned that you will suffer the same pain as me while removing ‘Repentance’. If you cannot withstand it, simply give up and allow the next person to replace you. There is no need to strain yourself unnecessarily.”

“Now, who will go first?”

Cui Qiuyuan, Qu Langhuan and Blood Rakshasa exchanged a look with each other. Then, Blood Rakshasa nodded and walked up to Murong Xianxian, declaring, “I will!”

“Very well. Grab ‘Repentance’ and pull as hard as you can. That is all you need to do.”

“Got it.”

Blood Rakshasa did as she was instructed, but…

“Hmm?!”

As soon as she started pulling, the Strange Artifact abruptly turned as red as blood and crystalline like jade. At the same time, mysterious runes appeared all around it. Blood Rakshasa managed to suppress a groan of pain, but she could not stop it from appearing on her face.

Every time she managed to pull ‘Repentance’ back an inch, her body would shake just a little harder, and her clothes would become just a little wetter. Her face was also growing increasingly pale.

Murong Xianxian mentioned that those who attempted to remove ‘Repentance’ would suffer the same pain as her, but it made sense that Murong Xianxian’s pain was worse. However, the woman was smiling and looking as calm as ever, whereas Blood Rakshasa’s face had contorted into a pained snarl in just a matter of breaths. Veins were bulging on her forehead, and she was so sweaty it looked like she had just climbed out of a pool. Even worse, ‘Repentance’ had only moved for a few milimeters.

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