"What... what do you want to do..."
Liu Ling shivered, his voice trembling.
Nan Shiying narrowed her eyes, revealing a row of pearly white teeth, "To teach you a lesson!"
The iron hook dangled from her index finger, which she spun. The hook followed, and a deep malice emanated from her body.
"Young Master Feng, we can talk this out!"
A man in a vibrant green robe with white patterns embroidered on it suddenly appeared behind Liu Ling. The clothing gave the illusion of a refined gentleman, but his ordinary face, the kind that would be lost in a crowd, and the oily charm he exuded when he flashed a self-satisfied smile, made Nan Shiying want to punch him.
"Get lost!"
"You... how can you be so vulgar!!"
Nan Shiying glanced at him. What, had oil seeped into his brain and clogged it?
Nan Shiying stepped forward, slapped him across the face, knocking him aside. She stood in front of Liu Ling, her spinning finger suddenly stopped. The iron hook flew out, and as it fell, Nan Shiying caught it again. With a forceful thrust, a shrill scream poured from Liu Ling's throat.
Nan Shiying grabbed his hand, forcefully covering his mouth.
The screams were suppressed, and she continued to push the iron hook further in.
This casual, nonchalant action sent a chill through everyone present. They felt instantly enveloped in cold, their hairs standing on end.
Liu Cheng's eyes widened. He had only heard of this person's great deeds, but had never witnessed them. Now, seeing it, he truly understood the terror.
A thousand words were not as good as seeing it with his own eyes.
Qin Mo swallowed instinctively. Let alone seeing it, he had never even heard of it. His impression of Feng Luan had always been the benevolent Bodhisattva who saved lives and healed the injured, as spoken of by others. Now, seeing this, he felt the rumors were utterly unbelievable. What kind of Bodhisattva was this? This was clearly a living Yama King!!
Only when the iron hook had penetrated Liu Ling's body, leaving only a curved hook visible, did Nan Shiying finally stop, satisfied. She looked at Liu Ling, whose face was pale and features contorted in pain, and smilingly instructed, "When you have the doctor remove the iron hook, remember to tell them to disinfect the wound. After all, a rusty iron hook is like potent poison. If you die, I'll have a big headache!"
"Also... next time you see me, remember to take a detour!" Nan Shiying finished speaking and released the hand she had been pressing firmly on Liu Ling's wrist.
The pain in his chest made Liu Ling's vision go dark, and the threat from Nan Shiying sent a shiver down his spine.
"Feng..."
He wanted to curse loudly, but the pain in his chest cut off his curses, leaving only gasps of air.
"What are you still looking at? Hurry and take me to the doctor!"
Liu Ling gritted his teeth, directing his anger at the waiter. The tea house waiter, whose soul had already flown out in fear, snapped back to attention upon hearing Liu Ling's voice and quickly helped him down the stairs.
Nan Shiying didn't bother the others. The people who had come with Liu Ling dared not linger and followed him down the stairs.
Nan Shiying turned, glanced at the messy private room, pushed open the door, and walked into another private room, gracefully taking a seat.
Qin Mo looked at Liu Cheng, then at Wang Qiancheng, and asked, "Does... does he always act like this?"
Liu Cheng looked at Wang Qiancheng, who, seeing his gaze, had a dark line on his forehead but still nodded, "Always!"
Cold, cruel, arrogant, and defiant.
More so than any dissolute noble son!
Qin Mo pointed at his own face, "If I were to go to him, do you think he would treat me?"
Liu Cheng looked speechless.
Wang Qiancheng looked at him as if he were an idiot.
Qin Mo cried with a mournful face, "I'm just afraid of scarring. You know, I'm counting on this face for everything!"
The Marquis of Jinyang's residence was unlike the Liu or Wang residences. The brothers were not on very good terms. The second branch held little status, not even as the eldest legitimate grandson, let alone him, a son born of a concubine. Furthermore, he was neither skilled in academics nor martial arts, and could only hope to secure a decent marriage through his good looks.
Liu Cheng and Wang Qiancheng exchanged speechless glances and turned to look at Feng Luan.
Nan Shiying also turned her head, scrutinizing Qin Mo. The Marquis of Jinyang's residence, the Empress Dowager's faction... perhaps worth investing in. She thought, and beckoned Qin Mo over.
Qin Mo's expression shifted slightly. He glanced pleadingly at Liu Cheng and the other two, his eyes darting rapidly: Wait, she heard our hushed conversation?
Wang Qiancheng ignored Qin Mo's plea, and Liu Cheng also indicated he couldn't help.
Qin Mo gritted his teeth and finally walked towards her with a sense of impending doom. Nan Shiying pointed to a chair, indicating for him to sit. Qin Mo obediently sat down.
"Take your hand away!" she said.
Qin Mo lowered his hand. The bleeding had already slowed, and the wound was not deep.
Nan Shiying took out silver needles and picked out the wood splinters stuck in his wound, then tossed the needles aside. She waved him away listlessly, "It's a good thing you saw to it promptly, otherwise the wound would have healed on its own!"
"Pfft~"
Liu Cheng burst into laughter.
Upon hearing the first part of her sentence, Qin Mo's hands clenched nervously and with some relief, but the latter part left him stunned. Hearing Liu Cheng's laughter, he flushed red with embarrassment.
So his face was fine after all!
Qin Mo lowered his head and still expressed his thanks.
Nan Shiying grunted. From downstairs, the storyteller's voice drifted up, recounting the tale of the Great Yuan Empress from a hundred years ago, Nan Feng Luan!
Nan Shiying: "..."
What a coincidence!
"Waiter, bring tea!"
Unable to even touch the tea and pastries at another table, Liu Cheng bent down and shouted to the waiter downstairs.
The waiter hurried over, not daring to anger the distinguished guests upstairs, especially the seemingly gentle and elegant yet extremely ruthless King of Hell.
"Gentlemen, what would you like to drink?"
Liu Cheng looked at Feng Luan.
Nan Shiying said without politeness, "Taiping Houkui, hazelnut pastries, osmanthus cakes, and bring whatever else you think is suitable!"
"Got it~"
The waiter quickly ran downstairs to prepare the refreshments.
Knowing Feng Luan's fondness for food, Liu Cheng walked over and sat beside her, saying, "Dongbo Tower has new dishes today, and I've already reserved a table. Would Young Master Feng be willing to grace us with your presence?"
Hearing that Dongbo Tower had new dishes, Nan Shiying's eyes brightened, but she maintained an air of noble reserve, nodding slowly, "I would be honored!"
"Brother Liu, Brother Qin, I..."
Wang Qiancheng made an excuse to leave but was grabbed by Liu Cheng, "Your marriage to my sister is set for early next year. You don't have much time left for leisure. After dinner, we'll go for a drink at Huan Cai Pavilion."
Liu Cheng said with a smile, but his eyes were fixed on Wang Qiancheng.
Wang Qiancheng understood his meaning, pursed his lips, and sat back down.