Seeing her smile, bright as the midday sun, once more, everyone only felt a chill run down their spines. This woman, beautiful as a celestial fairy descended from the heavens, possessed such a vicious heart!
"She, she, she..."
The scene before them was gruesome and absurd. Huang Yuyao was so stunned she couldn't speak. It wasn't just shock; she also felt a prickle of fear.
She grabbed Dai Zhiqian's hand, her fingertips chillingly cold.
Dai Zhiqian came back to her senses, noticing Huang Yuyao's icy hand. She instinctively clasped it tighter, then softly comforted her, "It's alright, there's no need to be afraid."
Since the other party had accepted her invitation earlier, they surely wouldn't have taken the recent conflict to heart, nor would they seek revenge for it.
"Sister Ying, you're amazing!"
Lü Yiyi’s eyes widened in astonishment. The admiration in her gaze towards Nan Shiying was palpable. She hurried over to Nan Shiying, throwing her arm around her. She looked closely; not a single drop of blood stained her sister's clothes. She was spotlessly clean, and even the scent of irises that clung to her wasn't tainted with the smell of blood.
Her sister turned to look at her, her eyes softened, gentle as water, showing no trace of viciousness. Yet, recalling her sister's swift, decisive movements, as graceful as a dragon in flight, Lü Yiyi felt that her sister was not only beautiful but also possessed a refined and gallant air.
Lü Yiyi’s eyes sparkled as if with little hearts.
"Yiyi!"
Wei Ruyun, searching everywhere, had passed by several inns before finally finding Lü Yiyi at the Fengyuan Inn. Before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, he witnessed a bloody spectacle. Now, seeing Yiyi foolishly clinging to the other woman's arm, Wei Ruyun gasped, his breath catching. He rushed forward, covering the distance in three quick steps, grabbed Lü Yiyi’s arm, and began to pull her away.
"Senior brother, what are you doing?"
Lü Yiyi shook off Wei Ruyun's hand. She was practically glued to Nan Shiying, glaring at Wei Ruyun indignantly. *Why are you interfering with me getting close to this beautiful sister?*
Wei Ruyun’s brow furrowed with anxiety.
How could this ill-fated child be so utterly fearless!
However, due to the presence of the terrifying figure before them, Wei Ruyun couldn't speak his mind plainly. He could only glare fiercely at Lü Yiyi.
With a "bang," a table was shattered by a palm strike, interrupting the silent battle of glares between Wei Ruyun and Lü Yiyi. Both Lü Yiyi and Wei Ruyun turned their heads towards the source of the sound.
"Brother Wei was merely offering some advice. Even if you don't appreciate it, there's no need to be so deadly."
The other party spoke sternly and righteously, like a crusader defending all injustices in the world. The malice in the burly man's words, and his disrespect towards the woman, were downplayed by this person as mere 'advice,' dismissed with a light wave of the hand. Nan Shiying found it utterly laughable.
"Advice? Deadly?"
Nan Shiying's tone dripped with mockery. She smiled again, but the amusement was swallowed by the dark vortex in her eyes, unable to reach the surface.
"Do you have a grudge against him?"
The question was out of place.
The man's brow furrowed slightly. Her smile stirred a flicker of annoyance within him, a flush of embarrassment born from feeling his soul pierced and his thoughts seen through. His voice rose involuntarily, the veins on his neck bulging slightly. "What grievance do I have with Brother Wei? You mustn't distort the facts, you..."
"Say one more word, and I'll let you understand what ruthless means."
Nan Shiying had no interest in listening to a 'dog' bark. She patted Lü Yiyi's arm. The person Wei Ruyun had struggled to pull away moments ago now obediently released her arm.
Wei Ruyun: "..."
Nan Shiying walked as she spoke. The moment her last syllable fell, her hand was already around the burly man's neck. Her fingers tightened. Restricted by her grip, the burly man gasped for air. His face flushed crimson as blood flow was cut off, his eyeballs bulging, threaded with blood. A guttural "heh-heh" sound escaped his throat. Nan Shiying turned his head towards the man who had spoken.
*You damn idiot, you're trying to get me killed!*
The burly man's eyes were filled with venomous hatred, a hatred that pierced the air and enveloped the man.
The man’s heart skipped a beat. The burly man's resentment and the gazes from the surroundings felt like thorns in his flesh. He swallowed, his eyes fixed on Nan Shiying, burning with cold intent. Wei Ruyun's throat was held by her; any rash action might lead to his death. But if he didn't act, forcing him to bow his head... The man clenched his fist beneath his sleeve, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.
He reached out to stop her, shouting loudly, "Do not harm Brother Wei's life."
The hidden weapon, however, flew out from his sleeve with his voice.
The projectile whistled through the air, aimed directly at Nan Shiying's brow. A cold glint flashed before everyone's eyes. Lü Yiyi drew the soft sword from her waist and rushed forward.
"Ding~"
But before her figure could reach, before her sword could swing, a silhouette appeared before Nan Shiying. His long sword deflected the incoming hidden weapon. The next moment, a blur of motion, and his long sword kissed the man's throat. Hot blood erupted like a pillar, splashing outwards. The man's pupils dilated as he desperately clutched his wound, but he couldn't stop the gushing blood.
With a "bang," he collapsed to the ground.
Xuan Yi crouched down, wiping the blood from his sword with the man's sleeve. The man's eyes, wide and unblinking, stared at Xuan Yi like those of a dead fish. Xuan Yi’s heart remained calm, untouched. He simply sheathed his sword and, with a few strides, appeared behind Nan Shiying, scanning the assembled crowd.
The inn fell silent, so quiet one could hear a pin drop. From the moment the hidden weapon was deflected to the killing strike, the actions were so swift they happened in the blink of an eye. Some in the crowd hadn't even seen the figure clearly before the man's throat was slit. Such a master must have already reached the top tier. Yet, this top-tier expert now stood behind this ruthless woman like a bodyguard. This woman was not only vicious and decisive in her actions but also likely possessed considerable backing. Although people in the martial world lived a life on the edge of a blade, no one was foolish enough to provoke someone whose strength was unfathomable and who wielded significant influence.
"This is what you call a deadly strike, isn't it?"
Nan Shiying released the burly man's neck, pulling the hairpin from his face. Blood splattered, droplets of crimson smearing Nan Shiying's hand as they fell to the ground.
Nan Shiying tossed the hairpin backward. Xuan Yi swung his sword, cleaving the hairpin, stained with blood and saliva, in two.
The broken hairpin landed with a crisp "ding-ling" sound, accompanied by Nan Shiying's amused inquiry: "Does anyone else wish for me to display my talents?"