Chapter 167: Ying Xiao’s Budding Feelings

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Ying Xiao’s Budding Feelings

"Sect Leader, Zhou Yi killed Wu Guanghai with a single sword strike, right in front of all those Divine Separation Realm experts..." Remembering Zhou Yi’s power, the Second Elder couldn’t help but feel a sense of despair.

’Can Nan Chuting really kill Zhou Yi to avenge the old Sect Leader?’

Nan Chuting did not continue this topic. She rose to her feet and said to the Second Elder, "Tell the disciples who advanced that if they achieve a good ranking tomorrow, they will be handsomely rewarded upon returning to the Sect. Even if they stop at the top fifty, I will still have a reward for them."

With that, she returned to her bedroom.

The Second Elder watched her leave, his brow furrowed. ’Is she really only thirty-six? Her schemes run so deep. I’ve lived for a hundred years, and yet I can’t even follow her train of thought.’

’Those two old men really had a keen eye for talent!’

After returning to her bedroom, Nan Chuting sat at her dressing table, gazing at her reflection in the mirror and gently stroking the birthmark on her cheek.

"Come out. I knew you would appear," Nan Chuting said softly, her gaze fixed on the mirror, without even turning around.

Then, a figure appeared in the mirror, standing right behind her.

The face was sharp and well-defined, yet cold and ruthless, with eyes devoid of any emotion.

"How did you know I was coming? Since you knew, aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you to eliminate any future trouble?" Who else could it be but Ying Xiao?

In the mirror, Nan Chuting let out a cold laugh and said, "You wouldn’t dare kill me."

"There’s no one in this world I don’t dare to kill."

"Do you even believe that when you say it?" Nan Chuting retorted dismissively.

"Fine, you have a point. So how did you know I was coming?"

"My performance today must have been beyond your expectations, wasn’t it? You’re afraid I’ll ruin your master’s plans," Nan Chuting said flatly.

"Then why did you dare say so much to that old man by the pond?" Ying Xiao found he couldn’t quite see through this woman either.

"The more I say things like that, the less you’ll dare to kill me. In fact, you’ll even have to protect me now," Nan Chuting sneered again.

Before Ying Xiao could speak, Nan Chuting continued, "Your master is quite a character. In just a few years, he’s made Mr. Hong’s Auction House a roaring success. The Dark Night Envoys have become the top assassin organization in the Eastern Domain. Even the Celestial Heart Hall became a Second-class Sect in a mere three years. Perhaps he has other hidden enterprises... no, not perhaps, he definitely does. I’ve grown rather curious about him. Lately, I’ve even been wondering, if I didn’t have this birthmark, might he have taken a fancy to my beauty?"

"Even if you were the most beautiful woman in the Eastern Domain, our master would not be interested. In his heart, there is only his wife."

"Oh? Is that so? So he’s a man devoted to one woman. To think I can have such a long conversation with my father’s murderer." Nan Chuting laughed at her own expense.

"Your father was not your equal," Ying Xiao stated simply.

"No matter how unworthy he was, he was still my father." Nan Chuting glared coldly at Ying Xiao’s reflection in the mirror.

"I can give you one chance to kill me. I won’t even use a Divine Level Martial Technique," Ying Xiao said.

Upon hearing this, Nan Chuting suddenly stood up, turned around, and stared at Ying Xiao, who was now just inches away.

"A Divine Level Martial Technique?"

"That’s right. My Invisibility Technique and my Swordsmanship are both Divine Level Martial Techniques. It is only because of our master that I possess such techniques."

"You mean you’ll stand perfectly still and give me one chance to kill you?" Nan Chuting was actually dumbfounded.

"Yes. Because you are one of the few people I, Ying Xiao, admire. Therefore, I can give you this opportunity. If time could be turned back, and if I had known that Nan Shuzheng had a daughter like you, perhaps I would not have killed him," Ying Xiao said.

"So your name is Ying Xiao. And I’m someone you admire? How ironic."

Nan Chuting interpreted Ying Xiao’s words as a deliberate attempt to mock her. Ying Xiao himself was not good at communication or expressing himself.

"Cultivate well. When the Eastern Domain is truly unified by Great Xia, I will fulfill my promise," Ying Xiao said.

"Also, even with that birthmark on your face, you are still very beautiful. Though not as beautiful as his wife." Before Nan Chuting’s expression could change, Ying Xiao’s figure vanished.

Only the sound of Nan Chuting’s furious roar remained in the bedroom.

This night was another sleepless one for the Cyan Cloud Sect. Not only were the Elders and Sect Leaders of many sects gathered to discuss matters, but there was also slaughter.

Wu Guanghai of the Fiery Fire Sect had been killed. How could their two Elders and competing disciples not be furious?

But before they could march righteously to the courtyard where the people from Celestial Heart Hall were staying to demand an explanation, a group of men in black burst in and started killing.

This group of men in black wasted no words. They slaughtered anyone from the Fiery Fire Sect. Even the few who were scared witless and fell to their knees to beg for mercy did not escape death.

In the residence where Chu Fan was staying, besides Jing’an and Lan Bing, the disguised Liu Yisheng, Qi Biao, and Ji Bufan stood before Chu Fan.

"Master, according to your arrangements, our two Mercenary Corps have completed their final mobilization," Liu Yisheng spoke first.

"Very good. The Celestial Qi Kingdom and the Da Zhao Kingdom haven’t caught on, have they?" Chu Fan asked.

"Rest assured, Master. They absolutely won’t react in time," Qi Biao said, patting his chest.

Chu Fan nodded, his gaze turning to Ji Bufan.

Ji Bufan hurriedly said, "I’ve made the arrangements on my end. The Fiery Fire Sect will receive the news tomorrow at noon. By the time they gather their men and rush over, they should run right into the people from Red Blood Mansion."

Chu Fan nodded again and said, "I’m quite confident in your abilities. This plan is a chain of interlocking events, so not a single link can afford to fail. As for the sects that have come to the Cyan Cloud Sect this time, let’s wait for tomorrow’s final results. Those sects that are unwilling to support Great Xia’s unification of the Eastern Domain... we’ll use them to clash with the Red Blood Mansion. It will save us a lot of effort."

"Master, Li Qingyuan mentioned today that he demands you show yourself tomorrow. He also said that Ying Xiao is not allowed to appear at the venue again, or he will be the first to withdraw," Jing’an reported.

"I already know what happened in the side hall today. Tomorrow morning, I will personally challenge all of the top fifty prodigies of the Eastern Domain, except for Yun Xi. After that’s done, the lines should be clearly drawn on your end. I will make my appearance then," Chu Fan said.

After he finished speaking, he sat back in his chair, stroking his beardless chin with his right hand as he mentally reviewed the entire plan from start to finish.

’Starting tomorrow, I, Chu Fan, will no longer have to hide my name in the Eastern Domain.’

’Starting tomorrow, I will make the entire Eastern Domain reacquaint itself with the name Chu Fan.’

’Starting tomorrow, I will make countless people regret their actions. I can finally avenge my master and senior brothers.’

A short while later, Ying Xiao and Che Dagui also walked into the room.

Looking closely, one could see mottled bloodstains on their black clothes.

"Master, we have successfully carried out our orders. The dozen or so people from the Fiery Fire Sect have been eliminated," Che Dagui said.

Looking at Che Dagui’s pot-bellied appearance, Chu Fan shook his head and asked, "Can you still lift a blade?"

"Master, this subordinate may have gotten a bit fat, but..."

Just then, an angry roar echoed from outside the courtyard: "You scoundrels from the Celestial Heart Hall, get the hell out here!"