Chapter 280 - 276: Night Talk at the Inn

Chapter 280: Chapter 276: Night Talk at the Inn

The night was as black as ink. Clouds drifted across the sky, occasionally allowing a sliver of hazy moonlight to filter through the window and into the inn room.

There were two beds inside the room.

On one of the beds, Lieu Nuoning lay awake, her gaze fixed on the moonlight outside the window, her lovely, willow-shaped eyebrows knitted in a slight frown.

’I have a feeling the First Madam sent those assassins. She absolutely doesn’t want Ahang to inherit the title. With her methods, this journey to the Golden Scale Imperial City is fraught with danger. Brother Ye probably doesn’t know... I have to tell him the truth.’ With a determined glint in her eye, Lieu Nuoning threw back the covers, got out of bed, and walked toward the door.

"Miss, where are you going? It’s so late, why aren’t you asleep?"

Aunt Qing, on the other bed, had also woken up and now questioned Lieu Nuoning.

"Aunt Qing, we didn’t make any enemies in Yongfu Town. I have a feeling the First Madam is the one who sent those assassins," Lieu Nuoning said, her eyes filled with worry.

"Oh, you silly girl," Aunt Qing sighed. "It’s not ’a feeling,’ it’s a certainty. The assassins were definitely sent by the First Madam. That Dong Yanhong is a venomous woman. Did you really think she’d let the young master inherit the title?"

"So it really was the First Madam... Then why did you say it wasn’t her at dinner?" Lieu Nuoning’s face paled. "With her methods and influence, the road ahead will be perilous. This won’t do. I have to tell Brother Ye the truth."

With that, she moved to open the door.

"Stop." Aunt Qing scrambled out of bed. "Miss, are you out of your mind? If you tell him the truth, if Young Master Ye learns that our enemy is the First Madam controlling the entire Lieu Family, why would he continue to protect us? Mrs. Dong currently holds all the power in the family. Even if Young Master Ye is a master of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer, he wouldn’t dare to offend her. The moment he knows the truth, he’ll abandon us. Without his protection, this journey is a suicide mission."

"But... but we can’t endanger Brother Ye! He’s already saved us so many times. We can’t lie to him. I can’t be the one to get him killed. I’m telling him the truth right now." Her eyes firm with resolve, Lieu Nuoning flung the door open and ran out.

"Miss, you—" Aunt Qing watched her young miss’s retreating figure and sighed helplessly.

...

In the room next door, Ye Xing sat cross-legged in the Five Hearts Facing Heaven posture, circulating his Innate Skill to advance his Cultivation.

KNOCK KNOCK! KNOCK KNOCK!

A knock sounded at the door. "Brother Ye, are you in there?"

Ye Xing, who had been deep in Cultivation, opened his eyes. ’I was cultivating... That must be Miss Nuoning.’

Ye Xing walked over and opened the door to find Lieu Nuoning standing there, a lovely vision in a long purple dress. There was still a hint of sleepiness in her eyes, and a few strands of her dark hair were disheveled, as if she had just woken up and hadn’t yet had time to get ready.

"Miss Nuoning, still not asleep at this hour?" Ye Xing asked with a faint smile.

"Brother Ye, there’s something I have to tell you." Lieu Nuoning looked at Ye Xing, took a deep breath, and said with a solemn expression, "It’s like this... Ahang, Aunt Qing, and I are actually from Yongfu Town in Ning’an City. We grew up in the countryside. Even though my father is the Lieu Family Patriarch, we haven’t been part of the main family for a very long time. For this trip to the Golden Scale Imperial City, I originally thought that if my brother successfully inherits the title, great. If he fails, the worst that could happen is we’d just go back to the country."

"But it’s not that simple. The First Madam has no intention of letting my brother inherit the title. I’m sure she’s the one who sent those assassins after us." Lieu Nuoning’s voice was full of apology. "I’m so sorry, Brother Ye. I thought the worst we’d face on the road were bandits, which would be no danger for someone of your strength. But now the First Madam has made her move. She’s the one in charge of the Lieu Family, and she has countless terrible methods at her disposal. The rest of the journey will be fraught with danger. I... I think it’s best if we part ways."

"There’s no need for that. Why should we separate? I’m also heading to the Golden Scale Imperial City, so it’s on my way," Ye Xing said. "Besides, I promised to protect you on this journey. I even took your deposit. How could I go back on my word?"

"Brother Ye, you’ve already saved us several times. I don’t want to drag you into this," Lieu Nuoning said earnestly. "If you continue to protect us, you’ll be offending the First Madam. It’s too dangerous. Right now, she holds all the power in the Lieu Family."

"Oh? Your Lieu Family is that impressive, huh?" Ye Xing said with a small smile.

"Yes. The Lieu Family is an Innate Family. Among the great families of the Southern Tang Country, our influence ranks in the top ten." Lieu Nuoning nodded, her expression full of worry. "I know your Martial Arts are profound, Brother Ye, but even a master of the Martial Arts Ninth Layer would be in grave danger if they were to offend the First Madam."

"Hm? If the Lieu Family is an Innate Family, then shouldn’t you have an Innate Realm expert watching over things?" Ye Xing asked curiously.

"Yes, my grandfather is an Innate Realm Martial Artist," Lieu Nuoning said, her expression dimming. "But he left the family a long, long time ago. When I was young, I heard my father mention that he’d gone off to make his way in a very distant land."

’A very distant land... the Central Plains Martial Arts world?’ A flicker in his eyes, Ye Xing fell into contemplation.

The Central Plains Martial Arts world was situated in the very heart of the Martial Arts Continent. It was a land of dense jungles teeming with Demon Beasts, and its Primordial Qi was incredibly abundant, making it a Holy Land for a Martial Artist’s Cultivation. Many Martial Artists seeking to advance their Cultivation would venture into the Central Plains.

"Alright, Nuoning. We have to be on the road tomorrow, so you should go back and get some rest. Don’t overthink things," Ye Xing said. "I will continue to protect you on this journey."

"But, Brother Ye—"

"Don’t worry. I understand the situation now, and I know exactly what I’m getting into," Ye Xing said with a smile. "It’s late. Go back and get some sleep."

"Brother Ye... thank you." Lieu Nuoning looked at him, her eyes full of gratitude. "But Brother Ye, I really don’t want to drag you into our troubles."

"Go to sleep!" Ye Xing put on a stern face and ordered in a deliberately deep voice.

Ye Xing had been nothing but kind to Lieu Nuoning and her brother throughout their journey, so his sudden stern expression actually startled her.

"Oh." Like a scolded child, Lieu Nuoning nodded obediently. Not daring to argue with him further, she turned and walked away. In truth, a part of her was happy and relieved, as she didn’t want to part ways with him either. After spending so much time together on the road, she had developed quite a liking for Ye Xing.

"Brother Ye, you look really cool with that stern face!"

Reaching the doorway, Lieu Nuoning suddenly turned and gave Ye Xing a mischievous smile before hitching up her skirt and fleeing his room as if taking flight.

’That little minx,’ Ye Xing thought, exasperated but amused. ’She’s gotten much bolder lately, even daring to tease me.’ He closed the door and resumed his Cultivation.

On the bed, Ye Xing once again sat cross-legged in the Five Hearts Facing Heaven posture, his eyes closed as he focused on his breathing and Cultivation.

WHOOSH—

HAAA—

He took a long, slow breath in, then gently exhaled. His True Qi circulated endlessly within him.

Time trickled by. In the blink of an eye, an hour had passed.

’Danger!’

Deep in his Cultivation, Ye Xing’s ears twitched. His eyes snapped open. He grabbed the Treasure Sword from his bedside, unleashed his Lightweight Skill, and shot out of the room like an azure blur.