Chapter Eight: Reunion with Zhou Weiqing

Qin Ning closed her eyes, and after a moment, opened them again. “It’s true.” Shen Qingyun let out an almost imperceptible snort. Of course it was true.

“But even so, I’m still going to kill you!” Qin Ning’s tone had softened considerably.

Shen Qingyun stared at her in disbelief. Was there something wrong with this girl? Showing kindness only to be repaid with enmity!

He lowered his head, watching her for a while, then made a resolute decision.

“If you insist on killing me, then I won’t be polite either!”

“What… what are you going to do?” Qin Ning felt her heart pounding under Shen Qingyun’s gaze.

“We’re alone out here, a man and a woman in the wilderness. What do you think I’m going to do?” Shen Qingyun’s lips curled into a rakish, mischievous smile.

“No, don’t!” Qin Ning covered her most vulnerable points, shrinking back from him step by step.

“Don’t?” Shen Qingyun’s eyes glinted suggestively. “So you still want to kill me?”

“No, I won’t kill you anymore!”

For a girl, perhaps chastity is the most important thing.

Qin Ning curled up into a ball, hugging herself helplessly. Seeing her like this, Shen Qingyun knew he couldn’t take things too far. He leaned in and whispered by her ear, “Then put your clothes on. Once you’re dressed, we can talk properly.”

The warm breath he exhaled carried a strong masculine presence, making Qin Ning shrink her neck involuntarily.

…

“I’m dressed.”

Qin Ning’s cheeks were flushed as she spoke to Shen Qingyun, who had his back to her.

Shen Qingyun turned around, looking at her. “Now, tell me why you’re here.”

When Qin Ning saw him turn, her heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t quite compose herself before the first man who had seen her so completely.

“I came here searching for treasure!”

Shen Qingyun’s eyes narrowed at her words, his face expressionless. “But you’ve come to the wrong place. The treasure is at Great Roc Mountain.”

“I know!” Qin Ning’s eyes flashed with a trace of icy killing intent, her delicate body trembling slightly. “When I left, somehow word got out. The very people who’ve always wanted me dead found out.”

“I was ambushed by them. That’s how I ended up injured, with my spiritual energy in turmoil.”

“So who are you, really? You’re only at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, and someone already wants to kill you!” Shen Qingyun walked under a tree and resumed roasting his meat.

Qin Ning’s eyes showed a touch of sorrow. She lowered her voice. “My brother…”

“Your brother?” Shen Qingyun looked at her in surprise. Once you step into the world of cultivation, your senses become dozens of times sharper. Even her subdued whispers reached his ears with perfect clarity.

“Yes.” Qin Ning walked over to the campfire, squatted down, and hugged her knees, staring blankly into the flames. “I was born into a cold-blooded family, where everyone is in competition from the day they’re born.”

“In that place, kinship is worth nothing. Maybe to outsiders, we appear glamorous, living lives beyond imagination. I’ve thought more than once about leaving, but if I do—where could I possibly go…”

“There are plenty of places you could go!” Shen Qingyun said. “You could head to the Deadlands to temper yourself—leave your fate to the heavens. Or travel to the ends of the Southern Domain, and witness the majesty of the Southern Sea! In this world, the only things you cannot do are those you do not dare to try!”

“Really?” For a moment, Qin Ning’s eyes shone brightly, only to dim again. “Never mind. No matter where I go, my family will catch me and bring me back.”

“How would you know if you don’t try?” Shen Qingyun handed her a piece of roasted meat. Qin Ning stared blankly at the sizzling, fragrant meat.

“There’s no poison. Go ahead and eat,” Shen Qingyun said.

Qin Ning took the meat and, with graceful poise, took a bite. It was so delicious that she soon began eating faster, though her every movement still seemed elegant.

Shen Qingyun watched her, and an image surfaced in his mind—a similar scene, but the person eating had changed. The thoughts brought a faint, ambiguous smile to his lips, something between happiness and contentment.

“When you’ve finished, get some rest. Tomorrow we’ll head to Great Roc Mountain together.” Shen Qingyun retrieved a spirit stone from his storage ring, sat cross-legged under the tree, and began meditating.

It was only then that Qin Ning noticed the ring on his finger was her own. She marched over, hands on her hips. “Give me back my ring!”

Shen Qingyun looked up at her. “What ring?”

Qin Ning was furious—how could he pretend? He’d taken her storage ring and still had the nerve to ask!

“My storage ring. Give it back!”

“It’s mine now,” Shen Qingyun replied coolly. “I saved your life—I can’t do that for nothing, can I? You didn’t have anything else of value, so the ring will have to cover your debt.”

“You…” Qin Ning raised a trembling finger, gritting her teeth. “Shameless!”

Shen Qingyun closed his eyes again, ignoring her protests. Say what you like—the ring is in my possession now.

…

At dawn, Shen Qingyun finished his meditation. In just one night, he’d advanced from the late stage to the peak of first-level Qi Cultivation, ready at any moment to break through to the second level.

…

By midday, Shen Qingyun and Qin Ning arrived at Great Roc Mountain. Just as Zhao Rencai had said, all the beasts from Great Roc Mountain had been driven into the neighboring Withered Mountain.

“We’ve arrived,” Qin Ning said gloomily.

In truth, Shen Qingyun didn’t need her to confirm it. Along the way, he’d observed the countless footprints everywhere—plenty of people had already visited his “home.”

At the entrance, numerous groups had already gathered. Each camp was well defined, their boundaries clear, each consisting of several to dozens of members.

The five great sects and every prominent family were represented. The reason they hadn’t made a move was likely because they were waiting for everyone to arrive, intending to enter together.

Just then, a clear cry echoed across the sky. A griffin appeared, drawing everyone’s gaze upward.

“A griffin beast?”

They were not unfamiliar with griffin beasts, for in the Tianlan Empire, they were the exclusive mounts of the imperial family. Moreover, the griffin beast was a ninth-level monster!

One step further, and it could shed its mortal form, gain intelligence, and become a true member of the demon race.

From the griffin’s back, a man leapt down, exuding an extraordinary aura.

Upon seeing him, the disciples of the sects and the scions of noble families all cupped their fists in salute. “Greetings, Second Prince!”

Indeed, the man who dismounted the griffin was the Second Prince of the Tianlan Empire.

At the moment he appeared, Qin Ning’s body began to tremble, as though she were struggling to suppress something deep within.

Shen Qingyun noticed this as well but chose not to comment. There was too much cause and effect in this world; if he involved himself in everything, how could he ever find peace?

Moreover, among those welcoming the Second Prince, he spotted Zhou Weiqing. Here, Zhou Weiqing was nothing like the overbearing figure in Azure Cloud Sect. He seemed to have smoothed his edges, presenting himself as humble and courteous.