I don't want to be trained by my senior sister!

It was getting late, and it was inconvenient to return to the sect, so I found an inn in town.

The second floor of the inn.

Fang Xuan's gaze shifted to the two "living" people who had been knocked unconscious and dragged out from the ground.

A bowl of water was splashed unceremoniously onto their faces.

"Cough! Cough cough!"

The two were choked awake. They had just opened their eyes in a daze and hadn't even seen their surroundings when they were each slapped hard across the face.

"Slap! Slap!"

The two were so badly beaten that they saw stars and their faces swelled up instantly, finally bringing them to their full senses.

"You...you dare!"

One of them recognized Fang Xuan squatting in front of him, and was both shocked and angry. He struggled to get up.

"laugh--!"

A dark shadow flew past his face and disappeared deep into the wooden wall behind him, leaving only the hilt of his sword trembling slightly.

It was Fang Xuan's second brother. The blade was less than half an inch from his face, and the chilling killing intent made his hair stand on end.

The man swallowed the rest of his words, his face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

"Dare what?"

Fang Xuan asked calmly, his tone indifferent.

"No, I wouldn't dare..." the man stammered, no longer daring to show any backbone.

Fang Xuan drew his sword, casually stuck it aside, and glanced at the two men: "Fei Wu's men?"

"No... he's not one of Fei Wu's people!"

The other person quickly denied it, avoiding eye contact.

"Oh?" Fang Xuan chuckled. "Then you know Fei Wu?"

The man was speechless, his expression shifting.

Ning Qian sipped her tea by the window, quietly watching the hazy moonlight outside, seemingly indifferent to the interrogation taking place here.

My fingertips just unconsciously pressed against the window frame.

Suddenly, a fierce glint flashed in the eyes of the cultivator who had spoken first. Taking advantage of the moment when Fang Xuan seemed to be focused on his companion, he sprang up from the ground.

A poisoned dagger slid out from his sleeve and thrust it straight at Fang Xuan's heart. The movement was ruthless and swift, as he prepared to fight to the death.

Fang Xuan seemed to have expected this, and didn't even turn his head.

"puff!"

The longsword slashed into the cultivator's throat.

The monk's eyes widened, he clutched his bleeding neck with both hands, and collapsed to the ground, motionless.

The other cultivator next to him didn't even see how his companion died; he only saw his companion suddenly leap up, and then... die.

He was utterly terrified, his body trembling like a leaf.

"It's Fei Wu! It's definitely Fei Wu!"

"He...he ordered us to kill you! He said that if we succeeded, he would give each of us a Foundation Establishment Pill! His family is powerful, and we...we dare not resist!"

They're both at the Foundation Establishment stage, yet a dozen of them are treated like dogs by one. Is it fear or greed?

The cultivator just kept kowtowing and begging for mercy: "Spare me! I was forced into it! I still have an old hen at home..."

Fang Xuan was too lazy to listen anymore; he was no longer of any use to him.

It really is that simple. Fei Wu is indeed a good-for-nothing, just playing around like a child.

Let's also resolve the remaining one.

After sheathing his sword, he stood up and wiped the blood splattered on his hands.

Ning Qian had turned around at some point and was quietly looking at him when she tossed him a black jade bottle about the size of a thumb.

"Bone-dissolving water".

Fang Xuan caught the jade bottle and cleaned it.

He tossed the empty bottle back to Ning Qian and clapped his hands: "All done."

Ning Qian took the bottle and put it into her sleeve.

She watched Fang Xuan calmly complete all of this, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

This junior brother... his composure is completely unlike that of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy who grew up under the protection of a noble family.

Murder, interrogation, cover-up.

His face showed no excitement, no disgust, and no feigned indifference, only indifference.

"I'm going to rest now. Remember to call me if you need anything."

"Okay, Senior Sister, you should get some rest too," Fang Xuan replied, helping to open the door.

Fang Xuan walked to the bedside, lay down fully clothed, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Black-clad assassins, a motley crew of desperate outlaws, Fei Wu, Shen Qingqing, Shen Chen... The clues are somewhat chaotic, but the direction seems to be getting clearer.

Ning Qian's situation was more dangerous than he had imagined.

But a little challenge makes it more interesting.

Moreover, the 0.5 training points I gained tonight, combined with what I accumulated before, seem almost enough to unlock something.

I'll check the system tomorrow for any new activity.

He turned over and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

For someone who has just taken more than a dozen lives and is in unknown danger, this quality of sleep is nothing short of heartless.

.......

Separated by a wall.

Ning Qian, however, did not sleep.

She sat at a simple wooden table, on which sat an oil lamp, its dim light barely illuminating her cool, clear eyes.

She changed out of her old clothes and wore only a plain white undergarment. Her long hair was loose, and she looked less aloof and distant than during the day, and more fragile and gentle.

Her original plan was simple, and also desperate.

They sought every possible way to break free from their own restrictions.

If we find it, there might still be a glimmer of hope, a chance to seek revenge.

If I can't find him... then when Shen Chen forces me again, I'll drag my broken body down with him and perish together.

She never thought of relying on anyone, nor dared to trust anyone; enough betrayals had already left an indelible mark on her heart.

But Fang Xuan... was like a pebble that completely deviated from her expectations, rudely smashing into her stagnant pool that was destined to dry up.

He saved her, stabilized her injuries with incredible elixirs, and even... seemed to promote the reshaping of her spirit bones.

His talent is frighteningly high, and his character is so deep that it's impossible to see through him.

They seem to be approaching you proactively, yet their true intentions remain unclear.

More importantly, that pink lifeline... she still can't figure it out.

Should we take advantage of... him?

Using him as a pawn to break the deadlock... taking advantage of his kindness towards her to fight against Shen Chen and his daughter.

Even... use him to break the seal.

Given her character and experience, she shouldn't have hesitated at all.

But why... when faced with Fang Xuan's face, which mostly wore a sincere smile, did she find it hard to be cruel...?

Perhaps it's simply because no one has ever been like him, seemingly plotting something yet making no sense of any malicious scheming.

His approach was direct, his protection... even somewhat reckless.

Such a person is either truly pure and sincere, or... is so good at pretending that even she can't see through it.

Ning Xian prefers the latter.

In the world of cultivation, where are there truly sincere people?

Especially those from prominent families who harbor secrets.

Ning Qian stopped tracing patterns with her fingers, gently exhaled a breath of stale air, and blew out the oil lamp.

The room was plunged into darkness, with only the faint moonlight filtering in from the window.

She walked to the bedside but did not lie down; instead, she sat cross-legged on it.

It began to slowly transfer minute amounts of spiritual energy to nourish the newly formed, fragile spiritual bones.

In any case, strength is the foundation of everything.

She would seize even the slightest hope.

.......

In the next room, Fang Xuan turned over and smacked his lips.

It seems that in my dream I ate Ning Qian's spicy stir-fried beast meat again, or... the big white steamed buns that the system rewarded me with.

Hehehehe.......

It smells so good.....