Having slain countless demons and monsters along his journey, Chen Ning naturally showed no tender pity for the fairer sex.
Channeling golden merit light into his palm, he struck Xiangqin directly in the abdomen.
“Bam!”
Xiangqin went flying through the air, crashing heavily against the wall.
The agonizing pain surging through her body made her feel as though her internal organs had shattered.
Yet right now, she had no time to worry about that.
Wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, Xiangqin frantically kicked up a thick cloud of dust and smoke.
That should be enough to obscure his vision. Taking advantage of this time...
“Pure Breeze in Both Sleeves.”
Yet in the next second, two gusts of pure wind instantly blew away the smoke.
Chen Ning appeared before Xiangqin in a single stride, a blade condensed from Purple Qi slicing off a corner of her red dress and pressing against her throat.
“Evil creature, do you still dare try to bewitch me?”
Xiangqin’s pretty face turned pale, and she shook her head in sheer panic.
“Never again, absolutely never! Hold on, Young Master! Were it not out of sheer desperation, this humble one would never want to do such a thing.”
“Sheer desperation?”
The words of monsters were not to be trusted. Chen Ning did not ease the pressure of his sword in the slightest.
Seeing fresh blood trickle from the nick carved by the blade, Xiangqin’s delicate body trembled in terror, and she hurriedly explained:
“I swear I haven't spoken a single lie! We belong to the Cyan Luan clan, who have dwelt in the Imperial Capital for generations and never committed any evil! But a month ago, a Demon Cultivator saw through our true forms.
“She imprisoned us here, forcing us to help her absorb human vital essence. I only complied for the sake of my clan's safety. Aside from draining vital essence to an extent that doesn't endanger their lives, I have never done anything wicked!
“As for proof...”
Finding it difficult to speak, Xiangqin hesitated for a long while before bashfully continuing:
“The proof is that we merely bewitch humans with illusions, but I... I am actually still a maiden. If Young Master truly doesn't believe me, you may verify it yourself!”
Chen Ning checked the Noble Scholar's Swords within his sea of consciousness.
While Xiangqin spoke, neither of the Noble Scholar's Swords reacted.
This indicated that she had indeed told no lies and had never killed anyone.
On the contrary, the Noble Scholar's Swords reacted violently toward another direction.
In the direction indicated by the sword chimes, a green-clothed maid was attempting to flee Yixiang Pavilion amidst the chaos.
There was no Demonic Qi on the green-clothed maid, yet her presence caused the Noble Scholar's Swords to hum with furious resonance.
It seemed she was most likely the Demon Cultivator holding Yixiang Pavilion hostage.
“I'll spare your life for now and decide your fate later.”
Chen Ning leapt up, jumping straight down from the second floor.
“Condemn by Word and Pen.”
As the word “Sword” formed in midair, over a dozen miniature swords, each only the size of a finger, converged on the green-clothed maid from all directions.
How did he discover me!
The green-clothed maid had originally intended to use Xiangqin as her scapegoat, never expecting that her true identity would be seen through at a single glance.
She hurriedly twisted to the side, barely dodging the flying swords.
Yet at that very moment, Chen Ning flicked his finger.
“Return.”
Instantly, the dozen-odd swords spun back without warning, sealing off every route of retreat for the green-clothed maid.
This time, the maid could no longer keep up her disguise.
“Roar!”
Eight sharp, spindly legs tore through her face skin, revealing a gruesome, colossal spider hidden beneath!
The green-clothed maid was originally a proper human, but by employing the cultivation methods of the demonic sect, she had refined herself into a semi-demonized monstrosity.
The dozen-odd sharp swords pierced through, gouging several gashes directly into the spider's body.
Relying on its thick hide and flesh, however, it still possessed the strength to fight.
“A mere human dares force me to reveal my true form? In that case, pay for it with your flesh and blood!”
With immense power granted by its eight giant legs, the spider sprang forward, the ferocious fangs within its mouthparts raised high.
“Just with you?”
Chen Ning clenched his palm into a fist, true qi coursing through it.
Gleaming with a faint golden radiance, his fist soared upward.
“Bam!”
In the next instant, the spider’s massive body was blown clean through the air by sheer force.
Under that terrifying might, three of its long legs were snapped clean off by the sheer gale of the punch.
Is this human truly a monster?!
The spider’s attitude instantly shifted from earlier disdain to shock, and finally, into outright terror.
The monstrous body it took such pride in seemed utterly frail and pathetic before him!
I can't keep fighting! This human is simply an unbeatable force!
It frantically spun around, attempting to flee outside.
“Turning Clouds into Rain.”
Right at that moment, Chen Ning raised his palm.
Turn a hand to summon clouds; flip a hand to bring rain.
Above Yixiang Pavilion, a dark cloud shaped like an enormous palm suddenly materialized.
“What... what on earth is that?!”
The spider was terrified beyond measure.
Before it could even react—
“Boom!”
As Chen Ning turned his palm downward, the hand-shaped dark cloud crashed down in an instant.
Even though the massive spider body resisted with all its might, within a mere heartbeat, it was crushed into mincemeat under that despair-inducing force.
Dark green ichor splattered everywhere, its potent corrosive power burning several deep pits into the floor.
【Killed one demonized Demon Cultivator. Gained Noble Qi * 100】
“Incredible...”
Every woman in Yixiang Pavilion wore an expression of astonishment.
They had suffered under the tyranny of this spider monster for a long time, completely powerless to resist.
Who could have thought such a powerful monster would look so frail and pathetic before this young gentleman?
Amidst the tremendous roar, Qin Heng and Murong Yu finally broke free from the illusion.
The two quickly leapt down to the ground floor.
Upon seeing the corpse of the spider demon, Qin Heng’s brow furrowed slightly.
“This is a monster transformed from a Demon Cultivator practicing demonic arts. It seems consistent with my investigations—the rampant demon activity in the Imperial Capital is indeed tied to that group of Demon Cultivators.”
“A Demon Cultivator actually infiltrated the Imperial Capital? Fortunately, I happen to know a Confucian technique suitable for uncovering clues.”
Murong Yu stepped forward and cast Seeking a Steed by Its Picture upon the corpse.
Even on a corpse, Seeking a Steed by Its Picture could search through fragments of memory to find individuals and clues connected to them recently.
“Found them.”
After a short while, Murong Yu slowly opened his eyes.
“There is a butcher shop twenty li outside the Imperial Capital where more than a dozen Demon Cultivators are hiding. One of them is likely of Elder status within their demonic sect.
“However, Demon Cultivators have always been sinister and cunning, and they communicate with each other using secret methods. We must find mounts and arrive as quickly as possible to catch them before they receive word.”
“Mounts? I might have a way.”
Chen Ning hooked a finger toward Xiangqin.
“You, come here.”
“Young Master... is there something you need?”
Xiangqin appeared slightly timid.
After all, that imposing roar of ‘Bold monster, I could tell at a glance you weren't human!’ from earlier still made her heart tremble with dread...
Chen Ning said, “Since you haven't killed anyone, I can give you a chance to atone for your deeds.”
Hearing this, Xiangqin’s eyes immediately lit up.
“This humble one knows she must make amends for her wrongs. Young Master, please instruct me as you see fit!”
Chen Ning nodded with satisfaction. “Good awareness. In that case... be my mount.”
“Does Young Master mean the kind of 'mount' as a human spouse, or the kind as a pet beast...?”
Midway through her sentence, noticing Chen Ning’s deadpan, serious expression, Xiangqin swiftly realized she had misspoken.
Her lovely face flushed crimson in an instant, and she covered her delicate mouth.
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