Feng Wuchen's control over killing intent and sword intent was already highly precise, and in that brief moment, it was only the one attendant who sensed it. To onlookers, the scene was therefore incredibly eerie.
Qin Xiaorou raised her eyebrows and suddenly stepped forward.
Smack!
She slapped the attendant with a loud, sharp slap.
"Useless! What are you doing? Why didn't you stop him?"
The attendant snapped back to his senses, his eyes still filled with terror, swallowing nervously. "Forgive me, Miss... that man! That man is a sword cultivator!"
"A sword cultivator?" The woman hesitated for a moment, then became even angrier.
"Are you telling me he's a sword cultivator when he doesn't even have a sword on him? Qin San, do you take me for a fool?"
"Miss!" Qin San suddenly dropped to his knees, his face full of loyalty.
"I swear on my life that I speak nothing but the truth. Not just me, even if we were to join forces, we might still not be a match for him!"
Seeing the sincerity in his expression, Qin Xiaorou's eyes narrowed.
"Is he really that strong?"
"Perhaps even stronger than I sensed!"
Qin Xiaorou glared at a certain spot on the second floor, a hint of malice flashing in her eyes.
"Get up, and investigate that boy's background. I must get my hands on that Cold Marrow!"
Qin San wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Understood!"
Then, turning to the innkeeper, Qin Xiaorou asked, "Innkeeper Mo, which room are those siblings staying in?"
"The Heaven Number One Room!"
"Thank you!"
---
After the conflict that day, Feng Wuchen and Feng Ning stayed in their room.
Possessing a rare treasure brings danger to the owner.
If he were alone, Qin Xiaorou and her group might already be corpses. But with Feng Ning by his side, he was forced to exercise restraint for her sake.
As night fell, Feng Ning hadn't yet fallen asleep when Feng Wuchen sensed a murderous intent outside the window.
He frowned instinctively. "So, they tracked us down here? Ha... so this so-called 'First Pavilion' of the underworld isn't much after all!"
He walked over to the bed and tucked Feng Ning in.
"Wait here for me. I'll be back soon."
Then, he picked up the Fenyang Sword and leaped out of the window.
As soon as he appeared, the shadow outside fled into the night, like a startled bird.
"Heh... Since you've come, don't think about escaping!"
---
Feng Wuchen had barely left when someone forcefully kicked open his and Feng Ning's room door. Qin Xiaorou and her group of henchmen from earlier entered.
Seeing the group of fierce individuals, Feng Ning panicked, instinctively curling up and clutching the Cold Marrow close to her chest.
"W-what are you doing?"
"What am I doing?" Qin Xiaorou walked to the bedside, her expression disdainful. "Little girl, hand over the Cold Marrow!"
"I can't! I won't sell it—"
Before Feng Ning could finish, a shadow loomed, and she felt a sharp pain at her scalp.
"Ah!"
Qin Xiaorou had grabbed a fistful of Feng Ning's hair, forcibly dragging her off the bed. She stomped on Feng Ning's chest, causing the girl to cry out in pain as tears welled in her eyes.
Ignoring Feng Ning's screams, Qin Xiaorou showed no sign of compassion.
"A lowly peasant like you has no right to such a treasure! It's a waste for you to have it!"
She seized Feng Ning's wrist, using immense force.
Feng Ning's wrist nearly dislocated from the pressure, her face pale with pain, beads of sweat on her forehead, her cries barely audible.
"Does it hurt? Then let go! Give me the Cold Marrow, and I'll release you!"
The pain of her fingers digging in was unbearable, yet Feng Ning clutched the Cold Marrow tightly, refusing to let go. She didn't care about its value; she only knew that without it, she would die, and her brother would grieve and seek revenge.
She didn't want her brother to be sad, nor did she want him to risk his life for her. She wanted him to be safe.
Feng Ning's stubbornness infuriated Qin Xiaorou.
"Stupid girl! Let go already!"
Qin Xiaorou applied more force.
Crack!
With a sickening crunch, Feng Ning's wrist was twisted out of shape, her tightly clenched hand loosening.
Qin Xiaorou picked up the Cold Marrow from the floor, her face lighting up with satisfaction.
"What a beautiful object. Only I am worthy of it!"
"No... Give it back..." The pain of her fractured hand nearly made Feng Ning lose consciousness, yet her other hand still clung to Qin Xiaorou's clothes, weakly whispering, "Give it back!"
A glint of cruelty flashed in Qin Xiaorou's eyes.
"Who allowed you to touch my clothes? Get away!"
With a kick, Qin Xiaorou sent Feng Ning crashing into the wall, where she passed out.
---
Half an hour later, Feng Wuchen, having dealt with the assassin, returned to the room. He immediately sensed something was off—the room was pitch-black.
Feng Ning was afraid of the dark; even at night, she kept a light on when she slept.
"Ning'er?"
There was no response. The unnatural chill in the room made Feng Wuchen's breathing quicken.
"Ning'er! What happened?"
Lighting the oil lamp, he saw the mess in the room, and his face turned to stone. In an instant, he rushed forward, scooping Feng Ning into his arms, pouring his spiritual energy into her without hesitation.
"Ning'er! What happened? Ning'er!"
Feeling her body temperature, Feng Wuchen suddenly realized the truth.
"Qin Xiaorou!"
In a rage, Feng Wuchen's roar shattered the night's silence.
Moments later, at the end of the hallway, he finally saw that venomous woman.
Seeing Feng Wuchen, Qin Xiaorou looked slightly surprised. "You actually came back alive. It seems the Blood Pavilion assassins are worthless after all!"
So, that was it!
In that moment, Feng Wuchen understood everything. No wonder the assassin had found the First Pavilion. It was Qin Xiaorou who leaked their whereabouts!
Her plan had been to lure him away, or even have the assassin kill him! Meanwhile, she could take advantage and seize Feng Ning's Cold Marrow!
The thought of Feng Ning's despairing solitude filled Feng Wuchen with regret. He had thought that staying low-key earlier in the day would protect her. Instead, he had only exposed her to harm.
He regretted not striking Qin Xiaorou down with his sword earlier!
Sensing the killing intent surging from him, Qin Xiaorou, however, wore a fearless expression.
"I've investigated you! Your spiritual veins were destroyed a year ago. I don't know how you became a sword cultivator, but your future is doomed to be limited, and the Azure Dust Sect won't accept a cripple. Don't even think about revenge! With the Qin family's power, killing you would be like squashing ants. And if you dare lay a finger on me, you and your sister will have nowhere to hide in the Chen Kingdom!"