Qi Yuan curled her lips coldly, clearly not taking Li Changqing’s words to heart.
In her mind, whatever Li Changqing was saying was no different from a dog barking. She sneered, “Since the Daoist Priest is so good at divination, why didn’t you calculate your own fate?”
Because of the excessive blood loss, Li Changqing’s face was deathly pale. Clutching his still-bleeding shoulder, he looked at Qi Yuan and suddenly burst into wild laughter:
“Qi Yuan, you know better than anyone whether I’m spouting nonsense or not. You were never meant to live, never belonged in this world. Have you ever wondered why you were able to appear again in a place that should no longer exist for you?”
Qi Yuan’s sword was already pressed against his throat, her head tilted slightly. “I don’t need to know.”
“Qi Yuan!” Li Changqing’s sharp voice rang out with the thunder, crashing into Qi Yuan’s ears. “You living a second life is already defying the heavens! Whoever gave you this second chance is destined to pay a heavy price! That person might have to bear the fate you escaped from in your past life! Aren’t you even a little curious?!”
Qi Yuan’s hand paused—but only for a moment. Then, without hesitation, she thrust her sword straight through Li Changqing’s throat.
Li Changqing’s eyes widened in disbelief, his hands clutching his neck as he stared dead at Qi Yuan.
Why?!
Was this woman made of stone?
Someone had paid a steep, unimaginable price for her second chance at life. That alone was proof of how much that person cared for her.
And yet Qi Yuan didn’t ask a single question. Not even one.
It was as if she didn’t care to know.
As if she truly didn’t need to know.
As though seeing the unwillingness in his eyes, Qi Yuan slowly leaned down and withdrew her sword. Her clear eyes locked onto his.
“Daoist Li, you really don’t understand me. Otherwise, you’d know—I’ve never responded well to threats.”
Thunder split the sky, lightning flashing one after another until it lit up the night like day.
Li Changqing gasped for breath, stretched out a hand to stop Qi Yuan.
No—it shouldn’t be like this.
How could a woman like her exist?
She should’ve spared him, should’ve at least asked who had saved her in the early days of her past life, right?
Why didn’t she ask?!
If only he’d had one more chance—he could’ve taken her down with him!
Qi Yuan curled her lips in an icy sneer and, without stopping, stepped right on his still-intact hand as she walked past him out of the corridor.
Li Changqing’s head lolled to one side. His eyes, wide open with resentment, stared into emptiness as life left his body.
The rain poured down. Thunder and lightning flashed relentlessly across the sky.
Inside the relay inn, all the other people remained sound asleep under the influence of the drug.
The world fell eerily quiet.
Qi Yuan stood alone in the corridor. From afar, she looked like a seductive enchantress out of some ghost tale.
His young disciple climbed the stairs—and the first thing he saw was her silhouette in the rain. He instantly clamped a hand over his mouth and instinctively backed away, biting down hard on his lip to stop himself from crying out.
Something must’ve happened to Master!
Otherwise, Qi Yuan couldn’t still be standing there unscathed.
The boy trembled uncontrollably. On this stormy night, he was on the verge of bursting into tears.
But he knew he absolutely could not cry—if he did, that fiend who had even killed his master might come for him next.
But clearly, he had overthought it.
Even though he made no sound, the moment he tiptoed downstairs, he saw Qi Yuan already waiting for him downstairs, smiling.
Heavens!
She was just on the second floor!
Did she jump straight down?!
The boy burst into tears with a loud wail.
He was truly scared stiff. If not for his master’s earlier scream, he would’ve thought Qi Yuan was already a ghost.
In this thunderstorm, he kept backing away in terror, nearly losing his soul.
Qi Yuan stepped toward him slowly. Blood still dripped from the sword in her hand.
That was his master’s blood.
The boy’s face had gone deathly pale.
Qi Yuan calmly raised her sword and pointed it at him. “You’re his disciple?”
At this point, the boy didn’t dare lie. He trembled and nodded.
Qi Yuan gave a quiet “Oh” and raised an eyebrow. “Then you must know who Li Changqing’s master was, right?”
The boy nodded repeatedly, terrified.
Qi Yuan gave a soft hum. “Good. Then you don’t have to die—at least not for now. What I’m about to do next, you’ll help me with, won’t you?”
The boy choked back sobs and nodded frantically.
Human instinct is to survive. No matter how desperate the situation, people always cling to life, to memories, to the world. If there’s a choice, no one wants to die.
Qi Yuan stared at him for a while longer, then finally lowered her sword.
By the time Liu Pingan awoke the next morning, the sky had fallen.
He never dreamed that in the time it took to sleep, someone would die—right in Qi Yuan’s room.
His eyes widened, stuttering in shock. “Y-young miss… wh-what happened here?!”
What happened?
No wonder his father had warned him over and over to keep his ears open and eyes sharp.
He’d let his guard down for a moment and someone ended up dead?!
Qi Yuan rubbed her brow with a frown.
In the past, cleaning up after killings had always been Xiao Yunting’s job.
Now that it was Liu Pingan instead, it suddenly felt much more troublesome.
She looked at him calmly. “This is Li Changqing. Take him and the others and escort them back to the capital. My father will know what to do.”
Them?
Only then did Liu Pingan notice the boy curled in the corner like a frightened quail. He pointed at him. “Miss, who’s he?”
Qi Yuan curled her lips into a light smile. “A witness. Alright—just follow my instructions.”
Liu Pingan finally caught on.
She’s sending them away?
Then what about Qi Yuan going home?
They were her escorts! They were supposed to protect the young miss!
But just as he was about to speak, he saw the icy glint in her eyes. A cold shiver ran through him.
He suddenly remembered—No! Father said the most important rule when following the young miss was to obey.
Whatever the young miss says is law. Even if she says the sky is falling, then the sky is falling—no questions asked.
He instantly changed his tone mid-sentence, “Yes yes, of course, young miss is right. I’ll take them back to the capital right away. Don’t worry. Once I reach the outskirts, I won’t enter the city—I’ll wait outside for someone to pass a message to the Marquis.”
After all, they were carrying a corpse. They’d get arrested before they even reached the city gates.
Qi Yuan gave him an approving smile and nodded. “Good. You’re doing well.”
